non-negotiables

This weekend I plan to:

+ make a tiny resin house

+ make a tiny not-resin house

+ kick off some bookmaking

+ pick up the wave ball cross stitch for a bit

+ think about what we’ll need to have sorted for our holiday!

But first I just need to make it through one more work day.

of an age

In the next week I must visit:

+ physiotherapist: a new lot of rehab – the current set are challenging

+ dentist: hygiene and check up for what I very much hope is not a crack

+ pharmacy: flu vax

Unlike last week, this is much more like the rock and roll lifestyle I am accustomed to.

could do with improvement

There are lots of moving parts at SML right now and as ever I’m returning home exhausted on in-office days.

I’m not sure if this bone-tiredness was what life was like in the Before Times. I’m assuming yes?

I did enjoy this lovely Monday evening sky captured at the end of my work day.

No such pretty evening skies available for me on T-W-T because it is dark when I head out for home.

I’m very keen for this (too) short Europe break at the end of the month. A reset is just what I need!

there’s always some weirdness to contend with

Unlike our ultimately disappointing experience trying to have solar installed ** our air-conditioner replacement did work!

Both new units are doing a magic job at keeping ThePalace(OfLove) toasty warm in the current freezing temperatures. A 30 minute blast keeps everything snug for hours afterward. This is much superior to the gas heater which we are very pleased to send into retirement.

** our deposit was refunded because it is impossible to install the required smart meter – there being not enough space on the switchboard. This was verified by two electricians, so we considered it A Sign and will wait for the technology to advance.

sadly no whale sounds

Winter will be upon us soon, and the weather is getting cooler**, so today we cleaned and packed away the fans for another season.

We generally keep a fan on in our bedroom during the night for white noise for the whole year. It works quite well but it gets very dusty and cleaning is a huge undertaking.

Today after the lengthy fan cleaning session and some discussion, we bought an actual white noise machine – it should be delivered this week. Exciting! We all know I’m partial to a new gadget.

This one plays a variety of soothing sounds – but we both agreed that the running water option was the exact opposite of soothing, having spent the last 10 years trying to fight off water entering ThePalace(OfLove).

** The current temperature is 7.6oC feels like 1.6oC – quite a bit colder than we’re accustomed to!

need another tracker

As part of my exercise rehab, in addition to the daily exercises, my delightful new physio asked me to do one yoga session before I see her again.

I did briefly consider visiting my old studio, but they seem to have stopped offering early morning classes. This is probably for the best – because of my awful habit of people pleasing, I push myself too hard there and would undoubtedly end up with another injury to add to the collection.

But I finally stopped avoiding, had an encouraging word to myself and did 40 minutes of yoga this evening. I hadn’t been on the mat since, I want to say, February. I was very pleased to find I could still do almost everything, but it was quite challenging. It felt good, though I have a high level of confidence that all my muscles will be letting me know about it tomorrow.

I’ve become way too sedentary. I need to persuade the far-too-stubborn parts of myself that we would really benefit from moving about.

delightful surprises


the best fluffy blue coat

TheUniverse decided that it wanted to end my 196 day posting streak by taking the blog down last night. Back on the proverbial pony this morning. Past Me would have thrown her hands up in despair and abandoned the endeavour. Current Me doesn’t have such a rigid streak definition.

Back in February, I thought to check if Hania Rani** had any shows in Europe while we were there. She didn’t.

But she did have an upcoming show in Sydney! Cue excitement!

It was almost sold out, but I was lucky enough to pounce on the remaining tickets.

It was glorious.

** who you may recall, inspired me to learn piano. I didn’t continue that journey, but am super-glad I learned what I did.

on a school night

Tonight saw me (and Don) at the Opera House tonight to see the London Symphony Orchestra perform programme 1 of their three Sydney performances.

Out on a Monday evening? Who are these people.

It was utterly and completely brilliant and absolutely worth the extortionate amount we paid for for tickets.

We’re out on Wednesday evening too – wild times!