Weekly digest 32
Monday, July 28, 2025I'm writing this having just enjoyed watching England win the Euros. Feels rare at the moment to have things to be proud about in this country, but this definitely counts.
Happenings
- My first week of the summer hols. My wife also works term-time, but she had some stuff to wrap up so worked the first few days, which meant I got a few days just looking after my boys.
- My grandfather passed away. I managed to see him about an hour before it happened, and was able to say goodbye. He was an important role model for me, and there are explicit values and lessons I carry with me that I can say I learned from him. However, I don't feel too sad — he was clearly suffering, and dementia meant he hadn't been my granddad as I remember him for many years.
- Went for a lovely massage, a late father's day present.
- Found myself getting interested in English haiku recently, after bumping into a friend who is really into it. Contemporary English haiku is very brief, but doesn't have to follow the 5-7-5 structure you learned in school. It generally attempts to capture a moment, often nature-themed, by juxtaposing two images or ideas. To read some haiku, you could check out the Heron's Nest archives or read more on the Haiku foundation.
- We went out for a day at a miniature steam engine gala (Mr. 3 loves steam engines). The machines are beautiful — fully functional steam engines about the size of a mobility scooter, but slower. But I do always find myself wondering with these things how something this niche becomes your life's passion!
Fitness
- Tracking my macronutrients the last few weeks is leading to noticeable strength gains. I have been going to the gym for a while, but my consistency in both lifting and nutrition have been patchy. I don't know why I felt surprised when I noticed the improvements, but it turns out if you consistently a) lift weights and b) eat lots then you get stronger.
- I've been learning the sumo deadlift this week and found it suits me much better than the conventional stance. The sumo stance is considered equally valid in competitions, and tends to be favoured by lower bodyweight powerlifters.