Just back from The Galapagos Islands. Oh yes, the Mayor took a holiday. No internet, all jobs handed over to other members of the team and me alone communing with nature. I barely saw a person for 10 days, let alone kept up to speed on the news. Time flew.
I packed paperback novels, took my ukulele and borrowed a great camera. I thought I'd have time to fill as the boat moved from one island to another. I thought I'd be twiddling my thumbs. But time flew.
I dozed, I daydreamed and I watched iguanas walk oh so slowly across deserted sandy beaches. And I slept. Time flew.
According to City AM this week, the cost to the UK economy of the business world's sleep deficit could be up to $50bn a year. This is measured in higher mortality, lower productivity and probably a whole load of bad decisions made when the mind is just frazzled. Sleep deficit catches up with you.
I learned so much on my holiday. Turtles are wonderful creatures, sea lions swim alongside you fearlessly in the Galapagos, and I don't seem to suffer with seasickness (unlike some of the people on the catamaran I was on). But I also re-taught myself how to sleep. It was wonderful.
So, that's the lesson of this week's notes. A change isn't as good as a rest - although changing your location to the middle of nowhere helps separate you from all that's filling your head. A good brisk walk won't wake you up if you would do better closing your eyes. After years enjoying the fast pace, it's obvious that I really needed a good kip.
