I was lying, I won't post pictures of castles, just of cats.

Ticket office cat at Chateau du Clos Lucé.

Last part of our journey is reserved for looking at French chateaux - like properly pretty ones. Started with a short stop at Saumur and arrived in Ambroise, which is going to be our homebase for the next few days. Visiting DaVinci tomorrow 💖

Saint Malo needs a bit of time to get used to, but after some time it's growing on you. Also we saw a sun Halo today 💖

Before I tell you more about the past vacation days - here are todays most important pictures of two local cats. One even graced me with a tiny blep. The other one is a bit shy and likes to hiss from its hiding place.

Left Mont Saint Michel for Saint Malo today and the latter one sure is a different pace. I already miss our little cottage next to the salt marshes with sheep passing by every morning and evening 🙈

Greetings from Mont Saint Michel 💖 I live it here 💖

Arrived in Bruges today, which is only meant to be a short stop in our way to Mont Saint Michel and Saint Malo, but maybe I'm a little bit in love 😌💕💖 Can't wait to explore the city a bit more tomorrow and also to eat all the waffles & chocolates!!!

Painted knight

Made it to the weekend 🙏 After a good Connichi weekend, this week was emotionally exhausting. Some self care and focussing on Hobbies is def. going to be my top priority the next two days 💖💖💖 (Also: At least I saw @lellycoraxon.bsky.social this week 💖💖💖)

Habe meine Grenze gefunden. #pumpkinspice

In better news, while uselessly waiting for info on the dinner location I at least had the chance to drop by an Asia market and found a decent black pepper sauce. Not quite the same as the McDonalds one, but with that nice pepper-flavor. (Also fyi @superstarfighter.bsky.social )

Yeah... probably being ignored again, while everyone else is out for dinner (despite asking and reminding people that I would like to join) 🥲 So fucking tired of this & also it hits right into my social anxiety.

Temptation at Dussmann is strong today 🥲

First work day after Connichi... no chance of skipping it, because I need to lead important meetings today 🥲 The joys of project management...

"Bluesky is boring." Social media *should* be boring. Being algorithm and dopamine poisoned is bad, actually. When your feed dries up for the day, that's your cue to go do something else until new stuff shows up later.

On my way home, Connichi wasn't so bad after all. Glad I could hang out with people, special mention to @staticraining.bsky.social for also spending the evenings with me 💖💖💖 (also to @superstarfighter.bsky.social for joining on sunday)

😴😴😴😴 Time for a journey to Wiesbaden... (Flixtrain won again... because of prices.

The FOMO of not cosplaying will probably hit hard at Connichi. So I hope to spend a good time with friends at least 😭 (even though I'm traveling alone and am afraid of spending most of the time on my own at Nichi.... so please when you see me, talk to me 😭😭😭😭)

Last work day before Connichi is.... urgh. I just want to enjoy my long weekend already!!! (And pack my stuff plus prepare B&B) Also won't be cosplaying after all - gamescom and work since then were too exhausting and I feel too unprepared for anything that requires effort.

Sybil Head from the Signal Tower, Dingle Peninsula #Ireland #Dingle #CountyKerry www.damianshields.com

gamescom day 5. I can feel the shadows under my eyes. 😴

I'm so not motivated to pack my luggage right now 😴 Can't we postpone gamescom for a week or so? These last working days have been a bit too stressful.

Finally everything is in its place again. Who would have thought that replacing the floor and sealing the new one would take all summer...

Guess I'll be looking out for the perseids tonight and listen to whoever is playing at Citadel Spandau... They are extra loud 😅 (Queens of the Stone Age?)

Aber Hauptsache Love and Deepsace ist auf der gamescom, ne? 😂 Gamescom 2025: Laufend aktualisierte Spiele-Liste - Stand: 12. August - GamesWirtschaft.de share.google/D5tmLthMpPYz...

Habe heute einen kleinen Solo-Ausflug auf der Insel gemacht um die Umgebung zu genießen und Fotos zu machen. Urlaub genießen und so.

Here for the tired perfectionist. Not so sure about mood maker and giving good advice 🙃

Good weekend in Rostock with @shootingstarsue.bsky.social & @ladydeadpooly.bsky.social 💖💖💖 Even saw blue sky and the sun at some point 😬 And had icecream with liquorice sprinkles 💖💖💖💖

An intense sunrise at Reynisfjara #Iceland in Oct 2024.

Deutsche Bahn being Deutsche Bahn again today. On my way to Rostock, there is an 'unscheduled train change' in Neustrelitz. Meaning everyone has to leave the train.No further information given. Apparently our train is going back to Berlin. ....

Monday morning... I'd rather stay in bed and listen to the rain falling on the windows...

Superman was actually really good, definetely going to watch again. Also David Corenswert as Clark Kent is 😌✨️💖✨️💖✨️

In other news, yes I got a ticket to CritRole in Berlin.... feeling a bit awkward about sitting on my own, because well I guess, I don't know enough Critters (who are also going...) 🤷‍♀️ But I really hope to meet some people before and after the show :.)

Going to the office during lunch break is a special kind of horror. It's the time of kids and teens in after-school-mood.. which means way too lively and not as tired as in the morning. X_x

Weekend. When? 🫠

👀💦 I know what I'll be doing next week Tuesday at 9a.m. Also: Yay, Berlin!!!!

Torlum wood #Strathearn #Scotland #Perthshire damianshields.com

Part 2/3 of the balcony floor: Done! Also: Hoping there will be no heavy rains tonight 🙏 (Plus finished sewing some skirts, booked Hotels for France and repotted a few plants. Don't know where all that motivation came from this weekend, but I gladly accept it 💖)

How to sleep when it's still 30°C in your appartment and there's no cool air coming in from outside. (At least taking a shower helped a bit.)

I imagined the Chatsubo in 1984. 41 years later I opened its door. Neuromancer is in production.

Good day with @blunicorn.bsky.social & some japanese sandos 💖 (Also might have a bit of a sunburn)

My apartment is finally cooling down again and my body is all like "Okay, we can sleep NOW!!!" (Also this work week was a bit much.... only 2 months until gamescom 😬)

This week’s main story is about fake cats, fake men turning into fake vegetables, fake stories about real politicians, and how they’re all making the internet an increasingly confusing place. For more on who’s profiting off this bizarre new content, and who it’s harming, watch our piece on AI slop.

Work today has been enough for the rest of the week x_X What a change compared to the last weeks...

Is it just me or have Youtube ads become even more obnoxious?

Me today, despite work not being stressfull and my appartment not too warm yet.... (It's probably because this work week has been too slow and my social batteries are drained)

First half of the balcony floor is completely oiled now... second half will follow next week and then I'll have a pretty balcony floor again 💖

Family Plans for the weekend were canceled - so I can spent it at home without seeing anyone 😌💕💖 (Or just go to the lake, not doing anything at all)

Mountain Light, Glen Coe #Scotland #GlenCoe #Highlands www.damianshields.com