Weeknote 34

It’s time for an 11 day break from work. A much needed break. I need some headspace to re-energise and some physical space to try to catch up on some sleep and some reading.

We’re not going anywhere really. An overnight trip up to Machynlleth to go to Gwen which we were supposed to have gone to in June, but Covid.

Renovations are grindingly slow at the moment. No work happening next week, which is actually okay, some silence while we are at home.

The only progress this week seems to be having fully plasterboarded the interior of the studio. Quite a lot still to go: windows, doors, skylights, roof replacement, roof insulation, the link needs to be actually finished. And then decorating and joinery. SIGH.

This week

I’m still not sleeping well. It’s frustrating. The last two nights have been interrupted with nearly gale force winds, rains and the bleeps of various batteries kicking in with multiple power cuts.

Monday I felt horrific, ate something on Sunday that didn’t agree with with me. Woke up in the night with a stomach ache which didn’t really improve. I did 2 very short meetings to prep for a client workshop the next day and spent the rest of the day lying in bed feeling sorry for myself.

Tuesday I was in Cardiff. A meeting with a government client in Cathay’s Park. I’d never actually been before. It’s like a bunker, a fortress. And it’s pretty empty.

Great meeting with our client in person learning more about how they work, what outcomes they need to achieve and continuing to build our relationship.

Lowlight: closest I’ve ever come to being stuck in a lift and pushing the emergency button. One of my fears.

Then a dash across town to meet some of the TPX team ahead of our afternoon workshop with another client. Workshop went really well - learned more about the service we’ll be expanding our support on, met some of the team we’ll be pairing with and coaching, came up with a good way forward.

Lowlight: I left my coat in the restaurant we had lunch in and had to go tearing around town again to pick it up and make my train home.

Highlight: We went over to Garway to see the sculptor/artist who is making our stairs. Spent a couple hours touring their house, gardens, orchards, woodland and multiple workshops.

We got to see some sample finishes for the steel for our staircase and we both made an immediate choice. Not sure our architect is going to agree.

Wonderful evening with wonderful people talking about things we love. And a drive back through the lanes with a massive harvest moon hanging over us.

Wednesday was a bitty day of chats with folk inside to build relationships and talk about how we work together in my new role. Wednesday is also the day of our weekly get together with all Senior Partner Major Projects. Always a highlight of my week - both having time to check in with everyone and also to see what theme Emma has picked for our ice breaker “how are you feeling this week”. This week it was medieval owls and I think it might have been the best one yet.

I hardly remember Thursday morning. It was a whirlwind of investigation and admin. I’m drowning in all the admin that has to happen across a huge number of clients. And this is only going to get worse. Finance, commercial, people/teaming. There is no gap to do the strategic stuff and the project direction. Same problem I had before. But this time, I’m working on a plan for how we might build some account management support and to model how this could work. On pause until I’m back from holiday.

Hopped into work for 20 minutes today (Friday) - I’d forgotten to do 2 things and picked up a Slack message that needed urgent attention.

Laptop is now turned off. Slack is fully deleted from my phone, as is email.

Now to relax.....