Say what you want about my old apartment that needs upgrades, but I love being home. I arrived yesterday at around 2 am and slept at around past 3 because I had to unload a lot of stuff from my bags—mostly dirty clothes. I tried working at 9 am, write some emails, coordinate some stories and had to attend a two-hour training session for bureau chiefs. Generally, I was floating and could not be as productive as I wanted to be. My sleep has been light and I was aching all over.

While I attended this online training session, I was booking my Zennya home massage. I went straight for the 2-hr session, so right after the training concluded, I immediately transformed my room into a spa. For the same price as a 30-minute foot massage in Singapore, I was able to have a blissful 2-hour massage in the comfort of my own room (including tip). A few minutes after my therapist left, I zonked out. I guess it must have been just around past 10 pm.

The key here is to grin and bear it and not be tempted by instant gratification. The 1 hr and 45 mins in the hot baths in Yunomori Onsen last Saturday did wonders for me for SGD 40, but paying SGD 115 SGD for a 60-min back massage was too much. I held back.

Anyway, the 2-hr massage last night allowed me to have a peaceful sleep—well generally peaceful sleep, except for a dream that I had that I was preparing for a freediving session…

I’m a bit more productive today. Contributed to two stories and some admin work here and there. I had regained my old rhythm and cooked chicken rice on my Instant Pot. I missed chicken rice as I didn’t have time and strength to go to Maxwell last week.

My friend, B, sent an SOS to me when I was about to leave SG on Monday. I said I will meet her in Makati later within this week if I can, depending on how I was feeling physically.

Turns out her dad died Monday.

(to be continued)