The word that sums up this week is: overwhelm; not a favourite but probably an accurate one unfortunately. I am coming to the end of a significant design submission at work and it's taking it’s toll.

A top moment for me was exploring an international food shop about 30 min away: rows of olives and dates 🫒. Something I’m looking forward to next week is a day off work tomorrow plus our big project submission being over with.

My week headlines

🧠 Understanding: How to combat aphids on my lemon tree, including getting the kids to collect ladybirds 🐞.

🧶 Creating & cultivating: Catching up with my pocket notebook system 📝, which has been sadly ignored recently.

📺 Consuming: Lokum…yum! A timely treat after finishing the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe with my son.

🔆 Connecting: My former manager came to the office to visit. It was really nice to catch up (we’d worked together for > 10 years).

🏹 One thing for future self: I played the hand I was dealt on [stressful project].

✒️ Most used pen & ink combo: TWSBI Vac 700 with 🟧 Sailor Ink Studio 473.

First published 2025-05-25, format tweaked 2025-05-26