28 May - 3 Jun 2018
This week I’ve had a week off work. We didn’t go anywhere, just generally relaxed at home and been catching up on some of my personal goal targets for the year.
I published another article, originally I had planned on a different one but it was turning into an epic and the more I researched the larger it became. I realised I wouldn’t get it published on schedule so I started working on another one about the Stoic concept of [indifference].
Reading progress
I read and finished Ready Player One. I really liked this book; there were an absolute ton of references from films, games and music from my childhood - although there were plenty that probably went right over my head too. However I really liked the story and it felt like the author really knew his stuff when it came to the computer terminology, which was quite a refreshing change.
I’ve also started Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five. It was a rather odd start to the book but it was strangely compelling. I’m into the story proper now and is an easy read so I expect I’ll finish in the next day or so.
Escapism
As I mentioned above, most of the week was taken easy. The weather forecast wasn’t great so we hadn’t really planned to do anything but then the weather ended up being much better so we were a little miffed we didn’t plan anything.
On Thursday evening it was our monthly Geek+Food. There was only 3 of us this time and we headed out to Tamatangas in Birmingham. I went for one of their Thali meals. It was pretty darn good. It was a nice atmosphere, good service and great food. I definitely plan to return.
Saturday saw the return of Tamworth’s carnival. Our children’s school had been asked to do a float and our kids got picked to go on it. We’d (mostly my wife) spent a lot of time this week creating Roman costumes (the theme). It’s amazing what you can do with some cardboard and duct tape. The work paid off, the schools float came in 2nd place. Somehow me and my wife got roped into marshalling so we had to walk the route by the lorry. It was a pretty nice experience though, plus we took part in a world record attempt for the most people to do the Aethel at once…
Also managed to get around to seeing Deadpool 2. I really enjoyed the first Deadpool and this one was just as good, if not funnier in a few parts! I think part of me would like to see a Deadpool 3 but I think it might be best if they call it quits and go out on top. Maybe a few cameos in a couple of other Marvel films…
Finally, my wife and I spent Sunday night at Coombe Abbey for our anniversary. It was a lovely, peaceful place with the country park. The weather was nice too so we had several walks around the park. The food was also amazing. For dinner I had a ”Hanger special” steak, apparently a cut that the butchers tend to keep for themselves. I can see why — it’s full of flavour, I don’t think I’ll be able to eat a normal bit of rump again!
A week in Stoicism
Stoics like to take the “view from above”, to try to have a wider perspective on the things that are happening in their lives. We should take pains to view our situations as if from another’s perspective who doesn’t have that direct emotional involvement.
”How beautifully Plato put it. Whenever you want to talk about people, it’s best to take a birds-eye view and see everything all at once—of gatherings, armies, farms, weddings and divorces, births and deaths, noisy courtrooms or silent spaces, every foreign people, holidays, memorials, markets—all blended together and arranged in a pairing of opposites.” Marcus Aurelius
weeknotes