I’m walking around in a haze, always a little too tired to take that extra step. It’s not surprising, I’ve been under the weather for some time now. I think that’s finally subsiding.

Or maybe not, because I’m sitting in a hipster franchise coffee shop in Stockholm, drinking crappy coffee, and contemplating breakfast. None of these three things point to a healthy me. Maybe I’m going insane too?

The rain is claiming Stockholm today. It’s really dreadful, and obviously the only thing the five people I’ve conversed with today was talking about, from taxi driver to barista. The weather is truly the weapon of great conversationalists. I don’t mind the rain, it’ll wash away the sleet. At least until it gets mixed with snow, which seems to be the case at the moment. Better stay indoors.

– I’ve been burning the candle both ways, while hacking away at the middle with a rusty chainsaw that just won’t work properly but reeks of gasoline.

Me, explaining to a friend why I’ve been sick on and off for the last couple of weeks. I rarely get sick, and now this. They worry, my friends.

At least I have 10% of my voice back. That’s something. Happy Monday y’all.

I rarely get sick, and when I do, it’s over in a day or two. My immune system is like that, which has its downsides as well, but overall it’s a good thing. However, if whatever it is I’ve got takes hold in my throat and stays there, I tend to loose my voice. Which has happened now, more or less. So I’ll sit here in the silence, drinking ginger tea while trying to not start anything new. It’s harder than it sounds.

A long day yesterday, but both productive and successful. I managed to stave off my cold with drugs and fluids, but today is worse off. At the airport in Zürich now, not looking forward to my flight back to Stockholm and what it might do to my ears, not one bit. I am looking forward to coming back here though, Zürich is a nice city, what little I’ve seen of it.

Arrived in Zürich last night, after an hour’s delay due to snow in Stockholm. The hotel, Savoy Baur En Ville, is old fashioned and simply amazing. We’re here on business, but I’m looking forward to an hour or two of sightseeing as well.

Fighting off whatever it is I have in my body with every drug I can get a hold off (and ginger tea). So far it’s working, which is good because I’m bound for Zurich today. Well, at least I hope I am, the snow’s coming down pretty hard here in Stockholm. Exciting stuff, right?

Get a cup. Put as thin ginger slices as you can make them, about a finger’s worth, in it. Then squeeze half a lime, add some cinnamon. Add hot water, and then a generous portion of honey. The honey’s properties can’t take too hot water though, so make sure it’s not near-boiling.

Drink it. You can make another batch with the same ginger slices, but after that you should chew them for maximum effect.

That’s what my throat needs right about now.

It feels like I just visited my house this time. Some nice walks, really cold weather, way too little sleep, and possibly a new cold to show for it. I need a break to rest up. Unfortunately that’s not going to happen until Sunday, after my business trip to Zurich, Switzerland.

Started up that Swedish project again, the semi-secret one. Decided it was the right thing to do, if you’re keeping tabs.

Right. Better get packing.

I’m not used to seeing the south of Sweden covered in snow. It’s a winter wonderland, except for the wonder part, because I’m so done with the cold right now. And I’ll tell you this: When the wind blows from the sea down here, you’re chilled to the bone.

Some really cool views though, with snow and ice reaching out over the rocks, towards the sea. Weather aside, I’m looking forward to my morning walk with Paazu to see this in daylight.

I seem to have shaken off whatever it was I had, so I’m leaving Stockholm for a few days. Being ill is never fun, but in my current situation it at least offered me an opportunity to rest up a bit over the weekend. Not physically, I’m still recovering there, but mentally. The tiredness that was forced upon me actually helped reset my state of mind a bit. It also started some sort of creative process towards the Next Step, whatever that is.

And sure, a glass of Lagavulin helped.

PSA: I’m not in Oslo, for WordCamp there, due to illness. Sorry all, I hope you’ll have a great day anyway. Thanks for all the texts and messages.

I am feeling a bit better though. Not well, but I’m on my feet. I might even get to fly south tomorrow, health and weather (!) willing.

Something of a pattern has emerged for my weekends in the Stockholm apartment. Coffee and the newspaper, butt firmly planted in a sitting chair. My landlady has DN, a Swedish daily, delivered here Friday through Sunday. It’s not exactly newsworthy (I get that stuff online), but the culture section and the weekend magazine pieces make for good reading overall. I’ve found at least two albums that are add to library worthy the past few weeks, and there’s at least one movie and several books I want to watch and read, respectively. That’s high praise for old media, I’d say.

I’m officially sick, which sucks a little bit more than usual today since it means I can’t go to WordCamp Oslo. I hate cancelling speaking arrangements, but falling over on stage isn’t helping anyone. Hopefully there’s a backup speaker, and if not, sorry. My talk there was about WordPress the operating system, something that’ve gotten some raised eyebrows since it was announced. I’ll run it elsewhere at a later date instead.

For those of you looking forward to seeing me in Oslo: Sorry! And to the great people organizing the conference: Doubly sorry!

Right. It’s back to bed with a cup of coffee for me.

Winter sickness has hit the office – again – and the timing couldn’t be worse. I’m supposed to fly to Norway tomorrow, to speak at WordCamp Oslo on Saturday, and I’ve started to feel the symptoms. Today will be a day of waiting for what might come, and for rest to try to stave this thing off.

Lovely.

I have this thing where my heart races. No biggie, no defect, nothing serious, but the feeling afterwards ranges from feeling tired and weak, to something bleak and depressing. I had an episode of that this morning, and now I can barely keep my eyes open. Not even coffee helps. Worst possible timing too, today is swamped and I need to keep my wits about.

So yeah. Hello hump day, I guess.