This morning I started as I often do, on days off, with a fresh pot of coffee. Getting out of bed and going to a relatively chilly kitchen serves to wake me up. I bring a mug full back to the bed room and then, whilst it’s cooling down, indulge in some meditation. Just fifteen to twenty minutes, starting with some deep breaths and then onto some mindfulness; scanning down , counting breaths and generally vacating the mind except for the present moments. It’s a good way to recharge a little.
Morning Coffee
I always wake up too early. What is too early though? Walking up early is, in itself, not a bad thing. I can’t think of a more wasteful way to spend a day off then lying in bed for half of it. Sure, it’s good to relax and unwind but, for me, part of that is looking back and feeling that I accomplished something too. It might be a book I finished or an album or podcast I’ve been meaning to listen to or a movie I’ve been promising myself that I’d watch. One of the problems is that there’s never enough hours in the day to do all these things so I’m always playing catch up. Lying in bed dozing wouldn’t help with those goals at all!
Yesterday was certainly a long day. I was up at 4.30am to get to work for the triennial elections for Workplace and Health & Safety representative. I was keen to make sure that the whole process was as transparent as possible so that none of us could raise any allegations of unfair practices afterwards.
It all went well in. the end, and I won a further three year term, until the end of March 2025.
By the time we had all the counting done and verified and posted onto the noticeboard, and I got everything cleared up and put away, it was after 7pm. Kathy had come to meet me, and was waiting patiently for me to get finished so that we could go and get something to eat.
We waited for a 111 bus to take us to the local pub so we could have a late dinner, as it was rather too late to go home and cook at this time.
I had been muttering at the Queen’s Head because the Fuller’s ESB had been taken off due to it not being in enough demand to keep it. There’s only two of us going in there and drinking it, and I only go in once or sometimes twice a week as does the other drinker. Between us there is no way we can get through 72 pints before it’s out of condition.
Anyway, On arrival I found that they’d got another of my favourite beers on, and actually one that’s much better as a session ale. That’s Darkstar’s Hophead. It’s only 3.8% ABV against ESB’s 5.5% so it’s a better quaffing ale.
I’ll certainly be going back for some more of those, in fact, I might wander up there this very afternoon if I get all my computer-based work completed by then.
My days are fuelled by coffee, and the beer comes later after work is done!
Still, at the Queen’s Head, my appetite was satisfied by their excellent fish, chips and mushy peas and some of the aforementioned Hophead before heading home and an early night after that 4am awakening!
I could be talking about aircraft as I live next to a major airport, but no, I am talking about the speed that this year is exhibiting! We’ll be into March in another week.
Notepad & Coffee
I’ve been keeping a journal each day, like I did last year, but again I’m a bit naughty at times. I get busy and/or tired and forget to update it on a daily basis. Then I play catch up for a few days or even a week. That’s not really the best way to journal I know, but at least I maintain it fairly well. My main reason for journaling isn’t really for any meditation or mindfulness purposes but merely to record what I’ve been up to. it can be quite interesting (at least for me), to look back over previous years and see what I’ve been up to.
At work we’ve been back and forth over pay talks. Right now, inflation is at a 30 year high. CPI is currently at 5.2% and RPI is at 7.5%. Our current offer is only 3.1%. The company is pleading poverty (as always) but however it’s dressed up, it’s a pay cut in real terms. We have another ballot this coming Friday, so let’s see what the members want and take it from there.
I’ve recently been raised to the third degree at my Masonic Lodge which opens up a lot of new avenues for me. I’m taking the advice of some longer-term brothers though, and taking things easy, no need to rush headlong into things and regret it later. It’s quite a busy time though with a meeting at another location coming up next week and another next month. A curry night is also planned and there’s a dinner and dance in May which my wife and I will attend.
Back to the work front and there’s union elections at the end of next week. These come up every three years, and I’m hoping to retain my position as the workplace representative. I enjoy the challenge for the most part and am keen to continue.
My wife and I are still going long with the Intermittent Fasting. It does stop us eating and drinking all evening as we start fasting right after our evening meal which is normally done by 7pm.
This evening though, we’re both quite weary for some reason, so we’re planning an early night. Let’s hope I can stay asleep all night, but that’s another story!
