April 20th
I went to the dentist after work. A new staff member or doctor replaced my wire instead of my regular doctor. I can’t tell if this treatment was better or worse than before. I just hope thiss treatment works well for my teeth alignment.
April 21st
I went for a run after work. My on-call shift starts today and will last for 7 days. I hope no severe cases occur. I felt like I can accomplish more than before, which was a happy discovery for me.
April 22nd
After work, I finished knitting my first pair of socks. This was my first time using sock yarn. It wasn’t too difficult except for one part: grafting the heel. I mastered the Kitchener stitch (メリヤスはぎ), which I used for closing the toe.
Knitting wearables is harder than making amigurumi or accessories. To do it well, I have to consider the size, calculate the gauge, and buy the correct yarn in addition to understanding the pattern.
April 23rd
I went for a run after work today. Ireland has had really lovely weather recently, and I have been enjoying it a lot. I had a quick chat with my colleague about my knitting hobby, but I couldn’t quite find the right words to express following things.
- I worked on this during my layover and while I was in the air.
- Since knitting needles are quite long and sharp, they might make other passengers nervous. I usually stick to crocheting during flights for that reason.
April 24th
I’ve realized that delegating tasks to others is quite difficult. The main challenge lies in how to provide clear instructions. I feel I need to learn how to communicate tasks more effectively and politely. Since I sometimes struggle to articulate my thoughts, I would like to use a standard phrase before giving instructions.
- I think there might have been a slight misunderstanding regarding the task.
- I was looking for something a bit different.
- It looks like we might not be on the same page. Let me clarify the goal again.
- Could you double-check this?
- I couldn’t find it.
- Could we go over this together to make sure everything is accurate?
April 25th
Tonight, I invited a friend and their partner over for dinner. I had expected them to return to Japan this June, but their overseas assignment was extended until next year. I’m happy to know that I can spend more time with them. I tried making dumplings using the wrappers I made yesterday and pan-fried them. I made two types of wrappers: one with rice flour and the other with wheat flour. The wheat flour wrappers held their shape well while cooking; they had a firm, chewy texture and tasted like regular dumplings. On the other hand, the rice flour wrappers had a smooth, silky mouthfeel and were very refreshing to eat. They reminded me of Cheung Fun, and I actually really liked them that way.
April 26th
I’m planning to visit Washington, Santorini, and London over the next three months, so I need to buy some lightweight clothes for both business and personal trips. I’m going to go shopping after my on-call shift ends.