Retail Therapy
When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping.
Not that the going has actually got tough, of course. I’ve been outside of my comfort zone, planning some work at home. Getting the trees cut and the trimmings removed was eye-wateringly expensive, and so I decided to project manage the next stage. Wherever we have soil, it's covered by a weed suppressing mat that is in turn covered with gravel. Over the years, weather has migrated some of the gravel and the sun has broken down the mat.
I feel like I’ve talked about the detail endlessly, so I’ll summarise. I need to get 1,000+ square metres plus of mat laid, and 70+ tonnes of gravel spread. Hopefully without injuring anyone, burying a dog or breaking the bank. Wish me luck.
Still - it’s summer and we have some things coming up, so I thought I’d get online and get shopping.
- Another journal from Paper Republic. This time in the XL size which is a bit smaller than A5. Why? Oh stop asking stupid questions! One doesn’t need a reason for a new journal.
- Scotland football shirts. Neither Greece nor Cyprus have made it to the World Cup, so I’m press ganging my local taverna into the Tartan Army.
- Books. Lots and lots of books. I’m filling gaps in my reading, by which I mean acclaimed books that I never got to. So, I’ve just finished East of Eden by Steinbeck. Before that was Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange, and the excellent We by Yevgeny Zamyatin. I’ve also picked several books from Foundry Editions, who are publishing translations of books written by authors of the Mediterranean.
- Loop earplugs. Foo Fighters and old ears don’t necessarily get on, so I’m hoping these will keep me in the good books with Mrs L when we go see them next month.
- Air-conditioning for the living room. My parents started retirement in Cyprus with ceiling fans, then added an aircon unit to the master bedroom. We added more to the office, a guest bedroom and the kitchen. This year - we rounded things out. Bottom line - it’s getting hotter every year.
- Hume Health Band 2.0. I have given Whoop a good run out (8 months or so). However, as a device it is focused on cardio. Splendid if you’re an elite athlete looking to target your training perfectly. I’m not an elite anything. But I am multi-modal - in that I play golf, swim, play padel and walk. I’m interested in creating a lifestyle where a variety of nice activities sort of balance some of the naughtier ones like eating cake and drinking wine. Hume looks a better fit. We’ll see.
- Linen shorts that hopefully will not fall down. My current pairs are a little roomy and looking a mite threadbare.
- Golf balls. My wife once asked why I don’t play with old golf balls. “Because I don’t have any, dear.” My home course is built around a river and is tight. One of the strongest parts of my game is a hearty “FORE LEFT!”. I buy from Vice - a German company that is marginally less silly with its pricing than the more traditional brands.
- Spectacles. Justin, co-host of Stationery Adjacent educated me that reading glasses were probably not the solution to blurry computer screens. Focal length and all that. So, now I have multi-distance glasses from Nooz. For reading, computing and well, chatting. I recommend.
Nine? I can’t have a list of nine. I shall have to order something to get me to ten. Oh, I know...
- A Tom Hessin Rebel fountain pen in Garrison Green and a Kaweco Lunar Sport in Shadow Green, both with extra-fine nibs. I have always been drawn to big soft wet nibs. Of late though, I have been journaling a lot as well as carrying my Paper Republic about, and wanting something finer, more practical and quick-drying. I’ve heard great things about Tom Hessin - and one can never have too many Kaweco. Order in with Cult Pens, who will undoubtedly have them shipped in a flash. They are the best, bar none.
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