Archives for March 2023

Maru and her parents first took me to Borasso 12 years ago. And since then, it’s probably been in my list of top 5 restaurants. It’s not one single thing, but a whole combination of variables, that make the experience great.

First, it’s located out in the Tigre delta, which is a vast collection of rivers, streams, and small islands that flow out to the Rio de La Plata. You can only get to it by small boat, jet ski, or kayak, and so Borasso is at least a half-day trip.

After you wind your way through the maze of rivers and islands, a friendly employee greets you to moor your boat. You’re guided to a modest table in the shade that overlooks the Arroyon creek.

Their portions are generous. And you always order starters and dessert. But it’s the steak that shines. They don’t ask you how you like it cooked, it comes one way: the Borasso way. It’s huge, juicy, and perfectly charred. It’s my favourite steak in the world.

However, the best part about Borasso is the wonderful memories I now carry with me from the visits that have accumulated over the years. It really feels like a place that almost exists in its own little world. Out of mobile phone coverage, and away from the traffic and the noise of Buenos Aires.

Yesterday, my New Zealand family got to experience Borasso for the first time, and I’m sure it’ll be a memory we talk about for years to come.

It only takes 15 mins under a baking sun without sunscreen to begin feeling regretful. The pain often lasts up to week after the burn, and the long term effects of repeated exposure add up over time.

The value of sunblock, on the other hand, is not only felt in the moment and the week after, but over a lifetime of consistent use.

The inconvenience of prevention is often an easy price to pay when we take the long view.

Parkinson’s law is the work always expands to fit the time available.

The final preparations for a wedding is the best example I have of the inverse of Parkinson’s law: the work must shrink to fit the time available.

My tuxedo needed some alterations, so my father-in-law took me to a tailor here in Buenos Aires.

There is a wall covered in photos of the head tailor with famous clients dating back 40 years; most of them Argentine football players, actors, and singers—including a few with Diego Maradona!

What’s amazing is seeing the tailor age across the decades. In all the photos he carries the same smile, the same bushy moustache, with only his hair getting a little greyer the further you walk along the wall.

I love examples of immense dedication, consistency, and commitment to a craft. This tailor has the photographic evidence to prove his. And it shows!

Soon after we learn our ABCs, we get a choice.

We can try to Always Be Correct, or we can try to Always Be Curious.

That choice isn’t fixed either. We can change it at any moment, in any situation.

And when we change, the world and it’s possibilities morph around us accordingly.

We’ve got about 60 people flying in for our wedding, and for many of them, it’ll be their first time in Latin America. A significant proportion are taking a week or two to travel within Argentina or the continent.

The photos from the folks travelling before our events are starting to roll into our WhatsApp and social media feeds, and Maru and I are thrilled to see people hiking in Patagonia, visiting the deserts in Chile, and soaking up the sun on Colombia.

In all the build up and preparation, I didn’t even think about all the enjoyment I’d get from seeing friends in new landscapes, eating great food, and exploring this great land.

Vicarious joy.

I’ve just signed off from work for the next three weeks, and during this time I’ll be focusing entirely on Maru and my wedding and spending time with our family and friends.

This is the longest break I’ve taken since moving to the UK, and after delaying our wedding for 3 years, we’re more than ready to celebrate!

I’m choosing to be grateful in advance for the experiences we’ll have over the coming weeks, and I’m determined to be intentional by pausing each day to soak it all in.

I recently discovered the LoFi Lord of the Rings playlist on Spotify, and I love it.

LoFi is an interesting genre. The LoFi stands for low fidelity, meaning there are intentional imperfections. These could be incorrect notes, environmental noises, or audio blemishes. LoFi gives a track a more earthy, homemade feel. People often like to work and relax to LoFi music because it’s distinctively laidback.

Combine all the above with the Lord of the Rings soundtrack and you get an epic but relaxed soundscape. I’m really enjoying putting on the playlist for periods of focused work. Enjoy!

“You know what? After listening to you, I’ve changed my mind. I think your idea / approach / logic / suggestion is better. Let’s go with that!”

When someone realises there is a better idea on the table, they often concede by not advocating as strongly for their point of view.

But part of working on hard things with talented people is being wrong. A lot! In fact, if we’re not getting some things wrong, we’re probably not being bold enough.

I’m trying to make a habit of publicly changing my mind. It contributes to a culture of openness, exploration, and positivity in a team. There’s very little lost when admitting our idea wasn’t the best, and a lot the broader team can gain.

It can take a while to reap some of the benefits of daily journalling. One of those is building up enough entries so that you have something meaningful to look back on.

Since I started the 5-year diary, where I write a one sentence summary per day (it only takes two minutes!), I now have a bank of entries from which I can and be instantly transported back to a day once lived, but that would’ve slipped out of my memory had I not taken the few minutes to write down what happened. It works equally well for activities and emotions. From a quiet walk in the park to a stressful period of work or travel.

I anticipate that looking back on “a year ago today” memories and being able to relive them with a moment’s glance will become more valuable as the years go on.

I like trying new gyms in new places. Each one its own microcosm, filled with its own style, customs, and culture.

There are the modern gyms, packed with the latest equipment and ambient lighting. Old school ones with weight plates from 40 years ago and rusted barbells. Then there are the social gyms where everyone is chatting between sets. And the ones where, clearly, everyone comes to workout but sticks to themselves.

Hands down, though, the best gym I’ve been to is Megatlon in Buenos Aires. They have an outdoor terrace filled with gym equipment that gives members a view of the skyline as well as the Rio de la Plata. The combination of outdoor exercise and sun filled workouts provides an unparalleled endorphin kick.

It’s the little things.

Each time I pick up a globe, and I look closely, I can learn something new.

Countries are larger or smaller than I first assumed. I spot adjacencies not only geographically, but in cultures, foods, and terrains. I find seas I didn’t know existed, and mountain ranges that I’ll likely never see with my own eyes.

There is always something new to discover if we’re willing to look hard enough. The world is bursting with possibility for those who are curious.

An Uber driver’s disposition can make or break a journey.

Maru and I are traveling with a lot more luggage than normal. We’ve got wedding attire, gifts for friends and family, and clothes for different climates (we’re heading to chilly Patagonia after our wedding!).

When our driver picked us up from our London flat to take us to Heathrow, he took one look at the bags and smiled widely. He played Tetris with our bags and made it work.

Over the past few months I’ve written numerous times about the importance of “turning up”—with energy, spirit, and a game face. Our Uber driver turned up, and it made all the difference.

If we go looking for it, we’ll always find something we can complain about.

But if we go looking for it, there will always be something we can be grateful for.

The seeking is the same. It’s the way we approach each situation that makes the difference.

We can spend all our lives waiting for lightning to strike.

Or we can go out with a kite and a key and seek to find it.

Of course, I’m not proposing a literal Ben Franklin endeavour, but rather an attitude that guides our search for the extraordinary.