ctt’s statuslog

I woke up late this morning, for me. I went out late to listen to music and watch fireworks (after having already fallen asleep). It was a pleasure to see families out and about enjoying themselves. And the fireworks were good.

I’m waking up to one of those misty mornings that I sense will transform into a beautiful sunny, and maybe hot day.

Olá Portugal

It’s pouring outside, and not particularly warm either - Spring, from a few days ago appears to have taken a leave of absence. Right now I am grateful for a roof over my head, and heating in the home.

A lot of the clean up has been done, but as the final family members head on their way, vacuuming is what is needed now.

I’m up early enjoying a cup of coffee. After the birthday celebrations yesterday, my mother’s apartment is still and quiet. Outside a blackbird is singing its heart out. I grew up listening to and loving this bird’s song. I recognize anywhere - here in England, or while watching a movie set in this country. For me, it’s the sound of spring and long summer evenings here.

We are celebrating my mother's 90th birthday today. With my family having spread themselves out around the world, it feels like an international gathering with accents from the US, New Zealand and England filling the room. Happy Birthday Mum, and congratulations.

In the air. Traveling solo to England for my mother’s 90th Birthday celebrations.

I have, am having a busy few days. When that happens my mind starts to pull me onto the next task before the current one is finished. From that anxiety builds and patience can diminish. I must remember to stop, to breathe and be aware of others around me. Rest…my body will appreciate it and the jobs will still get done.

My coffee in take had been going down. One or two cups in the morning. However, in the last couple of days I have going back to another cup mid-morning. I'm not sure what is up?!

Digitizing slides. Reliving memories.

The new glasses arrived today with progressive lenses in them. My first pair of progressives and they feel a little disorientating at the moment. I sense that I'll get use to them, but for now I think that I'll be switching back and forth between the new glasses and the old.

I’m trying out various translation apps to decide which best suits my needs. I find apps that offer a slower play back of the foreign language helpful. Though finding an app that has everything I want neatly packaged, is not easy.

I wouldn't mind restarting today afresh. I've got things done, things that needed to be done, but I'm sitting here now at the far end of the day feeling a little dissatisfied, maybe frustrated as well? Such is life....up one day, down the next.

I’m waking up to wind and rain, hard showers followed by a wait for the next one, this morning. Yesterday’s sun appears to be an anomaly at the moment. It appears that we have a little longer before the winter rains recede.

Clearing in the garden today. Pulling out an invasive plant. There is still some to move, but it just got too hot….so I started work on a new blog post.

Hey, no rain today. That’s a first for a while.

Sun, blue sky and scattered clouds this morning. The world below can now dry out.

Well the sun’s appearance this morning was brief and short lived. Today it has rained and rained and rained. That’s two days now of steady drizzle interspersed with the occasional downpour. More tomorrow or a change?

“Here comes the sun,…” 🎶 Hopefully it will continue to make an appearance through the day, and dry things out. That’s a plus of living here in Hawaii. If it rains, once the sun is out the everything dries out pretty quickly.

The last twenty four hours have been overcast and seen more rain than I was expecting from the forecast. Low cloud, mist in places, localized flooding - driving home last night was no fun. And it looks as though we have woken up to more this morning.

Oh no. I just found out that daylight savings starts at 2:00am this Sunday. Clocks springing forward an hour = sleep messed up for a few days.

Those mornings when I just want to throw the sheets back over me and stay where I am…in bed.

Today has been an unexpectedly wet day. I saw that wind was on the cards, but it has come with a strong dose of rain as well, heavy rain. A very wintry day.

Slowing down at the end of the day listening to playlist on Apple Music.

Having a slow morning. Our wonderful family guests left yesterday and today feels like a day of rest and catching up on a few things that need doing.

My grandson was firing a water gun (UK: water pistol) last night. In an attempt to get away I quickly turned and walked straight into a glass door. My head is still feeling it this morning. Ouch!

We have family visiting for a week and so we’re heading out today to show them some of the island.

This small island is full of microclimates. Overcast and wet here, sun where we are heading.

Trying a third cup of coffee this morning as a remedy against this migraine that I have been nurturing since yesterday.

I didn’t want to get out of bed this morning. It was warm and comfortable. That was as unusual for me, as I am not normally one to lie around in bed. I am feeling a little bleh as well, which surely contributed towards me not wanting to move.

This has been a strange weekend for me. The grandkids were off school on Friday and I kept thinking that it was Saturday.

On Saturday I couldn’t get it out of my head that it was Sunday, and then today I wanted it to be Monday.

With tomorrow being a public holiday here in the US, Presidents Day, I’m wondering what day I will wake up to?!

It feels good to see the sun this evening after a couple of days of cloud and rain. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy moody weather, but on this still evening, the heat sun brings some warmth and rest.

If someone redesigned the humble toilet brush, making it more hygienic, I believe that they would be onto something.

Before going to bed last night the sounds of waves crashing against the distant cliffs, a mile away, was loud. In the middle of the night it was so loud that we could hear the roar inside the house with windows and doors closed!

I have since read that a 30-50ft swell is hitting the north shore until this evening.

After a week living in a wind tunnel, last night the winds finally appeared to have blown themselves out. It was still when I returned home yesterday evening, and we are waking up to the same this morning.

I’m not happy with this strong wind. It has been here for a few days now, and it looks like at least another two more days. I’d really appreciate it stopping.

to reinstall a cover on my phone. I'd like it to last another year or so, at least, and don't know if I can trust myself not to drop it.

I feel as though we have been in a wind tunnel all day, maybe the last two days?! I hope that we wake up to a calmer day tomorrow.

I don’t think that my run today will be much fun, though it will be a challenge. Winds are currently gusting 20/25mph, with a forecast for stronger winds.

All is quiet right now, and I’m loving it. It won’t stay this way, but for now I am making the most of it. The quiet rests my body and mind.

Heading out for the second run of my personal .

I saw my first whale of the season this evening. Way out to sea, a few water spouts and the cresting back of the whale.

A frustrating day. I fix one thing (or update it), and something else breaks. I’m calling tech support tomorrow morning.

Despite the sound of it, this was not computer related, rather the front gate.

How to not make a cup of coffee…omit the ground coffee. Happy New Year!

Well no sooner do I write, than the power comes back on. And the rain continues to fall. It is wet out there.

Power outage. We haven’t had one for a while. The lights flickered while I was cooking dinner, but hung in there. Later we were watching one of the streaming services and all suddenly goes dark. Inclement weather can bring on a power outage and it has been wet since mid-afternoon.

Well it is wet out there.

Waiting for some toast to pop up, and then realized that I had not put it in the toaster!

A misty, rainy Sunday morning. Those are the best..at least it feels like that this morning.

I have been unwell the last couple of days, though I really don't know what I have had? The main symptoms? Tired and achy, a slight and brief fever. I think that I am on the mend now. If you are waiting on reply from me, I hope to be back in touch tomorrow.

…and suddenly it is all over. The build up, the preparation, the day, the eating, the cleanup, and all that is left are memories and feeling of a meal well eaten.

Of course there is time spent with family and friends - appreciated and not taken for granted. For now though, Thanksgiving is wrapped up until next year.

The house has been vacuumed, the table laid, food prep is under way, family strife laid to rest - Happy Thanksgiving.

I'm grateful for the rain falling this morning, and wish that it would bless the rest of this island with its presence.

We are waking up to rain this morning, a lot of it. I hope that the rest of the island is getting this as it needs it. We live in the wetter part of Maui, and sometimes I can drive fifteen, twenty minutes from here and I go from rain to sun and blue skies.

Jet lag sucks. Needing to sleep. Trying to stay up so that I don't wake up in the middle of the night...which I inevitably do anyway. Trying to function, get things done, but not really. Finally surrendering and just going to sleep, to wake up whenever the body feels it's ready to....only to feel wiped out again in the middle of the day!

I'd forgotten how humid Maui can be.

Today has been off and on wet, but it is really coming down now. I hope that we don't sail away.

Heading to Lisbon today.

Woah! Now it is coming down. We got home just in the nick of time. A meeting canceled, but I prefer to be back home than out on the road in this. Be safe anyone who is out and about.

8:30am and I am just getting up. I never do that, this late in the morning, until I have just done so. I was tired...still feel that way. A slow Sunday ahead?

Feeling tired at the far end of a day moving around Lisbon. But getting things done, enjoying ourselves, and

A second test of a Drafts action

Testing a Drafts action.

Boa tarde Portugal

Sitting quietly.

Up early, did I go to sleep(?), for a jet lag informed breakfast.

It’s pouring in southern England right now. On my way down to Bristol from Heathrow airport.

It is so humid outside right now, that it just saps my energy.

A hospital goes from a place that I rarely see, to one that becomes quite familiar. A chest X-ray just completed this lunchtime, with a follow up doctor’s visit tomorrow morning. All to see how my healing from pneumonia is progressing.

Exhausted but happy after a day hiking through Haleakala crater today.

I was going to do something, look something up, and now (two minutes later) cannot remember for the life of me what that was??

It’s pouring here in Haiku.

I’m starting the journey back to Maui. I’m both wanting to be back home and anxious as to what I am returning to (though very gratefully, my home is safe).

More whales swimming past Sea Ranch this afternoon. We can see their spouts way out in the ocean.

Waking up to a foggy and damp morning. Perfect for moving slowly.

Tired after a day of driving.

I just paid a visit to , a herbal medicine shop here on Maui. I was looking for a something to help open my lungs as I manage the tail end of pneumonia. I’ve come away with a couple of options, and hoping that I see some results.

I’m drinking my first coffee for around two months. Being unwell just put me off the beverage, and then as I improved my acupuncturist suggested that I stayed away from coffee. This morning I felt as though I wanted to try some again. Right now it is feeling good.

Power outage - those times when I realize the value and/or importance of that which I take for granted.

Waking up to the realization that the weekend is over.

It’s Sunday. I need a Sunday.

I'm grateful for journalling.

Waking from an afternoon nap.

I am slowly surfacing, climbing out of the hole. I have not written on my blog for about a month. Much has happened, but I have simply not had the bandwidth to post. I've been unwell since May 20th, but did not get a diagnosis, of pneumonia, until June 7th - traveling saw to that delay. I've lost a lot of weight, and energy is up and down. But although I won't be exerting myself too much anytime soon, pneumonia can have a slow recovery time, I am sensing a slow improvement.

In Lisbon. My seasonal allergies are playing up. I don’t blame this occurrence on the city, rather they have been with me since last night. The wind is definitely not helping, though.

I slept late this morning. Very unlike me, I guess that I was tired? Having said that, I have notice that I go to bed later here in Portugal...and so tend to wake up later. However, this morning was particularly late. Not many plans today. A quieter day. Maybe the body knew that?

It’s a cool, misty morning, with a beautiful freshness in the air. The sort of coolness that only comes during spring and summer, as a precursor to warmer weather later in the day.

I’ve said it before, but will say it again, “where do all of these dust bunnies come from?” I vacuum in the morning, and they appear to be waiting for me again by the evening or next morning!! They are more prolific than the real thing.

I’m giving in to the third coffee of the morning.

Waking up to a quiet Sunday morning. This is so much appreciated, my big gratitude for the day. I don’t have to get in a car, navigate city traffic and load up. It was a fun two days, but happy to be home.

Phew! The temperature started at 16°C/60°F today. By 3:00pm it is forecast to be 35°C/95°F. Wilting slowly.

I'm either showing my age, or my disconnect from modern parlance…or both?This week I have had to look up a couple of acronyms that I had no idea what they stood for, but appeared to be being used quite liberally.

There’s that coffee that I was looking forward to as I went to bed.

It’s one of those nights when I go to bed looking forward to tomorrow morning’s coffee.

Oh dear, coffee number 4 this morning. I very rarely get this far…

I’m appreciating some quiet time this morning. Recharging and reflecting.

I’m tired after a day of driving and exploring the coast and inland countryside, south of Alcácer do Sal down to Vila Nova de Milfontes. Some beautiful scenery, and lovely weather for it…I can feel it on my face.

Now it's raining. The first true rain that we have had since arriving just under three weeks ago.

It’s a misty morning.

Keeping with the Portuguese practice. Three days now. My head is still close to exploding.

I activated the haptic feedback for the keyboard on my phone, and am really enjoying the experience. I’d tried it once before, but it didn’t work for me then. However, after using a friend’s Android with the same feature, I revisited it, and am now appreciating the feel.

I needed that sleep.

The morning after the day before, and what a lovely day yesterday was. Thank you all who were there for a great Micro Meetup 🙏🏻

Heading up to Lisboa very soon, for a Micro Meetup afternoon.

Sitting quietly at home at the end of a long day. Tired but much achieved. The church bells sound nearby for Easter.

A busy day of putting things up in the house - shelves, lights, etc - running out to pick up items. Getting there. Order appearing out of chaos. It’ll be a long day.

I spent this morning driving through Lisbon traffic 🤪. Outside the city now in Parço de Arcos. Rush hour traffic to manage later.

So far I am managing the jet lag pretty well. I slept well’ish last night. Though I’ll probably be eating my words in a day or two!

Bom dia Portugal.

It’s a beautiful start to the day in Northern California this morning.

On our way.

Getting ready.

Out for dinner tonight to celebrate a my step-son’s birthday.

Nurturing a headache and sniffles this morning. I could do with a a quiet Saturday, but there are things to do. I hope that this cold leaves soon.

I don’t know where this big has come from, but I am definitely running on a half tank at the moment.

We are being treated to the a light show on the horizon, as lightning flashes continuously. There must be quite the storm out over the Pacific Ocean.

That was an emotionally exhausting and challenging weekend. I’m hoping to carve out a bit of space in the week ahead.

I’m really scratching my head with a DIY project at home. I think that I am nearing a solution, but it has taken its time.

Well the visit to Lowes and HomeDepot were unproductive, but the nap in the car afterwards was welcome.

Sat around the fire pit last night with the grandkids, roasting marshmallows, while their parents partied at a wedding next door. A game of night time tag. Shower, movie and then bed. The evening went well.

Sitting in the dark, baby sitting the grandkids, while music from the party that their parents are at, booms loudly from across the road.

I said it yesterday, but the warm sun feels so good. I think that it is the contrast after weeks of wind and rain.

The warmth of the sun feels just so good today.

Returning home last night it was still and dark, and yet I could hear the waves crashing against the cliffs over a mile away.

The first morning waking up to sun for a long time. Much gratitude.

We just put a heater on. It's cold this evening, in our corner of Maui.

I haven’t seen so much rain here. Since I landed back on island a week ago, there has been rain with short breaks, and a lot of wind. I just drove home with wipers doing double speed, and rivers forming alongside the road.

It’s pouring out there. “Out there,” is outside of my truck. I have come to off load the recycling, but it is raining so much that for now I am not venturing out.

Doing a little testing of omg.lol's status updates.

The spam bots appear to be on overdrive for the last couple of days. The amount of junk e-mail dropping in has significantly increased.

I’ve just had a massage to ease two days of travel out of me. I’m still less than 24 hours home and feel as though I have a leg in two continents.

Getting there. I’ve not long landed in Honolulu. Waiting for my final flight, to Maui. What time is it?!

Up, up and away.

The morning cloud and mist is burning off. It feels as though it will be a warm afternoon.

It’s tomorrow. I’d better go to bed.

Where do dust bunnies come from? My current thinking is from “thin air,” and that they are very prolific!

Making lists for things I have to do in the next 24 hours before leaving.

Another ssslllooowww start to the day. Not often for me, but sometimes they just feel right…and nourishing.

Sitting outside on a mild February evening in Alcácer, enjoying listening to the sounds of the local crowd and relaxing after a busy week.

I’m having a sssllllooooowwww morning. Things to do, but I’m trying to recognize that one of them, hiding in the corner, is “take a rest.”

I needed that lunch. The jitters were setting in.

Blessings for the sun this morning. It might not be the warmest sun, but it is the sun in a blue sky.

I landed in Portugal last night. This morning I am heading out on roads that I know, from a previous visit, but don’t know. Always brings up anxiety in me. …Breathe…

There’s a frost outside this morning. Food tops are white, grass is white and crispy. I haven’t seen this in a few years.

Just woke up, mid morning, after not sleeping most of the night. Jet lag is no fun.

Lightning lighting up the sky tonight.

Watching eggs boil.

Well I guess that is the end of the dry spell that we have been having? It’s pouring outside.

Waking up feeling a little drugged this morning. I’m putting it down to the acupuncture that I had yesterday. I’ll ease myself into the day.

Sitting in the darkness and silence of early morning.

I'm feeling sad this morning.

Having another attempt at sleeping.

Up early this morning. The full moon lighting up the countryside.

A massage that I was gifted for Christmas, I had this morning. I came home afterwards and fell fast asleep.

Hitting the ground running this morning.

I’m throwing the towel out in. I’m not going to make it to midnight. Happy New Year, everyone!

There’s some intense drumming party happening out there, somewhere. In between the bangs of fireworks, the beat drifts through the stillness of the night.

When the smoke from the fire appears to follow me around, regardless of which chair I sit in.

Fire pit set. Fingers crossed that the wind quietens down later.

Pandemonium in the house this morning as a huge centipede appeared out of nowhere.

The morning after the day before.

Feeling refreshed after some acupuncture.

My grandson is asleep in the car. At this rate I will be as well, pretty soon. We are parked!

Taking one of the grandkids to the Aquarium this morning, and then to lunch.

Sitting quietly before the day begins.

Windy day.

The power has just come back on after a 10 hour outage.

Power is out now. Rain still falling. Wind blowing.

The rain still falls. The wind still blows. Thunder, lightening. Yesterday evening’s brief reprieve brought beautifully clear skies.

Relaxing alone at home.

Back from a good early morning walk. Appreciating the fresh air of Upcountry Maui.

It has been an exhausting day. Bed comes gratefully.

The heavens have opened. I might be rowing out this morning.

Headache since last night and not through lack of coffee. I’ve plenty going on but will rest up when I can.

Listening through open windows to the sound of rain gently falling.

Getting lost on omg.lol

Some days I just can't seem to shake tiredness out of my body.

Tired after an afternoon in the garden.

All is quiet and still.

Listening to Classic FM while working - UK in Hawaii.

Beach day.

Watching .

I'm surprised that we haven't floated away following the rain last night, and this morning for that matter.

A day of sharing food with good friends. What more is needed?

afternoon listening to the latest version of @hemisphericviews

Am writing. It feels good.

I keep thinking that it is Friday...

That moment when the penny drops.

A morning of research and sitting on the telephone.

Watching sun light shine through misty rain.

Busy about the house this morning.

I think that I slept too long this afternoon, I can’t sleep now.

testing a shortcut…on my phone.

Feeling lighter after an email cleanup.

Wow! It’s Thursday already. We’ve been back a week…a busy week.

Tired, oh so tired. The last few weeks traveling and a busy return have caught up with me.

Home.

Getting ready to leave for the final part of the journey home.

Looking out over Heathrow on this sunny morning as we wait to board.

Starting the long journey home today.

I’m appreciating the clocks going back last night. The extra hour came at just the right time.

Resting after a sauna and jacuzzi. We had a long day’s drive and I needed a break.

Exhausted after a day of driving. Resting before heading out to eat.

Testing omg.lol Status Shortcut

Relaxing on a misty morning.

Waking up to a misty morning.

Resting after a day of sightseeing. That can be exhausting.

Wedding time - my wife’s nephew.

Decompressing after a day of travel, and meeting up with family. Florence now.

I’m leaving on a jet plane…thank you Portugal. See you before too long.

Relaxing after a good day of walking.

Watching a cruise ship spin itself around as it comes into dock.

Reading with cool air drifting in through open windows.

Enjoying a quiet rest and a piece of cake.

An unexpected morning of rebooking flights after our Wednesday flight was canceled.

Cleaning and reading operating manuals. I find it irritating when instructions manuals don’t have the answers that I’m looking for.

It’s a roady sort of day.

We slept in. Haven’t done that in a long while. We were tired.

On the road to Lisbon.

An early start.

Making sure things work.

Waking up to the sound of sheep this morning.

We’ve arrived at Alcacer do Sal. It’s late. It’s dark, but we have arrived.

Awaiting big the calling of our flight. Portugal next stop. This is a long trip.

Finishing off the final bits n pieces before we leave.

Packing and getting ready to move on tomorrow.

Those steps through Bristol yesterday gave me my first good nights sleep since arriving. Grateful.

I apparently have walked 22,069 steps today. I’m taking the evening off.

Waking up to a wet, wet, wet Sunday morning.

“Those feet were made for walking…” and now they are ready to fall off A day of city walking.

Up late waiting for my sister to arrive.

The rain is pouring outside, the temperature has dropped and this is the first true autumn weather that I have experienced in a good number of years.

Updating and fixing bugs on mum's iPad

Arrived and very jet lagged

Awaiting final leg

Resting between flights.

Up, up and away.

This is a test.

This is a test. Posting to via Drafts.

Oh boy, a visitor showed up before sunrise...a longer day than I planned.

Trying again. Good night.

Well best laid plans and all that...not to bed yet.

Long day tomorrow. Early to bed tonight.

Testing Draft's action for

Trying my first status post