Notes from Hermitville

So. It turns out any change is best done gradually, over time, through repetition and with support. Not all in one go, all guns blazing. Hmm. Interesting. Would never have thunk it... And, likewise, would never have thunk how much I have modelled my life on a specific type of Hermitville had it not been for this week...

Saying it started like any other simply isn't true. For me, the week started last Saturday in all its cinematic glory. The sun is shining more. The days are getting longer. The wind has been howling and the rain has even made an appearance. (More than an appearance, but thankfully rather than getting utterly sodden it simply woke me up on Thursday morning and subsided before I left for work.) Well, maybe it started on Friday (which was also very full). Or even the day before. But it was only on checking my diary that I remembered Friday and Thursday so I'm going to stick with Saturday.

Saturday. Lots of films. A panel discussion. A long chat with a new person. And a cycle home. People.

Sunday. Relatively few people but a new person who'd come to stay for a couple of weeks and a chat over dinner.

Monday. Started fairly people-sparse, although I did spend some time off on a wonderful wander around Heysham Head - and there were people there, albeit not many. And then it got more peopled - picking up a laminated map of the area (long story) followed by an adventure down to Bolton with a Lancastrian friend to see a brilliant play which in turn was followed by a couple of hours (I'm not really sure now) in the theatre bar with the cast and other friends-of-cast who'd come to see the show. And then a trundle home and the first late night of the week.

Tuesday. Another evening of socialising - another Lancastrian friend came over for curry (I love my local curry house. They're ace) and in amongst our chattering I also got to go through photos from the past year of the building. Oh, how things have moved on!

Wednesday. Which I thought was going to be a quiet one. But turned out not to be. A meeting I had semi-forgotten, but on discovering resolved to attend, and have now resolved never to go to again. Never might be a little strong but it really isn't a meeting I have any desire to return to, especially after a very frank and clarifying chat with someone post-meeting. More. People.

Thursday. This may have been where it fell apart a little. It had been a particularly busy day phones-wise in the office, and I'd also had 2 lovely chats with people visiting the building. Then I had a Massage - the end result being "I could go to sleep now". Which I didn't do. Instead, I cycled off to a business networking meeting and spent 2 and a half hours meeting and talking and sharing and learning. And got home. Exhausted.

Friday. Lacking the usual support I have, today ended up with two lots of jobs (which both sort of got done, but neither as much as I'd've liked), meetings, Unexpected Events, a great desire to go out into the sunshine but a need to stay near the phones, a brief interlude in Greaves Park in Lancaster, some cycling, and another thought provoking film. So thought provoking I was glued to my seat for about an hour afterwards. And had a great chat with a minister called Steve. And then cycled home.

To many perhaps a week of any great note. But the overall sense of "weary" I very much put down to Significantly Increased Social Contact. Not to say that's a bad thing - just rather unfamiliar! And I like the increase - but recognise the rate of increase was somewhat steeper than may have been recommendable. Tomorrow brings more people but then the potential for catching up with myself, if every way needed. At one point I had pencilled in an adventure into the Lune Valley but that hasn't come to fruition. Perhaps I shall peruse my new maps for suggestions.