- I’m in China. We can go outside.
- School is closed (for my age level, Yr 11/13 went back yesterday). So I’m still working from home.
- So my daughter can have friends over.
- 😐
It’s occurred that parts of me are everywhere. A number of conversations spread across services and time. A little here, a little there.
Also, this screenshot we drove through recently. Not complicated at all.
Waiting on my first Michelin star.
Future dreams
(Not entirely prompted by the lockdown but it’s probably influencing my thoughts.)
Heavily influenced by my late teens/early 20s listening habits, 3 of the albums are 14 years old or older. Also, I think because these albums hold such strong memories. I remember holding the cassette of the Placebo album. Two of the albums are connected to some pretty strong memories around my mental health too. As such are reminders of getting through and coping.
Maybe as well it’s that I don’t tend to listen to whole albums as much anymore.
Anyone else have the WFH situation where it’s fine if you stay in the office (or where ever) but if you go outside… The kids remember daddy is here and suddenly you’re all involved again.
I just want a(nother) coffee.
Hi @vincent i just opened Gluon and got this error. I don’t think I’m doing anything I shouldn’t… Can you help?
Slight regret at yesterday’s beers but feeling like I’m starting to bounce back a little.
Dug up my old last.fm account and listening to some tracks from 2015. Currently Meg Myers - Monster off her Daughter in the choir EP. There’s an awful lot the same though…
Reminds me that my sister said, I listened to this one track on repeat recently - like you do. I mean I do, but hadn’t realised anyone had noticed.
Also, someone has asked me to name 4 albums I can listen all the way through without skipping. Still thinking about it.
It’s funny the things that give you a new perspective, that make you look at the things you do everyday a little differently.
Beers of the world. Lovey afternoon discussing a potential return to school and just chatting. It’s been really nice.
I’m a sucker for these “group sing alongs” - This time it’s “You’ve got a friend” by the worldwide cast of Beautiful - The Carole King musical.
Tried out my new 32kg kettlebell today. Glad I stuck with the 24 as long as I did. The 32 was a tough but wasn’t terrifying. Managed a couple of Turkish get ups with it too.
Now, we’re colouring them in.
Our ‘e-learning break’ is coming to an end and I’m dreading Monday and going back to work aka sitting in the spare room staring at a screen.
Part of the reason I like teaching, apart from working with kids is that I can’t stare at a screen when I’m working, it’s frowned up.
This restaurant is one of my favourites. It’s called 西贝(xī bèi) and is Mongolian style food. Lots of big joints, literally, of meat. We cold noodles in a spicy (only a little by local standards), spicy lamb kidneys and pork with sauerkraut and potatoes. The noodles in particular are amazing, they have a sort of spongy tofu in and the sauce is to die for.
Had a few beers with a few friends in the afternoon and then a few more over dinner with a few more friends. It was nice to be talking to people in-real-life. I’ve missed that.
As well, it made me appreciate the connections to people that just aren’t the same online. Which I say as someone who would previously avoid too many interactions, particularly with people who weren’t ‘my people’.
Lots I associate with in this piece entitled Parents are not ok by Chloe I. Cooney. Two bits that jumped out at me.
This is hard.
I thought by the fourth week of social distancing we would have all settled into the new norm a bit. But for my family (and others I’ve spoken to) that is not the case — things are harder than they were at the beginning. Harder because we’ve all accrued anxiety, stress, and sadness over this period.
And
This current situation is almost prophetically designed to showcase the farce of our societal approach to separating work and family lives. We are expected to work from home full time. And care for our children full time.
Not often I get to drive 70mph in China. 120kmh is reserved for roads well out of urban areas. Was nice to do and helped clear my head.
Lost my patience with the kids and now in a foul mood. Wish I could start today again.
This question answered by Nick Cave talks a little about appreciated the here and now from the point of view of Bob Dylan’s new song.
perhaps there is some wisdom in treating all songs, or for that matter, all experiences, with a certain care and reverence,
And in light of me trying focus on right now a little better I liked that phrasing of it.
Announced today that local (which we aren’t) schools in our area in China will begin a staggered opening, eldest students first, from April 20th. Don’t know how I feel about it honestly.
One of the things that always - jumps out at me, surprises me, that always makes me stop me about living in a country where the language spoken is not my first is how I always notice my first language. Like how you suddenly notice when someone says your name. I always notice English being spoken. A parent using it with their children, people slipping in occasional words into their conversation*. As well, the written word too. I guess that it jumps out less because it’s everywhere.
Which brings me to this card we got from Starbucks. Just enough English to notice but not enough to glean much from it at all.
*People I know who are very comfortable using 2 or more languages are the worst for this, especially when talking to someone else who is the same.
One minute I’m fine and then suddenly my anxiety, which was under control, has snowballed, runway and turned into an avalanche. That’s always fun. It’s never anything major either, a small thing I’ve read a slightly different way and it all goes pear shaped.
Our rented and furnished flat has 3 bedrooms all with doubles in. This has meant that our eldest has always slept in a giant bed. Finally took it down today to put a much smaller bed up for her tomorrow. Will give her room much more space and will hopefully get some of the toys out of the lounge.
