A long-standing friend is in hospital for tests on his heart. It's made me think about my own health and how much (or little) life I have left. I'm over sixty, but still feel like I did in my 20s and 30s, mentally. There are so many things I want to do, and to continue to do, but I'm coming to the realisation that I might not get to all of them. And that I should exercise more.

My 'non-work' Friday ended up being a 'work' Friday. Which is fine (once in a while). 3 calls and some 'serious thought'. But the upside is that I have a clear plan for a client and some immediate actions that will move things along: a decision on customer segmentation; some considerations about ways-of-working / autonomy; work on a variation of the strategy / objectives / tactics for the year; put together a plan for delivering a pitch deck, brochure and GTM strategy.

With my founder clients, I am the 'Gromit' to their 'Wallace'. (Other analogies are available.)

A couple of articles published:

• "Outsourced Strategy: Getting It Right", putting in writing how I work with my clients.
• "Memorials or Mirrors?", reflecting on my approach to re-issuing a 30-year-old slim volume of poetry.
• And a pre-engagement framework to accompany the outsourcing piece.

The unseasonably hot weather on Saturday made a trip to Upfest very enjoyable. Lots of new art - some incredible work.

I finished the complete automation (save for Human-in-the-Loop activities) of some processes for The Ode Map. n8n, Airtable, Slack & Buffer all used. Should save me anything from 5 to 30 minutes per day (although I had already automated some of it before).

Listening highlights:

• Dara "ADHDARA" album. I was reminded to re-listen to this because she was in the Eurovision Song Contest. Well, she won the Eurovision Song Contest. There is nothing on this album quite like "Bangaranga" (which, in my view is one of a few 'perfect' pop songs), but enjoyable all the same.
• Doublespeak, "Doublespeak" album
• The return of "Add to playlist" (BBC R4 / BBC Sounds). Avid follower (listener) since the beginning (October 2021). Always interesting and often enlightening. Plus, it's a great way to find new music. Through this programme, I've discovered (amongst many more):
• Cherry Bullet (K-Pop, disbanded 2024)
• Freshlyground (Afro-fusion pop band from continental South Africa)
• The Hu (Mongolian folk-metal)
• Zazen Boys (Japanese indie-rock)

Viewing highlights:

• Death Valley, series 2. Yes, you could call it 'throw-away', but the comedic timing of the two protagonists is fantastic. That, or I'm easily pleased. Tongue-in-cheek Welsh detective series.
• Resident Alien, series 4. The fourth and final series. Sad to see it go. A programme about aliens that's not about aliens. Love, friendship, the interconnectedness of all things. A very intelligent comedy.