-
The civic bench
During a recent walk, I discovered a simple, handmade bench in a secluded spot, offering much-needed rest. This gesture, created by an unknown individual, highlights the importance of civic acts devoid of transactional value. We need more of this.
-
Looking for guests for a new, non-technical, podcast
I’ve been mulling the idea of doing a non-technical podcast for years, but now I’m finally going to do it, and I need guests.
-
My three favourite bits of tech
I’m surrounded by tech. Actually, it’s slightly more nuanced than that. I personally don’t have all that much tech compared to many of the people I know, but it’s everywhere in my life, in other people’s houses, in my own, or out in the wider world. I get quite excited when I see knew tech coming on to the market. I read quite a lot about how it works, and how it might alter my life. Usually, the excitement dies down pretty quickly as I realise that I’d never really make much use of whatever it is, perhaps it’s too…
-
ICE breaker
It was really snowy here last week. When I was trying to remove the ice from my car, the ice breaker broke, right through the middle of the word ICE. I took this photo on 7th January 2026.
-
Pictures of snow
This post is simply some of the images that I’ve taken over the last few days. We’ve had an unexpectedly large amount of snow fall (for where I live), and I’ve been out with my camera capturing it.
-
More music from my son
Because I love my son, and I love music… I love my son’s music.
-
My 2025 year in review
Reflecting upon my year with banal stats, like steps walked, words spoken, books read, and more. Do not read this unless you’re really bored!
-
Walking on my ancestors
On a recent walk, I found myself in a churchyard. I’ve been here dozens of times before. Because it commands wonderful views of the coastline, I’m usually looking up and out across the sea. Today though, it was cloudy and I found myself looking at my surroundings more, looking at the ground more. For the first time in this place I noticed that the path is made up of unusually large stone slabs. They’re all slightly different to one another, some are taller, others taper in unexpected ways. Upon further inspection, I noticed that some of them had marks on…
-
Working from a small bag
Over the last few years, my set of requirements for work has become smaller and smaller. This is now what I need to function as a podcaster (which is what I do): That’s it. I can get it all in a tiny backpack. Who would have imagined just a few years ago that remote / distributed work would become possible for so many? The shrinking of all-the-tech. The improvements in batteries. The widespread coverage of much of the globe with WiFi / cellular networks. The online-first approach to software. There are days when you realise just how utterly fantastic all…
-
In relation to animals
The subtle, yet profound, impact animals have on my life, and how they enrich my daily existence.
-
Weird English stone carvings
Explore the captivating gargoyles of York’s churches, offering a glimpse into the rich history and architectural beauty of these iconic structures.
-
Black Friday savings
On the verge of Black Friday 2025, discover how I plan to save big by buying nothing! Ingenious.
-
Snow
The UK in winter is not the cold place it was when I was a child. I have memories of frequent snow in the winter. Every year there was some. Many years there was a lot. These days, many years go by in which there is none. Children only see snow on the TV, or on Christmas cards. Last night I went to bed, and woke up to a blanket of snow. I had no idea this was going to happen, which made the experience this morning all the more wonderful. Right now, I’m still in the ‘isn’t this wonderful’…
-
Recycled churches
In the UK, church attendance has been in decline for decades, possibly a century. Almost nobody I know, including myself, go to church for it’s intended purpose. Our villages, towns and cities are peppered with thousands of churches. Many of them are very old, expensive to maintain and trying to find a place in a world in which their old role has been all but washed away. This past week I attended two events. One was a ‘festival of light’, and the other was a group of Armenian musicians. Both events took place in churches. Both were remarkable. One of…
-
The ubiquity of walking
I’m lucky enough to live in, what we call in the UK, the countryside. There is very little of the UK which does not have the stamp of humanity upon it. Our countryside is composed of farmland, stone walls, managed forest and the like. In other parts of the world you have the chance to visit places where there’s no evidence of humans anywhere. People have not built things, knocked things down or altered things in any way. It’s the same now as it would have been hundreds of years ago. Given the huge population to space ratio of the…
-
I love sound, not just music
This might sound (!) strange, but I love music and sounds equally. My favourite sound is without a doubt that of flowing water. Not the heavy crash of a waterfall after rain, rather the sound of a slow moving river or stream moving over rocks. There is no way to explain this, it’s been with me since I can first remember, but it’s profound. That sound can transform my mood. Take me from ‘low’ to ‘normal’, from ‘normal’ to ‘ecstatic’. Just the sound, no visuals required. It shifts the gears of my temperament. It’s anchored somewhere deep inside. There are…