Calm Before the Warm

The calm before the warm today. It's also one of the only weekends we have coming up without any plans so we enjoyed being coach potatos. I was playing games and reading my book for the most part, quietly chipping away at my hobbies. Since it wasn't so hot we roasted a chicken today so we wouldn't have to put the oven on to cook so much over next week. That and we stocked up on ice creams. Bring it on heatwave.

Backrooms

Bided my time today doing all the usual bits and bobs. The main event was a trip out to the cinema with Rebecca a couple of my old work gang to watch Backrooms. We've done quite well in getting through some modern horror films together now, I guess we all just commiserate together in our fear. This was our first attempt at a big horror film on the silver screen though and it was a huge success. It helped the film was just the right amount of scary. Lots of disconcerting imagery, liminal spaces and handheld cameras. Considering most of the film consists of great actors looking concerned as they silently navigate a labyrinth, the tension was maintained throughout and it went by in a heartbeat. We've been really treated to a lot of horror films that don't fit into the 'quiet, quiet, bang' category in the last couple of years and I'm a firm believer that horror should delight more than it scares.

Ragu

Set my focus timer (the one that plants a little tree on my phone and tells me to not look at a screen for a couple of hours) and got to writing. I'm tugging at a couple of threads that have been left dangling and fraying for a while now. Things I've wanted to work on for a while but convinced myself I didn't have the time. Well, as luck would have it, time is all I have. That and a set of notepads and some fountain pens. 

When I wasn't focused I was hanging out with Rebecca. It was our 'anniversary' last weekend so we marked the occasion today with a trip to a very nice restaurant. Wine, fried artichokes, aioli, ragu and a pistachio panna cotta. What dreams are made of. Bristol in the summertime is a wonderful time and place, Dan and Jamie felt it too because they were nearby getting drinks out so we joined them to enjoy the cooling summer evening. 

Jetlagged at Home

My eyes jolted open a little after four this morning. I had no cause to be awake at that hour but my brain decided to kick itself into gear and start thinking about nonsense which made me restless. Defeated, I got up and got a very early start to my day, but it meant I was totally sapped of energy. I knew I was in for a late night too though as I signed up for some online games this evening, it was someone's birthday so it was bound to be a blowout. In fairness it was very much worth staying up for as the games of deception and teamwork was played with the perfect crowd. So ready to start the day properly tomorrow though.

Consolation Work

Thought getting up early was the secret ingredient to siezing the day but instead I hit roadblocks everywhere. Sat down to write but nothing came naturally. Went for a run but ran out of steam too quickly. Played a game but couldn't get past a tricky bit. I was half convinced that the day was out to get me. It 'almost' didn't feel deserved when I got a message for a week of work coming up. Naturally I jumped at the opportunity but I still couldn't shake how it felt like a bit of a consolation prize.

Bank Holiday Anyone?

Set myself out on a power morning to do a speed run of all the errands that went on ice over the weekend. Freezer defrosted. New toaster collected. Cat food pouches recycled in store. Brake light bulb replaced. Weekly shop completed. I managed to do all this before the coffee in my travel mug was cool enough to sip. With the chores done I gave our new TV a spin with some games and two movies. It basically sounds like I invented a Bank Holiday Monday today.

MS Paint Me

I aided Rebecca's parents in cooking a slap up breakfast for us. That was the hearty meal I needed before lifting out their old TV into our car and later loading it into our house. Did a little cable re-arrange and spruce in honour of the the living room centerpiece. At long last, we join the modem era and have access to HD live broadcasting. No more will Bake Off nights or Eurovision be witnessed in standard definition! 

I actually wanted to play around with it a bit more but I got suckered into some online games with some chums. We were all influenced by social media to get this new game where players hide themselves in a funny map, then paint themselves so they match their surroundings. I outdid myself by recreating the texture of a wooly jumper, all with the same tools as MS Paint. We had so much fun that we lost all track of time too. Only our yawns betrayed us and made us realize that sleep is probably a good idea.