Home stretch

The perfect wind down to a week of work / social / work socials.

Definition of happiness: a hotel room dry from the rain, greasy take-out and all the time in the world to catch up on overdue blog trolling.

New favourite farmer

Just discovered farmerbrown on the recommendation of an SF local - delicious soul food that sources its produce from local, african-american farmers.  A great excuse to get your fried chicken and cornbread on and (unlike a lot of other SF foodie must-eats) is only a short walk from Union Square, where you'll likely be basing yourself if it's your first time in the city or here for work.

I was tempted by the rainy day special of grandma's chicken and dumplings.

Cornbread and cocktails: the perfect pre-dinner combo.

Their famous fried chicken with sides of mac n' cheese and Southern sauteed greens - say yes!

Plus, I grabbed one of their business cards on the way out, which just so happened to be shaped like little waffles.  What's not to love about this place?

Second home

Love this city, and the sun changes everything

Beautiful day in SF, I never feel like a tourist or an outsider in this city.  Lots of catch ups and curly fries had.

Immeasurable 'metrics'

It's rare that I find a bookmark-worthy article that contains 'you need to know' in the title, but came across this the other day and have not only been bookmarking but passing it on too - 'Five New Management Metrics You Need To Know'.

The article captures a lot of common principles that we're told to hold in life - remain curious, look to be positive rather than negative, always challenge yourself - and puts them into digestible 'metrics' to apply in the workplace (whether you're working solo or part of a bigger machine).

One of the more hilarious forms of giving feedback I've seen here - at least there's a good 'Positive Feedback Ratio' going on.

I especially like #2 - keeping your environment in the state between "boredom and anxiety - but closer to anxiety".  I know what it's like to be at that level of engagement with what you're doing, you feel productive, electric.  

Looking forward to many moments like that across all areas of my life this year!

2012

Reflection on 2011 will have to come later, but here is a snapshot of the cold adventure that tied up last year and brought me into this one.

The rolling English countryside near C's parents' house

Leftovers keeping cold in the sun room (no sun).

View from our room in Paris with the Sacre Coeur off in the distance.

Mandatory crepe on the street as we lined up for the Pompidou.

The happy remains of ringing in the new year.

A belated happy new year y'all!