“The real opposition is that between the ego-bound man, whose existence is structured by the principle of having, and the free man, who has overcome his egocentricity.” Erich Fromm Thursday Nothing cheers an adult like smashing ten year olds in dodgeball. Another week down. The slow crawl to holidays. I have finished Consciousness explained. There…
Year: 2024
McCarthy Complete
“The universe is no narrow thing and the order within it is not constrained by any latitude in its conception to repeat what exists in one part in any other part. Even in this world more things exist without our knowledge than with it and the order in creation which you see is that which…
Old Habits
“We are not only what we eat, but how we eat, too.” Michael Pollan Thursday My pants are getting loose and despite pushing up the calories I have dropped almost a kilogram this week. I decide to rectify the problem with a mixed grill from Al Jawareh. This used to be my regular Thursday night…
Good Numbers
Thursday “When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive– to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love” Marcus Aurelius It has been a big week. Six weeks of calorie deficit and I am finally back under 100kg. Shell had an inspection that was not an inspection,…
Temperature Rising
Thursday “Ô, Sunlight! The most precious gold to be found on Earth.” Roman Payne Summer is here in the country that is in a forever summer. UAE is hot or very hot, and the very hot weather has arrived. Mid 40’s. Shell is at another campus today and she is home before me. When I…
Fitting Five Into Four
“One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one’s work is terribly important.” Bertrand Russell Thursday Done for the week. There was quite a bit of excitement when we moved to a country with a four day work week. You cannot complain about a three day weekend. It all goes…
The Wet Desert
“Yet complicated people were getting wet – not only the shepherds. For instance, the piano-tuner was sopping. So was the vicar’s wife. E.M. Forster Thursday It is raining, again, which means it is flooding, again. Working from home. Yesterday I put this quote up for the class – “To tell the truth is very difficult,…
Bouncing Back
“You were sick, but now you’re well again, and there’s work to do.” Kurt Vonnegut I started to feel better Monday. On Tuesday I was back in the gym. I have defeated AIDS. I am invincible. Thursday “Before you become too entranced with gorgeous gadgets and mesmerizing video displays, let me remind you that information…
When it Rains it Floods
“The rain is falling ever harder and all I can hear is the sound of the water. I’m drenched but I can’t move.” Paulo Coelho Thursday We only had one day at school. Storms hit Monday night and Dubai has been flooded all week. Two days after the rain has stopped, there is still flooding….