A Busy Morning
Procrastination is the thief of time, right? Well, rather than sitting around thinking about what I need to get done, I find it easier to get up and tackle it!
So, I got ready and went to the GP to get my flu jab. Then, I went to the pharmacy and got my. COVID jab. After that, I walked to the Polish shop and bought a few grocery items. I purchased some bread, ham, grated cheese, dark chocolate, kefir, and a nice, well-filled ham and cheese salad roll for my lunch. The whole lot was only £14. A short walk to another corner store for some potatoes. They sell a 6kg bag of good-sized spuds (mostly big enough for jacket potatoes if we desire them) for £6.
Why go to supermarkets when the local stores offer good value?
Once I got home, I made another mug of coffee, went into the garden, raked the lawn free of the two-day-old cuttings, and swept the garden path.
Back into the kitchen, and after looking in the refrigerator and finding a pack of fresh chicken thighs, I decided to make a curry for dinner. I got everything prepared and simmered it slowly in the pot, allowing all the flavours to mingle well. I’ll cook some rice later.
Now, that aforementioned roll to eat, along with another mug of coffee, and a little R&R. #food
A Bright Sunny Morning
IT’s very unlike me to sleep in, but I did this morning. I didn’t wake up until almost 8 am. I’m having a #coffee, and then it’s off to the doc for a flu (and possibly COVID) jab. I’ll do a little shopping, and I’ll also take my camera with me, of course, and see what I find in the locality.
Harrow & Wealdstone Rail Disaster
Today marks the 73rd anniversary of the Harrow & Wealdstone Triple train crash, in which 112 poor souls lost their lives in the morning rush hour.
My Reading Session
Spent an enjoyable hour with the latest edition of Fabian Review. It certainly gave me a few things to think about.
This Morning I am Mostly Reading
I have a couple of new publications that have arrived on my doormat. Yes, I still read physical books and magazines. On that note, I am going to step away from the computer for a while, take my coffee, sit on the sofa, and read!
Up and About
I had a terrible night’s sleep. I went to sleep around 10.45 according to my Apple Watch, but I was awake around 3 am, and couldn’t sleep for over two hours. I did eventually go back to sleep and then woke up around 7.50.
Anyway, I’m going through social media now, and replying to a few postings, and commenting on a few more. I’ll then tackle emails, and then I’m getting on with some indoor photography projects.
An Old Blog
Wide awake since soon after 3 am, I was lying in the dark, poking around online. I found entries to an old blog I used to write on my BlackBerry back in 2009.
No earth shattering memories of any kind, but a few notes that will be handy to copy into my personal journal at Day One.
#journal #blog
Nocturnal Mutterings
Yes. It’s just after 4 am. I’m wide awake. I went to sleep around 10.30 pm. It is so annoying to wake up in the middle of the night for no real reason. No urgent need for bathroom. No nightmares. No snore monster. Last caffeine was around 3 pm yesterday afternoon. No alcohol for at least a week.
Go figure!
#insommnia
Politics & Religion
From a young age, I was told that these were the two subjects that you shouldn’t discuss because you’d end up falling out with everybody. We all have our own political views, and even those within the same political spectrum argue amongst themselves. Religion is similar. Even those of the same faith, split into different denominations and argue about the meaning of scriptures, other books, and teachings. Both politics and religion cause wars.
At the end of the day, we usually don’t end up changing a person’s views. We can argue with them, discuss with them, and present a strong case for our own opinions, but at the end of the day, it’s usually the case that the other person will still hold their own views fundamentally unchanged.
So I sit back and I think, is it worth the time? Is it worth the effort? Unless you’re actively involved at some political level within your community or your country, then, surely, your time is better spent doing things that you find enjoyable.
You can’t change what you can’t control. You can protest by writing to your local and national representatives and elected officials. It’s undoubtedly important to make your views known to the people who can do something about the world, the country, your town, and your street. However, is it really in anyone’s genuine interest, and especially in these days of social media platforms, to spend hours sitting at a keyboard, ranting and getting angry and stressed when your words aren’t reaching those who really can make a change?
Closed Back Headphones
I have some AKG 701s and also Hifiman Anando Nanos. I’m more than happy with the Nanos for home listening, but I am looking for some good closed-back headphones for mobile use. I have AirPods, but I prefer over-the-ear headphones. And in any case, I want a wired solution so I can listen to lossless Hi-Res audio on my Astell & Kern SR35 player, preferably with a balanced feed option. #headphones #audio
Sunday Morning Chores
Got a bit done too. Vacuumed the front room and hallway. Got the garden vac out and vacuumed up the dead leaves in the front yard. Helped Kathy with making the bed. It’s a bit of a bugger getting fitted sheets on a super king-size bed on your own. Now, it’s time to have more #coffee
Hospital Calls
Aside from this bout of potential flu right now, I usually feel pretty healthy. Having said that, I am under the care of local hospitals for several issues. Crohn’s disease, thyroid, DVT monitoring, and Rheumatism. Now they clash, in the treatment I am having for post-DVT and also for Crohn’s affects me, having a thyroid operation. All the departments have been communicating with each other, and I am on track for an operation early in the New Year. #medical.
Early Evening Listening
The Soft Boys: Underwater Moonlight (45th Anniversary Edition)
I hope not
It was put in my mind that there’s new covid strain is going around and I do feel really yuck. It feels a bit more than just a cold but we’ll see how we are in the morning and then I suppose I shall have to go and get a Covid test but let’s hope not, eh?
The Lightroom Sync Issue
OK, it’s sorted at last. It took two days to do it. I had to delete all the photographs in the ‘sync error’ folder (250,000), and then delete them from the ‘deleted’ folder. All the Lightroom apps on my devices have now synced, and I can now use #Lightroom Desktop on my Mac Mini again.
Coffee Is The Solution.
When you are feeling unwell, it is recommended that you drink plenty of fluids. Therefore, I’m on my second mug of #coffee.