A shake for dinner works surprisingly well. I’m playing with Huel at the moment, as I think I’ve mentioned before, and it’s easy to make it filling. Not exactly a culinary treat, but some days that’s fine.

There was a time when I really just wanted a pill that filled me up, so that I could continue working. Food took precious time. Things are different these days, but I still see the appeal at times.

All worn out today. It has very little to do with the cheese and wine I consumed last night. Laundry made me do it, promise. On a side note, I like dining out alone every now and then. Alone amongst people is nice.

Some days are just lost from the beginning. Today is such a day, too many things that’ll be taxing, and I’m not really equipped to handle them at the moment. I will, but it’ll be hard, and that’s that.

At least the sun is shining. There’s that.

The sun has decided to grace Stockholm with its rays. People are sunbathing their faces, wearing stupid smiles. It’s a Swedish thing.

I’m trying to come to grips with a lot of things at the moment. Some good, some bad. More on that later, I’m sure, but for now I’m just trudging along. Take care, out there.

Ah, shit.

That sort of sums up where I’m at, currently. I’ll have to leave it at that, try to get the pieces back together, and try again tomorrow. Because right now, it just hurts.

It’s still winter up here, so much so that I had to dig out the door to the sauna. I needed the exercise so I didn’t mind, but when I looked at the short walk down to the lake, and the amount and ice and snow, I threw in the towel. Wouldn’t have been safe anyway, dipping in the lake in the night with all that whisky in my belly.

Few things make you feel so clean as a hot sauna, and then rubbing your body in icy snow. Suffice to say, I slept well last night, despite the bed situation.

A good bed is important, that’s something I’ve come to realize with age. I think it might be the reason I dislike hotels these days. The novelty’s worn off, and what you’re left with is a bad bed. Well, usually not bad, just not what I want nor prefer. I want my bed to be hard and cold, not soft and warm. That’s what I’ve got in my house down south, what I’ve got in the overnight apartment in Stockholm, and not what I’ve got here in the summer home. Like many such places, this is where things go to die, because they’re in too good shape to be thrown away.

Well, I’m not, or at least my back isn’t after last night, thanks to the soft bed.

A distinct lack of sleep is threatening to shape this day, but I feel energized so it might turn out to be the opposite, in fact. Starting the last (official) workday of the week at a coffee shop close to my apartment. The coffee’s all right, but I’m here for the breakfast, something I rarely eat but sometimes want.

Heading north, to my summer home, late this afternoon. It’s snowing in Stockholm. I dread the weather up there…

Hold on tight, just one more to go before you get to sleep in.

I’ve been trying Huel, one of those wannabe-Soylent things. It’s very filling, somewhat tasty, but obviously lacking in the fine dining department. Still, it’s an interesting experiment that I’ll be doing for a month or so. I won’t go all-in though, just one meal per workday or so.

I was scheduled to speak at WordCamp Torino in Italy this weekend. Unfortunately that’s not going to happen. Much like with WordCamp Oslo a couple of weeks ago, my health says no. I’ve cancelled all speaking engagements for the time being, because I know how it is to organize a conference, and have speakers being a no-show, that’s not something I enjoy putting anyone else through. It’s a shame though, I was really looking forward to doing my talk, and to visit Torino.

Next step is to figure out what’s wrong with me, other than the obvious.

I’m on a train on my way to Stockholm. It’s packed, people heading home from Easter celebrations in the north, and others, like me, going there for the workweek.

I expect this week to be busy, some new developments that I need to tackle will make sure of that. I’m not rested enough, and don’t feel well enough to tackle all of this with my normal vigor and flippancy. Luckily there are talented people around me that can – and will – help.

It feels like I’ve spent most of Easter soaking in the bath. Brought me back to my years in Borlänge, with the woman I married and later divorced. My knees didn’t take kindly to the cold, and now, so many years later, they still don’t.

Long weekends off work, like Easter, usually fills me with energy and ideas for new projects. Not this time, not even a tiny storycrumb. My body says no, it tells me to rest, and for once my mind agrees. A birthday party aside, that’s what I’ve been doing these past few days. Just resting and reading. That’s the plan today too, before reality kicks in again tomorrow. I’m looking forward to getting back to work, even though I’m not nearly rested enough. It’s going to be a special week, I think.

But that’s tomorrow. Today, I read and rest.

Birthday dinner (not for me) at an Italian restaurant in the middle of nowhere, with a charming Italian cooking, serving, and singing – yesterday was nice! Got to bed late so today’s pretty much canceled. I’m actually looking forward to having a nap, something I rarely do. Can’t sleep during the day, if it’s not a special occasion. Like lots of drinks and four hours of sleep the day before, for instance.

Right. This makes very little sense, even to me. Nap time.

Oh, and I hate brands that do April Fools. You can’t pull it off, trust me.

Fever’s still got me, but it’s subsiding again. I’ll evaluate the current health situation after the Easter holiday (there’s no way I’m getting near a hospital right now, where I am), because this is getting to me. Good health is important, and it feels like it’s been months since I was well enough to even exercise. That certainly isn’t helping.

I’ll have to tough it out today though. Big family thing happening, which is why I’m in the area of (albeit not in) my summer home. Pills and whisky, that’s worked for me before.

Yesterday was hard on me, for all the wrong reasons. Hardship and negativity doesn’t do it for anyone though, so I’ll just leave it at that. Today will be spent contemplating and trying to beat the fever chills. Take care everyone, and beware clumsy people on trains.