At a trot
The new year is off at a trot for a variety of reasons. But first, while in the US, my critter sitter sent me the below, just to keep my heart melted when the weather turned frigid:
In our final week, mom and I had a second luncheon for more of her friends. We took down all the Christmas decorations and I worked down my to-do list (install bird feeder, pack, buy book for trip, buy a few more presents, etc). I finished reading Archangel, also by Richard Harris, about the Yeltsin years (and how they set the table for Putin).
I departed Parkersburg as planned at 11 a.m. 3 January, a neighbour driving me to Marietta to catch the 11:35 a.m. bus to Columbus. Three-hour bus to Columbus then 5-hour wait for flight to D.C. Which was delayed. Which meant I missed my flight to Dublin. I should have booked an earlier flight to DC but not possible if I'm using the earliest GoBus available.
The United Airlines agents in D.C. were generally unhelpful (scan our QR code and use our virtual agent!!). I finally found one to book me on a midnight flight, instead of 10 pm. I ran to the midnight flight and boarded, schlepping to the last row with my heavy carry-on bag, row 44. I have already run the length of two concourses with this bloody bag. The desk agent then came down the aisle and said I had to deplane because my checked bag didn't make the flight. Woe is bloody me.
Then 40 minutes at the ticket counter being rebooked for the 10 pm flight the next day. I like how I'm supposed to do on my phone what a ticket agent can't do on United's computer without calling another agent for assistance. So, 1 a.m. and I'm at a hotel for the night. Next day, 100% lemonade from lemons, I spend the day with my nephew, his wife, their six-month-old son and their very large standard poodle. What a fun way to pass a cold January day.
The Saturday night flight ran to schedule. I watched Zone of Interest and Hot Fuzz (the brilliant Simon Pegg), about as different as can be. Then the 2-hour bus to Belfast then a cab ride, home by 2pm Sunday. Two naps. Then watched 1917 (George MacKay brilliant as an exhausted soldier crossing no-man's land to prevent a disastrous advance) then a long night's sleep. Then I worked Mon, Tues, Weds, and Thurs. It is very cold here, so I built a fire on Monday and Thursday nights.
Mom's house is so warm that it has been a real adjustment to acclimate to my very cool house, with temperatures outside in the 20s. I am also feeling sorry for myself because I've reinjured both my arms due to the mileage I covered with a heavy carry-on bag. I've stopped doing the physio exercises while awaiting the pain to back off.
On the other hand, I've enjoyed quality time with himself, shown here with a frozen rope:
Back to the films, one of the things I love is how great British actors just pop up in films. Hot Fuzz started with Martin Freeman, Steve Coogan and Bill Nighy – small roles but fun to see them. Colin Firth, Andrew Scott (Irish, not British) and Benedict Cumberbatch showed up in 1917. And for brilliant use of British actors, you can't beat British Airways' safety videos. I think Asim Chaudry is hilarious in these videos (the first was so good they did a sequel).
After a very slow December, there is a lot on at the PRI so I have had to reboot the old brain cells very quickly. I'm halfway through a 37-page paper on assessing physical climate risk in private markets. I'd be further along but for six meetings this week and a presentation I'm working on about what the editorial team does.
So it's Thursday night. I look forward to three days of thinking about the year ahead, unpacking, de-decorating and cleaning my house.
End of Dec to 9 January