Injury strikes! Yes, same old story - overdoing it.
I stopped weekly yoga around Jan, on account of cancelling my subscription for being out of the country, then did not restart again upon return. Incredible how quickly the body calcifies, especially flexibility and mobility. I can barely do half the bendy stuff I could before on my first session back to Yoga, what a great early reminder of how important it is to keep this stuff running in the background.
The hot yoga sessions I enjoyed multiple times a week (and day sometimes) previously are now brutally agonising in single doses with long gaps between them. Got a whale of a deal at the House of Hot Yoga who do unlimited monthly sessions for £35. I managed to go 12 times as I was in and out of the country but that works out at a hyper reasonable £3 per session. I now feel duty bound to wax lyrical about the place so they earn some of that cash back!! Super easy to do so however given the excellent experience (shared in more detail in a google review).
More injuries! My left calf is buggered, not quite sure how to resolve it, the physio isn’t too sure either which isn’t ideal. Also my right glute snapped during squash after a two week run of daily play, and my right shoulder gave out after building up to 60 L-sit pull ups a day, 20 at a time. Incredible figures which I hope to get back to again but the key will be to do so at the right bodyweight (circa 75/80 kg) as well as being part of an all encompassing regime that prioritises/incorporates stretching/mobility.
Barely did much musical practice beyond scales, though these were consistent. We’re so deep in the release, distribution, and marketing side of the legacy album that inspiration is sparse. Whatever creativity that is harnessable is being concentrated on poems. I am almost certainly overextended mentally as well, following a plethora of threads I bring upon myself is taxing alongside work and trying to organise a charity football tournament of 20 people - herding cats!!
I could certainly have been more involved with the 8 week music/writing digital Songcamp I was part of, which has come to an end on a high with the CHAOS project, but despite completing the work promised there’s not as much connection with the individuals participating as I would like YET having been spread thin. All good.
There’s some heartbreak in there, mixed in with some circumspection. Add a dash of melancholy, a smidge of narcissism, and stir that together with a pinch or two of hopium…..you get the poetic thematic soup cakes the stuff i’ve shared on medium.
I also had to get a tooth filling! Apparently eating too many meals a day (snacks) is bad so we should try reducing them down to three so there’s less action in the mouth, less often. It’s also been aeons since I went into the dentist (pandemic) hence a deep clean was required. Scheduling these regularly now.
I am finding creating poems very soothing, they fill the vacuum created by completing the SongaDAO article a day challenge in April - which was tough! The Papa creative universe has expanded and I'm of half of a mind to integrate the songs + poems into an animated universe that expands the afro-disney vision of my albums so far. What's great is I've already found an artist to help doodle around a potential poetry book - Christmas presents sorted this year!
Played tennis with Dan and Thornton - both of whom were squashed to a pulp. Lovely little run out with Henry for squash at Finsbury leisure centre too, half injured gentle session but good to have him back after he disappeared to start a family. Had a really fun practice with that star super singer Aisha and we have a charity gig booked which will be the first for a while. Much guitar practice is needed between now and then. Took Mum and her friend Dayo for a day out in Dulwich with Gabriel which was fun, dog walks and pub lunches - the epitome of summer.
Have been approached by Seth Power of Tribly to launch some music on his new platform, really has the potential to shine as he’s been really hands on and meticulous. Was also fortunate to join Freddie Lower and some old faces to see Bonobo at the royal albert hall - big vibe for a thursday! Had spent the evening prior hanging out with Rob Heaton who is a staunch ally, and the number one reader of all my newsletters. Turns out his young child is very fond of our music. I hope he comes to the Jim Jams reunion at Christmas.
