Dec 29 - Jan 4

The workweek was supposed to be calm and focused. I was the only backend engineer available, and of course we had production incidents. I was pulled into several queries that prevented me from working on my own tasks. Still, after spending some time dealing with other people’s issues, I managed to do what I wanted—and needed—to do.

On Tuesday the weather was nice again, and I couldn’t resist going out for a walk, hoping to think through something I was working on. I did a little, but the idea that a short walk will refresh my mind and make me super productive afterward is mostly false. I had trouble focusing and barely finished the subtasks I had set for myself.

On Wednesday I traveled back to Makarska and spent another six hours on the bus. It was worth it, though I wouldn’t have minded spending even more time alone at home.

On the bus, two rows ahead of me, there was a guy who was probably doing some drugs. Every now and then I saw him smoking and burning something, followed by a bit of gentle smoke or steam coming from his seat. I still didn’t have any sense of smell, so that helped. He looked more and more subdued and sleepy, which oddly made me calm - I figured there wouldn’t be any trouble. Still, it was a pretty shitty experience. Overall, there were about six passengers. The route was lined with occasional fireworks as midnight slowly approached.

I arrived in Makarska around 22:00 and appreciated the short walk home, since the bus didn’t stop at the station due to road reconstruction. After arriving, I took a quick shower, ate something small, had a New Year’s sparkling wine, and went to sleep.

The following days were restful, but I dislike the environment there. There’s a mountain of stalled, unresolved issues hanging in the air, and it’s difficult to witness it all as a bystander—because that’s what I am, and that’s all I can be. I chopped wood, stocked some of it, and that was about it. It was a good workout though. Didn't mind the physical activity at all.

Well, 2026 is here, and I haven’t had time to reflect on 2025 yet, nor to think much about 2026. I only know it will be epic. The question is whether it will be troublesome and chaotic or pleasant and controlled. Naturally, I hope for the latter.

One evening I made a Croque Madame, and it was a success. The weather deteriorated, and I didn’t do any sport despite planning to. By the end of the week it started to rain, and on Sunday, when we departed for Zagreb, it was pouring. The landscape at higher elevations was completely white due to freezing temperatures. We arrived in Zagreb with a delay, but that was nothing unexpected.

Consumption

• Klima v dejinach - Book about climate change in history. Learned something new. Its a compilation of various topic from about 30 authors - mostly scientists and experts from different fields.
• Twilight of Democracy - Another work by Anne Applebaum.
• Industry Giant 2 - Tycoon style game.

Notice

• Traveling, even comfortably, is still quite tiresome. I always sleep like a baby the night afterward.
• The bedroom temperature dropped to 16 °C at one point (the usual range is 17–20 °C), which is quite uncomfortable for me. When we briefly visited friends, they also had a cold flat but kept their balcony doors open. People on the coast seem used to the cold.