It is about as fresh as it gets outside this morning. My car said -5.5° when I set off to the gym at 07:30, which seems a bit dramatic, but it definitely is cold. I rather enjoy this type of weather, as I like being able to wrap up in warm clothes and take long walks in the crisp fresh air. I simply detest summer, largely because I just don’t think our country is designed to withstand any temperature above 18°, and everything immediately becomes horribly humid and sweaty as soon as we get the slightest bit of heat. Nope, winter is definitely the season for me.
I managed a very solid workout this morning – 20 minutes of cardio, 40 minutes of strength training (pull), and 15 minutes in the steam room. I signed up at Everlast Gyms just before Christmas, because as good value as PureGym is, I could not go on any longer without access to some sort of heat therapy room. It also helps that the one in Burton has recently been refurbished and is now actually quite nice inside, although, perhaps unsurprisingly considering the location, I’m not sure you can say the same for the clientele.
I am really back into the swing of things with my exercise regime now, and I feel absolutely fantastic. I am completing at least three strength sessions and two cardio sessions (usually a run) per week, but I often exceed these targets, which is a nice feeling. It is infuriatingly cliche, and impossible to not sound obnoxious when saying it, but the effects that exercising regularly can have on both your physical and mental health are nothing short of transformative. Pair this with eating clean and sleeping well, and quite frankly you begin to feel unstoppable.
Earlier this week, I marked the milestone of one whole year with my current employer, which means that, given that my average tenure with an employer since I graduated from University has been 11 months, I am naturally thinking of the next step in my career. In all likelihood, I will probably stay where I am for another twelve months or so, for a multitude of depressingly pragmatic reasons; I still have a lot of personal debt so can’t yet afford to move out/away (which is my main goal), if I leave before the two year mark I lose my pension benefits (which is incredibly sneaky and harsh), my CV will start to look very patchy and unappealing to employers (which I resent having to acknowledge, since I despise being forced into a course of action by someone/something other than myself, even if it is the right thing to do), and because I still don’t have enough experience to take another step up the career ladder (on paper at least, since I know full well I could do the job of my superior with one hand tied behind my back whilst a piranha nibbles on my balls). Anyway, despite it being unlikely that it will inspire change anytime soon, my one year anniversary was a good opportunity to spend time reflecting on my career so far, and how much I absolutely hate having to do it, but how good I am at it anyway. Isn’t life queer sometimes.
Speaking of work, I am currently reading Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber, the entire premise of which is that a significant chunk of modern work, particularly white-collar work, is essentially pointless, yet no one seems to want to talk about it lest they expose the pointlessness of their own position. I’ll go into more detail in my review once I’ve finished reading it (I only have about fifty pages left), but needless to say, I am finding it hard to disagree, especially since I spent much of my time at my previous two jobs (I am not commenting on my current position) complaining to my boss that I was bored shitless. Anyway, suffice to say I am thoroughly enjoying the book.
I was supposed to see a friend for a few drinks last night, but they cancelled on me, which was inconvenient. I was also supposed to be hosting an old University friend this evening, but they cancelled on me too. Five years ago, I would have immediately begun plotting both of their downfalls, but now, I simply brush it off and find something else to do. It’s quite remarkable really how much I’ve grown over the past decade or so – admittedly, the baseline was very low, but still, I’m awfully proud of myself. I wasn’t going to make any other plans, but then the friend that cancelled Friday proposed tonight instead, which works quite well now I am free. I also received a text from my Mother last night asking if I’d like to go for lunch with her and Jenny Fell today, followed by a visit to William Hill for an hour or so, which I immediately said yes to. Lunching and gambling, especially when done with Mother, are quite possibly my two favourite things in the entire world.
The dog walker has just arrived to take Forest and Ellie out. Surely, in my lifelong quest to ascend to the Middle Classes, having a dog walker must finally mean I qualify? I’ll have to ask Elia when she returns from her month-long trip around Asia – I feel as though that sentence alone demonstrates her authority on the matter.
I shall end there for now.
