#PhotoMo I took up tag rugby this summer aged 40. It’s the most fun I’ve had playing sport in a long time, even tonight in torrential rain
Women’s hockey QF here we go. Hoping for a miracle🤞
While watching the kayak cross finals on BBC I realised the only thing I’ve been missing from their coverage (through watching on Discovery+) is Hazel Irvine.
Finished reading: The Red Parts by Maggie Nelson 📚
Reading, or watching, anything related to real crimes always feels voyeuristic to me. While it is about a murder and subsequent trial, this book is more about the author whose writing is raw and honest, sometimes brutally so.
I Saw the TV Glow, 2024 - ★★★½
I’ve been thinking about what to say about this all week. I wonder whether my indecision has something to do with the confusion of the film itself.
My focus was more on the themes of identity than the pop culture/fandom element. I had quite a physical response to it. The ache of loneliness. A disconnection from my body. It was difficult to get comfortable in my cinema seat. I felt seen and challenged all at the same time.
There was a lot I liked about the directing. The overall atmosphere is haunting. The composition of some scenes is subtle and artistic - some of the best filmmaking I’ve seen recently. Yet at other times I felt the delivery was a bit heavy handed.
The story lost me a little towards the end but I doubt I’ll ever see another film quite like this.
Finished reading: Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid 📚
Easy summer read. After Evelyn Hugo I’m happy to read more of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s extensive collection.
Summer means silly events take place on the Quayside. Which leads to road closures and diversions. Which results in grumpy bike commuters #PhotoMo
Some observations from the Olympic hockey - there’s far too much waving of hands to claim free hits and GB women seriously need to add some variety to their short corner routines.
Now (July 2024)
The latest look at where my energy and attention is focused now…
Freelance work
The quiet of July and August is giving me an opportunity to rethink my entire freelance business.
My plan for the rest of the year (and beyond) is to:
- adapt activities from my workshops into digital workbooks that I can sell
- refresh my freelancer away days so they can be done at any time
- focus on finding short-term facilitation gigs with small businesses and teams
Part-time employment
I’ve now been in my part-time content design role for just over a year. 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.
I’m still enjoying the variety in the work, getting more involved with the strategy behind projects and leading on discovery workshops focused on user needs. This week I’ve contributed to setting up a user research project too.
There’s a seed in the back of my mind about where the opportunities are for development. I’m a team of one at the moment, and if that grows I’d love to add some research expertise into the mix. I also wonder whether I’ll need to make a decision about increasing my hours. Nothing concrete at the moment, but I want to be prepared should the conversation arise.
Activities
I’ve been really enjoying playing tag rugby over the summer. After attending a taster session in May, I signed up to join the league and was assigned a team. Over the past few months, we’ve really bonded, finishing third in the first mini-season and qualifying for the Cup competition.
At work, there’s a small group of us ‘doing PE’. We started off playing Spikeball and have expanded to throwing a ball between ourselves as we walk/jog along the Quayside.
Through the print studio I’m a member of, I signed up to take part in the 20:20 print exchange. After a lot of thinking, I tested a concept and printing of the edition is under way. I’m still finding the process a little scary, not really knowing how the final piece will come out after three blocks, each adding a different colour/layer.
Relaxing
I am reading a lot at the moment, fuelled by regular trips lunchtime to the city library. On my summer reading pile are:
- The Red Parts by Maggie Nelson
- The Gallows Pole by Benjamin Myers
- War of the Wind by Victoria Williamson
- The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
- Tokyo Express by Seichō Matsumoto
Summer also means that I’m watching a lot of sport. We’re really spoiled for choice at the moment with a variety of forms of cricket and the Olympics. And as we hurtle towards the start of a new football season, my photo library is currently filling up with drafts for my Fantasy Premier League team.
This is a ‘now’ page, inspired by Derek Sivers. Intrigued by this? Read about the origins of the /now page movement then make your own.
The unexpected benefit of re-employment (and an office in town) is that my use of the library has exponentially increased 📚🐛
Finished reading: An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon 📚
I enjoyed this and as a debut novel goes it’s written well. I’m certainly keen to explore what the author did next.
Poppy and I had breakfast in the park this morning to make the most of a rare glimpse of the sun.
Jettisoning networking in favor of kinworking means taking a more ecological approach, one oriented towards nurturing the soil, planting seeds, providing water and sunlight—and then accepting that you have no control over what grows.
From Make kin not nets by Mandy Brown