Writing, writing, writing

Books and stories on the boil 📚 A sci-fi romance short story 📕 A mystery short story 📕 A mystery-romance novel 📕 A space opera novel 📕 A non-fiction book 🚀

Arting and farting 💨

I’m sketching/doodling in a pocket-sized Moleskine Cahier notebook. I’ve been missing it, my attention consumed with writing and running my various businesses and projects. The aim is to fill the notebook; that’s it. No Inktober challenge or 100days pressure. Just the joy of wielding a pen and a buddy to check in with every couple of days.

Filing and admin

After reading about it on Analog Office, I now love the Johnny.Decimal system. It’s taking me awhile to get used to my new starting points (ie. the Index), but everything is so neat and findable and it doesn’t matter that I’m in transition between two systems, because I have faith in the decimal-numbered approach. That’s my vibe right now, anyway. I’ve also been learning about bookkeeping, tax bullshit, and other back-officey things.

If you fancy a chinwag about planners and stationery, do reach out 😆

Staying active

Pole, pilates and walking are my jam right now. Although, my neck and shoulders and upper back are a world of hurt right now, DOMS and maybe slept on it wrong. It’s not stopping me from my activities, but it’s really uncomfortable and so I’m exercising my right to be a proper wuss about it. I might go to the gym this weekend for some deadlifts, but no guarantees.

Maintenance and care

Last week, I used a Knitpatch to mend a hole in a jumper. What a nifty little tool, though if you’re feeling especially handy or DIY, you could achieve much the same result with a small embroidery hoop and a comb. I will stick to this handy device, though. It makes the setup straightforward enough that I don’t procrastinate on starting.

Recycling tip: A good way to recycle holey old socks is to dab essential oils on them and stick them on your clothes hangers as moth repellents. Good essential oils, according to possibly non-fact-checked articles online, are:

• cedar
• bergamot
• clove
• lavender
• lemon
• rosemary
• thyme

(This tip will remain here until I remember to create a proper note for it.)

Terra serenus

The midyims are quiet for Makuru. We have a beautiful leptospermum in bloom right now, but alas it’s only one of the three we planted. Lemongrass has sprung back, but my Native Lemongrass did not survive the summer transplanting to a sunnier spot. Most of our Northern Hemisphere herbs have disappeared, but Vietnamese Basil acts as if we still have hot weather. Is that normal for basil?

Our Willy Wagtail friends have decided they like our neighbour’s garden better. Which is fine 🥲 I like their garden better at the moment too. I’m worried about the bird flu situation. I hope it doesn’t get too bad ☹️

Recent readings/watchings/playings

• I Deliver Parcels in Beijing by Hu Anyan
• Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman
• Pirate Enlightenment, or the Real Libertalia by David Graeber
• El Cautivo (2025)
• El Ángel Exterminador (1962)
• John Sinclair: Demon Hunter audio movies
• Mindustry
• Space Haven

Misc learnings

Technofeudalism. Ancient Rome (again). Cinematic technique. Octopus anatomy. History of modern work. Crime on the high seas. Literary techniques. Cosmology & Big History. Maintenance mindset. Linguistics. Attachment theory.

Current obsessions

Sewing & crochet (again). Old movies. Essentialism. Handmaking gifts. Ships & shipping. Vampire lore. Slow productivity.

Pls no

Invasions and kidnappings. The genocide in Palestine. Technopoly. Culture of uncare. Hyperactive Hive Mind. Hyperconsumption. Bullshit jobs.

This "Now" update was inspired by Derek Sivers’ Now page movement and Kohan Ikin’s Now page.