The back still quite painful, but shifted a little so that it no longer feels tight and seized up, but does feel more painful. Despite more stabby pain this felt like a positive development somehow. A day of small annoyances otherwise, some at work (a bad edit of something I’d written), some from myself (realising […]
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New work
Began a new bit of work today, and of course immediately got multiple emails about other work opportunities, bah. So it seems to go, feast or famine.
Disaster strikes
Did something to my back this morning and am now feeling quite miserable. It’s hard to stand up, especially from sitting. It’s sure to be temporary, but very dispiriting and it was truly unsettling to try to stand up and feel that my lower body is unable to support me. We had someone over for […]
Working hours
Had a meeting and have changed my work plans for the first half of this year to make them more reliable but also more restrictive. A bit of a hassle since we’re off to Egypt soon, but necessary if I’m to take a long break in the summer. What I’ll be working on is moderately […]
Beyond Balat
Yesterday was a sunny cold day so we went to Balat, walking down the new pathway along the Golden Horn which is a genuine delight. Such a change from when we first arrived, when there were countless immense roads with high-speed traffic to cross, and later, the never-ending construction zones. Now we can walk across […]
Spa day
Yesterday was spa day, and thus very hectic. First, my hour with the personal trainer, then a quick shower and dashing off to a salon to get my arms and legs waxed as the spa would require bare limbs. Then dash back to find the GF in the shower, so made my tea. Then took […]
Sun and rain
The morning was sunny after several days of living under a steel bowl. We went to Postane, the neighbourhood community centre and vegetarian cafe (which also provides our weekly vegetable box, yoghurt and, when available, fresh milk) for lunch. Postane can be hit and miss but is generally wholesome and today they had yayla corba, […]
Animal shelter
Learned that someone in Pakistan has set up a shelter for retired police dogs who, the police in their enlighted way, would just shoot when their noses became less acute. Same for the horses. I was asked if I knew anyone who wanted to adopt a police dog, with the dogs available fetchingly named Cruiser, […]
Best UN day
The best UN day is undoubtedly World Steelpan Day, even though it refers to the music rather than the cooking implement. I particularly like the creativity with which it is linked to the achievement of the SDGs.