JOURNALS

Today has been a surprisingly eventful Friday. The day kicked off with a trip into town to visit the estate agent, the bank and Mary. This whole studio sale dragging on forever feels like it's consuming my entire existence. I had high hopes we'd be done months ago, and here we are. So I started the morning with a sense of grim determination to pin things down.

Spoke to the estate agent first and got the usual round of reassurances, which I trusted about as far as I could throw them. It's all "soon" and "almost there," with no concrete dates. Annoying. Then it was over to see Mary, who's been a straightforward breath of fresh air compared to the labyrinthine estate agent nonsense. She’s keen to buy the place, and now I'm kicking myself for not advancing her offer weeks ago.

Back at the studio, I dived into editing the #Weeknotes video. Editing is oddly both relaxing and frustrating. No chance for quick wins here; it's all grind. Started just before lunchtime and worked my way through, bit by bit. Despite periods where I felt like I was just watching progress lines crawl across the screen, I actually made some decent headway. Music added, final colour grading done, finally I could start uploading around 3 PM.

By the time the video was uploading, it felt like the day had both flown by and been an eternity. Tidied up the studio a bit while it uploaded, trying to get things somewhat organised before kicking off for the weekend. It’s amazing how cluttered the place can get without notice, and a small bit of tidying can make a massive difference in my mental headspace. Knowing I was wrapping things up for the week helped a bit with the end-of-week fatigue setting in.

Reflection time hit me hard today, especially when summarising interactions with the estate agent, Mary, and the bank. The big takeaway? Start things earlier. Waiting and hoping things would resolve on their own was a mistake. If I'd pursued Mary’s offer weeks earlier, I might be looking at a very different, less stressful situation now. Lesson learned, albeit late.

Editing and uploading the #Weeknotes brought some creative satisfaction, even if it doesn't get me any closer to solving the immediate issue of the studio sale. It’s good to feel engaged with the wider world, even if briefly. While I can’t say it was restful, it did give a sense of accomplishment and provided a mental break from all the incessant worrying about finances and legalities.

Relaxation came in short moments—the chats with Nixie were a highlight—and I took some time to watch a few YouTube videos while waiting for my uploads. Those moments felt like mini victories amidst the chaos, little lifeboats in the choppy seas of my daily stressors.

Ultimately, the day ended on a somewhat positive note. While the studio sale still feels like a sword hanging over my head, I made some progress and got through the day without collapsing. Bagel binge aside, which was possibly not the smartest move diet-wise but sometimes you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to make it through. At least I've got jury service details sorted; small wins count when you’re up against it.

Whatever happens next, happens. For now, I'm calling it a day, capturing a few wins and moving a few balls forward. This weekend should hopefully be less fraught, giving me time to regroup and gear up for whatever hurdles come next. Here's hoping!