Hello again! It’s been a while, ey? Don’t worry, I’m not dead, I’ve just had 6 months of feeling fairly “meh”, lacking the motivation to do much other than work, eat, sleep and walk the doggo. Not depression or anything, just – I suspect at least – mental fallout from a testing couple of years for everyone.

By the end of 2022 I was feeling quite misanthropic and pessimistic about humanity’s chances of surviving long-term given how badly we (particularly those in authority and the unregulated bullshit-storm that is social media) handled Covid, and increasingly disconnected from society.

I’ve spent 2023 working to improve things, attacking the ennui through :-

• Reading up on Buddhism (though not to the point of embracing orange and taking the Bic razor to my head) and practicing mindfulness meditation – worked well if I was already feeling fairly calm, not so much when anxious
• Taking CBD Oil to reduce anxiety and be more calm generally – again it seems to work to some degree, though it’s impossible to quantify to what extent it helps and tastes like you’ve been licking an ashtray.
• Having weekly sessions with a local psychotherapist to tackle some of the reasons what this anxiety is about and what may have happened in the past to cause triggers – if it’s good enough for Tony Soprano it’s good enough for me. This has been really helpful, and while not cheap I would recommend it for anyone feeling like they have mental knots they need to detangle. It’s amazing how many “lightbulb moments” you have while during sessions.
• Taking a month’s break from work to relax and get some spring cleaning and chores caught up with.

With another UK trip locked in for August and an exciting new permanent job set to start next week I’m feeling much more positive and upbeat about the future, for now at least.

Ouch! Made the mistake of weighing myself at the weekend and found I have bloated up to nearly 102kg. So the clothes weren’t shrinking in the cupboard …

So it’s back on a diet until the end of March to get back into double figures.

It’s bye for now to wine, pies, chocolate, pizza, McShame and chips.

Hello porridge, salads and Asahi Dry Zero calorie-free beer, though not in the same meal.

Can’t go full cold turkey on the chocolate, resorting to nibbling through 2 Matchmakers a night like a junkie rabbit.

If necessary I might even consider doing a sit-up. Last resort bit it’s an option.

Nothing can emanate boredom quite like an unwalked dog watching you do household chores.

I’m going to live a long life ….

Here is yesterday’s attempt at a salmon en croute which as you can see looks more like a Gregg’s Steak Bake but there you go. Still tasted nice.

Let’s not dwell on the Dog Turd Potato, which were supposed to be elegant Duchess potatoes if my wussy hands could have piped the mashed potato properly.

Visitor to the garden this morning. Love hearing their calls, so distinctive.

So Jacinda’s had enough and decided to step down as PM. Don’t blame her, what with everything she’s had to deal with over the past 5 years. It would have worn anyone out.

There’s a very real chance the next PM might live a couple of streets away (Chris Hopkins) which shows what a small place NZ is!

I’m thinking this could be The Duchess’s time to shine. We all know she’s been planning her own World for decades, so I might start a campaign for her to take over.

Mind you she’s always said she’d put contraceptive in the water so could be a radical change of policy.

Whatever happens I’m grateful our little country had a smart, empathic grown up in charge through the Covid years, and hope we don’t fall for the populist bullshitters that have infected the rest of the Western countries.

It’s been a tough day for our furbaby.

First I woke her up early and followed her round the garden wielding a ladle, waiting for a chance to catch a wee sample (so much easier for humans).

Then I left her at the vets for the day where she got sedated, scanned, prodded and her tongue operated on (cutting back some unwanted frenulum tissue causing her to Drool excessively).

Now the poor dear is wandering around the house restlessly, emitting a neverending string of bloody drool while we gently wipe her face with kitchen roll.

Now waiting on blood test results to find out why she’s anaemic and has a thinning “rat’s” tail – current thinking is an autoimmune disease called Addison’s which at least is treatable. Fingers crossed things go well and the drool subsides soon.