{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1", "title": "Emma Cragg", "icon": "https://micro.blog/ekcragg/avatar.jpg", "home_page_url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/", "feed_url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/feed.json", "items": [ { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/03/19/finished-reading-piranesi.html", "content_html": "
Finished reading: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke 📚
\nExcellent. A complex narrative balanced by an easy style made this a pleasure to read.
\n", "date_published": "2024-03-19T08:09:20+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/03/19/finished-reading-piranesi.html", "tags": ["books","micro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/03/18/young-adult.html", "title": "Young Adult, 2011 - ★★", "content_html": "This won’t be leaving a lasting impression, but it fitted my requirements for the evening’s entertaining - 90 minutes of uncomplicated entertainment.
\n", "date_published": "2024-03-18T21:38:23+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/03/18/young-adult.html", "tags": ["films","macro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/03/18/the-most-regretful.html", "content_html": "\n\n“The most regretful people on earth are those who felt the call to creative work, who felt their own creative power restive and uprising, and gave to it neither power nor time.”
\n
A warning from Mary Oliver.
\n", "date_published": "2024-03-18T10:00:53+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/03/18/the-most-regretful.html", "tags": ["quotes","micro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/03/13/ive-just-deleted.html", "content_html": "I’ve just deleted my recurring ‘Publish weeknote’ task from Todoist. Every week it’s been slipping and it’s time to admit that frequency doesn’t work for me. I think I’ll try monthly updates for a while and see if that’s sustainable.
\n", "date_published": "2024-03-13T09:44:12+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/03/13/ive-just-deleted.html", "tags": ["micro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/03/12/the.html", "title": "The 355, 2022 - ★★", "content_html": "Flawed in many ways but entertaining.
\n", "date_published": "2024-03-12T07:50:17+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/03/12/the.html", "tags": ["films","macro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/03/10/ma-raineys-black.html", "title": "Ma Rainey\u0026#039;s Black Bottom, 2020 - ★★★½", "content_html": "A lot like a recorded theatre performance in terms of its staging and extended monologues. And on the whole I think that worked, largely as a result of stellar performances from David and Boseman.
\n", "date_published": "2024-03-10T22:00:35+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/03/10/ma-raineys-black.html", "tags": ["films","macro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/03/10/a-well-balanced.html", "content_html": "A well balanced Sunday
\nFinished reading: Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler 📚
\nI wasn’t as engaged with this book as I was with the first in the series. The telling of the story felt disjointed. However I’m pleased to have seen how Lauren’s story unfolded.
\n", "date_published": "2024-03-08T13:09:53+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/03/08/finished-reading-parable.html", "tags": ["books","micro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/03/06/finished-reading-china.html", "content_html": "Finished reading: China Lake by Meg Gardiner 📚
\nLooking for a new (to me) crime series with a female lead. Trying out a few options by Meg Gardiner. First up Evan Delaney.
\n", "date_published": "2024-03-06T13:05:26+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/03/06/finished-reading-china.html", "tags": ["books","micro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/03/06/weeknote.html", "title": "Weeknote 09/24", "content_html": "Better late than never, here are a few things from the week that was:
\nSmall and perfectly formed. I wouldn’t expect anything less from Celine Sciamma.
\n", "date_published": "2024-02-26T20:01:13+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/02/26/petite-maman.html", "tags": ["films","macro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/02/19/weeknote.html", "title": "Weeknote 07/24", "content_html": "I still don’t feel that I’ve fully got into a rhythm for my freelance days. At the moment I’d say I’m only spending 1 day at most on this work. As a result I made the decision this week to bump a couple of workshops I had originally scheduled to happen in March. They’ll now take place in May.
\nI’m spending much of my freelance time at the moment focused on repositioning my coaching practice and working towards re-accreditation with the International Coaching Federation. This week I outlined exactly what I need to do to achieve that.
\nIt was a subdued week in the office at my part-time job, after we got the news on Monday that a colleague had died. He had been ill for some time and recently left work. Although you could say his death was not unexpected, I think we all hoped he had more time remaining with his family.
\nOn Wednesday, I took the afternoon off to have my induction at Northern Print. I’ve joined as a member to make use of the studio facilities. After the health and safety tour, plus a refresher on using the Albion press, I was left to do my own thing. I focused on printing a new lighthouse design I’d made for the day and with a few tweaks to the pressure of the press I was pretty happy with the results.
\n\r\nThis week’s Monday night movie was Official Competition (before it disappeared off Netflix). I followed this up with a trip to the cinema on Tuesday after work to see All of Us Strangers.
\nI decided I needed a brief pause after reading The Parable of the Sower. When a book leaves such a lasting impression whatever follows it always gets a raw deal. And yet, there was still time for reading, so I picked up a crime novel to be my stop-gap. These types of book are perfect for this situation; they’re formulaic and therefore easy to read and there’s no pressure on them to live up to what came before them.
\nBoth Izzy and I had more free time than usual over the weekend, so we went on a Saturday morning date. First pancakes for breakfast (as we were both busy on Shrove Tuesday), then on to the touring Yevonde: Life and Colour exhibition at the Laing Art Gallery.
\n", "date_published": "2024-02-19T14:51:13+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/02/19/weeknote.html", "tags": ["weeknotes","macro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/02/17/finished-reading-the.html", "content_html": "Finished reading: The Shadow District by Arnaldur Indridason 📚
\n", "date_published": "2024-02-17T16:26:51+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/02/17/finished-reading-the.html", "tags": ["books","micro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/02/13/all-of-us.html", "title": "All of Us Strangers, 2023 - ★★★", "content_html": "There was a moment about three quarters of the way through the film when I became aware of the soundtrack of sobs in the cinema screen. I wondered briefly why my heart was so impenetrable today. Then Harry’s story reached its denouement and I felt my heartstrings being tugged.
This portrait of loneliness and grief made a lot more sense when the credits rolled and I saw it was based on a novel by a Japanese author.
\n", "date_published": "2024-02-13T21:00:30+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/02/13/all-of-us.html", "tags": ["films","macro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/02/12/official-competition.html", "title": "Official Competition, 2021 - ★★★", "content_html": "I knew I was going to enjoy this as soon as Lola started flicking through her annotated script.
\n", "date_published": "2024-02-12T21:03:39+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/02/12/official-competition.html", "tags": ["films","macro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/02/12/weeknotes.html", "title": "Weeknotes 05-06/24", "content_html": "After a busy weekend, I mostly took Monday off to catch up with myself I did some digital spring cleaning, got some household chores done and made a plan for the lino project I want to take to my upcoming induction at the print studio.
\nI watched Bottoms for Monday movie night. I really wanted to like it more than I did.
\nWe had a dog sitting duty Tuesday to Friday which meant I worked from home for an extra day.
\n\r\nOn Saturday, I went to Wakefield to play hockey. It was a close match, in which we spent the majority camped in our defensive half. However, we held strong, defended a slender lead and finally came away with three points.
\nI rounded the week off by giving blood (on a Sunday!) It was my 37th donation and keeps me on track to reach 40 within the year of my 40th birthday. It was a good donation day as there were mint Clubs on offer in the refreshment area.
\nThis was a week of ups and downs.
\nLacking in chemistry, I got zero connection with the characters. Although very well acted, as you’d expect, it left me totally cold. Had I been watching on my own I reckon I’d have switched off before the hour.
\n", "date_published": "2024-02-11T21:25:07+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/02/11/maestro.html", "tags": ["films","macro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/02/10/finished-reading-parable.html", "content_html": "Finished reading: Parable of the sower by Octavia E. Butler 📚
\nOutstanding. I can’t explain the comfort (not sure that’s the right word… hope, maybe?) this book gave me despite the world it is set in. I’m not ready to let it go yet.
\n", "date_published": "2024-02-10T17:55:22+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/02/10/finished-reading-parable.html", "tags": ["books","micro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/02/06/is-it-possible.html", "content_html": "Is it possible to go into a bookshop or library and only come out with the specific thing you went in for? Asking for a friend 📚
\n", "date_published": "2024-02-06T19:28:36+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/02/06/is-it-possible.html", "tags": ["books","micro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/01/29/bottoms.html", "title": "Bottoms, 2023 - ★★★", "content_html": "Watched on Monday January 29, 2024.
\n", "date_published": "2024-01-29T21:02:20+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/01/29/bottoms.html", "tags": ["films","macro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/01/29/weeknote.html", "title": "Weeknote 04/24", "content_html": "Monday saw the first monthly planning session of the year. We had a great turnout of 20 participants which is largely due to teaming up with Freelancer Magazine this year for some cross-promotion. Later the same day I had my first 1-1 coaching supervision. Previously I’ve done group supervision but it was great to be able to focus on my own practice for the hour. I came away with lots to think about!
\nWork ticked along nicely this week both from an employed and a freelance perspective. In the office we had the return of our monthly book chat where this month we talked about the brilliance of Claire Keegan - I started and finished reading Foster on Tuesday. For the Janury distance challenge I’m on course to pass 150km before the 31st, and my team is in with a shout of winning the team challenge.
\nIzzy and I went out for a fancy meal on Thursday at a local restaurant. I’ve been wanting to go for a while but their signature 10-course tasting menu felt a little outside our budget. For January they were offering a 5-course menu as a mid-week special so I snapped up a table. It was delicious and I’ll be saving up to go back.
\nAfter last Saturday’s hockey match was cancelled due to snow, training this week was cancelled due to high winds. All of this meant that I headed into a double-header weekend feeling like I couldn’t remember the last time I picked up a hockey stick! It was a tough weekend on and off the pitch with two 3-0 losses (despite relatively strong performances) and some rather childish behaviour from notable members of the team.
\nThis week’s films for me were a rewatch of Caramel, an old favourite, and Wingwomen which was surprisingly entertaining. Izzy and I also finished Mare of Easttown.
\n", "date_published": "2024-01-29T20:07:12+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/01/29/weeknote.html", "tags": ["weeknotes","macro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/01/29/wingwomen.html", "title": "Wingwomen, 2023 - ★★★", "content_html": "Watched on Sunday January 28, 2024.
\n", "date_published": "2024-01-29T13:36:35+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/01/29/wingwomen.html", "tags": ["films","macro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/01/29/finished-reading-convenience.html", "content_html": "Finished reading: Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata 📚
\n", "date_published": "2024-01-29T07:41:41+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/01/29/finished-reading-convenience.html", "tags": ["books","micro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/01/24/now-january.html", "title": "Now (January 2024)", "content_html": "The latest look at where my energy and attention is focused now…
\nWith my full focus in the run up to the end of last year on my freelancer away days, I am a little slow off the mark with plans for this year.
\nHere are some things I know right now:
\nBeyond that, we’ll see.
\nI’ve now been in my part-time content design role for eight months. It’s taken a while to get the service off the ground, as you might expect, but right now my time is booked up at least a month in advance.
\nI’m enjoying the variety in the work from scoping projects through discovery workshops and developing content strategies to reviewing planned and existing content to make improvements based on user needs and journeys.
\nThe best bit though, is my colleagues. I feel really settled and am definitely benefitting from the daily chat and support that you just can’t get when working solo, no matter how good your networks are.
\nEvery Wednesday morning when I’m free I’ve been attending Freelancer Mag’s virtual co-working. I’m enjoying both the routine of this and also the familiarity that’s growing within the group of regular attendees.
\nOn Monday mornings (and sometimes Wednesdays too) you’ll find me journaling alongside other members of the Sonder community.
\nThroughout January I’ve been taking part in a distance challenge through work. This has got me out walking at every spare opportunity. With a week to go I’ve reached 118km. Can I get to 150 for the month? While I don’t think I’ll be able to keep up the same commitment in future months, I will still make time for at least one longer walk every month.
\nI’ve become a member at a local print studio and have my induction scheduled for early February. I’ve dabbled with linocut for the past few years and attended a couple of courses. This year I want to develop my skills and I think to do that access to a proper studio with a variety of presses will help improve the quality of the finished work.
\nWe’re over half way through the hockey season now and it’s an understatement to say it’s a tough one. The league we’ve been promoted into is obviously a step up than previous seasons, but I don’t think we anticipated just how hard it would be. All our energy is going in to winning just enough points to stay up.
\nFor the new year I’ve instituted Monday movie night. While my wife is out at college I plan to work my way through my watchlist.
\nOther than that, my main methods for relaxing are:
\nThis is a ‘now’ page, inspired by Derek Sivers. Intrigued by this? Read about the origins of the /now page movement then make your own.
\n", "date_published": "2024-01-24T16:13:19+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/01/24/now-january.html", "tags": ["now","macro"] }, { "id": "http://ekcragg.micro.blog/2024/01/24/finished-reading-foster.html", "content_html": "Finished reading: Foster by Claire Keegan 📚
\nAnother remarkable story. We join somewhere in the middle and leave before its end, yet Keegan’s writing always feels like just enough.
\n", "date_published": "2024-01-24T12:57:40+00:00", "url": "https://stream.ekcragg.co.uk/2024/01/24/finished-reading-foster.html", "tags": ["books","micro"] } ] }