atomicules

Mostly walking the dogs

Note: Carla Aakre: things i forgot to tell you. Serious album of the year contender. Up there with Heartworms. Just beautiful.

LINK: And Repeat

I am making a point of taking my whole 1.5% allowance this year, but my months go something like this:

  1. January: Save money for…
  2. February: Mum’s birthday, Dad’s birthday and Valentine’s day.
  3. March: Mother’s day and paying some of February off
  4. April: Catching a break (but typically some cheap/second hand running shoes at this point) and also probably paying for some of February.
  5. May: A’s birthday
  6. June: Father’s day
  7. July: ?
  8. August: ?
  9. September: ? (Maybe saving money for a Christmas present for A).
  10. October: Probably another pair of running shoes
  11. November: Saving money for…
  12. December: Christmas presents for Mum and Dad.

So I’ve two to three months where I could save. I’m trying to be more aware (writing this out has helped me) and (even more) realistic this year: Stuff for A shouldn’t be included on this budget, but seemingly is; Technically one pair of running shoes would do for the total distance I run, but they also get used for dog walking; Second hand running shoes from Vinted help save cash; April and October give me six months per pair of shoes and also kind of works seasonally.

If nothing else crops up in July and August then I shouldn’t have to repeat this post again next year.

That Time Always Ends A Second Before Youre Ready

"That time always ends a second before you're ready."

— The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

Similar to the previous quote, I hope this proves true.

Last one from this book. Three books to go.

And Remembers There Is Such Beauty In The World

"But then she wakes, and sees the pink and orange dawn against the clouds, or hears the lament of a lone fiddle, the music and the melody, and remembers there is such beauty in the world."

— The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

I think I feel the same, but I’m not so old and tired yet.

Heat Hangs Like A Low Roof Over Paris

"Heat hangs like a low roof over Paris."

— The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

I just liked this as an opening paragraph to one of the chapters.

March Is Such A Fickle Month

"March is such a fickle month. It is the seam between winter and spring - though seam suggests an even hem, and March is more like a rough line of stitches sewn by an unsteady hand, swinging wildly between January gusts and June greens."

— The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

I loved this book. I didn’t actually realise it counts as Young Adult which probably explains the short chapters and easy to read prose, but none of that detracts from an absolutely cracking storyline.

Note: It's 2025 and people still just say Hi in Slack.

Note: Meant to say yesterday, but finally got to Kilau Coffee in Aberdeen after about 18 years of living here and wanting to.

Accidentally did it on pace. Could have probably done with the butteries and Irn Bru before hand. Have to take advantage of extra running time though, however and whenever it comes about.

Note: Firefox finally has tab groups again. That's taken over ten years to add back. Can stop using containers as a substitute now.

LINK: Team Våga

I recently spent a stupid amount of money on a new running cap. Given the demise of my banana hat and that it’s spring and no longer “woolly” hat season (my winter running hat isn’t actually woolly) I did actually need one. I wanted something running specific rather than just a cap JUST BECAUSE WHY NOT? I did look on Vinted, but second hand prices weren’t much cheaper and Våga seem like a good brand and worth supporting directly, plus it meant I could buy from my local running shop, which also seemed like a nice thing to be able to do; Although sadly I don’t think my £30 in almost three years is going to be a big help to them; When we moved to town from the city I did envisage being able to join a running club and being able to buy shoes at a shop, but life hasn’t really worked out that way.

Anyway, it’s done now. It is nice. I think I just finally cracked from trying to be so financially restrained all the time. I will regret it next month when it’s my third year anniversary of trying to save £75 up for a laptop.

I got a pink hat to go with my other pink running stuff and because I thought A would love it whereas she has always hated my banana hat - she said this one was even worse :-(. Can’t win.

Did this route again. It’d be cool if I could at least do this once a month, but I doubt I could do it fast over winter so I wouldn’t be able to do it as my fast running, it’d have to be in addition to it. Let’s just see how spring/summer/autumn goes.

Glad that some of my best times still involve hills. I do prefer hilly runs, but it stands to reason that a flat 10k or 15k in town was always going to eclipse my countryside runs (where there was no flat option).

Doing this the day after a lower body workout meant I really felt it.

If Brains Are Houses With Many Rooms

"If brains are houses with many rooms then I live in the basement."

— Sisters by Daisy Johnson

Last one from this book. Have started the next one already.

If There Could Be Only One Of Us It Would Be You

"If there could be only one of us it would be you."

— Sisters by Daisy Johnson

Both haunting and loving.

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