Better late than never on my October good things!

Getting Married!

The main reason that I didn't write this post at the end of last month was that my (now) wife and I were busy getting married! It was absolutely amazing. I felt incredibly lucky: not only to be marrying someone as wonderful and well-suited to me as my partner, but also to be able to do so in the presence of so many people we love.

There's so much I could say about the day, and so many incredible memories I will cherish for years to come, but for the moment I am just feeling grateful. The love that we felt from friends and family alike was in some ways overwhelming - it's not often that you're the at the centre of attention of everyone you care about - but ultimately very validating. It really reminded me how much I value my relationships, and how investing in them is one of the most worthwhile things I can do.

Sparks Co-Working

While getting married was very much the priority in October, I did make another positive change during the month - I started working out of a co-working space! I've been wanting to do this for some time - working from home every day for more than three years has been quite isolating, and terrible for my focus. I will always advocate for flexible and remote working, as I think people should have the option to work from wherever makes the most sense for them. With that said, losing the ability to work from the office during COVID deprived me of a healthy routine of getting out of the house, getting some fresh air, and getting some free exercise on the way to work.

I've finally rectified this by signing up to work at Sparks Bristol. For anyone who isn't familiar - Sparks is a re-imagining of a department store in the old Marks & Spencer building in Broadmead. Instead of being run by a single company, the building is managed by two charities, and the ground floor is occupied by a whole bunch of small retail businesses, charity installations, and the like. It's a great place to come and shop for art, jewellery, clothing, or homeware from local independent businesses. However, until this month, I wasn't aware that Sparks also offered desk spaces and artist studio spaces on the second floor of the building. Fortunately, my friend and fellow consultant Sim was also looking for a co-working space around the same time as me, and invited me to tag along on his visit to the space.

To cut a long story short: we both really liked Sparks, and have signed up for desks. The small team who manage the building are really friendly and helpful, the desks in the White Studio (where I work) are extremely affordable at £120 / month, and the space is charming, quirky, and functional.

It's hard to imagine what working in a cavernous former department store is like until you try it, but it has something of the energy of being in school after everyone has gone home that I remember from occasions in my childhood. It feels somewhat like you shouldn't be allowed to be there, like you're peeking behind the curtain of normal everyday life. It adds an element of fun to coming to work, and because Sparks is very DIY, it feels like there is a lot of flexibility and possibility with how the space can be used.

For the more practically-minded, here are the facilities that Sparks has:

• Adjustable-height desks (not quite adjustable enough to be standing desks) and office chairs.
• Kitchen with kettle, microwaves, fridges, etc.
• Functional heating (important in a relatively old building with single-glazed windows).
• Good Wi-Fi - I have done plenty of video calls and had no issues whatsoever with bandwidth.
• A secure bike rack indoors, although it does require carrying your bike up stairs, so not great for accessibility considerations.

And things I'm not aware it has, which other, more expensive co-working spaces might have:

• Showers / changing facilities.
• Dedicated meeting rooms - although the space is big enough that you could easily find a space to have a meeting without disturbing anyone.

Obviously I am not affiliated with Sparks, and these facilities and prices might change, but I am currently really enjoying working here. I would encourage anyone in Bristol looking for co-working with a twist to come join us! You can enquire here: https://sparksbristol.co.uk/hire-a-space/desks/

Running

I've been running twice a week pretty consistently since the middle of last year. As exercise goes, running is something that works well for me: low-cost, gets me outdoors, and I can fit a short run into my work day quite easily. In October I passed my annual goal of 60 runs for the year, which felt satisfying.

Something I really value about my running routine is that it demonstrated my ability to form new, healthy habits. The science of habits is something I'm very interested in, but last year I was in a headspace where positive change felt really difficult, if not impossible. Starting my running habit provided me with concrete evidence that I could make beneficial changes in my life that would stick.

Other Stuff

• We saw Australian comedy trio Aunty Donna at the Hippodrome - completely unhinged and hilarious.
• I read the final part of Philip Pullman's Book of Dust trilogy, The Rose Field. I devoured it in two sittings, both thanks to the incredible prose, and wanting to discover the ending of a journey starting 30 years ago with Northern Lights. I am still mulling over my opinions on the narrative, but I can say that I found the book compelling and beautiful.