Good week, considering

Despite having been quite miserable for the majority of the last few months, I thought it probably better to record something positive rather than try to let out a long, anguished, scream in blog form. Everyone already knows about the global march backwards through the Enlightenment and into a new era of Feudal-Fascism so, instead of talking about that, here is a list of good things that happened this week, for future me to relish when looking back on the cadaver scattered wasteland of 2025.

Quiet drink at Blondie’s and C turns up after spotting me through the window.
My cousin wrote a little song about Il Douche. To the tune of “Delta Dawn” by “Tanya Tucker”:
Diaper Don Diaper Don What’s the nappy you have on?
Could it be a life on burgers and french fries?
And did we hear you say you would rule the world your way”Delta Dawn” by “Tanya Tucker”:
With Elon Musk to help you spread your lies.
When he was a boy his daddy called him Dopey Don
The dumbest kid he’d ever set eyes upon
But now he sits in the White House pretending he’s a king
Expecting all the world to come and kiss his ring
Diaper Don, Diaper Don you sure are smelling strong
And the all pervasive pong is hard to bear
Your presence in the White House makes it stink just like a shitehouse
But one fine day you’ll be no longer there
The monthly tradition of going to the Oyster house, followed by a quiet drink at Spice Finch with C, some Pinot Grigio, and a free brownie from the lovely server.
MQIO lives! — I can’t explain this, but it was a work achievement.
Javastation Lives! — this is a personal project that will get its own blog post because I’m surprisingly excited.
At last, after wanting one for 48 years, I can now teleport off this planet.
Severance! I mean…Severance!
Nice domestic cosiness with the flock – and it seems Pepper sometimes practices talking in secret.
A nice Happy Friday at Milkboy with J (also Ax with her new London tattoo and experience of Spittalfields market).
Been listening to some great music ranging from classic Jungle, Angel Olsen, Charlotte Gainsbourg, ambient stuff, Bob Vylan and Amy Taylor.
Wordle, and Globle, and Connections discussions.
Altoids arctic mints – peerless.
Posh lunches: Vernick fish and Dandelion.
New Come Dine and Apprentice (UK obv).
The Philadelphia Orchestra at Kimmel – amazing all round. Ravel and Holst.

It’s almost a year since I last posted. A great deal has happened since that last post, most notably the death of my father. Trying to put the experience into words is beyond me, which is probably why there has been no posts. There are four draft posts in the dashboard, but I couldn’t finish them. So, in a fit of new-year optimism, I’m trying to write things again. Keeping a long way away from personal stuff is this new blog about RISC-V, and this review for Lowes which was in response to an experience that really got on my tits.

On the plus-side of 2022, I managed to start working at a new job that is stimulating, enjoyable, and doesn’t involve dealing with odious-bastard clients. I have learned from experience that when working closely with other people, it’s healthy to be able to have a level of frankness that can iron over disagreements and promote harmony – even if it initially causes upset. Far worse is to let bad feeling brew under the covers and get infected with pent-up frustration; eventually someone will explode and, by then, the damage to the project and the relationships could already be done. Unfortunately, when one of your close work-mates is a representative of the client, you can’t have that level of frankness. So, I’m glad to be out of a couple of messy situations and back to a healthy environment. It’s quite disturbing to discover how tightly my mental health seems to be entwined with the details of my day job.

To kick off the new year, here is a list of media I’ve enjoyed recently:

Happy new year.

Old Fart's Almanac

Category Archives: journal

Good week, considering

2023