--- title: "Vibe Check #3" author: Thomas Wilson date: 2022-05-06T21:08:00Z slug: 2022-05-06-vibe-check-3 draft: false --- Three of the past four weeks have been a four-day work week. It's been wonderful. And yet still I'm posting this a week later than I'd like. The weather has been overcast, but everything in balance, even good weather. Still, _some_ rain would be nice. To burden the spring metaphor further, April has often felt like it's in service to future things. Professionally, there's a lot of flow, with little turbulence (but high variation). Personally, I'm doing things which bring me joy. I don't feel a craving to have done something, but rather to be doing. I've re-started one-one French tuition with a woman on the internet living in the South of France, who doesn't speak much (any) English. But we converse happily enough for an hour a week while I stumble my way through understanding 15% of what's said to me. It's tough, but I think it's getting easier. I've read (mostly via audiobooks), and continued writing everyday. I've purchased more inks for my pens (after purging my collection 5+ years ago). Writing feels joyful. My task management system is being tested by a lot of things that need doing. It's the corporially-struggling canary in the mines of my productivity. I'm still undecided if the pressure of knowing the things I'm _not_ doing outweighs the benefits of knowing the things I'm not doing. It's also okay to delete, defer, and re-schedule things. Past me was optimistic about what present me could do. While we're moaning, I've also cut down on snacking as much as I could. Nothing sweet before lunch, and no unintentional snacking between meals only. No boredom biscuits. I hate to say it, but I feel so much lighter during the day, and now I find myself less hungry less often. It took a few days to move past severe snack withdrawl. Your body isn't always your friend, it's just a ~~serviceable~~ good house. Highlights of the month include: - Sewing some spring-themed cushions, to replace the Christmas themed cushions (it is May) - Taking an adventure-themed staycation: climbing, canoeing, and cycling (plus a lunch after each) in a three day window. Day four was recovery. - Being given Easter eggs and chocolate. I _love_ chocolate (see snacking note above) - Seeing a school friend for their thirtieth birthday, and regressing ~50% of my life away with people I've not seen in about as long - Drinking red wine with a best friend while overlooking the botanical garden in Oxford Books I've read this month: - [Shadow of the Gods](https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/John-Gwynne/The-Shadow-of-the-Gods/25534879), by John Gwynn. Strong recommend for this book for anyone with even a passing interest in fantasy. Really fun, great concept, clearly written, there's a Rat God and a Dragon God. Yes yes. - [Leviathan Wakes](https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/James-S-A-Corey/Leviathan-Wakes--Book-1-of-the-Expanse-now-a-Prime-Original-series/6888165), by James S A Carey. Another strong recommend. It's a book with space ships, and I'm far more versed in dead gods and trees that fight (see above), but this sci-fi romp has great characters draped over an epic plot. I look forward to reading the entire series. - [This Party's Dead](https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Erica-Buist/This-Partys-Dead--Grief-Joy-and-Spilled-Rum-at-the-Worlds-Death-Festivals/26655491), by Erica Buist. Picked this one up on a whim because I'm a sucker for a book about death. I wasn't expecting it to be so memoir-y, but I've not put it down yet so she's doing something right. - [Islam Explained](https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Islam-Explained-by-Ahmad-Rashid-Salim-author/9781646113231),, by Ahmad Rashid Salim. After realising that I knew precious little about the core beliefs of one of the world's major religions, I thought I'd do the bear minimum and read an "introduction to" book. This book does exactly that, but sometimes with too much verbal padding. - [Amongst our Weapons](https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Ben-Aaronovitch/Amongst-Our-Weapons--The-Brand-New-Rivers-Of-London-Novel/26655429), by Ben Aaronovitch. The latest in Aaronovitch's *Rivers of London* urban fantasy series, which is secretly a love letter to London but with river gods. This is the first one I'm reading while not living in London and it's exactly the same feeling, I love it.