gavinf1980

Here's this morning's podcast - I thought the speaker made some good points, especially the way we (certainly I) might be tempted to try and compare a friend's difficult experience with our own ("oh yes, something like that happened to me...".



There was a very useful quote from Stephen Covey:



I know this has been true of me many, many times; I listen to someone but I'm just trying to form a comment that I can make or question I can ask in my head, just for the purpose of saying something, and I'll do so in a one to one situation or a conversation between more than one person where I feel that I'm not getting enough "airtime", like "I am part of this conversation too".

I'll have to think about this advice when someone next wants to pour their heart out to me.

Anyway, on to the rest of the day; I've been trying to limit my screentime today, which is difficult when my job requires me to be in front of a screen much of the time, and because I'm working at home I have to sit in front of a screen too. I tried looking out of the window during the division meeting rather than constantly staring at the screen. I confess I skipped one meeting and got on with chores, but I had a clash anyway, as I wanted to do a call about volunteering opportunities.

I confess that at times my phone and apps have caused a small distraction, and even then I realise I've not done the Wordle yet.

I've managed to get out of the house a couple of times; one walk into town, and another short one around the common. 52 ways to walk mentions the fun of turning a walk into a bit of a dance routine (the book mentioned a Miranda Hart gallop), because of the mental health benefits of having a bit of fun. I waited until I was completely out of sight, no one to watch what I was up to, walking on a less-used path and did a few wiggles, nothing too over the top, and no galloping. I managed to find one path blocked, maybe on purpose, by what looked like a dry fence, and also one tree branch blocking the way. Turned out doing a small booty shake was more fun than I'd expected.



Now to wait in for an Amazon delivery.

So, yesterday's Action for Happiness challenge was to have a "no plans day", but I realised that I had very little on today compared to three appointments yesterday, so it made sense to switch the challenges around.

At work, I had a visit to the library next door, which was quite informative, mostly seeing the old books on display (including one all about the author, William Ward's hikes from many years ago, carefully handwritten), and we visited the archives in the basement, which seemed to be just begging for a lengthy investigation.

It felt good after work to just be going home, no plans for later, no pub trips, just a chance to recuperate.

The chapter of 52 ways to walk that I read this morning doesn't exactly relate too well to the current weather, as its about walking in the rain. It mentions all sorts of things that I have only started to notice recently, such as a smell that birch trees give off, apparenty like "fruity old brandy", the after-rain smell that soil has ("petrichor") and other sensory impacts, such as glittering effects on trees and pavements that I've only recently started to notice. Rain also has a good effect on reducing pollution as well.

I'll think about that next time I find that it is wet when I want to have a walk, and be sure to follow the book's advice about wearing walking boots (especially if I want to go out onto the common).



On Strava, I have climbed 920m for the March Elevation Challenge, and logged 5 hours and 36 minutes for the Calanda Steinbock Challenge.

I've planned birthday drinks for tonight; not sure if many will show up, but I don't mind a small crowd. Before then, I'm attending a meeting/conference, all about addresses and streets; I wonder how that will be.

There is a new photo_scavenger prompt: Dull (outstanding: Wild, Remember.)

52 ways to walk was giving advice for walking in wind; common sense stuff like dressing for the cold, and also suggesting making sure I bring water so I don't get dehydrated. While walking in wind isn't good, apparently it's quite good for urban walks, as it disperses pollution faster.

I'm watching an Elgar recital tonight not something I normally do, but a good excuse to hear some classical music. I'm going to stay at home a bit longer before I go to work, and maybe stop for a chat with a neighbour if we bump into each other or we have time (Action for Happiness often seems to put this prompt in the calendar on days when I'm out of the flat a lot).

I've been reading in 52 ways to walk about the benefits of breathing through your nose while you walk, something that Immanuel Kant practised a lot, and he lived to 80, which was quite long in his day. The book mentions how this is better for inhaling nitrous oxide, and avoids many pollutants, and also makes you less vulnerable to halitosis, tooth decay, and even heart disease.

On Strava, I have climbed 1,327m for the January Elevation Challenge and logged just over 9 hours for the January Flexibility Challenge. Today, I start ACG Wild 300, with a goal of hiking or running for 5 hours.

I'm going to help test out a new board game, "Stronger Together" at work today.

I know I often have a lot of negative thoughts, but today I'll try to challenge them, maybe find another explanation, and stop having all the toxicity and morbid ideas going around my head on a loop about my relationships with others, popularity, etc.

"Fish are family"

Okay, so I can get why a lot of people found this one a bit underwhelming...

[Spoiler (click to open)]
The virus; it seemed anti-climactic, but was Barclay infected with it when all those people went into his room while he was sleeping?

Those death scenes - were they going on in the characters' imagination or real flash-forwards of death by water? (I hope the latter as there were many villainous human characters who I didn't like).

Kate got better as the series went on, making her vulnerable makes her more relateable, and less of an ice queen like character.

I was glad that Barclay and Salt got together; it owed a big debt to splash; I didn't get how he suddenly had gills.


The coda - did anyone else think of this scene?

"You might just be my favourite human"

Watching episode 2 started to feel like...



Definitely feels like very few good guys in this, and the main Sea Devil character seemed sympathetic at first, but ended up having about the same ambiguous moral level as Kate.

I'm really enjoying Russell Tovey's performance as a sort of Jim Gordon like character who just wants to do the right thing.

I started watching this Doctor Who spinoff tonight. It seems interesting, not sure if I'm meant to find Kate as morally dubious as I do, comes across as more of a tough anti-hero character than anything else.

It was a strong first episode, weird to see Russell Tovey playing a different character, not Alonso from the main Doctor Who series, who never seemed to get into that relationship with Captain Jack. I should have guessed the show would be pushing an environmental message. I'll look forward to the other four episodes.

I took Mum out today, and bought her a coffee in Starbucks to make up for the issues on Wednesday night, all because of the travel issues I'd been experiencing, and her wasted journey; I also got something for my sister as a thank you gift, and I managed to buy a secret santa gift, so it was a trip well spent.

Yesterday, there was a climate champions' party at work, which involved a lot of cake, and also a climate change related quiz, which I wasn't brilliant at. The visit to the Soho lights was enjoyable though, there were some occasional odd characters, particularly a man who was talking to his dog like he would a human, stuff like "you go (makes dog noises), you're not ready to be civilised").

We got some good advice about picture taking; I had never really thought about turning a phone upside down to get low-level shots. I'm wondering if Abercrombie and Fitch no longer have shirtless guys at their door; there certainly wasn't one last night, though if there had been one at the Oxford Street, I'd have not only asked for a picture, but shook his hand, just for braving the cold without any layers. Selfridges looked amazing, with Disney dioramas in the windows; we thought about getting hot chocolate, but decided to start heading back; I managed to buy some at the station, but almost dropped my cup when someone bumped into me trying to run past (people who have bad enough timekeeping to have to dash around are a pet peeve of mine).

I quite liked this shot taken outside Oxford Circus tube station; it was meant to be of the "entrance closed" sign, but I timed it as it flashed off, before realising that the people framed underneath the sign itself made for a decent picture.



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On Strava, I have:
* Walked 1 of 42km for a new challenge: New Balance Run Your Way & Unlock Rewards;
* Walked 21km for the December Walk 50K Challenge;
* Climbed 103m for the December Elevation Challenge;
* Logged 4 of 10 days for the December Ten Days Active Challenge; and
* Logged 4 hours and 17 minutes for the December 400-Minute x Runna Challenge.

I've realised there is a ship-themed play area in town, which would be good for the photo_scavenger prompt, but for me to even think about getting a shot, I'd have to pass by at a time when there aren't kids climbing over it, after all I wouldn't want to get into trouble.