### Given the state of this week’s weather, veering from sunshine to torrential rain, and the accompanying drop in temperatures, I had to take action. This morning, I packed up all my summer clothing and put it in vacuum bags for the foreseeable future. I then unpacked all my winter clothes from vacuum bag storage and marvelled at two things: * How can one adult male own so many identical sweaters?! * Where did all these jackets come from?! Now that I’ve had a good review of my winter clothes, I can say with certainty that I don’t need any new clothes. At all. I’ve just refreshed my selection of work shirts (some were in a _very_ bad state) and got some new non-jeans trousers for work events and dining out. No new sweaters, jackets, shoes or underwear required. No matter the online bargains that get shoved into my in-box. No matter the incredible sales I read about via newsletters. No matter the bargains I see while in Tokyo this Christmas. My wardrobe already looks like I live in Uniqlo… _Please_ remind me of this. I also had the lovely experience of rediscovering some items of clothing that I’d completely forgotten about. Plus, they all still fit me! Sadly, I don’t have a walk-in wardrobe like on Sex in the City. I have a pokey, small London apartment wardrobe, but somehow I managed to make it all fit. It’s no Carrie Bradshaw, but who would want to live like her anyway. And that’s a whole other blog post…

### I’m following the Action for Happiness monthly focus on optimism, with an _almost_ daily post in response to their prompts. Today’s prompt was: “Thank yourself for achieving the things you often take for granted”. Well now. I’ve been thinking a lot this week about work, my business and how far it’s all come since 2014 when I started working for myself. This week sees nine years since I started my professional podcast - which is probably the longest standing project of my career. I keep going (229 episodes and counting) because it’s been overwhelmingly great fun and an opportunity to be creative and to learn. I basically have the job of my dreams, a schedule that works for me, and clients I like to work with. Sure, some days are tough, some projects are really exhausting, but on the whole, it’s working out well for me. It’s so tempting to put this down to fate or luck, but I have to (uncomfortably) honest: I worked bloody hard to get it to this point. Years and years in university, some pretty horrific jobs in consultancy to get the experience, and burning the candle at every conceivable end to keep clients happy. And now today, I have time to write this post in the office, I’m able to wrap up early on this relatively quite day, and have a lovely lunch with a former client planned for tomorrow. Work can frequently be a source of stress and misery - hell, that’s what keeps me in employment! But I’m living proof that it doesn’t need to be. I’m incredibly grateful to have the working life that I do and hope to be able to do this for many years to come.

Gorgeous ### My love of all things analogue is well known and a major drain on my finances. Each trip to Japan isn’t complete until I’ve gone shopping for pens and notebooks! I’ve rationalised it to myself by emphasising just how much money I’m saving by buying it all in Japan, with advantageous exchange rates. But not last weekend. A trip to the Monocle shop in London ended with me getting yet another new notebook. A stunning orange Leuchtturm in B6+ size, courtesy of my generous husband. It’s perfect. Not as bulky as A5 but far more useful than A6. This is my third one of these and I can’t recommend them enough. Sturdy, with beautiful, thick dot grid paper and so portable. This one is now my main bullet journal and comes everywhere with me.

Enjoying a private soak in Hakone, Japan - Feb 2024 ### The title says it all. In just over 70 days, I’ll be back in Tokyo, enjoying the Christmas lights and spending as much time in my favourite bath houses as possible. Whether it’s a high end spa or a local neighbourhood sento, knowing I’m going to be spending hours naked with strangers is such a good motivator to restart my exercise habit! Mexico really did a number on my waistline - though I have no regrets! - and it’s time to make up for all my excesses. I have a few kilos to lose before we depart and I have more than enough time to do it. Reminding myself of _why_ I’m putting in the effort is the thing: I’m not obese, I just want to feel a little better when I’m in the bath or sauna. If this was a trip to a spa in Europe, I wouldn’t think twice. I’d possibly be on the slimmer end of the scale compared to most people. But I’m going to be in Japan - the land of the single digit fat percentage - so I don’t want to look like just another out of shape gaijin. So it’s back to more clean eating, more running, and far fewer beers. In fact, I’m going to lean in to lower calorie booze options between now and departure for Tokyo. There’ll be plenty of time for delicious Japanese beers once I get there. Between now and then, it’ll be prosecco or the skinniest of skinny cocktails. Though as we head into the Christmas season (which seems to start in August these days) I’ll need to keep an eye out for the snacks and treats which have the potential to undo all my good work. Like mince pies - my very own yuletide kryptonite.

### I was speaking at a conference in London yesterday, located right next to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Between the location and the sunshine, I couldn’t resist taking a few snaps as I made my way there. Looking towards the cathedral More blue skies Looking over Paternoster Square The green room looked out over Paternoster Square, so when I wasn’t working or chatting with other speakers, I was sitting looking out of the floor to ceiling window and admiring the view. It’s such a beautiful part of the city.