January 2022

Well, it's 2022, and if progress so far is anything to go by, this is going to be a year of 'Emma procrastinates wildly and struggles to get any work done'. Hoping this is just a January vibes thing though..

January 1st feels like MONTHS ago... I was still in COVID isolation, and absolutely living it up. Reading for hours every day, playing as much Ring Fit as I could manage (not much), cuddling the dog, and cooking nice meals.

Every Sunday me and my partner watch a movie. We did all the James Bond movies, then all the Star Wars, the Matrix movies, the extended Lord of the Rings edits, and now we're working our way through Studio Ghibli's output. Every single one nearly brings me to tears simply because of how BEAUTIFUL they are, and Kiki's delivery service was no exception (not to mention some other slightly on-the-nose stuff in there about finding/following your passion, burning out etc, eeesh)

Talking of burning out, I absolutely COULD NOT face going back to my downstairs desk when I had to start work again (and actually, couldn't, as in an effort to protect our one housemate who hadn't so far got COVID, we were still confining to our room as much as possible). So instead I resumed work from my bedroom armchair in the sun, and found it much easier to get going again.

Dunno why we bothered though, our housemate got COVID after all, in fact she had it for days before even telling us about it (don't get me started on that one). Anyway, nice to be able to freely move around the house again!

Since I quit working at Kings back in July I've been doing one day a week with Geeks For Social Change, as general design/copywriting dogsbody (and loving it!)... However as the only person on the team who can't code (won't code?!) I felt at a disadvantage in some ways. Kim is slowly teaching me tiny bits and pieces like 'what is Github' 'how do you turn on github' and... not much further than that, but still a steep learning curve for me!

Was VERY excited to try Wagamama's Veganuary special, tempura 'not fish', spicy sweet potato chip things, mushy edamame, katsu, tartare sauce and chilli. Unfortunately by this point my taste had still not returned, so all I can really say is 'it was spicy' and 'it felt good in my mouth'

 Once Beatrice had done her quarantine and Tabitha was back from her parents, we had a second go at house-christmas, with another big roast and finally swapping our presents, and it was cute!

Various people got me scented candles for Christmas. I only decided quite recently that I like scented candles, so this was very exciting. However I regret to inform everyone that it seems like scented candles excerbate my still-ongoing COVID cough, so I don't get to indulge this habit for now. Boo. (I am going to see a doctor soon because I am still struggling when out in the cold/forced to talk a lot, which is a shame because I love going out in the cold and talking a lot)

Weirdly though, exercise (as long as it's not in the cold) isn't too much of an issue, so back to the gym it is. 

This drawing didn't work quite as well as I'd hoped, oh well. But anyway, having really not left the house very much for nearly 3 weeks, it was nice to go into central London, buy a big bag of sushi rice from Japan Centre, load it into my granny-wheely-trolley and come home again.

Perhaps the most boring visual diary ever, but, my landlord finally re-grouted my bathroom and retiled the floor! YAY!

I do actually quite like my landlord, he keeps our rent relatively low, is a friendly and interesting guy, and during lockdown #1, him and his kids used to come and walk Charlie for me almost every day. He does have a tendency to patch fix house issues that maybe need a proper job doing though, and the bathroom was no exception. I'd asked for it to be repainted in mould proof paint, but instead he just slapped a bit of standard emulsion over the worst of the mould and was like 'ta-da!'... So I went out and bought a can of proper anti mould paint and did it myself. (And believe me, I HATE DIY, so this was a real trial). And then I cooked a big dinner! (Yes, both procrastination from doing some actual work)

 In truth though, work has been quite quiet this month. As a freelancer I am trying not to be stressed about it, and instead lean into taking the breaks I'd been saying I so desperately needed. In between short morning and afternoon of work, a lunchtime stroll with an old uni friend I hadn't seen in over a decade, who it turns out lives just over the river from me. Was weird (but nice) to catch up after so long, strolling through Battersea Park in the winter sunshine.

Bought myself a cute jumper to stave off the winter chills.

Cleaned out the washing machine which has honestly got to be one of the worst household jobs that exists, and which I had been putting off for literally MONTHS.

Usually I answer phones for Samaritans but it's fun to get out and about, so I jumped at the chance to go stand in Waterloo station wearing a big flourescent green bib and smiling (behind a mask) at people while handing out leaflets about what we do. (Kinda sucks though because most people think we're trying to get money out of them, which makes sense — I'd assume that too — but actually we were just there to promote our services). I wore about 10 layers because of the cold in the station and the bibs were XXXL so I felt like a particularly giant green blob

Then I had like one day where I had to do everything all at once and it was... BAD?! What if work is bad, you guys. Or what if I'm just still very tired.

But then it was fine again, and me and my friend went out for ramen and to see some art, as it should be.

One of my 2022 things is that I want to do is walk the Capital Ring, a series of well documented/planned (by TFL I think?) walks that loop around the inner edges of London. Started the first section with my old friend Alex, from Hendon Central to Highgate, and it was GREAT, very excited to do the next one!

Tried and failed to convey some really complex ideas graphically but made a thing I quite liked anyway.

Then at the weekend I finally went to MARGATE!! Trendy Margate that everyone loves, apparently. I guess I can see why, it is real trendy and being by the sea is just the best. Don't think I wanna move there myself though, but it was good to visit. Finally got to see my friend Kier at his new(ish) record store Ghost Papa, and meet his partner, baby and cat! Ate some really really good chips! Saw some more art! Got really cold! Living the January day trip dream.

Me and my partner are making a silly zine about all the James Bond movies we watched. I illustrated them all as we went, apart from the very first one: Dr. No. So obviously we had to rewatch it so I could do this.

Hello, it's me, I still have not gone back to my desk and am struggling to do more than about 4 hours work a day, aaagh etc

Another new thing is that I'm finding it really hard to do things in the evenings. COVID fatigue or just out of practice because of the pandemic? Anyway you might notice I am always trying to schedule social things during the day and outdoors and that's because it just seems easier to function at the mo? We had a couple of friends over for dinner and a boardgame and I just felt totally wiped at the end of it.

In another day of wild procrastination, I went to a matinee of Phillip Pullman's 'La Belle Sauvage' theatre adaptation and it was INCREDIBLE, cannot recommend highly enough. Then after a very mediocre pizza, I went to the book launch of Theatrum Mundi's 'Sonic Urbanism: Listening to Non-Human Life', a compilation of thinking about sound experiences in the city. There was a cat in the venue who would not leave. Excellent.

Still reaaallly struggling with my throat though. It just feels like there's constantly something stuck in it and I'm just having to clear my throat or cough all the time. It's really annoying and kind of scary at times. Like, will this ever end? Cough syrup does not help, thanks for nothing pharmacist.

Me and Heidi went to see the 'Joy' exhibition at the Wellcome Collection, and then discovered that attempting to get a meal in Soho on a Saturday night is an absolutely hopeless endeavour, so we came home and had Chinese takeaway instead.

After letting my Borrow My Doggy membership lapse, I rejoined literally just so that I could message the incredibly beautiful Zaffa (a miniature Chase) and her owner Jude. We went out for a stroll together and it was fun! Hoping for a bit of a friendship of mutual support with dog care, as we have two dogs with very similar (minimal) exercise needs, a love of napping, and a similar love of company.

Got a tattoo today! It's like this, but perfect.

Onwards into February, which will hopefully involve me actually getting some work done...