I woke to complete darkness this morning, a rough reminder that we’re now in October.
I didn’t grow up in tropical climes. Unless you consder Dublin a haven of sunshine and warm breezes. (It is not). But even now, in the midst of my forty-eighth year on this planet, I’m still not coping well with the departure of brighter mornings and evenings and and onslaught of wind, rain and darkness.
ππ» Read on…
ππ° Doing some researchβ¦
πΈ The view from here.
Definitely having a lazy afternoon today. I’m researching a planned visit to Hong Kong and Taipei next year. Doing some online shopping. Planning for the work week ahead. All from my armchair. With no plans to leave the apartment whatsoever.
I’ve a slightly quieter work week ahead, thankfully. Last week was really very full on. And much of this week is going to be spent alone, as my other half is off to Mallorca to visit family for a few days. Lots of time to catch up with TV I’ve been meaning to watch, and life admin I’ve let slip. As well as catching up with friends - I’m not going to be a hermit while he’s away!
βοΈ A propos of nothing, just 44 days until my next trip to Japan.
Could I be more excited? I’m already making a todo list for the visit, taking in Osaka (again) and Tokyo (again!!!).
Right now, it mostly consists of places to go and soak in a hot public bath with strangers, but I’ll be adding food-related places too soon.
Who else flies to the other side of the planet for an onsen and some ramen? Obviously, there’s more to the visit each time I go, but I swear my happiest memories of Japan involve being boiled alive in a communal bath and then working my way through a seemingly bottomless bowl of delicious tonkotsu ramen.
πΈ When you realise it was your neighbour flying you home from Edinburgh!
π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ After a lovely dinner and wander round town last night, my Edinburgh visit took a sour turn.
An almost sleepless night in possibly the noisiest hotel I’ve ever stayed in. And I’ve been in a few! Slamming doors, guests shouting, people running down corridors.
Yes, best to avoid the Ibis “Hotel” (hostel?) on South Bridge, Edinburgh. Unless you love plastic surfaces and want to relive life as a student, circa 1995.
Good thing I don’t have to run a workshop this morning… Oh!
π Found a fab little ramen place minutes from my hotel. Had a delicious bowl of Tonkotsu ramen and a heaping dish of Takoyaki π
πΈ Beautiful evening light over Edinburgh.
πΈ Gorgeous blue skies over Edinburgh today.
πΈ Soaking up some Scottish sunshine βοΈ Carpe diem and all that.
βοΈ Amazing but true: Iβm wearing shorts and sitting out in the sun here in Fife this afternoon. Most unexpected and very welcome!
π Still in Scotland and just back from the vet with my Mumβs cat. Thankfully heβs been given a clean bill of health after a few worrying days. Vet thinks he just ate something that disagreed with him.
πͺπͺ A photo-filled summary of my visit to Tallinn back in May:
I was quickly sucked in by the hardcore coffee and pastries videos, clips of medieval city walls and cute bars. And so we planned a long weekend β and enjoyed every single minute.
ππ» Baltic Adventures
π¦ A travel memory from Japan back in 2017:
You only need to let your guard down for the moment and youβll have a deer stealing the entire bag, or attempting to chew a hole in your shorts.
ππ» Visiting Nara: Deer me
πΈ Went for a walk around the lovely Pittencrieff Park in Dunfermline earlier and got quite up close and personal with some of the local peacocks. They have freedom of the entire park and go where they like.
Having a very lazing, relaxing morning here in Fife. I might go for a walk while it’s dry. Then it’s time for a roast dinner, followed by taking my mum to the cinema to see Alien: Romulus.
I’m sure we’ll all sleep soundly tonight!
βοΈ On approach to Edinburgh.
I snapped this Friday evening as we flew over the Firth of Forth, just a few short minutes before landing in Edinburgh. If it’s not too cloudy, the views for the last ten minutes of this flight are always stunning.
πΈ The view from take-off.
Friday evening, London City Airport, just before departure for Edinburgh. I thought the light looked incredible. And for once, the plane window wasn’t too filthy to take a pic through.
π» A summary of what I did, thought and experienced this week:
ππ» That was the week that was…002
πΈ I snapped this out the window of my flight from Dublin to London on Wednesday. At the time, I thought the clouds looked impressive and a little weird. But that may have been my jet-lag addled brain seeing what wasn’t actually there…
βοΈ My first day back at work since our break in Singapore. And so of course I’ve been wide awake since 3am, and now find myself in London City Airport, about to fly to Dublin for work.
Who manages my schedule?!??!
Oh. Right. π³
βοΈ Thereβs no experience more likely to bring my holiday vibes crashing to earth than arriving at the soul-destroying pit that is Heathrow Airport.
βοΈ Arrived in Helsinki 45mins early after a super flight with Finnair. Now itβs time for a much neededed shower in the Finnair lounge, followed by all the coffeeβ¦ βοΈ
βοΈ All boarded and settled in. Leaving Singapore shortly and heading for Helsinki with Finnair.
Looking forward toward to another lovely, relaxing flight with one of my favourite airlines. First glass of champagne in hand π₯ See you on the other side.
πΈ Enjoying some hospitality in the BA lounge at Singapore Airport. Iβve been inhaling the chicken curry and supping generously at the champagne bar. It woud be rude not to partake.
