We spent half the week with the in-laws in Ticino (Switzerland's Italian canton) and I can report that three days or so seems to be about the right duration for a family holiday. I mean, sure, we can enjoy a longer break, but it's increasingly hard work. Especially if you're staying with people. The other… Continue reading Autumn in Ticino: 5 things 16.10.17

I interviewed for a job last week. I didn't get it. This is basically fine, childcare hassles yada yada, but every failure finds an interesting new corner of my self-esteem to take a bite out of, and this one hurt in ways I wasn't expecting. I'm not at all sure why I'm feeling so vulnerable… Continue reading The cuteness of mushrooms: 5 things 9.10.17

It's already the last week of term, and I've only just cleared the freelance decks. So the entire first term of kindergarten and my much-anticipated me time has been taken up with Other People's Stuff. Which is clearly not terrible – a lot of it has been stuff I'm pretty excited to work on, for… Continue reading Non-sensical: way more than 5 things about my business choices

I'm having a slight change of heart about productivity. Specifically, mine. I tend to beat myself up about all those times when I just CANNOT settle down to work. All the wasted hours. But you know what? When I do focus (either because forced by deadline, or because I'm just ready), I'm really, really productive.… Continue reading Whatever: 5 very random things, 25.9.17

Over the past four years our balcony has slowly, slowly improved. We've put down attractive parquet decking, acquired furniture, planted stuff, some of which has even survived. We (Armin) have hung up an insect hotel. (I have no idea why.) But there's a problem. A has ambitions bigger than the actual balcony. He keeps dreaming… Continue reading Priorities, boundaries, other things ending in -ies: 5 things 18.9.2017

Another job rejection, this time on a long-term freelance gig that I really wanted. And again, I thought I was a good fit, but I didn't even rate an interview. Oh well. It's fine. It's fine. I have plenty on the go and all it's just... demoralising. Whatever. It's fine. Pass the chocolate. Autumn. Yay!… Continue reading Eish: 5 things 11.9.2017

Having enough kid-free time (sick days, school holidays, Lehrerweiterbildung etc aside) to make it worth creating an actual schedule of what I'm doing with that time is really very exciting. Screw that whole free spirit, spontaneous thing, all I really want in life is a nice neat calendar with lots of blocks telling me exactly… Continue reading Exciting / not exciting: 5 things 4.9.2017