Everyone knows I’m a massive fan of all things Autmn, and the arrival of September today is a good thing in my book. The summer never really happened except for a few good days, in fact I can probably remember all of them, so the transition to Autumn won’t be very stark this year. The evenings have drawn in and the air is starting to feel cooler, I’m looking forward to those long shadows and orange evenings already.
Unfortunately I’m starting September feeling very off. I was fine for most of yesterday, but as the evening came in I gradually started to feel terrible. The headache I’d been nursing all day just wouldn’t stop and my whole head felt swollen and ‘swooshy’. It put an end to any thoughts of dog agility despite us not having been in weeks (poor Murph), and also to my last heavy session at BJJ before the competition at the weekend. I still feel rough today, and writing this now, it feels like something inside my head is swelling and trying to burst out through my temples. Quite how I managed to use the new self-service machines at the Post Office is beyond me, so if someone ends up with my wallet in the post or something like that, send it back eh?
I managed to be fairly productive over the Bank Holiday break and even got around to seeding what will be the back garden. The ground out there is really tough and stony though, so just how much of the seed will ‘take’ and start to sprout, I couldn’t tell you, but I broke up as much of the topsoil as I could. It covered surprisingly well, and it was even nice to look at a light brown garden rather than a dark brown mud one, so I can’t wait to see how nice it’ll look when it’s all green. Long-term I intend to get some fruit and veg growing at the bottom, and a few nice trees in too; namely flowering cherries and a couple of decent acers. I’m going to line the bank at the end with bamboo too, it grows like mad and it’s a great natural windbreak.
All that remains for this week is to get better, pray my new gi arrives in time and get the new club patch sewn onto it. If I’m going to get my ass handed to me in my first competition, I’m at least going to do it looking smart.