In this email talking to a mindfulness teacher was a quote that struck me and now I can’t stop thinking about.
“How many other people need to be doing their jobs well for you to do your job well?”
In this email talking to a mindfulness teacher was a quote that struck me and now I can’t stop thinking about.
“How many other people need to be doing their jobs well for you to do your job well?”
Elise’s choice: Paw Patrol.
How to be more present and alive in the moment
Sometimes I’m aware that I should be doing one thing at a time. I find it hard at work where I feel I have so many things to do. As well at home, will I actually listen to the music as I cook or wash up? Often I don’t.
Only 26c (73f) today. Jeans it is!
In China people typically pay up front. From buying phones outright and then paying-as-you-go, to gyms or lessons for the kids. I’ve always balked at it. So it was with drama lessons we bought for Elise that we’ve just found won’t be starting again. Apparently the money isn’t coming back and we don’t have any interest in the online lessons they’re offering.
I’m hopeful that, in the future, that paying up front won’t happen so much. That people will more hesitant to put down a lot of money. We’ll see…
Was in bed before 9 and then had a restless child between 3-5am and up at 6.
Today’s plan is to just get through today.
Just watched the new Dune trailer and will now pick it up the book from the library at school today. Completely forget it was being made and hopeful it may come out in China…
冰粉bing fen - is one of those foods that i like but would never catch on in the UK. It’s sort of sweet but not all of it and a bit weird in texture.
Reading this about Instagrams changes make me glad I ditched it again. The reason I joined again was to upload photos of the kids privately to a select group, family and close friends.
Would a private page of photos be possible using micro.blog? daringfireball.net
Elise at 6:50am: “Why do cereals need milk?”
It’s too much art for these sort of questions。
Spent the evening sorting the kids toys… Which I’m taking as a sign I was in a good mood! I think Elise took this photo. I always like how they turn out.
Episode 3 of The Boys* - My one word review is: Crikey. Kicked things up a notch I think. 📺
*Though perhaps Billy would prefer: ‘blimey’.
Hi again. A quick chat before Elise went to sleep. Hopefully this is the start of more regular episodes. We’ll see…
China is crazy for milk tea as well as other fruit based drinks.
There’s countless places open everywhere, with the more popular places heaving with people. As a result, you can queue for the drink - obviously you’ll order on your phone - for up to 40minutes! 40minutes!
Anyway, one I like is opening within walking distance of home and delivery distance of home!
I didn’t stop between 7 and 5 but managed to keep it together today. Busy but I didn’t let it get to me. Good job me! 👍
Recent crop of beans and beetroot from our land*.
*That is thousands of miles away and that mum and dad maintain.
Question. What are my options for my over 10,000 Flickr photos? It’s such an amazing snapshot of a stage of my life but I don’t use it. I don’t like the idea of downloading them all and them being on a harddrive but paying money to occasionally look at them seems a waste.
Daily Dad is a daily, duh, email about being a better dad. The tagline is, ‘every dad needs a little help’ and I think that’s how I found it, when searching online for dad related help.
I like it for the brevity of the emails but mostly because it’s advice that I feel like I need. I love my children so much and I worry a lot, so so much, about them and our relationship. About so many things. While also being aware that putting them first always isn’t necessarily the best thing. That is, I need to be happy/sane/calm/patient etc etc at the same time.
The email does help. Gently pushing me in the right direction is maybe I want to best describe it. Thinking about what I do, how I do it, how I can be better with them.
You can listen to it too apparently >podcast link
We tried to lie in but it’s tricky with small children climbing on you.
Just finished episode 1 of season 2 of The Boys. Interested to see how it goes from here. The things that stand out though were:
Zen Shorts and it’s follow up Zen Tie, Zen Ghosts and Zen socks by John J. Muth are some of my favourite children’s books. I think I picked it up one day in the school library when my class was visiting. It’s about a panda called Stillwater who meets 3 children and tells each a Zen tale.
I’ve been reading them recently with Elise, I’m not sure how she takes from them but I’m reminded how much I like them.
I think it’s the pictures but it’s also in the way Stillwater speaks. I find the books very calming.
Rereading, I’m also reminded of the benefit of repeated readings even of children’s books.
The aim this week was to get through. Hoping to recharge the batteries a little this weekend… We will see how that goes. Excited to watch the new season of The Boys.
Reading
First impressions of the new Sunlit app are very positive. I like the new look a lot.
What’s a good weekend?
What do I want/need?
What do I feel I should do (with the kids)?
Today, we’ve been up since 7 and didn’t stop till 11. We went to a book shop, had a nice lunch, went swimming and had dinner with friends.
It’s been full on. Just being with the kids is a lot. As well, we’re working hard with our eldest on choices and her dealing with things she doesn’t like or want to do.
So, it’s been good in some respects. We’re working on things that are important. I’m spending time with my family.
And yet, I’m aware that work on Monday is looming and needs preparing for and that just makes me anxious.