Adrian Faulkner's Blog, page 28
December 26, 2020
Xmas Day – The Climb #672
We tend to get to the last day of the year and think back over the past 365 days, reviewing what life twists and turns we’ve experienced, whilst looking forward to the new start that a new year brings.
Except this year there’s no restart. There’s no clear slate, no new season, come 1st January 2021. I think some people try to look at 2020 as the worst year ever, and whilst I think 2021 will be a bit brighter, the first half of it is going to be very tough.
And because...
December 25, 2020
Xmas Logistics – The Climb #671
I’ve become convinced that Xmas is an exercise in logistics.
This was supposed to be a simple Xmas. I’m not seeing close family. I’m not doing presents with extended family. Just a simple meal and a few presents with my support bubble.
And yet, it’s somehow turned into this massive exercise that I feel I might need to call in the army to help with.
I thought we were doing well when we got the turkey early. Yet food shopping for the rest of the stuff on Monday turn...
December 24, 2020
I HATE Xmas Wrapping – The Climb #670
If there’s one area of Xmas that I have always hated it’s wrapping. I love deciding on gifts, hunting them down and seeing people’s faces when they open them… but the actual wrapping them? Urgh!
This isn’t a new phobia. It’s something that I’ve openly said for years.
It’s not that I am bad at wrapping either. I tend to use a little too much paper and it ends up looking a little messy once the edges are folded in as a result, but other than that I’m not sure peopl...
December 23, 2020
Asynchronous Progress – The Climb 669
I’ve been thinking a bit about creative work today following an interview I read with NK Jemisin.
There’s a really interesting quote that got me thinking.
“Having spent 20 years in the workplace, it’s difficult not to apply capitalist logic to everything, not to think about productivity in terms of the number of tasks you accomplish during the day. Creative work is not like that.”
I find with my own creative work that I go through phases. There are times when I’m sup...
December 22, 2020
The Xmas Food Shop – The Climb #668
Today’s big mission was to do the Xmas food shop.
I’m having a small Xmas this year. Family are high risk so we decided way back in the summer to cancel xmas and as a result I’m having a small xmas with my support bubble.
Plans are such that, even with the events of the last few days, it’s not really impacted our plans… except with the borders closing, I can sense panic buying looming.
We got the turkey a few weeks back so it was mainly veg we had to worry about. Soun...
December 21, 2020
The Second Raid Night – The Climb #667
It was the second raid night tonight.
Despite spending most of the week working on Alt-leveling, I’d got some good drops at the start of the Warcraft week and as such entered the raid having made a good 7 ilevels.
I’m not trying to be the star DPS but at the same time I’m not trying to let the side down. It meant that I entered tonight’s raid without stressing that I hadn’t played enough. I don’t feel guilty for leveling my alts.
We made great progress as well, downin...
December 20, 2020
Alt Leveling – The Climb #666
When I made my Shadowlands plans, I’d said to myself that I’d level up a load of alts. Heck, I went through weeks of work to get them all to level 50 and geared up. And yes, I did get them through to Oribos and do work on their professions.
But the job isn’t complete and where I’m feeling in a bit of a Xmas funk, as well as needing activities I can do without my headphones, I’ve spent a bit of time this week leveling Alts.
It’s a bit grindy and takes time away from...
December 19, 2020
Xmas Tasks – The Climb #665
I forget how much time Xmas takes up.
I could be forgiven for considering that as this is a simpler Xmas, it really wouldn’t eat much of my time. My parents are high risk and as such we made the decision back in early summer to cancel Xmas – It helps having friends who are virologists to help educate you on what will inevitably happen. Therefore, my xmas is with my support bubble. No gifts or cards to extended family. Just a few gifts for my host, and food for the d...
December 18, 2020
Contemplating Chapter Changes – The Climb #664
So I’m contemplating a big chapter change.
In terms of a ‘formula’ this chapter is the one where the ‘call to adventure’ has been made but the hero rejects it. Something has to happen to make them change their mind.
This novel has been an experiment in structure and whilst I’m wary of too much structure in a novel, I wanted a chance to play with it to see what the outcome of it would be like. Due to various factors, it’s been a bit stop-start when it comes to the fi...
December 17, 2020
Warcaft Wednesday – Gearing Progress – The Climb #663
As we enter ‘burnout’ phase I’m pretty happy with my progress in Warcraft. I’m naturally playing a bit less (except for Wednesday’s weekly reset where there’s a lot to do) but it hasn’t stopped me being super-productive.
Obviously the focus for most of the past week was gearing the Raiding main for Castle NAthria Normal Mode on Sunday. That went well, even if I only just made the requirements of ilevel 170 gear. But I got a few good weekly drops this week and as s...
