Lyrics: “Here Comes the Rain Again” ~ Eurythmics, 1983
There are a dozen different topics scribbled down on various scraps of paper, to keep them in mind to maybe write about. None of those scribbles made it into this post.
Sleep | Yesterday I started worrying that most of my trip to London next week might be spent catching up on sleep in my hotel room. I feel quite knackered recently or to be more honest I feel knackered by the end of most days during the week. I know, I know it mostly comes down to going to bed too late and thus rarely catching the 7 or rather 8 hours I need to feel fully rested. I went to bed around 10 last night and slept till about 8, so obviously needed some catching up. I might do that again today.
Before I was fully awake this morning I lived through a weird dream. Or rather it was weird how clearly I remembered it, the dream as such was the usual kind of weird for a dream. Bro2, my late mum and my late aunt were spending time together in a sort of vacation somewhere in Bavaria, but not the place my mum/aunt are from. There was some discussion about doing / visiting something and we agreed on a time to head out. I then went upstairs and instead of getting ready, I lay down for a nap. Yep, knackered even in my dreams. I overslept, I think and then rushed to get ready, while my brother was making fun of me. We then didn’t head out after all, but did help my mum with something in the house? It all got a bit vague after that. More vague then the first part. No idea, what brought that on. Nor an idea why I so vividly remembered it when I woke up.
London | The prompt could just as well be Vacation. Three more days at work and then off for more than a week filled with fun activities in London / Oxford. I need to make sure I don’t overdo it and at the same time make sure I’m not so paralysed by all the choices and decisions to end u not do anything new and just “hang out”. It can be tricky for me to find the right balance, I realized that over and over in the past. I’ll do my best.
I’ve been writing lists about things to pack and am already charging the various batteries / devices. Getting the passport and Oyster card out of the drawer. Writing down all the clothes I want to pack, hoping for a dry and not too cold week. I bought a new camera insert bag for my backpack yesterday and I’m quite glad with it. it takes up half the space in my spacious bag pack, but that’s something I can deal with.
Books | My biggest challenge in London might be to not buy too many books. To not buy too many books that aren’t even on my list yet. I do have a problem and not much impulse control when it comes to books. Which is nothing new, if you’ve been reading this blog for a while.
Earlier this week a podcast I’ve been listening to made me want to buy a certain book. ASAP. It was only available right away on Amazon, so I bit the bullet, even paid for quick delivery to have it delivered today. And it was. Just not to me. Or not to the self-service pick up kiosk from DHL (German logistics company) I use. I got a pin to open the locker, but it’s not my package that’s in it. Cool. Not! I spent a few minutes on the phone with the customer service, which were as helpful as they could be. It’s not their fault. My package might be in another locker. It might be re-delivered to the right one. I don’t know when. It might happen the week I’m away. I’ll also have no idea who will refund the money for quick delivery.
I’m quite surprised how zen I’m about it all. It’s annoying, but there is nothing I can do about it now. I’m also quite surprised that I didn’t give into the impulse to buy the book as eBook now anyway. And while I’m tooting my own horn here, I’m also quite proud that while I was ordering I didn’t follow the impulse to just order even more books from my list.
When I dropped by Bro3 for a chat today he once again asked me into the room he’s clearing out to show me some stuff. This time: English books I must have bought back when I was still living home and didn’t take me when I moved out. A bunch of Penguin Classics. I haven’t read either then or since, at least as far as I recall. I took them home with me to add it to my unread shelves. I’m beyond help.
