I keep trying to think of something interesting and optimistic to say about rut current heatwave but I'm all out. Looking forward to autumn.

Heatwave incoming again. My grocery order is all cold picky bits because I refuse I do anything that adds heat to food (or my house) unless the daytime temps are under 25C and it's not going to happen at all this week.

#TalesOfVesperia I think I'm a third of the way through the main story now and some stuff has happened that I was not expecting at all and has added an extra layer of depth that is making me think a lot. Mainly about Yuri and the nature of heroism vs doing what needs to be done. This game is a lot

We smashed it! I think that was our best yet? We didn't mess up in any of the places we've been messing up and our conductor was so pleased he did air punches at the end of a couple pieces we'd really struggled with 😁 (I do wonder what the audience thinks.) West side story was the perfect end 😊

It's my choir's summer concert this evening. Our theme is music from the movies and I've loved the programme, it's been so much fun to learn. Hopefully we'll do it justice tonight. We're ending on a medley from West side story so I'm confidence we'll end with a bang, at least!

I'm very glad I took today off, my brain is definitely not in a work place. Went for an early walk and I'm enjoying that today is a sensible temperature before the next heatwave. The rest of the day is all about playing Tales of Vesperia and relaxing.

I see while I was doing all that training, everyone decided that physical media for games horrible and will be entirely stopping producing it from 2028. Grrr. Digital stuff is rental, not ownership, and I don't like paying full price for and expensive game that can be taken away on a whim.

The slower travel option had less walking and even the walking I did felt like too much today. Can't believe how tired I am. It's the combination of travel and two days of trying to force maths into my head. So glad I'm not working tomorrow.

Had a training day in London and I did a lot of walking to get there and back so that I could be home in time for choir, but I'm so incredibly tired. There's a different travel option that's slower but has much less walking that I'll do for day two tomorrow. And I've booked a day off on Friday.

#TalesOfVesperia This game has possibly the most distressing game over screen I've encountered. "And they were never seen again" in a lovely voice with a sunset painting. That's so much worse than just game over. So much. Really motivates a girl to not see it.

My chest of drawers is the first furniture I bought and it's nearly thirty years old at this point. I wear my great aunt's engagement ring every day. It wasn't new when she got engaged, so it's probably nearly 100 years old at this point? It's not my oldest jewelry but it's the piece I wear daily.

I have played through the mid-game giant twist of Fire Emblem Three Houses and it's a DOOZY. Having a lot of feelings. It's also made me want to play in two more times so I can experience this from each house's POV. Glad I started with the one I did though.

The house cooled down enough overnight to be pleasant (not cool, but fine) and outside didn't look like a furnace so I went for an early walk. It's still quite warm out there. I was overheated by the time I got home. But I don't think it's going to be as bad as yesterday 🤞 I'm so tired.

Today has been the hottest day yet, nothing cooled down last night, and so for the first time I felt ill working in my little home office. Am now downstairs in my cooler (not cold) living room stretched out on the sofa and feeling much better. Glad it's nearly the weekend. And the heat should end.

Aaah this looks relevant to my (and many others) interests 😁

On the other hand, watching some game play for Final Fantasy Resonance has made me very excited, this looks like a game built for me, so it might be a day one purchase unless reviews turn up slamming it 😅 youtu.be/iU8GEXjnCbY?...

You know, I have no interest in playing GTA and my interest is getting even less interested now that they're trying so hard to push it at me. Do I want to be staring at GTA splash screens on my PS5? No. But apparently I have no choice. Sigh.

I have done a work. It's a good work. What do you mean, I need to do more works? Can't you see it's clearly too hot for that nonsense?

A red warning for extreme heat? How about NO. Odds on me getting through Wednesday and Thursday without some level of heat-induced migraine looking increasingly slim.

Due to the horrible heatwave coming in, and my desire not to add more hot air to my living room, my PS5 will not be getting turned on for a few days. Good thing my switch exists and I've got Fire Emblem Three Houses and Ys XIII to alternate between depending on mood 😁

No. I refuse. I'm not built for this. The UK is not built for this. Gonna be spending the next few days trying to keep my house down to a vaguely sensible temperature and trying not to melt.

#TalesOfVesperia I'm really enjoying the slow reveal of the overall plot, that slowly dawning realisation that you thought things weren't perfect but actually things are so much worse than that. Also, I beat a tough boss on the first attempt and accidentally accomplished the secret mission 😅

#TalesOfVesperia Today I went through the first full dungeon in the game and it was so much fun. I surprised myself by not dying on the boss! Although I now know there are secret missions for the boss fights that I missed 😅 I'll be fighting smarter next time. The story is kicking up nicely too.

Parcel with prominent "do not place in direct sunshine" label on. It's some fancy chocolate for dad. Where do you think the courier placed it (rather than going to my door to give it to me directly)? At least I noticed the delivery notification fairly quickly and nothing looks melted.

I'm always delighted 😊

Went out for dinner with my parents and aunt an uncle last night, and have felt weirdly shattered all day. It was just a meal, come on! I spent some time with #Ys8 when I was more awake, doing some exploration and a main story dungeon. This game really rewards exploration.

I picked up Tales of Vesperia on sale last week and I'm three hours in, past the first boss and small dungeon, and having a great time with it. I have only had Yuri for three hours and I adore him. It took me a minute to get used to the 2D combat but it's clicking and the story has me hooked.

I'm sorry, Mass Effect friends, but I don't think this is a game for me. I can see why you all love it, there's a lot of interesting stuff going on, but I'm just...not having a good time. And my one gaming rule is "don't keep doing it if you're not having fun". Sorry everyone!

#ME1 update: driving the Mako isn't as bad as I expected. I have had to drop the difficulty down to casual because I'm not clicking with the combat 😬 I'm finding the story interesting, but I'm not sure I'm having fun?I'm giving it more time to get me properly hooked because so many of you love it.

Unsurprising news at this point, but sad that we're going into a Doctor Who hiatus and hoping it's not going to be a two decade hiatus this time.

This also looks very relevant to my interests!

Ok, we have new Xenoblade confirmed next year, an actual release date for new Fire Emblem (genuinely hilarious how many games are packed into September to avoid GTA), and Ocarina of Time remake confirmed for this year. Yeah, need to get the switch 2 before prices rise. So many games I need it for.

New Xenoblade game confirmed! For 2027! And it looks gorgeous. Definitely doing the switch 2 upgrade before prices rise, I'm committed now.

Yesterday I played a couple of demos for games I've been interested in maybe playing but wasn't sure about. I concluded that the Atelier games aren't for me, but I do want to play Tales of Arise. So that's good data. Hooray for demos!

I decided that it's time to start Mass Effect as my next game. So I started today. And then restarted after realising I'd totally missed all the character customisation things 😅 It's taking a minute to get used to the combat, but the story so far is engaging and I like the characters.

That was also brilliant, and I screamed along with everyone over the unfinished business we could have had.

This is genius and wonderful and made me laugh out loud multiple times while also having all the feelings 😍

Went out for coffee and lunch with a friend and it was so nice to get out and see her. It has also completely exhausted me and it was a bit of a struggle on the walk home from the bus. Recovery is feeling very slow right now.

I'm watching one if my favourite streamers react to the wholesome direct stream and I'm reminded get again how queer and queer affirming the cozy gaming space can be. I love watching people play cozy games but I can never stick with most of them to play myself.

I have seen the FFVII Revelation reveal stuff now and it looks incredible. Can't wait. And I only need to wait until spring 2027 😅

Oh no 😭😭😭😭

Final chapter of FFVII Rebirth was a lot. A lot feelings. An epic boss battle. Me needing to redo the last phase multiple times 😅 And just...so good. What an incredible game.

Walk totally flattened me on the last section (Fitbit: were you climbing a steep hill? That was an Effort!) but I rallied and ended up finishing chapter 13 because I couldn't stop. It was intense. Have now lunched and napped so I'm going in for the final chapter.

I have taken today and Monday off for vidukon and gaming and resting. Of course my body decided to wake up at my usual work day time and I'm now feeling very tired and also very awake. May nap this afternoon. I'm going to have a walk and then get some #FFVIIRebirth time in.

I have now hit the point of no return in FFVII rebirth and gosh this game has been so good, such a great experience. I can also tell that these final two chapters are going to break my heart. I've got a long weekend booked so I'll be splitting my time between vidukon and gaming heart break.

Have achieved birthday cards, parcel box, and wrapping paper. Brain had a bit of a blip over "how to order coffee" but I figured it out and I'm having a needed rest before tackling the journey home. Think the rest of the day will be on the sofa playing video games.

Tomorrow I'm going to do something I haven't done in a while. I'm going to go more than a mile from my house and visit somewhere that's not the hospital. It's just a trip into the local town to buy a birthday card and maybe get coffee, but that feels like a big deal right now.

Played a little more Ys XIII yesterday and achieved my first non-boss death 😂 Luckily I definitely did not panic, try to escape with the remainder of my party and immediately run into another big fight 😅 At least battle does not stop fast travel working so I got back to camp. Eventually.

I know that I don't need to start a new game because I'm playing two chonky ones already, but... I have discovered Ys. Playing Ys XIII on my switch. It's ridiculous fun and I adore Adol. Makes for a big contrast between my other games (FFVII rebirth and fire emblem three houses). So addictive 😅

Back at my desk and it only took three hours to get my inbox back to a place that doesn't make me want to cry. Oof. Ready for a nap now. At least the house isn't as oppressively hot as it has been.