Hello, 

Remember me? I was devastated to sadly to receive a number of emails complaining that there was no email last week and also that that number was zero, but hey ho, life goes on. I’ve had a busy few weeks and just coming up for air but there’s always some things to share and have been adding to the occasional links list whilst skiving on the toilet or delaying going to sleep in the evening. So here I am, invading your inbox on a Sat evening with yet more things to read. You signed up for it so you can’t blame anyone else. 

Tom Hollanders, a day in the life of
Wonderfully real, warm, ordinary and funny. Thanks to Will for the link.  

Throwback Thurs
Sainsbury's at Foss Bank in the mid 80s. Just look at that big frame. 

The importance of being idle
I've linked to this podcast series before but this episode jumped out at me and really resonated. The idea that we're all so busy and don't actually have time to just be idle for a bit. 

Tom lives life to the full, but he ensures he carves out time to wander around, think, chat with friends and even take naps. He argues that 'idling' is vital to leading a happy, creative and productive existence.

Since listening to this I've stopped working on the train, that's time to just enjoy as downtime watching the countryside roll by.

Productivity debt
Very much in a similar vein to the above. I signed up to this newsletter recently and this first one I received again really resonated. 

...many people (by which I meant me) seem to feel as if they start off each morning in a kind of "productivity debt", which they must struggle to pay off through the day, in hopes of reaching a zero balance by the time evening comes. Few things feel more basic to my experience of adulthood than this vague sense that I'm falling behind, and need to claw my way back up to some minimum standard of output. It's as if I need to justify my existence, by staying "on top of things", in order to stave off some ill-defined catastrophe that might otherwise come crashing down upon my head.

Staying on top of things. Utterly exhausting. 

Thanks for the view, Mr. Mies
A friend sent a book back I'd lent him five years ago (Thanks Nat) and was reminded of just how wonderful it is. This link shows some of the portraits that feature in the book. I love how everyone's idea of home is somewhat different yet all pleasing and joyous. Worth adding to your Christmas list.

CNC machining coloured plywood
Really quite relaxing to watch and a great follow on Twitter.

Camille Walala revives east London high street with community-funded artwork​
So. Much. Wonderful. Colour. 
I slightly object to the word 'revive' as it implies some form of saviour. I'm sure it was grotty but they belonged to people who I'm sure loved their tired spaces. 

How to grow more trees
The Japanese have been producing wood for 700 years without cutting down trees. In the 14th century, the extraordinary daisugi technique was born in Japan... Hard to believe this is real. 

Window swap
Bored of looking out of your own window? Try someone else's. Thanks to Marta for the link. Also this little study of the changes of light through one window was nice this week.

Bet you've never seen an ice wave before
Nope. And it looks terrifying! No thank you.

Hope you have a pleasant weekend planned and that you hold your loved ones dearly and give your wee brain a rest. See you next week (maybe), I'm off for a nap.

Love as always,

Andy