vivdunstan

“The Importance of Being Earnest” with Ncuti Gatwa is going up free on YouTube for a limited period in March. I definitely intend to watch this, though more likely at the weekend than on first broadcast.

Today I've been musing the idea of a "fun list" for fun things I'd like to do over the next few weeks / months. At least I need to note down somewhere the ideas flying around inside my head! This is separate from ongoing daily/weekly/monthly to do lists I keep track of in my Hobonichi paper journal which I've blogged about using before. Basically the Hobonichi records what I've been up to, as well as things that I need to do, and how I get on tackling those. It's relaxing sitting taking stock in my Hobonichi planner daily with a fountain pen in hand. Though the to do lists there tend to be fixed to specific time periods, less free floating and more critical.

A "fun list" is a new idea for me, and could be a good addition. Maybe looking ahead 6 months or longer. Anyway I've just started an experimental one in the Notes app on my Mac/iOS devices. Just a few things in there for starters, but it's fun (haha!) to ponder fun things (think "sparks joy" fun) that I'd like to do if I get the chance. Nothing too ambitious, and focused on what I can manage at home, in my brief awake times. No pressure to do any of these, but rather a buffet of ideas I can pick from should I have a chance. But yes, fun. I might have worn that word out ...

Slow start to the year with my recreational reading. Too heavily sedated. But do have various books on the go, generally ebooks with gargantuan fonts needed due to my progressive neurological disease. So having fun. But don't expect to read as much as I did last year, or the year before.

Current main reads include Everything Will Swallow You by Tom Cox, Echolands on the trail of Boudica by Duncan Mackay, and 1001 Nights in Time & Space (Doctor Who) by Steve Cole and Paul Magrs. Well through them all, switching between as I feel like it. A happy (albeit slow!) reader.

I have finished 4 other books already this year, and will post here about finished books in the next few weeks. But it's still looking like I'll end up reading vastly fewer than I've managed in previous years. To be fair I've been flaring dramatically since November. But I think the flare's subsiding now, and I'm dealing more with continuing disease progression.

Just tried a pack of Oreo Creme Egg biscuits (limited edition) Martin brought home last week. Not great. Any Creme Egg flavour is pretty wiped out by the strong-tasting chocolate biscuit parts. And so it’s surprisingly bland. But maybe huge Oreo fans would enjoy.

Spotted again on one of Martin's Saturday walks. Seen about 500 metres from our home, as he was making his way towards the wooded river valley where he goes birdwatching. There is a thriving wild deer population locally where we live. This photo was taken looking over to the north side of the A92 main road. The deer often cross this road, sometimes coming down as far as the Firth of Tay.

As with Paris we’ve taken out a one month Discovery+ subscription (£3.99*) so we can watch the Olympics, this time the Winter Olympics. With better viewing options and more live streams than will be on the BBC. The Winter Olympics have already started some sports, and we are currently tuned in live to a British (well two Scots) Winter Olympics curling match.

* the £3.99/month Entertainment package includes the 2026 Winter Olympics. No need to go for the phenomenally expensive £30+/month TNT Sports option.

Just finished rewatching this episode of Peter Capaldi's era (New Who series 8 episode 7). There will be spoilers in my discussion.

( spoilers )

IFComp updates its policy on generative AI. Good.

Clearing more books to go to charity, using a dot sticker method (low adhesive). I'm stickering spines of books that I'd like to go. Then Martin can see them, and check if he's happy for them to go too. Other books are more my own easy choice. But the stickering method is working well for us.

Note these are all fairly modern books, so I've no concerns re using the (checked carefully) low adhesive dot stickers on them for a short time before being removed. I would not use this method on valuable or rare or very old books. Which I'm less likely to be donating to charity anyway!

Starting to watch a Sky Arts broadcast (recorded, and available on catch up for those with Sky) of Nicola Benedetti and friends (including a classical guitarist and an accordionist) in concert. We had tickets for her Dundee show in the autumn but had to bail out after I was too direly ill with a heavy cold to be able to go. The same tour’s concert in Belfast was filmed, and includes lots of folk-themed music. So yes, we are getting to see it after all!