Hey,

Last week was a long-awaited week off. I crammed extra work in in advance, so I didn’t have to think about client stuff at all. I prepped what I could to make this week a smooth return.

When I finally got everything ticked off my to-do list on Friday night, we went to the pub with friends for a drink and to play a board game. A nice way to see in some time off.

Then, on Sunday night, a tickle in my throat appeared and wouldn’t go away. On Monday, I was ill. On Tuesday, I got a positive result on my test. 2.5 years later, it finally got me. After all the risk-avoidance, planning, and care.

I’ve not been completely bedridden, but it sucks nonetheless. The fatigue has been brutal and I’ve got a cough that won’t seem to go away. It’s fucked up our plans a little bit, but not irretrievably. We’ve adapted and made the best Plan B we could.

This week has been busy and I’ve been trying my best to honour my recovering body despite the packed schedule. That’s been the hardest thing—pushing against a limit that shouldn’t be pushed. Desperately trying not to be ill, despite all evidence pointing to the contrary.

There’s no great lesson in slowness or mentality I can share from all this. It’s been a shit couple of weeks, but I’m glad that my body—and my vaccinations—have put me in a position to keep moving through it. I’m looking ahead to Tenerife and our time at Cactus Coliving in a couple of weeks, where I’m hoping a bit of sunshine can aid my convalescence.

Slow down guide

Need a little help moving slower?

Ease your way out of Friday afternoon with this newsletter, a nice cup of something, and a little background music. Steal my setup if you aren't sure where to start.

After I press send, I’ll go and find somewhere to get horizontal. Real horizontal. Not just a sit or a slouch, but a proper stretch-out-and-grin spot. Maybe a sofa, maybe bed, maybe a patch of grass. Let’s see what calls loudest.

I’ll play a quick game of caffeine Russian Roulette, as I’m working my way through Yallah Collee’s Taster Pack at the moment. They’re pioneering import-by-sail, which is as renewable as you can get.

Once I’ve got a cup brewed up, I’ll treat myself to yet another spin of Elijah Wolf’s latest, Holding This In. We watched Elijah mesmerise a woodland of festival-goers last summer, as he sparkled on End of the Road’s Talking Heads stage in his first ever UK gig. Truly the highlight of that September weekend in 2021. His latest single is the highlight of this week in September 2022.

Take it easy,