The Mysterious Traveller

It seems particularly strange to come back to my blog after months of writing for other projects; writing that has fundamentally been in the same  style as my blog. Therein lies a kind of paradox, where my blog has been applied to other ventures like the fictional novel and script writing (I am currently doing) and it could become a little overwhelming. Is the blog taking over everything? Perhaps, but that's just my style. And fortunately, I haven't gotten sick of it yet!  It is the end of 2024. I am heeding the temptation to write a review of the year, because that means thinking about everything again (and I don't particularly want to do that). But there have been highlights and positives that I can build upon and go forth into the new year, possibly with a little more focus and less of a self conscious, self destructive mindset. My creativity has flourished from the good and bad times, which gives me strength and purpose. This was something I lacked recently, but after...

Well, I finally did it. Whether it was due to the overwhelming anxiety-driven previous 12 months or simply pure instinct telling me to take the plunge into the unknown, I left the studio. It was something I had wanted to do for most of 2023, but the need for routine and stability amongst colleagues and friends overcame my adventurous ambitions. I think it helped me, the structure of daily familiarities; not quite a regular yoga practice but it was something.  But as I continued to work on these small projects, my motivation really waned. I must point out that this was, by no means, the fault of the studio. Whatever is happening with me, it's a personal matter (internally, I would say) and nothing to do with the work of others.   And for me to fully reflect on the mental, spiritual and physical factors of Tommy Grainger's life, I packed up the van and went on a six week road trip around Portugal and Spain.  I originally had the idea of keeping a travel blog filled wit...

September is coming to a close. The full moon is nigh. And everything has changed.  Anxiety blossoms in a season of letting go. And yet, could this be a time of new beginnings? (for more daily horoscopes, please DM me @mystictommy) Autumn has always been my favourite time of year, however, Lisbon has a vastly differently energy and aesthetic to this season. It is all geographical, of course; the city doesn't have its own agenda. With the warmer climate, Portugal doesn't offer those frosty mornings or the gentle colour transition from golden to red to brown. The air becomes cooler, naturally, and you feel refreshed after a long summer of hugging humidity. The long sleeved chequered shirts come out. Fingerless gloves are trending. Then all of a sudden the leaves are brown and falling to the cobbled streets as winter begins. There are a handful of things I miss about the UK; autumn is definitely one of them. I am beginning a new (and rather confusing) phase in my life where the fe...

For the full experience, please click play below: Yesterday ... [This is not today] How has 2020 become 2021 so quickly? [this was my original opening when I first embarked upon this entry. That was four months ago]. The current star date: 09/01/2022. The fact is that 2021 did happen so quickly. And now it's too late! I genuinely spent 10 minutes trying to fathom what year it was on my first day back at work after the New Year. Anyway, I digress. My initial thoughts are that I am perhaps too apathetic with my blog posts, leading me down a dark path of neglect and carelessness. Although we each of us consider that lazy side of us, I must power through with my explanation of 'there simply isn't enough time!' Moving to Portugal has given me a plethora of tales and woes, journeys and misgivings, creative fortunes and artistic delights. But my inspiration to continue with this blog has waned over the years, at a time when it conceivably means more to express what we are all...