Arrivals – Budapest

“When you have insomnia, you’re never really asleep, and you’re never really awake. With insomnia, nothing’s real. Everything is far away. Everything is a copy of a copy of a copy.”

Chuck Palahniuk

A long flight. Tucker Carlson left me alone for the rest of the flight.

Budapest feels like home. It is only 3C and the cold air brings you out of the jetlag haze.

I am out as soon as my head hits the pillow and awake three hours later because my brain thinks it is 8.00 am and I should have been awake hours ago.

We head to Zërgë Coffeeshop for bagels and coffee.

It is not until I sit down and the coffee arrives that I suddenly feel a weight leave me and relax.

I have long thought that my episcleritis is stress-related. I don’t feel stressed, but there is always a slight tension working in Dubai. From the moment you hit the road to work, there is stress. I have driven all over the world and have never seen worse drivers than Dubai. They are addressive, erratic, impatient—the absolute worst.

Work itself comes with a low level, constant tension.

We walk home and watch the Pies just get the chocolates against a fighting Bulldogs celebrating their 100th year with a loss.

Play the song.

Shell sleeps for a few hours and we grab some beer and phò for a late lunch.

We head back home and all I can think about is sleep.

“sleep is the most innocent creature there is and a sleepless man the most guilty.”

Franz Kafka