When I used to exercise frequently, commonly I would think about things while I worked out. I would accumulate items to note for later and, toward the end of my half-hour-ish workout, I would have accumulated enough of these to challenge my short-term memory. These days, the same kind of thing can happen while I take a bath.

Yesterday was unusual. First, I woke up, thought of some things while in bed then got up to note them. Then, I took a bath and thought of more to note. Before work, I thought of more. These were all work-related to-do's. By the time my workday started, I had accumulated sixteen of them. Some of them were quick tasks, some took longer. By the end of the day, I had completed ten of them.

In one dream this morning, which included irrelevant parts about things like getting my laptop computer back from somewhere, I was upstairs exercising on something like a cross-trainer, except it sometimes looked more like an old garden roller. When I was getting settled on it in a good rhythm, it would inconveniently levitate, just a little, no more than a couple of feet. This was awkward because it would float around a bit, sometimes such that other things in the room would get in the way of my trying to use it. As I used it, I puzzled over the phenomenon, not seeing how me on heavy equipment could be lifting from the floor.

The Firth of Clyde has a few beaches along it. Previously we visited Lunderston Bay, last Saturday we drove to Prestwick Beach and I judged the water warm enough to swim in. Once I was in, others followed, and we had a nice time in the sea for a good while. The beach turned out to be rather shallow so one can go some way out before gaining much depth. Looking out toward Arran, the blue sky and white clouds reflected very prettily off the surface of the water. I hadn't noticed that from the beach, perhaps it helped to have my head closer to the surface. I expect the sea to stay warm enough into the autumn.

I am not sure of the nomenclature for bodies of water. When I swam off Cornwall, it was fairly clearly the Atlantic. Off Aberdeen, I thought of it as being the North Sea, and since our move we have been visiting the Firth. However, I wonder if those are technically also the Atlantic. Either way, they all seem more than adequate to me, just as I was happy enough to be swimming in Lake Erie, it has a distant horizon and waves and such.

We had a band of rain moving through Scotland yesterday so I am glad that we had chance to visit the beach before it arrived.

( After moving to the new flat, still plenty to do but much now done. )

( I think it was a good move. )

( Since the move, money will be tight for some time yet. )

My eldest happened to be nearby around their birthday so I got to walk over a couple of times and say hello, which was great. I've not been able to see my kids as much in recent months, with all the property viewings, the move and setup, etc. Maybe next weekend, here's hoping.

This afternoon, I achieved some goals. I walked to the local Sainsbury's and bought everything on my shopping list, plus some extra bagels, I also thought to look for insect repellent but they don't offer much of a range. I also walked to the beach and dipped my feet into the 13°C water a couple of times. On the way back, I happened upon both the Masjid Alhikmah and the nearby Aberdeen Multicultural Centre so at least I know where those are. I was on my way to a fish and chip shop. I notice that the curry sauce locally is darker and spicier than I am used to from England. I don't know if that reflects changes in time or place or that they have more South than East Asian influence or what. At least in SE Asia I don't think they have the concept of British Chinese curry sauce which I think at least includes five-spice.

This Saturday, I set off back to Taguig, we should hear about the visa applications while I am there. I belong with my wife. Happily, tomorrow I get to take my children to the Japanese Garden at Cowden Castle, it's well over a hundred miles one-way for me but worth it, though I'll be out of the house early as rain may move in later in the afternoon and my eldest will have evening D&D. This Wednesday, I'll take the train back into our Edinburgh office while an electrician replaces some emergency lighting here in the flat, then my goods and effects from Eastern Tennessee should be delivered shortly before I leave the country.

Once back in Taguig, Riza and I may resume our habit of morning walks. Often, we head over toward Arca South and buy some groceries on Maharlika Road on our way back. Not much further is the weekend market, Saturdays being the best for that, it's kind of temporary stalls but mostly covered by tarpaulin. Occasionally, we venture in a different direction to Laguna Lake. I hope that the visa applications are approved, that we get to walk together here too, unfortunately the UK immigration process is even worse than the US'. Naturally, I converted my savings largely into pounds sterling just in time for historic lows, I remember the days when £1 bought over $1.60, though also when gas in Ohio was 99¢/gallon and it made sense for me to own a 5ℓ V8. At the beach today, the cheapest single-scoop cone ice cream I saw was £2.50, I guess the usual beachfront price-doubling applies up here too. So, I didn't achieve the goal of ice cream at the beach but the important one was the feet-dipping.

I came home to mixed doubles snooker on the television, I didn't know that was a thing. Now I am here, I shall catch up on the latest of the new LotR show while treating myself to pista kheer. I have badam halwa for another day.

( Earlier this week, expected deliveries kept me at home. )

On today's expedition, ( I peered at a high school and avoided a bicyclist. )

( Google Maps led me astray. )

( I checked out the city-centre shops. )

( I bought freezer bags at Sainsbury's. )

( I still plan to buy a car. )

( I was a bit sore after the walk but I do need exercise. )

From next week, those in my workplace will no longer be required to mask and, indeed, I suspect that many won't. The workforce is largely vaccinated, maybe half received a booster. ( I fear long-term effects from contracting SARS-CoV-2. )

While we were all masking, my approach was to remain comfortable in eating with people outdoors ( and I suspect that the risks, now higher, largely arise indoors. )

Perhaps it can suffice for me to wear an FFP2 during meetings and to try to sit far from others, off at the side or back of the room rather than around the table, or similar. ( Air purifiers may help. )

The gym's another concern, people may become more contagious in working out hard. I should like to continue using it, perhaps I shall escalate to both FFP2 and safety goggles, I haven't worn the latter at work before.

In short, I do not know what to do, nor do I have good numbers, perhaps nobody does. I wonder what tradeoffs make sense.

I remain the same weight that I was at the end of last month. Maybe I drift downward extremely slowly? I have been eating a little less on most days although, maybe once a week, I have an off-plan not-extravagant lunch, typically outdoors with colleagues, last time was a pork, rice, bean burrito. I have also exercised more, though not enough to make a difference to weight. Now I must decide if to cut down even more or just be very patient. No need to decide immediately.

I have some off-plan vacation coming up for the second half of next month and I have yet to lose the other half of what I gained on vacation over three months ago.

My energy bill came today, the coldest month can cost me twice as much as the warmest. We had light snow flurries this afternoon and I figured that I ought to have split the rounds by now. There is snow on the ground now but the weather should warm up early next week, maybe then I will feel like going out there with the maul, then I can light the fire when it cools down again.

Tomorrow, the temperature is projected to get up to freezing, fortunately it is not often windy here. My handyman asked if he can come over tomorrow to work more on the outside drainage, I guess he doesn't mind the cold when he's working. Being mostly sedentary myself, too much of late, today I experimented with wearing two pairs of my thin socks: it worked fine although my feet still feel cold, even nestled inside my woolly slippers. At least I feel pleasantly warm once settled into bed.

Being a little stricter with myself seems to have been working, my weight returned to its gentle trend downward. Next, I should focus on my resting heart rate, I am still slacking in trying to get back into exercising most days.

Whenever I come in under 140lb, I get a day off to eat whatever I like. Yesterday I tried Krystal for what may be the first time. I am used to White Castle, which is soon to celebrate its centenary, and this seems similar. The meal was quite good, mostly in terms of spice: the default condiment on the cheeseburgers is mustard, chili cheese fries are readily available, and the apple turnover had plenty of cinnamon; altogether a nice combination. If I order online from home then I reach the Krystal drive-through just about on time for pickup.