Hi funglymunglies*
How was your week? Mine was… complicated.
You'll note that I have not emailed you for a couple of weeks and there's a good reason for that - which I'll explain below.
Also, I'm writing this one on my phone from a hospital room as m’boy has just had his wisdom teeth out and I'm staying with him overnight. Feeling really sorry for him right now - and, up until now, he had had an awesome few days… I'll probably tell you about that too!
In the meantime, in this complicated issue, we will:
make a call
get Christmassy
talk about something we don't admit
…and more!
So, enough delays, let's get on with it!
Take care of yourselves,
James x
*if funglymunglies is rude in some language, apologies! I think I just made it up and I can’t find anything on the Googles.
This is Paris Calling
So, I was hanging around in some toilets the other day… no. Wait. That sounds wrong! I was in a bar the other day and, in the toilets, I came across this blast from the past…
The phone was made by a company you have never heard of called Landis+Gyr. They were founded in 1896, in Switzerland, and are still operating today as a business with a multi-billion euro turnover. In addition to being perpetual innovators, they are also now my new favourite company, purely on the basis that they use the word ‘Blogue’ to link to their blog. I find this very pleasing.
Sorry I didn't call…
Occasionally, in this weird little email, I talk about things that are a bit difficult, a bit serious. And this is one of them.
And it shouldn't be.
I mean, I told you about the car accident…
So, recently, I got to the point of feeling that I was about to become very overwhelmed. I've given training and support to people about this stuff and, as is completely normal with me, I'm terrible at taking my own advice. But, this time, I thought it was a good idea to listen to me.
So I pressed the big red ‘pause’ button.
Weirdly, I don't like to talk about things like this - weirdly because I tell people they should.
But the alternative was trying to run through it and, even now, I feel far from good, so that would have been a catastrophically bad idea.
Mental health is just the same as any other health thing - so why not talk about it? I mean, FFS, I told you I was doing a poo test for cancer a few newsletters ago!
Having spoken to the doc the other day, I asked about this newsletter. Obviously, it isn't work and, personally, I find it fun and relaxing to write - so he said it was fine for me to do. But, if for any reason it doesn't feel like that, I may pause it from time to time.
In the meantime, if you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, don't keep pushing towards it. Stop. Go and speak to a medical professional BEFORE it becomes too much. After all, you wouldn't try to run on a fractured leg.
Leave The Cesspit Now!
Want to get out of Twitter/X? I have Bluesky invitation codes going for free! Just send me a message and I'll send you one!
How to be a great hotel
This isn't another bit of me moaning. Although it does start like that!
The other week, I had to go to Germany. The day before I was due, I received a message that my train was cancelled. Somehow I found a train on the day before (and found a hotel). Then, the day before my return, I received an email to say the card guaranteeing my reservation had been declined. I emailed by return to promise them that I would be with them by 4pm the following day. The following day, a Sunday, with no warning, my train to Paris was cancelled. The next train had one seat. I tried to book it but the seat was taken while I was trying to book it. The same with the next train. Finally, I found a seat on a train that would get me to Paris at 11.30pm. I emailed the hotel with my hugely apologies and a promise that I would be there by midnight.
My train was delayed by 20 minutes.
I got to the hotel after midnight. They had kept me a room. A room that I like (I use the hotel a lot). And they told me to go straight to my room and worry about paying the next day.
When I entered the room, I was greeted with this - a small message that meant a massive amount.
I know I have mentioned them before but, if you are in Paris, do consider the Ibis Styles Paris Meteor Porte d'Italie and their amazing, caring team.
Powered by Coffee and Generosity
These emails are powered by coffee! If you feel so inclined, thank you! They are hugely appreciated! My buymeacoffee link is at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jamesmb and I’ll post a photo of each one you get me as a thank you!
Christmas in Germany
As is something of a tradition, here are some photos from the Christmas market at Saarbrücken. I know it'll upset some people but few do Christmas markets like the Germans.
Always magical.
In Case You Missed It
This was one Greek newspaper's front page after this week’s British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, cancelled a meeting with Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, after it was reported that the Greek PM might bring up the question of the looted Parthenon Marbles.
Need To Talk?
As much as I knock Meta from time to time, their WhatsApp maintains an excellent list of support lines for people experiencing mental health crises (or heading that way).
You can find it here: https://faq.whatsapp.com/1417269125743673
Don't leave it too late.
I'll admit that this hasn't been the easiest of emails to write and, yes, I could have pretended that everything is fine and that I don't have a permanent stress headache - and that would make me look stronger (or something). But it also wouldn't be true and there ain't any point writing these things if they aren't going to be true.
Maybe writing this will help me. Better still, it might help you or somebody else.
The next edition will come when it comes. I have some good, fun stuff for the next one. Bear with me. We'll get there.
Take care of yourselves,
James x
Thank you for stressing the message that it's OK to ask for and allow yourself to receive help when things are piling up and you are feeling overwhelmed.. Also thank heavens for professionally run and caring hotels groups like Ibis. THey are market leaders in showing how it's s'posed to be done. Hope your son is soon better and that you are too