JOURNALS

Today has been a whirl of activity with an unexpected twist early on. For some reason, I had it in my head that the drive to Coventry for the youngest was on Tuesday and Thursday, just because those were the days it's fallen on previously. But, it turns out, it's actually Monday and Thursday this week. So, there I was, up at five o'clock in the morning, preparing for a drive I only realised I had to do last night at about 8 p.m.

Creativity-wise, nothing much popped up today. The Coventry drive threw me off completely. It just wiped out any opportunity for getting into a creative zone. I did think about the essay I need to write about generative art and print, but that's just thinking for later. Not quite the creative outpour I was hoping to have today.

What I did have on my mind, though, was the project automation on my website. There's always room for enhancing things like suggestions and to-do lists. I really want to get those sorted. Also, having a place that gathers the morning questions, the daily to-do list, and end-of-day reflections could be very handy. But none of that was happening today, again, because of the drive. Priorities shifted, and coding got shoved aside.

After returning from Coventry, I allowed myself a bit of self-care. No productivity goals, just a bit of relaxation. I promised myself a nice soak in the tub with some bath salts. My leg and hand muscles needed the relief from all that driving. The car is an automatic, which makes things a bit easier, but I’m still not a fan of such long trips. Long-distance driving really isn't my cup of tea, and minute by minute, it just amplifies the tension in my hands and legs.

Upon getting back, I settled into a not-so-busy schedule. It was very much a "drive, wait, drive, wait" kind of day. The hour-long tidy session at the old studio was a must, ensuring it's in tip-top condition. The place needs to be ready whenever the sale goes through, and I'm committed to maintaining it. After the studio and another session of driving the kids around, it was time for a nap. Definitely didn't get enough sleep last night, so the nap was essential.

In the long run, having today's Coventry drive behind me is a relief. It gives me the advantage of two solid workdays, Tuesday and Wednesday. There's no newsletter to worry about this week, so that's a bonus. Just uninterrupted work, which makes up a bit for today's chaos. That thought alone is something to look forward to.

Wrapping up the day with some crisps and fizzy water was the compromise I made with myself. I hadn't had the energy for a bath, but I did remind myself to start doing stretches for my legs. It's something I keep saying I'll do but never get around to.

Overall, it was a day dominated by driving, waiting, and feeling grateful that this sort of chaos isn’t an everyday occurrence. Reflecting on the day's activities, I recognise that even amidst the hectic scheduling and unexpected drives, there's a strain of resilience and the understanding that sometimes you just need to roll with it.

And anything else? Yes, TIRED.