Morning coffee...

I've been creating a nice little hovel for myself in our apartment of late. As I've been on holiday, most people would expect that there's a period of laziness followed by a burst of exploration, energy and bustling to make the most of your free time from work.

But so far I've been resembling a sloth. I've been a little lost in this period - the routine of commuting and work is easy to slip into like you're favourite pair of jeans, shoes or whatnot. I also resolved myself to complete a relatively large writing project I've been working on for the last couple of months/years. But that hasn't quite gone to plan either. My enthusiasm for it has waned, and I'm finding it difficult to get back on the hard-slog writing horse. The moping has also extended to various usual day occurrences - like bathing, making coffee, and going outside. I've been planning to string out my days with minor items (Yes! I can polish my shoes today!), but I even fail to do that.

I have a big aversion to doing what needs to be done here. But I'm also so hard on myself that I won't say, ok, get it out of your system, change your mood and go have some fun. So I find myself stressed on my holiday because I'm not taking full advantage of it. If it wasn't for the efforts of my wonderful g/f Lin I'm sure I would have gone a little mad during this holiday. Taking me away on a trip, calling to see how I'm going, and not berating me but supporting me despite my own efforts to sabotage my own potential and opportunities. She is awesome.

I also participated in a few phone conversations last night that have thrown some perspective on my own situation. I don't really have much to worry about really - but my negative thought process often makes it moreso difficult for me to make anything out of the opportunities that have been presented to me.

So instead of moping around our apartment, I decided to make a day of it. That coupled with Lu Ayi popping around for her weekly fairy-godmother cleaning routine has forced me out of the house.

I skipped breakfast this morning, made a plan, and so far I'm on track.

I have just enjoyed a simple breakfast and coffee in the Tima Harbour Cafe on the corner of Zhenning Lu and Zhaohua Dong Lu (near Huashan Hospital). When we first arrived in Shanghai, the previous tenant of our apartment Eric put me to the wise on Tima Harbour, its free WiFi and cheaper prices. But I hadn't sought it out or seen one until a few weeks back on one of our endeavours to find a new place to eat in Shanghai (you can only have so many Malone's Burgers).

So, I'm watching the world go by, writing a little, and enjoying some time away from my responsibilities for now. I'm also enjoying the cafe music in here - so far I've heard Radiohead, Moloko, some tracks I recognise from the Cafe Del Mar ambient albums, and also some Joss Stone (whom I'm a little neither here nor there about). Later on, its off to pay some bills, post some letters, buy some Christmas presents, and well, explore Shanghai a little on my trusty bicycle.

But for now, another coffee.

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