Somehow this week managed to cram in everything at once: kicking off a brand new role, keeping the kids busy through cold, soggy school holiday weather, and once again hosting my German cousin. Perfect timing, right? The flu is finally fading, though it left me with a chesty cough that still steals my breath and reminds me to ease up. No medals handed out for it, but we juggled the chaos, stitched together something, and made it to Friday in one piece.
At work I stepped into my new role and already feel pulled apart. The project has been running for a couple of years without any real traction, and each meeting brings a fresh topic. After six months mastering one problem I am back at square one, though maybe I handle the disorientation better these days. One week in, I will give it time.
School holidays arrived just as my German cousin walked straight into our quarantine zone. The children have little energy to entertain her and I have even less. We found pockets of activity: a dog walk, a movie, a mall wander, a fire show in the city, dinner at Grease Monkey (quality very much on the slide, would recommend BZ Burger way more) and a family expedition to Costco. Hardly a dream itinerary, but I warned her about the weather and my lack of leave, so expectations were low. Boredom lingers around the edges, yet any time with family, especially when years may pass before the next visit, feels worth keeping.
I dream of getting back onto the trails. Early mornings still feel risky while this cough rattles my chest, so perhaps I will be kind and wait a few more days. A couple of gentle gym sessions might rebuild momentum. With a few more weeks until Japan, there’s no sense starting a new training plan; slow jogs with Bob and maybe a short tempo session before we leave should be enough.
For now I will round out this quiet week with Sohn’s Oblivion, a lovely live version.. The song moves at a slow pulse, all breath and soft synths, a reminder that sometimes the body and mind need to sink into a blank, weightless space before they can rise again