Jan 19 - Jan 25

On Sunday, I've arrived to Prague. At first I was bit afraid of the bus trip because of the roads but the day I was traveling the temperature was above zero and roads were clean. Trip was smooth and actually felt shorter. Alternative was to use train from Zagreb but that would be more pricey about 2 hours longer. There is still no reasonable flight.

The sleep was great, as is often is, after traveling. Following week was very busy and this was the only night I slept so much.
On Monday after work I went to Vnitroblock for a dinner and beer and continued with work in the apartment.
On Tuesday I went on boulder with a friend, was great and I find it perfectly fitting to what I need for my fitness, back-pain and strength. After about 45min my hands became very fatigued so we moved to restaurant for a dinner and continued with beer. My friend is not doing very well which saddened me a bit, unfortunately there is nothing I could do about it. That night was freezing -7.
Next day after work I picked one delivery for my electronics project and went to DreamFit to meet with another friend. After exercise session we talked and relaxed in sauna. I really missed that place. Sauna during winter is just best! Friend told me quite a bit about his research on AI and MCP agents and I've got a backlog of things to learn and try soon. He also offered me to do a session over laptop and beer next time and I definitely plan to use that. After sauna I went to take mail from post box and did shopping for a things we miss in Zagreb. I've also received a letter about another delivery that was still waiting for me at the post office. Which determined my morning next day.
Thursday early in the morning I went to post office, even though I was there 30min ahead I've managed to be about 10th in the queue. Then moved back to the apartment to do checkout, grabbed luggage and went to the office. Worked few hours and went to train station.

I had a 1st class ticket to Slovakia and the train was actually really good, comfortable and spacey. I've managed to do quite a bit of work and nobody bothered me which was also great because It wouldn't be possible to have calls. After arriving at Zilina I had to transfer to another train. Zilina station is freshly reconstructed. I was bit surprised that there were no escalators but I guess the city is too small for that. Elevators were not missing and I've used them. The other train was old diesel train with high steps, not so clean, not so quiet, without electricity but at least warm. I've spoken to a young fella that was traveling with me in coupe and almost instantly regretted it. Guys was about 18 years old, aiming to be a politician (after high school) for a current populist party and even though I tried to strive topic out of politics, guy was just talking some of his political party propaganda soaked non-sense - EU bad, green deal bad, nuclear power good. He repeated few times out of nowhere that: "I'm not a proponent of a view that green power is good". I didn't asked him about it or anything related to that topic nor I didn't hear any argument why, he just repeated this few times as if he indulged using those words.
Otherwise travel was good. I miss trains. When arrived I found another letter addressed to me about some money at the post office. In Slovakia there is a subsidiary program roughly translated as "aimed energy help" for people, from government to ease increased expenses for electricity, gas and heating. For some reason I received very generous 73eur especially given the fact that for the last 14 years I do not live in Slovakia.
Therefore the next day early in the morning I went to post office again. I gave the money to my father of course. Work-wise It was not very productive day I didn't have any task to work on so I mainly did support and digged in backlog. I don't like it when I don't have a task to work on but It happens occasionally. Later that day I've received email from my tenants about another mail from bank waiting for me. I was expecting that and was impatient to receive it. That mail decided place of my occupation for the next week: Prague instead of Zagreb. In the evening my brother arrived with kids and we spent whole evening/night in the kitchen together. Mostly drinking wine. Was maybe bit too sweet and I drank bit too much of it. Next day in the morning we went to post office again to get the authorization for my father so he can get mail addressed to me next time. I've cooked that day but not alone and it went well. Meal was good but I've found that I still didn't recover all my smells/tastes since covid (or whatever it was). Day passed and we went sleep sooner that the day before. We didn't go anywhere which is pity but weather was not favorable either.

It's questionable how much is it worth to meet with the family in a small apartment and then just watch all logistic issues related to small crowded space, slight discomfort and stale air. Instead of spending quality time 3-4 times per year together we just wait for cooking, serving, cleaning dishes and sit behind one table in small kitchen trying to converse. Kids would use that time in the next room playing games on phones and thats actually their best option. I can imagine offloading catering to a restaurant (which would make us move from flat at least). I'll suggest this next time but I'm not the host and I understand that its more expensive. Last time I've suggested to rather go to cottage and do hiking for a day which I believe was much appreciated by everyone involved. Weather was favorable then though.

On sunday I've traveled again. To same apart-hotel with same train. Connection improved since the only transfer is in Zilina.

Sport

• Boulder introduction session
• DreamFit routine

Consumption

• didn't have time for a shit.

Notice

• The amount of daylight has peaked last month and is growing. Already can tell the difference.
• Temperatures were low, with min at -7 in Prague.
• The amount of passengers (train) in Czech is much higher than in Slovakia. Wondering if it has something to do with recent accidents and public trust.
• I missed comfortable travel with trains