Si Jobling

West Midlands Prepared

2007-05-22T00:00:00Z

One of the biggest projects I was fortunate to work on during my career at the West Midlands Fire Service was the West Midlands Prepared website, pulling together all the critical services from surrounding counties in case of any emergencies.

The conurbation was established following the bird flu pandemic of 2006-7 where all emergency services, transport and utilities from surrounding districts came together to build connections and prepare the wider community for future incidents. There was a lot of shared responsibilities across the organisations and coordination through a number of channels and meetings.

The website was designed during the initial wave of Web Standards being established, so a responsive (liquid) design was adopted, making great use of groundbreaking CSS and design principles. We knew there would be a lot of information to share so a content first approach made sense, with clear and accessible content available to WCAG 2 standards.

It was built on a Wordpress fork for Java and hosted on-premise alongside other Fire Service systems. This allowed the content to be managed by all parties involved, and the template was easily updated using known frameworks.

As a Greenfield project, it was also a great opportunity to introduce some Microformats in the markup, enabling portable content to other standards, such as vcards for personal contact details.

This was my final project at the fire service before leaving for Yahoo! in June. It was a great legacy to leave behind, and a fantastic example of what could be achieved with modern standards in local government on such an impactful initiative.

Hart & Harvey Photography

2009-07-01T00:00:00Z

When Darren Harvey Photography and Matthew Hart Photography joined forces in May 2009, they approached me to help organise their online campaign, starting with a promotional website.

Having drafted out the initial prototype, I proposed a simple yet elegant design to compliment their new branding, fitting in with the typical design associated with photography websites.

The goal was to promote the diverse range of photography services available, predominantly wedding photography but also family portraits and commercial photography. We achieved this by opting for a simple navigation structure while leaving images to portray the quality of photography available - after all, a picture says more than a thousand words.

I wanted to keep the grid system relatively simple for the website, adopting the Rule of Third which is a familiar technique within photography. The photography used on the website fill two-thirds of the canvas, leaving one-third of the canvas for necessary content, knowing full well that users only wanted minimal content and the images to do the talking.

The website will constantly be evolving over the years but, to set a basic foundation, I am particularly proud of this design and I know Matthew and Darren are highly satisfied with the end result.

Additional services supplied to Hart & Harvey Photography include SEO, online advertising, integrating social media into their business and ongoing technical support.

www.hartandharveyphotography.co.uk

Premium Choice

2009-07-12T00:00:00Z

Premium Choice are a specialist insurance broker based in Birmingham who offer competitive quotes on insurance for high-risk vehicles and drivers.

When I joined the Optimas Group in 2008, one of my first tasks was to take full control of the Premium Choice website which had always been out-sourced to third parties. With Premium Choice being a public-facing company with very little coverage in a diluted market, I had quite a large challenge ahead of me to ensure the company message was portrayed well but also adopted some of the accepted standards in the industry.

Over the first few months, the existing website saw numerous minor changes, such as additional content, landing pages for our new partnerships with popular price comparison websites, even a revised homepage to quickly channel potential customers to their intended products - all of which was contributing towards a full-on overhaul of what was seen as a stagnant old website.

When resources permitted internally, it was time to start with a blank canvas and prototype a new website with scope for additional content in the future. Throughout the entire process - from project plans to prototypes, wireframes to design, analysis of open source application frameworks to integration and development of the system - I was communicating with the Board Execs and outside consultancies to ensure we were developing a top-quality product to compete with our rivals.

In March 2009, we launched the first phase of the website with the goal of constantly developing additional sections over the coming year. With a professional design and improved user experience, we intend to convert more business from new visitors as well offer extensive services to our existing customers.

www.premiumchoice.co.uk

UEFA Calendars

2009-09-28T00:00:00Z

UEFA are one of the largest sporting organisations in the world, predominantly as the people behind all European-based football. UEFA organise and promote huge football tournaments featuring the finest teams in Europe, such as the Champions League and the newly named Europa League (previously known as the UEFA Cup).

After the development of Euro KickOff back in 2008, UEFA approached us to consult and implement the development of a similar system for all their annual tournaments.

Understandably, this was quite a significant request, one that required thorough planning, discussion and brainstorming before implementation. Collaborating with an international body with such a large target audience wasn't going to be a simple task but, always prepared for a mammoth challenge, we jumped at the opportunity.

After liaising with the manager of UMET (UEFA Media, Entertainment & Technology department), we agreed to develop a prototype for the remaining 2008/9 season. This was to establish and thoroughly test the foundations for a full season of events, as well as discover whether there was a demand for such a service. We knew, from previous experience, calendar-based solutions were highly desirable to the technically-minded, but testing such a service on a different demographic would allow us to clearly identify the next step.

Thankfully, demand was high. Calendar downloads and subscriptions directly from uefa.com reached over 10,000 within two weeks of launch. These numbers were enough to convince UEFA to continue the project and develop the calendar solution further for the 2009/10 season.

After a couple of months development and regression testing, the updated service was relaunched in time for the Group Stages of the UEFA Champions League tournament - one of the highest sought-after tournaments on the sporting calendar.

We have now established a great relationship with UEFA on the calendar service and will continue to develop the service over the next few years into a highly desirable solution for everyone interested in European football.

calendars.uefa.com

Cherished Vehicle Insurance

2010-03-01T00:00:00Z

As part of the strategy to create and establish niche products at Premium Choice, we have recently identified a market for the specialist vehicle insurance range of customers in Cherished Vehicle Insurance.

These insurance packages aren't for your typical run-around car - more the Pride and Joy you keep in the garage for special occasions. We're talking about original Minis, classic Campers and even tanks - this is specialist insurance for cherished vehicles.

I was heavily involved in the project direct from the start. The business knew it was important to use the Web as a platform to promote the new business so were keen on my input from the start.

We were keen to establish a brand that the target audience would identify with, something that said "classic" and "cherished". As this would be a trading style of Premium Choice, I was keen to incorporate their established identity in some way. After some brainstorming sessions, we decided to use the globe icon in a mock car badge environment but with a different colour scheme. Bearing in mind many of the vehicles insured are classic, some of which with British heritage, I liked the idea of using a British Racing Green. After several attempts and revisions of the logo, we decided on a slightly lighter tone which worked well both on screen and in print.

While we outsourced a lot of the marketing tasks to local design agency DG2, it was clear we wanted a consistent marketing message across all the forms of media involved. DG2 came up with some fantastic proposals with powerful messages and iconic images and we were keen to incorporate as many of these messages within our online marketing campaign.

Having established a brand that the whole company were behind and just three weeks to launch, it came down to me to design a website that portrayed the company in a contemporary yet classic way. I wanted to adopt a contemporary appearance, using good whitespace and classic typography to give the website a classic feel.

Due to the specialist nature of the business, online quotes weren't immediately available so the calls to action were simply down to lead generation, ie. via telephone and email. It was essential these calls to action had prominent position within the design so placed these channels of communication towards the top of every page to ensure they were the first elements visitors would see.

We were also keen to get across the personal service available, how most of the staff actually understand what the customers are talking about, that many of them are specialist enthusiasts as well. We arranged a shoot with Birmingham photographer Darren Harvey and the project leader's own classic Mini for use within the website.

We're also planning to embrace social networks like Twitter and Facebook to get across the friendly service available, as well as using services like Flickr and YouTube to share image and video case studies with customers of what the team actually get up to out of hours. The team were already using specialist forums as a platform for personal use so using these channels were just an extension of their current activity in a more commercial environment.

In a somewhat competitive market like insurance, it was essential we used Google Adwords to get the service out to the masses. This was paramount to the marketing campaign and we are constantly monitoring and adapting our Pay-Per-Click campaigns to ensure we are capturing the right audience with a service they actually want.

The whole project has been really enjoyable to work on but this is just the beginning. We have many plans to evolve the online presence of CVI and I'm really proud to be a part of it.

Back Once Again

2011-03-31T00:00:00Z

After a 6 month hiatus and recent malware attack, my website seemed to feel a little neglected with regards to thoughts and updates.

It wasn't for the fact nothing was happening - far from it. I had been extremely busy working on a range of projects, some personal, some clients and a lot during my daytime role at Premium Choice. That is partly the reason for the silence "“ simply a lack of time to focus.

Well, all that's about to change.

Thanks to a great initiative from Chris Shiflett called "Ideas of March" "“ a move to take emphasis off tweeting and back on to blogging "“ and a little inspiration from Andy Budd "undesigning" his own website, I'll be slowly developing my website back into something that reflects my personality more accurately, showcasing some of the products I create and the process I go through to achieve them.

Don't get me wrong "“ I love Twitter. I think it's a perfect environment for news and announcements, for intelligent debates and discussions, for light-hearted humour and wit. It encompasses everything that is open about the Web as a whole in a concise yet punctual nature. I can often be found scanning through my timeline, writing what I'm thinking, retweeting what I hear.

That said, 140 characters can only offer you so much space for thoughts. That's when blogging comes in. Anthony has been known on several occasions to tweet he "feels a blog post coming on", even Paul has a meter to measure when a blog post is pending after a period of rage.

I'm intending to use this space to start open debates on topics that are either close to my heart, something that I think would be of use to others. I want to get in the habit of sharing my thoughts in an open arena and the Internet is the perfect environment for that.

I'll also be utilizing Twitter in a more practical way rather than just a soundboard (which it tends to get treated as on a regular basis). We're all guilty of having a good rant on Twitter on occasion "“ there's nothing wrong with that, you can use Twitter however you feel comfortable. That said, I want to try get something constructive out of these rants "“ a solution to a problem as you will.

Hopefully, I'll be able to stick to my word. If I don't, make sure you send me abuse.

(The current design is just a temporary solution while I work on something more appropriate. For the timebeing, I've gone for a relatively clean interface that is easy to read but with a touch of style.)

#ideasofmarch

Design Tour of The Midlands

2011-05-09T00:00:00Z

Bar the fantastic New Adventures conference in Nottingham in January organised by the talented Simon Collison, for some reason, the Midlands often gets overlooked when we talk about the Web industry in the UK. The "hottest" places tend to focus around the South (London, Brighton and Bristol) and North (Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle). Rarely do you hear of large scale events occurring in the UK's so-called "Second City" of Birmingham. Why this is, we'll never know but as a creative evangelist of the region (co-founding the Multipack), I'm keen to change this and raise the Midlands' digital profile.

Throughout the Summer months, I'll be visiting a variety of design/Web/creative agencies around the West Midlands as part of a Design Tour of The Midlands to promote agencies in the region and find out how they work.

There are several reasons for this tour:

raise the profile of local agencies to emphasise the talent in The Midlands
ask the agencies how they compete against the bigger agencies in more popular design regions of the UK
get out of the isolated office to bounce ideas off peers, finding solutions to real-world problems

All the visits will be tweeted (with hashtag #dtotm) and summarised in a blog post, promoting the agencies' recent work as well as thoughts on the design problems discussions.

First stop will be The Higgs Design Co on Tuesday 24th May where I will be meeting Andy Higgs et al, talk about some of their recent work, what's coming up and how to solve an existing design problem I've recently encountered (TBC).

I'm also planning to pop along to some of the region's other agencies including:

If you're another design agency reading this, interested in me visiting your offices, fire over a tweet or send an email to "simon (dot) jobling (at) gmail (dot) com" and I'll get in touch to arrange a date.

DToTM: The Higgs Design Co

2011-06-10T00:00:00Z

The other week, I kicked off my Design Tour of The Midlands with a visit to The Higgs Design Co.

Founded by Andy Higgs in 2006, the studio has quickly gathered a reputable group of clients, ranging from successful local startups to International suppliers.

The Higgs Design Co pride themselves on creating "considered web application and design work" with a heavy emphasis on providing the ultimate user experience, advising customers on how best to achieve this. There are too many studios in the industry who are "Yes Men", simply ticking the boxes of client's requirements but The Higgs Design Co aim to address that head on by working with customers to think about what it is their customers actually want. Ultimately, they like to work with businesses to grow them, online and offline.

This practise is evident from their recent work with Urban Coffee Co in Birmingham.

The small coffee shop in the centre of Birmingham is popular amongst the creative community so The Higgs Design Co advised Urban Coffee Co how to best utilise social media to grow their brand online. As part of a redesign, Higgs made sure social media was at the centre of the Urban Coffee Co experience, using services like Foursquare and Twitter to communicate with their audience.

Going forward, Higgs are now working on the ecommerce element of the Urban Coffee Co website, allowing customers to purchase their renowned coffee as well as giving the business an opportunity to extend their reach outside of Birmingham City Centre.

Higgs are also currently working on a complete redesign of UK startup Rate My Placement which Andy has been heavily involved in from the start.

Back in 2006, three (bored) students on placement from Loughborough University realised there wasn't enough information out there for universities to assist placement students so they set out to resolve this.

Fast forward five years and the small startup is now a team of 15 with the goal of reorienting the product to a web application with more emphasis on the user, expecting to be launched in late part of 2011.

The Higgs Design Co are also working closely with a number of other clients, including the world's most prestiges rose suppliers David Austin Roses and racing driver Adam Christodoulou.

Design In The Midlands #

I was keen to find out what Andy thought of the Midlands' creative scene, why the area tends to get overlooked in the Web sphere.

His initial reaction was that many people in the region don't tend to shout about what they do, the good things don't get talked about.

As a whole, people in the Midlands are quite self-deprecating "“ it seems to be one of our many qualms and we don't defend the area when outsiders say "it's shit". In a recent article by the Independent, Birmingham "“ the UK's "second city" "“ was classed as a third-rate city, which says a lot about the general consensus of the public, compared to people in Manchester and Liverpool who claim London as the "second city".

Another fault seems to show that the city is divided. For example, two of Birmingham's main creative hubs, the Jewellery Quarter and Digbeth, have specific boundaries with little crossover in their communities, yet both have creatively strong communities.

Birmingham is generating a lot of talent, through the many universities and colleges, so there should be plenty of opportunity for growth.

The best approach to dealing with the creative silence is to continue developing local businesses, but making more noise about what we do, channeling the enthusiasm into public voice.

The Grid Challenge #

I was keen to make the most of the trip to The Higgs Design Co so took a design challenge for them.

I'm currently working on an internal CRM solution for Premium Choice and I've got to a situation where users like a full screen "liquid" UI yet there are obvious barriers with designing such interfaces, especially with standardised grids, so I'm keen to push a fixed grid.

Both solutions have their pitfalls so we discussed the differences between fixed, liquid and responsive grids.

In the end, responsive seemed like the most suitable approach to cover the numerous use cases, such as operational users on 1024x768 resolutions, management on wider resolutions and the potential to introduce smaller designs for portable devices such as iPads.

As part of this, Andy suggested a 16px baseline which he has used on a number of previous projects as it is relatively easy to remember multiples using typical computer bit rates.

To make the grid even more flexible, we introduced a naming convention for adopting columns with different amount of units:

3 column layout (33% and 67%)
2 column layout (50/50)

The new system also allows for an optional 16px padding to a column, reducing the column width to avoid broken columns. See the sample document for some example use cases.

Summary #

Considering The Higgs Design Co have only been in the creative hub of Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter since February, the future of the company is looking pretty solid for the near future. Expect to see a lot more from these guys over the coming years.

ComediPlayer

2011-07-13T00:00:00Z

For me, BBC Comedy is one of the strongest departments of the corporation. They produce some of the finest comedy shows in the World and, arguably, set the benchmark for quality comedy and introducing some of the greatest comedians to date.

Since the rise of BBC iPlayer, it's not been easier to access the regularly produced content, either on TV (often on BBC2 and BBC Three) or radio (notably, BBC Radio 4 and BBC 7 BBC Radio 4 Extra).

However, I often found that I would miss some of my favourite shows or, even, one-off shows that would whet my appetite. I started thinking about how I could get short updates of new shows available on the website with minimum effort.

Enter ComediPlayer.

Using the BBC Comedy Radio RSS feed and a great service called Twitter Feed, I put together a "twitbot" which automatically tweeted new shows straight to Twitter, allowing anyone following @comediplayer to be notified of new shows instantly.

The service has been running for nine months now. It has recently seen popularity grow thanks to retweets from hosts of featured shows, proving even the littlest ideas have potential.

It'll be interesting to see how the service can evolve. Ideally, I'd like to automatically link to Twitter accounts of show hosts or guests to improve engagement with the audience. Maybe I'll find some time to look into that at some point.

(Thanks to Paul Robert Lloyd for the simple-but-effective avatar he put together shortly after launch.)

Rugby World Cup KickOff

2011-09-09T00:00:00Z

Working against the clock is normally discouraged, especially when you have more than enough work on at the time. However, I often find tight deadlines are an ideal opportunity to test the old grey matter, push my abilities to the limit and, strangely, motivate me to try harder.

A classic example of this was building Rugby World Cup KickOff.

It was only after driving past our local Rugby School (the founding home of the sport) that I realised the Rugby World Cup was fast approaching. I had originally planned to cover the event with the usual KickOff calendar download app earlier in the year but other projects and clients took priority. That didn't phase me though. I had a working framework to reuse so development time was minimal.

That said, I drafted in some support from local developer Daniel Newns to help build some new features while I worked on a new design.

Improving the UI #

I was actually quite happy with the existing design and layout of World Cup KickOff from last year. The user interface focussed on the core functionality and information architecture seemed ideal.

The main change I wanted to make was extra emphasis on the actual kickoff time as a large amount of traffic to the other calendar websites showed visitors searching for just that. I also realised very few users were filtering events by date so decided to remove that option.

With regards to the general style, I wanted to keep the style minimal, avoiding typical clichÃ© trends found online yet maintain the simple, retro style established on World Cup KickOff.

Equally, there had to be some reference to the competition host of New Zealand. With the country's squad known as the "All Blacks", this lent naturally towards the monochrome colour scheme. Whilst the style may feel somewhat flat, almost like a lo-fi wireframe, it allowed me to focus purely on the content and functionality without too much distraction. I can imagine some designers questioning the design decision but, hey, you can't please everyone.

Web Typography #

On recent projects, I've not had the opportunity to experiment with web fonts much so I decided this was an ideal situation.

There are a number of web font providers available such as Typekit and Fontdeck, but I decided to give Google Web Fonts a try taking into consideration costs and service availability.

After testing some font combinations, I decided on Francois One and Gentium Basic. The strength and weighting of Francois One represented the personality of rugby as a sport quite well, while the elegance of Gentium Basic reflected the traditional history of the game.

Release Early, Release Often #

I've recently changed my approach to development by releasing early and releasing often. When I discussed the project with Dan early on, we had some great ideas to improve the service with additional features.

That said, with time against us, I decided to launch the service as early as possible with the basic functionality, enhancing the user experience in a phased approach.

Working like this, we can adapt the roadmap according to user demand. We're monitoring the website traffic using services like GoSquared LiveStats,Google Analytics and Facebook Insights so we have a good idea of what visitors are looking at and for.

To help manage the project, I started using a few self-hosted open source solutions:

Project Pier is a fantastic application for managing tasks, tickets, resources and clients. I've started using it with a few client and personal projects and found it perfect for collaborating on Rugby World Cup KickOff
Web SVN is a neat little PHP app which allows you to keep track of Subversion repositories. You can even subscribe to updates via RSS which I've plugged into Growl with RSS Growler for desktop notifications.

We plan to roll out some Twitter integration shortly after launch as well as some extra content on the main website.

The Next Step #

Sport events are social occasions. They unite people together in a common interest and these people tend to have a lot to say on the matter. This is a perfect time to tap into social media.

Twitter has fast become the key communication tool of the internet, bypassing the "walled garden" of Facebook, allowing individuals to have a say in the public forum with ease.

With this in mind, I'm keen to harness the power of Twitter and sport events. The KickOff project has always been about embracing technology with sporting events, originally based on the ICS calendar format but since pushing the boundaries to other media formats.

The next natural step for the project is to embrace the community, allowing individuals to share their experience of an event, both online and offline.

We'll be experimenting with the Rugby World Cup and Twitter over the next few weeks and, going forward, a few more major sport events such as next year's big event, Olympics 2012 in London (although we have a few hurdles to jump "“ pardon the pun "“ regarding event publication).

Facebook Photos dwarfs everything else on the planet

2011-09-22T00:00:00Z

[…] this year people will upload over 70 billion photos to Facebook, suggesting around 20% of all photos this year will end up there. Already Facebook's photo collection has a staggering 140 billion photos, that's over 10,000 times larger than the Library of Congress.

- 1000Memories

Rapid mobile apps with Mulberry

2011-09-22T00:00:00Z

Mulberry looks like an impressive framework for quickly creating mobile apps with modern web techniques (HTML5, CSS3 and Javascript) alongside PhoneGap

Samuel L Ipsum

2011-09-22T00:00:00Z

Bored of the typical Lorem Ipsum placeholder text? Get the eloquent Samuel L Jackson on your temporary copywriting instead with this tongue-in-cheek text generator.

Unitasking

2011-09-22T00:00:00Z

Trent Walton makes an interesting observation on how we managed to improve focus and productivity by removing all distractions from his desktop

Intergalactic

2011-09-23T00:00:00Z

Amazing photograph of The Milky Way as seen in the Mardi Khola valley in the Himalayas.

(Taken by Anton Jankovoy, via The Guardian)

SEO for Non-Dicks

2011-09-23T00:00:00Z

The key thing to understand is that the rules of SEO aren't magic or arbitrary. They're based on the goals of a search engine, which is to find relevant results. Relevance implies genuineness, and genuineness implies trust. So, shockingly, you should try to make your site's content trustworthy, genuine and relevant.

"“ Matt Gemmell

Facebook Likes You

2011-09-27T00:00:00Z

Adrian Short has posted an interesting and extensive post about the viral spread of Facebook and how it is invading personal privacy to an unacceptable level.

Amongst many points, he highlights how the Facebook Like widget not only tracks webpages you personally "like" but also unknowingly monitors all your website traffic regardless of you opting in to that approval, wherever the Facebook script is placed. This is only going to get worse with the recent Open Graph announcement at F8.

However, Google have been doing this as well, not only with their high profile Search and new Google+ service but also with Google Analytics. Why else would they offer such a valuable, free service to all those websites across the Web?

Yes, there are an alarming number of websites using the Facebook scripts to "engage" with their visitors (I'm as guilty as the next person for implementing the tools) but how many websites use Google Analytics as well? I'll take a sweeping stab in the dark and guess a vast majority of web developers implement it on their websites, for both personal projects and clients.

It's easy to slam Facebook for their ethics and how their using all this data (obviously for targeted advertising and marketing) but, if you really do want to play the moral card, remove all your own website tracking tools as well and see how easy it is to optimise your website based on no statistical evidence of visitor behaviour.

What about Facebook? #

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion of Facebook and whether it holds any personal value to them.

Personally, I find it a great platform for promoting my podcast, interacting with fans of the show as well as promoting new websites or services I've been working on. That said, I am aware Facebook is mining all that data to promote targeted ads whilst I visit their website (which I, as an online addict, have learned to ignore quite easily).

I also find Facebook a great tool for keeping in touch with friends and family. Without it, it's very unlikely I'll know when birthdays are or when babies have been born. This sort of information is invaluable to me.

What I'm trying to get across here is not to jump on a bandwagon without making a personal, informed decision. Whilst some people "just don't get" Facebook, others find it a valuable asset in their tools of online activity.

Personally, I'll now be a lot more cautious of where and when I use Facebook but that doesn't mean I'll be deleting my account any time soon.

HTML5 Whiteboard Magnets

2011-09-28T00:00:00Z

Cameron Moll had the genius idea of printing HTML5 elements on to magnetic sheets for use on a magnetic whiteboard, perfect for brainstorming your frontend code.

Daft Coke

2011-09-29T00:00:00Z

Not the most obvious collaboration I expected but these redesigned Coca-Cola bottles, inspired by Daft Punk's iconic style look really smart. What are the chances of finding them in the UK though?

(via Whitezine)

Gradient app for Mac

2011-09-30T00:00:00Z

Gradient is a neat little Mac app for quickly generating the necessary CSS3 properties of linear and radial gradients. The user interface is intuitively slick and the results are perfect. I particularly like the finder icon for quickly selecting colours currently on your screen.

Express for WordPress

2011-10-03T00:00:00Z

This great little iPhone app allows me to manage this website (now running on the fantastic WooTumblog framework) wherever I am from my mobile.

Git plugin for Coda

2011-10-03T00:00:00Z

I've long been a fan of Panic's Coda, one of the simplest and most intuitive code editors I've found for the Mac, but lack of Git integration has held me back from switching to the recommended version control technology.

Thanks to Justin Hileman, that blocker has now been lifted.

He's created some Coda plugins which allow users to manage Git repositories directly within the application, ideal for minimising workflow yet keeping your code version controlled with minimum fuss. Legend.

(via Anthony Killeen)

RequireJS

2011-10-03T00:00:00Z

RequireJS looks like a really neat and tidy approach of organising your Javascript code into small manageable modules, allowing for faster processing as well as improving the quality of your code.

Toggle Light

2011-10-03T00:00:00Z

I love this simple but effective product design for a lamp, based on a traditional light switch. Conceptually simple with the tactile style, Yonggu Do has created something very special.

(via Yanko Design)

Downing Street is Somewhere To…

2011-10-05T00:00:00Z

As part of a new initiative from Somewhere To "“ a collaborative project between Livity, Legacy Trust UK and Channel 4 to find space for youths to express themselves "“ Downing Street offered a selection of passionate youngsters the chance to use the building for free-running, perform speaking word and practice boxing.

The Life of (Lego) George

2011-10-05T00:00:00Z

I love this new product from Lego, allowing people to build toys and engage with other players using the iPhone app. It's hands on creativity mixed with the virtual world and gamification rewards. So many new concepts and all with that Lego charm.

(via @Shuckle)

Squiggle of the Design Process

2011-10-06T00:00:00Z

The Squiggle of the Design Process by Damien Newman at the Central Office of Design is a great representation of how designers approach new tasks, embodying the natural process we go through.

It has become so popular, they are now printing t-shirts and also have released the illustration for use under Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T00:00:00Z

Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple and Pixar pioneer, sadly passed away yesterday after a number of medical problems.

He was a visionary, a man with the passion and motivation to change the way people used technology, a man who took chances where others wouldn't.

His legacy at Apple will live on forever. A true pioneer. Rest in peace, Mr Jobs.

Thanks, Steve

2011-10-06T00:00:00Z

Using Jonathan Mak Long's original design and Apple's iconic Myriad Pro typeface, I've created a simple wallpaper desktop to honour the passing of Steve Jobs.

Every month, I change my desktop wallpaper so it seems fitting to celebrate the man who inspired many creatives for October.

Download the original image (1920x1080px) and resize or crop for your desktop or download the iPhone version.

Why the iPhone screen is 3.5"

2011-10-10T00:00:00Z

Dustin Curtis realised why Apple designed the iPhone to be a certain size - it call comes down to usability and reachable screen space with one hand.

800 Likes

2011-10-14T00:00:00Z

To celebrate hitting 800 fans on the One Phat DJ Facebook fan page, I created a special one hour mix. I wanted to give something back to the many loyal followers of the Funky House Finesse podcast, specifically those who show their affection through Facebook "likes".

Originally intended as a Facebook-only download, I've decided to open it up to the public. Who am I to starve the world of ten sublime funky house tracks, mixed together for your enjoyment?

Featuring Jean Jacque Smoothie, Groove Junkies & Indeya, Brian Tappert & Grant Nelson, Joey Negro, Future Funk, Mr Vasovski, Armand Van Helden, Boris Dlugosch & Roisin Murphy, Lab Rats & Lisa Millett.

Beware of Icebergs

2011-10-14T00:00:00Z

Des Traynor (off of the fantastic Intercom blog) highlights some prime examples of iceberg features - those requests from clients that seem like simple and obvious functionality at first glance but opens up a can of worms when it comes to development and implementation.

Adding global search is often a popular request which is why, when I start a new project with a client, I use a framework that has native search functionality integrated (such as WordPress). Even if it's not part of the original spec, I'm prepared for it in the future.

Hed Kandi Disco Samples

2011-10-18T00:00:00Z

The team at Hed Kandi - one of my favourite house music labels - have released a sample pack of their flagship disco sounds for artists and producers to create their own dance material. There's no denying the distinctive sound of Hed Kandi has established a position in the genre so this is a welcome arrival to any musician's arsenal.

I've been planning to get into production at some point so this might push me in the right direction.

Prototyping with CSS3 Flexbox

2011-10-18T00:00:00Z

The talented and (ridiculously) young Anna Debenhamhas described a neat approach to creating quick prototypes using the new CSS3 flexbox property.

Whilst support is only available in modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari), it's a great method for designing in the browser with minimal effort.

Five Simple Steps Videos

2011-10-20T00:00:00Z

Earlier this year, the guys behind Five Simple Steps publications put on a selection of workshops in London to compliment the books, giving the authors a platform to showcase their research and thoughts in more detail whilst improving engagement with their audience.

Thankfully, for those of us who couldn't attend, videos from the workshops are now available online to stream or download. Available from just £12 per series, the content is ideal for remote training, honing your skills at your own convenience.

Mary Blair

2011-10-21T00:00:00Z

Stunning tribute for the Walt Disney artist and animator Mary Blair on Google today, 100 years since her birth.

Her distinctive contribution towards movies like Alice In Wonderland and Peter Pan in the 1950s will forever be remembered, establishing the high standard defined by Disney animations.

A Brief History of Web Standards

2011-10-25T00:00:00Z

Vitamin T and An Event Apart have compiled a fantastic infographic of how Web Standards have evolved over the last 50 (odd) years, along with milestone typeface launches.

This chart would be ideal for any computer classroom but even the seasoned professional should find space on their office wall. Stunning work.

Twitter Stories

2011-11-01T00:00:00Z

Love the idea of Twitter Stories - selecting emotional individual situations where Twitter has a lovely result. This is what testimonials are made of.

Tweets for Balls

2011-11-02T00:00:00Z

Yesterday, I launched a small tongue-in-cheek website called Tweets for Balls.

The concept is relatively simple - people can donate money towards testicular cancer research by sending a message on Twitter. Online donations are nothing new and, thanks to services like Just Giving and Plumfund, have become a familiar method for people to raise money for charity.

Last year, I discovered a campaign called Tweets for Boobs which got me thinking about a male equivalent. I registered the necessary domain and Twitter account and planned to put something together but, due to other looming projects, it fell by the wayside.

This Summer, I discovered a neat little hack by Simon Painter called Giv2.it. It's a small app that allows Twitter users to make micro-donations by tweeting a message with the #giv2 hashtag, a recipient Twitter username and the amount. It then sends a link back to the user to complete payment on Just Giving.

With the fundamental process established, I teamed up with the talented web designer Sam Hardacre to create the campaign website. I wanted to introduce some character into the campaign so came up with the idea of the bird looking down his pants. My illustration skills are pathetic compared to Sam so I sent him my initial doodle for refinement.

The website was only intended to be a simple promotional page with instructions and some background. After creating the initial wireframe and content, Sam worked on some colour combinations and styles to add some life and ended up with the design you see today. We're particularly fond of the progress indicator which will move across the screen as donations are made. Make sure you check the design out on your mobile too - it's responsive (as all sites should be nowadays).

We also drafted in some help from Anthony Killeen to integrate his Twitter aggregator which shows recent tweets mentioning the campaign plus any donations made via Twitter.

There are number of other features and updates we have planned for the coming weeks as well such as tighter integration with Giv2.it and a grid of contributor's photos.

For now, we're just keen to raise as much money as possible for testicular cancer research. Please send your donations to Tweets for Balls which will go directly to the Everyman charity. All contributions are welcome - even £1 a will do.

Why Use Rounded Corners

2011-11-08T00:00:00Z

Interesting thoughts from UX Movement into why rounded corners on user interfaces are easier to process and more aesthetically pleasing than straight lines.

Simple Branding

2011-11-14T00:00:00Z

I've been keeping a close eye on US banking startup Simple, specifically as I'm interested in their revolutionary new approach to a stale business model.

Only time will tell whether the startup will succeed and whether it will make it across The Pond but, until then, the thought process behind their recent rebrand is an insightful read.

Responsive Advertising

2011-11-15T00:00:00Z

Mark Boulton identifies a fundamental flaw in adopting responsive web design within an editorial context, specifically when it comes to advertisement placement.

As the core revenue channel for most news-based sites, it's not something that can be taken lightly but, unfortunately, there hasn't been much movement with adverts supporting RWD.

Something for the Internet Advertising Bureau to consider in 2012, maybe?

Responsive Ad Ranges

2011-11-17T00:00:00Z

Nathan Ford suggests a possible solution to the responsive advert problem Mark Boulton highlighted earlier in the week; introduce a screen resolution range variable to the typical mental model, which now becomes:

range > template > slot > ad

In theory, this approach would allow advertisers and publishers to work seamlessly yet also allow web designers to introduce RWD to large scale projects.

The Importance of Icons

2011-11-22T00:00:00Z

Today, The Noun Project announced they were opening up submissions for user contribution towards a single, unified language of iconic symbols to represent every noun in the dictionary.

This is a great project, something I've considered many times for establishing a common language when it comes to iconography.

Icons are such a powerful design tool when used correctly as it is language-agnostic, independent of translations and conflicting colour theory around the globe. It's difficult to argue with the meaning of an illustration (unless it's designed badly).

By creating a unified collection of icons, available to all in an open source/Creative Commons manner, this is allowing designers to establish a common language within design, whether it is in print, screen - wherever. The media is irrelevant. It is a visual language. Where it can be seen, it can be perceived.

It would be really amazing if The Noun Project continues to grow and gain widespread coverage. More designers should contribute towards this project. It's quite an ambitious project which really could do with more leverage from the design industry but, if enough people can spread the word, there's no reason why not.

Realigned Google Bar

2011-11-30T00:00:00Z

Google are rolling out an update to their generic navigation bar between their popular products, breaking them out of the current dark bar and moving them to a super navigation dropdown from the logo.

It does seem like a natural location for the navigation although I often use the logo as a home target (as has come convention across the Web).

It's also welcoming to see a consistent header height across products rather than the current adaptive header height.

All this lends towards a consistent user experience across Google products.

(via @miekd)

That Was 2011

2011-12-28T00:00:00Z

As should become tradition every year, it's time to reflect on the last 12 months, highlighting the good, bad and pivotal points.

The year started with the final stages of Free Tunes for Christmas - a seasonal music site offering a free dance track for the 12 days of Christmas. Amongst the targeted audience, this was a huge success proving the age old tradition that free giveaways are a desirable product. One element of the project I didn't factor for was the amount of time and resources required to compile the content. Oliver Ker did a fantastic job on design and build of the site but the hardest part was confirming musical partners and scheduling releases in a timely manner. If I ever run the campaign again, this will definitely be an area I'll allow more time.

Professionally, I've achieved a significant number of milestones at Premium Choice, unfortunately more prominent internally.

I've led development of a powerful CRM tool having introduced an Agile project lifecycle, adapting to the rapid growth and changes of business requirements. We have received much praise from the board and staff, even external partners for the business intelligence the application delivers so the project has been a massive success for the company and I have taken great pride from it too.

I've also managed the development of our Buy Online strategy, tailoring the user journey from price comparison sites to final purchase. This has been addressed in a phased approach to ensure we focus on fundamental processes in manageable chunks. All partners involved admire the work and effort gone into the first phase so it bodes well for the next.

We also introduced the first stage of our niche mini-site strategy by creating and delivering a tailored site for motor trade insurance. Whilst it's still early days to thoroughly evaluate performance, first impressions are good and all partners feel confident the strategy will be an effective approach for the business.

Towards the end of the Summer, I teamed up with Daniel Newns and launched another spin-off sport calendar app for the Rugby World Cup in South Africa. With less commercial appeal than the football world cup, I wasn't expecting record traffic but it scratched an itch, especially when I live in the home of rugby football, and certainly proved popular amongst the fans of the game.

In November, I teamed up with Sam Hardacre and Anthony Killeen to build Tweets for Balls - a digital fundraising campaign for testicular cancer. We piggybacked available tools such as Giv2.it, Just Giving and Twitter to raise awareness and money for cancer research, followed by endless multi-channel promotion throughout the month. On hindsight, it wasn't a great idea to compete with the popular Movember campaign as we struggled to reach our goal of £1,000 but it was still a good opportunity to work with some people I've admired for years as well as create something charitable. I'm keen to try again next year but focus more on marketing and viral campaigns now the foundations are set.

Tweets for Balls was also an ideal opportunity to venture into public speaking. When I co-found Midlands creative network The Multipack way back in 2005, I've always been keen to leverage (sorry!) the platform by building my confidence and find my voice. When we held a Show & Tell in November at Birmingham Science Park, it felt like my calling to give it a try. It was by no means groundbreaking but I'm glad I tried and feedback wasn't negative. Read what you will into that but I'm taking light in it.

Throughout the year, I've continued to produce, broadcast and syndicate my house music mix show Funky House Finesse. It's built quite a loyal fan base over the past 6 years so the biggest highlight for me was reaching the milestone of 800 Facebook fans in October. That count is continually growing so maybe - just maybe - we'll reach 1,000 in 2012.

Anyone who knows me should also know I'm an avid Twitter user. Several years ago, I registered the @derbycounty account to accompany my Super Rams fan site. It didn't get much use but follower counts increased with the popularity of Twitter. Earlier this year, I asked fellow Ram Franca Hood if she wanted to live commentate from the matches which she jumped at. And, didn't she do well. It wasn't long before 3,000 more followed and this continues to grow. I really feel there is a tangible opportunity with this model, giving committed fans a platform to engage with real people with similar passions.

All in all, 2011 has been quite a successful year. I've accomplished a number of personal goals but equally seen some less successful moments. As always, I'll take note from those errors to find ways to improve but I've got a good feeling about 2012. Here's hoping.

Ten Faces of a Web Professional

2012-01-10T00:00:00Z

Before Christmas, I was honoured to be asked to write an article for a new website called 12 Devs of Xmas - a festive magazine for motivating the Web community to learn something new every day.

I decided to take a different angle and focus on the many faces of a typical Web professional, highlighting the broad range of skills required when working as a freelancer.

Rethinking Mobile Registration

2012-01-11T00:00:00Z

Yesterday, I was discussing the process of mobile registration forms with a colleague from Uganda. He was asking if I knew of a simple way to capture data quickly from mobile devices whilst minimising potential fraud and human error.

We know smart phones have become common place in the "first world" but technology is not as advanced in developing countries such as Uganda so relying on mobile apps and web forms are not always an option.

However, one common feature of all mobile phones are contacts - a digital representation of a person.

Nearly all mobile phones allow users to store basic contact details for an individual. They store common fields such as first name, last name, telephone number, address and date of birth. These devices also have cameras built in so there is potential to attach a photograph of the owner for security reasons.

Additional to this, most mobile phones also offer the facility to send contact cards via email or SMS so there is a method available for data submission.

If a provider required registration prior to activation, a user should be asked to create a new business card containing all their personal details and send it to a pre-defined point of contact (SMS or email). Not only is this allowing instant activation on a reliable data capture mechanism, it is also minimising chance of error as well as validating the origin (the mobile telephone number).

In a world where mobile apps are fast becoming the norm, it's easy to forget other audiences where new technology is unavailable. However, this simple approach could revolutionise data capture in a developing world.

What do you think? Is there potential in this process or is it flawed in some way?

Gov.UK

2012-02-08T00:00:00Z

Last week, the new GOV.UK website was unveiled to the public.

Released as an early beta product, it is still very early days but my initial reactions are impressive. Unless you're aware, gov.uk is intended to centralise the vast number of UK government websites into a single solution, allowing the general public to quickly access important data without jumping through all the typical hoops.

As part of the project, I've been monitoring the development of the project by following certain individuals of the team on Twitter, including Paul Annett, Relly Annett-Baker, Frances Berriman and Gareth Rushgrove (to name a few). Each of these guys bring unique talents to the table where Paul is a brilliant UI designer, Relly a fantastic knack for writing web copy, Frances as an evangelist of semantic markup and Gareth's impressive coding brain.

What has really caught my attention is the open nature of the entire project. They have been keen to embrace the open source culture of the Web, actively blogging the design process the team have gone through, creating discussion around design decisions as well as leveraging the power of popular online tools. They have published a vast amount of their development on Github to allow other governments to reuse all the code they have created, as well as manage feedback such as feature requests and bugs on Get Satisfaction.

It's quite exciting to see the evolution of the online presence of the UK Government with pioneers of the Web community, especially with such an open approach. Whilst it's only early stages, the results so far have been very promising. It's a fantastic opportunity to have such a large platform for promoting open source culture.

No More Excuses

2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

This month, .net magazine published my thought piece on No More Excuses.

There's a lot of creativity in the web industry, so many people with brilliant ideas, but we're all guilty of making excuses as to why we shouldn't make that website we've been mulling over for too long.

My intention was to address five popular excuses with suggestions on how to combat them.

“It's been done before!”
“I haven't got the time!”
“There's too much to do!”
“I don't know where to start!”
“But nobody will use it!”

During my time as a web professional, there have been a number of tools and techniques I've adopted to aid me in creating the many side projects I've built. From project management techniques to online tools, from calling on the active community for help to reusing available resources openly shared and distributed.

Ordinarily, I would just publish the content here but I'd prefer it if you just picked up a copy from your local newsagents (or online) or download a digital copy from Zinio.

This article seemed like an ideal opportunity to gather all my thoughts and experience into a brief guide for others to take on with the intention of motivating others to cut out the excuses and start creating websites.

It was also my first official publication in the magazine. For years, I've considered writing for .net but, for one reason or another, I've put it off. What better motivation than to take inspiration from the topic and stop making excuses myself? Hopefully, this is the start of more frequent content. We'll see. It bodes well that it made the cover.

Goshawk

2012-03-02T00:00:00Z

The other day, I was astounded at the progress my son has made in learning.

He is fascinated with animals and books. If he's not watching Deadly 60 or any other BBC natural history programmes, he's flicking through his growing library of animal literature. I'm particularly proud of his interest in literacy – it's not been forced on him, he just enjoys books. A rarity in today's youth.

When he got into bed, he noticed one of the pages in his Deadly 60 book had lost it's dog-eared corner:

“Mummy, you've lost my goshawk.”

Without hesitation or any prompting, he turned to the contents, scanned the list:

“G-O-S… Goshawk. Eight-Zero”

He then flicked through the pages, counting past 50, 60, 70… “Eight Zero!”

He had found his Goshawk.

“See Mummy, I’ve found my Goshawk now.”

For a five year old, I'm amazed at three things here:

His ability to scan book contents looking for the word using phonetics
Counting beyond 20 (the benchmark for Key Stage 1)
His extensive knowledge of lesser-known animals

This probably bears little interest to other people. It just seemed like a momentous occasion that should be recorded on my son's development.

Curators Code

2012-03-13T00:00:00Z

I like this idea of introducing dedicated symbols for crediting content; ↬ for "via" and ↩ for "hat tip".

With a growing online culture of journalism through blogging, Twitter and beyond, a simplified approach to attributing appropriate sources could help minimise lazy journalism where it is too easy to plagiarise content.

I appreciate this is unlikely in a competitive world where content = impressions = monetisation but, for the more ethical, open-source online community, standardisation is certainly welcome.

I would love to see more content providers to introduce these symbols to their material or designs. It's only with widespread adoption that such suggestions become standards (remember, the now familiar #hashtags and "slash tags" both came from repetitive use of community suggestions).

↬ Christian Heilmann

Improving Emails with Animated GIFs

2012-03-20T00:00:00Z

Paul Boag recently blogged about reviving the animated GIF for subtle user interface improvements, specifically in web pages. Whilst this is open to much abuse, it is definitely a viable solution when used sparingly and appropriately.

Taking this concept forward, it struck me animated GIFs could also work really well for improving the design of HTML emails. Whilst inline videos are difficult to embed in HTML emails, animated GIFs aren't as restrictive.

Take the Kenneth Cole example from Paul's post into consideration…

If you received an email with a photograph that suddenly moved, it would certainly grab your attention, provoke you to continue reading and, ideally, continue to the website.

If your design would benefit from a simple motion or transition such as, an animated GIF could be the answer.

I appreciate this is hardly a groundbreaking suggestion but what are your thoughts? Have you used animated GIFs in HTML emails for improving the message? Can you see any caveats in the concept? I'd love to get some feedback on this.

Five Goals for 2012

2012-03-22T00:00:00Z

It may seem a bit late in the year to be writing such a post about annual goals but it was something I considered last December that I never documented. My thinking is if I formally write them down, I'll be more inclined to attempt them. So, here goes…

1. Get an article published ✓ #

I've worked in the web industry for over ten years now learning a lot along the way. I want to share some of that knowledge with my peers, not just on my blog but in a published medium.

2. Create an app #

I've created many websites in the past but none of them are user generated. I want to address this by making an app for others to use, either in a web or native mobile form (probably the former). I've a few ideas in the pipeline so there's no excuses there.

3. Redesign and release this website ✓ #

Like most designers, I redesign and redesign my own website that never get released. This year, I'm determined to release something, even if it starts with a very simple start. I've made good progress on a logotype-come-ligature concept so we'll see where that goes.

4. Produce my first house track #

I've been producing my house music podcast for seven years now but never produced my own track. Many friends and listeners of the show have asked so I think it's time to take the plunge and see/hear what I can come up with.

5. Push Funky House Finesse forward #

The podcast has built up a loyal following over the many years, downloaded by thousands every month and broadcast on a growing network of radio stations. I'm very proud with how it's grown. I want to take it to the next level, get more exposure by syndicating it on more stations, possibly collaborate with some musical peers.

As each goal is reached, I'll tick them off (the first one became a reality this month in .net magazine so that was relatively easy). I'll be optimistic here. There's no reason why all five can't be done in 2012.

Twitter Apps for Mac Comparison

2012-03-27T00:00:00Z

Anyone who knows me should also know I'm an avid Twitter-holic. Over the last six years, I've been through a number of different solutions to monitor and update Twitter, from the original IM client in Jabber to Adobe Air bridges to browser plugins to native apps. Needless to say, each move has introduced as many bug-bears as there are improvements.

For the last few years, I've been using Atebits Tweetie official Twitter Mac app. When Loren Brichter created the original app, he took into consideration all the beautiful user interactions associated with well-designed Mac apps and streamlined the Twitter user experience into something rather special. Unfortunately, like most acquisitions, it fell by the way side, losing touch with user's needs and focussing more on business deliverables.

Over the last few months, I've been using the stunning Tweetbot for my mobile (iOS) Twitter needs. As most users will agree, it is hands above the rest of mobile Twitter apps, an absolute joy to use (and listen to). The user experience is thoroughly thought out and well executed, highlighting some largely desired features missing in many desktop apps.

Whilst I long for Tapbots to create a Mac version (wishful thinking, I realise), I decided to evaluate some of the options available for the Mac desktop.

View the Twitter Apps for Mac Comparison Table

Bear in mind, these are my personal requirements. I'm sure other people use Twitter in different ways with different needs.

(Some people have even questioned my desire for custom short URLs. I like to own my data where possible, hence why I setup jobl.in with YOURLS to manage my own short links. I appreciate it's extraneous redirects with Twitter directing all traffic via t.co but each to their own.)

If you know of any other options I've missed that may fulfil my requirements, send me a tweet so I can add it to the comparison chart.

Iconic Design in Sci-Fi Movies

2012-04-25T00:00:00Z

Recently, I was asked my thoughts on iconic design in sci-fi movies by online magazine, Creative BloQ, specifically about the user interface from Minority Report:

The user interface from Minority Report was scarily close to what is now possible, hence why it's been such an iconic design in film. The motion gestures on a projected screen seemed so far-fetched in 2002 but, less than ten years later, Microsoft had mass-produced the Xbox Kinect device simulating exactly the same concept. Who knew?

Read the full article for 19 other interesting thoughts on the topic.

As part of the process, I also considered a number of other iconic designs from sci-fi movies;

How can you talk about design in sci-fi without referencing The Matrix (1999)? The "bullet time" camera effect introduced by the Wachowski brothers inspired many following movies to adopt the same technique. The vertically scrolling matrix user interface also touched a nerve for many geeks and will always be considered the ultimate computer interface.

Flight of the Navigator (1986) left a lasting impression for me with the friendly, robotic eye of Max - an alternative alien concept with a friendly character, relatively unheard of up to then - and the streamline, curved shape of the spaceship where most UFO designs up to this time went with the traditional disc shape. The controls for flying the ship could also be considered to inspire some of the gaming controls we're now familiar with today.

Can you think of any other iconic designs from sci-fi?

Incentivising Return Visitors

2012-04-30T00:00:00Z

I just received an email from Statigram "“ a third party Instagram app for presenting user behaviour statistics "“ to inform me that my profile data will no longer be updated on a daily basis as I haven't visited the site for a week.

This is a clever approach to incentivising return visitors.

Rather than let the user's account lapse or even ignore their existence, a subtle reminder to indicate the service has been running for the last week, waiting for your return, suggests the service is not forcing you to do anything. It is, however, bringing to your attention the data won't be updated as frequently until you do return.

Have you seen similar friendly emails attracting users back to a service?

Picozu

2012-05-03T00:00:00Z

Picozu is a smart web application for touching up photographs online (akin to the Flickr UI) using modern HTML5, CSS3 and Canvas techniques.

The UI is pretty slick with familiar graphic application tools at your disposal.

Definitely worth checking out if you're away from your home desktop but want to make some quick image tweaks.

Spiffing CSS

2012-05-03T00:00:00Z

If you speak "The Queen's" English (otherwise known as British), you can type proper spellings of syntax such as colour, centre and transparency then apply the Spiffing CSS pre-processor to convert back to a language browsers understand.

Silly but brilliant. Bravo, Visual Idiot.

Suit Up or Die

2012-05-03T00:00:00Z

The first edition of Suit Up or Die - an online magazine for male fashion - takes an innovative approach to it's design with an elegant user experience utilising the "off canvas" design pattern (coined by Luke Wroblewski) with bold photography, typography and grid systems.

I love the direction this has taken. It's a fantastic use of modern technology and will be interesting to see what uptake will be like on tablets or mobile devices.

Angry Birds Space

2012-05-04T00:00:00Z

Love this promotional site for Angry Birds Space. As you scroll, the bird directs you around the content using similar motions from the game. It even senses the scroll motion and changes the orientation of the bird accordingly.

The game is fantastic too. Having played it for a month or so, I love the additional game mechanics introduced where you have to take into consideration extra factors.

Available on the App Store.

Project Re:Brief

2012-05-04T00:00:00Z

Project Re:Brief is an interesting concept from Google, considering how some of America's most iconic advertising campaigns could be repurposed for the web, especially with the growing mobile audience and responsive web movement.

With such powerful brands like Coca-Cola, Volva and Avis as case studies, it could be quite interesting to see how this pans out.

User Friendly iPad Text Editing

2012-05-05T00:00:00Z

This suggestion for improving the text editor user interface on iPad is pure genius - using double finger swipes over the keyboard to navigate the cursor or hold Shift to highlight.

Apple need to make this happen.

How text editing on the iPad should be.

Best iPad Apps for Design

2012-05-09T00:00:00Z

It's always an honour to be asked to contribute content to magazines, especially to be joined by some of the web industry's biggest names.

Along with Sir Jeffrey Zeldman, Elliott "The Fro" Jay Stocks and Dan Mall, Creative BloQ asked us what our favourite design apps are for the iPad.

There are many obvious choices such as Keynote and Dropbox so I selectively picked two invaluable tools I use to help make my ideas a reality that others might not be aware of:

iMockups (£4.99) A great app for quickly creating interactive low-fi wireframes void of detail

Gusto (£6.99) A really useful code editor with FTP connectivity and basic site management.

You can read more on why I chose iMockups and Gusto along with the other 20 Best iPad Apps for Design.

The Future of TV

2012-05-16T00:00:00Z

Some interesting thoughts from Dan Wieden of Wieden+Kennedy on the future of television, specifically around product placement, advertising and social interaction.

Augmented Reality & Design

2012-05-17T00:00:00Z

This week's Industry Insight by Creative Bloq focussed on Google's patent for augmented reality glasses and what it could mean to design.

They asked me for my thoughts on the topic where I think about data, APIs and web applications:

"The concept of augmented reality has plenty of potential when it comes to design.

It brings all the information of the Internet to a relevant contextual situation so we have to think about the organisation and availability of data. If you're creating a web app or service, is the information available through APIs? Can your data improve someone's experience in an appropriate manner?

We laughed at the vision scenes of the Terminator, evaluating his environment in real time, but all this becomes a possibility with a Web of data accessible from a pair of glasses "“ or, maybe in the not-so-distant-future, contact lenses."

See what other leading designers from around the world think in Industry Insight: Augmented Reality.

Leap Motion

2012-05-23T00:00:00Z

The user experience that epitomised Minority Report is now available in a $70 box.

The guys at Leap Motion have created a device that allows user interactions without any typical input devices. The video demonstration shows so much potential with the use cases, from design to gaming, maps to data analysis.

This could seriously revolutionise how we interact with computers in the near future.

The Forty Story

2012-05-23T00:00:00Z

My thoughts along with Sarah Parmenter and Steven Bonner on Pentigram's clever approach to their 40 year celebratory showreel "The Forty Story".

With such a diverse and impressive range of clients through the years, the Forty Story is a brilliant approach to create an emotional connection between them all. The images speak volume but the accompanying dialogue and soundtrack set a great tone to the showreel, emphasising the bond Pentagon have built up with their customers and portfolio. It's a lovely idea well executed.

See what Sarah and Steven both have to say on Is this the best showreel ever made?.

WYSIHTML5

2012-05-23T00:00:00Z

This looks like a really interesting direction to take the whole WYSIWYG editor functionality, making use of new techniques available in HTML5.

The user interface is much simpler than the traditional library but, for me, this is a feature, not a bug. It forces users to consider the foundations of their content rather than worrying about style.

What particularly piqued my interest is the speech input feature (currently only supported in Chrome). This opens up a whole new opportunity not just for accessibility but also mobile input (think Apple's Siri).

Design Challenges of Facebook IPO

2012-05-25T00:00:00Z

This week, Creative Bloq's Industry Insight asked leading designers what they thought of Facebook's recent IPO and the design challenges they face as a consequence:

"Facebook has quite a challenge now to ensure it continues to deliver a user-focussed design.

"It's all well and good putting a 12-figure value on the product, bringing investment to the business, but Facebook's key product continues to be their millions of users and how they fulfil the users' desires.

"They need to innovate, introduce engaging new ways for visitors to stay on the site, consuming valuable products for both parties. It'll be interesting to see how the platform evolves over the next 12 months."

Read what Sarah Parmenter, Jeffrey Zeldman and others also thought on the topic in Industry Insight: Pro Designers Have Their Say on Facebook.

Killer Contract

2012-05-28T00:00:00Z

Over three years old and it's still invaluable "“ Andy Clarke's Contract Killer: The Next Hit makes sure you cover your arse when working with any client on a Web project.

It's kindly published under a Creative Commons Attribution Share-a-Like license so free for your use with a little credit back. Also worth nothing Andy is by no-means a lawyer (but does fancy himself as a top detective) so make sure you get legal advice if you want to be 100% sure.

Classic British Design

2012-06-01T00:00:00Z

This week, Creative Bloq got in a typically British mood to celebrate Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee weekend by asking a number of designers of their favourite British design classic:

"For me, the original Mini is a classic British design.

"The under-stated appearance with oozes of character perfectly encapsulate everything that is British. It doesn't carry any particular status around it "“ the product is accessible to all demographics "“ but, equally, it still holds that authority as a pillar of society "“ especially in it's traditional red body with the Union Jack roof on this Diamond Jubilee weekend."

Read what other designers chose on Industry Insight: British design classics.

Design Excuses & How To Beat Them

2012-06-01T00:00:00Z

Earlier in the year, .net magazine published a thought piece I wrote about no more excuses that typically kill motivation.

The article went down quite well with a number of promising reviews from friends and peers – even exposure on the magazine cover – which motivated me to pursue further writing.

Today, the article has been republished on their website: Design Excuses and How To Beat Them. May I suggest you head over and read it if you missed the original article - or even glance over it again for a refresh.

I'd love to hear your thoughts too. Tweet me (@Si) other common excuses you've experienced and how to combat them.

Just Build Websites

2012-06-12T00:00:00Z

Love the sentiment behind Just Build Websites "“ a simple campaign from the folks behind Front End Design Conf, inspired by a question from Chris Coyier's Shop Talk Show.

It echoes many thoughts from my recent article for .net mag, No More Excuses. If you're not sure what new topic to learn in web design, just make a website and the technology will follow. Don't try to build something to fit a technique "“ use a technique to fit a need.

Industry Insight on Microsoft Surface

2012-06-21T00:00:00Z

This week's Industry Insight (on the lovely redesigned Creative Bloq) focuses on the unveiling of the Microsoft Surface tablet.

Among several others, I had some thoughts on the device and what it means for the industry:

On face value, Surface looks like healthy competition in a relatively monopolised market drowned in iPads (and, some might argue, Galaxys). They seem to have 'borrowed' a number of winning features from existing devices but put their own spin on them, with a soft keyboard and USB adaptor.

From a design point-of-view, the 16:9 widescreen could throw up some hurdles in web design, further evidence the responsive approach is the way forward. They just need to make sure the cost is competitive and launch is soon.

Read what the others had to say in Industry Insight: Microsoft Unveils The Surface.

Principles of User Interface Design

2012-06-21T00:00:00Z

Joshua Porter "“ designer at Hubspot "“ summarises the twenty principles of good user interface design.

Whilst some may be obvious, it's amazing how many designers overlook these core objectives of design theory, the target audience and how best to engage with them.

A worthwhile read for all designers.

Principles of User Interface Design.

A Clean Slate

2012-06-21T00:00:00Z

Redesigns are always tricky, especially when it comes to working on your own site. Among many of the problems, one of the hardest parts is deciding on a design that you are happy with; something that accurately showcases your ability, that reflects your personality, that you are confident to shout about.

Over the last few years, I've had a number of attempts at approaching this. I have waives of inspiration so, naturally, make some sketches to get the ideas down. More often than not, these ideas never manifest, become stagnant and (inevitably) dated.

Recently, I've been thinking more and more about content. Anyone who works in the Web industry has no doubt heard the phrase "content is king" thrown around - and it's true. Without good content, a website serves little purpose other than a hot pot of shiny shiny, attempting to wow visitors. It won't take long for your visitors to realise there is very little substance behind it.

The talented Relly Annett-Baker has been running an online Creating Web Content workshop. She has adopted the personality of school teacher with a friendly classroom attitude. I've found this approach much more engaging and suitable to her style. I digress.

The workshop has got me thinking about the importance of relevant content and tone of voice. Personal websites are meant to be just that. It's about you as an individual - it should reflect your personality. It's very easy to "fluff up" your portfolio with all the buzzwords in the world but does it accurately define who you are? Take away the jargon - what are you left with?

Write in your own tongue. Talk about the stuff you've done. Use the language and vocabulary you speak in.

Now, this is all well and good if time permits. Like most people, my time is limited, especially when it comes to working on personal projects.

With this in mind, I've decided to start with a clean slate. Over the coming months, I'll be rewriting content on this website to sound more like me.

To make this approach easier, I wanted a fresh canvas to reflect the clean start so introduced a minimalist style. I had already been working on a unique identity (the "Si" ligature above) which I was keen to utilise. It was designed to be used in a multitude of environments but, in it's simplest form, the monochrome symbol fits well in this instance.

The design will evolve over time. I'm hoping the content will define the direction of the design. Only time will tell where this goes.

Ford Keyfree

2012-06-22T00:00:00Z

It's not often I throw around the term "game changer" but this could be one of them…

One of the most unlikely candidates, Ford (yep, as in the car manufacturer) have created a secure password system for websites using Near Field Communication (NFC) and BlueTooth called Ford Keyfree.

By installing the iOS app and Chrome extension, you can automatically login to popular websites such as Gmail and Facebook just by being in the vicinity of your desktop.

I've not been able to try this out (the French landing page is currently offline) but the Vimeo video explains it well.

(via Ford Schools Apple With Clever Phone Login App...Wait, What?)

How Is Bottle Top Bill Made?

2012-06-25T00:00:00Z

Whilst watching kids TV with my wife, we were discussing the design components of Bottle Top Bill - a unique edutainment programme intended to inspire imagination and creativity at a young level. We weren't entirely sure if the household elements used to create the characters were photographs or digitally created.

I decided to do some research and ended up asking the original creator, Cameron Chittock, about the design process:

You are both right!

I made some models and photographed them 24 times on a turn table. Then made a puppet using planes in 3D Studio Max and animated the photos as textures Max (Material) or Maya (Shader).

The arms and legs are true 3D components.

This idea is commonly used, just not in such a sophisticated way.

Rethink Rail Tickets Interface

2012-06-25T00:00:00Z

I like this effort at redesigning the ticket vending user experience at UK railway stations (a project I also attempted during my university years).

The quick search and clearly laid out content for journeys certainly minimise the number of steps users have to go through with faster responses (akin to Google Instant Search). However, the ticket options could have been better grouped, possibly separating travel dates, passengers and ticket types.

These sort of exercises are inspiring though; they make you think about the user experience in a structured manner. By publishing them online, others can learn from them too.

Rethink: Ticket Vending Interface

Old Faithful

2012-06-26T00:00:00Z

Khoi Vinh raised an interesting point last week about whether Apple's products are built to last, even though the upgrade lifecycle of "fan boys" are ridiculously regular.

When I started my current job back in May 2008, I quickly acquired a MacBook Pro, top of the range back then. It was the wisest investment made considering the tools at my disposal and (then) travelling role between Birmingham and London.

Over 4 years, multiple knocks and 2 repairs on, it's still performing beautifully. In that time, Apple have released four editions of the machine. Every time, I've reviewed the updates, considered the return on investment and let them pass.

Old Faithful continues to look at me adoringly, occasionally struggling under the strain, but she's working. This may be her last year before I pass her on to another owner but she serves me well, allowing me to create valuable tools for the business.

Responsive Web Design Newsletter

2012-06-27T00:00:00Z

Brad Frost has started a Responsive Web Design Newsletter in an attempt to compile useful resources on the heavily recommended technique into a regular email.

The first edition includes sections on layout, navigation, typography, process, the ongoing debate over images, testing and some snazzy samples for inspiration.

Whether you're new to RWD or keen to keep an eye on emerging techniques, I suggest you sign up.

(I've been thinking of setting up something similar recently, not specifically on responsive web design but the Web as a whole. I realise it's nothing new but it's a new twist on my noisy stream of link tweets that many follow me for. If you think it's a good idea, tweet me.)

Evolution of the Web

2012-06-29T00:00:00Z

The Evolution of the Web is a stunning visualisation from the Google team on the evolution of the web, including browsers, technologies and techniques.

If you're new to the Web, it's worth going over the timeframe to get an idea of when certain elements were introduced and how long it's taken to get where we are today (and how lucky you are that so many things are at your disposal now).

Responsive Microsoft

2012-06-29T00:00:00Z

It looks like Microsoft are finally moving in the right direction with the preview of their new website.

The design is clean, focused on their key products with powerful images, inherits their new Metro house style (featured in Windows 8). As seems to be de facto now, it has also been designed responsively which makes sense considering their range of mobile devices and recent foray into the tablet market with Surface.

I'm looking forward to see how this design approach evolves into their other online territories. I'd like it to become a consistent experience throughout, similar to Google's consistent online experience and BBC's Global Experience Language.

Rebranding Campaign Monitor

2012-07-04T00:00:00Z

Email marketing provider, Campaign Monitor, have recently launched a redesigned website along with a snazzy new branding.

As part of the design process of the rebrand, they took a lot into consideration including the personality of the company, target audience and contextual placement.

I always find articles discussing the design process fascinating, especially when it's regarding a company I've long admired.

Crayola

2012-07-05T00:00:00Z

Daniel Mall takes us through another insightful design process, this time on how he and the Big Spaceship team redesigned the Crayola website.

What struck me about this one is how they considered the target audience, specifically around organising the masses of existing content. The inclusion of real children's "doodads" is a lovely touch too.

All in all, the team did an amazing job that all designers could learn from.

Retina Responsively

2012-07-08T00:00:00Z

Marco Arment tweeted the other day…

If you're a web designer, you really, really need to get a Retina MacBook Pro so you can see how bad your site looks on it and fix it.
"” Marco Arment (@marcoarment) July 5, 2012

To which Anna Debenham brilliantly responded with…

If you're a web designer, you really, really need to get a cheap Dell monitor so you can see how bad your site looks on it and fix it.
"” Anna Debenham (@anna_debenham) July 6, 2012

Don't forget - your audience aren't all equipped with the latest technology. Design for all, not just the elite.

Look At The Shiny Shiny

2012-07-09T00:00:00Z

Brian Suda reflects on Apple's design decision to introduce shiny metallic user interface elements which even take into consideration the orientation of the device.

He goes on to discuss the history of skeuomorphs and how human computer interaction has evolved over the years with questionable results.

Read the whole article, Shine-On You Crazy Ones!

Advertising In A Responsive World

2012-07-12T00:00:00Z

Steven Bradley (re)considers the current situation regarding advertising within the responsive web design movement.

A lot has changed and discussed in the last year surrounding this topic so it's worth reviewing some of the potential options. The general consensus comes down to advertising networks and suppliers adapting to the market - without them playing ball, nothing will change.

I like the idea of page sponsorships - a contextual model that applies to all situations yet offers much more flexible solutions regarding appearance.

It will be interesting to see if there is much progress over the coming months/years. Something has to change now responsive web design is becoming the standard.

Crafthouse · Dublin

2012-07-12T00:00:00Z

Crafthouse · Dublin is another exciting new social venture by the charming Doc Parsons and crew intending to bring together the local web community for regular meet-ups with organised talks.

The design and branding is excellently executed and, with such intelligent enthusiasm behind the scenes, I expect big things from these guys.

Simpler

2012-07-12T00:00:00Z

Consider how many successful products you use that focus on one amazing thing: Byword, Dropbox, Rdio, Uber. All these products and their interfaces are the result of paring down an idea to only the most essential. People love this stuff.

"“ Mark Otto.

Web Expo Guildford

2012-07-12T00:00:00Z

Web Expo Guildford is a dual track conference hosted in London's Guildford by local agency, Kyan.

The line-up looks impressive with some reputable figures from the Web scene, the "grassroots" price is extremely reasonable and I'm loving the clean, muted design of the website.

Definitely a conference worth considering "“ but don't take too long.

Design Thoughts on Wall•E

2012-07-13T00:00:00Z

Creative Bloq recently updated their Best Designs in Sci-Fi Movies article with a few more entries and asked for my thoughts on Pixar's Wall•E:

The sleek lines and shapes, the shiny materials, the smooth motions - Eva was the ideal contrast to Wall-E's rigid, clunky, clumsy appearance - but it was captured in the most adorable robot ever created. The hat-tip towards Apple in his startup chime was a lovely touch too (also a nice reminder of the Pixar history and connection).

Read the rest in 30 Best Designs in Sci-fi Movies.

Mobile > Local

2012-07-16T00:00:00Z

Karen McGrane makes a great point about the mobile web and how the context is not necessarily "local".

Mobile users could be at home on the sofa, in their office "“ absolutely anywhere. When thinking mobile, don't just think about the local surroundings.

Read her full post on Mobile > Local.

App.net

2012-07-17T00:00:00Z

Dalton Caldwell is pushing an innovative new model to the real-time social graph taking inspiration from "failed" business models of the Web 2.0 era.

Rather than building an ad-supported product, he's proposing app.net "“ a paid-service designed for the customers not the advertisers. This lends well towards a customer-focused product with a long-term business plan.

The project is adopting the Kickstarter system asking for funding up front with the rather ambitious target of $500,000 in 30 days. We know this can happen from other Kickstarter success stories but whether developers will invest at this early stage is another question. I'm cautiously optimistic.

Making A Baby

2012-07-17T00:00:00Z

I don't care how many women you give me, it still takes nine months to make a baby.

Wise words from a colleague of Nicholas C. Zakas. You can throw as much money and tools at a product as you want - it still takes time to make the magic happen.

ALLOW

2012-07-18T00:00:00Z

So many of us have online profiles nowadays but with this comes further risk of identity theft.

ALLOW is a new service setup in an attempt to combat just that. By (ironically) giving ALLOW permission to scan your Facebook page, it will generate a risk report of your personal data with suggestions for protection and elimination.

The design is clean and direct (great work from John Oxton there) plus the service could be invaluable to those less aware of the risks of online profiles.

Are Social Networks Profitable?

2012-07-18T00:00:00Z

Derek Powazek questions whether social networks are actually profitable with some enlightening facts to support his arguments.

He takes into consideration Digg's recent sale value of (alleged) $500k compared to it's initial investment of $45m, Facebook's IPO woes plus the troubles Twitter and Tumblr are having shoe-horning a business model into their hugely popular services without upsetting users.

These trends suggest monetisation of social networks are a red herring; it goes against the grain of what make people interact on a social level. Humans are extremely perceptible to free stuff, less so towards paid products without a tangible result.

Derek also makes reference to Maciej Ceglowski who setup Pinboard on the backlash of Yahoo's rumoured plans to close Delicious and how he found moderate success with his paid service. This shows transparency and honesty with your customers from the start can go a long way.

The debate has raised some interesting thoughts that are going around the community at present. I'm definitely intrigued where it is all going.

Inspire Conference

2012-07-18T00:00:00Z

Inspire Conference in Leiden, Netherlands has recently been announced and what a line-up: with thought leaders like Jeffrey Zeldman, Chris Shiflett and Brad Frost at the helm, this is one not to be missed.

It all happens over 4 days, 9-12th December 2012, just in time for that picturesque trip on the run up to Christmas.

Learn Javascript with Futureal

2012-07-18T00:00:00Z

Javascript certainly has come a long way since Brendan Eich's original conception back in 1995. People like Douglas Crockford and John Resig have pioneered development throughout the years to which it's now possible to develop server-side applications with frameworks based on Javascript such as Backbone.js and Node.js.

For those who are keen to indulge in these new technologies, Coderwall have collaboated with Code School and PeepCode to offer a fantastic educational bundle called Futureal including interactive courses, screencasts and eBooks.

The best part is you only pay what you want for it (starting from $20) plus 20% of all proceeds go towards the Women In Tech initiative, a worthy organisation trying to break the gender divide in technology.

Visually Pleasing

2012-07-18T00:00:00Z

Visual.ly "“ a fantastic startup giving people the tools to create data visualisations "“ has just launched a redesigned site.

The user experience has been thoroughly thought out on this revision, simplifying the main navigation, reorganising homepage content with a stronger focus on the end product and easier discovery of existing content such as the popular topics (with lovely iconography) and elegant filter tools.

To see household names like Moneysupermarket using the tools to present intriguing information from their vast data is reassuring.

A Younger Me

2012-07-19T00:00:00Z

Social startup Buffer started an interesting experiment on Tuesday "“ What one thing would you tell your younger self?

They registered the Twitter account @aYoungerMe which was plugged in to the Email to Buffer service. When anyone sends an email to ayoungerme@to.bufferapp.com, the subject is automatically added to the hourly Buffer queue for Twitter.

It's a wonderful idea which has already uncovered some reassuring results with a number of tweets getting retweeted and favourited.

BEM Identity

2012-07-19T00:00:00Z

BEM commissioned FlÃ«ve to design an astonishing new identity for their development platform, currently in use by several big names including Russia's biggest search provider Yandex.

By extracting the B_ from the name, the solution is extremely simple yet versatile allowing a range of opportunities for tailoring to different contexts (the comic characters are a brilliant example targeting the geek comic fans).

As any design agency should, they've covered all bases with samples applied to presentations, merchandise, even iOS icons.

Chrome Web Lab

2012-07-19T00:00:00Z

Chrome Web Lab is a wonderful Google experiment produced along with the London Science Museum.

Whilst it's resourceful interface may challenge some older machines, it's a shining example of what can be produced using "standard" Web technologies with real world scenarios.

Redesigning Mail

2012-07-20T00:00:00Z

Tobias van Schneider (@schneidertobias) considers the evolution of email and how the modern client needs to adapt to new habits.

He suggests improved workflows for prioritising emails that require further actions with an innovative "action steps" approach (similar to how flags/stars are integrated in some clients like Gmail).

The attachment management is an interesting thought too. I'm surprised no client has seriously considered a user interface with indexed media.

Update: After all the popularity of the initial concept, it appears Tobias is making .Mail app a reality. I can't wait to see how it turns out compared to the redesign of Mail in Snow Leopard.

Sun

2012-07-23T00:00:00Z

Sun is a stunning mobile web app by Jakob Henner for checking the weather in any global location.

It utilises Adam Whitcroft's beautiful Climacons icon set, mashed up with Google's (unofficial) Weather API and Yahoo! PlaceFinder API to create an elegant pinch-to-zoom user experience.

This is a perfect example of what can be created from open-sourced content. I love the retro feel of the design but the pinch menu UI is inspirational. No doubt others will "borrow" that effect.

Trainspotting - Iconic Movie Poster

2012-07-23T00:00:00Z

Creative Bloq recently asked for my design opinion of an iconic movie poster, of which I selected the cult British movie, Trainspotting:

Arguably, this is one of Britain's most iconic movie posters of all time. The distinctive style set of the white/orange lower-case Helvetica, under grayscale photography of the main cast, captured the tone of the movie perfectly: dark, moody characters encapsulated in the vibrant, young drugs scene of the nineties. Definitely one of my favourites.

Read what other industry-leading designers thought in Top 20 Iconic Movie Posters.

Brandseen

2012-07-25T00:00:00Z

Brandseen is a great logo colouring game made by Kevin Xu (@imkevinxu), Cathy S Lee (@optimisticlee) and Ari Weinstein (@AriX) at Greylock Hackfest.

Use the colour swatch to estimate the nearest hue for 9 well-known brands and you are scored on accuracy.

A great test for any designer who wants to prove their worth (I managed a measly 75%).

Characters for Mac

2012-07-25T00:00:00Z

Characters is a really handy little Mac app by Gustavs Cirulis (@gustavscirulis) for designers and developers to quickly access special characters.

The app sits in your menubar waiting for quick searches of the special characters often required for websites. By switching between designer and developer mode, it automatically copes the character or HTML entity code accordingly to your clipboard.

Another one of those great ideas well executed "“ and only £2/$3.

Update: Steve Marshall quite rightly points out the native Special Characters tool in OS X is available from the keyboard shortcut ⌘⌥+T as well as under Edit > Special Characters. That said, Characters app certainly improves on that functionality and user interface.

Time Responsive Content

2012-07-25T00:00:00Z

Adrian Short (@adrianshort) suggests how council websites should consider time as part of a responsive strategy but this could apply to many other industries.

Think about context; with device, location and time of day, the content could intelligently respond to the user with much more appropriate information.

If you know I'm located near a swimming pool in the morning, you could tell me what sessions are currently on. If I'm at home at the weekend, tell me what local events are on. If I'm in an industrial park in the day time, tell me the local bus routes and times.

As the saying goes - content context is key.

Wee Rockets

2012-07-25T00:00:00Z

Wee Rockets is a lovely new iPad game designed and created by Paddy Donnelly (@paddydonnelly) and Alain Hufkens (@hufkens).

The concept is simple: kids build their own rockets, launch them into space and race through asteroids to rescue aliens.

The design is sublime, drawing(!) on Paddy's marvellous illustration skills and the game mechanics work really well. It's the attention to detail that really shows.

iOS Skeuomorphic UI

2012-07-26T00:00:00Z

[caption id="attachment_388" align="alignnone" width="535"] Skeuomorphic design of Calendar app in iOS[/caption]

In this week's Creative Bloq Industry Insight, a few of us have discussed Apple's use of skeuomorphic design in iOS. I've got mixed feelings:

I'm in two minds about the direction iOS has evolved since it's initial inception.

On the one side, Apple are trying to reassure users that the tangible gestures relate to real world interactions, therefore reinforcing the user interface with relevantly designed materials (such as the mock leather bind of Reminders app or the felt table cloth of the Game Center).

On the flip side, the execution seems poor at times and it causes psychological conflict where some elements are forced into untypical situations.

Call me old fashioned but I like my apps to feel like apps and my notepads to feel like notepads.

See what the others have to say in INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Designers comment on the iOS UI.

Holvi

2012-07-27T00:00:00Z

Holvi looks like an innovative approach to banking, more geared towards teamwork and collaboration in startups.

Based in Finland, the service offers a full accounting solution like any other online bank, giving you the functionality to set budgets, pay bills and accept payments all through the one account. You can even manage an online store through your account as well as issue invoices.

Accounts are free although charges are applied to transactions to subsidise the costs. The design is slick and the user experience has definitely been honed to modern online (startup) requirements.

Definitely one to watch.

iconmonstr

2012-07-29T00:00:00Z

iconmonstr is a lovely site by Alexander Kahlkopf offering free regular monochrome icons.

Icons are posted on a regular basis as PNG raster and SVG vector files and free to use on personal or commercial projects (although attribution is welcomed where possible).

New icons are simultaneously posted on the @iconmonstr Twitter account so it's a good idea to follow that account.

Reasons to be Creative

2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

Reasons to be Creative "“ a 3-day conference in Brighton "“ has one the most impressive speaker line-ups I've seen for a while.

It's fantastic to see a healthy split between male and female speakers and from such a diverse background of topics as well.

The event has evolved hugely since it's original inception as "Flash on the Beach" back in 2006 and coincides well with the popular dConstruct event at the end of the week.

Canvas Conf

2012-08-01T00:00:00Z

Canvas "“ the first proper web development conference in Birmingham by the guys at 383 Project.

The single day event on 7th September 2012 is bringing together some heavyweight names from the Web development scene including James Whittaker from Twitter, Chris Mills from Opera and Harry Roberts from BSkyB to talk about building the next generation of websites.

Considering it's (arguably) England's Second City, Birmingham has struggled to take off in the web community. I originally co-found The Multipack in an attempt to bring local talent together but there have been no major conferences to speak of that have helped push the region forward.

I, for one, really hope Canvas changes that.

Joint London

2012-08-01T00:00:00Z

Joint London have created an innovative user experience for their website drawing on the standard "Contact Us" section of websites.

Rather than just present some standard contact details, they've built their profile around the word "Us", extending into more depth of each founder with biographies and social connections.

What I found particularly interesting is how the user returns to previous sections where they replace the current breadcrumb with the "Back" action. It's not obvious at first but by the process of discovery, it quickly becomes apparent.

The Contact section is quite amusing where they portray the idea of international offices in New York, Shanghai and Sao Paolo yet the only active site is in London. Nothing wrong with setting goals.

Commodore 64 Turns 30

2012-08-01T00:00:00Z

Today marks Commodore 64's 30th birthday. It would be wrong to let this milestone pass without a few comments…

The Commodore 64 introduced me to computers at the tender young age of 7. Thanks to my father, I was programming my first "game" by the age of 8 and I was hooked.

If it wasn't for those early years learning about the core principles of coding, limited resources (64kb "“ kids nowadays don't know what they've got!) and, most of all, the patience of making something work, I wouldn't be where I am today, working in the digital industry.

Happy birthday, Commodore 64. Thanks for the (screechy) memories.

Easy As 1, 2, 3

2012-08-01T00:00:00Z

According to leaked data, there's an alarming trend in the top three passwords of popular sites.

On Twitter, the most common passwords of 58,000 leaked accounts were 123456, 123456789 and 102030.

From 450,000 leaked Yahoo! passwords, the top 3 were 123456, password and welcome.

From 4.6m leaked Linkedin accounts, the top 3 passwords were link, 1234 and work.

It's quite concerning that so few people take password security so seriously. With Dropbox's recent security compromise and a growing number of leaks, people should treat their online identity with more discretion and either select more secure passwords or use a dedicated application like 1Password.

Alternatively, browsers and/or operating systems should educate users. Would it be so hard for vendors to prompt users with weak or identical passwords from other websites (especially when many browsers preserve that data)?

Responsive Email Design

2012-08-03T00:00:00Z

Campaign Monitor have compiled a fantastic guide to responsive email design.

It's broken down to fundamental techniques, recommended coding conventions with special areas on layouts and images.

The case study they applied to Twitter's email notifications is a shining example of how easy it can be to apply quick fixes to completely revolutionise your mobile email campaign.

Don't undervalue your email campaigns - give them some responsive love.

Sprite Cow

2012-08-03T00:00:00Z

Sprite Cow is a really smart web app for generating the necessary CSS for sprite sheets.

With it's intuitive user interface, you simply load your sprite sheet and select the elements to get the background offset position, width and height. It even supports 2x Retina displays and bespoke background colours.

Extremely handy for quickly creating CSS for your website.

New Adventures 2013

2012-08-08T00:00:00Z

The amazing New Adventures In Web Design conference returns to Nottingham for 2013.

Having attended the first event last year, I was hugely impressed. Rather than focus on proven techniques, the stage is set to discuss potential new ideas for the Web, a much more inspirational approach to web conferences. Kudos to Colly and Greg on forming such an enthralling event.

Unfortunately I missed this year's sequel due to new baby commitments but I hope to get my act together for what is bound to be a phenomenal third (and possibly final) chronicle of New Adventures.

Wikipedia Redefined

2012-08-08T00:00:00Z

Wikipedia Redefined is an interesting redux of Wikipedia by Lithuanian agency, New Is New.

They took two Spring months to re-imagine Jimmy Wales' popular website with regards to design, usability and focus.

Whilst the proposed rebrand could cause confusion with WordPress' "W" logotype, the suggested improvements to the homepage make a lot of sense. The key search functionality is lost among all the supported languages and translations so shifting emphasis could vastly improve usability. I also like the colour coded languages and cross promotion of other Wikimedia properties.

Projects like this always fascinate me. It's an ideal opportunity for any designer to flex their muscles on an existing user experience, find (minor) faults and consider improvements. Often, these exercises put your own projects in a different light so the time and resources spent are not wasted.

The Cost of Famous Logos

2012-08-09T00:00:00Z

Stock Logos compiled some famous logos along with their respective costs.

Ranging from Coca-Cola's free logotype to BP's $211m flower rebrand, it's quite remarkable to compare the difference between the time periods and industries.

I never realised the Twitter bird was originally designed by British designer, Simon Oxley at the ridiculously low cost of $15.

Droplet

2012-08-13T00:00:00Z

Droplet is an interesting concept for sending payments to friends or businesses with your mobile.

Currently being tested in it's home town, Birmingham with 30 merchants and over 1,000 people, users "top up" their account with a debit card then send payments to friends, shops, restaurants or bars with the mobile app.

Lovely work from the guys at Supercool Design too on creating the identity "“ it's simple but extremely effective.

Being an advocate for Birmingham-based startups, I really want to see this succeed. The plan to trial the concept in close proximity makes a lot of sense whilst fine-tuning the product but, hopefully, it won't take long to get (inter)national support and exposure.

Never Use Black

2012-08-13T00:00:00Z

Ian Storm Taylor reminds designers why they should never use black.

He reflects on old art classes when his teacher demonstrates excellent use of colour in shadows with rare application of true black. He also considers the aesthetics of digital application where software uses dark tones of grey instead for a more realistic feel.

It's a healthy reminder of the importance when using colour in design. I've recently moved away from applying full black (this site is a perfect example in the text and logotype). It certainly makes a difference to the end result.

Creative Swap

2012-08-14T00:00:00Z

Creative Swap looks like an interesting initiative to inspire creativity between agencies by swapping talent for a week.

Setup by London agency Sane & Able, the event intends to break down typical barriers between agencies, sharing skills and learning from others, possibly completely different disciplines. Each placement will picked at random and is available for free to all.

This is a really exciting project demonstrating the open-ness of the creative industry and how we can learn from each other. During these tough economic times, it's easy to neglect training within our demanding industry.

However, by allocating just a week of time to learn new principles and methods, the investment can quickly pay off with the new techniques learned and networking with other like-minded people.

The Dandy Going Digital

2012-08-23T00:00:00Z

I've returned to my old ways, contributing where I can to Creative Bloq's Industry Insight. This week, the focus is on The Dandy's move to digital and the future of digital comics…

As a child, I always leaned towards The Beano rather than The Dandy (it's funny how early you start brand loyalties). Every week, I was waiting for the Thursday release so I could go spend 20p on my favourite comic. It's funny how times change...

In a world of instant demands, the shift towards digital delivery comes as no surprise. Kids now expect instant media: digital photographs on their mobile, music straight on their iPod. Expecting comics on their tablet seems only natural.

It's a shame the age old tradition of dead-tree comics are phasing out but, equally, reassuring that these established business models are moving with the times, harnessing technology and user trends."

See what the others have to say in Industry Insight: Designers Comment On Digital Comics.

Git with Bitbucket & SourceTree

2012-08-23T00:00:00Z

Atlassian SourceTree is a fantastic free Mac client for managing Git repositories.

A few weeks back, I decided to take the plunge and start using Git on a new project rather than my humble preference of Subversion.

I've always liked keeping my development workflow tight within Coda but, having heard several suggestions to separate the process between coding and version control, I asked around for suggestions of free Git tools so I could try before I buy.

Cole pointed me to Atlassian's Bitbucket "“ a worthy alternative to Github which currently charges for private repositories. (I've nothing against Github doing this "“ I just wanted to test the waters before investing in it). The user experience is extremely straight forward for those relatively new to the workflow. The repository configuration wizard is brilliant and has you setup in minutes.

To accompany Bitbucket, Atlassian (naturally) recommend their own free Mac client, SourceTree.

There are many Mac clients available for managing Git repos but, as someone always keen to try new things, I thought I'd give this one a go. It did not disappoint.

Again, I was up and running within minutes; adding, committing, publishing like the best of them. SourceTree connects with your BitBucket and Github accounts for seamless integration, as well as scan your local machine for existing repositories.

Managing repositories with SourceTree couldn't be any easier. I'm not scared of the command line but I do find it a slow process when working around complicated sites. SourceTree relieves me of that added stress.

All in all, I'm glad I took the leap into Git, BitBucket and SourceTree. It certainly improves my workflow with the added reassurance of stable version control.

New Microsoft Logo

2012-08-24T00:00:00Z

I have a problem with the new Microsoft logo. Let me explain…

Yes, there are a numer of reasons to condone the redesign, appreciate the injection of colour to reflect the new Metro visual language, respect the modern, elegant feel of the new typeface Segoe.

But I have a problem with the icon.

The lack of depth or perspective feels inconsisent with other recent designs by the Redmond giant.

Windows 8 simplified the legacy windows frame into a single-toned icon, skewed along the horizontal axis.

Office maintains the skewed appearance, this time creating an "O" from the door and box symbol.

The Xbox branding hasn't changed much from the original but maintains the 3D feel with the broken sphere.

The new Microsoft frame icon lacks the depth I was expecting. It's lovely to see the brand colours into a unified element but it's missing that wow factor for me.

Am I reading too much into this? (Probably.) What are your thoughts?

On a side note, has anyone else spotted the "i" created in the negative space of the "ft". Is this intentional or just coincidence?

EE

2012-09-11T00:00:00Z

EE (formerly known as Everything Everywhere) launched a brand new website and identity today to promote them being at the forefront of the UK's new 4G network.

Having recently partnered Orange and T-Mobile into a unified network, EE are now focusing on the emerging 4th generation mobile network which should* offer super-fast mobile network speeds.

What caught my attention with this is the new identity and accompanying website. The use of circles to create the logo mark have connotations with the fibre optics and global nature for connecting people. Whether this will replace Orange and T-Mobile's current branding is yet to be known or seen but the unique branding will help build a respectable profile for the new organisation.

The strong use of photography along with a friendly tone of voice make the website feel friendly with a human connection, something I always thought Orange did well as a brand. It's reassuring to see this consistency as the group move forward.

Obviously, time will tell how EE develop along with the 4G network and their online identity but this is a good first step. As an existing Orange customer, I have an invested interest so let's hope it's the start of something special.

* I say with baited breath as our village still doesn't even have a reliable 2G network.

Simplified Sign Up

2012-09-11T00:00:00Z

Mark Collins suggests how to make a far better sign-up form for your website.

By reducing the number of required fields such as email and password confirmation "“ even usernames "“ the user experience is vastly improved and, consequently, should improve conversions.

Mark uses Twitter as a shining example of these principles. With such a huge audience and user base, they have the statistics to make informed design decisions around these suggestions.

Think about your users, not your personal objectives. Once someone has registered for a website, they can improve their experience with additional data at a later date should they desire.

Readability Index Calculator

2012-09-21T00:00:00Z

How readable is your copy? Apply the Flesch-Kincaid formula to your text with the Readability Index Calculator to find out.

This tool is really useful for testing your marketing content but remember it's only a formula "“ always ask a real person if your content makes sense too. User testing and feedback is invaluable for this process.

(via Campaign Monitor)

Timeline of the Web

2012-09-21T00:00:00Z

John Allsop has created a beautifully executed timeline of the Web.

The user-friendly experience highlights key points from the past going right back to some initial thought leaders such as Jorge Luis Borges short story from 1941 "The Garden of Forking Paths", regarded as the original conception of hypertext.

It's a work in progress but sets a fantastic primer for anyone interested in the foundations of our Internet.

Circle

2012-09-24T00:00:00Z

Configure automatic testing on your web apps with ease using Circle.

By connecting with GitHub, you can establish continuous integration by running test cases on each push to your repository with full customization in the background.

Statwing

2012-09-24T00:00:00Z

Statwing is an interesting tool for quickly analysing your data with simple reports.

Simply upload your spreadsheet or CSV of data and generate reports with the intuitive user interface.

Twitter is the Benjamin Button of startups

2012-09-26T00:00:00Z

Google engineer, Andrey Petrov eloquantly epitomises Twitter as the Benjamin Button of startups.

Born out of wisdom and insight in our daily social behaviour, completely changing the way we communicate. Soon grown into a heroic Atlas, holding up the world of third-party developers on its shoulders, thriving as the platform rises along with thousands of apps and services transforming the experience. Dusk approaches when Twitter sheds its desire to leave a mark on humanity and finds itself destined to die as a single-feature web-based MVP. A sparkle in a developer's eye.

Having witnessed the entire journey of Twitter's lifespan to date, Andrey's summary really hits home for me. I've long been a fan of Twitter, from it's humble beginnings to the revolutionary approach to global communication. I hate to see them shoe-horn a business model into the established protocol but it was inevitable after many rounds of investment.

Maybe they can pull off a howler by satisfying the many disgruntled geeks but it's looking more and more unlikely as the months pass. Time will tell.

Browser Trends Flatlining

2012-10-02T00:00:00Z

Recent statistics suggests browser market share has flatlined for the last year.

Whilst Chrome and Firefox have switched place in popularity in recent months, Internet Explorer has clearly dominated the war with very little change, suggesting the masses still don't get all the fuss over browser wars.

The rapid release model of Firefox and Chrome shows promising penetration yet these users typically understand the differences and show loyalties to their favourite vendors.

It begs the question whether the launch of IE10 along with Windows 8 will buck these trends. Now that Google and Microsoft are actively promoting their browsers with high impact TV and cinema adverts, it certainly shows the war hasn't ended.

Seven Years

2012-10-03T00:00:00Z

This story begins seven years ago, almost to the day, when four enthusiastic Web geeks met at a pub in Walsall.

Actually, let's rewind a little more to the 9th June 2005 at a web conference in London "“ the original @media where hundreds of passionate Web professionals from around the globe descended on England's capital to discuss the latest trends online.

This was a defining era in the current web scene when Web Standards were gaining weight, when Jeffrey Zeldman's "blue hat" brigade were championing the best way forward, when the community were actively engaging with industry thought leaders via the blogosphere.

Having returned from the event, my motivation was at a peak. I was aware of creative hubs around the country, mostly in the South of England, but not much was happening in the Midlands. It was only through blogging that I realised there were other like-minded Web designers around the corner from me in Walsall so, naturally, I suggested a few pints down the local pub to meet in person.

This was when Paul, John, Chris and I put our heads together to establish a regular local meetup, inviting other local Web types to join us for a monthly pub crawl around the West Midlands for much beer and Web talk.

The Multipack was born.

Over the following years, the community grew vast and wide, creating friendships, partnerships, even successful startups. There have been spin-off events such as Trevor's annual Geek in the Park, Multipack Presents and even hyperlocal meetups in Leamington Spa and Stafford.

I can't take any credit for this growth "“ it all came down to the enthusiasm of the group.

My personal commitments with a young family living further away from Birmingham restricted my involvement with the Multipack. Where possible, I would make a concerted effort to help out with Presents events, coordinating regular sponsorships from Campaign Monitor. That's about all I can claim. Anthony has taken the reigns firmly, establishing the Multipack as the flagship Web community for the Midlands. I'm extremely impressed with his efforts (especially as he has very similar personal commitments as myself).

This isn't a sob story, merely a retrospective crediting all those involved in something I still feel emotionally connected with. I'm hugely proud with what has become of the Multipack. I set out to connect local-minded individuals and it has done just that.

Round 3 #

Today, almost seven years since being established, the Multipack launched the third version of the website. It's a shining example of what the community are capable of, collaborating to create a professional reflection of their activities.

Andy, Dan, Tom, Anthony and Ross (plus several others) worked together to create a simple yet effective website, highlighting the key purpose of the community along with links to the relative social networks. The site has adopted several modern techniques including a responsive layout and appropriate application of the delectable Open Sans web font.

The code is licensed under Creative Commons and open-sourced on Github allowing anyone to get involved by contributing updates to the site directly. Again, a subtle tip towards the engaging ethos of the community.

Personally, I'm really impressed with how all this has come together and can't wait to see where it all goes over the next seven years.

Cheers!

Data Necklace

2012-10-05T00:00:00Z

The Data Necklace is an innovative idea by "hacker" Stef Lewandowski creating data visualisations as jewellery.

The necklace is laser-cut, laser-etched acrylic that displays tweets from a given account or search query. The original concept was conceived on Scotland's Island of Eigg and was recently showcased at an exhibition at White Chapel Gallery in London.

I love ideas like these. Stef is constantly pushing the boundaries of digital, regularly hacking together data into nifty visualisations. I really hope the Data Necklace succeeds the IndieGo campaign.

Logotype by Michael Evamy

2012-10-12T00:00:00Z

Michael Evamy has published a thoroughly insightful investigation into the art of logotypes.

If you were after a brief overview of the topic, this book is not for you. It's an epic encyclopaedic journey through the history of logotypes, bringing together thousands of brands and identities into one comprehensive behemoth.

As an avid typo-phile myself, I could spend hours, if not days, browsing through the collection, seeking inspiration for my next design.

Buy your copy on Amazon UK.

Jackie Brown to 101 Dalmations

2012-10-23T00:00:00Z

Creative Bloq recently asked me for some thoughts on inspiring movie title sequences.

First up, my thoughts on Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown;

Following Resevoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, Tarantino set the bar high but introduces this stylish 70s setting with a sublime storyboard on a flight ticket. By sending the audience on a journey around a single poster with applicable typography and motion, it's a fantastic example of setting tone with a simple idea. One of my all-time favourite movies. Love it.

Returning to my childhood memories, I then focused on Disney's 101 Dalmations;

Disney title sequences have always had incredible attention to detail "“ a convention that goes right back to the early days of the animation studio. 101 Dalmatians is a prime example of this. The aesthetics of the title sequence are typical of 1961. The retro feel of the typography and illustration, the way the score of the soundtrack audibly matches the animation motion "“ it really engages with the audience. It makes typically boring credits exciting, especially with the mood of the music.

See what other designers had to say about 20 amazing movie title sequences to inspire you.

Nerd Venn Diagram

2012-10-24T00:00:00Z

I've just been reminded of the nerd Venn Diagram from several years back to help identify if a person is a nerd, geek, dork or dweeb.

Which one do you fall under?

Nice Arse

2013-01-02T00:00:00Z

Tumblr of the Week No 1 – Seb Lester's stunning calligraphy set in a cheeky tone of voice.

Ubuntu for Phones

2013-01-03T00:00:00Z

Not content with servers and desktop, Ubuntu is now available in your pocket with Ubuntu for phones.

They're not the first open source framework to venture into the mobile OS realm "“ Mozilla have already made their contributions.

The user experience has certainly lent inspiration from the more popular OS (namely iOS and Android) but that's the one advantage to playing catch up - identifying the qualities and flaws then building on them.

I'd like to see operators and OEMs get this on devices quickly to fight as a viable contender in the mobile market. The more competition, the better options and experiences for customers.

Hats off to Inayaili LeÃ³n and the rest of the Canonical team on the lovely page design too. Clean, uncluttered and organised.

Take Weather

2013-01-04T00:00:00Z

Take Weather is a nice twist on the "traditional" weather app, offering users the ability to share weather photographs in a social network.

What particularly caught my attention was the lovely UI design. Adopting my preferred "flat aesthetic", the simple use of monochrome icons and typography really work well.

Minimal Movie Posters

2013-01-14T00:00:00Z

Minimal Movie Posters is a wonderful collection of fan artwwork for blockbuster movies in a different light.

PurgoMalum

2013-01-14T00:00:00Z

PurgoMalum is a neat RESTful web service for filtering content for profanity or other unwanted text.

Very handy for ensuring your user-generated content site is free of expletives or trolling.

Done Not Done

2013-01-15T00:00:00Z

Done Not Done is a lovely to-do app built by Fictive Kin that focusses on what you want to do rather than have to do.

The user interface is beautifully executed with a elegant flip-card effect on the data capture process.

Four Sentences

2013-01-15T00:00:00Z

Adopt a personal policy for handling your inbox by applying a limited number of sentences to your responses with Sentenc.es.

I personally think two sentences is a little ambitious "“ four is more realistic and achievable.

Let's Talk Web

2013-01-21T00:00:00Z

There has recently been an influx of podcasts from leading Web professionals. Here, I list some of my personal favourites.

Unfinished Business #

Presented by Andy "Malarkey" Clarke and Anna Debenham, this podcast focusses on the unspoken world of business. It seems to be a taboo subject in the open web community but Andy and Anna address the topic with their own experiences and in their own special way.

Happy Monday #

Sarah Parmenter had a Eureka moment last year that we need to inject some inspiration and cheer into the humdrum start of the week so took it upon herself to release a short, 30 minute chat show about the web design industry. Teaming up with Josh Long, they introduce guests to their weekly show who all have something inspirational to contribute.

The Back to Front Show #

Hosted by Keir Whitaker and Kieran Masterton, this podcast takes a wider look at the Web, drawing on topical content such as conferences, emerging technology and techniques and much more. With such wisdom between the two of them, expect some insightful thoughts into the industry.

The Businessology Show #

This podcast, hosted by Dan Mall and Jason Blumer, talks about "the business of design and design of business". Thankfully, both these two have tons of experience in both so you're in for a treat of interesting debate about design theory in the real world.

Actual Facebook Graph Searches

2013-01-23T00:00:00Z

Tumblr of the Week No 4 - Actual Facebook Graph Searches.

Compiled by Tom Scott, there are some quite alarming (with an ounce of humour) searches and results presented here.

ASOS

2013-06-24T00:00:00Z

This month saw the end of five years in the finance sector with a move in to fashion as I joined online retailer, ASOS.

During my time at Premium Choice (and, previously, KGM Insurance), I was lucky enough to work on some really exciting projects.They were relatively new to the digital industry so, with a blank canvas, I introduced a number of innovative products that allowed them to leverage online and digital into their traditional business models, revolutionising where possible.

For a broker that relied completely on telephone trade, this shifted to predominantly online thanks to the team's efforts to push forward ecommerce, digital marketing and back office solutions.

Towards the end of last year, I realised it was time for a fresh challenge so got my CV up to date and uploaded it to a few recruitment sites. It wasn't long before I was bombarded with endless calls and emails from recruitment agencies with completely inappropriate opportunities (they really need to work on their segmentation and stop wasting everybody's time).

I was getting to the end of my tether and started to wonder if anything would ever come up.

Eventually, an email piqued my interest for a job based in Birmingham. It matched my (unique) skill set, career objectives and salary expectations so I pushed the agency for more.

It turned out to be ASOS. I was aware of the company having shopped on their site a few times and hearing of their impressive reputation so asked the agency to put me forward.

Following a brief technical test and interview at their London HQ, I was offered the role of UI Engineer in their new Birmingham offices.

The new site at the Custard Factory is completely focused on development so it's almost got a "startup" vibe about it. A blank canvas (again) with new teams in a creative hub - the perfect environment for a fresh start.

The first week was predominantly based in London, shadowing the current teams to take in the company ethos, setup, Agile process and more. We'll then be attempting to replicate the environment back in Birmingham with the opportunity and scope to improve where possible.

As a Microsoft house, I'm finding my feet again back in Windows and .NET but we're in a transition period, migrating legacy systems into an MVC framework whilst taking the opportunity to refactor the UI along the way.

Needless to say, it's all very exciting and I'm going to relish every single opportunity.

On University Lecturing

2013-07-01T00:00:00Z

At the start of the year, I went to Coventry University to talk about my experiences in the Web industry, touching on previous career highlights as examples. It was a fascinating opportunity to give back to the local community and, ideally, motivate the under-graduates to embrace it.

When I met Adam Onishi at MK Geek Night, he told me about a new project he was working on and asked if I would be happy to share some thoughts on education in the Web. My initial suggestion to slate the government's "overhaul" but he was keen to avoid this tangent (sensible move considering my drunken rant).

Instead, we agreed to focus on the community aspect and how everyone gains from a few hours spent talking at local universities.

You can read my thoughts amongst many other enlightening contributions from the likes of Keir Whitaker, Kat Thompson and Josh Emerson.

The Origin of @replies

2013-11-15T00:00:00Z

Going back seven years, the first tweet to direct a tweet at someone was Robert Anderson to Buzz Anderson (no relation)

@ buzz - you broke your thumb and youre still twittering? that's some serious devotion

— Robert Andersen (@rsa) November 3, 2006

(Also, note the verb "twittering" - how times change)

This wasn't a recognised standard though - it was only when Ben Darlow suggested a pseudo-text standard that would inform a user of a tweet directed at them.

wondering if there should be a pseudo-syntax for letting a Follower on twitter know you're directing a comment at them.

— Ben Darlow (@kapowaz) November 23, 2006

Neil Crosby was quick to respond in an appropriate manner:

@kapowaz: probably

— Neil Crosby (@NeilCrosby) November 23, 2006

Thus, the @reply was born.

It wasn't until May 2008 – 18 months after the suggestion – that it was officially supported within the application although there was unofficial support through third party tools and services beforehand.

jQuery Mobile Web Development Essentials

2014-01-07T00:00:00Z

Anyone who has been developing on the Web over the past 5 years is sure to have experienced jQuery in some shape or form. Created by John Resig to make JavaScript more user-friendly and easier to code, it has come a long way and is now seen as a de-facto skill-set among the Web community.

With recent developments to the mobile web, more and more developers are venturing into the mobile application space by utilising existing knowledge in a different environment. There are many frameworks and libraries available to assist you in this but jQuery Mobile has also evolved to support the growing trend of mobile web development.

Whilst jQuery is quite easy to pick up for the seasoned developer, it's often beneficial to assist your personal development with appropriate literature. With a mobile web app planned for 2014, I decided to read jQuery Mobile Web Development Essentials to get up to speed and fill in any gaps.

Written by Raymond Camden & Andy Matthews, the book covers all the basics of jQuery Mobile with a number of real world examples to build including a typical brochure site and RSS reader.

The book is very easy to follow, written well and doesn't assume too much by way of existing knowledge. It also covers some more in-depth best practises by means of Javascript development and extending jQuery Mobile such as with themes which gives the reader an opportunity to learn more by discovery.

At 230 pages, it's not too heavy to digest "“ I managed to read it during a week's worth of commuting on my iPhone without having to jump on a computer.

Personally, I don't like to create different applications based on device but, when you do have to focus on a particular context with limited scope, it's worth looking into jQuery Mobile and this book is the perfect primer to accompany your learning.

Available as eBook from Packt Publishing for £14.44 or dead tree format from Amazon for £23.86.

Free Tunes for Christmas

2014-01-10T00:00:00Z

Several years back in 2010, I teamed up with a number of reputable producers from around the house music scene to offer free daily music downloads for the 12 days of Christmas. In return, the artists had the opportunity to build their profiles with accompanying releases, events and online profiles. Free Tunes for Christmas was born.

I collaborated with Oliver Ker to create the website, originally built on TextPattern as it was an opportunity for me to experience a new CMS and Oli was already au fait with the infrastructure and templates. It allowed me to focus on the content and marketing whilst Oli was able to implement the desired UI.

The original project was relatively successful; featured artists gained further exposure from untapped audiences, fans of the music got access to free music and the project was great fun to work on with many lessons learned along the way.

Years passed without proceeding campaigns due to other commitments but, last year, I felt it was time to give it another try.

Through my side project House Finesse, I have been lucky enough to extend my music network so I approached a number of new, upcoming and established producers about the project. You may expect artists to be quite hesitant about giving away their music but, surprisingly, most producers jumped at the chance.

The original plan was to only make the free download available in exchange for a social handshake, typically known as a like on Facebook, tweet on Twitter or +1 on Google. We tried a number of tools to facilitate this such as Pay with a Tweet and Dropify but found these solutions were causing complications during user testing.

In the end, we decided to remove the limitation and administer downloads through a dedicated Soundcloud profile instead. This allowed us to have full control over the downloads including statistics as well as extend our reach on other platforms.

For this campaign, I decided to move the website over to WordPress. I am familiar with the framework with many years experience and, with limited time to build the site, it was the quickest solution. It also allowed me to integrate the editorial process into our primary marketing channels on Facebook and Twitter for a streamlined workflow.

Whilst I was limited on time, I wanted to take the opportunity to experiment with a few new web design principles on this project.

In light of the festive theme, I wanted to maintain the advent calendar style on the homepage from the first edition but utilised CSS3 animations to create the 3D door effect this time.

The secondary call to action for posts are raising online profiles so links had to be prominent and clearly identifiable. I naturally implemented relevant icons to each link and used the Mono Social Icons web font by Ivan Drinchev to deliver the icons. This allowed for scalable images to appear clearer on high resolution (retina) screens that could also be modified in appearance for different states.

I did consider adopting a responsive design – it should be standard with any new project now – but, due to the functionality of the site, mobile was beyond the scope. Many mobile devices (I'm looking at iOS) don't allow users to download and save files out the box so desktop was the main focus. That said, I am keen to allow those mobile users who can save downloads locally to use the site, especially with the dominant social audience on portable devices where the marketing is focused so something to consider for the future.

As with all projects, the hardest part was coordinating with clients, in this case the music producers. Whilst they were all keen to contribute content, it was difficult to get all the details with plenty of time to compile into features – especially during the Christmas break. I found myself contacting most of the contributors at the most inconvenient times when they wanted to be relaxing with friends and family (myself included).

The Christmas schedule also appeared to have an effect on expected traffic. Social engagement was minimal whilst many people went offline during the break. Christmas Day is probably not the best time to launch a digital campaign and maintaining the project was more demanding than I expected – not ideal when I was meant to be spending time with the family.

When we come around to the next campaign (possibly next Christmas), I am considering running it as an advent feature leading up to the big day. This would not conflict with any planned holidays then and also improve traffic when many people will be online shopping or procrastinating.

Overall, I am really pleased with how the project went this time round. We delivered everything we intended and on schedule. There's plenty of room for improvement which can be addressed next time.

5 trends I don't want to see in 2014

2014-01-22T00:00:00Z

White text over blurred photography. Quite an elegant style when it was new but now it's just a lazy solution to designing a homepage.
Parallax scrolling stories. (And hijacked scrolling behaviour whilst we're on it). Scrolling may be natural but my fore finger can only take so much.
iOS7 clones. Some of the guidelines were questionable when it was released so why copy something that a large demographic won't appreciate?
Hamburger icons on desktops. Originally, a nice idea to resolve the limited screen estate on mobile devices but started leaking into desktop interfaces last year. It's a catch-all solution for a "consistent" responsive UX.
"Top X" blog posts. Oh, the irony.

Do you agree? Share your thoughts with me (@Si) on Twitter.

Aghast at Chromecast

2014-04-01T00:00:00Z

Last week, I was looking for ways I could watch Netflix on my home TV.

My Sony Network Media Player supports a range of content providers including LoveFILM Amazon Prime Instant Video but, for some reason or other, Netflix isn't available on the device in the UK (it is in the US though).

Hunting around, Apple TV seemed like the logical move but I was cautious of the £100(ish) price tag, especially with the lack of decent UK content providers available.

Then I discovered the Google Chromecast.

For just £30, you technically get an identical product but with additional features.

Whereas the Apple TV can seamlessly stream content directly from your iOS devices, the Chromecast bypasses your device when you "stream" published media, instead connecting directly with the original source. Your device is not acting as a proxy any more - merely a user interface, like a "smart TV remote" if you will. This has a number of benefits such as reducing local bandwidth and battery drain plus the convenience of picking up any devices to hand to control the content.

A number of content providers already support Chromecast. BBC iPlayer, Youtube and Netflix are the big ones for me but this is growing quickly as more and more distributors are discovering the power (and demand) for the device.

Plex has also released updates and apps to work alongside the Chromecast. This means I can stream locally stored media directly from the network drive via my iMac. No latency between the mobile devices controlling it too.

Due to the size of the device, it's not self powered. The included mini-USB cable can be looped into any USB points you have on your TV plus it also comes with a mains adaptor if it doesn't.

Setup was ridiculously simple. Just install an app on your PC or Mac, connect it to the local wifi, authenticate and you're pretty much done.

You don't need to install any apps on your devices either - supported apps just find the device on your local network and offer the facility to cast the content seamlessly. Anyone with a mobile and supported apps on your network can take control.

It's safe to say I'm a fan. I expect things will only get better with time too. Just go buy one.

On The Mac Pro

2014-05-11T00:00:00Z

I was recently asked by Mac Format on my thoughts of the new Mac Pro. Here are my words…

We're a Microsoft house at ASOS for our backend stack but some of the UI engineers prefer using Apple equipment. After weighing up the options, the MacBook Pro spec was more than sufficient to run a heavyweight Windows VM without performance issues plus the added benefit of native Mac tools.

Similarly, I find the hardware on laptops and desktops far exceed what we used to require for AV production as I'm regularly producing high quality music on my travels now rather than in the studio of yesteryear.

I'd find it hard to put forward a business case to justify spending £2.5k+ on a machine that is virtually redundant with current portable technology at a grand less other than "Look how sexy it is? And that promo site!"

I wasn't the only one to question whether the beast was suitable for most offices. Grab a copy of Mac Format #246 in digital or print to find out what the others thought.

#663399Becca

2014-06-12T00:00:00Z

Today, a young girl will be put to rest following an unfair battle with cancer.

Eric Meyer – one of the forefathers of the modern Web – gracefully described how his 6 year old daughter Rebecca lost her life last week. The story touched a nerve with all those who know or follow him, making us realise how valuable life and our family are.

In honour of this very brave girl, the Internet have decided to do what they do best and make their voice heard through the power of social networks.

We will be posting tweets, photos and blogs with the hashtag #663399Becca, changing our profiles to her favourite colour purple (hence the geeky #663399 reference) and spreading the word.

If you haven't done so already, you can download this PSD file to create your own purple avatar.

Personally, I'd like to keep mine for more than a day. Trends come and go but people don't. They live on with us. Let's make this last.

One Year at ASOS

2014-06-18T00:00:00Z

Today, I reflect on my first year working at one the UK's hottest companies, ASOS.

Last year, the London-based fashion powerhouse strategically setup a new office in Birmingham's creative Custard Factory with the intent to tap into Midlands talent. CIO Pete Marsden was aware from previous experience there was a "melting pot" of technical experience in the region and was keen to expand the growing development teams beyond Camden.

As an early member of the Birmingham team, it's been fantastic to witness how the office has established itself. From an empty shell, we now span 2 floors across 5 teams with 30 talented and enthusiastic people. We are massive Scrum advocates in Birmingham, creating ideal Agile environments for each team to create, collaborate and communicate.

The vibe is far from your typical office environment. London folk often praise us for creating a friendly, laid back and effective space for people to work in. I guess the pool table, dart board, XBOX and breakout areas help but it really comes down to the mix of people we work with.

When I applied for the position of UI engineer, I wasn't quite aware of the scale of work ahead of us. The company is only 14 years old but, in that time, grown beyond expectation, consequently bootstrapping legacy systems to support the growing demands of the customers and business.

I was thrown in the deep-end and asked to assist the Daily Destination project – part of the strategy to establish ASOS as the "number 1 fashion destination for twenty somethings". The Marketing teams were planning to rapidly produce relevant content for the target audience with a versatile template engine so we integrated Sitecore into our website, integrating our vast product database and huge social presence (our Facebook page has grown by nearly 1m since I started!)

Since then, I've worked with several different teams across the business on a range of different projects including the newly established Mobile team on a responsive prototype, streamlined header UI and refactoring the checkout process. Believe me – there's a lot of work going on behind the scenes and a lot more to come.

Along side this, I have also contributed to a number of side projects: establishing a UI Community between London and Birmingham, giving back to the community by teaching Prince's Trust youngsters how to create a Wordpress site, even creating an office league app for the "recreational sports" we play in Birmingham.

It seems my efforts were recognised too – in April, I was promoted to Senior UI Engineer – just 10 months into my post.

The first year has been quite a journey. I honestly look forward to what lies ahead.

(If anyone would like to join us, we are currently hiring a Solutions Architect and .NET Engineer in Birmingham. Let me know on the usual channels if you’re interested.)

What's coming in HTML 5.1?

2014-07-08T00:00:00Z

Alongside some expected additions like more versatile types (i.e. datetime, month and week), there are also brand new elements such as

Check out the full elements table on Github to find out what is planned for the next recommendation.

Give & Tell Challenge

2014-08-26T00:00:00Z

Yesterday, I was nominated for the Ice Bucket Challenge. I declined. Let me explain.

There's no denying the #ALSIceBucketChallenge has been a huge success. It has set an unprecedented benchmark for charitable viral campaigns. Everyone from your next-door neighbour to the biggest celebrities have accepted the craze in the name of motor neurone disease.

When a friend's father nominated me yesterday, I was left with a bit of dilemma.

I'm all for charity. I give up a lot of my time for local communities and regularly donate to charity.

On the flip side, I felt compelled to accept the challenge purely because of peer pressure. I have no direct association with ALS/MND so I was doing it for the wrong reasons.

It turned out I wasn't alone. A few people in the web community were in a similar boat "“ Dan James puts it best:

Something about the ice bucket challenge irks me. There is a gimmickry about it that takes away from the charity. The important thing seems to have become watching people pour ice water on their heads. The donations, the charity, the giving, has become a side effect (with indisputable financial results) of a viral sensation.

With that in mind, I have "wimped out" and decided to name the charities that mean something to me instead.

My wife and I both donate monthly to Cancer Research UK. We have both witnessed family members suffer from The C Word in the past so it's a no-brainer for us. There have been major leaps forward with cancer research in the past year and this wouldn't be possible without the donations made globally. I have also donated an extra £10 this week to signify this call to action.

I am also signed up for the Payday Pennies scheme through work. They basically round your monthly pay packet down to the nearest pound, donating the remaining pennies directly to charity.

Time for the nominations:

You have 48 hours to respond. (I will link to your efforts when/if you do.)

Bag ≠ Basket

2015-02-12T00:00:00Z

When you're next shopping online, take note of where you add products to. I bet it's wrongly named.

It's only recently I've noticed this mistake but I guarantee the majority of websites get it wrong.

"Add to bag". "View shopping bag".

Think about it.

When you go shopping in the real world, you don't add items to a bag – you place them in a basket (or trolley). It's only after you go through the checkout to pay for those items do they go in a bag. In essence, this is your parcel at the end of the online purchase.

If you were to add items to your bag before you pay for them, you'd be treated as a potential thief. Let's not go down that route for now.

Lesson learned? Think about your language and how it correlates to the user's perception when designing your experience.

(Icons courtesy of John Caserta and Erin Standley)

Jumping for Autism

2015-03-23T00:00:00Z

1% of the UK population have autism. That works out to around 700,000 people.

Considering the amount of people they interact with, chances are you know one of these people. It could be a member of your family, a friend, colleague, neighbour – maybe yourself.

Following several consultations, we recently discovered our son is on the Autistic spectrum. The experts suspect it's Asperger Syndrome.

We noticed some of his behaviours were out of the ordinary several years back but we just put it down to typical childhood tantrums. It was only after talking to friends and noticing our second child's development that we considered getting an expert opinion. Our local doctor knows the family well (a little too well) but her initial opinion was to leave it a year whilst observing his development. The second consultation referred him to a specialist who identified his characteristics to align with Asperger Syndrome.

The proceeding few months have been a massive learning curve. Thankfully, a local charity Autism Concern have been an amazing support throughout the process. They host regular events teaching and supporting those living with autism in and around Northamptonshire. We've attended a couple evening classes about the fundamentals of autism and the 1, 2, 3 Magic initiative (a derivative of the popular traffic light/time-out process) which have been hugely valuable to our understanding.

As a thank you for the support so far, I have agreed to join a group of brave individuals on a tandem skydive to raise money and awareness for the charity. My target is £500 – but why stop there?

The big day of the big jump is Saturday 16th May 2015. Please help me smash this goal before the jump and support an important charity for thousands of individuals with special needs.

Next week is also World Autism Awareness Week (27th March – 2nd April), concluding with World Autism Awareness Day organised by the UN. It would be amazing if I could reach the half way mark by then. Surely that's an achievable benchmark to aim for?

Sidenote: did you notice I never once mentioned that people "suffer with autism"? It's not necessarily a negative consequence. Sure, it's easy for me to feel like that as I'm emotionally connected to it but people happily live with autism. Apparently, Bill Gates is someone often referred to as a popular autistic person who has learned to live with it but lead a successful life.

6 WordPress Defaults You Don't Need

2015-03-27T00:00:00Z

8% of the Web is run on Wordpress (based on 74.6m out of 919m live sites).

What that figure probably doesn't tell you is how many are set to the default settings and how, with a few minor changes, you can improve your search engine ranking, website security and fundamental usability faux-pas.

I've purposely avoided any additional plugins to keep this simple. These are some simple changes to Wordpress "out the box" that I go through every time.

Tip #1: Remove “Powered by WordPress” #

Automattic (the team behind WordPress) are reeling in the endless link-backs from all those websites. Link-backs are a legacy mechanism to improve search engine ranking. This rule comes with a number of caveats now but still stay true in the fundamentals of SEO. Automattic don't need this link juice and it's only opening up security implications to potential hackers who want to break in to your site.

Pop in to your theme folder (in Appearance > Editor), open the footer.php file and remove the link:

<a href="http://wordpress.org/" rel="generator"><?php printf( __( 'Proudly powered by %s' ), 'WordPress' ); ?></a>

Tip #2: Remove the WordPress version meta tag #

Similar to the 1st tip, this is only there to provide Automattic some useful statistics when they scan your site from the link-back. It also tells any hackers how to get around the (relatively poor) security layers in your version of WordPress.

Back in your theme folder, open the function.php file and add the following line:

remove_action('wp_head', 'wp_generator');

Tip #3: Disable comments globally #

Originally a brilliant way to engage with your visitors, these pests are now synonymous with ruthless spammers/spambots trying to improve their website with pointless link-backs (most links in comments append the rel="nofollow" attribute which essentially tells Google to ignore it). Comments rarely add any value to your content anymore with the rise of social media and more elegant solutions for engagement.

Head to Settings > Discussion and uncheck “Allow people to post comments on new articles”.

(You might also want to install the Disable Comments plugin which disables comments on all existing posts and pages too.)

The idea behind this widget is wonderful – it demonstrates some fundamental features baked into WordPress for accessing open data such as RSS feeds and sitemaps. Take note of those generated URLs for the future. However, it also offers the public a nice easy way to access your website CMS, as well as confirming the login URL to any would-be hackers.

Head over to your theme's Appearance > Widgets and remove the widget from your sidebar.

Tip #5: Disable registration #

By default, anybody can sign up to your website (as part of the originally enabled comments system). By doing so, anyone can access your administration albeit with limited functionality. Don't leave it to chance though – there are some naughty folk out there, preying on the naive.

In your Settings > General, uncheck “Anyone can register”.

Tip #6: Customise your permalinks #

Up until recently, the default setting for WordPress permalinks (or URLs to the rest of us) was to use querystring parameters such as ?p=123 and ?cat=12. Similarly to our early tips, this is a dead giveaway to any potential hackers of what is powering your website. If your hosting provider allows, you should change your URL structure to something more organised, user-friendly and prone to hacking.

Under Settings > Permalinks, choose one of the options that uses the name of your post – I prefer Post Name or a custom “/%category%/%postname%/”.

Goals for 2016

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

I'm not normally one for setting New Year's Resolutions as they tend to fall by the wayside after a few weeks but I feel this year a few "easy" goals won't hurt to keep me on the straight and narrow.

What better way to formalise them than with a much needed blog post? Here goes…

Blog more. I've completely neglected my site over the past year but have plenty to talk about through life and work. Expect to see more here (and maybe follow me on Medium if you're that way inclined). I'm also planning to be more engaged on my social channels rather than just posting the habitual links. I hope that won't become too annoying.

Launch an app. I've been working on a few web apps as side projects for several years now but nothing has reached fruition. I really need to find the time to release something then iterate accordingly (as all good apps should). I'll be hashtagging relevant tweets with #shipsomething16 if you're curious of progress.

Refocus. As mentioned above, I've many side projects on the go, some quite demanding, others not even going public. I need to evaluate what I'm passionate about, what I can reap reward from and what will realistically be possible with my limited capacity.

Speak more. No, I don't intend to gabber on about nonsense more frequently. I've been arranging more community events over the past 6 months but only presented at a couple internal occasions. I plan to present some content at one of our quarterly ASOS UI events later this year once I've established a topic that is deemed worthy for public consumption without regurgitating the same old nonsense.

Be healthier. I'm not getting any younger but I am neglecting my health at times, especially working 12 hour days in London. Time to sort that out with more exercise, less meat and more sleep. (That last one may be a tricky balance with the above commitments.) As an added incentive, I'll be making the most of my shiny new Apple Watch for monitoring my activity plus any suitable apps that tap in to HealthKit (like MyFitnessPal and Sleep Better) to fulfil my obsessive data addiction.

To make sure these goals aren't neglected, I've set a reminder to review them every 3 months to see how I'm getting on. Feel free to keep badgering me if you're following.

Reboot Your Life

2016-01-21T00:00:00Z

(This was originally written back in 2013 for a creative productivity blog but, unfortunately, never got published. There are still some important lessons learned though that others may find useful.)

Do you work to live or live to work? It’s a bit of a cliché but be honest with yourself. It’s a good question to ask in such an enthusiastic (and young) industry such as the Web.

Over the past ten years or so, I’ve been fortunate enough to work in a number of exciting jobs where I have been able to do what I love the most – making things for the web. From my early days in an agency through local government, internet giants and the finance sector, I’ve been able to flex my fingers on a wrath of audiences.

For the past few years though, my passion started to dwindle. Rather than pushing innovation within the business, I found myself becoming a defeatist. Previous efforts were continually being knocked back through a combination of reasons. I found I was just becoming a “yes man”, merely playing catch up rather than seeking new challenges.

Outside of work, I have always been keen to push myself with side projects. Back in the noughties, I went through a wave of inspiration with a relatively popular music podcast, local creative community and range of sports based calendars to name but a few. I would also jump at the chance to help friends and family get online with their own website.

Recently though, my commitments to side projects were losing traction. Some projects have been “in development” for over two years. Support and maintenance of my growing portfolio got neglected. I was even putting off any changes to friend’s websites, even if their business depended on it. Everyone was suffering – not just me.

I wouldn’t put my attitude change purely down to my career though. My son was growing up and I feared I was neglecting him. My relationship with my wife was suffering as most evenings were spent in front of a computer screen rather than with her. When we discovered our second was due, I decided my career could wait – no website is more important than my family.

Side projects were put on hold. Requests from friends were kept to a minimum or referred to someone I could trust. I treated my job as a 9-to-5, leaving on the dot with all forms of contact at my desk.

Life had a new found meaning. I felt relieved of excessive duty and enjoyed my family. I could turn off in the evenings and weekends and relax (new-born baby permitting). Everything was good.

That’s the end of the story, right? Think again.

Unfortunately, work was piling up and, with it, mountains of stress. My employers noticed my lack of enthusiasm and started to question my ability. New people joined the company which forced me to question my future.

It didn’t stop in the office either. Those close to me – offline and online - wondered what was happening, where I had gone. My online activity was virtually non-existent which, as anyone who knows me, is not right. I was losing touch with the Web industry and, by doing so, couldn’t keep up.

I’m not a selfish person by any means but I was getting close to depression and that isn’t healthy for anyone. Family obviously come first but I come a close second. Something had to change – and that wasn’t going to happen at home.

Time for a new job.

The CV got a much-needed update and distributed around the necessary evils of the recruitment world. Job offers came in thick and fast but very few that were suitable. (If anyone needs to work on their segmentation marketing, it’s the recruitment industry!)

Thankfully, a few options arose with two highly reputable companies: one for a large financial corporation, the other for an online fashion retailer. Part of me was keen to continue working in the financial sector – it was a familiar territory where I had lot of background knowledge to apply. On the flip side, was it time for something completely different? Besides, I’ve always been hipster attempting to follow fashion trends and the reason I was leaving was for change.

In the end, I followed my instinct – I went for ASOS. With a new office full of new starters, it would feel like a proper reboot with fresh beginnings. It was exactly what I needed.

Two months in and I’m feeling completely refreshed. I have a new-found enthusiasm for what I do. I work with like-minded people who invigorate me. I want to get back in to those neglected side projects but I am also conscious of family demands. In time, Si, in time…

The reason I contributed this story was to ensure other people don’t suffer similar problems. If your work or home life is getting you down, do something about it. It can be quite daunting the possibility of a new job but there is work out there. You just need to persevere and make sure everyone gets something from it – not just you.

Reboots are healthy, regular and infrequent. Apply when you think it’s appropriate.

Motion in the Browser

2016-03-03T00:00:00Z

This is a concept I've been championing across ASOS to the design and front-end engineer communities, how we can start introducing motion in the browser.

The slide deck is heavily focused towards our internal audience but many points can be reiterated to any audience (and there shouldn't be anything potentially sensitive to the business).

It touches on why motion is an important aspect of design, the different patterns possible, some of the potential caveats and examples to get the juices flowing.

Material Motion

2016-05-16T00:00:00Z

Lovely to see the Material Design language now has a thorough piece considering motion in the browser.

Very interesting point I’ve never considered before with regards to responsive:

"Larger animations on mobile devices are 300-400ms long. Smaller animations can be as short as 150-200ms”

This makes sense; compare an iPad Pro (2732px) against an iPhone 5c (1136px) - that’s more than double the distance on a landscape axis. You wouldn't expect an element to take the same time to travel those distances, would you?

Animated CSS3 Checkboxes

2016-05-23T00:00:00Z

Checkbox.css is a little library that adds some simple but effective CSS animations to your native checkbox toggles.

Mastercard Rebranded

2016-07-20T00:00:00Z

International finance powerhouse Mastercard have recently commissioned design agency Pentagram to freshen up their identity and brand system.

It's certainly refreshing and modern whilst maintaining the iconic orange and red circles, albeit simplified - but can you imagine the effort to roll out this new identity across all their partners?

Beating Imposter Syndrome

2016-09-27T00:00:00Z

Many of us have been there in the past; you see experts in your industry delivering content in different formats – blog posts, articles, books, magazines, conference talks – and wonder “Could I do that?”

Then that sinking feeling kicks in. What exactly can I contribute? What makes me an expert in that field? Hasn’t it been done before? (Ironically enough, even conjuring up the confidence to write this piece got me thinking about whether I’m qualified enough to talk about imposter syndrome and if it’s already been covered too much.)

The reality is I’m lacking self confidence in myself and this comes from years of trying to be something different, to stand out with a skill that others see value in and can learn from.

Drudging Up The Past #

I’ve been working in the Web industry (professionally) since 2001 and, along the way, leaned on fellow developers to learn the hottest methods. I’ve been extremely lucky to even work with some of these people I look up to. My first day at Yahoo! back in 2007 was like walking through the Web’s Wall of Fame; Christian Heilmann, Drew McLellan, Neil Crosby – the very people who helped mould the web standards we all work with today. I felt inadequate compared to these people who have proved their worth. How could I ever meet such high expectations in a growingly competitive industry?

But why did I feel this way? I clearly “had what it takes” following the grueling interview process for them to offer me a job at (apparently) one of the strongest Web development teams on the planet at the time. But I still lacked that confidence I needed in myself.

I come from a family with a real mix of mental health issues; from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) to schizophrenia, from bipolar to depression. Whilst all these health problems come with a multitude of symptoms, it can be quite daunting to process when it’s your own family who are suffering.

But, thanks to the observational approach I’ve honed through my years as a web designer and developer, I’ve been able to take a step back at times and recognise familiar patterns to reflect on. With a little help from my wife, I’ve been able to identify certain conditions in my own mental health.

Lack of confidence and increasingly high anxiety can be a dangerous combination when it comes to Imposter Syndrome. But I was determined to give it a go.

Rise Above It #

When Geek Mental Health was mentioned earlier this month, I noticed a call for speakers from the MK Geek Night crowd for their dedicated event. I thought this would be a great opportunity to cease the moment and approach my demons head on. What better way to get over my inhibitions than to discuss the very topic that stops me from moving forward?

Unfortunately, calendar conflicts dealt a blow to my plan but then I saw Andy Clarke’s call for content on the Geek Mental Health website.

No more excuses.

That first hurdle hit when approaching a topic and I start to think “Where do I start?” … “Can I even put this thing together eloquently enough?” … “Why would anyone even be interested?”

Then the anxiety kicks in. It’s bubbling away as I try to elaborate more. All the gremlins come out and question the thoughts I’ve put down. My mind is racing, body tensing up, foot incessantly tapping away; I feel like everything is crowding round me as I’m simply trying to write things down.

I get to that point where I just think “Sod it! Delete everything. It’s not worth it.”

Here’s the hard part. Don’t! Keep going. Continue writing, editing, refining. Sleep on it.

Another day passes and I’m still questioning why anyone would be interested in my piece. I look back over the content and try to find some real value. Is it the structure or just the fact I’ve got nothing to give? Confidence is slipping, anxiety is creeping up, that dark place is returning.

But, again, that little voice on my shoulder tells me it is worth it. Perseverance is important. If I want to beat this, I must try harder.

The Shining Light #

Then I realise - everyone loves a happy ending. I’ve hit the critical point of the fairytale story, the turning point. The hero has turned up with the power to complete this once and for all. Through this entire drama, the audience have been waiting for this point to work out where it’s going and why they’ve been reading.

Mental health is a dark, nasty beast that needs putting back in its cage. No doubt it’ll escape again at some point but the hero is always on hand to defeat it.

I take the content out of draft, move it towards the edge of publication with my sword of proof-reading and push the button. It’s unleashed to the world.

The anxiety is gone, confidence is rising and I’m feeling pretty good about it. But how?

Happy Ending #

We have a cheeky acronym we continually reference on our team at work. We have it placed in prime position of our team whiteboard so, if anyone is ever reluctant or showing signs of weakness, one of us can point to it…

FFSJFDIUD

(I’ll leave you to work it out but I recommend breaking up the familiar acronyms starting with FFS.)

This is a (un)pleasant reminder to just take the plunge if there’s ever any doubt. Having it clearly present at all times allows easy access and regular contact. It also adds some much needed humour to diffuse any negativity. It’s interesting to see the reactions from passers-by who slowly work out what it stands for, normally with a positive giggle.

I highly recommend writing it out (yes, not print, handwrite) and placing it within view of your working environment. You can make it your own (we added the final "UD" just for added expletives) but having this constant prompt is a healthy reminder to believe in yourself.

Just f*cking do it.

Commuting Costs

2016-10-01T00:00:00Z

[gallery type="circle" link="file" size="medium" ids="2138,2139,2140"]

A long-term pet project to monitor and understand spending habits around commuting. A mini web app which records fuel, train and car park costs in a responsive mobile-first UX.

I came up with the original idea way back in 2009, quickly knocking together a CakePHP app to get an idea of how the framework works and a simple mechanism to start recording the data. Over the years, I used it as an opportunity to push new technical enhancements and techniques but also considering how they might be applied to a real world scenario. It was a real mix of tech innovation combined with user-centred requirements.

Check out the working prototype on Heroku.

Inbox Inspiration

2017-02-17T00:00:00Z

For years, I've found inspiration and useful links through regular email newsletters. It's a trusted format that has just worked for years despite shifts in tech and media consumption (remember Google Reader? #RIP)

I generally like to keep my inbox as clear as possible - inbox zero if you will - but I do like the fact I can dip in and catch up on email at my own leisure rather than constantly scanning Twitter (which has lately become a minefield of political opinion and satire - maybe I should tidy up my following list?). Combined with Google Inbox grouping, it's quite easy to keep focus on important emails and hide newsletters until evenings or weekends.

Here, I've gathered together my favourite sources of tech and design newsletters which, I hope, others will too.

Codrops #

One of the most inspirational sources for all things design in Web, Pedro Botelho brings us a delightful collection of articles and links to spark that inner creative.

Web Design Weekly #

Thursday brings us Jake Bresnehan's weekly selection of links covering front-end tech with a variety of design and development topics covered.

WPMail #

Another Thursday newsletter, this time from Cozmoslabs covering all things WordPress. I've long been a fan of the most popular CMS on the Web so like to keep in touch with the latest general news, plugins, themes and tutorials. This one does a cracking job of summarising it all.

Web Designer Depot #

A weekly summary of some of the hottest topics across the Web design community, again distributed on Thursday (something tells me Wednesday is a good day to announce new stuff).

UX Notebook #

Sarah Doody puts a lot of effort into gathering her weekly thoughts on all things UX including some links to other content. Fascinating if you've got an interest in usability and the reason behind we make the things we do.

HackingUI #

Published every Friday, Sagi Shrieber and David Tintner bring together a healthy mix of their design, development and entrepreneurship findings from around the Web - the ideal blend for me.

To compliment the fantastic webzine full of thorough and interesting web topics, the weekly newsletter compiled by the Editorial Team is a nice overview of some hot topics the community have been discussing recently along with (shameless) plugs to their own content and courses.

SEO Implications of Split Testing

2017-02-20T00:00:00Z

Following a discussion around A/B testing the simplification of a UI by hiding or removing some links, it got us thinking about the implications of SEO when running website tests.

What is the best practice for not affecting your search engine ranking with a short-term test which, in theory, could completely change your page and navigation structure?

It led me to Google Webmaster's Website Testing and Google Search from 2012.

In a nut-shell, Google suggest you don't exclude the Googlebot user-agent header from your test (known as cloaking). In theory, a short-term change to your webpage shouldn't affect your ranking too much. If the content continues to look different after a few indexes, then your ranking may change but you should only run the test for as long as necessary.

Where possible (and only really suitable for redirection tests), set canonical link attributes on your alternative pages or use 302 (temporary) redirects rather than 301 (permanent) redirects.

Unfortunately, depending on known traffic and specific scenarios, some tests need to run for many months so this doesn't bode well for anyone who doesn't want to upset any SEO juice gained over time. However, we also know Google likes to reward sites based on improved user habits so, in hindsight, any UX improvements should in fact improve your SEO ranking.

This is not a new problem; even Google's expert Matt Cutts was championing the idea of A/B testing back in 2012, back-referencing a blog post from 2009…

A/B testing can be really helpful. A classic blog post from 2009: http://t.co/da89eEiR Lesson: buttons get clicked more.
— Matt Cutts (@mattcutts) 15 April 2012

By the by, it's something you should definitely consider when you start stripping out content for a leaner user experience in any website testing, be it A/B or MVT.

Autism Awareness Week

2017-03-30T00:00:00Z

Not many people know what it's like to live with autism. With that in mind, my son created a series of videos to talk about his personal experience to raise awareness.

Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) back in 2015, Oscar has learned so much about what it means to him. He has developed several coping mechanisms to deal with stressful situations, established some familiar interests and pass-times he can take pleasure from, even talked openly about it with his friends and family.

With a keen interest in YouTube and tech, we suggested he recorded a daily video blog post for Autism Awareness Week to talk about some of these topics and share with the public. When we mentioned he could also try to raise some money for our local charity, Autism Concern, Oscar jumped at the chance.

I wanted him to own the project as well (my new ADM role was kicking in). All the topics were under his control, we just made some suggestions beforehand. I wanted him to decide what detail he goes in to although, to help conversation flow, he wanted me to be in the videos too. I also left him to "edit" the videos afterwards, adding graphic overlays to support the content.

You can watch the entire series of videos on his YouTube playlist…

The Outcome #

We're extremely proud of what he's achieved.

Within the first day, he reached over 100 views of his video (thanks to a few retweets from popular autism representatives) and 80% of his fundraising goal. Over the course of the week, his videos were shared across Twitter and Facebook. He had clearly hit a nerve. Like most Millennials, he strives for internet fame so he was extremely satisfied to see the fruits of his labour pay off.

Sharing the videos with my own colleagues was insightful too. It was lovely to hear positive feedback from peers but, more interestingly, it opened up dialog about others living with autism and the challenges it brings (along with the typical comedy moments). Several people approached me to talk about their nearest and dearest who are on the spectrum, how their families have learned to live with it, even the support they get from local services and charities.

I was glad it opened channels; this is what Autism Awareness Week is really about. We should be able to openly discuss autism, the range of different diagnoses and symptoms it covers, as well as how it impacts people. We need to shake the stigma attached to autism, we should be able to champion autistic "super powers".

If you know someone who is autistic or lives with autism, I suggest doing something similar. Write, record and share your stories. By raising awareness, we can collectively embrace it and discuss how to make life easier.

Fundraising is still open as well. If you're feeling generous, please drop a few quid on the JustGiving campaign to contribute towards future projects and support from Autism Concern.

(As a side note, we realised after the first few days we started the series a week too early. Rather than halt proceedings, we didn't want to cause any additional stress for Oscar so continued recording and posting the videos. Red Nose Day was also approaching so we thought the public would be a in a more charitable mood to aid fundraising.)

#OUTRUNMAY for Macmillan

2017-05-03T00:00:00Z

Through the month of May, I am setting myself the lofty goal of running a marathon for Macmillan Cancer Support.

After losing my uncle to cancer last year, I realised the importance of Macmillan as they helped to provide palliative care for my family and ongoing support following his passing. They are a hugely valuable organisation to anyone who suffers through the pain of cancer, directly or indirectly. As such, I wanted to give back to them by pushing beyond my comfort zone with this running challenge.

I'm not particularly athletic, nor strong at running, so I thought a reasonable goal for the month would be a typical marathon (26.2 miles). Spread out over the month, that's either a mile a day or 2 miles every other. I'd love to smash the goal but let's be realistic here. Even running to the train station from work puts me out of breath, causing me days of discomfort as well.

As a data junkie, I will be recording all my exercise on Strava using my Apple Watch for accurate measurements of pace, heart rate and all the other juicy info available. This will also ensure I do indeed complete the 26.2 mile challenge and provide evidence as such.

Please give generously to this worthy cause. All donations will be gathered through the JustGiving campaign.

JFDI

2017-05-10T00:00:00Z

(Originally written for The Human In The Machine)

Over the past few years, I've noticed a transition in the way I work. As a web developer, I often hesitated on some bold moves. Either technical, logistical, even political reasons would impede my actions, often introducing further blockers. It was a cascading effect of delays; the longer you leave things, the worse they become, accumulating more and more issues alongside them.

I think one of the reasons for hesitation was down to confidence. I wasn't entirely sure if I had the respect or authority to take the responsibility for some of these actions. Imposter Syndrome would kick in - that self doubt where I thought I would get caught out (which, consequently, I have publicly talked about recently).

Funnily enough, the solution was staring me right in the face.

The team's product owner had a fantastic approach to problem solving. If there were ever any reservations about how we should proceed, we'd remind ourselves what she would say…

"JFDI"

(We actually extended this acronym to FFSJFDIUD - see if you can work it out…)

Often is the case where you need to take the bull by the horns and just f**king do it. It's sensible to be cautious at times but that hesitation can be impeding. Other times, you need to just empower yourself to take caution to the wind and get on with things.

We even made a poster of the acronym and placed it on our team board as our team mantra. It would lend as a constant reminder to reduce delays and keep delivering. Equally, it would also provoke some interesting and entertaining conversations with passers-by who often ended up nodding in agreement.

Don't put off what you can do today. Get off your arse and action it right away.

Logitech Create - A Review

2017-06-10T00:00:00Z

When I was hunting for a keyboard to compliment my shiny new iPad Pro, the official suggestion irked me with the lack of protection for the back of the iPad. I also thought the price was quite high for what was, essentially, a keyboard and cover.

I then discovered the Logitech Create. With full surrounding protection and a much more wallet-friendly price tag, it definitely caught my attention. I watched a few Youtube video demonstrations and read plenty reviews comparing the products - I was sold.

After receiving the product promptly (with free postage too - always worth shopping around on eBay), I was pleasantly surprised by the packaging. A delightful magnetic seal kept the solid packaging in place and definitely set the tone for quality. Setup was extremely simple. Even though connecting the iPad to the protective case seemed a little awkward at first, it's held in place ever since and without worry. Keyboard connectivity through the smart connector required a couple prompts, then it just worked.

Keyboard response is brilliant. No skipped keys when typing, delightfully subtle sounds on the key suction and variable backlights make for a moody evening use. Build quality is perfect, comparable to Apple's high standards.

I even had a friend who uses the official Apple keyboard test it. He was pleasantly surprised and even considered swapping over.

The only downside to the Create is the weight. Due to the full fibre wrap, it definitely doubles the weight of the whole device - but it's comparably lighter than a 13" laptop. Considering the extended keyboard practically turns the iPad into a fully operational computer, I don't see this as a problem. I no longer commute to and from the office with my 15" Macbook Pro, instead taking my 12.9" iPad Pro as my travel companion. In fact, this very post was typed up using my new setup – it's actually allowed me to blog more. (I'll spare my iPad setup for another post.)

All in all, I'm very impressed with the Logitech Create and highly recommend it to anyone else who has an iPad Pro, either 9.7" or 12.9" versions, who are looking to upgrade with a complimentary keyboard. A great product, fairly priced, delivering above-and-beyond performance.

From Si ‘Cast to Verbal Diary

2018-05-10T00:00:00Z

Last year, I started producing a fortnightly podcast called Si ‘Cast to try satisfy an itch; talking about things from tech, personal experiences from my day job and even discussions with friends.

I was fully aware of my limited capacity and how easy it is to burn out with extra commitments from side projects so I time-boxed the project to 3 months and planned to evaluate the situation after that.

It was quite satisfying to get back into multimedia production as this was my first foray back into video production since the "noughties". I’ve been producing a house music podcast called House Finesse since 2005 which has been relatively successful in waives and definitely taps in to a niche audience who have loyally followed for all these years, as well as giving myself a platform to share my love for house music when I have a hankering for a mix.

I’m not a fame-hungry YouTuber but I was also keen to explore the process it takes to produce a regular video series, how the tools work and the potential impact it has. Needless to say, it was an education and a huge minefield of intricacies to work through. I can see why it becomes a full-time job but you can certainly reap the benefits if you get it right.

Following a festive break and refreshed enthusiasm to get back into it, I reached out on Twitter to see if anyone was interested in collaborating. I’m always keen to partner up with people on side projects - there’s endless advantages of sharing work which I won’t go into here but I also knew a two-way conversation would be more engaging than me talking to myself.

Luckily for me, James Norton – a good friend and acquaintance – responded with intrigue. We had several conversations about what we could possibly talk about, format, schedules etc and finally came up with a plan. Verbal Diary was born.

(I actually planned to use the pun on a slightly different side project but it never surfaced so I repurposed it for this one.)

We’re aiming to record our discussions every fortnight talking about a broad range of topics – tech, people, tools… – edited into 30-60 minute episodes. Like Si ‘Cast, I’m keen to break the podcast into seasons. We’ll see how the format evolves. So far, we're four episodes in with a mix of topics covered along with the expected “rants and bants” from two opinionated ex-techies.

For now, subscribe to the podcast or follow @VerbalDiaryShow on Twitter for announcements and show updates.

5 Years at ASOS

2018-07-17T00:00:00Z

I recently reached 5 years of service at ASOS. As well as the inner kudos and rewards to celebrate, it was a great time to reflect on how and why I've been so loyal to a single company (the longest of my career to date).

Read more on the ASOS Tech Blog, "Five years at ASOS - what nurtures loyalty?"

Moving WordPress to Linode

2018-12-18T00:00:00Z

I recently decided to give this blog some much-needed love and attention by moving to Linode. Following a friend's suggestion, it seems only appropriate to share the reasons and process.

The Problem #

As a rule, I’ve always tried to keep website costs to a minimum until it can be justified to increase the outgoings for improved architecture. I’ve long had a shared web server for running all my side projects which ticks over nicely for low traffic websites. Unfortunately, my own website has never really warranted the necessary extra expense.

That said, the shared server can struggle under the strain of traffic spikes and demanding resources on Wordpress updates and rogue plugins. Over the last year, I’ve had a number of occasions where the server failed to respond with 50X errors which affects all the other side projects on the same server.

As I try to find ways to claim back my content from social media outlets (like Twitter and Instagram), the natural channel would be my own website. To support this, it made sense to give the site a more reliable and speedy environment to live. Enter Linode.

Why Linode? #

I’ve been using Linode to host a couple other Wordpress (podcast) websites for a while now - House Finesse and Verbal Diary. These have both proved to work perfectly, even under peak traffic when episodes are released. This was testament to the performance requirements I was looking for.

After setting up two other websites with WordPress on separate Linodes, I also had a proven boilerplate to setup the necessary environment with minimal fuss.

With all that preamble, I’m sure you’re keen to get into the how. Let’s do it…

Step 1 – Back It Up #

Like all site migrations, always backup your content, data and configuration. As this was a simple lift and shift, it was relatively straight forward exercise for me.

Login to your current server’s control panel, whether it’s cPanel, WHM or SSH.
Locate your website on the file system (e.g. /var/www/html/yourwebsite.tld/
Create an archive of the site’s wp-content directory e.g. wp-content.zip, ideally accessible publicly under the public_html directory,.
Alternatively, if your website content gets quite large to manage, create individual archives for each area, e.g. uploads-2018.zip, uploads-2018-11.zip, plugins.zip
I also recommend taking a copy of the your local wp-config.php file as this contains some vital information for your website. Do not make this publicly available though.
Time to take a backup of your database. If you have phpMyAdmin handy, this is quite straight forward. For convenience, store a backup with a cryptic ZIP filename in your public_html directory - this will help later on as a temporary migration.

Step 2 – Spin Up #

I chose Linode for this but I imagine Digital Ocean or other hosting providers will be equally capable.

If you’re new to Linode, create an account and enter your billing details.
Head over to the StackScripts section and search for “wordpress”.
I used the recent stable build (CentOS 7, Debian 8, Ubuntu 14.04 LTS) but most LAMP configurations will work.
Once built and running, SSH to your instance with root access.
Navigate to your web-server root, probably /var/www/html.
Create a new directory for your website your-site.tld and public_html directory within.
Navigate to your /etc/apache2/sites-available directory.
Duplicate the default.conf file to your-site.tld.conf
Edit your-side.tld.conf file and set all the necessary variables (ServerName, DocumentRoot, ErrorLog and CustomLog)
Enable your new site with the command sudo a2ensite your-site.tld.conf
Restart the web server with service apache2 reload.

Step 3 – WGET All The Things #

I often find it difficult to copy files between servers and there’s probably much better ways to do this but I found pulling files from your original server to be the simplest approach with WGET and UNZIP and allows you to keep a close eye on each step.

Make sure WGET is installed with sudo yum install wget.
You’ll also need the ZIP library installed with sudo yum install unzip.
Navigate to your site directory /var/www/html/your-site.tld/ - not the public_html directory.
Download the wp-content.zip file with the command wget http://your-site.tld/wp-content.zip
If you decided to compress more granular directories earlier on, download them one-by-one instead.
Once transferred, uncompress your content archives with the command unzip wp-content.zip
Finally, grab the database dump from your original server with wget http://your-site.tld/some-cryptic-name-345734.sql.zip
I now recommend deleting or moving the data dump on your original server before any cheeky rogues discover it.

Step 4 – Data Import #

Now you’ve got all the necessary files on your new server, you need to import the data. This should be relatively straight forward if you’re familiar with typical MySQL configurations.

Make sure MySQL is installed and running a suitable version by checking mysql -v on your server.
Connect to the MySQL server as root user: mysql -u root -p
Create a new database for your website: CREATE DATABASE your_site_name;
Create a dedicated user for accessing this database: CREATE USER your_site_username;
Give your new user access to the new database: GRANT ACCESS ALL your_site_username@your_site_name;
Log out from the MySQL server and make sure you’re located in your site parent folder: cd /var/www/html/your-site.tld/
Uncompress the transferred SQL dump from your original cryptic archive: unzip some-cryptic-name-345734.sql
Import the data from your uncompressed SQL dump into your new database: mysql -u root -p your_site < some-cryptic-name-345734.sql
If you get errors about COLLATE types, edit the SQL file replacing any references to COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_ci.

Step 5 - Configuration #

It’s coming together now. We just need to make sure Wordpress is configured correctly. I found a few little gotchas that might help others.

Open your wp-config.php file in a text editor. I use nano wp-config.php
Set your database variables to your new database settings from earlier;
- DB_NAME: your_site
- DB_USER: your_site_username
- DB_PASSWORD:
- DB_HOST: localhost
Make sure $table_prefix is set correctly - my previous installation included a random string that was different which caught me out.
Append the following code to the end of your file to support theme and plugin installations in the WordPress control panel - otherwise you’ll be prompted for FTP settings: define('FS_METHOD', 'direct');

Step 5 – Preview Mode #

Before the site was switched over, I wanted to preview it in it’s new home with minimum fuss. Thanks to using Cloudflare for name servers, this was quite simple.

Login to Linode’s new Cloud UI and open your new Linode’s details.
On the Summary tab, find your IP address.
In Cloudflare, head to the DNS settings for your domain and create an A record to point at your new server’s IP address - I used the name 2018 for convenience.
Log back in to your Linode instance over SSH (or use their Weblish console if you prefer).
Open up /etc/apache2/sites-available/your-site.tld.conf in a text editor
Add a ServerAlias rule for your temporary sub-domain, e.g. ServerAlias 2018.your-site.tld
Save your .conf file.
Make sure your new site configuration is enabled: sudo a2ensite your-site.tld
Restart your web server: service apache2 reload
Connect to your MySQL server: mysql -u root -p
Choose your site’s database: USE your_site;
Check the first two records in the options table are your website’s URL: SELECT * FROM wp_options WHERE option_id = 1 OR option_id = 2;
If so, you can now set your site’s URL and homepage with your temporary sub-domain: UPDATE wp_options SET option_value = 'https://2018.your-site.tld' WHERE option_id = 1 OR option_id = 2;
Disconnect from your MySQL server (a simple exit; will do)

Step 6 - Test #

All being well, your new website should now be working on your temporary domain. In a browser, head over to your new URL and check the following:

All blog posts and pages load correctly
Your content assets (images etc) are still referencing your live server - this should be fine when you switch and saves hassle of updating all your content
Login to your admin panel is successful, either with local authentication or Wordpress.com SSO.
Upload some media to check the correct file permissions on the uploads directory (Pro tip: make a note of your newly uploaded media - this will come in useful when testing you’re switch-over)
Install a new plugin and remove it (further file permissions check)
Edit your theme files - you don’t need to change anything, just save an existing file. (Alternatively, append a data-server=“linode” attribute to your <html> tag in header.php - again, useful for switch-over)

Step 7 – Switch Over #

Now you’re confident the site is setup correctly on your new server, it’s a simple update to change your name servers (thanks to Cloudflare).

Login to your new WordPress Admin and head to the Settings
Set your website and blog fields back to the live URL without the sub-domain prefix (e.g. your-site.tld)
Log back into Cloudflare and open your site settings
In the DNS settings, find the A record for your live website your-site.tld
Copy the IP address from your temporary A record (e.g. 2018.your-site.tld) and paste it to the live website field. (Note: Being Cloudflare, this will happen almost instantaneously so be prepared)
Head to your website in a browser and smoke test all is well. Check that test media URL you uploaded earlier or inspect your source code looking for the data-server attribute.

Step 8 – Wash Up #

Now that your website is moved to it’s shiny new home, it’s time to clear up all the remnants from previous efforts.

Clear out the temporary A record from Cloudlflare (e.g. 2018.your-site.tld)
Tear down the previous hosting instance including the Wordpress site, all wp-content, MySQL database table and backup files we transferred

That’s it. Hopefully, this process is useful to others who are considering WordPress site migrations to a dedicated server. I’m definitely reaping the benefits of the performance improvements and it’s motivating me to write more content. If you’ve got any suggestions to improve this workflow, please let me know and I’ll update it for others to benefit.

How To Power Down And Find Your #JOMO Flow This Year

2018-12-19T00:00:00Z

JOMO, the Joy of Missing Out, is the antidote to #FOMO anxiety of having to be always connected online. Your brain needs peace without power.

Here's how .

Web Design Trends for 2019

2018-12-21T00:00:00Z

The folks at Webflow have identified what they believe will be the 20 biggest design trends on the Web for 2019 – I'm hoping to see a lot more inclusive design that's not just focused on naïve accessibility assumptions.

The Gift of Giving Up

2019-01-04T00:00:00Z

It's OK to admit defeat. Respect to the Google Santa Tracker team for knowing their limits to ship the minimum loveable product despite endless code rewrites taking precedence.

The Gift of Giving Up

TickTick-ing The Boxes

2019-01-08T00:00:00Z

TickTick is my new favourite productivity app for Getting Things Done™. Let me explain why and how I’ve made it part of my every day habit.

There’s no shortage of GTD posts out there; I’ll spare you the spiel of the common problem people have. (If you fancy an audio ramble, you can always have a listen to my rant with James Norton on GSD.)

As an engineering manager in a busy environment, I need my tool for managing tasks to be convenient, intuitive and organised. TickTick ticks all the boxes (pun intended) and continues to be updated regularly with subtle but useful features,.

Why is TickTick any different? #

In short, it’s not that different from iOS Reminders on the face of it; multi-device support, iCloud (background) sync, lists for grouping, time-based reminders… it’s not going to win many awards for innovation there - but it has got plenty potential with the extra features though.

First off, items can be repeated. This is a big win for me when I have regular things to do – updating stakeholders, weekly or monthly tasks like timesheets, fortnightly 121s. Setting the frequency is pretty versatile to suit your needs and it even tries to use natural language when you’re creating items (think “Check timesheets last Friday of the month” or “Team video-call every weekday morning at 9.30”).

Custom repeat iterations on tasks

Secondly, it’s possible to create nested actions with sub-items. For example, say you’ve got to prepare for a meeting in a few days time, it’s possible to break down the actions like “Check availability”, “Prepare slides” and “Find suitable headset” within a top-level “Weekly Meeting” item. (The UI even shows a subtle progress meter in the background of the parent item on your main list - nice touch).

Nested actions within items

Thirdly, items can be annotated in so many different ways. You can use hashtags to group items by tags, record timestamped comments on individual items rather than filling out the description, even record Pomodoro timers against items for time management.

Tags, attachments, comments and activities on tasks

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder #

There’s plenty of subtle (and untouched) features in TickTick that make it such a joy to use as well, especially when you upgrade to the Premium subscription:

Prefix list names with a suitable emoji and that replaces the default icon
Colour-coded lists visually highlight your items in the main, detail and calendar view
Drag-and-drop ranking allows you to easily order your items in any of the views
Dark mode (and many other themes) make for a very personal experience across your devices
Offline updates are automatically synchronised seamlessly - ideal for someone who plans their day or week commuting to work with patchy / limited data connectivity (like me)
You can set your preferred reminder time for the day, so whether your working day starts at 8am (like me) or 10am (like most engineers), it’s appropriately timed

List names with emojis

After just a few months, I’ve barely scratched the surface what TickTick is capable of and every time I start delving deeper, I find another little treat that makes it even more of a delight to use. The developers behind the app are clearly power users (global Cmd+Shift+A across macOS is hugely helpful) and have tapped into requirements that other todo apps have overlooked, making a concerted effort to create the most simple and elegant experience as possible.

For now, I will be continuing my Premium subscription and I encourage anyone else looking for a simple but flexible todo app across the Apple ecosystem to seriously consider TickTick.

TickTick is available on the App Store for macOS and iOS plus Play Store for Android (if you're that way inclined).

Designing Accessible Maps

2019-01-11T00:00:00Z

I like the idea of using device buttons rather than screen hot-spots for making mobile maps more accessible – it applies to so many scenarios, not just the visually impaired (think driving)

Source: Design Accessible Maps| Phase

Dimensions.Guide

2019-01-12T00:00:00Z

Ever wondered what the standard dimensions are for a random everyday object? Wonder no more with this growing database of Dimensioned Drawings.

Over Instagram

2019-01-15T00:00:00Z

Over Instagram is a project to give photographers a place to hone their craft, avoiding the "toxic treadmill of insecurity and self-doubt" with social media, focusing on the important factors such as tone, balance and composition.

Follow along as the project is built in the open, even get involved if you're keen to shape it.

New Slack Logo

2019-01-17T00:00:00Z

Slack have just unveiled their new identity to a typically mixed reaction from the design and tech community.

I, for one, can see the potential with this direction. Whilst it can appear quite busy to start with, it certainly has a condensed and concise flow to it and should lend to more cohesion as they try to grow their brand in public.

Read more about the reasoning behind it on their own blog.

The Joy Of Missing Out

2019-01-21T00:00:00Z

This year, I intend to take a different approach to social media to improve my health and wellbeing by embracing the Joy Of Missing Out aka. #JOMO.

This might come as a shock to those who follow me online - I know I have a serious case of TMI but this is me. That won’t change. I’ll still share things I learn and find interesting, be it from the world of tech, software engineering, team leadership or the occasional personal highlight.

I have a love-hate relationship with Twitter and Instagram - despite all intent to avoid both as their respective corporations try to satisfy stakeholders, I just keep coming back to the convenience of quick posting for personal records. If anybody else likes to interact, that’s an added extra.

There’s even a train of thought that suggests boredom sparks creativity:

“When you shut stuff out and are left with your thoughts, you start to think. I mean properly think. It’s that stillness of mind that lets you create and connect.”

Wayne Deakin, Executive Creative Director of London design agency, Huge

Anyway, after reading about #JOMO late last year, I now have a five-step plan to support my digital detox and improve my online footprint. Here's how…

1. Read More #

Not online – I mean paperback books and printed magazines. I’ve recently subscribed to a Wired subscription and I've been subscribed to The Agilist (a self-published agile newsletter) for nearly a year.

I'm not limiting my reading to non-fiction though. I like to balance learning with the enjoyment of fiction, immersing myself in a thrilling story. I've a growing wish-list on Goodreads and Amazon which I'll be digging into.

This means I’m not tempted by tech. I can truly switch off, enjoy some literature and, if necessary, learn a few things in a focused manner.

2. Write More #

I plan to write more content on my own blog – items like this – so I can reclaim my content and share my thoughts in a controlled environment. I’ll obviously be reposting on the likes of social media and Medium to improve awareness. The point is I don’t need to be online to write content thanks to the joy of Bear - my favourite note-taking app across the Apple ecosystem.

3. Reduce The Noise #

Without realising, my following count on Twitter has grown to over 900 accounts. That’s ridiculous - there is no way I can actively engage with that many accounts. Apparently, the magic number for online relationships is around 130 so I’ll be culling those accounts right back to a more manageable number to reduce the noise, ideally of those I actually communicate with on a regular basis who bring me joy.

4. Delete Apps #

To remove temptation and the convenience of distractions, I’m removing apps from my iPhone. Facebook is being replaced with Facebook Page; the only real reason I don’t delete my FB account is to support the pages I continue to manage for personal and family projects. The only time I open the app nowadays is to clear out the double-figure notifications badge, typically just more adverts and poorly curated suggestions by their so-called machine learning.

More drastically, I’m deleting Tweetbot from all my device docks. It has long been a favourite app across my iPhone, iPad and Mac but, for too long it has brought mixed emotions. I’ll keep the app available for important notifications (messages and mentions from people I follow) but it’ll be removed from primary positions.

5. Get Out More #

Finally, the most obvious way to bring joy from missing out is to just get offline. I want to detach from the grid, head out for more walking, swimming, site-seeing, camping - anything that requires zero tech but time with my loved ones in the real world.

Over the past year or so, I’ve read several pieces about Silicon Valley people leaving jobs to live rural lifestyles away from tech. I really respect this extreme decision - but it’s a reality check. If people who were completely absorbed by the bubble have had to take such extreme measures, we should all consider the importance of tech in our lives.

Do you feel like social media is taking over your life? Would a hard reset on your digital footprint help and, if so, how would you approach it? I'd love to hear some other stories on embracing JOMO – get in touch on Twitter or in the comments.

(Image credit from Disney Pixar's Inside Out)

Basic Color Theory for Web Developers

2019-01-29T00:00:00Z

I still find it remarkable how many engineers struggle with the basic principles of colour theory as I browse the Web.

This introduction from Nicole Zonnenberg is a brilliant starting point taking people through the practicalities and simplicity of a traditional colour wheel.

🔗 Basic Color Theory for Web Developers

Brooklyn

2019-01-31T00:00:00Z

Having been a huge fan of John Coates' Ariel macOS screensavers, I'm loving this collection of visualisations from Apple's Event on October 2018 by Pedro Carrasco.

(Hat tip to Trev for sharing)

🔗 pedrommcarrasco/Brooklyn

Web Bluetooth

2019-02-18T00:00:00Z

It looks like Bluetooth connectivity is now available to progressive web apps (PWAs) - I can't wait to see what innovative uses might come out of this.

🔗 An Introduction To WebBluetooth — Smashing Magazine

Intro to Font Metrics

2019-02-19T00:00:00Z

Weston Thayer has gathered together some brilliant insights to the structure of font files with all the information available about a typeface.

I encourage designers and developers alike to understand what it all means.

🔗 Intro to Font Metrics

How To Build Trust As A Leader

2019-02-20T00:00:00Z

It turns out team-building exercises, recognition and transparency aren't the key to gaining trust as a leader – there's more to it than that.

As a team leader who strives for continuous improvement, there's some great suggestions here about showing vulnerability, being honest with your intent and actually following through with your actions – all habits I do try to make part of my day-to-day activity but can be easily overlooked or forgotten.

🔗 The 3 most effective ways to build trust as a leader

One Domain For All Your Side Projects

2019-02-21T00:00:00Z

Josh Hadik suggests a sensible approach to organising and hosting all your side projects on a single domain with an easy way to allow for scaling if it's required.

🔗 Organize Your Side Projects with a Single Domain

Finding Lena – Patron Saint of JPEG

2019-02-22T00:00:00Z

A fascinating story behind one of the most influential and iconic images of the Internet that established the foundations of the humble JPEG format. It's no shock that "adult content" was instrumental to it's success.

🔗 Finding Lena Forsen, the Patron Saint of JPEGs

The Anti-Mentor

2019-02-25T00:00:00Z

Have you ever had a bad boss? How about using those examples to influence how you lead your team? From personal experiences, I've made sure I behave how I'd like to have been treated in those circumstances.

However, you should be careful not to go too far the other way:

There are people I’ve worked with who’ve taken advantage of my overly generous tendencies, and left our team worse off.

🔗 The Anti-Mentor: How a bad boss influences our leadership style - Know Your Team Blog

LEGO mini-figure in CSS

2019-03-11T00:00:00Z

After seeing The LEGO Movie 2 at the weekend, I took great pleasure from swapping out the head expressions in this CSS pen. Nothing ground-breaking but simply addictive.

🔗A Pen by Captain Anonymous

Team Building WorkOuts

2019-03-14T00:00:00Z

Since becoming a line manager several years ago, I’ve liked to explore creative ways to build productive, performant teams. This may be through the working environment, everyday habits, even novel use of our tools to build strong relationships.

There is one method I’ve adopted that is quite unique though but produced interesting results - group work-outs.

Now, I know this isn’t conventional (even possible for many people) but we’re quite lucky to have an on-site gym in our office which I’ve been making the most of over recent years.

Once a week, I’ve arranged a “personal” training schedule with one of our fitness instructors where a group of us attend half hour HIIT sessions. This could be core, strength, cardio… whatever we feel like doing at the time.

As a mostly male group, it’s appeared quite comical, especially with some of the awkward positions and moves the instructor encourages us to try. We’ve come to nickname the session “Boyband” which, unfortunately for us, is gaining a bit of a reputation with other fitness regulars in the gym.

Coincidentally, there are some interesting articles in this month’s Wired magazine reflecting on the benefits of health and wellbeing for professional teams. Nik Whitfield – founder of cyber security firm Panaseer – gives a great quote on something similar:

When we exercise together, we’re at our most human - we’re sweating and pushing our limits. Knowing each other on this authentic level builds trust and respect in a way no contrived team-building session ever could.

Nik Whitfield, Working Up A Sweat

I’ve also come to realise the value our regular team session has gained and the potential for building strong teams with some quite obvious benefits. This isn’t limited to gym work-outs though - it could be applied to most physical sports. Let me elaborate with 6 points…

Sense of teamwork in the real world. We talk about teamwork in a working environment a lot but let’s take it back to it’s true essence - people coming together to form a team with a shared physical goal.
Identify strengths and supporting areas of improvement. Some people are stronger at certain factors over others. We use those strengths to our advantage but also help each other to work through the challenges.
Encourage personal improvements. Naturally, there’s a little bit of healthy competition but we do it in a friendly approach that helps each other, using coaching methods to support growth.
One shared goal. There’s a clear end goal we all share - whether you’re looking to improve your fitness, win a game or beat a PB. Establish that at the start together and work towards it.
Break away from the office environment. We all know the value in team away days, group lunches, drinks after work. This is just another opportunity to extend your comfort zones to other environments and find a common interest.
General health and wellbeing. As desk junkies, we’re all terrible for being active and healthy. Use sports as an opportunity to improve this for yourself and your team. A healthy body is a healthy mind (and vice versa).

I really encourage you to explore this concept with your team if it's a possibility. You don't even need to be a team-leader to make it happen.

Just suggest some form of exercise, maybe a game of sport, to see if any members of your team are interested - if it works, you'll do it again. I suggest you all commit to at least a few sessions to try set a regular cadence - gym memberships are normally quite good at doing this for you!

It's probably worth being mindful of your team's capabilities and desire to get involved though. It's not for everyone but it's worth posing the question.

(Image credit: Steve MacDougall)

Unpopular HTML elements

2019-03-21T00:00:00Z

How many of these HTML elements have you never used?

I remember using <progress>, <meter> and <output> in some old projects (that never surfaced) but <wbr> and <template> have gone completely untouched.

🔗10 HTML Elements You Didn't Know You Needed by Emma Wedekind

The History of Five Classic Typefaces

2019-03-25T00:00:00Z

Sean Adams' new book delves in to the history of some our most popular typefaces, understanding the origins and evolutions of each set.

This excerpt picks 5 including Garamond, Bodoni and Cooper Black. Insightful for anyone with an interest in typography.

🔗 Sean Adams's The Designer's Dictionary of Type explains famous fonts

Pi Cubed

2019-04-07T00:00:00Z

I love all the layers of Pi on this record-breaking feat:

Googler Emma Haruka Iwao has been busy using Google Compute Engine, powered by Google Cloud, to calculate the most accurate value of pi—ever. That’s 31,415,926,535,897 digits, to be exact. Emma used the power of the cloud for the task, making this the first time the cloud has been used for a pi calculation of this magnitude.

She calculated Pi to the precision of Pi (ish) on Pi Day (14th March - works better for our Stateside friends).

https://youtu.be/JvEvTcXF-4Q

🔗 Read more on the Google blog

Am I micromanaging my team?

2019-05-13T00:00:00Z

How do you know if you’re a micromanager, for sure? Here are the 5 most telling signs of micromanagement – and what you can do instead.

I can safely say I avoid the last four characteristics but carefully choose my words to check progress on project deliveries, especially with pressures from upper-management and key stakeholders.

🔗 Am I micromanaging my team? by Claire Lew

BT New Round Logo

2019-05-17T00:00:00Z

I salute the confidence of such a bold move (maybe that's why it took them so long to get it live - months or even years of design by committee to sign off?) but, even as a fan of round monochrome identities, I can't say I'm that impressed.

I know plenty work normally goes in to rebrands – especially at the scale of an organisation like BT – but this is quite a remarkable simplification of what could've been a significantly influential step in British design culture.

It does look particularly similar to a well-known fashion company I'm close to as well…

Source: BT unveils new logo after years of work – its name in a circle

On The Side

2019-06-25T00:00:00Z

Do you have a side project you want to work on but struggle to focus on or complete? Have you thought about sharing your challenges?

That’s where On The Side comes in.

I’ve long been an advocate of side projects since working in tech. In fact, some of my best ideas have come from side projects; from hacking together a World Cup calendar, to meeting fellow geeks for a monthly beer; from sharing my love for house music to ranting about working in tech.

All these projects had one thing in common though - sharing.

The old cliché “a problem shared is a problem halved” is often true. This theory is proven when working in tech as well. As a team lead in software development, I often encourage engineers to pair (or even mob) program when trying to solve a problem. Granted, it’s not always plain-sailing but there is plenty evidence to demonstrate this approach works.

When working on side projects, I mostly do this as a lone ranger. It’s normally down to the situation - I’m sat alone on the train or at home with a computer and some time on my hands. I have a loose plan of how to approach a problem, working in isolation. Then I encounter an issue which takes me down some rabbit holes. Then life happens.

My day job takes up most my time or I have normal family demands. My weekends are filled with activities to enjoy time with people around me. Then Monday morning comes around again and I’ve made little-to-no progress on that thing I want to work on.

As I shared my stories with Ben Russell, another self-confessed techie who is struggling to finish some side projects, we realised we have a similar problem. We knew we wouldn’t be alone in this world either:

There must be plenty other people out there who struggle to focus on finishing their own passions.
There must be other people out there who’d like to work together on a project.
There must be a better way to organise this problem.

My day job is to focus on delivering good quality software, frequently and with a prioritised iterative approach based on user demand. Is there a way I can bring this approach to side projects?

This is where On The Side comes in.

On The Side is a collaboration space for people who want help delivering their side projects. It’s a place where you can encourage each other to focus on finishing a task, where you can ask questions or get support on those problems you’re stuck on.

You might even want to join forces with others in the community to build a new thing. I've been in situations before where I just want to share a project idea for validation, better suggestions or just technical support. This would be a great place to do that.

At the moment, it’s barebones to see if the idea has legs. We’ve setup a Slack workspace (open invite) to get people involved. We’ll be experimenting with appropriate tools to see what works to help organise our projects (such as Notion for shared notes and progress).

It won’t be prescriptive - you can use whatever tools work for you. However, I am keen to find a simple mechanism that could facilitate regular "asynchronous standups” across individual’s diaries.

We have set some initial guidelines and conventions to get started:

#general - chit-chat about anything
#introductions - a place for people to introduce themselves and meet others
#p-on-the-side - all things related to this project (On The Side).
#p-any-project - any project to be discussed, hyphenated and prefixed with p-. (We encourage public channels but, if you prefer, you can invite people to private channels.)
#help - help with any general problems you might be having, typically channelled correctly.
#h-topic - help with any topical problems, all prefixed with h-.
#demo - a place to show-off your latest thing; from a prototype to a fully-fledged app

For now, join the On The Side Slack space to find out what's going on and how we can help each other to finish our side projects. I'm keen to see if there's much appetite for a community like this so please spread the word with people you think might be in a similar position to us.

Let's see where this goes.

Rugby World Cup Times

2019-10-07T00:00:00Z

The latest in a long line of sports based calendar apps I’ve got a habit of making, this time for Rugby World Cup 2019.

Kick Off #

Way back in 2006, I applied some recently proposed web standards (Microformats) to the upcoming football World Cup which could be parsed out into calendar subscriptions for Outlook, MacOS and Google (there was very little mobile web back then!)

After some amazing coverage from the web community and media outlets (like BBC, The Guardian and Yahoo!), it was an extremely popular success and demonstrated the potential of sports based calendars.

When Euro 2008 came around, I applied the model again to limited success but it caught the attention of UEFA who commissioned a custom build for their competititions. Since then, I’ve worked with friends to create similar versions for 6 Nations rugby, Formula 1 racing and a couple more world cups.

Half Time #

As I repeated the model, I started to explore alternative platforms for quickly building these calendars. The pattern was common but the underlying technology was getting messy as the initial “hack” was just getting disorganised and difficult to maintain with small iterations getting out of hand.

I started to build a solution in CakePHP (my go-to framework at the time) which allowed anyone to create a calendar and share in open formats (ICS, JSON and RSS). It was a mobile first solution which introduced further UI challenges and, as a side project, never really got the full attention it deserved.

I used the platform to create a calendar for World Cup 2016 and manage 6 Nations calendars to mixed results.

However, the platform was tricky to support with limited knowledge and capacity to maintain so it eventually lost traction.

Extra Time #

During the Spring this year with the Rugby World Cup approaching, I had a revelation; rather than trying to centralise the sports calendars and revive a two year old app, why not start again with an open-source approach so anyone could create their own custom calendars?

The foundations of this project came from adopting, extending and championing standard patterns with cutting-edge tech. By creating an open-source framework for others to use and contribute towards, it will allow the creation of many other online calendars and encourage the community to extend and improve the framework.

I had a new-found energy to make this happen and even reached out to some old friends to support me. With the Rugby World Cup competition as my guinea pig and a fixed date to work towards, I had to prioritise what was needed to get the minimum viable product out the door. I was also keen to learn the latest technology after a bit of a hiatus from code with my job taking a leadership focus. This was an opportunity to learn some Node, frameworks and hosting options so I could understand the Web landscape after a few years focused on people and delivery processes.

Along the way, I realised I would benefit from a small community to encourage me to deliver. It prompted the formation of On The Side – a small Slack community where others struggling to focus on side projects could support and help each other to get something out the door. (Read the blog post for more details)

Final Whistle #

After a month or so of development, supported by the OTS community and following constant iterative prioritisation, I managed to get a Minimum Loveable Product live a week ahead of the competition starting (how about that – releasing something before a deadline‽).

Development didn't end once it was live though. I continued to release minor updates from user feedback; accessibility concerns over text contrast, layout bugs on some devices I didn't have access to, filtering options by tags… you get the idea. User feedback trumped most my personal plans as they were validated requirements.

By utilising Github's architecture, the project is setup as a dedicated open-source group, issues tracked and projects planned in the hope of others getting involved (hat-tip to Kevin for his Gatsby skills). Using Github also allowed me to try out Netlify for continuous deployment on a free hobby hosting plan. It was amazingly seamless to configure and really encouraged me to focus on rapid releases which ensured only quality code was shipped through testing.

Next Round #

Rugby World Cup Times was just the first edition of this project to see how it works. I'll now be reviewing the project, whether this open-source approach works, observing all the data I can get access to such as user analytics and Google/social metrics.

I'll be taking any relevant customisations back to the boilerplate for another edition, looking at any appropriate sports competitions that might benefit from a dedicated calendar. It's funny though; the Venn diagram of sports enjoyed by geeks is quite limited so it's tricky to find a sport that the tech community will want to work on.

I also want to create a website to promote the template and encourage others to get involved. Whilst Github is an amazing platform for open-source communities, I want to substantiate the project with more context and plans. Again, I'll be looking at suitable tools and frameworks to build that site, reaching out to my network to support me with it.

Rugby World Cup Times was a great opportunity to learn new tech and apply my learnings over the years to another project I enjoy. This is definitely not the end of my sports calendar niche I've always advocated.

🔗 rugbyworldcuptimes.com

WeekNotes #1

2020-01-06T00:00:00Z

Life

Highlight of the week was a trip to Disneyland Paris via Dover-Calais ferry. Why are British roads such a mess compared to Europe? The worst part is always on the "smart" motorways, limiting speeds to 50mph for the majority of the trip despite there being low volume. Toll roads to Paris only cost €17 and 80mph is a good cruising speed with no traffic either. More toll roads in the UK please!

Disneyland – a joy for the kids at endless cost for the parents. We forked out for FastPasses to enjoy all the main attractions with minimal waiting times. It's also worth talking to customer services at City Hall if your child has special needs as they will try to accommodate them. We got priority access for our son's autism diagnosis so there were no long waits for rides. (Hat-tip to my On The Side friend Dom Hodgson aka UKDisDad for his invaluable advice ahead of travelling too - he certainly knows his stuff)

We stopped at Staycity Aparthotels - a brand new accommodation experience just 10 minutes from Disneyland with a free regular shuttle. It still smells of paint, beds were ridiculously comfortable (not great wanting to sleep when you need to be up early for the parks) – but there was no bottle opener in the kitchen. In France?! Sacré bleu! Jokes aside, it was easily resolved by asking at reception and I'd highly recommend this accommodation if you're considering Disneyland Paris with the family.

Work

Zero contact with the office over the past few weeks - not even New Years messages to the team (all my contact details are on my work phone at home so it proved quite tricky).

On my return though, I will negotiate bringing my leaving date forward. If that goes to plan, only 4 weeks left at ASOS. That time will fly but, I'm sure, drag at points. I just hope a replacement is confirmed soon so I can start handover and end this chapter on a high.

I'm looking forward to a new challenge in 2020 at WorldFirst though; returning to finance, exploring new ways of working and delivering software across multiple timezones and cultures, learning about other industries and communities.

Health

We've got a 50km walk challenge across the Jurassic Coast planned for May so time to get in some training. I intend to close my Apple activity rings every day this year (maybe allow 1-2 days a month buffer). I started the running regime Saturday morning after an unexpected early wake-up call – managed 3.5km in about 20 minutes, not bad considering the lack of exercise over the past few weeks. Back to the gym Monday too.

From next week, time to have a booze detox following the festivities (allowing for a few treats with weekends out planned). I'm also removing milky coffees from my diet; I've become far too addicted to a flat whites at work so going back to black coffee or the occasional soya replacement.

Side Projects

Make Life Work series 1 concluded this week with Mike Hince. There have been over 100 listens since launch with a gentle climb of followers and subscribers over the month so it's certainly tapping in to a niche but to a limited audience. I've ramped up promotion of a "binge listen" (as I know some people prefer that approach) which seemed to engage quite well and even tried some Facebook advertising to improve visibility. The next series of guests are lined up for recording from next week and I'm looking forward to announcing the roster over the coming weeks.

Good old Multipack friend Andy Yates has also made a great start on the new open-sourced version of F1 Calendar with quite a few PR's raised over the festive break (very encouraging to see the early motivation and output – especially during an apparent break from work). Andy H and I have both lacked the time to maintain the existing version which has caused a bit of a stir with incorrect times (following F1 updates) so, hopefully, this will help alleviate the problem where anyone can fix and update the service that is extremely popular.

I've also been thinking about the future of House Finesse too and whether it's time to sunset it (inspired by the conversation with Mike about Howler). As we're in the 15th year, we're no longer breaking ground as podcasts are now mainstream and established as a talking format. Heavyweights like Defected and other professional DJs have a firm grasp on the streaming market and my personal interest is losing momentum. It might be time to call it but will be discussing options with my Finesse Brothers (Stu and Matt) and a few other industry contacts over the coming weeks about where to take it.

Entertainment

Travelling to Paris for 4 days has certainly limited my entertainment consumption (French TV certainly didn't relate to me) but we have been catching up on some of the Christmas content on our return.

The Trial of Christine Keeler on BBC has certainly grabbed my attention with it's political angle, delightful 60s theme and crime thriller nature.

Joe Lycett's I'm About to Lose Control on All4 was probably the best comedy standup we've seen for a few months too. The fact my wife used to work with his dad definitely helps to relate with him, obviously with all the Birmingham and Black Country references we personally get.

The Rise of Skywalker was a joy to watch at the weekend too – a brilliantly epic conclusion to the saga, well directed, produced and acted by the whole team. I'm not sure if I felt a little underwhelmed at the end or disappointed that's the end (for now). Surely Disney will be exploring all the spin-off's though to make sure the franchise stays alive and continues to bring in the dollar.

Finally, as part of my personal wellbeing for the new year/decade, I'm trying to read a little more than 2019. I've setup a daily habit in TickTick to read for 20 minutes - perfectly feasible considering I spend over 90 minutes on the train every weekday.

I got Red Herrings and White Elephants for Christmas (thanks Mum!), a curious non-fiction book diving in to the origins of English idioms we use every in our day-to-day conversations. It's interesting to observe so many originate from nautical times of years past; "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" came from the idea that disobedient crew-mates were made to whip each other with cat o' nine tails with the likelihood of returning the favour in the future so took it easy on their counterparts.

WeekNotes #2

2020-01-13T00:00:00Z

Work

This week, the team moved desks to a new floor, physically closer to our dependent teams which should improve communication and relationships. For me, it’s not a big thing with the pending departure and other recent moves, but I gathered from the team it’s quite an emotional event. I do find it funny how comfortable people get in their working environments, especially when we encourage “hot-desking” across the whole of the company.

I’ve also been trying to negotiate my departure date from ASOS back to the end of January, all pending leadership sign-off. It’s scary to think that the first month has flown by (the two week Christmas break certainly helped) but I’m also keen to wrap up my time with some specific goals. Three months notice can have their benefits from a management perspective but much less so from the employee's perspective.

One of which is to back-fill some leavers I inherited when I joined the team. It’s been a long drawn-out process trying to source the candidates but came good this week with an impressive candidate interviewing really well and offer accepted. Interestingly, as part of the negotiation, they asked about a career development plan for them which made us (speedily) pull together what we have to offer. It’s quite impressive to see what engineers get from the company, especially at the scale we’re talking about.

Life

The first family birthday of the month/year/decade was for my step-dad this week. We decided to get him some refillable beer bottles with some guest ales from a local indie shop, Rugby Tap. They get new casks in every week and open most weeknights until at least 8pm so I'll be returning there in the future to reduce my recycling waste of beer bottles.

In the vicinity, we had a lovely breakfast at our new favourite haunt, Inside The 22. A great environment for food, drink and entertainment opposite Rugby School (where the game was originally invented). The owner told us they host band nights and had an album launch planned for Saturday evening so, when we heard the music that was coming, we suggested a friend's band Blue Nation he should reach out to. Sounds like that will be happening soon.

We also returned to Walsall Saturday evening for a friend's first gig in many years. She was awesome, blasting out a range of classics from the 80s and 90s (which actually provoked a new Nineties YouTube Music playlist). We used the opportunity to catch up with some old local chums too; Graham, the man who introduced me to my good lady wife nearly 20 years ago and Alex, another long-term friend from our youth. Aah, reminiscing times…

Health

I’ve hit the gym every day in the office (typical start-of-year motivation combined with my pending departure) and I've been mostly focused on weights and strength. I’m now on the bars and currently shifting 40kg which I gather is quite an impressive start.

I’ve now eased off the dairy coffees too, hitting the soya flat white instead of my preferred full-fat milk #SoHipster. I’ve not felt the benefit yet but the texture and taste is actually quite pleasant despite early concerns. I'm also considering an intolerance test to try understand what my dietary demands could be following research with my ongoing abdominal pains.

We also went for a whole week without meat for our main evening meals; a combination of fish and meat-free replacements complimented with fresh vegetables or salads. Weekends are when we tend to indulge (not binge!) on alcohol so that's accompanied with the occasional meats. I think a 4:3 balance is good enough, especially with the balance towards meat & alcohol free.

Sides

Si ‘Cast is back, reviving an old format that was intended for Verbal Diary.

I’ve gone back to twice daily recorded voice memos on the drive to and from the train station. It gives me 10 minutes to plan the day and reflect on the reality.

This is unedited, off-the-cuff audio on very low-tech (iPhone 11 with Voice Record Pro posted straight to Pinecast). It’s audible but not high quality - I want it to be an authentic recording summarising a similar theme to these week-notes (and actually help summarise them).

I’m time-boxing this to a few weeks to see how it goes and grows. If it’s not sustainable or yielding any interest, I’ll can it. It’s low effort and zero cost though so not too challenging, just part of a daily routine and, with the conclusion of my time at ASOS and new job approaching, it could be a great time to capture for personal prosperity.

Make Life Work is back in the recording studio for season 2, starting with Naomi White (née Atkinson) on Friday. I’ve long appreciated Naomi’s design work and side projects plus she’s been very prevalent in the speaking community too so it’s fascinating to hear her story, especially as we share a similar background at university.

I also realised the 6 Nations competition was fast approaching so started looking into setting up my typical calendar service for it. Following some quick research, it turns out the official source are finally offering calendar downloads and subscriptions including TV broadcasters. I feel like my work is done in this space now they’ve realised the value (it's only taken 12 years) so I won’t be trying to compete for traffic.

On the calendar front, Andy Yates has been making amazing progress on the F1 Calendar rebuild as that season fast approaches too. We hope to have it ready in the next couple of weeks so, if interested, make sure you follow @F1Cal on Twitter or the Github project.

Finally, Verbal Diary has been shelved. James and I have always struggled to schedule a regular recording time and now we're no longer working together with new jobs, it's become even harder. I don't want to say it'll never happen again but, for the foreseeable future, we'll be wrapping it up. (I'll probably let the domain expire at the end of this month - it's $30/year which just seems wasteful).

Entertainment

Ladhood on BBC has caught my attention this week; another coming-of-age comedy series based on a bunch of lads growing up in Leeds in the noughties. It resonates quite well with me with some of the topics covered plus I find the creator, Liam Williams, very familiar; he has an air of John Simm and Andrew Lincoln about the way he talks.

Red Herrings and White Elephants is still keeping me enlightened on the origins of everyday idioms. Personal favourites include "pommy or pom" (the Australian's wrongly accused nickname for Brits as Prisoners of Mother England - P.O.M.E.) and "berk" (a mildly-humorous put-down which is actually abbreviated from the Cockney-rhyming slang for "Berkshire Hunt").

WeekNotes #3

2020-01-20T00:00:00Z

[rt_reading_time label="Estimated reading time:" postfix="minutes" postfix_singular="minute"]

WeekNotes 3 touch on final dates at ASOS, tech tools, #FortyFest, walking Jurassic Coast, food intolerances, #MakeLifeWork, #HouseFinesse, Year In Reviews, bass guitars, #DeadwaterFell, #Murmurs, Paul Velocity, DJ EZ, Hed Kandi and more idiom origins.

Work

Following a week of discussions, we’ve finally managed to negotiate my final date at ASOS to the end of January – kudos to my line manager for chasing and supporting my desire to wrap up my ASOS tenor so I can begin the next chapter at WorldFirst sooner.

The priority from that was initiating handover with my replacement which we fast-tracked into documents, notes and details of all the necessary data sources for the team KPI’s. It's actually quite satisfying to see how many new tools and metrics I’ve shifted from frontend development to backend APIs over the last 5 months. I’ve swapped JIRA for Azure DevOps, New Relic for Grafana, Trello for Planner and Confluence for SharePoint (don’t ask!)

Obviously, the most important thing after that was arranging leaving drinks. I’ve decided the Thursday would be better suited for maximum availability plus our monthly Tech Develops falls on the Friday so, whilst I’m wrapping up and doing final handover, the rest of the team will be busy learning.

Life

We returned to the West Midlands this past weekend for another significant family party on the other side. It was wonderful to see all the family together, despite everyone getting older and calmer than the original days when I met them all, nearly 20 years ago.

Plans for both of us tuning 40 this year are under way too. The “blow out’ holiday is booked for Bali over Easter plus a “Forty Fest” party is planned for the first week of September (between both our birthdays) when we’ll be inviting all our family and friends for a number of music acts, food, drink and fun. It’s amazing to have so many people around us who can make this happen and we think celebrating with the masses (most our school and uni chums are also hitting "the big four-oh" too) just after the school summer break should be something for everyone to look forward to.

Health

Preparation for our Jurassic Coast Challenge in May started this week but, as typical managers, we spent several hours merely planning out the training programme and fundraising activities. The challenge is mid-May so we’ve got 16 weeks to fit in practice walks, starting with a 15km warm-up next weekend.

We’ve setup JustGiving with individual and team pages which seemed to make sense initially but, following complicated configurations, would’ve been easier as a joint page in the end. That said, a bit of healthy competition between the two of us won’t hurt.

The diet log started this week in MyFitnessPal, recording all the meals and snacks I’ve indulged in through the days. It’s a tricky habit to get in to, especially with the adhoc drink or biscuit, but my OCD nature certainly enjoys all that extra data capture.

I also reached out on Twitter for recommendations of food intolerance tests which returned record responses (for quite a few months) from plenty of people, known and unknown. It’s a pleasant reminder of how powerful social media can be and what a wonderful community we have around us, but on the flip side, how many equally suffer with indigestion issues nowadays. Is it a new cause of dietary varieties or the consequence of growing awareness?

On the food front, I’ve also tried to use up the remaining goodies from Christmas by making a Pannetone Pudding (hence the cover photo). I don’t normally make sweet treats in the kitchen, I’m more in to savoury, so this was a new thing for me. That said, I was quite proud of my home-made custard for moisture and it tasted pretty good. If I did it again, it would need more vanilla and nutmeg to add that extra flavour.

Sides

Make Life Work continued in the recording studio this week with Ashley and Kevin sharing their career stories along with how they find a balance with side projects, health and personal demands. Marc will be recorded next week plus one final guest needs securing and recording in the next few weeks before I start the new job. Then I can crack on with production and preparation for a February release. I really do enjoy having the conversations with the individuals; I’m normally buzzing after the sessions so, as long as I can fit this in, it'll definitely be continuing. All the guests so far are keen for follow-ups as well so I’ll have to work out how to make that happen.

House Finesse has been handed over to my partners-in-crime, Stu and Matt, at least for the next few months. I’m trying to keep it going as it approaches 15 years of mixes but with minimal commitment on my part as I start the new job and find my capacity. (There's a recurring theme here, right?)

Away from my laptop, I've also been thinking about learning more musical instruments. I'm tempted to take on the bass guitar this year, spend more time on the piano and (ideally) setup my decks in the home studio. That final one might be harder to convince my wife but she quickly offered to buy me a guitar for my 40th birthday (alongside my mid-life crisis tattoo I have planned) and I could always justify the decks as practice for a set at our "Forty Fest" party in September…

Tech

A new section that I realised I was overlooking - quite concerning considering my line of work.

This week has presented two "Year In Review" infographics from some of my favourite apps; Monzo and Untappd.

My #YearInMonzo
My #YearInBeer

I'm not sure if should be proud or concerned that my most popular places on Monzo are my nearest takeaway and convenience store plus 56 unique beers in one year suggests one a week.

HelloCast has continued to impress me as I plan out and record Make Life Work. An amazing tool for gathering notes on guests and episodes, clearly made by people who know this industry (good ol' "eating dog food" at play)

I've had several connectivity issues at home; one with an old WD MyBookWorld NAS drive that just doesn't seem to want to connect or be discoverable on our home network, and the new Hive cam seems to drop connection quite regularly which I suspect is due to nearby competition with The Boy's Netflix UHD streaming.

Speaking of the Boy, we put his Xbox One S on eBay this weekend to fund the final part required of his new gaming PC; a graphics card. He's hoping to get at least £110 for it but we reckon it's worth around £150 if pushed.

Entertainment

Deadwater Fell on All4 has caught our attention over the past few weeks. Always loved David Tennant so it's quite refreshing seeing him play a more sinister character and in his home country. I have found it frustrating not being able to binge the entire series though respect Channel 4 for eking out the series over time properly.

Murmurs on BBC Sounds - intriguing half hour stories, first one about some time travel between modern and old times, second around paranormal outcomes and third with strange happenings. Think Black Mirror crossed with X Files. I also love this use of podcasts on an influential platform, providing short stories in small, digestible forms. It would be great to see more like this.

The music playlist has taken a turn back to the late-90s, early noughties where I've been revisiting some classic UK Garage and Hed Kandi on Youtube including Paul Velocity's Oldskool UKG mix, DJ EZ's Boiler Room x RBMA London session and Disco Heaven 01.05.

I’ve continued to read Red Herrings and White Elephants, discovering the origins of everyday idioms. Here’s some of my recent favourites:

“Don't let the bastards grind you down" - that naughty word actually references a 17th century carpentry tool called a bastard file, a coarse file used as a heavy-handed way to grind something down for finer touch-ups.
“Cock and bull story” derives from Stony Stratford – a nearby town almost central between London, Birmingham, Cambridge and Oxford – which has two coaching inns, The Cock and The Bull, who tried to outdo each other with exciting travelling tales.
"Murphy's Law" hails from an old Air Force engineer called Edward Murphy who, as part of his investigations into airline accidents, highlighted all the obvious mistakes made which the project manager at the time coined as Murphy's Laws.

WeekNotes #4

2020-01-27T00:00:00Z

WeekNotes #4 brings a 21km practice walk, tattoos, tooth fairies, Comic Con, roadmaps, group fitness, F1 Calendar, more Make Life Work, NFC apps, money management, PayPal woes, Smart homes, Cold Feet, Jumanji and podcast inspiration.

Life

Prep began for the big Jurassic Coast (walking) Challenge this past weekend with our first practice walk. 21km around surrounding villages, through different terrain and damp weather. Seriously proud of ourselves, especially considering it didn’t kill us, just tightened muscles.

Diet tracking has taken a turn for the worse as I just couldn’t get in to the habit of recording all the food through my day, especially the home-made and takeaway specials. Following my chat with Marc on Friday though, I want to see how his habit tracker could be adjusted to suit me.

My mid-life crisis continues with finding inspiration for suitable tattoo artwork. I've had it in my mind for months to cover up the existing Chinese symbol on my upper right arm with something more meaningful to me. A visit to a local tattoo shop gave me plenty ideas although I need to improve my Google Fu when searching.

Princess lost her first baby tooth this week (at the tender age of 7½ as well) to much fanfare. But what’s the current exchange rate for teeth? It turns out the averages fluctuate around the UK, from 50p up to £20! It looks like the tooth fairy went for the safe £2 in our region.

We’re also planning our ComicCon visit for this year, probably heading over to the “Welsh” gathering (in Telford) for a change of scenery. There’s a mix of themes to play with though; The Boy is keen on Stranger Things but Princess on His Dark Materials. I’m considering the former so I can go for the “simpler” Jim Hopper cop with handlebar moustache.

Work

The countdown is on with just a few weeks left at ASOS. All the handovers and 121’s required before my final week (when my replacement is on holiday) so we had to condense in as much as possible.

Before I parted ways, I was keen to help the team identify their vision and roadmap for the next few quarters. I used personas as a foundation, grouping people up to “become” the personas and note down three topics based on emotions:

What are you currently thinking/doing/feeling? 🤔
What would you love to see? 🥰
What would annoy you? 🙄

Each group then discussed their outputs with the wider group, organising and visualising on a wall, which were then aggregated and prioritised together. As we discussed the common areas, other topics came up which we captured as extra “discovery” topics. We then went through the currently planned roadmap to see what overlapped (it helps align with business commitments and decisions) then volunteers claimed the feature they were most passionate about to encourage ownership and responsibility.

It’s not just about the management though; we had one last “Boyband” reunion (which I referred to the benefits of last year). Emotional times as the boys battled through some seriously tough workouts yet they were still capable of lifting me at the end for a posing shot.

I’m not the only one leaving ASOS at the moment; a chat group with a friend who’s leaving and another approaching 10 years definitely highlighted how things have changed over the years (some for good, some not as much). We were reflecting on the situation 6 years ago before the unbelievable growth through some tough times. I’m hoping that “startup” feel is still evident in my new gig – one of the attractive factors – but, after recent investment from a Cantonese organisation, I need to be ready for some challenging times.

Sides

F1 Calendar “2020 Edition” was released at the start of the week to controlled fanfare (and minimal pain). Amazing effort from Andy Y to get this out the door before the season starts and initial metrics look like it’s still serving an awesome audience. Side note: waking up to PRs and deployment notifications with Andy’s California timezone are seriously throwing me. (It’ll be another adjustment as I join WorldFirst.)

Make. Life. Work. series 2 recordings are now in the can following chats with Marc and Dan D. I’ve got one more lined up for next week with Daniel V giving me one extra for this round (despite throwing out the gender ratio).

I also recorded a load of videos to create a “Making of…” series to support the project. It started off as a blog draft when I realised (a) there’s loads to cover so I should break it down and (b) video content might be more engaging for this topic. Production is still under way as I find a house style I’m happy with but it’s been great getting feedback from my On The Side acquaintances to shape it better.

Tech

Two iOS apps have impressed me this week for completely different reasons:

ReadID NFC is super useful to validate NFC identity documents. My wife’s passport wasn’t scanning correctly on the return from France a few weeks back so we started the replacement process (along with the pain of capturing a passport friendly photo on her phone). After a little Googling, I tested her passport with this app which proved it’s fine. Much cheaper than £80!
Yolt is a brilliant app for monitoring your current, savings and credit accounts in one aggregate view thanks to Open Banking. Since I’ve setup a number of online current accounts such as Monzo, Starling and Revolut, I’ve been curious where my spending habits are going. UX is delightful and, so far, no issues. Encouraging and enlightening…

The Boy’s Xbox One S was snapped up last week (at the Buy It Now price too), however, that didn’t come without issues. For some reason, an old PayPal account I created for a family member received the funds which was on lock-down for 3 weeks and incapable of access despite all the security mechanisms and answers. Luckily, I was able to issue a refund directly to the buyer but now it needs rectifying so we can ship that out and order the graphics card.

After putting it off for years, I’ve finally ordered an SSD dock for the replacement drive in my 2012 iMac. The original drive is just completely dead so I want to get it up-and-running with a basic 128GB SSD and see how difficult it actually is to replace a drive. I’ve nothing to lose though; it’s been sitting there like an ornament for the past 2 years.

Since getting an individual Philips Hue bulb for Christmas, it’s been rendered quite useless so far apart from the novelty of changing the brightness from my phone. I finally ordered a Hub with extra bulbs this weekend so I’ll be having fun setting that up next week.

Entertainment

Deadwater Fell has continued to entertain us with David Tennant’s seriously intense character.
Trial of Christine Keeler concluded with some unexpected twists at the end. Brilliant performance from James Norton (not that one) - he is definitely one to watch!
Cold Feet recently returned for another series which we still enjoy - the UK’s “Friends” as we described it to The Boy.
Jumanji: The Next Level lived up to expectations, that is a dreadful remake and extension of the latest franchise. I’m not sure what I’m more disappointed by; the lack of story or the fact The Rock doesn’t appear to age.
Roman Mars’ 99% Invisible and Elizabeth Elcoate’s The Elastic Brand have now entered my podcatcher, both for interesting content and inspiration for Make. Life. Work.
Folamour's DJ Mag set is a delightful disco/funk/soul mix and a wonder to watch as he enjoys his music.
The Shapeshifters new track "Second Chance" with Kimberly Davis has been on loop since Defected Radio Shows have been hammering it out to build up interest. It's working, guys!

WeekNotes #5

2020-02-04T00:00:00Z

Week 5 of 2020 brings generous colleagues on the final day at ASOS, muscles, Make Life Work video snippets, gaming PCs, Apple Express Transit, Byte, The Vision, Little Boots & Shrill.

Work

That was my last week at ASOS (#AllTheFeels). Seriously though, after working in one place for over 6 years, spending the majority of weekdays with these people, I've made some fantastic friends (not just colleagues).

As I drafted my leaving message, it made me realise how many people have been on the journey with me. From starting in the Birmingham office (with just 3 others for company), shifting to London on a number of different teams, help grow the Web platform to over 60 people and nurture a number of cross-cutting initiatives including community meetups, ASOS Tech's online brand, Families in Tech and much more. I was over the moon to see my request for donations to the Jurassic Coast Challenge for Mind rather than silly gifts raised nearly £350 for the charity. What lovely and generous people!

The final day was naturally a difficult day, not helped by a stinking hangover from the previous evening's leaving drinks, but that didn't stop me wrapping up on a high. Our monthly Tech Develops returned and, with it, I encouraged two of my engineers to present work to peers as part of their personal objectives. It was testament to the individuals when one talk was sold out and in high demand (take 2 is planned for next month) and the other showed encouraging signs for more collaboration across engineering teams. I feel like my work here is done!

Next week, I start my new adventure at WorldFirst. With just one day to rest and recoup, I'm super-keen to get started and understand what my objectives will be. A cheeky email to my new manager this week suggests I'll be flexing my Jira skills pulling together suitable dashboards and reports for teams to get visibility of focus and delivery. Looking forward to that.

Life

With it being my final week at ASOS, I was also keen to make the most of the free gym and subsidised personal training so squeezed in three sessions amongst all the final bits of work. The personal trainer did give me encouraging signs though to suggest all the fitness is paying off as my strength has improved quite substantially this year, in weights and physique.

I'm now on the hunt for an alternative gym to keep this fitness bug going. There are a couple options around London near the new office block at Millbank Tower or some around my home train station in Rugby. I don't want to commit to another £50 subscription (as is typical) so will be looking for either a reduced price or PAYG model.

Sides

Make Life Work was the main focus for side projects this week. I managed to create a snappy video title sequence for the Making Of... series, pulling together clips from the Skype video calls we used to record the sessions. However, I naively forgot to get clearance from all the guests of the podcast which came as a bit of a shock for some of them to see their faces in the sequence. I quickly pulled the teaser from Twitter and reconsidered the approach, even though most people were understanding after some reactive conversations.

I've also continued recording the twice daily voice notes as part of my commute to and from the train station (or start and end of day when working from home). I'm keen to rebrand it under the Verbal Diary guise (seeing as that was the original intent) but it could get confusing if we ever revive the podcast with James so, after learning from the mistake of the title sequence before, I might put a pin in that.

Tech

The biggest tech achievement of the week (ne life) was completing the build of The Boy's new gaming PC. After selling his Xbox One and resolving the Paypal issues, we got the graphics card delivered, installed and the machine seemed to work first time amazingly. The satisfaction on his face gave me such joy but, secretly, I was also quite proud of myself for (a) helping him and (b) coaching him to think about the process without speeding ahead as a typical Gen Z.

On Wednesday, I tried swapping my Apple Watch from left wrist to right to see how it feels. The reason for this was to prepare for Apple Express Transit payments on the London Tube when I start using them next week. It also prompted a Twitter poll which suggests I'm not alone in using my non-dominant wrist.

https://twitter.com/Si/status/1222816269092696064

Notable apps of the week include:

Very early preview of a coaching app an (ex) ASOS colleague is currently alpha testing with fellow "emotionally intelligent" coaches
Philips Hue now that my smart bulbs are finally connected to a Hub, it just needs some configuration with HomeKit, Alexa etc
byte - the latest attempt at a social video network by the creator of Vine which I can't say has caught my attention but at least I’ve secured my sijobling moniker, disappointed it doesn’t support 2-letter usernames.

Entertainment

The Vision’s “Mountains” (Danny Krivit Edit) is a fabulous follow-up to last year’s Heaven, continuing with Andreya Triana’s wonderful vocals on their infectious loops and quality production. Must buy (when it’s available)

Little Boots disco set in The Lab for Mixmag is a delightful mix by an unknown DJ (to me) who has some serious skills - and I’m always up for highlighting a decent female DJ to fight back the male-dominant market.

Shrill is a fantastic US comedy series we recently discovered on BBC iPlayer about a young journalist who goes through some difficult times challenging the status quo, using her image to her advantage. I love her persona along with the relationships with British house-mate and work hubby.

WeekNotes #6

2020-02-10T00:00:00Z

Week 6 of 2020 brings a new job, unused gym memberships, Ferrite, merging cloud storage woes, Windows shortcuts, TfL Contactless data, Purple Disco Machine, Man Like Mobeen, Ghostbusters and freelancer idioms.

Work

This was my first week at WorldFirst; my first company change since 2013! Needless to say I was full of excitement, energy & anxiety, wondering what to expect from the company, the team and the role. The first few days were energy draining. I was thrown into a few projects to get a better understanding and improve communication (typical NDA's hold me back from sharing the exact details) but it was fascinating to see how they operate at an international level and what the internal teams have done so far.

I was also tasked with documenting the basics of agile delivery to guide our teams how we should strive to operate across all the engineering squads. I spent a few days understanding the status quo but also noting down my recommendations from personal experiences. It's been enlightening to compare models between two different companies but also highlight the differences.

What really caught my attention was all the pleasant extras WorldFirst offer employees to make you enjoy your working environment; every Tuesday newstarters take a chocolate trolley around the office to meet new people, the kitchen is full of breakfast goodies and snacks to keep you going through the day and the classic Friday beers are available from 4:30pm. My desk view across London is phenomenal too (hence the feature cover image) but it's taking some adjustment with the additional daily Tube journey from Euston to Pimlico. I still make it to the office for 8:30am though to hook up with our Chinese counterparts.

Life

With the new job, I'm slowly adjusting to a new routine but I did manage to squeeze in a swim Monday (the one day off between jobs) and Saturday with the kids, plus I also signed up to a local Rugby gym on a £5 month trial. I've not had the chance to try it out yet with evening commutes but plan to get down there a few times next week with things settling down.

Sides

Make Life Work editing finally began using a new iPad app, Ferrite (see Tech below), starting with Naomi White's conversation. As the first session of the series, we used a Skype call to capture audio for convenience but it's definitely more tricky to trim, edit and level when using a single audio track. I'm glad subsequent guests recorded locally which I'll continue to encourage on future episodes.

I also realised this week most my "successful" projects are results of community efforts; House Finesse with Stu and Matt; Derby County with Franca, Simon and co; F1 Calendar with Andy, Brian and Andy. It definitely helps surrounding yourself with people who can help bounce ideas and challenge you in ways. Having OnTheSide to help with Make Life Work certainly has.

Tech

Ferrite - the most expensive iOS app I've ever bought (£28) but it should be used enough to justify the cost. The UX is so natural to anyone who's edited audio before and it appears to offer all the basics to produce a good sounding podcast. We'll see as I use it more.

I'm in the process of trying to consolidate my online subscriptions, starting with migrating Dropbox to iCloud. I'm currently paying for 2TB plans on both which neither are touching the sides so it makes sense to merge the two. However, there doesn't appear to be an easy way to transfer files from one to the other online so it looks like a painful manual process.

With the new job, I've been given a Windows(!) laptop until the new stock of Apple Macs are available. It gives me all the tools I need to work (mostly Web-based) but retraining my brain to the other keyboard shortcuts is proving difficult. It's amazing how familiar you get after 14 years of the Apple eco-system.

Commuting on the London Underground, I was keen to use Apple Wallet on my Watch for tapping in and out of stations. It generally works but I've noticed on the TfL Contactless website each day has a different instance of the same (Barclays) account making it trickier to monitor aggregate costs. Has anyone else noticed this?

Entertainment

Purple Disco Machine returns with another infectious disco tip "In Your Arms", due out soon and bound to be on most house DJ's playlists for the Summer.

Man Like Mobeen returns for Series 3 on BBC - love the real Brummy edge (unlike Peaky Blinders) but respect to the reality check of gang culture not being glorified.

The Movies That Made Us on Netflix is a great trip down Nostalgia Cul-de-Sac, reminiscing over the biggest movies of the 80's; how Ghostbusters was made on a tight deadline with endless curve balls and how Home Alone struggled with funding from Warner Bros and realising how the bonus cam provided better results which they discussed about using in their dailies (faster feedback FTW!)

I've also tried to finish off Red Herrings & White Elephants to close my first book of 2020; here were some of my favourite origin stories:

Off the cuff - Victorian times when speakers tried to talk without notes but did, in fact, write notes on their shirt cuffs before and during dinners.
Freelancer - originated from Middle Ages as a lance soldier available for hire.

WeekNotes #7

2020-02-17T00:00:00Z

Week 7 of 2020 brings inspiring tasty moments in the new job, Valentine's curry, Green campaigning, more On The Side people, yet another digital bank, Harley Quinn and boozy idioms.

Work

Second week at WorldFirst and still loving it. Finding a better balance with remote working days, typically one day a week from home (so far it's been Fridays but considering Thursday next week to mix it up).

A range of projects to focus on is challenging me (in a good way), especially with shifting priorities, but having a number of different things to work on is giving me plenty opportunity to get around the company and meet people.

On that note, Tuesday was fun; every week, newstarters are asked to take a trolley of treats around the office to introduce yourself to colleagues. I naturally jumped at the chance to meet new faces but messed up by visiting my home floor second with a lot less stock (they were very vocal about this).

My new line manager is smashing it out the park too. She's an inspiration with the way she handles some extremely awkward conversations, our first one-to-one was about objectives, sharing her own and asking me to consider something personal over shared team/competency goals, and she's constantly checking in to make sure all is good. Coincidentally, Nat text me the other day about some personal problems and how I was always concerned about people I managed, clearly a relevant skill to be mindful of.

Life

School's out on half term for the rest of the family but that means very little to me, just being more quiet in the morning when leaving for work.

The Boy had a mental wellbeing life skills day at school which presented some interesting topics including sex education with plasticine, mouling vulvas and being perplexed by the variety of shapes.

Valentines Day came on Friday, something we try not to make too much a fuss of (#LoveIsntCommercialism) but both of us end feeling guilty the night before and end up grabbing some impulse junk. Nice excuse for a few bottles of decent wine and food though and we decided to take the kids out for a curry at our favourite Indian restaurant in Rugby, Titash.

I've also started preparation for my local political efforts as a non-standing candidate for the Green Party. I'm equally excited and nervous about the prospect of this but it is something I get incrementally passionate about every time I talk to someone about it. It's not about me though - it's about the bigger picture, the planet and improving local culture to support a sustainable future for my children and their generation. Check out my WIP "campaign" page for more.

Sides

The first episode of Make Life Work series two is now done, ready for a preview with guest Naomi White. It was wonderful going through our conversation again after nearly a month since recording. I'm also mindful of how much time I spend editing to what I call the "Nicholas Parsons" effect; no hesitations, repetitions or deviations (in memory of the host of Radio 4 comedy show, Just A Minute - another blog post in the making).

On The Side has been quite active this past week too. Regular Dom Hodgson helped me grow the community a little as we welcomed Rhys and Alan to the fold where they've shared their side project stories. Co-founder Ben also returned after a break, finding the solution to a painful long problem he was having on some UE4 collision physics.

Health

I managed to visit Xercise4Less on Tuesday - the new gym I signed up for in Rugby. It's not quite the same as ASOS with the number of people in there and less engaged staff but there's plenty equipment to use and some 99p fitness plans customised to individuals. Their app is quite impressive too so I'll be returning next week, hopefully for two sessions.

Tech

Some new apps I've been playing with this week;

Xercise4less (as mentioned before) has some impressive UX, conveniently connected to Apple Health for synchronising any workouts (not just in their guns)
Curve is another online only bank I've signed up for, this time because it's a clever aggregator for all other banks (thanks to Open Banking). The USP for shifting transactions between accounts is quite handy too (such as work-related budgets on one card and allowing the kids to borrow a Contacless card for convenience)
Dingtalk is the preferred chat app for work so I've been adapting to that platform where possible. Nowhere near as user-friendly as Slack or Teams but, with Alibaba support, it's always good to "eat dog food".
Ferrite (as mentioned last week) has proved really useful for editing audio in a seamless workflow. It seems to be quite battery intensive though, using about 20% of my iPad Pro 12.9" with 45 minutes usage.

I've also been configuring an old iPhone and Windows PC for my daughter. I was a little reluctant to do this but her viewing habits and photos were mixing up with mine which can be a little awkward when sharing with friends and confusing recommendations. Apple Family, Microsoft Family and Google Family Link definitely come in useful for enforcing limits, monitoring behaviours but sharing suitable content together. Her first text to me whilst shopping highlighted her Brummie phonetics (despite being born-and-bred in Northampton):

What's with the Brummy dialect?

Entertainment

Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey from WB/DC was an enjoyable escapism action movie with some female antagonists to hold the fort. Nothing clever (like most comic conversions) but great performance from Margot and wonderful to see a dominant female force on the production side too. The trailers for Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Wonder Woman 1984 also kept our eighties addiction on tender hooks.

As I finished Red Herrings this week, a few more idioms caught my attention worth sharing;

"To good health" harks from the 19th century cholera outbreak in London when Dr John Snow (not that one) suggested it was linked to the local well water so people drank alcohol instead.
"Minding your P's and Q's" is another classic alcohol origin whereby bartenders would keep tabs under the bar of drinks with P for "pints" and Q for "quarts" (two pints) and customers were advised to check them at the end of the night.
"Warts and all" is from Oliver Cromwell's days when artists typically "air-brushed" portraits of their models but Cromwell instructed his artist to break convention, highlighting a wart on his chin.

WeekNotes #8

2020-02-24T00:00:00Z

Week 8 of 2020 brings forming teams, agile delivery models, beardy tattoos, London tourism, series 2 of Make Life Work, more open-sourcery, disappointing apps and plenty classics remixed.

Work

We formed a new team this week to work on an upcoming piece of work which I always find enjoyable, especially getting to know the individual personalities, strengths and quirks along with the team dynamics. As is tradition, we setup an initial Ways Of Working (WoW) session to understand the basics such as ideal workflow, team meetings and code quality. I typically try to inject some humour to keep the mood positive as well, suggesting the very important topics of team names and the first team lunch.

Looking at the bigger picture, we've also been brainstorming a "toolkit" to suggest best practices for all engineering teams. Early stages are encouraging and it will need plenty iteration with user testing but it's quite satisfying (a) bouncing ideas around on a whiteboard with fellow agile enthusiasts focused on delivery and (b) finding common patterns that could scale appropriately. We’re also trying to practice what we preach by adopting the principles on the project itself. #meta

Life

As my 40th birthday fast approaches, I've been thinking about some things I'd like to do "before I'm forty" (a blog post I've had in mind since turning 30!)

A new tattoo covering up the tragic Chinese symbol on my upper arm from when I was 24; at least a half sleeve, but with something that should age better and mean more to me.
The beard is growing thicker and longer each week, to the delight of my wife and son but not my daughter. I'm going for the "wise old man" look rather than hipster but that's lost in translation with my general appearance.
I've got a second-hand bass guitar on my wishlist in an attempt to learn it. I'd love to sit and play some classic (disco) riffs alongside the family piano and, oddly, my wife is quite encouraging.

Health

This week, I ventured into The City for some much-needed exercise. There's a run club at work I've been keen to try since starting the job. It turns out the current route takes us past Parliament, Big Ben (wrapped in scaffolding), Buckingham Palace and many other tourist traps which certainly make for a more enjoyable jog.

I also tried a cycle hire from Euston to the office on Friday morning, partly to save costs but also to test the estimated 20 minute journey. The first attempt definitely didn't meet that expectation but, now I know the route and quirks of docking stations, it's definitely worth another attempt in the near future. (Pro tip: it's not the buses you need to watch out for but the seasoned cyclists who seem to think they own the cycle paths.)

Further practice for the Jurassic Coast Challenge in May has returned this week with a brisk Sunday morning 13km walk from Rugby back home. We do need to find a more enjoyable route or two though; it's not the most relaxing scenery walking through industrial estates towards the motorway. MapMyWalk has surfaced a few crowd-sourced suggestions that circle around home so we'll give them a go over coming weeks.

Sides

Make Life Work series 2 starts this week with Naomi White taking the limelight. Last week, I spent some time tidying up the edit, preparing a sponsorship message for Little Warden and sorting the updated artwork template out. The podcast itself also needed a bit of house-keeping including the removal of the full-stops from the name (to hopefully improve discoverability in search engines following some user feedback).

To support the series, I've also prepared some "Making Of" Youtube videos along with a suitable title sequence for all the episodes. Following the first attempt with no clearance from guests to use our video call footage, I've opted for approved avatars adopting the duo-tone colour palette for branding. Definitely an improvement and snappier too.

On The Side has been a little quiet this past week but we've also setup a Github project to host a simple landing page. At the moment, it's simply a Github Pages site using the README but we'll probably change it to a static HTML page to allow further customisations.

Finally, I've encourage my wife to get writing her novel by setting up a basic landing page along with the necessary socials. Very early days but it was a good chance to reserve the Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts and connect them with a Mailchimp newsletter "VIP" list to start building an audience. It's amazing how many friends and family "like" your Facebook page when you ask nicely.

Tech

Microsoft’s new Office app for iPhone looks promising as a centralised place to work with popular doc formats. Frustrating that it’s just iPhone to start with though (although I respect they’ve gone MLP on the roll-out)
Santander’s Cycle Hire app for TfL is a waste of time. Registration failed with techy JSON error messages and I had no way to restore my account. Avoid at all costs and be careful with Contactless payments at the docking bays too which appears to have double-charged me.
I was hoping YouTube Studio for iOS would give me some tools for making videos but it’s mostly for managing your content and meta data. Back to the drawing board to find a way of editing 6-8GB video files on a 32GB iPad…
JustPark has come to the rescue though again, offering cheaper parking in London with a seamless user experience and friendly regular comms from the lady near Brent Cross when the family fancied a half-term day out this week.

Entertainment

Baghdad Central on All4 looks like a gritty drama based around the early days of Sadam Hussein's fall in Irag circa 2003. It's always fascinating to see it from another perspective too.

As the holiday/party season fast approaches, as does the amount of decent house music. It's not all brand new though; 20th anniversary of Madison Avenue's "Don't Call Me Baby" has surfaced some cracking remixes from Mousse T. and Super Disco, Alan Fitzpatrick has brought Patrice Rushden up to date and Donna Allen has got reworked by Alaia & Gallo.

Mockery Manor is a great podcast recommended by Stephen Fry - it’s wonderful to see the technology used to share different art-forms and I love how we’re getting more fiction coming through from independent makers.

I visited a takeaway/restaurant near work called Tossed; tasty international food, keto friendly and also trying to encourage reusable containers - but plastic cutlery!?

The Nicholas Parsons Technique

2020-03-01T00:00:00Z

Whilst editing the Make Life Work podcast, tidying up conversations to make the stories flow more naturally, I've come to realise I’ve adopted a process I've affectionately termed The Nicholas Parsons Technique.

It's in memory of the host of BBC Radio 4's Just A Minute, Nicholas Parsons, who sadly passed away earlier this year. He's a national treasure of entertainment and broadcasting, spanning five decades of radio and more. His presence in media will be lost but he left behind many legacies.

The game show is based on three principles;

constant narrative on a given subject for 60 seconds without hesitation, repetition or deviation.

As I've been slicing and splicing the conversations I've had for the podcast, I've fell into a rhythm of cropping out any repetitions (such as stuttering), hesitations (like "ums", "errs" and long pauses) and deviations (conversation that goes off track, either topically or break in tech).

I don’t know if this is an industry standard that is called something else but, after listening to some of the show archives and observing my habits during post-production, it felt only fair to share it with the world, with a gentle hat-tip to the absolute legend who is Nicholas Parsons. #RIP

WeekNotes #9

2020-03-02T00:00:00Z

Week 9 of 2020 brings COVID-19-WFH, short-term gym memberships, Naomi White, Nicholas Parsons, new old tech, The Stranger, George Benson and iPad banter.

Work

This week, we took a number of key technical, product and commercial people off-site for a brainstorming workshop on upcoming work, to validate ideas and agree the prioritisation of work. It was a great opportunity to understand the different skills and personas in the team but also for me to flex some facilitation muscles keeping people focused, productive and accountable to the day’s goals. Pro tip: a physical countdown timer (as featured above) really helps organise this.

With the growing fear of COVID-19 (aka Coronavirus) across the globe, it’s at the back of everyone’s mind what that means for co-located teams in London. Our colleagues in Hong Kong and China have already been adapting to remote working (which I gather is not as normal in Asian markets), we’re starting to see more and more people across the tech teams being put into domestic quarantine. As someone who constantly encourages face-to-face communication but also appreciates the occasional day of remote working, it’s going to be a challenge to ensure teams are collaborating and delivering but also managing expectations with stakeholders with contingencies around estimations and delivery dates.

Health

After an unsuccessful second visit to the new gym, I’ve now cancelled my membership. It was a combination of intimidation and capacity that confirmed my actions. I don’t like to be beaten that easily but I wasn’t tolerating unsociable behaviour (from other members mostly) and reality is I’ve just not got the energy at the end of long days in London. I do need to sort something else out though before dad bod takes over.

Further training for the Jurassic Coast Challenge continued this weekend too; a relatively mild 10km around nearby villages but, this time, accompanied by The Boy. He was definitely lagging as we approached the “pub stop” in Swinford so we agreed to call it a day and get a taxi home. Worth noting Uber is not a feasible service in remote villages; the “nearest” driver was over 10miles away in Leicester.

Sides

Make Life Work started again this week with Naomi’s episode going out on Monday. Early numbers are promising although I’ve not had much feedback yet. I’ve continued to push comms across socials this time, not just limiting it to Twitter but trying Instagram and Facebook as well.

The first part of the Making Of video series is also a channel I’ll be trying to improve engagement but that might be more of a slow burner. I’m also considering publishing all the series archives to YouTube in a batch once it concludes for “binge listening” (and archiving purposes).

I’ve also tried setting up a Patreon page to support the Make Life Work podcast. This is not with a commercial angle but an attempt to raise more funds for Mind charity as I drive that publicity out. The only package available at the moment is early access (24 hours before release) but I will be exploring more ways to encourage patrons that aren’t too expensive, maybe shipping out stickers.

In producing Make Life Work, I’ve also observed a technique that I thought was worthy of an actual blog post, The Nicholas Parsons Technique. Scarily enough, it’s nearly a whole year since my last proper blog post but it does beg the question; do WeekNotes or podcast episodes count?

Tech

iPhone 4 is back in the house! Mrs J’s iPhone 6S Plus has been randomly burning up without any usage so, following a quick assessment at Carphone Warehouse and fun syncing as much as possible with iCloud before overheating, we’ve initiated a service with Apple Care. In the mean time, I picked up a second hand iPhone 4 from CEX for £30 so she could stay online. Certainly a simpler experience on the original screen size. I’m quite amazed that Messenger and WhatsApp both still work on the old specs of iOS 9 though (despite me trying to avoid them both).

After struggling to focus on some decent literature away from screens, I’ve decided to take the plunge with a Kindle. I desperately want to get more reading under my belt – that 10 book 2020 goal on Goodreads is looking very unlikely so far. With the upcoming trip to Bali, I’ll have plenty more time to relax with a book plus I don’t fancy lugging around loads of printed material (although I do prefer the feeling of paper and dog-ears over digital).

Our Jurassic Coast Challenge donation page has now been “merged”; after speaking with Justgiving support, they suggested we either try joining them together with Teams (no joy) or just cancelling one and adding the funds “offline” to the main one.

Entertainment

The Stranger on Netflix is an interesting thriller series with so many twists and turns to keep you thinking. The production value and acting was really annoying me though; most of the roles just didn’t seem believable (except the brilliant Paul Kaye). I wish I’d read the original novel instead.

Glitterbox Radio Show had an amazing episode last week when Melvo managed to bag an interview with the legend, George Benson. Hearing his stories about some of his classics was delightful and a reminder that not all music artists are as disposable as nowadays.

Adapt podcast with Federico Viticci and Ryan Christoffel caught my attention on Twitter this week as they try to “explore new ways of doing things with their favourite device” - the iPad.

WeekNotes #10

2020-03-09T00:00:00Z

Week 10 of 2020 brings merge conflicts with teams, multipack reunion, joys of education, Kevin Cunningham, On The Side growth, Intelligence, This Country and Sex Education.

Work

We’ve had fun with the teams recently, trying to find some standardised approaches to delivery that work across a range of Scrum, Kanban and “Scrumban” approaches. The natural choice would be to focus on throughput (number of items completed) and cycle time (how long it takes to start and complete an item) but one of the biggest challenges in our teams is planning across them so we’ve encouraged story points (sometimes known as “Planning Poker” where teams come to a consensus of how relatively complex a piece of work is in Fibonacci numbers) with two week iterations. Most teams were welcomE to the suggestions (naturally with a little friction) but this week we’ll be going through the metrics to plan for next sprint.

With a large project in-flight with six teams, I’ve also looked to centralise the team demos into a single condensed point, for multiple outcomes:

Create a safe environment to share and praise each other on their achievements in a wider group. There can be some duplication of work or isolated pockets of knowledge we want to reduce so this should reduce that challenge.
Our stakeholders only need to find time for one session. These people are often busy so struggle to make all demos. Having one session to attend should improve this.
Improve social culture. Some teams are great at lunching together but there’s not much cross-team socialising. I’ve arranged demos for 11am Friday morning which nicely takes us to lunch time.

Life

This week, I caught up with the “old guard” of The Multipack after years of failing to reunite in the Midlands. We realised recently that (coincidentally) many of us are working in or around Westminster. After a quick Twitter group DM thread, we set the date and location for a much-needed catch up over beer and pizza. It was wonderful to see everyone, especially learning all about how GDS / DoE / DoJ do agile ways of working from Matt and Paul. We’ll definitely be doing it again in a few months time so, if you’re reading this and would like to join, let us know.

On the point of education, I attended The Boy’s parents evening at school this week. He’s doing a brilliant job, all teachers were full of praise with his ability, delivery and enthusiasm. I was, however, perplexed by the new GCSE Computer Science course. Content seems adequate, covering a good range of theory and practical coding (in Python). However, the assessment threw me. There is no coursework contributing towards final grades, just two 2-hour exams which one consists of handwriting code on paper. I’m not sure who and why this was considered but it certainly doesn’t reflect the real world of tech for me.

Fitness has definitely taken a turn for the worse recently through a combination of timing and conditions. I’m struggling to fit in training in the evenings now and lunch-time efforts were squandered by constant damp rain and rising fears of coronavirus around London.

Sides

Make Life Work continues this week with Kevin Cunningham’s episode. It was wonderful to talk to Kevin about the education system, the joy of learning and how he switched from teaching through agency work to freelance web development. Analytics suggest it’s engaged well already but that might also be to increased marketing for the podcast.

I wanted to continue the video series about why and how I make the podcast but struggled to find time amongst reduced commuting time (working remotely two days). Looking at the introduction video again, I realised it didn’t give much to go on so maybe another part will help.

We also introduced a few new members to On The Side last week; Jay George (who I know quite well), Simon Hearne and Charlotte H (who heard about it through Make Life Work). It’s lovely to see organic growth in the community like that but also with occasional relevant tweets that seem to engage.

Tech

I’ve not explored much new tech this past week, mainly continued to flex my muscles in Ferrite for producing the podcast. I accidentally discovered a neat little UX for splitting tracks with a single swipe down gesture which definitely improved my productivity. I’d love it if I could work out how to quick remove blocks though as that generally takes 4 touches which I could simplify with a single key stroke or gesture.

I have been wondering about how I could stream Disney Plus and Apple TV+ content to the family TV this week. The obvious choice is an Apple TV device but, before splashing out £150 on a new one, I’m looking at alternative options like Lightning-HDMI adapters for iPhone/iPad or any second-hand devices (I’m all for recycling devices if they work).

Entertainment

Intelligence on Sky with David Schwimmer is a fun series, based around GCHQ and Schwander seconded in from the NSA. The differences between the UK and US are emphasised by very funny to watch - but it does throw me with Ross swearing so much.

This Country on BBC iPlayer recently returned for a third series. We love this comedy show as it’s scarily close to home with the lifestyle of youths living in a rural village. The script is brilliant though, huge kudos to brother and sister Daisy and Charlie.

Sex Education on Netflix came to an end (for us at least - binge-series has broken that pattern!). Whilst watching teenagers talk about sex is quite awkward as a middle-aged bloke, I do appreciate the content for youngsters to learn from plus the characters and acting is brilliant. Will it continue? Probably but I don’t think it needs to.

WeekNotes #11

2020-03-16T00:00:00Z

Week 11 of 2020 brings remote-working fun, triathalon of fitness, cancelled holidays, Ashley Baxter, Disney Plus, mesh networks, Noughts + Crosses & more super-natural boxsets.

Work

Coronavirus pandemic hit properly this week, forcing most staff to work from home rather than the office in London. On the bright side, its reducing all that travel to and from the office plus I get more time with the family. On the flip side, it's been quite the challenge adapting to an isolated working environment with no people around me and trying to be as productive as possible.

The big project is going quite well (all things considered). Remote working has introduced some technical issues for the engineers and teams but, after a few days working through connection woes and remote builds on our internal infrastructure, progress got back on track.

As someone who always encourages face-to-face comms over digital, I've had to find innovative new ways to make that work. Regular video calls with colleagues has helped me keep sane and constant chat over Slack maintained my banter levels. Virtual Friday beers was certainly welcomed with some Zoom calls but, truth be told, I've been having a drink at the end of most days - a terrible consequence of not having to drive to or from work on a daily basis.

Life

With the new remote working habit, I've had to adjust my health and wellbeing. Lunchtimes have been the ideal opportunity to get exercise so, thanks to a friend's offer, I'm making the most of a free pass to the local hotel swimming pool. 60 lengths in half hour is a good benchmark but I need to confirm the lap length as I'm pretty sure it's not the 20m guess I'm setting on my Apple Watch.

I've also mixed exercise up with a jog and cycle which has got me thinking about a triathlon challenge for next year. The Coronavirus pandemic is forcing most events to cancel this year so we're waiting for our Jurassic Coast Challenge to be either put on hold or, worse still, completely cancelled. I'll need another challenge to motivate me with fitness.

Similarly, our holiday to Bali is on the rocks too. It's 3 weeks away and, as of Sunday afternoon, non-essential travel restrictions have been put in place by the Foreign Office. Secret Escapes suggest they'll comply with Foreign Office advice so here's hoping they'll honour the refund. It's a bad year for hospitality but they can't expect customers to suck up the loss of 4-figure package holidays.

Sides

Working from home has limited my side project activities (losing all that commute time) but I've spent the same time box at home in the morning focused on editing Make Life Work. Ashley's episode went live last Monday and Marc's episode was prepared for this Monday. The final episode of the series with Dan Davies needs producing then I'll be taking a break from making, but continuing to promote and gather audience feedback.

With that podcast on a break, I'll be shifting focus to the Spring Break mix for House Finesse. My music collection has got quite healthy over the past few weeks and there's now enough to fill an hour mix. I'm thinking we could create a double or triple mix as a collective each season but it all depends on Matt and Stu's capacity. I know Stu will be game but let's see.

With the Coronavirus throwing all things out, my attempt at being a local non-standing Green Party candidate has been put on hold until next year's local elections. I was preparing more content for my political minister such as Green Tech Advocacy and better options for transport but at least now I've got more time to work on it.

Tech

Dropbox to iCloud migration is proving quite painful. iCloud Files on Windows is extremely unreliable and slow, after a week of trying to sync, still not 100% accurate and uploads from the Windows 10 device border-line non-existent. Back to the drawing board!

With Disney Plus fast approaching and the family keen to sign up, I'm trying to work out how to get it on our main living room TV. Our 4K NowTV (Roku) device should support it but I'm still waiting for some advice from them. I'm resisting the desire to buy another device until I know but it's worth it.

Following a week of remote working, I'm also considering a better home network to cope with video calls and the whole family streaming through the day. Our Sky Fibre Max package isn't brilliant but I do feel the default router is holding us back. A mesh network such as this LinkSys Velop solution will probably be best, especially following advice from Mr Norton, so I might treat us if the government close down schools.

Entertainment

Noughts + Crosses on BBC has been a joy to watch. Such an interesting concept switching the race power around plus Jack Rowan has excelled yet again in his role. I will probably be getting the book series following this as well.

I Am Not Okay With This on Netflix ticks all the boxes with a coming-of-age plot, retro 80's vibe and super-natural powers. Wyatt Olef is a star in himself too - definitely one to watch in the future.

WeekNotes #12

2020-03-23T00:00:00Z

This week, I'm going to try something a little different by pulling in a weekly digest of tweets which includes a range of life, tech and side projects.

I've had an IFTTT recipe running for a few months now which automatically sends me an email highlighting my tweets from the past week. Ideally, I'd create a draft post automatically which I can then edit but I can't find anything quickly and easily. For now, I'm just going to copy-paste them in but will look into it this week.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1239520008688013312

This got some great recommendations in the thread which I'll be trying with some of our teams over the coming weeks.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1241457459841175559

Many upcoming conferences are planning to shift online - this is just one I'd encourage anyone to attend, especially as a leader in tech.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1239600850961674240

Obviously, the COVID-19 pandemic has been at the forefront of everyone's mind but this was my satirical observation when the UK government started daily updates of progress.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1241274589281427456

For kids of all ages, it's wonderful to see so many people giving away things for free entertainment with the family like this.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1239649186221633536

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1239911283463532546

Entertainment and tech in one with Disney+ UK release approaching and the fact I don't need extra devices to support it on the family TV

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1240319105552523267

More Disney/Pixar joy, this time with some side-by-side comparison of Toy Story 4 animations.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1239912926405963777

Disappointing it's come to this but expected - we'll definitely need to work out an alternative challenge soon (maybe September) but at least our training contributed towards the distance.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1240342409600552963

The new Linksys mesh network is definitely coming in useful as the whole family are online and streaming through the day.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1239979255154573316

I had to laugh at this home tech support call - it turned out his headphones were leaning on his keyboard forcing the boot-up screen.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1240007426780381184

Further home tech support efforts, this time getting Mrs J connected to her school Office & Teams account for home-schooling.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1240321720474632192

A new video-conference app is on the block which looks quite promising - but can it stand out amongst all the big boys?

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1240724016266174470

I have to call out Dom's latest side project pulling together fellow SEO tools together as a free COVID-19 special collection

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1241789636671930370

The final episode of Make Life Work S2 has been worked on this past week before I take a break to refuel and review where to take it next.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1240988889680134144

Another shout-out to Defected for hosting their first virtual festival at Ministry Of Sound, pulling together my ideal roster for hours of house music delights.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1241121669340684289

For those who watch Gogglebox on Channel4, Pete and Sophie are great contributors, constantly making the nation smile. It was lovely to see them LIKE my suggestion too - maybe they'll do it?

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1241140093013970944

All the major sports competitions are on hold until further notice but F1 have ceased the opportunity to embrace e-sports - can't wait to see where this takes it.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1241463508883169280

A brief reminder entertainment can be educational and TED have tons of content to digest. Try learning something for 30 minutes a day as well.

Remote Retrospectives

2020-03-30T00:00:00Z

With many people being encouraged to work from home through the coming months, I recently took to Twitter to ask for recommendations on running remote retrospectives.

For those unfamiliar with Agile software delivery, retrospectives are a regular opportunity for teams to inspect and adapt on a recent iteration, situation or delivery to come up with shared actions for improvement, be it quality, process or team behaviours (not exclusively).

We're surrounded with tech tools to improve our daily workflow but, ideally, retros are often an ideal opportunity to down tools, pick up a Sharpie and Post-It (other stationary are available) to discuss and scribble down pain-points with your team-mates free of any technical distractions.

Unfortunately, this isn't always possible, especially with more and more companies adopting remote working - a lot more prevalent in the tech industry.

With Coronavirus forcing many of us to find new ways of working, it was an ideal opportunity for me to find tools that could support us. Here are some suggestions I've looked at.

FunRetro #

Simpler faster/slower retro board on FunRetro

Chris Compton suggested FunRetro - a neat little app free to use on a small number of boards, loads of retro formats to choose from and intuitively simple UI.

Miro #

Sample retrospective board on Miro

Dan Blundell reminded me of Miro (formerly known as RealTimeBoard) which has some great templates for collaborative white-boarding including retrospective boards. It's available as iOS and Android apps which might improve the UX but will require pre-installation ahead of the session so factor that in.

Remote Retro #

RemoteRetro.io sample board

Westley Knight recently discovered Remote Retro - another web-based app that helps facilitate virtual retrospectives.

Mural #

One team in the office tried using Mural which is another whiteboarding app. There's quite a versatile dot-voting feature integrated with this though, even native timers to ensure the team are focused and timeboxed on each step of the session.

Other worthy suggestions included Trello with Leaner Coffee power-up to manage discussion times, Postfacto - an open-source solution you can self-host for confidentiality reasons and even Figma although that was in a design-strong company so not obvious but a great example of using the tools you're familiar with.

WeekNotes #13

2020-03-30T00:00:00Z

Week 13 of 2020 brings a mixture of emotions through the COVID-19 lockdown including embarrassing praise at work, keeping positive through hard times, Dan Davies wrapping up MLW, more Disney+ challenges, Fatboy Slim, Defected's second virtual festival and EURO '96.

I'm going to continue the format of digesting previous week's tweets but restoring the sections I started off with to give it a bit more structure.

(Side note: I'm also tinkering with IFTTT to try automate this a little before curation - it's a work in progress I'll blog once I'm happy with the setup.)

Work

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1243581519538589701

With a whirlwind of emtions through the week, it was wonderful to get TWO recognitions from my peers and leaders in a matter of days. I must be doing something right, especially as they both mention my ability to bring people together and keep spirits up.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1243583898614992900

But then a colleague suggested on another (large) meeting I shall be contributing TikTok videos to future meetings for fun. This could be a thing but it'll take some kahunas.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1243464410150195201

As teams adapt to remote working, morning greetings took an international turn this week with one of the teams I work with adopting their native tongue. A little bit of joy and education in the mix certainly helps.

Life

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1242208615085244416

Monday evening saw the government introduce a national lockdown to reduce the impact of COVID-19. I did what I tend to do best; write about it online.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1242110909629247489

It was great to see Joe Wicks try to get all our kids (and parents) doing fitness every day whilst locked in our houses - and it seemed to go down really well. In our house though...

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1243267869900787716

Out of respect for our wonderful NHS through these tough times, many people took to their doorways to cheer the heroes on. It turned out some people were unaware of it though.

Sides

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1241998197549137925

The final episode of Make Life Work S2 went out to great feedback. I'll be taking a break for a few months then return in the summer.

Tech

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1242175904748572672

Slightly silly take on the current situation but it was interesting to see the reactions too.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1242482992699719681

My dreams of having Disney+ on our NowTV 4K box didn't come true but, after an impulse moment, succombed to the pressure from two bored kids whilst waiting for a new device to arrive from Amazon.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1243601551471579145

Despite asking around, we ended up just using FB Messenger for my daughter's first virtual "play date" with her friends. Some people struggled to connect but it seemed to work and avoided installing extra apps on non-techy people's phones.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1244177958245478401

As I try to simplify the editorial process for these week notes, I'm exploring some IFTTT recipes to capture my tweets somewhere. It's not playing ball though so I'm still relying on a weekly email digest.

Entertainment

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1242777873716523009

Many people are familiar with James Cordon's Carpool Karaoke but it was great to see one my DJ heroes try something a little different. #NoddingAlong

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1243507417268269056

Fantastic to see Defected return with another virtual festival of house music DJs, this time with a range of archives and bedroom slots. Apparently the first one reached over 2m people which is phenomenal.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1243584363289350144

With many events being cancelled this year including Olympics and EUROs, it was great to see ITV take the initiative and pull out some archives.

WeekNotes #14

2020-04-06T00:00:00Z

Week 14 of 2020 brings work-from-home awards, post-lockdown runs, finding alcohol online, camping in the garden, Make Life Work stickers, end of an era for print magazines and remote orchestra raves.

I'm still going to continue the tweet digest format on the weeklies but, rather than embed external content, import as quotes with citations and comments below.

(The IFTTT setup is still not working as I'd like but will continue to investigate this week.)

Work

Another fantastic project from Dom, this time a "Work From Home" awards event with some genius categories, all in aid of @MartinHouseCH.
I'd like to think I'll go for the BEST LOCKDOWN CREATED PROJECT category but will likely end up with BEST CHILD INTERUPTION STORY.
http://penguinawards.com
http://twitter.com/Si/status/1245294554993037312

As we continue with the Coronavirus lockdown (which I have blogged about recently), working remotely continues to challenge society. Dom's side project struck a nerve with me though, especially finding a good balance of work schedules with family time.

Life

Today, we braved the supermarkets for a big shop - not just for us but for the in-laws too. Strangely eery out in public but relatively calm and reassuring to see people be careful and respectful.

http://twitter.com/Si/status/1245807995226816512

After a two week self-isolation, we finally got out to a supermarket for a decent food shop (and a little retail therapy for my wife). It was certainly a strange experience though with limited fresh food stock on the shelves, very few people around but, equally, plenty distance between people respecting the 2 metre rule. This is definitely a strange time we're going through.

Worst month of activity rings since I got an Apple Watch over 3 years ago. I need to get on top of this.
http://twitter.com/Si/status/1245076795625480192

After two weeks of isolation, it felt good to get out for a bit of a run. Certainly hurt after such a long break though. #PinkFace pic.twitter.com/2NgFD9cp8w
http://twitter.com/Si/status/1245424759879458818

Being stuck at home has certainly scuppered my fitness plans over the past month but, after self-isolation was lifted, I was straight out for a run around the village. Two runs in three days seems like a good start and I'll continue to try 3 days next week.

Tried to redeem a @NakedWines voucher but they're struggling with demand right now. That's the British way of coping. 🍷
http://twitter.com/Si/status/1244570478322372609

Looks like @Flavourly are coping with demand at the moment. Get £5 off a box with my referral code `SIMON3CEE`
http://twitter.com/Si/status/1244971368116031488

With full intent to reduce my shopping trips (which are typically for the random bottle of wine or beer from the local Co-op), I tried a few familiar online outlets instead. Naked Wines 0 - Flavourly 1.

Improvising with the lovely weather in the garden today #JoblingCamp #BBQ #lockdown2020
http://twitter.com/Si/status/1246858009751494656

As the weather picked up this past weekend, we took to the garden for some DIY, the first BBQ of the year and intent to camp overnight with the kids. Unfortunately, the weather forecast a high chance of rain so we decided to play safe.

Sides

Fancy a free #makelifework sticker? Let me know and I’ll be in touch for postal details #fridayfreebies #sharethelove https://t.co/Pm1PnJYL8V
http://twitter.com/Si/status/1246083409035825152

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Si Jobling (@sijobling) on Apr 3, 2020 at 7:33am PDT

Side projects have taken a break over the past few weeks since concluding Season 2 of Make Life Work. I thought I'd keep the product alive though with a sticker giveaway on Friday which got 5 or 6 responses.

I also put my head down "in the studio" to produce an hour mix for this season's House Finesse show due out for this coming Easter weekend. It was great fun returning to music production although re-training my brain to use Ableton Live 10 on Windows rather than Mac did slow down my process somewhat.

Tech

This is definitely the end of an era. As someone who learned so much from both publications through the year and was even lucky enough to feature in both at times, they shall be sorely missed.
http://twitter.com/Si/status/1246332186657280000

https://twitter.com/BryceBladon/status/1246218931779461120

I was saddened to hear over the weekend two magazines I was actually featured in have come to an end. I can understand how difficult it is to keep print magazines relevant through a digital era, especially with lack of stability through this pandemic, but it definitely made me realise how valuable their publishing efforts will be missed, an art that has definitely died through self-publication.

This COVID-19 Dashboard has been open-sourced and certainly makes a clear point of the exponential confirmed cases globally. Germany seem to have the better recovery rate too. https://trekhleb.github.io/covid-19/
http://twitter.com/Si/status/1244914082752409602

As the pandemic continues to impact the world in many ways, this visualisation of the metrics definitely hits home the scale of what is actually happening. So sad to see what's happening though.

Entertainment

This is an impressive arrangement and piece of production. Plus uplifting rave classics. What's there not to love?
http://twitter.com/Si/status/1245256091799175168

https://twitter.com/KaleidoscopeOrc/status/1244945020790153223

Let's end the week on a high with some uplifting music. I've always been a fan of Jools Buckley who popularised orchestras performing dance music live (hat-tip to Pete Tong too for putting his name to it) so, when I saw a feature on BBC News about the Kaleidoscope Orchestra performing "Set You Free" via Zoom, it gave me a warm fuzzy feeling to know (a) people are staying connected with tech across all communities and (b) dance music still has the power to bring energy and happiness through tough times.

A letter to Hey.com

2020-04-13T00:00:00Z

A new email service has popped up from the people behind Basecamp called Hey.com. To join the service, you are asked to write an email on what you love (or hate) about email. This is what I wrote:

The internet connected people. It created a place for everyone to share stories, facts, useful information for others to find and enjoy. Email gave people another way to talk. It allowed us to think about what to say but receive it immediately. And at no cost. This is what I miss from the early times of the Internet. It was simpler and safer to enjoy. This is why I wanted in.

Subject: I miss simpler times

If I get in, I'll update this post.

WeekNotes #15

2020-04-14T00:00:00Z

Week 15 of 2020 brings another multi-team project, Easter isolation DIY, return of House Finesse, Roku Express delights, The Nest, Nick Hornby and Victoria Lee.

I’m returning to the original format of long-form text, grouped by the same topics. I felt I was cheating a little with the Twitter digest format plus the process to capture them automatically was taking too much time considering the value.

Work

Another month, another big multi-team project to focus my energy on. This time, it was to re-apply some of the best practices we want to roll out across our engineering teams. There are certain habits and processes that we think will aid delivery and reporting which we’ve already trialled on another programme of work so this was a chance to try it on a different context.

Unfortunately, I’m not able to divulge too many details but it is definitely another milestone in the new career - and, as I’m in my third month, it’s also the fourth programme of work that requires my attention. Let’s just say I should probably get used to flipping focus this frequently.

Life

This week, we should’ve been holidaying in Bali as part of our 40th blow out. Obviously, Coronavirus restrictions have put a hold on that so we’re finding other ways to treat ourselves. We’ve ordered a hot-tub for the garden but, due to high demand, it won’t arrive until mid-to-late May.

Getting a full refund for our holiday has proven extremely difficult too. Despite endless calls and emails to the provider, they are typically dragging their feet to release the funds back to my credit card. Once I’ve got some resolution, I will name and shame but until then (hopefully this week), I’ll hold off.

With the Easter weekend and extended bank holidays, we’ve also made the most of quality time with the kids. Sunday night was spent camping in the garden but was short-lived following a toilet trip at 4am. We’ve also been redecorating the summer house after a clear out with a more nautical theme. It’s been lovely getting to spend so much time outdoors with the family and extremely satisfying to get handy on some DIY. This lockdown does have some perks.

Exercise is hard to fit in with working from home permanently. My hours are generally 8:30-5:30 so by the time I finish work and sit down with the kids for dinner, I’m too tired to get out. I managed to get a couple evening runs in though, even joined the boy on one of his jogs one evening and ran after Princess riding her bike.

Sides

For Good Friday, we put out a much-needed dose of House Finesse with an extended 2-hour format now that we’re reducing the frequency to quarterly. It was great fun producing the mix and quite straight forward collaborating with Stu on it. My uncompressed WAV was shared through iCloud and his final MP3 was then uploaded to Pinecast. Artwork was created with Canva and, following some RSS tinkering Friday morning, people were downloading it all weekend with over 150 in the first 24 hours. Most shows get about 1,500 downloads so we’re off to a good start.

I also blogged on life 17 days into the lockdown. I’m trying to write a lot more at the moment, using the opportunity to flex my writing muscles and capture key memories. It might be hard at times, especially with the topics, but it will be worth it in the future as so many people keep referencing these “unprecedented times”.

Tech

Roku Express has continued to impress with its wealth of supported content providers. I bought it as the cheapest option to support DisneyPlus but I was delighted to notice AppleTV was also available along with Prime and NowTV. The iOS app also improves the UX for easier navigation so compared to an Apple TV box, it’s about 20% the cost but provides most the features required. Even this Apple Fanboy is impressed.

I also managed to revive an old 2TB Western Digital network drive which I thought had seen its days. It’s now plugged into the Linksys mesh network so it’s discoverable on all internal devices, with more than a decade’s worth of content to browse.

Entertainment

The Nest on BBC is continuing to keep us gripped on with the surrogate mother and murder mystery. Plenty twists and turns to keep you hooked.
I finished reading Slam by Nick Hornby last week. Slightly indulgent and definitely not as literally challenging as I should be reading, but I’ve always been a fan of Hornby’s stories so it was a delight to complete that one.
I’ve now started reading The Fever King by Victoria Lee - a dystopian fiction which appears to combine politics, magic and futuristic happenings. First few chapters are difficult to get in to but I’m persisting.

WeekNotes #16

2020-04-20T00:00:00Z

Week 16 of 2020 brings Slack etiqette suggestions, Easter DIY, fitness parenting, credit card disputes, video mixes in Filmora9, wireless chargers, Glitterbox virtual festival, Killing Eve, My Left Nut and Friday Night Dinner.

Work

Following the Easter weekend, I decided to extend my break with a few extra days at home to focus on some DIY and spend some quality time with the family. More on that later but it meant only two days of work for the week.

Remote working continued to test me, especially trying to chase people for updates and information which I’d typically get off my arse and speak to people face-to-face. I have found some people are harder to contact than others, but I do appreciate they want to focus or have other commitments. I did tweet about using suitable statuses in comms apps like Slack, choosing “focus time” or “break time” to manage expectations. It’s something I try to get in a better habit of, even adding working hours to a custom stauts, but it does take some extra effort and not everyone notices or honours them.

Life

Extra time with the family allowed us to get handy and creative in real life:

Mrs J recreated two iconic portraits with the kids; Girl with a Pearl Earring and Salvidor Dali
Our shed (summer house) got a lick of paint over a few days whilst the sun was shining
Plenty odd-jobs around the house and garden that seem to often get neglected due to other distractions

I've also started doing more exercise with the kids where possible. Joe Wicks (aka The Body Coach) started running daily PE lessons on YouTube Live so we started doing them in the garden (for some extra space) and I've been running 2km with the boy followed by chasing my daughter on her bike for a few kilometres to get some fitness in with them both. I've resurrected my Strava account for the runs too - "friend me" if you're on there and fancy some friendly competition.

Finally, we've made some progress on the refund for our cancelled holiday (which I'll reserve names until we are fully resolved). Following endless calls to the customer service number, to which we often got "just wait" replies and zero escalation, I've now taken it to our credit card company as a dispute. They reassured me it should yield better results but managed expectations it could take 6-8 weeks, especially through these difficult times. Lesson learned? Always make large transactions on credit cards for this exact reason; they have teams of people prepared to chase disputes when many of us simply don't have the suitable time or capacity.

Sides

I'm taking a break from any serious side projects at the moment, after wrapping up series 2 of Make Life Work and getting House Finesse Spring Break out.

I did create a video of the House Finesse mix we could potentially share on our YouTube channel. I used a Windows app called Filmora9 which is quite user-friendly and versatile. You can trial the app which renders with a huge watermark across the export but I'm mindful Youtube might remove the mix due to copyright infringement. To test the waters, I've uploaded it as an unlisted item and will leave it for a week or two, then I'll know if it's worth producing a version without a watermark.

Tech

As mentioned above, this week I've been getting in to more video editing with Filmora9.

I also invested in a combo wireless charger for all my Apple devices. One reason was to try wireless charging of my iPhone 11 - a feature I've not even tested yet but could be handy in my office setup. That said, combining all the cables for Watch, Airpods and iPhone on my bedside was the main instigator. Charging my iPhone is seamless and the extra lightning adapator is convenient for Airpods but I've found the Watch charger is unreliable for me. Power seems to be transferring with the contact point getting warm but it appears to be draining it instead.

Elsewhere, I'm now exploring some treats for my birthday including a new Mac and, if budget allows, some new DJ decks. I need something better for producing my mixes and suitable specs to support audio/video production so considering a MacBook Pro but currently holding off with pending announcements due of new kit coming soon. I'm also eyeing up some Pioneer DDJ-400's along with some reasonable speakers in the studio. Best consider some extra egg-cartons to sound-proof the room too...

Entertainment

Defected hosted another "virtual festival" on Friday, this time with a very heavy Glitterbox roster including many of favourite DJs such as Purple Disco Machine, Bob Sinclar, Mousse T and (new to me) Natasha Diggs.

I also decided to hook up an old record player with the Marshall speaker to listen to some vinyl over the weekend. It reminded me how much I miss the feel of "real" media (especially after seeing Natasha Diggs in her NYC set) and the sound is definitely superior to digital equivalents.

Killing Eve on BBC returned to much fanfair last week and it didn't disappoint. Jody's performance is as strong as previous series and I can't wait to see where it all goes.

My Left Nut on BBC is a tough one to watch - another "coming-of-age" story, this time based around a young Irish lad who discovers a lump in his nether regions.

Friday Night Dinner on All4 returned recently for a 6th series and continues to tickle the chuckle bones. Some ridiculously far-fetched moments but, oddly, relatable.

WeekNotes #17

2020-04-27T00:00:00Z

Week 17 of 2020 brings remote working normalisation, fitness apps, Lockdown chat groups, another Make Life Work series, hair colouring, Windows 98, Little Warden, The Big Night In, Gorgon City, Colin Furze and Gangs of London.

As I'm continuing to try a suitable balance and format for these, I'm going to reference my weekly Twitter Digest for some points to flag in the typical sections.

Work

Week 7 of remote working. This is starting to feel like the norm, despite nearly 20 years of working in an office. Things will be different once we're through it all.
(Twitter)

I realised this week I've spent more time at home than in the office with the new job. Many of our challenges around communication and collaboration have been addressed but I'm still trying to find the right balance between meetings and productive time.

Life

This week, I managed to get a 4 day streak of exercise in (thanks to my TickTick habit tracker). Three of them were runs around the village and one "PE lesson" with Joe & the boy. I'm not measuring the outcomes (naughty me) but I definitely feel a sense of satisfaction from it all.

One run even inspired a quick Twitter poll on popular fitness tracking apps with Apple being the favourite followed by Strava.

Apple most popular fitness tracker, possibly biased considering my Twitter audience

As the family continue to adjust to Lockdown Lifestyle with most of us spread around the house doing our respective work, the Boy used his initiative to get our attention...

Our house has reached a new level - the boy has asked for a cup of tea from his bedroom USING WHATSAPP
(Twitter Source)

However, with Mrs J back in her school supporting the keyworkers' kids, she missed the opportunity to get herself tested for COVID-19 when registration passed so quickly and during core hours.

In light of all the home isolation though, I realised times have certainly changed quite rapidly when it comes to weekend socialising for myself and the kids...

I can't believe my Friday night is arranging Zoom calls over the weekend for friends and family. #SocialDistancing
(Twitter)

Sides

I've been toying with the idea of a Make Life Work “Home Edition” (hat-tip to Dom for the name) but need to work out all the logistics of it. Considering it's all about finding a suitable balance between professional, personal and side projects, I need to practice what I preach with my own situation and be mindful of others too. At least there's demand for it though...

9 out of 9 people said they would like a new series about wellbeing and challenging times.

I'm not the only one getting on the side project hustle now though; Mrs J and Princess made their very first Youtube video, "Lockdown Guide to Hair Colouring".

Amongst all this, I've been doing some (Youtube) research on some manual labour projects such as making a pizza oven in the garden and sorting out a loft conversion. In the mean time, we've just sorted out the summer house to make it more comfortable for possible outdoor creative time which could give me space to record Make Life Work.

Tech

A few things caught my attention from around the tech circuit this week:

Avodocs offers free legal documents for startups so you can focus energy on making your product - 3 free docs a month should get you going
Anyone else miss simpler times of Windows 98? I'd love to reminisce over some websites using this Win98.css style guide
@AnnieAtkins created some lovely "lockdown posters" with some clear messages

Plus, I got a lovely little surpise in the post from Robot Dom off of Little Warden fame...

View this post on Instagram

Loving all the #littlewarden shwag @ukdisdad sent us in the post - the webcam privacy shutter is a great touch.

A post shared by Si Jobling (@sijobling) on Apr 20, 2020 at 5:26am PDT

Entertainment

Like many across the UK on Thursday evening, we watched the Big Night In on BBC to see what they had to offer with some creative ways recording and broadcasting the material. We made our obligatory donations and grabbed a few copies of the Foo Fighters' "Times Like These" cover (despite only half the proceeds going to the cause).

I then spent Friday evening enjoying another Defected Virtual Festival from the comfort of my own lounge along with thousands of others. Gorgon City's set was on point and a great way to wrap up a (boozy) night in.

Amongst all this, I've also discovered Colin Furze's YouTube channel with his bonkers inventions. I don't think I'm the only one in awe of his dad pad(s) and crazy antics - plus it's giving me some great ideas for home renovations and other YouTube content.

Finally, the latest boxset to grab our attention is Gangs of London on Sky Atlantic. The opening scene and episode are brilliant, instantly hooks you in, and some of the fight scenes are phenomenally filmed. We're only one and a half episodes in but definitely one to watch.

WeekNotes #18

2020-05-05T00:00:00Z

Week 18 of 2020 brings team changes, domestic games room, obligatory May fitness challenges, return of Make Life Work, kitchen speakers, Nick Spalding and some Japanese philosophy.

Work

It’s the week before my probation review - how is it already 3 months since I started this job? It was a real mix of emotions though as a colleague who started just before me decided the role wasn’t for him so left Friday and we also welcomed a new member to the Delivery team on Thursday. The function is relatively new but with some fantastic opportunities to address technical and logistical challenges; the team have a great mix of skills and energy to make things work.

Life

The pool table came out this weekend – a freecycled acquisition from a few years back when a neighbour was giving it away. We’ve spent the majority of our time knocking balls around, teaching the kids the rules, whilst I’ve revisited my youth when I spent far too many 50p’s in the nearby pub honing my craft. It’s amazing how quickly it comes back.

We also got my decks out the loft to start sorting out one of the rooms as an entertainment hub to accompany the pool table. I’m now eyeing up a pair of Stanmore’s as an early birthday treat to get the true sound my old vinyl deserves. As long as it gets Mrs J’s aesthetic approval, we’re all good.

Fitness has taken a bit of a hit this week though; after an early 6km run around the village (a personal best according to Strava), I realised a terrible bloody blister had formed on my big right toe causing anguish on every step. To top things off, I’ve also caused some serious damage to my left foot after stumping it in the dark loft. Time to recover, quite an annoying coincidence as I signed up for a 60 day trial of Strava Summit. However, I have given myself a goal:

Signed up for the #MayAnyway Challenge to run 50km through May. Nice goal to motivate some fitness during these times. https://t.co/tcVQV1vdAZ
via Twitter

As the lockdown continues, the family have continued to find creative ways to keep entertained. The boy helped grandad create a little area for growing vegetables, the girl got a desk setup in the summerhouse for some crafty time, the wife has been moving furniture around for a change and I’ve been organising the loft prior to a proper refurb. Being stuck at home does give you some ideal time to give it some much-needed TLC with no excuses. Amazon Prime is certainly getting it’s moneys-worth through these strange times.

Sides

So, considering it was a resounding "yes" (despite relatively low numbers), I'm now working out the logistics to make it happen and keep it as simple as possible.
via Twitter

I’ve now organised the first recording for Make Life Work “Home Edition”, inviting fellow podcaster Luke Murphy along for a chat about how he’s coping through the lockdown. There are a few other gentlemen keen to get involved including previous guests but I’d also like to get some diversity on the line-up before it just turns out to be another podcast of middle-aged white blokes chatting about how hard things are.

Speaking of which...

Lovely to wrap up the week with a cheeky @OnTheSideNet virtual beer session this evening. Just a shame it was cut short for Princess' first homemade dinner instead of the @Beer52HQ taste test.
via Twitter

Tech

Like many geek dads, I’m trying to find a decent level of smart tech around the house with our “Ladies in the Tube”, Alexa, Google and Siri supporting the speaker systems.

The kitchen now has a (small) pair of Bluetooth speakers for a good boogie whilst cooking and cleaning and, as mentioned above, we’re now sourcing some high quality speakers to accompany the record player.

It was great to discover another company doing good through the Coronavirus, offering an opportunity for people to buy beer for the carers:

Dear NHS workers, have one on us! I’ve bought one of you heroes a round so go ahead and claim it. 👏
via Twitter

Fellow side-project advocate Kevin took to a live mob-coding exercise Monday evening extending Gatsby with a "digital playground" (think wiki) which was fascinating to watch. Kevin has a natural energy which comes across wonderful and I really liked how there was a group of people coordinating the event which allowed Kevin to concentrate on the code whilst others monitored Q&A from viewers.

Entertainment

I've just finished reading Fat Chance by Nick Spalding - an easy-read about a similarly-aged couple battling in a weight-loss competition for a local radio. Nothing challenging or enlightening but easy escapism during my daily half-hour read.

I’ve now started reading The Courage To Be Disliked: How to free yourself, change your life and achieve real happiness by Ichiro Kishimi – the first non-fiction read of the year with an appetite for some philosophy and self-help.

WeekNotes #19

2020-05-11T00:00:00Z

Week 19 of 2020 brings weekly outlining, failed DIY, Luke Murphy in lockdown, a new hearables store, Elton John on vinyl, Wired mag, Killing Eve, Workin' Moms and Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen.

Work

A four-day week before the VE Day / May Bank Holiday hybrid allowed many of us to cram 5 days work into 4. The goods news was I passed my probation on Monday so that put my mind at ease that all my efforts so far are pleasing management and the company.

Considering workload and prioritisation, this might be a good week to describe my typical process to organise the week’s agenda.

Monday morning, I copy a OneNote template with the typical outline for a week, each weekday as a heading. This includes regular meetings with times and daily/weekly actions that are standard issue (coincidentally including “provide weekly update”).
I then go through the previous week’s outline pulling out any unfinished actions, compiled in a “This Week” list at the top of my OneNote.
I then prioritise this list along with any extra actions for the coming week.
As I start each day, I add in extra meetings and actions, sometimes rolling over from previous days.
As daily meetings and actions occur, I tend to add extra lists beneath each item, include any further actions, even link out to extra notes when they get quite long (or require extra structure).
I then use these documents for my weekly report, edit out sensitive information, shared with my line manager and team for visibility and audit trails.

I’ve found this system works quite well for me as I can also embed links, images (such as screenshots) and other Office docs directly in the weekly notes.

This is an evolution of a previous technique that used Bear on macOS and iOS instead but, for privacy reasons and financial legislation, I’ve had to adapt it to a Windows & Office environment.

Life

Lockdown continues in Jobling Manor and, as we entered the extended weekend, we planned out a variety of DIY projects (in our new Trello board) including kitchen tiling/grouting, downstairs shower replacement and iMac SSD upgrade. Unfortunately, none of them got done due to unexpected missing parts. Lockdown certainly hampers any unplanned DIY with most shops either being closed or only offering collection planned around bank holiday closures.

One success was replacing The Boy’s front bicycle wheel which allowed us to go for a cycle around the nearby countryside. It was only as we got to 10km that the gear changes stopped working on both bikes. A slow, difficult ride home in the heat concluded in some extra handiwork fixing those. Riding over the A14 on a Saturday afternoon seemed eerily quiet though (see the featured image).

Meanwhile, Boris has just presented the next phase of lockdown. Typically ambiguous and open to interpretation, it looks like manual workers will be eased back into their jobs in safe environments. Hospitality may be phased back in July which is quite a gamble for my 40th birthday efforts so I’ll be considering alternative plans to celebrate. Beer + Zoom + (new) hot-tub = plenty potential for hilarity and debauchery.

Sides

The first episode of Make Life Work “Home Edition” came out this week. Recorded Monday and released Thursday, my chat with Luke felt quite natural and the shorter format definitely works better for faster turnaround. We used Zencastr for the recording but Luke suggested Zoom for future episodes. Having video available will certainly make the conversation feel more natural and individual audio tracks will help production. Plus EVERYONE is on Zoom right now so easy for access.

At the weekend, I also remembered a random domain purchase from last year. On a whim, I noticed hearables.store was available so grabbed it. I thought I’d give Shopify a go which certainly made the job easy, especially with auto-fulfilment through integrated providers. It needs a lot of love but it was quite motivating to get my first online store operational in 24 hours.

Tech

This week, it’s been all about classic tech. I plugged my old Gemini XL-500 record player into the Marshall Stanmore speaker with a phono cable but it reminded me the output needs a pre-amp. After that, I bought a transformer to power up a briefcase record player. Result! Now we can play all our old vinyl at a decent volume in the games room. Cue Elton John’s Greatest Hits from the 80s. The sound is definitely superior to digital - you can almost feel the beats and guitar strums as they pour out the Marshall.

Back to current times, I also eyed up a brand new 13" MacBook Pro as an early birthday treat. I hovered over the purchase button for all of ten minutes before indulging. But, after an unexpected electricity bill of similar value, the order was cancelled. Something for next month hopefully.

Entertainment

I’ve taken a break from my Kindle this week, instead spending my daily half hour read catching up on some unread Wired magazines. I do love the tangible feel of printed media, especially the delightful weight of Conde Nast’s publications, but I am in a bit of dilemma as a tech and green advocate - especially as I’m reading about new tech, eco startups and the concerns of socio-political issues.

On TV, we’ve been continuing to enjoy Killing Eve on BBC iPlayer and the new series of Workin’ Moms on Netflix.

Saturday night, we also had a “grown up” movie night with The Gentlemen on YouTube. Guy Ritchie does make an enjoyable gangster flick and Hugh Grant played his alternative character quite well but it didn’t quite have the typical depth or twists compared to the likes of Lock Stock or Snatch.

WeekNotes #20

2020-05-18T00:00:00Z

Week 20 of 2020 (all the twenties!) brings iMac repairs, pesky mice, cycling, Stephen Turvey-Wright, Glitterbox Accapellas, video calls, energy disrupters, Shapeshifters, Brassic 2 and Dead To Me.

This week, I’m going to try something a bit more short-hand than long wordy versions - let’s see how it goes…

Lockdown continues despite a questionable curve in numbers and confusing messages from our ever-reassuring government. 10 weeks working from home now and no sign of returning yet. #work #covid19
Gran reminded me of my “political career” - I really should revive that push. I did miss two online Green Party meetings though so not a great start. #life #work #greenparty
Mini DIY jobs around the house including downstairs shower replacement, pool cue holder in the games room and failed attempt to replace hard-drive in my old 2011 iMac. #tech #life #home
We did find some little visitors 🐁 in the house last week so pest control came out dropping traps around the place. It’s forced the dog to stay next door as she can’t be trusted with the poison. #life #home
Bought a set of dynamic mics for some fun karaoke time with the family. Works great with my old mixer but the kids need convincing - plus adults need more alcohol. #life #music
Hit some PB’s on a run this week; longest distance, fastest mile and half mile and others. Frustratingly duplicated the recording though as I started Strava on Watch first then accepted Apple’s prompt on detecting movement. #health
Lots of cycling with the kids this week, one with each to find their range and pace then another together to encourage sibling bonding. #life #health
Caught up with old ASOS chum Stephen Turvey-Wright for this week’s Make Life Work. Wonderful to have a chat with someone familiar and he seemed to really enjoy it. Don’t use Zoom though as the quality is not great and it’s only single track. #sides #makelifework
Started dabbling in a few iPad apps to make some music using Glitterbox Accapellas and Purple Disco Machine samples. GarageBand is the obvious choice but the UX is far from obvious to my mind. I do wish Ableton ported Live over to the mobile stack! #sides #music
Discovered “Hide self view” in Zoom, a great little feature to make sure you concentrate on your peers rather than your background - something I’ve noticed myself doing time-to-time, especially as I read about “Zoom fatigue” #mrvain #tech
Tried to find a Donut equivalent for Teams as a tool for Microsoft houses (schools) to randomly pair people together through lockdown - no joy but maybe there’s a chance in the market #tech #sides
After ongoing troubles with our electricity provider, I started looking around for alternatives. A Twitter poll suggested Bulb is the most popular disruptor so will shift to them soon. #life #tech
Glitterbox’s Virtual Festival returned this week bringing many of my favourite DJ’s and artists including Shapeshifters & Michael Gray. Friday evenings are my new favourite time of the week! #entertainment #music
Brassic 2 on Sky Atlantic and Dead To Me on Netflix have been this week’s TV highlights; both fantastic dark comedies, just with completely different tones and angles.

I quite like how much easier that was - more condensed, succinct and some flexibility on how to take it forward. Plus it took about half hour rather than the usual hour. I’d love feedback from anyone who reads it and can compare.

WeekNotes #21

2020-05-26T00:00:00Z

Week 21 of 2020 brings running Dom, mental health awareness, beardy chats with Dan & Sush, large portion of sides, Blue Nation, Friday beers, Kukd and bank holi-DIY.

Let’s try the bullet points format again, this time in chronological order, tagging with suitable hashtags. This mode might be easier to build up over a week too.

Monday, I was inspired to see Dom’s announcement to do 26 half marathons every Friday morning, building up to The Dopey in Florida, all for Martins House Hospice. Watch the launch video with his daughter for some delightful insights #sides #charity
Tuesday, I got some family news at lunch that completely threw my mental health out for the rest of the day. I struggled to concentrate and focus but decided to battle on regardless, inform the boss at the end of the day and even make it public. Some might see it as showing vulnerability but, with it being mental health awareness month, it felt right to get it out there. The responses from Twitter were wonderful too and proved it’s worth voicing your challenges. #life #mentalhealth #work
Wednesday, I caught up with Dan Davies and Sush Kelly for an impromptu chat that we planned to record for Make Life Work. The three way conversation actually worked quite well but, unfortunately, we forgot to record Skype and one local device so that ended that idea. #sides #tech
Thursday, I noticed a few new registrations in our On The Side Slack community. It reminded me Tom May asked a few weeks back about it so, after a quick search, I noticed we were featured on Creative Bloq. It’s wonderful to see a steady stream of new faces joining, especially from around the globe. #sides #ontheside
At lunch, I caught up with Dom after the launch of his fundraising campaign to find out how he’s doing and record something for Make Life Work. I’d already set expectations on Twitter there wouldn’t be an episode this week so it was a great backup plan. We used Squadcast this time which worked really well but I did notice I had to pay extra for recording time. #sides #makelifework #charity
In the evening, we noticed one of our favourite bands Blue Nation were doing a live stream on Facebook to raise money for Birmingham hospitals. I’m loving all the good deeds coming out of our circle of friends at the moment. Gives me some hope in society amongst the crazy government guidance and idiotic behaviours of a select few. #entertainment #music #charity
Friday morning, we watched Dom run his first half marathon live on Twitch. The man pushed hard and made it look relatively easy but we all know it was no mean feat. A wonderful start to the day - even Princess was absorbed in his effort for the final hour. I then published our conversation on the podcast. #life #charity
At the end of the day, we had a team social with a few beers - all part of the “fun budget” we have to spend every month. Whilst it was great to wind down and not talk shop, jumping on another Zoom call doesn’t lend that well to social norms. Awkward silences and virtual backgrounds certainly don’t help. #work #tech
We did discover another online takeaway provider called Kukd this weekend which, unlike Deliveroo and Just Eat, actually deliver Indian and pizzas to our locality. The food was actually quite good and punctual as well so definitely recommended. #tech #life
Over the bank holiday weekend, I managed to tackle more DIY around the house including relaying kitchen floor tiles, regrouting some areas and sealing around the worktops. Thankfully, our local recycling centre had opened its doors too so I managed to clear the garden waste out with a few trips. #life
Exercise didn’t happen much this week - no real excuses but I only managed one morning run. Need to get back on it after all the bank holiday indulgence. #life #health

WeekNotes #22

2020-06-01T00:00:00Z

Week 22 of 2020 brings Green Party memberships, Alex Brooke, Facebook parties, waving on video calls, on-demand video tracking, running PB's and plenty DIY.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic halting procedures along with some questionable leadership from the UK government, I was motivated to renew my Green Party membership and revive my local candidacy campaign. Early stages but I’m determined to channel my energy in a more pragmatic way. #life #politics
Tuesday, I caught up with product designer Alex Brooke for the Make Life Work podcast. It was great to get someone else’s take on working in-house at scale and hear how Alex is coping through the lockdown. #sides #makelifework
Thursday, I started to consider the logistics of hosting a virtual birthday party with my 40th fast approaching and little desire to mingle in person with friends and family. Whilst Facebook seems like the obvious choice for the masses to access, Zoom could also work and I like the idea of Houseparty for games. #tech #life
My conversation with Alex also raised an interesting topic about waving goodbye as video call etiquette. It seems as if many others do, some even go as far to say “love you”. #tech #zoom
I started to consider what tools are available for tracking TV viewing habits. All the on-demand services have so much data on us but it doesn’t seem to be readily available. I signed up to Trakt to test that with Netflix but it requires a Chrome extension which is not ideal. #tech #entertainment
I’m not particularly pleased with the audio quality on my end of Make Life Work so I ordered a new desktop boom-style mic stand for one of the dynamic mics I recently ordered for karaoke. Plan is to test it on next week’s episode with Mike Street but I might not have time to get it prepared. #tech #sides
Friday, I managed to run my personal best of 8.5km (aiming for 8km) as I tried to get closer to the Strava 10km May challenge. Tuesday, I managed 7.5km (aiming for 7km) so I’m quite proud of my iterative mini-goals to reach the magic 10km. It just means I roll over the challenge to next month. #health #running
Saturday, the bathroom tiles were tackled as we realised they needed replacing. On further inspections, we also discovered an extra foot of space against a fake wall leading to the ventilation. Whoever designed our bathroom before us must’ve had method to the madness but it’s beyond us. #life #diy
Saturday evening, we did our first online Zoom quiz as a family as we noticed a Gavin & Stacey event on Facebook in the morning. It was good fun to participate in but our G&S knowledge was extremely poor compared to the 500 other participants. Give us a Friends, Simpsons or Bottom quiz any day! #entertainment #tech
Sunday, it was outdoor DIY time. The kids “jungle gym” got some optimisations as I removed the excess bridge and tower and repositioned one of the climbing walls. One of the kids old bikes got repaired for giving away then the BBQ got some much needed attention. #life #diy

WeekNotes #23

2020-06-08T00:00:00Z

Week 23 of 2020 brings a hot-tub, bathroom tiles, Mike Street, Cloudflare, neglected sides, another new PB, Logging Off, commercial tech pivoting through lockdown, Rob Beckett and 90s indulgence.

Let's go for a bullet-point braindump of things that happened this week. I'll try to cover more entertainment which was neglected over recent weeks too.

This week, we had a new hot tub delivered after waiting nearly two months from ordering (high demand apparently). Following holiday cancellations to celebrate 40th birthdays, it felt like a suitable indulgence which simulates the feeling of being away. Shame the weather turned to typical British rain as it arrived though #life
Still at home, we started re-tiling the bathroom which has been put off for many years. The featured image is the decor we've gone for and we've made impressive progress, especially cutting some of the funky angles along the wonky walls. Still plenty to do (grouting will be fun) but it's another bit of lockdown DIY that's checked off the list. #life #diy
Thursday, I released the finale of the Make Life Work "Home Edition" series with Mike Street. It was wonderful to chat with Mike about side projects, leadership and inspiration during fitness - three things we've got in common. His reasons for holding off Behind The Source content during the George Floyd racism protests inspired me too. I spent very little time on Twitter, if only to formally syndicate content for the podcast. It feels strange but I'd rather just keep quiet than try to bring attention to an important matter I'd struggle to give justice towards. #sides #makelifework
On side projects, I'd like to spend a bit more time on other projects that need attention over the next few months:
- On The Side has been a great place to chat about general wellbeing over recent months but seems to have lost it's original focus. I've now installed Donut to improve relationships and try to encourage peer support on individual projects.
- House Finesse needed the SSL certificate renewing so I shifted DNS to Cloudflare rather than pay for Namecheap's product.
- I also need to understand how drop-shipping works on Shopify and Oberlo for my Hearables.store and my wife's Teach Mugs idea. #sides #tech
On Friday, I managed to squeeze in a new personal best run of 9.2km - just short of the 10km goal. This run took me along the canal to nearby village Yelvetoft then back along the bridlepath. If I wasn't so mindful of time on my lunch-hour, I could probably have hit the goal. At least the cooler/damper weather helped compared to recent scorchers. #fitness
I finished reading "trashy novel" Logging Off this week - a familiar story about a 30-something British chap avoiding tech for health reasons after becoming so dependent on it. I completely relate to this, hence the drive to read offline more (the irony wasn't lost on me for blogging about it and recording progress on Goodreads). #entertainment #reading
The latest Wired magazine conveniently arrived as I finished Logging Off so I decided to focus on that during my daily 20 minutes reading time. Some interesting articles in there, specifically about Gower Street Analytics using big data to forecast ideal dates for movie launches, even pivoting with lockdown causing cinema closures, and a sponsored feature by Ericsson about how 5G could improve global traffic problems - but I do feel there are bigger challenges at foot. Lockdown has certainly been a perfect opportunity to realise how dependent we are on transport for commuting when we clearly don't always have to.
Other entertainment we've enjoyed this week include White Lines on Netflix (if only for indulging in 90s Ibiza times), Lockdown Parenting (thanks to Sam for recommending it - always love a bit Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe) and discovering Absolute 90's whilst tiling the bathroom - endless tune-after-tune from our era. #entertainment #tv #podcasts #radio

WeekNotes #24

2020-06-15T00:00:00Z

Week 24 of 2020 brings Slack buddies, 10K run, useless link-sharing, F1 locales, drop-shipping, 4K TV, runny grout and the original Simon Evans.

Monday, we launched #drink-buddies using Donut in our On The Side Slack community - a way to connect members on a weekly basis to attempt improve engagement. We've had a wonderful growth recently thanks to the Creative Bloq feature but I'm keen to get people supporting each other with more regular comms. Early stages look promising: many members arranged video calls for a chat, DM's became the dominant message type with 300% increase in message count across the board and I've enjoyed getting to know one of our new members quite well. #sides #community
Monday evening, I managed to smash my running goal of 10km after missing it in May. It was such a sense of achievement to make the distance plus my pace was better than I expected. My feet have taken a beating in my footwear though so I need to take a break before setting the next goal. #life #health
Thursday, I was educating my wife on link-sharing with social media; something I realised might be straight-forward to techies but not to the average person. She was trying to share job postings on Facebook and Twitter but the native "share" feature seemed to lose deep-links on a SPA. Why is the Web getting so messy? #life #tech
This weekend, I was impressed to see Andy keep up with endless PR's providing extra translations for F1 Calendar. It was all thanks to a well-placed Reddit post which spurred 5 extra languages on top of the original request from the previous week. An inspiration for anyone who's struggling to keep motivated through lockdown. #sides #f1
Back on my own sides, I've now worked out how to configure drop-shipping on Hearables.store - it's not as automatic as I originally suspected but the Chrome extension certainly speeds up the process. I've got a current order in progress to understand typical delivery times then I'll work on some content. #sides #dropshipping
My latest birthday lockdown indulgence arrived on Sunday; a new 50" Samsung 4K TV. Our trusty old Samsung 42" plasma has served us well for the past 11 years (and still works fine) but I was keen to upgrade on the picture quality and simplify all the on-demand services with a number of additional boxes getting messy. Unfortunately, Mrs J wasn't convinced but she's coming round. #life #tech
The bathroom tiling continued this weekend but we came up against a few challenges with dodgy light wiring in the ceiling of our old house and terribly runny grout from Homebase (don't buy!). #life #diy
One thing I've enjoyed watching this week is Staged on BBC iPlayer; a brilliant comedy with Michael Sheen and David Tenant focusing on a real-world challenge with entertainment being on hold. (It was also entertaining to get a message from the wrong Simon Evans after my tweet)
Even though we had the new TV, we tried to setup an outdoor cinema in the garden Sunday evening using the projector and screen. In theory, it all works great but this isn't the best time of the year for a dusky evening movie with Summer Solstice approaching. #life #entertainment #tech

WeekNotes #25

2020-06-22T00:00:00Z

Week 25 of 2020 brings a Marshall Woburn speaker, noisy Prime notifications, Zoom salutes, immune footballers, Google Lighthouse, Donut, Overcast on Mac, turning 40, lockdown funerals, Father's Day, Little Fires Everywhere, The Other One and The Fever King.

Lockdown life has continued to provide endless deliveries and DIY chores around the house to make it more homely and comfortable. This week, we took delivery of new bathroom appliances for the newly decorated walls plus a new Marshall Woburn speaker for the “snug” living room. Bathroom fittings will have to wait but I took no time at all testing out the Woburn along with a Tidal subscription for hifi streaming. I realise we have been indulging quite a lot through lockdown but we're actually saving a fortune in travelling costs so why not treat ourselves? #life #tech
On the delivery front, the family Amazon Prime account has been taking an extra load lately with Father's Day and my birthday approaching. Again, very lucky but it does introduce challenges when trying to avoid all the order updates in emails and push notifications. #life #tech
As we've all familiarised with video conferencing as a social norm, I raised a thought about signing off with a salute or bow. I'd love to see some other alternatives that bring a smile to your video calls with peers. #tech
As the FA (prematurely) restarted the end of the season, I was curious to see what the experience was like - especially as some of the top-flight games were even broadcast on free-to-air channels for the first time in nearly 30 years. Seeing empty stadiums was a bizarre phenomena but I still can't believe players are safe to challenge each other in contact-sports whilst the 2m social distancing rule is still in place for the masses. #sport #entertainment
Personal side projects have taken a bit of a break lately but I've still been supporting and promoting some of the collaboration projects; Andy continued to deliver on F1 Calendar, now with optimal Google Lighthouse scores, and On The Side saw record engagements from the previous week of Donut pairing, specifically on direct messages between members. #sides #f1cal #ontheside
My new work Mac finally arrived this week after some COVID-19 delays so I was quick to get my local setup into a comfortable but minimal mode. To accompany the workflow, I also discovered an unofficial Overcast menubar app called PodcastMenu, allowing me to easily consume the podcasts I'm subscribed to and synchronise the playlists. #tech #podcasts #work
This weekend marked two weeks until the end of my thirties so I took to Twitter for suggestions on how to wrap up the decade. Responses included mid-life crisis vehicles, piercings and drinking - the latter is easy, the other two quite tricky to accommodate through lockdown. #life
Friday and Saturday was taken up with a couple funerals; one friend of the family on a video stream, another family down in Devon. The video stream was a surreal experience, unable to share emotional moments physically. The trip down to Devon wasn't exactly ideal neither, especially as we actually saw family members we couldn't greet or console with the typical hugs, but we managed to make the most of the trip with an afternoon on Babbacombe Bay beach. This year is proving to be quite the mental challenge on so many levels – I'm looking forward to returning to some sort of "normal". #life
Sunday was father's day, naturally providing quality time with the kids along with the treats of a cuppa-in-bed, endless hugs and some lovely gifts suited just for me (collection of coffee and laptop cover). The weather was glorious so I spent the best part of the day outdoors, including 2 hours in the hot-tub, resulting in a typical British sunburn. #life
On TV, we've been getting in to Little Fires Everywhere on Amazon Prime (Witherspoon is brilliant as ever and the twists in the plot are never-ending) and The Other One on BBC (enjoyable comedy with some favourite female actors). #entertainment #tv
The Fever King by Victoria Lee has got my attention back during my daily reading habit – the plot and characters have finally engaged and I'm thoroughly enjoying the sci-fi / techy / Harry Potter hybrid, even if it is probably aimed at a teenage audience. #entertainment #books

WeekNotes #26

2020-06-29T00:00:00Z

Week 26 of 2020 brings a new hybrid format, focused Mac workflows, tech prep for turning 40, short email addresses, Glasto archives, DJ Cruze revival and Amy Winehouse.

What about audio versions of WeekNotes as a podcast? Read out the notes but also add a bit more commentary and ad-libbing for “natural” content. Would it be easier for me? Would anyone even listen? Think hybrid between the old Verbal Diary audio format (not as public) and regular WeekNotes text format (more formal). I'm going to give it a go for a few weeks to see how it turns out.

Notes

Work

Back to Bear for outlining work
Dedicated work Apple account
Hiding menubar items with Vanilla

Life

Birthday prep with Houseparty, Zoom and Spotify
Bathroom decor is finally done
Running 4km is better than nothing

Sides & Tech

Entertainment

Personalised headliners from Glasto At Home
Glitterbox "WWWorldwide" now on Twitch
DJ Cruze and his German fans
Amy on All4

WeekNotes #27

2020-07-06T00:00:00Z

Week 27 of 2020 with 40th celebrations, lockdown retros, shorter meetings, new podcast domain, Slack members directory, Hamilton, Frozen 2 and return of Hed Kandi.

Show Notes

Virtual 40th with consequences
Remote retro with icebreakers (#lockdownlife, 4L's, which Boris are you)
Shorter meetings with hidden Outlook setting
makelife.work domain
On The Side members directory
Hamilton & Into The Unknown (Making Frozen 2) on Disney+
Hed Kandi The Garden Party and fundraiser

WeekNotes #28

2020-07-13T00:00:00Z

Week 28 of 2020 brings one more audio WeekNotes, new Apple kit, benefits of open-source, getting my money back, other Jobling legacies, Zoom observations, vinyl, and Yousician.

Show Notes

Day off to recover from birthday blues (and switch to TalkTalk) ☎️
2020 MBP initial thoughts and Magic Mouse 2 charging point 🍏
Summer House not quite ready 🎛
F1 Calendar now in 13 languages 🏎
Dispute with travel company finally came through after 16 weeks 🛬
Jobling’s make glass ⚗️
All the Zoom tweets (real backgrounds & online school lessons) 📹
Vinyl junkie - T-shirt and tunes 📀
Learning the bass with Yousician 🎸
Time out next week (first break of the year) 🏖

WeekNotes #29

2020-07-20T00:00:00Z

Week 29 of 2020 is a simplified Twitter digest whilst I’m “taking a break” from work. (I’ll tidy up tags and links when I get back)

What a no-brainer! Our old chum @cole007 is illustrating a graphic version of @MichaelRosenYes’ You're Thinking About Tomatoes. #instapledge 🍅 https://t.co/XYrLhzWRUq July 12, 2020 at 08:07PM

This is the first product I've seen in AGES that had me smiling all the way through the video pitch, thinking "Gamechanger!" (Great name too) https://t.co/njbYau6UQY https://t.co/iijdnIryjU July 13, 2020 at 05:07PM

Why is it mandatory to wear face-masks in shops but not in schools? In fact, according to DFE guidance, it's mandatory to REMOVE face-masks in schools. Where's the logic in that? #PoliticalRant July 14, 2020 at 10:07AM

Tinkering with artwork for the next @housefinesse mix in Canva on my phone, getting live feedback from @MrQwest. 15 years of the podcast (to the day) and it’s come to this. https://t.co/MzoqQPAHiE July 14, 2020 at 10:07PM

When will the trend of crappy twee music covers come to an end? I’ve just seen a viagra advert using Proclaimers’ 500 Miles as the soundtrack. July 14, 2020 at 10:07PM

Any other team leaders feel like cheerleaders on morning stand-ups? I do find it helps encourage teamwork and positive thinking but can come across quite cringe-worthy. July 15, 2020 at 10:07AM

Pro tip: when changing landline provider, make sure you request an Active Line Takeover. Otherwise, you could get an unexpected bill from the old provider like I did today. July 15, 2020 at 09:07PM

Switched from @guardian donation model to digital subscription - the only rag I actually tolerate for news. Whilst I avoid the news for the main part, they have a special place in my iPhone notifications. July 15, 2020 at 10:07PM

Very meta but brilliant idea. I always warn people when I’ll be using icebreakers - it’s only polite. https://t.co/Ht0EQaUweV July 16, 2020 at 08:07PM

I found this approach to tweeting interesting (via @timberners_lee @SolidMit project). Write your tweets as .tweet files in a Github repo - versioned, collaborative editorial process for geeks. https://t.co/CXMRkYtaaW July 16, 2020 at 08:07PM

Sore guitar fingers from practising the new bass tonight. The pain will be worth it though when I've learned some Chic classics. 🎸 July 16, 2020 at 10:07PM

Installed Dropbox on the new Mac. Now syncing half a million files from the past 16 years. *enables online-only* July 16, 2020 at 11:07PM

Last day of work before signing off for a week. Not taken this long off since Christmas. Needed. July 17, 2020 at 08:07AM

It's a pleasure to get this out today - and on a momentous week too. Unbelievable to think 15 years ago, I put a little mix on a WordPress site which turned into one of the longest running music podcasts. Loyal followers are key to it's longevity though. https://t.co/9SXHdf6uWZ July 17, 2020 at 02:07PM

Time for a week off. 🖐🎤 July 17, 2020 at 06:07PM

WeekNotes #30

2020-07-27T00:00:00Z

Week 30 of 2020 brings my first week off since Christmas, offline time in Rhodes, sci-fi books, loads of podcasts, the joy of magazines, swimming nearly 10km, Mindnodes and Leader Readme's.

Time off from work – no computer, tablet or TV
Instead, it was time offline with Kindle, podcasts and magazines
We apprehensively booked a last minute flight to a friend's hotel in Rhodes with flight restrictions lifted this week.
Flying through the lockdown was strange; Birmingham Airport was a ghost-town compared to the first Saturday of Summer Holidays every other year. The flight was at a hugely reduced capacity too – whether it was intentional or not – but certainly eased any concerns, even with face masks on permanently.
I read some sci-fi for the first time in ages and enjoyed it more than I expected; finished Aftershock by Marko Kloos (fantasy multi-planet thriller) and started reading The Man Of Legends by Kenneth Johnson (another curious thriller, this time with some funky time-travelling happening)
Caught up on my podcast cue in Overcast; Adapt (on the reality of working solely on an iPad), Super Managers (on meeting formats and leadership), Wired (general news and science, obviously very COVID-focused), Defected (I need some tunes whilst I'm chilling), Off Menu (and a giggle) and Lockdown Parenting (plus a bit topical humour)
Enjoyed flicking through some paper-based mags; Total Film to catch up on the year's (delayed) movie releases and T3 to perv over some luxurious tech.
Swimming. Lots of swimming. And, according to Apple Watch, more daily fitness than when I'm working during lockdown.
In-between relaxation, I started using MindNode on my iPhone, creating mindmaps for iPad setup, Mac setup, On The Side, Make Life Work, travel history (following a chat with the family) and any thoughts about work.
On the flight back, after listening to Michael Lopp on Super Managers, I started thinking about writing a Leader Readme (like my Manager Readme but with preferred semantics and shift in career focus). I started outlining my thoughts and will return to it next week.

WeekNotes #31

2020-08-03T00:00:00Z

Week 31 of 2020 brings some long-form writing, Make Life Work S04, Youtubing, education data storage, blood blisters and camping in St Ives.

Following my break, this week was mostly about preparing Season 4 of Make Life Work.

I asked Twitter whether it should continue on this website or a dedicated site: a resounding response (of 18 votes) prompted me to sort something out on makelife.work

https://twitter.com/Si/status/1287683040890757120

Following that, I started looking at options - whether to continue with a Wordpress site or try something different like a static site on Netlify. Early POC's suggest the latter would work but could create a lot more effort. Pinecast offers websites out the box too but not much customisation (especially with short URL's etc). WordPress is familiar but comes at extra cost/setup efforts. Decisions, decisions…

Before all this though, I started reaching out to potential guests. I was so delighted most invites were accepted. Rachael Depp, Franca Hood, Dan Viddicombe and Elizabeth Elcoate all responded promptly and keenly. We've got August to organise recordings and I have one more guest up my sleeve who I'm sure will be game but I also like the idea of keeping one "secret" until later.

To compliment the season announcement, I wanted to get some archives on a new YouTube channel. Using a combination of Shapefactory, Canva and Headliner (get 2 weeks free Pro with that link), this was quite straight forward. There's so much extra potential getting content on the world's biggest provider but, for MVP, it was a case of suitable images/videos to compliment the audio with useful links in descriptions. I also setup some short URL's on the new domain using the sXXyYY format.

Friday morning, (scheduled) social media posts went out to promote the new season and Youtube content. It's quite satisfying to see it all come together on time and receive some lovely feedback from my peers. (Thanks to my On The Side comrades for their support through the week too.)

Additional to all this, Mrs J has been asking for some help to setup a website for her project at work. I can't share too much but it's a simple website with a booking system to generate leads in education so requires some data capture. My default option is WordPress with a plugin but it needs to be GDPR-compliant at least, with plenty security layers on some sensitive data. Trying to keep it simple (stupid) but it could open a can of worms.

On the health front, I got back into some running mid-week hitting over 8km but then disaster hit: nasty blood blisters on the end of my toes were showing the next day. I've struggled with these before and sounds like it could be due to tight shoes - many people recommend getting at least one size larger for running. Needless to say, I need to take time off to sort them out.

Life side of things, I've got another break coming up next week. I'll try to blog some week notes but we'll be camping in St Ives so internet is likely to be dreadful. I'll be taking my laptop as I might get some time for side projects but setting zero expectations. I've neglected the bass guitar I got for my birthday and still have plenty to read so we'll see. Two weeks off work will be delightful though. Last week's "warm up" in Greece already feels like a distant memory…

WeekNotes #32

2020-08-10T00:00:00Z

Week 32 of 2020 brings another Summer holiday, tech leadership woes, creating YouTube content and Slack icebreakers.

I’m sat on a hill in St Ives, sipping cider in the sun next to my caravan after an afternoon on the beach. And I’ve decided to write some week notes. Go figure.

I’ll be taking a two week break from these (not like last time) but will return after the hols. In the mean time, I intend to make the most of Cornwall’s dire mobile signal, switch off to enjoy more reading and podcasts, plus quality time with the family.

The Joys of Leadership

It’s been an interesting week with work. Whilst I’ve got a couple projects and teams to lead, there’s also a number of “foundational” initiatives going on to form some structure for the whole of our tech, product and commercial teams. Finding the right balance between the two main focuses ebbs and flows over time but this week has been mostly focused on projects and teams, particularly firefighting some challenging situations to ensure everyone is communicating and collaborating on key priorities. Doing this over Zoom and Dingtalk (Alibaba’s Slack equivalent) is not ideal and definitely contradicts my typical recommendation of talking to each other face-to-face.

Part of the job is also about documenting and reporting progress which, in an Agile environment, can prove difficult. Relying on Product Managers and Tech Leads to provide updates generally yields dreadful results and I end up chasing in the 11th hour for important detail. Ideally, I’d automate much of this but our internal tools don’t offer the flexibility yet. If there was a silver bullet to this, I’m sure it could be a moneymaker. Do share if you know of anything.

WeekNotes #33

2020-08-17T00:00:00Z

Week 33 of 2020 brings a different tone and format being on holiday – more about family and leisure time – including digging holes, Tate, sea lions, cream tea, tin mines, Eden Project, bunnies, tropical birds and skittles.

Monday, holes on the beach. Weather was glorious so we visited the local Carny Bay for a day of sand, sea and sun. Cornish roads are not the easiest to get around or park on but we found a cheeky roadside spot that was free for the day. It just left quite a steep hill for the kids to moan along. I got my dad hole mode on, excavating quite an impressive trench which got plenty appreciation from passers-by and nearby dads. Facilities were relatively good, nervous to use considering “eased lockdown”, but fresh tasty food from a local bbq shack and clean toilets with plenty sanitiser certainly helped.

Tuesday, Tate St Ives and sea lion boat tour. With every family trip, we have to seek out a nearby gallery for art obsessed wifey. Plenty local heritage she appreciated but kids and myself not hugely impressed. After some snacks, we jumped on a boat tour to see sea lions bathing and resting. Eerily misty journey out to see was totally worth it.

Wednesday, cream tea and tin mines. Visited a quaint garden in the middle of nowhere serving scones and tea. Nice idea attracting foreign tourists but neither were that tasty despite decent reviews (should I contribute back online?). Best part of the journey was seeing some wild cattle by a derelict tin mine. Great opportunity to treat the iPhone wide angle lens (see featured image).

Thursday, Eden Project. Underwhelming national treasure. Impressive structures and wonderful to see research going on but it needs more activities for families, plus food options are too spread out without enough variety. Family annual pass for £75 but you need a good reason to return. We also popped around the corner to see some family, as socially responsible as possible.

Friday, quiet lazy one at the caravan with a trip to the supermarket as most local restaurants are fully booked through Summer #lockdownstaycation.

Saturday, boiler woes and bunny tears. We woke up to realise the caravan boiler wasn’t working. Many phone calls later, we found a nearby hero able to source a replacement heating element and fix it same day. The day got worse when grandparents called to say one of the rabbits passed away overnight. Trying to tell any kids they’ve lost an animal is hard, especially unexpected. Being unable to say goodbye properly really bothered our son who’s planning to work with animals in the future. We also said goodbye to our Middlesbrough camping neighbours; addresses exchanged for the kids to pen pal each other - the lost art of social messaging.

Sunday, tropical birds and skittles. We head over to Paradise for an afternoon of tropical birds. Immediately, we were impressed. As we sat down for a picnic, we noticed parrots free flying around, sitting in the nearby tree. The entire park was really well managed with all the creatures looking healthy and happy. We even had a 15 minute discussion with a member of staff who told us some parrots can live to 80 years old. Following the animals, we found Country Skittles - a nearby restaurant featuring skittle alleys to enjoy with some pub grub. Perfect end to a lovely day.

WeekNotes #34

2020-08-24T00:00:00Z

Week 34 of 2020 brings a holiday cut short, healthcare challenges, selling websites, Michaela Coel, Feverwake and Yousician.

This week was the third (and final) week of my Summer holidays for the year so there shouldn't have been much to cover.

However, with a long solo drive home from Sandringham on a Sunday afternoon and some topics worth mentioning, I decided to record an audio version for this week making the most of the "free" time.

WeekNotes #35

2020-08-31T00:00:00Z

Week 35 of 2020 brings urgent surgery, new Make Life Work tech, Tenet, tyres and Sandringham.

Let’s outline this week’s events and updates in the interests of minimal effort on our last bank holiday:

Monday was back to work after 2 weeks off - didn’t take long to get back into the swing of things, and at least the first commute was straight forward. Funny now inbox damage was minimal - it’s all in our Slack equivalent (Ding) instead!
Tuesday, I started prep for restarting Make Life Work with a brand new website. Rather than new tech, I just opted for a default Wordpress site and manually moved the content across (15 episodes), tidying it up in the process. Plan is to have it ready for the first episode next week.
Wednesday, we braved the local cinema for the first time since lockdown to see the globally anticipated Tenet. Unfortunately, we were all completely underwhelmed following the hype: watching with glasses and face mask was awful but the movie (for me) lacked character depth and actual plot.
Thursday, I started preparing tech for recording Make Life Work from next week. Previously, I used my work machine to record and iPad to edit but now I’ve got a new Mac. This series, I’m going to try using Zoom with local audio recordings. This should lend well to extra YouTube video content (guests permitting) and I’ve installed Reincubate Camo for external camera support using iPhone’s 4K tech rather than the pathetic Mac FaceTime camera. I also ordered a new Samson Q2U mic following plenty reviews and comparisons that should yield much better audio quality.
Friday, we noticed a screw in the car tyre so a visit to the local tyre repair shop was in order. I’d typically scrimp on budget tyres but, with it towing a bulky caravan quite a lot this summer, actually opted for some premium replacements.
Saturday was spent driving to and from Sandringham to collect my birthday princess from a week camping with grandparents. It was ideal time to catch up on podcasts, listening to Wired’s thoughts on returning to the office and Rob & Josh attempt parenting through lockdown.
Sunday was mostly spent at Northampton General with the boy needing urgent surgery. Sparing the detail, he’s now in recovery but the NHS staff were wonderful caring for him, operating on him within 3 hours of admission. What did bother me was the amount of people ignoring face mask protocol - no wonder we’re heading towards another local lockdown / second wave.

WeekNotes #36

2020-09-07T00:00:00Z

Week 36 of 2020 brings the start of Season 4, Wordpress woes, a family side project, guinea pigs, wrestling, learning disabilities and £20 movie passes.

Wordpress Headaches

As I tried to configure a brand new website for the Make Life Work Podcast, I struggled to get the domain working correctly through Cloudflare on an existing shared hosting plan. In the end, I brought a dedicated EasyWP plan along with a basic PositiveSSL certificate all through Namecheap and fixed the Cloudflare DNS Only settings (following a ticket to support). I've never had so many issues with domains - maybe I'm losing it…?

Anyway, it's finally coming together now with most the core content available. The website still needs a bit of love on the performance and optimisation plus some extra configurations before the podcast feed and newsletter are migrated but we're getting close to an MLP.

MLW MVP demo

The First Recording

It wasn't just about the website this week – the first episode was recorded with brand designer, Liz Elcoate. After the Summer break, I've actually got some new kit – brand new Mac for my birthday, Samson Q2U mic and tripod stand for iPhone with Camo – so I was a little nervous of how it might all come out. Even with local test recordings, I wasn't entirely convinced it would work remotely so, thanks to a brief message On The Side, Juan jumped on a Zoom call where audio and video both came through beautifully. Then I could relax and enjoy the conversation with Liz which will be released in the next week or so.

Acceler8ed

This weekend, I also spent an afternoon brainstorming and rapid prototyping a website for my wife's new project at work, Acceler8 Education.

Again, Wordpress to the rescue and, this time, without all the nightmares of Make Life Work. It allowed us to focus on the content, functionality and basic formatting with a focus on MVP.

MVP for Acceler8 Education website after an afternoon of prototyping

With kids returning to school from lockdown, quite far behind with their personal development, it's optimal time to promote private tutoring. Potential leads are already flying in from friends on the socials so, naturally, all the popular handles were registered on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to support the promotion, opting with @acceler8edu for consistency and succinctness.

New Guinea

At home, Princess decided to spend her birthday money on not one but two new guinea pigs (apparently recommended for companionship). Both kids really enjoyed cuddling up to them – I'd often enter the living room to find squeaking creatures cooing over the furry little things. We even had a little fun with them watching other talking guineas on Youtube #GuineaPigInception

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt0PJPrEXFI&feature=youtu.be

What To Watch

Amongst all the side projects, we've amazingly found time to enjoy some new TV content:

Peanut Butter Falcon on Netflix – a wonderful story of a Downs kid chasing his dream, brilliantly performed by Shia, Zack and Dakota.
There She Goes on iPlayer – another story about a disabled character, this time a dark comedy with David Tennant and Jessica Hynes braving a very difficult topic on raising a child with learning disabilities.
Mulan on DisneyPlus (Premium) – why suffer the (current) terrible cinema experience when you could watch the latest Disney live action from the comfort of your own home and at half the price? In all seriousness, it was probably one of the best live action remakes of the series, despite some questionable SFX thrown in. The family definitely enjoyed it anyway – worth the £20 single movie pass after all.

WeekNotes #37

2020-09-14T00:00:00Z

Week 37 of 2020 brings online car sales, more hospital visits, iCloud sync fail, Joe Wicks, chasing reports, Google Meet, Zoom PT, SDLC's, Cazoo and Monzo.

What a week! I write this on Monday evening after quite a crazy weekend. Let’s get into it with a "dear diary" format.

Monday 7th September

Another trip to Northants General, this time scheduled for Mrs J as we try to understand the pains she’s been going through the past few months. At least I was able to wait nearby in the waiting room with a café this time - better than other recent experiences, stuck in the car park.

Tuesday 8th September

We got Mum a new iPhone for her birthday this year after she’s been struggling on iPhone 5 for the past year. As the go-to tech support guy, naturally it was my job to get her setup but to find it hadn’t synchronised with iCloud for over 5 years was quite alarming - apparently due to lack of local storage for sync to function. Removing a few unused apps helped kick it all off, then migration was plain sailing.

Earlier in the day, I got back into some fitness with a 20min Joe Wicks workout in the living room. It was tough and took plenty time to recover but it felt good to get back into some exercise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQt9r6bieE0&t=10s

Wednesday 9th September

Wednesdays are when I typically have to setup the weekly reports for our product managers and tech leads to go through. We use an internal arbitrary tool which is nowhere near as versatile as Confluence but I’m finding little tricks to simplify the process. That’s the easy part though. Chasing and formatting the content into a cohesive standard takes much more manual effort than should be required. I’d love to automate this but tools don’t bode well towards it at the moment.

I also arranged a short Zoom call with an On The Side member as part of our #drink-buddies channel (using Donut for random pairings). It was lovely to have a F2F chat with Luisa, chatting through our personal working arrangements and how we can support others in the community on side projects. Side note; Google Meet is nowhere near as good as Zoom. Despite being such a monopoly, not all Google’s tools are market leaders.

Thursday 10th September

Bit of a strange one this but remember those group PT sessions I blogged about previously to help team morale and wellbeing? We tried a Zoom workout at lunch today, trying to keep up with Mr Wicks on another brutal HIIT YouTube session. Technically, it worked quite well - we don’t have to see each other but having open comms to ~~chat~~ shout and support each other definitely improves encouragement plus the cheeky bants diffuse some awkward and difficult moments.

Friday 11th September

As part of my current role, I’ve been tasked with establishing some standards and guidance around software delivery. As I’ve observed multiple teams’ process and challenges, I’ve pulled together a set of standard processes as a guide all teams can cross reference towards the ideal software delivery lifecycle (SDLC). Needless to say, no mean feat with tens of teams and “design by committee” so I took as many tech leads as possible through it Friday morning to mixed reactions. Some realised the value in it whilst others challenged some detail. In hindsight, quite a success considering typical techie’s attitudes.

As I tried to unwind after quite an intense day, I took back to my bass guitar (one of the daily habits in my Ticktick, regularly reminding me to practice). With Kool & The Gang's Ronald Bell passing away this week (RIP), it made sense to learn "Celebration". Check out how bad I was…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTC4vRtA0pE&feature=youtu.be

Finally, let's not forget it's #FatFriday (obligatory bacon sandwich breakfast) and, ideally, Dress UP Friday (for all us lockdown remote workers who are tired of wearing t-shirts).

Saturday 12th September

With Mrs J returning to work (school) this week, we've come to realise the Land Rover she uses isn't ideal for motorway driving. However, she needs something high up to accommodate a previous slipped disc and it's the one of few vehicles capable of towing our 2,000kg caravan. Checking around, we realised a smaller 2.0 or 2.2 Discovery Sport was capable so we shopped around and ended up on new online dealer, Cazoo - a disruptor in the car retail sector. Prices were competitive and, having an internal contact, I felt comfortable continuing the purchase unlike traditional car sales. However, being such a large investment and difficult to judge the actual dimensions, we ventured out to the nearest dealer to size up. It felt naughty but after all the years of dodgy dealers doing me over, it was time for some comeuppance. I did like how the vehicle is reserved whilst we go through the motions of finance deals plus they give you 24 hours to accept and proceed. Nice touch.

Sunday 13th September

With the finance deal lingering in my inbox overnight (always good to sleep on these things), I pressed the necessary buttons in the morning and went through the mobile verification steps in a seamless process.

Now it was time to sell the old one.

Mrs J posted on the local Facebook community yielding a number of false leads but one character was pretty determined, turned up on the door same day and counter-offered. We were slightly hesitant to his offer but it was no nonsense and, asking around, seemed reasonable after all. Time to Monzo the funds, transfer ownership online (no V5 log books needed) and it was all done in a matter of minutes. The future of private car sales and with a lot less stress.

WeekNotes #38

2020-09-21T00:00:00Z

Week 38 of 2020 brings a brand new Make Life Work website, Funky House Finesse revival, more HIIT with Wicks, oily fish, team reshuffles, Discovery Sport, Dennis Nilsen, Gmail sibling tricks, Zoom hacks and Apple major update frustrations.

Let’s keep things relatively simple this week with some brief outlining and tweet-bait:

Main side project focus this week has been preparing the start of Make Life Work S04 with edit of Liz Elcoate’s episode and launching the new website. Both went to plan, despite some media 404’s on the Wordpress Seriously Simple Podcasting plugin which required a last minute switch to Blubrry's PowerPress.
#FinesseFriday is still going strong as well, this week revisiting the Funky House Finesse debut show. The hashtag was meant to be a Summer thing but I’m going to keep going considering social engagements and downloads seem to be quite healthy from it.
Fitness is getting back on track with two more Joe Wicks HIIT sessions this week. Unfortunately, I have noticed my bones feeling quite stiff recently so need to proceed carefully. In the mean time, glucosamine with Omega-3 ordered on Prime plus oily fish in the weekly food shop as an additional aide.
With work, focus is on new team prep, getting the Product and Tech Leads aligned on direction along with clearing up the scope boundaries. We’re also lining up announcements for the SDLC to get the whole of Tech and Product onboard.
Saturday, we took delivery of the new Discovery Sport after last week’s Cazoo order. Fantastic customer service from Darren (our delivery specialist) plus the vehicle is definitely an upgrade to “Disco Daisy” (our previous model).
Entertainment wise, we’ve got into ITV’s Des - a dramatisation about Dennis Nilsen, featuring some fantastic acting from David Tenant and Co and thrilling story-telling.

Tweets of Worth

https://twitter.com/Si/status/1305541093237415937

The lesser-known Gmail + sibling trick shows O2 to be a common trend amongst my spam filters

https://twitter.com/Si/status/1305815792731201538

https://twitter.com/Si/status/1305819058240212997

Some Zoom hacks / suggestions to help whilst working remotely

https://twitter.com/Si/status/1306212155906306050

I say this at least once a year - get a quote on your insurance renewals, you're probably being done over.

https://twitter.com/Si/status/1305933251861676032

After hours of effort, I realised (a) iOS 13 beta profile was blocking the iOS 14 upgrade and (b) watchOS 7 required a factory reset to upgrade on my Watch Series 3

Make Life Work with Elizabeth Elcoate

2020-09-25T00:00:00Z

As Si returns for the 4th season of the podcast, he invites along brand designer Elizabeth Elcoate for a chat about how she got into brand design, some of the challenges of changing careers, hosting her specialist podcast, co-founding a LGBTQ+ community and even finding time for a degree.

Show Notes #

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zfdlIvqFwg

https://makelifeworkpodcast.com/elizabeth-elcoate/

WeekNotes #39

2020-09-28T00:00:00Z

Week 39 of 2020 brings home alone, beer fail, remote group workouts, Liz Elcoate, Amazon Podcasts, free Jira and unexpected Shopify charges.

Sticking to some outlined bullet points this week, simply for convenience and efficiency. (For reference, it took about 20-25 minutes to write. Nailing it.)

This was my first week alone in the house since lockdown came into place. It was very strange being the soul human around for a few days but, unfortunately, the boy’s return to school following surgery was slightly premature with further pains returning. A mid-week trip to A&E confirmed it was nothing serious (thankfully) but further R&R was suggested.
Dietary adjustments came into play this week with an attempt to introduce oily fish for aching joints (see featured image) and results from an intolerance test confirmed beer is a likely source of my abdominal pains. Age is a b*tch when it takes out one of your favourite foods. (It also prompted me to cancel the Brew Republic subscription I’ve recently been enjoying - time to find a gin/wine alternative)
I managed to squeeze in three Joe Wicks workouts this week thanks to a regularly scheduled “meeting” with a colleague to help encourage each other. Squatting and lunging over WhatsApp calls with colleagues is admittedly a strange sensation but a brilliant way to break down boundaries and add a comedic element to your daily workouts.
Make Life Work returned to the “airwaves” on Friday with Liz Elcoate providing the first episode of Season 4. As discussed on the show, the hard part is really all the preparation and promotion rather than the recording. Even post-production was quite straight forward (although I’ll admit now I kept it simple rather than going down the Nicholas Parsons’ route).
With the new website and feed, there was some extra admin to ensure new episodes were pushed out. My suspicions were squashed though as an early test showed Overcast first, Amazon second and Apple third without issues.
I also tried something new with early access on Patreon along with a video trailer for the socials (using Headliner). I’ve got beta access to a similar tool I’ll try this week to see how it compares but functionality does seem slightly simpler.
Earlier in the week, I discovered Jira now provides free plans for up to 10 users. With work shifting away to some internal proprietary alternatives, I’m keen to keep on top of Jira’s latest features (being the industry standard for what I do) so setup a plan for my side projects, tinkering around with some of the “next gen” features. For now, MLW is a kanban setup whilst TeachMugs (see next point) is Scrum.
Earlier in the year, Mrs J had a genius idea to setup a website selling mugs for teachers, so we snapped up teachmugs.com. Naturally, it fell by the way side but following an unexpected Shopify invoice for $28 following the initial 3-month free trial (some email warnings wouldn’t go amiss Shopify!), I’ve decided to give it one last try. I’ve connected Printful to the website with a couple sample products I’ve now ordered to test fulfilment. They should arrive in the next week or so to know what timelines and quality are like. Then we can pull together a fag-packet business plan on running costs/ROI.

Make Life Work with Naomi White Revisited

2020-10-02T00:00:00Z

Season 4 Episode 2 invites Naomi White back to revisit how she’s been handling life through lockdown; professionally, personally and creatively. As always, a real inspiration for anyone who’s trying to find motivation in these tough times.

Show Notes #

Starkade – a “chaos-infused” card game created with husband, James White (aka Signalnoise)
Unfulfilled – a home for axed logomarks that deserve to be seen, in glorious printed magazine format.
This is Minimum – skincare product with school friend

https://makelifeworkpodcast.com/naomi-white-revisited/

WeekNotes #40

2020-10-05T00:00:00Z

More outlining this week, trying to keep things simple after reading Dan Mall’s succinct WeekNotes plus I’m now trialling some personal metrics I’m curious of.

Life

Stopped in Rushton Hall for Mrs J’s 40th; fantastic food and decor, not enough time for spa though.
Dined with dinosaurs at Jurassic Grill in Kettering
Bought drinks with QR codes at Kino Lounge
Received my Bowie painting from Mike Hince
Smashed out 4 HIIT workouts with Joe Wicks and Caroline
Drank half a bottle of lager Friday evening and felt the consequences Saturday morning

Sides

Released Naomi’s MLW
Recorded Franca’s MLW
Rearranged Daniel’s MLW
Checked Teach Mugs fulfilment on Printful
Revived Gweilo’s ADE16 mix for #FinesseFriday

Metrics

Worked out an average of 27mins every day
Slept an average of 7h16m every night
Completed 50 Ticktick actions (-1 on last week)
Had 40 Zoom meetings, organising 17 of them
Mobile screen time down 37%, averaging 3h30m every day

(I want to make these metrics more visual going forward - I'll do some digging around for suitable WordPress blocks / plugins that help)

Make Life Work with Franca Hood

2020-10-09T00:00:00Z

For Season 4 Episode 3, Si invites along clinical hypnotherapist, Franca Hood.

Franca doesn’t necessarily work within tech but she’s used tech in her career (which is a fascinating journey too) and also has plenty to share and apply to tech. Franca has also worked with Si to build a strong football community on Twitter plus found innovative ways to manage her time and family commitments.

Show Notes #

Life Between Lives: Hypnotherapy for Spiritual Regression by Michael Newton Ph.D.
Something Divine
@DerbyCounty
franca.uk
@francastweets

https://makelifeworkpodcast.com/franca-hood/

WeekNotes #41

2020-10-12T00:00:00Z

Week 41 of 2020 brings 40th celebrations, mesh networks, crinkle cut veg, Franca Hood, Dan Vinnicombe, 10 mugs, tweets of worth and more sleep.

Let's continue the short-form bullets and metrics this week.

Life

Celebrated Mrs J's 40th with a few friends and family
Received an unfulfilled package from Naomi
Replaced a 6 month-old Linksys Velop mesh with TP-Link Deco
Noticed I'm reading teen fiction
Bought a crinkle cutter after watching Jamie
Worked out with Spotify and Caroline
Talked to Jaz about an upcoming work thing

Sides

Released Franca's MLW
Recorded Dan V's MLW
Restored a 10 year old mix
Made 10 mugs and a brand in a day with Mrs J

Tweets of Worth

https://twitter.com/Si/status/1315200995983593472

Coffee Snob

https://twitter.com/Si/status/1314880051863867393

Missing stereo

Metrics

Worked out an average of 23m every day (-4m)
Slept an average of 8h4m every night (+48m)
Completed 59 Ticktick actions (+9)
Had 40 Zoom meetings (same), organising 18 (+1) of them
Mobile screen time 3h 37m every day (+7m)

Make Life Work with Dan Vinnicombe

2020-10-16T00:00:00Z

Daniel Vinnicombe is a full stack web developer for Suffolk Council in the UK. He’s also a man of many talents, making plenty projects on the side, a keen gamer and still finds time for his partner & 3 children. What a machine!

Show Notes #

https://makelifeworkpodcast.com/dan-vinnicombe/

Triple A (AAA) Meeting framework

2020-10-19T00:00:00Z

Supercharge your meetings with clear outlines, focused audience and structured minutes using the Triple A 🔋 Meeting framework.

Too Much Zoom #

As the global pandemic and lockdown has taken over working behaviours with constantly shifting habits becoming "the new norm", it's quite common for many of us to struggle through endless online meetings (arguably introducing "Zoom fatigue" to our professional lexicon).

We've had to adjust our working styles with a range of common pitfalls taking over our calendars;

when you'd typically get off your seat to chat with someone about something relevant, you'd end up booking in a quick meeting titled "catch up"
as a collaborator, those "weekly meeting" invites start taking over your calendar
as a leader, the quick "update" meeting invite is so much easier to get key people together

Go on – go check your calendar now to see how many you've got. Also, have a look to see how many have no clear description or outline? I can imagine it's more than one.

Triple A (AAA) Meetings 🔋 #

This is where I propose the Triple A Meeting framework:

Attendees #

Make sure you've got the right people invited and everyone else knows who's coming

Agenda #

Outline a clear point to the meeting along with areas it covers. Consider using the calendar summary for the meeting outcome and calendar description for breakdown of each area covered.

Actions #

Any specific activities that should be followed up by attendees, ideally with any carried over from previous meetings. Make sure to send the actions out to all attendees straight after the meeting too.

By adopting this model, you ensure that the meeting you're having is outcome-driven with a clear outline and focused on the key people to attend.

Extra Charge ⚡️ #

You might find it awkward fitting all the agenda minutes and actions directly in the calendar item - this is where it's worth using your preferred online document storage (like Confluence or Google Docs).

Create a document and link to it from the calendar event.

That way it's easier to share before the meeting (allowing for agenda contributions prior to the meeting), live scribing notes during the meeting and tracking actions afterwards.

For added alliteration, you can also extend your Audience with an Apologies subheading for any attendees who were unable to make it. This helps set context for any outstanding actions along missing outcomes requiring their input.

/end battery puns

WeekNotes #42

2020-10-19T00:00:00Z

Week 42 of 2020 is a quiet week with some shopping, David Attenborough, bass lines, Dan Vinnicombe and slightly more fitness.

Life

Kicked off a mammoth project at work, first one across 3 timezones
Braved the local clothes stores for the growing kids
Emptied the hot tub with a new submersible pump
Learned Seven Nation Army on bass in 5 minutes
Put the old Linksys Velop network on eBay
Seriously impressed by Sam Mendes’ endless shot in 1917 (on Prime)
Motivated to go (mostly) vegetarian following David Attenborough’s A Life On Our Planet
Played The Vision’s Missing on loop all weekend and preordered it on vinyl

Sides

Released Dan V’s Make Life Work
Organised Brian’s Make Life Work
Revived Souljackerz’ debut House Finesse mix
Discovered many people use Overcast or Pocketcasts over native podcast apps
Renewed sportstimes.website

Metrics

Worked out an average of 30m every day (+7m)
Slept an average of 7h 30m every night (-34m)
Completed 55 Ticktick actions (-4)
Had 42 Zoom meetings (+2), organising 23 (+5) of them
Mobile screen time 3h 34m every day (-3m)

Make Life Work with Brian Suda

2020-10-23T00:00:00Z

The one when Si talks to Brian about innovating with football tech, AR being better than VR and living in Iceland.

https://makelifeworkpodcast.com/brian-suda/

WeekNotes #43

2020-10-26T00:00:00Z

Week 43 of 2020 brings isolation birthday, Jaz Ampaw-Farr, Brian Suda, bright times, 16th year of Multipack, Hubie, Hugh and Johnny.

I've also discovered some visual WordPress blocks to make my personal metrics pop a bit more. Love to hear your thoughts.

Life

Invited the amazing Jaz to talk at work's first "Together from Afar" social event
Celebrated the boy's birthday in isolation
Pretend to have tattoos
Tolerated Hubie for 100 minutes too many
Intrigued by Laurie's Roadkill
Watched The Shining for first time ever
Read 20% of The Psychology of Time Travel

Sides

Released MLW S4 finalé with Brian
Renewed multipack.co.uk for the 16th year
Raised my first pull request in 3 months
Revived Bright Times for #FinesseFriday

Metrics

30min workouts

No change on last week

7hr 56min sleep

+26min (6%) on last week

59 TickTick actions

+4 (7%) on last week

3hr 21min screen time

-13 min (6%) on last week

WeekNotes #44

2020-11-02T00:00:00Z

Week 44 of 2020 brings spooky celebrations, flaky security cameras, print runs, vinyl hunting, PHP fixing, more sleep and less screen time.

Life

Celebrated 20 years with Mrs J in radiant Halloween energy
Regrettably expected #Lockdown2, even the lack of educational shutdown
Investigated Hive alternatives following weeks of random outages
Cleared out the spare room for a new home office
Helped Princess print her first (Halloween) newsletter
Framed and displayed our Portmates illustrations
Realised Manything on an old iPhone 6S isn't suitable for night mode
Salivated over The American BBQ Showdown
Found Abbey Road on 12" in Weedon's Vintique

Sides

Released House Finesse Halloween 2020 to record downloads
Fixed some worrying security vulnerabilities on HF
Reviewed some old Heroku PHP apps using cedar-14 stack
Started learning Docker

Metrics

27min workouts

-3min (10%) on last week

8hr 20min sleep

+24min (5%) on last week

52 TickTick actions

-7 (12%) on last week

3hr 1min screen time

-20 min (10%) on last week

WeekNotes #45

2020-11-09T00:00:00Z

Week 45 of 2020 brings US relief, classic beams, sickness, mashups, marketing mugs, Borat, The Morning Show, Apple Podcasts, Matt Haig and TickTick fail.

Life

Relieved sanity prevailed in the US Election
Uncovered more original beams in our 18th century building whilst preparing the new home office
Took 3 days off sick for the first time in current job
Started Christmas shopping at Laithwaites (12 bottles for £65)
Recognised 14 years on Twitter - ho-hum.

Sides

Released the Alan Dixon x Mory Kanté mashup from HF87
Started researching marketing plans for Teach Mugs

Entertainment

Awkwardly enjoyed Borat’s latest political swipe
Binged Apple's The Morning Show on my sickbed
Drawn into Nicole and Hugh's Undoing
Disappointed Little Mix’s chosen support act wasn’t Ychange
Moved podcasts from Overcast to Apple for Alexa support
Started reading about modern anxiety in Matt Haig’s Notes On A Nervous Planet

Metrics

28min workouts

-2m (7%) on last week

7hr 53min sleep

-3min (1%) on last week

31 TickTick actions

-28 (52%) on last week

3hr 28min screen time

+7min (3%) on last week

WeekNotes #46

2020-11-15T00:00:00Z

Week 46 of 2020 brings Christmas, lightning talk, Singles Day, mug logo, Finesse merch, Frankie Knuckles, Truth Seekers, Jingle Jangle, Shagged Married Annoyed and Elizabeth Day.

Life

Put the new fake tree up, why not?
(Also ordered a smart plug for easier light management)
Finished stripping the office wallpaper, now ready for decorating
Submit my lightning talk to Agile Northants on “shoehorning agile into waterfall”
Organised a couple Zoom socials in an attempt to “cheer up”
Tried to get support from APAC colleagues in the midst of a record Singles Day

Sides

Redesigned the Teach Mugs logo

Planned Teach Mugs launch with Mrs J
Organised Multipack Virtual Beers
Setup House Finesse merch store
Revived HF24 with Frankie Knuckles tribute for #FinesseFriday

Entertainment

Binged Frost & Pegg’s Truth Seekers
Turned off cringeworthy Jingle Jangle
Discovered and enjoyed Chris & Rosie’s podcast of married life
Bought Elizabeth Day’s Failosophy book after seeing her on The Russell Howard Hour

Metrics

4× 35min workouts

+3 (7min) on last week

7hr 55min sleep

+2min on last week

50 TickTick actions

+19 on last week

3hr 13min screen time

-7% on last week

The Psychology of Time Travel

2020-11-17T00:00:00Z

author: Kate Mascarenhas
name: Si
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2020/11/17
date added: 2020/11/17
shelves:
review:

Failosophy: A Handbook For When Things Go Wrong

2020-11-20T00:00:00Z

author: Elizabeth Day
name: Si
average rating: 4.01
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2020/11/19
date added: 2020/11/19
shelves:
review:
Great philosophy towards failure with well written stories, from a personal perspective and the guests. Quite verbose at times but easy read too.

Lord of the Flies

2020-11-20T00:00:00Z

author: William Golding
name: Si
average rating: 3.69
book published: 1954
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/11/19
shelves:
review:

WeekNotes #47

2020-11-23T00:00:00Z

Week 47 of 2020 brings smart Christmas trees, Zoom socials, new glasses, Teach Mugs, Bonnie Bailey, Home Alone 2 and first run since July.

Life

Decorated the Christmas trees with smart plug lights
Enjoyed a social Zoom with old ASOS chums, James, Ed and Stu
Wondered how many other remote teams wind down with Friday evening social calls
Secured a lightning talk at Agile Northants December event
Picked up some new bins from Specsavers

Sides

Launched Teach Mugs to encouraging support on the socials
Struggled to produce video promotional content
Revived Presents… Bonnie Bailey https://www.housefinesse.com/onephatdj/presenting-bonnie-bailey/
Re-registered jobl.in as another vanity domain
Got Make Life Work on iHeart

Entertainment

Thrashed through Failosophy in a few days - great philosophies but more female oriented
Pizza movie night with Home Alone 2

Metrics

3x27min workouts

-1 / -3min on last week

7hr 44min sleep

-11min on last week

47 TickTick actions

-3 on last week

3hr 7min screen time

-6min on last week

Notes on a Nervous Planet

2020-11-25T00:00:00Z

author: Matt Haig
name: Si
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2020/11/24
date added: 2020/11/24
shelves:
review:

WeekNotes #48

2020-11-30T00:00:00Z

Week 48 of 2020 brings laminate fail, lights sail, mug sales, rave-ival, Matt Haig and Sue Townsend.

Life

Failed to laminate home office floor
Found my captains desk
Lit up the street with Jobling illuminations
Said goodbye to a fellow Delivery Lead
Enjoyed a leaver's lunch-time quiz
Thrived in general
Ran around the village twice
Grabbed a Friday mint-choc rocky road from Pickle & Pie

Sides

Fretted over TeachMugs launch
Tried a few promos
Noticed and fixed a gap in drop-shipping funds flow
Impressed with 5 day shipping from Spain
Sold 3 mugs
Raved with DJ Cruze for #FinesseFriday

Entertainment

Reminisced with Blackadder II
Blasted out Marco Faraone & Greeko – Armaghetton (Aeroplane Remix) -
Finished Notes On A Nervous Planet by Matt Haig
Started The Woman Who Went To Bed For A Year by Sue Townsend

Metrics

3x 27min workouts

+2min on last week

7hr 51min sleep

-3min on last week

72 TickTick actions

+25 on last week

3hr 46min screen time

+39min on last week

WeekNotes #49

2020-12-07T00:00:00Z

Week 49 of 2020 brings a haircut, captain's desk, guilds, post-lockdown drives, Multipack, funk, lightning talk prep, Michael McIntyre, Sharon Horgan, making things and a bad week for health.

Life

Had a long-overdue hair trim
Setup the "new" captain's desk in my new home office
Explored ways to roll out agile guilds effectively
Started plans for a "remote" Christmas work-do
Dropped off a surprise gift in Birmingham for our friend’s 40th
Wrote our first Christmas letter
Finished Christmas shopping with Amazon Smile
Slapped the bass with Yousician for the first time in weeks
Consumed far too many units (but it is Christmas)

Sides

Hosted a Multipack (Zoom) reunion
Revived The Phenomena of Funk for #FinesseFriday
Outlined my Agile Northants lightning talk
Researched a live House Finesse stream for NYE

Entertainment

Spun Michael Mcintyre's Wheel
Pulling with Sharon Horgan
Silliness with Murder In Successville
How Do They Do It on Quest TV

Metrics

1x 21min workouts

-12min (x1) on last week

7hr 36min sleep

-19min on last week

59 TickTick actions

-13 on last week

3hr 44min screen time

-2min on last week

WeekNotes #50

2020-12-14T00:00:00Z

Week 50 of 2020 brings a "new" home office space, disappointing print-outs, low mileage, slide prep, another podcast format, The Vision, Will Ferrell and a surge of Ticktick items.

Life

Finished setup of the hipster home office
Ordered an antique captain's chair on eBay
Disappointed in the output quality of our first Christmas letter (but sent it anyway)
Service and MOT on Hyundai which only clocked up 5,000mi this year (which still seems high)

Sides

Prepared slides for my Northants Agile lightning talk
Organised the first On The Side podcast recording for the new year
Restored FHF18 for #FinesseFriday
Slashed prices to cost in hope of encouraging some Teach Mugs sales
Filled my crate with music for the House Finesse NYE Edition

Entertainment

Shook the house with The Vision’s Missing arriving on vinyl
Chuckled along to Daddy's Home 2 on Prime – the latest (festive) guilty pleasure for the family

Metrics

1x24min workouts

+8min on last week

7hr 45min sleep

+9min on last week

89 TickTick actions

+30 on last week

3hr 14min screen time

-30min on last week

The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year

2020-12-20T00:00:00Z

author: Sue Townsend
name: Si
average rating: 3.46
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2020/12/20
date added: 2020/12/20
shelves:
review:

WeekNotes #51

2020-12-21T00:00:00Z

Week 51 of 2020 brings Christmas quizzes, more office tweaks, smart lights, negative COVID tests, no workouts, podcast hybrids, Glitterbox and Die Hard.

Life

Wrapped up the working year hosting a Kahoot quiz for 15 colleagues
Dug out the velvet jacket for some online Christmas parties
Extended the Deco mesh with a dedicated node in the office
Enjoyed the arrival of my office captains chair
Failed to get the Disco Sport's rattling steering column replaced
Installed our first multi-colour smart light by the back-door
Resorted to a cable connection and Epson Big Sur patch to reconnect our Epson XP-212 printer
Relieved Mrs J's pre-op COVID test came back negative
Ordered another crate of Laithwaites white (with 15% discount through work)
Got zero workouts in (cos, y'know, Christmas)

Sides

Started plans for the Make Life Work x On The Side takeover
Revived a 5 year old Christmas special for #FinesseFriday
Considering this to be the final WeekNotes (at least in this format)

Entertainment

Partied alone to Glitterbox Love Stream (We Dance As One)
Introduced The Boy to the best Christmas movie ever, Die Hard

Metrics

Zero workouts

-1 on last week

7hr 49min sleep

+13min on last week

62 TickTick actions

-27 on last week

3hr 45min screen time

+31min on last week

WeekNotes #52

2020-12-28T00:00:00Z

Week 52 of 2020 brings festive surgery, creamed spinach, smelly nightwear, another running challenge, disco stems, Die Hard, Zoom panto and animations.

Life

Worked until Monday lunch, tidying up some last minute project curveballs
Relieved Mrs J's abdominal surgery went to plan (if a little longer than expected)
Ran around the village dropping off last minute gifts (personalised baubles)
Celebrated Christmas like any other year despite lockdown & exceptions
Introduced Jamie’s creamed spinach bake to my traditional festive feast (see featured images)
Stacked up five Amazon returns including stinky nightwear, an inadequate stereo & duplicate wish list items
Took the family for a Starbucks drive-thru to get “outdoors”
Signed up to a 75km running January challenge for Maggie’s Centre

Sides

Discovered an amazing source of stems for my next music project
Revived Micro and Photo posts on here
Considering “Month Notes” for 2021 with focus on quality over quantity and reduced effort
Attempted a promo for the Make Life Work “On The Side Takeover”

Entertainment

Die Hard trilogy entertained (and 4.0 disappointed) The Boy
Comic Relief Cinderella (Zoom) panto provoked a small donation
Monsters University on DisneyPlus
Shaun The Sheep Movie on BBC

Metrics

Zero workouts

No change on last week

5hr 58min sleep

-1hr 51min on last week (sleep tracking disabled Christmas Eve & Day)

77 TickTick actions

+15 on last week

3hr 58min screen time

+13 min on last week

2021 Goals

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Nope, not New Years resolutions - goals. For me, resolutions are habits but goals are achievements that habits lend towards.

My goals for 2021?

Reduce non-work screen time 📱
Be more active with fitness 🏃‍♂️
Read another 20 books 📚
Make my own disco house remix 🕺
Host a virtual conference 🗣️

All of these are measurable and achievable plus they will give me focus when needed. Screen time and fitness are all tracked (automatically) on my Apple gear. Reading is manually tracked on Goodreads with Kindle. The final two will have actual tangible outcomes to reflect success.

I’m also setting some monthly TickTick reminders to check in on them. I might even reference them with my new “month note” format for 2021.

I’ll be using our On The Side Slack community for support, encouragement and goal setting.

To encourage my fitness, I’ll be taking on monthly challenges raising funds and awareness for charity; January is for Maggie’s Centre and March will be for Alzheimer’s Society.

What are your goals for 2021?

Going Green

2021-01-02T00:00:00Z

author: Nick Spalding
name: Si
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2021/01/02
date added: 2021/01/02
shelves:
review:

Ark

2021-01-08T00:00:00Z

author: Veronica Roth
name: Si
average rating: 3.57
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2021/01/08
date added: 2021/01/08
shelves:
review:

No Filter: The inside story of how Instagram transformed business, celebrity and our culture

2021-01-18T00:00:00Z

author: Sarah Frier
name: Si
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/01/17
shelves: to-read
review:

The Stars and Everything in Between

2021-01-19T00:00:00Z

author: Victoria Lee
name: Si
average rating: 4.37
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2021/01/18
date added: 2021/01/18
shelves:
review:

First Thrills: High-Octane Stories from the Hottest Thriller Authors

2021-01-21T00:00:00Z

author: Lee Child
name: Si
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at: 2021/01/20
date added: 2021/01/20
shelves:
review:

Master Your Time In 10 Minutes a Day: Time Management Tips for Anyone Struggling With Work-Life Balance (How to Change Your Life in 10 Minutes a Day)

2021-01-21T00:00:00Z

author: Michal Stawicki
name: Si
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2021/01/20
date added: 2021/01/20
shelves:
review:

January 2021

2021-02-01T00:00:00Z

Following a year of WeekNotes, I’ve decided to try a new "monthly digest" format this year. I’ll cover the same topics as before (work, life & health, side projects & entertainment) but this will hopefully lend towards more substantial content, allowing for quieter weeks but still maintain a relatively manageable frequency. Let’s see how things go…

Work #

Returning to work after the festive break was tough, really tough. I’m responsible for ensuring technical delivery of two high profile and business critical projects so, like the start of many projects, pressure was on to get team members aligned and focused. I can’t talk about the details but it’s definitely been rewarding to finally get both projects in a better shape over the past 4 weeks.

I’ve also had to compromise on some of my preferred ways of working. Shared demos have had to take a rain check to get delivery over the line and disrupting sprint commitments so frequently has certainly hampered some teams productivity, efficiency and morale.

The delivery team also lost another member this month so trying to lead 12 teams between two of us has been quite tricky. Attempts to get Tech Leads and Product Managers to take on more responsibilities falls on mixed reactions. The majority are quite supportive but typical resistance to change certainly introduces extra people skills demanding unavailable time.

It has been quite enlightening going through the recruitment process for some fellow delivery leads too. As we try to align with our APAC colleague ways of working, we’re realising more of our time is spent as programme managers than scrum master / delivery leads. That said, the market clearly has two different disciplines out there - you’re either one or the other rather than a hybrid.

Life #

Biggest achievement this month was completing a 75km running goal, in aid of Maggie’s Centres - a cancer aftercare charity. It was tough at times, especially with the weather bringing snowstorms and icy conditions towards the final weeks, but I managed to will myself on by pledging to donate £1 for every kilometre I completed (reverse psychology perhaps).

Elsewhere, our Hyundai took a turn for the worse which looks to be a costly repair job. After 6 years of service plus a number of drives across Europe, we’re tempted to cut our losses, sell it for parts and wait for lockdown to ease before spending unnecessary money on a second vehicle.

I’ve been chipping away at little bits of DIY around the house, nearly finished the new home office with some laminate floor beading, cable management and replacing electrical sockets. Just some window shutters and curtains to complete the renovation then random paintings from eBay to add to our "gallery" style for Zoom call attendees to observe.

Homeschooling has been trickier this time round but, thankfully, Mrs J started the year on planned sick leave so managed to get the little one in a better habit with some full time attention. My only contribution is fighting Teams to download and print out worksheets every night - something that seems unnecessarily complicated and demonstrates how Teams has evolved in purpose from its initial intention.

Mrs J has also been adjusting our diet this year to reduce cholesterol and fats. She’s being really strict with Slimming World whilst I “accompany” the main food with my own snacks. I'm not personally bothered about weight management but I'm all for maintaining my current weight along with improving my general fitness (that 75km goal needs increasing later this year).

Sides #

Plans to recommence Make Life Work as a new On The Side takeover has been stalled whilst I adjust to the new lockdown demands. Lunch breaks have been necessary for my own well-being plus any time on side projects are put on hold when I’m trying to find more time with the family. That said, we are looking to start recording this coming week as I join previous guests Mike Street and Sam Hardacre on a panel discussion. It should be fun!

Multipack has also got some much needed love from the gang. Paul redesigned the website with a lick of paint and pulled out an archive of events to keep as a memory. We’ve also arranged another remote meet-up for this coming Thursday so it’ll be great to catch up with everyone on how they’re coping through the current lockdown.

We recruited two new members to the @DerbyCounty Twitter community; Janice and Shaun have joined the roster for match day commentary. It’ll be great to get a new tone to the tweets and share the demand with the existing group.

I’m also planning to sell the accompanying website SuperRams.com again. The change in ownership and management at the football club feels like a good time to get traffic back on the website but I’m mindful of my own capacity and would rather pass the reigns over to someone with more knowledge and time.

I’ve also added another hoodie to the House Finesse shop with a cheeky play on a well known phrase more suited to lockdown life: House Music All Day Long is available in a range of colours and sizes and typically arrive in about 1 week from the Printful drop-shipping arrangement.

Last week, I realised the 6 Nations tournament was fast approaching so decided to update my 6 Nations sports calendar with the fixtures and a few bug fixes too. After a year or so not touching code, it was quite remarkable how quickly I found my way around - especially with the codebase being 13 years old.

Off the back of this, I started to reconsider an original plan to make an app for anyone to make and share sports calendars. I even toyed around with Budibase to see how feasible it would be to build a "no code" app so I can focus on the functionality but I'm not sure it it'll create more problems when I've got a more than adequate set of contacts to help out.

Finally, I’m considering creating a book and toolkit about balancing time between life, work and side projects (on the Make Life Work brand obvs). To compliment the toolkit, I’ve created a Google Sheet time journal to get a better idea of where my time is spent then use this to plan forward. When I’ve got a few weeks data compiled and analysed, I’ll then look at how it can be distributed for other people to try.

Entertainment #

Books 📚 #

Going Green by Nick Spalding - another easy read following another relatable topic (for me)
Ark by Veronica Roth - a sci-fi short story that piqued my interest
The Star and Everything In Between by Victoria Lee - a short Feverwake novella following the other two I enjoyed last year
Master Your Time In 10 Minutes by Michal Stawicki - the first non-fiction in a while with some brilliant lifehacks towards organising your life
First Thrills by Lee Child - a compilation of short thriller stories (I’d had enough after the 7th)

TV 📺 #

The Serpent – fascinating dramatisation of the 70s hippie murderer around Asia
Staged S2 – these boys can do no wrong with another brilliant (meta) production living as an actor through lockdown
It’s A Sin - it lived up to all the hype with some fabulous acting and deep insights to how people coped through another scary epidemic
My Mad Fat Diary – our second viewing of this brilliant "coming of age" boxset from our teenage era, pure indulgence with fond memories of the time.

Movies 🎥 #

Wonder Woman 1984 – disappointing action after all the hype
Tag – cheesy viewing but actually quite engaging, bringing out the inner child in all of us
Independence Day – movie & pizza night with the kids and one of my all time favourites
Deadpool 2 – Can Ryan Reynolds be anymore slick? Stupid, gory, ridiculous but it just works. I'm looking forward to the third.

The Girl Beneath the Sea (Underwater Investigation Unit, #1)

2021-02-04T00:00:00Z

author: Andrew Mayne
name: Si
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2021/02/03
date added: 2021/02/03
shelves:
review:

Summer Frost

2021-02-08T00:00:00Z

author: Blake Crouch
name: Si
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2021/02/07
date added: 2021/02/07
shelves:
review:

On The Side Takeover – Pilot

2021-02-15T00:00:00Z

Si returns for the 5th season of Make Life Work with Sam and Mike and a new “On The Side” takeover format.

Show Notes

"Time You Enjoy Wasting Is Not Wasted Time" (citation)Little Heroes ComicsAle House Rock - Mike's beer logSkinny Drawn Boy - Sam's comics

https://makelifeworkpodcast.com/on-the-side-takeover-pilot/

1984 (Amazon Classics Edition)

2021-02-20T00:00:00Z

author: George Orwell
name: Si
average rating: 4.32
book published: 1949
rating: 4
read at: 2021/02/20
date added: 2021/02/20
shelves:
review:

Should Side Projects Be A Job Requirement?

2021-02-22T00:00:00Z

The one when Si, Mike and Sam discuss their side project failures and consider whether side projects are a necessity for people working in tech.

https://makelifeworkpodcast.com/should-side-projects-be-a-job-requirement/

Artemis

2021-03-01T00:00:00Z

author: Andy Weir
name: Si
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2021/03/01
date added: 2021/03/01
shelves:
review:

Randomize

2021-03-01T00:00:00Z

author: Andy Weir
name: Si
average rating: 3.46
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2021/03/01
date added: 2021/03/01
shelves:
review:

February 2021

2021-03-01T00:00:00Z

In a month of new jobs, old memories, zero fitness and plenty science fiction.

Goodbye WorldFirst, hello (again) ASOS. #

This month, I was offered an opportunity back at ASOS as an Engineering Manager. A career change was not something I was actively pursuing but, following some passing comments with ex-colleagues, my intrigue got the better of me and the rest, as they say, was history.

It’s extremely exciting to be returning to the company, especially as someone solely focused on people rather than mixed with projects - a paradigm that always seemed like a conflict of interests. I’ve missed working directly with engineers during my time at WorldFirst - a consequence from the Ant Group takeover shifting the role to more of a programme manager than delivery lead. My current line manager has been extremely understanding and supportive with the decision and my new line manager back at ASOS (plus previous colleagues) have already shown reassuring confidence in my potential in the new role so it all feels like a dream come true with no bridges burned.

I’m currently working my notice (to the end of March) but making sure all the teams and projects I’ve worked with are in the best place possible - a great opportunity to flex some old coaching skills, spending quality “121” time with individuals, imparting my knowledge for driving quality delivery with an eye on customer or business needs.

Make Life Work x On The Side #

The main focus for side projects this month has been the return of my Make Life Work podcast. For the fifth season (I know!), we’re trying something a little different by bringing two previous guests Sam and Mike along to introduce a panel format. It took some organising to find the right time to start but we eventually settled in to lockdown 3.0 habits to record Tuesday lunchtimes for Monday morning release (giving me enough time to produce and prepare).

So far, we’ve made 3 episodes and plan to invite along some of our On The Side acquaintances along as guests (hence the "On The Side takeover" name). We’re still finding our feet with the format and tone, trying to make it feel as natural as possible, but it’s been great fun chatting with friends more regularly, introducing banter where possible and sharing each other’s thoughts rather than being a one way interview.

The plan is to keep going until we need to take a break but, ideally, it’s not reliant on an individual to keep momentum going so the 5 episode limit could be pushed now.

Elsewhere on side projects, I’ve spent the month tracking and measuring my time with a time journal in an attempt to understand the typical balance between work, life and sides which can consequently form a capacity plan for others. I’m now introducing some user testers to the toolkit (all in Google Sheets for faster “no code” improvements) which can then possibly be rolled out to others. I'll be blogging about this properly when I'm ready but it's all part of my plan for a "Make Life Work toolkit" I'd like to produce and release later this year.

I’ve also spent some time tidying up some other sides this month:

Teach Mugs is now on Etsy following 4 months of little sales on Shopify so this is an attempt to reduce costs
House Finesse now has a larger range of merchandise available on the store (supplied by Printful drop-shipping)
We had our first proper Multipack Remote event at the start of the month, more of a social event with some topics discussed. The next one (this Thursday) introduces some lightning talks from Gaz and Matt which should add a little more structure and conversation starters.
On The Side reached the milestone of 100 members this month too. As significant as this might seem, I’m keen to keep size quite humble and improve engagement so have been experimenting with different apps and conversation starters to encourage existing members to be more vocal.

Lockdown Loft #

As lockdown 3.0 comes to a close with a so-called roadmap for 2021, the family have been preparing (mentally and logistically) to return to some normality. It’s going to be strange having the house empty again from next week but I’m mindful of the kids education suffering through all the home efforts. Living in a house where 3 schools come together is not ideal neither but at least my contact with the public is still limited and our live-in grandparents have initial vaccinations sorted.

We’ve also used the opportunity to (finally) sort out our loft space. Floor boards are now properly fitted so storage space has been maximised. We’ve discovered some lovely memories in the process, flicking through old photos (remember printed snaps?), clearing through childhood / student / wedding / first-born keepsakes.

I’ve also improved my home working setup, now with a Samsung 28” 4K monitor and HD webcam for all those video calls. The camera can be slightly temperamental (possibly through the USB-C hub) but it’s definitely better having such a large screen to multi-task on with some clearer video for colleagues to witness. I also realised the Samsung monitor needed a dedicated USB-C to HDMI cable for the 60hz refresh rate to work properly.

After finding old DVD’s of wedding footage, I also ordered an external DVD drive so my 2020 MBP was capable of viewing it. I do miss optical drives sometimes.

10x10km to #EndoTheStigma #

Following January’s 75km challenge for Maggie’s Centres, I ended up taking the best part of February off from any exercise. I only planned to take a week or so but lack of motivation got the better of me.

That said, I’ve been planning to do something for Endometriosis Awareness Month (March) following my wife’s surgery and treatment at the end of last year. It’s likely to be another running challenge so, in the theme of Endometriosis UK’s #1in10 hashtag, I’m looking to take on 10x10km runs. I’ve only ever achieved one 10km in my life so completing TEN of them in a month would be quite an achievement and would smash my previous efforts. It seems reachable but will definitely not be easy and I hope to raise more cash and awareness for another unsung charity that needs more attention than more popular ones, especially as one dear to my family.

Entertainment #

This month has mostly been spent reading more sci-fi and crime thrillers - I’ve definitely caught the bug.

In TV world, we’ve been delving into the All4 archives (using the ad-free All4+ subscription) to watch the likes of Skins, The Great and Catastrophe. The family have enjoyed WandaVision on Disney+ and Good Omens on Prime so all the TV subscriptions are getting a good hammering.

Saturday movie night has been all about the disaster movies including The Day After Tomorrow and 2012 plus we giggled through Gremlins and Attack The Block for some “light hearted” monster entertainment.

Collaborate or go solo?

2021-03-01T00:00:00Z

The one when Si, Mike and Sam discuss whether they prefer working on side projects alone or in a group plus our first guest question about keeping motivated.

https://makelifeworkpodcast.com/collaborate-or-go-solo/

The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever

2021-03-05T00:00:00Z

author: Michael Bungay Stanier
name: Si
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2021/03/04
date added: 2021/03/04
shelves:
review:

You Have Arrived at Your Destination

2021-03-07T00:00:00Z

author: Amor Towles
name: Si
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2021/03/07
date added: 2021/03/07
shelves:
review:

The Last Conversation

2021-03-08T00:00:00Z

author: Paul Tremblay
name: Si
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2021/03/07
date added: 2021/03/07
shelves:
review:

Selfish Problem Solving

2021-03-08T00:00:00Z

The one when Si, Mike & Sam invite Shari Muhima to the conversation about mindsets for creativity and any themes in their side projects.

https://makelifeworkpodcast.com/selfish-problem-solving/

The Way the World Ends (Warmer, #1)

2021-03-09T00:00:00Z

author: Jess Walter
name: Si
average rating: 3.57
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2021/03/08
date added: 2021/03/08
shelves:
review:

Tingle of Completion

2021-03-15T00:00:00Z

The one when Si, Sam and Mike invite Juan Fernandes to join the conversation about what motivates side projects and how to plan them out.

https://makelifeworkpodcast.com/tingle-of-completion/

Tibialis Posterior Tendon Dysfunction

2021-03-16T00:00:00Z

Looks like the diagnosis for my foot and knee troubles is getting clearer. Time for treatment, therapy and custom mould insteps to correct.

https://www.wsh.nhs.uk/CMS-Documents/Patient-leaflets/TraumaandOrthopaedics/6112-1-Tibialis-Posterior-Tendon-Dysfunction-or-Insufficieny-or-Adult-Aquired-Flatfoot-Deformity.pdf

6112-1-Tibialis-Posterior-Tendon-Dysfunction-or-Insufficieny-or-Adult-Aquired-Flatfoot-Deformity.pdf

What we can all learn from playing Lego with an 8 year old

2021-03-19T00:00:00Z

Earlier this week, I took the chance to spend some quality time with my 8yo daughter and a box full of Lego. It was a rare treat for both of us; not only indulging in the childhood pleasure of a long-beloved toy but also getting to spend decent daddy-daughter time together with no other disruptions.

There are numerous articles out there about the correlation between Lego and working (especially in tech) so I thought I'd take the opportunity to reflect on an enjoyable afternoon to see what I could learn and compare against common pitfalls we see from working in software engineering.

Rules are made to be broken #

Alternative colour pieces (brown bricks instead of white, multi-coloured "metal)

I'm a stickler for following the instructions but when we were struggling to find the blue pieces, my creative daughter suggested we just try brown that we had already found. Low and behold, the end result actually was more pleasing which my daughter even said "See Daddy, looks good!"

Sometimes, using your initiative encourages creativity with better results.

Stop rushing #

There were occasions where my Gen Z daughter's patience was getting the better of her, quickly putting pieces in the wrong place, getting bored waiting for the pieces. I had to remind her there's no rush and there's a reason most pieces are added at the necessary steps of the instructions.

Take time to do things properly, enjoy the process and appreciate the end result more.

Trying to find detail amongst chaos #

Chaos of multiple Lego sets in one large box

Someone at some point decided it would be sensible to pile all the different boxes of Lego into a large single toy box. Maybe it was to pool resources, simplify storage… who knows. By doing so, it looks ridiculously difficult to find specific pieces.

However, we did find that once you know what you're looking for, it actually becomes easier. Smaller pieces were likely to be towards the bottom or corners, larger pieces at the top. Strangely, even the rare pieces you wouldn't expect to find became clearer once we know what was being looked for.

Once you know what you're looking for, it becomes clearer and easier to see.

Enable others to grow #

Early in the process, I offered to help collect the pieces so that my daughter could focus on the building part. Whilst I was mindful of her doing "the easy part", I was keen for her to focus on how the building process worked. Defining those distinct roles and responsibilities early on made it clear who was doing what too.

Take the brunt out of the boring work enables others to learn.

Sometimes it hurts #

Bleeding cuticles from rummaging through Lego

Rummaging through a large toy-box full of bricks for hours can wear on your skin – both of us commented on sore cuticles and numb finger tips as the hours passed. Even the assembly can pinch or graze your fingers as my daughter realised on several occasions. However, rather than moan about it, we both just battled through to focus on the final goods. Her words: "It's OK!"

No matter what pain you're put through, fight on - it'll be fine.

Take time out #

Both of us enjoyed the dedicated time with each other when there was plenty other things that we could have done, my daughter typically watching something on-demand, me doom-scrolling through social media feeds. Even when we both had important things that we could have prioritised, there was nothing that couldn't wait a few hours.

It helps to unwind and build rapport when it seems there's "never enough time".

Spin (Captain Chase #2)

2021-03-21T00:00:00Z

author: Patricia Cornwell
name: Si
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/03/21
date added: 2021/03/21
shelves:
review:

What is a side project if not a safe place to get imposter syndrome?

2021-03-22T00:00:00Z

The one when Si, Sam and Mike invite Jesse Payne along to talk tech influences & tools and if imposter syndrome affects us with side projects.

https://makelifeworkpodcast.com/what-is-a-side-project-if-not-a-safe-place-to-get-imposter-syndrome/

March 2021

2021-04-01T00:00:00Z

In a month when I change jobs, release two podcast series and get zero fitness.

Goodbye Ant, Hello ASOS #

As mentioned last month, I've accepted an Engineering Manager role back at ASOS following 14 months working at Ant Group's WorldFirst as Delivery Lead.

March has mostly been about wrapping up handover and preparing peers to take on some of my responsibilities (due to delays replacing me). A couple projects have upcoming deadlines looming but everything seems to be in hand with minimal concerns about timelines - quite satisfying to be in such a promising position to suggest my efforts have provided the desired results. Naturally there are a couple loose ends but nothing that couldn't be handled.

Leaving drinks in Zoom

Having witnessed a couple other leavers experiences over the past few months, I was keen to avoid the embarrassing "surprise" Zoom call and awkwardly long silences/gaps in conversations so joined forces with a fellow leaver to arrange 4pm Friday virtual drinks with a select bunch of colleagues and peers. We also prepared a few icebreaker questions to encourage (silly) conversations continued as naturally as possible. (Pro tip: Richard Herring's Emergency Questions provide plenty inspiration but aren't necessarily SFW – use with caution)

As I sent my leaving message to team mates, I decided to mark the moment with an impromptu Linkedin post thanking my WorldFirst peers and preparing for the ASOS crowd. Little did I realise how "viral" that post would turn out; as of writing this, it had over 9,000 impressions and 130 reactions. A combination of well-tagged company and people names and timing might have helped but definitely worth considering Linkedin for any social marketing based on this evidence.

9K impressions on Linkedin

I'm now two days in to the ASOS role which has been quite a humbling experience - plenty people have welcomed me back plus the new faces have been very welcoming. I'm still finding my feet in a new team, business domain and new responsibilities but early signs are promising.

Season 5 is a wrap #

Last week, we wrapped up Season 5 of the Make Life Work podcast On The Side takeover. I've loved recording this series alongside Sam and Mike as I think we've found a really good format we can work with. Whilst Mike finds a new groove with his pending arrival and I get comfortable in my new role, we're taking a short break but will likely return to the format in May with a number of new guests. Shout out to Shari, Juan and Jesse for joining us on the podcast too - 3 wonderful guests who added some additional angles in the conversations.

It wasn't the only podcast I worked on in March - Spring Break '21 was released last week on the House Finesse podcast too. As we approach the 16th year of the podcast, it's amazing to think how far the podcast has come and continued to provide a semi-regular dose of uplifting house music to our loyal followers. I've changed the direction with the artwork a little as well but it's all about the music and it's great to monitor the download counts to see how shows compare. We're also exploring how to inject some new life into the podcast with some additional guest mixes - it'll be great to extend the team roster to other talent so conversations have began and we hope to make it a monthly thing.

As I finished my time with WorldFirst, I decided to conclude the regular time journal records until I've got a more stable rhythm at ASOS (a 3-day week followed by week holiday will really skew numbers). I also want to re-evaluate the trends and insights before I get back into it to make sure it actually surfaces useful information. I'll be going through it with some friends and peers to see what they make of it (Jesse was definitely curious and Max has been trying it out as well).

Finally, I've also started the process to become a non-standing candidate for the Green Party in our Braunston & Crick ward. With the local elections approaching in May, I want to provide our local constituents an opportunity to vote green in a predominantly Conservative/LibDem strong-hold. Chances are slim of any traction but it's all about improving coverage in the local elections to make sure people realise Green Party are a serious alternative. I'll be looking into compiling and publishing my thoughts over the coming weeks along with asking local electors what green issues matter to them.

Fitness On Hold #

Having struggled with my feet after a 10km run for Endometriosis UK #1in10 campaign, I went to a local podiatrist who assessed my feet and gait. He confirmed I have flat feet which required treatment and in-soles so, following a second opinion with another private clinic, I'm now waiting for custom orthotics to be moulded whilst I've started regular rehabilitation therapy from home. It's put all fitness and exercise on hold until I'm more comfortable (frustrating when I wanted to raise funds and awareness for Endo UK), but I will recommence efforts later in the year when it's safe to do so.

AOB #

Princess was featured in our local newspaper following a thoughtful effort delivering Easter eggs to our village neighbours
Our Multipack branded t-shirts finally turned up last week – many satisfied customers (albeit some typical QA feedback from Paul)
Following advice from Matt, we've setup a House Finesse Discord to try and get the community together
I've tried to capture my tweets in a localised archive with mixed results - something that needs further attention
It looks like the majority of my Twitter followers have blogged this year although quite a large group haven't
Having said that, I wrote a rare blog post about things we can learn from playing LEGO with a 8 year old
I also setup a new Apple HomePod in the kitchen for a fuller sound when listening to music - definitely a huge improvement on sound quality but voice commands definitely aren't as versatile as Alexa (especially syncing reminders with my preferred Ticktick).

The Atlantis Gene (The Origin Mystery, #1)

2021-04-05T00:00:00Z

author: A.G. Riddle
name: Si
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2021/04/05
date added: 2021/04/05
shelves:
review:

Quantum (Captain Chase #1)

2021-04-18T00:00:00Z

author: Patricia Cornwell
name: Si
average rating: 2.96
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2021/04/18
date added: 2021/04/18
shelves:
review:

The Time Machine

2021-04-25T00:00:00Z

author: H.G. Wells
name: Si
average rating: 4.09
book published: 1895
rating: 4
read at: 2021/04/24
date added: 2021/04/24
shelves:
review:

Down and Out in Paris and London

2021-05-05T00:00:00Z

author: George Orwell
name: Si
average rating: 3.71
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2021/05/04
date added: 2021/05/04
shelves:
review:

There's No Place Like Home (Warmer, #4)

2021-05-05T00:00:00Z

author: Edan Lepucki
name: Si
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2021/05/04
date added: 2021/05/04
shelves:
review:

April 2021

2021-05-05T00:00:00Z

A month of a new job, more hospital visits, fresh #FinesseFriday music, another football calendar project and retro vinyl indulgence.

Work #

It was my first month back at ASOS, albeit in a different role and domain. It was made slightly shorter with a week off for Easter with the kids but it’s been quite full with onboarding and learning the environment.

Some highlights include:

Getting to know 12 different engineers I’m responsible for line managing. Everyone has their own story and personality which makes it a curious process understanding their motives and development plans.
Organising my thoughts, days and actions with a new Trello arrangement that I could use cross-platform (Mac and Windows); a column for each team with cards (plus photos) for each profile and checklists for actions (one for me, one for them).
Encouraging and facilitating everyone to make the most of our revived monthly day of learning (known as Tech Develops), helped along with a little order of Moo stickers to motivate some engineers sharing their knowledge at the end of the day.
Getting back into the community of practice model with fellow EM’s - something I struggled to get moving in my last role, especially with lack of peers to bounce conversations off. I’ve already jumped into some global initiatives such as Returners to Work (women who took a career break now ready for a new job), Coffee Roulette (meeting others) and Lightning Talks (to encourage engineers knowledge sharing).

Home #

Bit of a mixed bag this month as spent a lot of time with Mrs J in and out of hospital with ongoing chronic illness problems, to the point we even called an ambulance out last week.

Side tangent: 999 told us they wouldn’t send anyone and to call 111, they immediately initiated a call out but that took nearly 4 hours to arrive. Paramedics suggested we drive to A&E as it’ll make no difference if they took her. It took 2 hours to be seen and another 4 hours before they sent her home with pain management. On returning for scans in the morning, no records were available despite 2 medical staff typing away duplicate notes plus a folder of paper going missing. I love our NHS but somebody needs to manage the process better.

Mrs J wasn’t the only one with health woes; Princess had measles and The Boy shingles (again!) over the school Easter break. My custom-fitted orthotics were collected from the clinic with rehab exercises now a daily habit in Ticktick. No noticeable improvements yet but give it time. Follow up assessment is in 6 weeks and I’ve got 40 odd years of bad posture to correct.

Sides #

#FinesseFriday has continued to engage with the subscribers and listeners as weekly download counts seem to be growing week on week, thanks to a guest mix from Ben Hedley, an adhoc session from LYP and some great fan selections from the archives
With #FinesseFriday gaining traction and listening back to the archives, I decided to re-register funkyhousefinesse.com for anyone who tried to find them. For now, it’s just redirecting to the archives list but there’s lots of audio content that needs restoring from my backups.
In preparation for the upcoming EURO 2020 competition, I’ve started to build another football calendar platform with the inspired name FootballCal. Focus is on MVP with rapid iterative releases; content is already published but the design needs desperate attention with new features and improvements planned on the Trello backlog
Time Journal needs some love. I’ve been meticulously recording my half hour units for several months now but really need to revisit what I’m trying to measure and work out how to get that.
Whilst sitting around in hospital, I took the chance to review the content on Mrs J’s young adult novel website, Astral Lariat - only minor updates but a good reason to keep the domain handy for when she finally has something to publish and share.

Entertainment #

Some TV highlights from the past month include:

White House Farm on Netflix
Behind Her Eyes on Netflix
Star Struck on iPlayer
The Flight Attendant on Sky Atlantic (NowTV)

We also inherited the Jobling family vinyl collection which was a welcome surprise from my dad. He was clearly more rock focused with plenty Led Zepellin and Thin Lizzy whilst my mum more disco/pop with Diana Ross and Whitney - guess which one I prefer? Something for everyone though as even the kids enjoyed some of music’s finest moments on a physical medium.

Coach the Person Not the Problem: A Simple Guide to Coaching for Transformation

2021-05-06T00:00:00Z

author: Chad Hall name: Si average rating: 4.03 book published: rating: 3 read at: 2021/05/05 date added: 2021/05/05 shelves: review:

Animal Farm

2021-05-10T00:00:00Z

author: George Orwell name: Si average rating: 4.54 book published: 1945 rating: 4 read at: 2021/05/09 date added: 2021/05/09 shelves: review:

Radical Candor: How to be a Great Boss Without Losing Your Humanity

2021-05-11T00:00:00Z

author: Kim Malone Scott name: Si average rating: 4.19 book published: 2017 rating: 0 read at: date added: 2021/05/10 shelves: currently-reading review:

Project Hail Mary

2021-05-14T00:00:00Z

author: Andy Weir
name: Si
average rating: 4.65
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/05/13
shelves: currently-reading
review:

May 2021

2021-06-01T00:00:00Z

I thought I'd try a shorter "month notes" format this month, covering all the main areas but as list items. Let's see how it goes.

Work 🏢 #

Returned to the Birmingham office, the first time "in house" for 14 months - all safe but very strange experience
Met Annette, a fellow new Engineering Manager to brainstorm some ideas
Explored the use of Trello boards to help engineers plan and track personal development plans along with profiling tools to understand behaviours and personalities
Recruited our first engineer headcount as a team, one of the most seamless interviews I’ve ever experienced
Setup a fortnightly Lightning Talks ⚡️ series for our engineers to share recent learnings; first on Bitcoin, second on functional programming
Returned to the Birmingham office to meet Tori, another new EM, for introductions IRL
Introduced a "monthly focus" for peer (360) feedback in teams, encouraging faster-feedback and rapid personal development
Promising feedback from the second month in the new(ish) job, thanks to vocal people responding to my feedback requested
Recorded a Racket with Gareth about personal development plans
Setup a Microsoft Power Automate process to generate permission/access emails and create development plans for newstarters

Home 🏡 #

Lovely family trip to Woburn's Centre Parcs for first bank holiday weekend including plenty outdoor activities and (uphill) cycling
Picked up a new(ish) Mini One to get me around now lockdown is easing and travel is more likely
Setup the novelty Apple Air Tag with the new car keys to realise precision is ruined in our thick walled house
Obsessed over a TV show being recorded in the house (for sale) over the road
Made the most of our local gym & pool, racking up quite a few swimming sessions and hitting a 1,500m record
Restarted tattoo research for inspiration and local talent - now considering a record player illustration at Revelation Northampton
Dad Camp returned following the COVID hiatus with lots of fire, fun & games, drinking and scorching sunshine (plus custom t-shirts from Printful)

Sides 👷‍♂️ #

Designed and built the MVP foundations of Football Cal with thanks to my On The Side support and feedback
No Multipack this month - demand seems low so now considering alternative ways of engaging
#FinesseFriday continued with weekly editions, culminating in a special guest mix from Paul Hutchinson
Re-registered funkyhousefinesse.com and onephatdj.co.uk to support the audio idents from the archives
Started plans for Make Life Work Season 6 inviting a range of people along to talk with a new project-specific format
Setup a Goodreads RSS syndication to my Reading section

Entertainment 🎭 #

Down and Out in London and Paris by George Orwell 📕
There’s No Place Like Home by Edan Lepucki 📕
Coach The Person Not The Problem by Chad Hall 📕
Animal Farm by George Orwell 📕
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 📕
Groove Is In The Heart on 7” vinyl 🎶
Mare of Easttown on Sky (HBO) 📺
Motherland on BBC 📺
Keeping Faith on BBC 📺
Karate Kid 🎥
Uncle Buck 🎥

Fast Focus: A Quick-Start Guide To Mastering Your Attention, Ignoring Distractions, And Getting More Done In Less Time!

2021-06-07T00:00:00Z

author: Damon Zahariades
name: Si
average rating: 3.70
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2021/06/06
date added: 2021/06/06
shelves:
review:

Brave New World

2021-06-09T00:00:00Z

author: Aldous Huxley
name: Si
average rating: 4.07
book published: 1932
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/06/08
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Football Cal

2021-06-09T00:00:00Z

What is Football Cal? #

Football Cal is another sports calendar web app to provide game times directly to device calendars (iOS, macOS, Android, Windows), returning to the original football focus like World Cup Kick Off.

Why another football calendar? #

I've not touched any code for a while whilst focused on podcasting and communities, so I was keen to build something that would be useful to me and others might benefit from.
There's still no reliable source for football calendars - even UEFA (who we advised on the power of ICS) make it difficult to find and subscribe to their fixtures. Hence why I focused on the EURO's for the initial release.
It's time to practice some of the delivery principles I champion on a daily basis for the past few years, utilising my knowledge and experience from agile software delivery.

How was it done? #

Restore The Sports Times template from Rugby World Cup 2 years ago
Familiar codebase (with JavaScript and Node) plus a chance to reuse an existing tech stack rather than build something from scratch
Created a dedicated GitHub repo (rather than Rugby World Cup feature branch)
Plan out and dreak down work as Trello cards, categorised and prioritised to deliver the MLP (Minimum Loveable Product)
Redesign original template with retro football style, refined timeline view and subtle improvements on the event view
Spent over a week working on the Football Cal (FC) branding with a number of ideas thrown around, using the calendar grid as simply as possible
Regular feedback from our On The Side community with design and technical wisdom plus a few football fans as target audience to direct requirements
Continue to refine the MLP scope based on required features and desirable improvements
Alpha release(s) to user test with small public sample group through a Twitter invite
Beta test final product through public tweets, validating the purpose and ease of use
Launched one week before EURO 2020 competition commenced - enough time for people to be aware it's coming but maybe not planned around it
NPM troubles with Google Analytics plug-in due to outdated Gatsby versions - quick fix with paid Netlify analytics then React Helmet injection using Plausible (privacy friendly tracking, GDPR consent friendly)

Timeline view
Event view

Whats next for Football Cal? #

Trello board is public to share and influence the roadmap with upvoting available to judge demand
Chip away at improvements based on user demand, monitoring analytics and feedback
Add more competitions for extra content and audience reach, possibly some grass-roots fixtures
Code is available in GitHub for collaboration; events are just Markdown files so easy to modify and add more
Build the audience through socials, blogs and other content channels (don't just rely on the "build it and they'll come" analogy)
Syndicate content through RSS and other triggers (Microformats, Structured Data, even Zapier?)

Making @Fesshole with Rob Manuel

2021-06-14T00:00:00Z

The one when Si talks to Rob Manuel about making the entertaining crowd-sourced Twitter bot Fesshole.

Show Notes

B3ta NewsletterAnon OpinSwear ClockFessholeRob Manuel

Credits

Recorded with Zencastr Get help with your side projects in our On The Side Slack community 1 month free of TickTick Premium

https://makelifeworkpodcast.com/fesshole-with-rob-manuel/

Perfect Startup: A Complete System for Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur

2021-06-18T00:00:00Z

author: Andrii Sedniev
name: Si
average rating: 4.42
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/06/17
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Boca Raton (Warmer, #2)

2021-06-20T00:00:00Z

author: Lauren Groff
name: Si
average rating: 3.07
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/06/20
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Making remote work with Chris Heilmann

2021-06-21T00:00:00Z

The one when Si spoke to Chris about working remotely and making Skillshare course content for others to learn from.

https://makelifeworkpodcast.com/making-remote-work-with-chris-heilmann/

Winter World (The Long Winter, #1)

2021-06-22T00:00:00Z

author: A.G. Riddle name: Si average rating: 4.11 book published: 2019 rating: 0 read at: date added: 2021/06/21 shelves: currently-reading review:

Making Ladies That UX Meetup with MT McCann

2021-06-28T00:00:00Z

The one when Si talked to Marie-Therese McCann about starting a meet-up in Belfast to find other UX women in tech.

https://makelifeworkpodcast.com/making-ladies-that-ux-meetup-with-mt-mccann/

The Solar War (The Long Winter, #2)

2021-07-04T00:00:00Z

author: A.G. Riddle name: Si average rating: 4.31 book published: 2019 rating: 0 read at: date added: 2021/07/04 shelves: currently-reading review:

June 2021

2021-07-04T00:00:00Z

This month saw a productive and successful month at work, plenty days out, more Apple Fitness and plenty TV shows.

Work #

Passed 3 month probation which highlighted how many wins I’ve already got in the role
Hosted our first online Pub Quiz to try improve morale across multiple teams
Arranged Euro 2020 sweepstake but got England in the “random” generator
Some great Lightning Talks ⚡️ including one from Sunny about Azure Devops to GitHub
My manager arranged a remote wine-tasting session with Kiss Of Wine - great fun… plus wine 🍷
Four trips to London and Birmingham offices to get back in the swing of commuting plus much-needed team face-to-face time
Last Friday was Wellbeing Day - a gift from ASOS to give all permanent staff a day’s rest. My plans for a swim were scuppered so resorted to the hot tub
Experiments with LinkedIn post formats to engage with audiences reached a climax with 15K impressions and 500 reactions (promoting wellbeing day)

Home #

First weekend away with Mrs J since October to Peak District - disappointing Wowcher hotel but beautiful days out to local nature
Murder Mystery “geo-cache” tour around Birmingham with friends cut short for preferred booze
Red flag on Green Flag cover when Mini broke down but repatriation cost double and took days (thankful for tracking with Apple Airtag though)
The Boy wrapped up his football career with last few games for local club after nearly 10 years and impressive final performance for the entire team
Started Apple Fitness+ subscription to try more home exercises
Tried a couple 5K runs following 2 months of orthotics training - still causing my knees and soles grief though
Beer festival at local Weedon Bec Roman Way brewery brought much needed sun and fun

Sides #

Football Cal was launched for the Euro 2020 competition with regular content updates and reasonable traffic (using Netlify and Plausible to avoid Google cookie warnings)
Make Life Work Season 6 started with huge downloads on Rob Manuel and Chris Heilmann episodes
#FinesseFriday continued to support growth on regular downloads, now seeing 1K+ weekly
House Finesse Summer House ‘21 was made and released, a full 2 hour set from myself this time
On The Side Directory was revived thanks to reminders from Sam and Holly
Time Journal has been paused to see if it makes any difference to Get Things Done

Entertainment #

Breeders on Now TV
Alien on Prime
Workin’ Moms S5 on Netflix
Clarkson’s Farm on Prime
Waynes World on Prime
Euro 2020 (obvs)
Mare of Easttown on NowTV
Pixar’s Luca on Disney+
In The Heights at Cineworld
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Perfect Startup by Andrii Sedniev
Fast Focus by Damon Zahariades

Making School of Design with Chris Murphy

2021-07-05T00:00:00Z

The one when Si talks to Chris about using his wealth of design and education background to setup his own school.

https://makelifeworkpodcast.com/school-of-design-with-chris-murphy/

Making & Sharing with Lorna Mitchell

2021-07-12T00:00:00Z

The one when Si talks to Lorna about sharing knowledge in open source, public speaking and everything in between.

https://makelifeworkpodcast.com/making-sharing-with-lorna-mitchell/

The P.R.I.M.E.R. Goal Setting Method: The Only Goal Achievement Guide You'll Ever Need!

2021-07-17T00:00:00Z

author: Damon Zahariades name: Si average rating: 4.03 book published: rating: 0 read at: date added: 2021/07/17 shelves: currently-reading review:

New Eden

2021-07-20T00:00:00Z

author: Kishore Tipirneni name: Si average rating: 4.15 book published: rating: 0 read at: date added: 2021/07/20 shelves: currently-reading review:

July 2021

2021-08-01T00:00:00Z

In a month of football disappointment, epic tattoos, bargain audiophile finds, giving back at work, season 6 finale for Make Life Work and a summer holiday.

Work #

Got all teams together since starting in March; one team social and two-team platform “away day” (first time in the office for over a year, ever for some newstarters)
Vibe survey focus group to explore and act on popular concerns across our engineering teams
Supporting STEMettes initiative with a couple Summer School takeover days encouraging young girls into tech
Fantastic “Forgotten Women of STEM” Lightning Talk from Nat
Setup demo podcast for our Tech teams

Life #

Returned to Warwick’s Pub In The Park for an afternoon of alcohol, good food, Noasis and Fine Young Cannibals frontman, Roland
Birthday presents included 10kg dumbbells, bath robe, Chic on vinyl and plenty boxes of beer #ShowingMyAge
Epic new arm tattoo for birthday present from Mrs J #UnderTheNeedle
Picked up an old Technics stacks hifi from local Facebook marketplace deal
Holiday to Seaton in East Devon including:
- Beach time at Lyme Regis, Seaton and Beer
- Amusement rides at Crealey on Monday
- More cave history in Beer on Sunday
- Mini railways at Pecorama on Saturday
- Dinosaurs at Seaton Jurassic on Sunday
- Tram to Colyton on Monday
- Two days working due to lack of annual leave

Sides #

Concluded Make Life Work Season 6 with Chris Murphy and Lorna Mitchell
Wrapped up Euro 2020 on Football Cal, followed by some user analysis thanks to Plausible
Call with Shari from On The Side coffee roulette
Setup a Google Sheet to track my cryptocurrency portfolio
Refined my pension tracker from all previous employment contributions
Guest mix from Paul Velocity for #FinesseFriday

Entertainment #

Watched 📺 #

Suffered England v Italy final of Euro 2020 #NotComingHome
Sex/Life on Netflix
Sweet Tooth on Netflix
Sharon Horgan and James McAvoy in Together on BBC
Sam Smith live at Abbey Road (with our friend Ladonna)
Gladiator on DVD
Father of the Bride on TV
Baptiste Season 2 on BBC
Limited Olympics on BBC before paying for DiscoveryPlus £5 subscription

Read 📖 #

Solar War (Long Winter #2)
PRIMER goal setting model
New Eden, Part 1 and 2

The Arachnid (New Eden #2)

2021-08-07T00:00:00Z

author: Kishore Tipirneni
name: Si
average rating: 4.40
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2021/08/06
date added: 2021/08/06
shelves:
review:

The Lost Colony (The Long Winter, #3)

2021-08-08T00:00:00Z

author: A.G. Riddle name: Si average rating: 4.13 book published: 2019 rating: 0 read at: date added: 2021/08/08 shelves: currently-reading review:

The Humans

2021-08-26T00:00:00Z

author: Matt Haig
name: Si
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2021/08/25
date added: 2021/08/25
shelves:
review:

Broadcast

2021-08-29T00:00:00Z

author: Liam Brown
name: Si
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/08/29
shelves: currently-reading
review:

August 2021

2021-08-31T00:00:00Z

A month of holidays, annual performance reviews, STEMettes, wax anniversary, minimal sides, a new TECH session and back to the cinema.

Work #

Reflected on the first 5 months back in the role, realising quite a few rewarding achievements along the way
Organised and participated in two STEMettes Outbox takeover days, engaging and encouraging young girls/non-binary into Tech
Facilitated 4 speedback sessions to encourage more faster-feedback on personal improvements (blog post draft currently in peer review)
All the EOY reviews with my 12 direct reports, facilitated by a new Powerpoint template covering day job, objectives, "being ASOS" (values and behaviours) and feedback
One trip to Birmingham, one to London
Gave Lightning Talk on making a podcast in an hour with Pinecast
Made some Lightning Talk stickers on Stickermule
Reviewed Manager Readme on GitHub following internal interest
Identify and engaged with internal social champions to grow our Tech brand awareness
Realised only 1 engineer across 3 teams I support is a fellow parent.

Life #

Wrapped up 2 week family holiday in East Devon
Long weekend back at Rhodian Sun in Rhodes, short but sweet
Outdoor middle-aged rave at Classic Ibiza in Hatfield (a delayed anniversary night out)
Made a scented candle with Red Fox Candles for our 16th (wax) anniversary
Grabbed some tickets to George Ezra’s Finsbury Park performance next July
Celebrated Princess' 9th in style with a Glastonbury-inspired garden party
Stopped leg stretch therapy following a long break and no noticeable pain
5 local 30minute runs, building up to a couple 6km efforts around Cracks Hill
Set a daily habit for 3x20 reps of 10kg dumbbells

Sides #

Continued weekly #FinesseFriday for House Finesse despite decline in downloads
Added transactions sheet to Crypto Folio and included Revolut portfolio of Ethereum
Review monthly outgoings in my custom Google Sheet for entertainment and hobbies
On The Side coffee roulette with Ed Clews
Started booking in guests for Make Life Work Season 6 - TBA on 6 Sep
Queried the Apple Podcast SQLite database for recently listened episodes

https://twitter.com/si/status/1426121670989864964?s=21

Tech #

Replaced the dead Epson printer with a WiFi-enabled HP including Smart Ink - it’s liberating being able to print straight from our phones
Discovered fixtur.es as another source for football calendars including EFL
Found an RSS feed of Untappd user activities under My Account for syndicating my beer consumption On The Side
Setup Coinbase Wallet, now accepting Bitcoin 🪙
Setup music corner with the mixer in my office for more vinyl & bass enjoyment
Started selling unused clothes on Vinted, 3 shirts snapped up in 24 hours
Placed some Anker wireless chargers around the house following Mrs J’s upgrade to iPhone 11

Entertainment #

The Office US on Prime
Daniel Terhorst-North on Supermanagers podcast
Lad Hood on BBC
Mary Kills People on [All4](http://Seen 'Mary Kills People'? Watch it here on All 4: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/mary-kills-people?cntsrc=social_share_ios_mary_kills_people)
Hunt for the Wilderpeople on Prime
A Quite Place Part II on Prime
Black Widow at Cineworld
Free Guy at Showcase
The Arachnid by Kishore Tipirneni
The Lost Colony by AG Riddle
The Humans by Matt Haig
Broadcast by Liam Brown
Glitterbox Jams Vol 4 on vinyl
Inner City - Good Life 7” on vinyl

Before and After

2021-09-05T00:00:00Z

author: Andrew Shanahan
name: Si
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/09/05
shelves: currently-reading
review:

The Language of Life and Business Coaching: Advanced Coaching Skills That Will Help Your Clients Flourish

2021-09-05T00:00:00Z

author: Chad Hall
name: Si
average rating: 4.38
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/09/05
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Deploy Empathy: A Practical Guide to Interviewing Customers

2021-09-14T00:00:00Z

author: Michele Hansen
name: Si
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/09/13
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Who The F*ck Am I To Be A Coach?!: A Warrior's Guide to Building a Wildly Successful Coaching Business From the Inside Out

2021-09-15T00:00:00Z

author: Megan Jo Wilson
name: Si
average rating: 4.18
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/09/14
shelves: currently-reading
review:

You Again?

2021-09-15T00:00:00Z

author: Nick Spalding
name: Si
average rating: 4.03
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/09/14
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Recently Played Episodes Data from Apple Podcasts

2021-10-04T00:00:00Z

I was recently curious how I could get my recently played podcasts out of Apple Podcasts for sharing with others so my ex-coding senses started tingling.

Googling around suggested there's no obvious solutions or API's available for accessing this information but then I fell across a StackOverflow thread for migrating subscriptions OPML to Overcast which highlighted the source of Apple Podcasts data – SQLite and some relatively straight forward table names. (This is naturally focused on MacOS for research and development purposes but I suspect some iOS experts could convert the logic there.)

I got to work in DB Browser for SQLite – a free macOS app for, you've guessed it, browsing SQLite databases. As an ex-developer quite comfortable in SQL Server, Oracle and mySQL, the navigation tree and query structure all came flooding back quite quickly. The joins across a couple tables ended up returning the data I wanted:

last-played date and time in Unix standard
podcast name
episode title
podcast website URL
podcast feed URL
MP3 enclosure URL

Here's the SQL:

SELECT 
	datetime (ep.ZLASTDATEPLAYED + 978307200,
                "unixepoch",
                "utc") AS last_played,
	pod.ZTITLE AS podcast_title,
	ep.ZTITLE AS episode_title,
	coalesce(ep.ZWEBPAGEURL,pod.ZWEBPAGEURL) AS webpage_url,
	pod.ZFEEDURL,
	ep.ZENCLOSUREURL
FROM ZMTEPISODE AS ep
JOIN ZMTPODCAST AS pod ON pod.Z_PK = ep.ZPODCAST
WHERE last_played > '2021-09-01' AND last_played < '2021-10-01'
ORDER BY ep.ZLASTDATEPLAYED ASC

This query limits results to the last month (1st September to 1st October) so make sure those dates are modified to suit your needs.

It's also worth noting the magic number 978307200 for converting the ZLASTDATEPLAYED float to something that works – hat tip to Andy Yates for solving that oddity for me.

This blog post is one for future reference and anyone else curious how to extract data from Apple Podcasts. The next step for me is converting this data to something usable beyond CSV, ideally HTML for syndicating in this blog and beyond.

September 2021

2021-10-04T00:00:00Z

In a month full of birthday celebrations, charitable donations, work normality attempts, podcast-specific community, season 7 of Make Life Work, excessive life tracking, my oldest domain, vinyl classics and a new podcast playlist.

Life #

Lunch at Bacco Lounge and crazy golf in Rugby for sister-in-law’s birthday
Back to school for all the family with typical mix of germs causing concern
Virtual gin tasting with disco Princess, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Craft Gin Club
PCR tests for both kids following COVID symptoms, thankfully both negative
Outdoor charity cinema night at Winwick Hall watching Pirates of the Caribbean under blankets
Impromptu dinner visit from Greek holiday chums, Donna & Maizie
Raised £300 for Macmillan with our garden coffee morning plus good friend Hayley singing for our guests
Garden birthday celebrations with mum and gran
Kids started more after-school clubs with football and brownies for Princess and RAF Cadets and tae kwon do for The Boy

Work #

One new starter and one resignation - the roundabout of line management
First Engineering Manager Community (EMC) meet-up in London to discuss shared initiatives for FY22
Second work “pub quiz” to break in the longer Autumn months
Re-Assembled sessions to bring staff together in London office aligned on FY22 strategy
Looked into different pathways for senior software and QA engineers
Failed to secure our only recruitment candidate of the month following contract offer
Successful probation for my first recruit since returning to ASOS
Analysis of late month’s Vibe Survey results identified fair evaluation and remote working as main concerns
Team gathering in the office for first time since July with TWO fire alarm evacuations
Commenced efforts with working group to create a tech podcast
Lightning Talks from Callum about URL injection framework in mobile apps and Georgie on British Sign Language
Tried half-hour Tech Develop Wraps for focused snappy feedback from the monthly day of learning

Sides #

Created ComedyPods Slack community for syndicating and sharing comedy podcasts
Make Life Work S07 with Shari, Jamie & Lion and Wookie and Dan Moore
Moved MLW certificates to Cloudflare with some unexpected complications on DNS settings
More life tracking with Trello (work), TickTick (personal), Strava (exercise and weight), Goodreads (reading) and shares metrics
Renewed SuperRams.com for the 19th year despite zero effort to develop
Revived sporadic “verbal diary” recordings to and from the train station when visiting the office
Setup sijobling.com email on iCloud+
Setup Jobling coins on Bitclout

Entertainment #

Mary Kills People S1 on All 4
Help (with the brilliant Jody Cromer) on All 4
Back To Life (with Daisy Taggart) on BBC
Degrees of Motion - Shine On on 12”
Braxton’s The Boss (Masters At Work Mix) on 12”
Indeep - Last Night A DJ Saved My Life on 7”
Young Disciples - Apparently Nothing on 7”

Podcasts #

(NEW: automatically curated with some SQL on Apple Podcasts SQLite database - details here)

Pandemic (The Extinction Files, #1)

2021-10-15T00:00:00Z

author: A.G. Riddle
name: Si
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/10/15
shelves: currently-reading
review:

October 2021

2021-11-02T00:00:00Z

Busy month of birthdays and parties, communities of practice, hacking for sustainable fashion, concluding Make Life Work S07, another House Finesse mix compilation and celebrating Black History Month with DJ Programma guest mix and some recommended short stories.

Work #

Started capturing a personal weekly retro, rating key factors out of 10 (e.g. productivity, stress, learning), noting top 3-5 highlights, frustrations and lessons learnt
Went to the London office twice and Birmingham twice
Started work on an in-house tech podcast with the first pilot hybrid recording and creating a community of practice to support
Created mini COPs across the EM community based on joint initiatives including Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity (DEI), Emerging Talent, Tech Brand and Vibe Survey Feedback
Co-hosted a multi-team platform day in London to discuss roadmaps and ways of working for the coming quarters
Only the one Lightning Talk this month from Alastair on making web apps with Blaze
Enjoyed Rudimental, Horse Meat Disco and plenty impromptu friendly chats at the big Reassembles party at Alexandra Palace
Participated in (and won!) a "Fashion With Integrity" sustainability hackathon with Kim, Millie, Tia and Sashi

Life #

Weekend in Preston & Blackpool for Mrs J ‘s birthday, visiting Madame Tussaud’s, the Dungeons and Tower
Met up with old uni chums Lisa, Phil (and kids) for some Sunday lunch in Chester
Impressed with The Boy signing up to local RAF Air Cadets and taekwondo club - trained ninja in the making
Trapp’d panic room and Jurassic Grill in Kettering for The Boy’s birthday
9 workouts over 4h26m

Sides #

Concluded Make Life Work S07 with Silvia & Ely and Mubashar Iqbal
Released the quarterly House Finesse Halloween ‘21 mix compilation
Featured 2 guests on House Finesse; Anna C and DJ Programma
Analysed On The Side engagement following some quiet months that, thankfully, picked up over recent weeks
Extended my Personal Dashboard with financial analysis (spend breakdown, pension and shares tracking), podcast downloads and social account engagement metrics

Weekly & Daily Trello charts, annual Strava splits, Goodreads month & year, #ArchiveCollection and tweet count

Watched 📺 #

Squid Game on Netflix (with the rest of the world)
Pose on BBC iPlayer
Brassic S03 on NowTV
Stath Lets Flats S03 on All4
No Time To Die at Cineworld

Read 📚 #

Genome (The Extinction Files, #2) by A.G. Riddle
The Visit (Black Stars #1) by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
These Alien Skies (Black Stars #4) by C.T. Rwizi
2043…A Merman I Should Turn to Be (Black Stars #3) by Nisi Shawl
Pandemic (The Extinction Files, #1) by A.G. Riddle

Listened 🎧 #

Visualise habits with a Personal Dashboard

2021-12-06T00:00:00Z

Over recent months, I've been slowly working on a little side project to monitor and observe personal habits, ideally to identify improvements. I've called this my Personal Dashboard.

Let's set the context… #

For those who work in tech, dashboards are quite a common concept for highlighting key metrics and trends with charts so we can make informed decisions. As a data junkie and visual person (or an "informatician" as Brian likes to say), I've often enjoyed scrutinising the data, understanding what's happening, having conversations around engaging information.

When I started to analyse my own productivity, health and financial habits, it dawned on me I could create a "personal dashboard" to automatically capture data and visualise in a single central view. I've been manually recording some of this data over the years (such as pension balances across multiple policies and fuel spend); tools like Ticktick and Trello provide simple functionality to track productivity and Strava & MyFitnessPal have provided years of tracking my fitness and weight.

It was through browsing the IFTTT apps I realised it would be quite easy to configure some recipes to sync many of these apps with a Google Sheet so I could analyse the data my own way.

Automating the data #

If you've not used IFTTT before, it's a great tool to hook up Internet of Thing (IoT) devices with online services. The premise is to link triggers with events – if this, then that – and there are endless possibilities as their catalogue of services continue to grow. (I've actually upgraded my account to the IFTTT Pro subscription since they launched as it provides premium services and more versatility over the events).

At the time of writing, IFTTT currently supports the following apps:

Trello (when an item is moved to a column)
TickTick (when an item is completed)
Monzo (when a transaction occurs)
Twitter (when a tweet is posted)

Where IFTTT fell short was on Strava activities and enhanced RSS parsing with custom data elements in feed descriptions such as Goodreads activity with book specifics. Thankfully, Zapier was able to provide these services so respective "zaps" were configured for these habit trackers.

One of the limitations with Google Sheets IFTTT events is that you can only append data to the first sheet in a worksheet. As I want to visualise all the information in a single dashboard location, I had to get creative with multiple Google Sheet worksheets and the =IMPORTRANGE() function on dedicated sheets to pull in data from other worksheets. It's also worth noting Zapier actually allows you to specify the target sheet within a worksheet.

Whilst Zapier is more versatile with the event configurations, you are limited to 100 events per calendar month on their free plan which can be quickly used up on active feeds. Paid plans start at £15.26/month (at the time of writing) so you need to be heavily invested in this habit tracking solution to feel the value.

Trello data with IFTTT #

Time to demonstrate the configuration of an IFTTT recipe with a dedicated Google Sheet of completed Trello actions.

Create your IFTTT account if you haven't already.
Select the Trello service from the IF trigger list and connect your account.
Choose the "Card added to list" event.
Specify the Trello workspace and board then type in the list name as it appears on your Trello board - mine is "Completed 👍".
Now select the "Google Sheet" service from the THEN list and connect your Google account.
Choose the "Add row to spreadsheet" as Event Option.
Specify the Name of your spreadsheet, I called mine "Completed Trello items"
Set the formatted row with the following fields:

||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| |||

(The last four fields aren't really necessary but I like to capture those details anyway.)
Set the Driver folder path to IFTTT/Trello/
Save your recipe and enable it.
Time to test the configuration now. Move one of the cards in your Trello board to the completed list and load up your Google Sheet to see if the data comes through correctly.

Strava data with Zapier #

This one might be more niche but let's go through the configuration of a Strava zap to demonstrate how that works with Google Sheets. You can copy my Zap but it's better to build it yourself to understand what's happening.

Create your free Zapier account if you haven't already
Create a Zap from the menu
Search for the "Strava" Trigger and set Trigger Event to "New activity".
Now you need to authenticate your Strava account with Zapier.
Once you've done that, fire off the Test Trigger to hopefully see a recent activity from your account
Now we'll set the Trigger to "Google Sheets" which can be found in the search field and set Action Event to "Create Spreadsheet Row".
Now connect your Google account with Zapier
Copy my Strava Template Google Sheet to your own drive, maybe in a "Personal Dash" folder
Select your copy of the file as the Spreadsheet and set the Worksheet to "Strava Data"
Now we need to map the Strava data to our Worksheet columns:
- Activity Date to Start Date
- Activity Type to Type
- Activity Name to Name
- Distance KM to Distance in K
- Elapsed Time to Elapsed Time
- Moving Time to Moving Time
- Max Heart Rate to Max Heartrate
- Average Heart Rate to Average Heartrate
- Activity Description to Activity URL Generated
Hit Continue to save your configuration.
Time to test it - hit the Test & Review button under the preview text and check your Google Sheet for a new row of data.
Remember to name your Zap to something like "Strava activity to Google Sheet" and hit Turn On Zap.

Visualising in Google Sheets #

Now, let's setup some PivotTables and charts to visualise your data. First up, we're going to get a split of workout types from our Strava data.

Highlight the first two columns "Activity Date" and "Activity Type" of your Strava data sheet (A:B) then from the menu, select Insert > PivotTable
On the "Create pivot table" modal, select New sheet
Google has a good stab at suggesting suitable data sets but we'll do this manually.
In the Rows section, add the "Activity Type" field
In the Values section, add "Activity Date"
Make sure it's Summarised by "COUNTA"
I also like to order by the largest count so, in the rows section, change the Order to "Descending" and Sort by "COUNTA of Activity Date". Deselect "Show totals" as well.
With the data now organised, let's create a pie chart. Select both columns (A:B) and from the menu, Insert > Chart.
On the Chart Editor menu, choose "Doughnut chart" from the Chart type dropdown
You can now tweak the appearance under the Style tab of the Chart Editor.
Set a suitable Chart title to "Workout type split"
Under the Pie chart section, set Slice label to Value, increase Label font size to 30, set Text colour to white and bold.

Plenty running activities

Now let's break down our completed Trello data on a daily basis. First, we need to parse the completed date/time stamp from IFTTT to a readable data format. For this, we'll use some regular expressions with the =DATEVALUE function.

In your Trello "Completed items" sheet, create a new column at the end of your sheet.
On the second row (beneath your column headers), add the following formula where A2:A is your column of date and time: =ArrayFormula(IF(ISBLANK(A2:A),,DATEVALUE(REGEXREPLACE(A2:A,"at",""))))
This will get the date before "at" in the string and parse to a date value. The ArrayFormula will repeat the function on all following rows and ISBLANK will only parse it when text is available.
Now, select your new column of dates (column I for me), select Insert > Pivot Table from the menu and create a new sheet.
In the Pivot table editor, select your new "Date" column in the Rows section and set the Order to Descending.
In the Values section, add the "Date" column again and Summarise by "COUNTA".
You should now have a break down of completed items by date.
To remove any empty date rows, create a Filter with the Date column, change Status to "Filter by Condition > Is not empty" and hit OK.
You can also apply some date-based groupings to your date (such as monthly) by right-clicking the first column of your pivot table and select Create pivot date group > Year-month.
To show a counter chart of the latest daily count compared to the previous date, select the first row count (cell B2) and select Insert > Chart.
Choose Scorecard from the Chart Type dropdown and make sure COUNTA of Date is set to the Key Value.
To show a difference on the previous date, in the Baseline Value dropdown, select the grid on the right, highlight the first two rows of counts (B2:B3) and hit OK.

A bad day of Trello items

What's next? #

This is an ongoing side project which is constantly growing and refined based on new habits I want to track against life goals. I'd highly encourage you to experiment with these mechanisms to track your personal habits, whether they're in Trello and Strava or other online apps. You'd be surprised how easy it is to get that data out of the apps into your own (Google) hands for archives and analysis.

Snapshot of the Dashboard

I'll follow up on this in the future with further improvements. I'd like to build a more dedicated app that uses the Google Sheets data in a user-friendly web UI, especially with a mobile friendly experience as the current Dashboard is only optimised for large screens and the ability to customise for personalised needs – a possible side project for 2022…

November 2021

2021-12-08T00:00:00Z

A month of complicated blog migrations, new iPhone 13, plenty decorations, personal training, engineer recognition, Finesse milestone, Personal Dashboard focus, revived 80s movies and dyslexic heroes.

Life #

Loads more decorating and DIY in the bedrooms to get ready for Christmas (thanks to local handyman help)
Viruses doing the rounds with the Boy off school for at least a week, me off for a few days and Mrs J fighting through
Christmas tree and lights went up mid-November to get the feels going
Trip to Birmingham’s German market marred by The Boy randomly fainting on the train
Princess featured in school newsletter dressed in full Children In Need outfit with her "unicorn" teacher
Compiled a presentation of dyslexic heroes with Princess for her school class
Swapped my iPhone 11 for iPhone 13 using Apple’s trade in and switched from Three to Vodafone - now cheaper and more reliable
Restarted personal training in the London office gym with focus on core, stretches and toning up
Kept a food diary in MyFitnessPal for 2 weeks to understand the nutrition balance of my average week (focus on protein rather than calories)
17 workouts totalling 7 hours 53 minutes (according to Personal Dash Strava data)

Work #

Successfully got three engineers promoted from End Of Year reviews, my main goal in the EM role #AchievementUnlocked
Another successful probation review with our latest recruit
Resignation from one of the team’s LSE's, spurring some creative thinking around people movements
Joined one of our WITs on their STEM Social virtual panel discussion
Lined up Laveena for next month's Tech Develops
Three steps forward, two steps back on the podcast project (pilot episode, business proposal and OKR shared, still pending feedback and agreement to continue)
Presented a PETALS framework for measuring morale (blog post pending)
Prototyped objectives in GitHub projects alongside our new inner-sourced competency framework with Ryan

Sides #

Outlined a high level roadmap for the next 12 months based on primary personal goals in Confluence (to be published in 2022)
Recorded guest podcast with Matt Asbury from Gymshark on Leadership in Engineering
Started booking in (relatively successful) international guests for Make Life Work S08
Impressive weekly downloads on House Finesse thanks to two guest DJ’s, Disco77 (our 100th episode) and Black Dynamite
Subtle growth in engagement with our On The Side community following the October slump
Loads of updates and improvements in my Personal Dashboard (inc tech/entertainment Monzo split, Twitter metrics and Untapped feed parsing), along with a (prolonged) blog post explaining my process
Several failed attempts to migrate my blog from Linode ($120/yr and difficult to maintain) to EasyWP (£30/yr and managed)
Recognised 15 years on Twitter
Let jobl.in go (again!)

Entertainment #

Watched 📺 #

V for Vendetta (timely)
Ghostbusters: Afterlife at Cineworld (reminiscent)
Red Notice on Netflix (indulgent)
Home Sweet Home Alone on Disney+ (disappointing)
Last Christmas (festive)
Brassic S03 on NowTV
Expanse on Prime
Mr Robot on Prime

Read 📚 #

Pandemic: Extinction Files #1 by AG Riddle
The Extinction Trials by AG Riddle
This Is Dyslexia by Kate Griggs
The One Hour Content Plan by Meera Kothand

Listened 🎧 #

December 2021

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

Wrapping up the 2021 MonthNotes format with plenty festivities amongst family ailments, busy month with people movements at work, ramping up House Finesse efforts and identifying my audience with a content playing field.

Life #

Tough month caring for my Gran with ongoing health problems
Finished decorating bedrooms, now with a dark decorative wallpaper in the master room (see featured image)
Wrote a family edition of "Night Before Christmas" as our Christmas card
Took Princess and other Brownie friends ice skating at Whitlock
Breakfast with Father Christmas back at Whitlock
Got my Covid booster before the big push from Boris
Trip to Leamington Spa for some private healthcare consultation for the Boy and a last Christmas shop (including a little vinyl indulgence with House Gospel Choir and a disco double)
Setup an old iPhone 6 Plus for Princess’s Christmas present #upcycle
Enjoyed BrewDog’s advent collection of (almost) daily beers
Full house of family for Christmas Day with Gran, Mum and Sis (plus partners) joining
Wiped out for 4 days over Christmas with NotCovid
Aladdin panto back at The Deco in Northampton
Trip to Birmingham to see old uni friends with all the kids
Bought a Smart ForFour from Cinch to replace the unreliable Mini Coops
Only 9 workouts (compared to November's 17) - you can tell it's December!

Work #

Only the one office trip early on with Omicron causing concern and team absences
Joined Google’s DisCo (Disability Conference) for some enlightening talks, insights and formats which I shared with our in-house Disability Network (working title)
Started recruitment for another SSE but with revived standard TAG approach
Workshop with PSE’s to discuss how we could revive the Tech Grad Scheme
Self-assessed against the shiny new EM competency toolkit as a guinea pig for Gareth and Ed
Helped interview a new EM, Jamie – my first peer interview in the role – who was successful and accepted
Welcomed new SSE, Sertan, to the team, fast-tracking his onboarding before Christmas absences
Finally got the rubber stamp to proceed with the tech podcast but re-baselined expectations around timelines
Plenty engineer feedback sessions with LSE x EM x Eng tripods and 2 team Speedbacks
Invited Laveena along to discuss accessibility in teams at our (early) Tech Develops
Investigated Medium analytics using their API and an internal tool to get weekly / monthly impressions & engagements from our Tech Blog
Virtual festivities with the whole platform to have some Covid-friendly fun and downtime
Initiated handover notes from a fellow EM who’s handing over 5 engineers in January
Wrapped up for the year on 23rd December, downing tools for 2 weeks.

Sides #

Fixed an overlooked HTTPS certificate issue on this blog following the EasyWP migration
Posted a month of #VinylAdvent on my Instagram, a mix of charity shop/eBay finds and archives from my collection
Tested out Exist app to compare with my Personal Dashboard and my PETALS model
Downgraded 6 Nations KickOff to a free Heroku dyno to save unnecessary costs
Introduced Disco77 to the House Finesse residency
Invited old chum David Dunne along for a Christmas Eve guest mix
Compiled my quarterly mix for the annual NYE celebrations
Lined up 3 international recordings for Make Life Work S08 including old F1 Calendar chum, Andy
Worked on a Content Playing Field to identify my blog (and socials) audience

Entertainment #

Watched 📺 #

Deck The Halls ★★☆☆☆
Justice League ★☆☆☆☆
Back To The Future ★★★★★
Die Hard ★★★★☆
Don't Look Up ★★★★★
Click & Collect on Netflix
Office Christmas Party on Netflix
The Social Dilemma on Netflix
The Girl Before on BBC
A Very British Scandal on BBC
Death to 2021 on Netflix
Jimmy Carr: His Dark Material on Netflix

Read 📚 #

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Blue Christmas Balls by Nick Spalding
A Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Secret of Giza (The Kwan Thrillers #1) by Ken Warner

Listened 🎧 #

2021 Retro

2022-01-05T00:00:00Z

The great thing about habit tracking so ruthlessly with my Personal Dashboard is that I've got tons of data to rip apart for an annual review. Let's see how the year went…

Entertainment #

10,438 pages in 55 books #

Favourites include This Is Dyslexia, The Extinction Files and New Eden trilogies (via Goodreads)

59 movies watched #

Don't Look Up, Back To The Future, Gladiator & Jojo Rabbit getting 5-stars (via Letterboxd)

23 vinyls in Archive Collection #

Plenty dance classics from late 80s and early 90s including 14 7" and 9 12"

477 podcasts listened #

Now following Hed Kandi, Disco77 and Software Social

Entertainment Clippings #

Morning Kindle time (with a daily Ticktick habit) really encouraged me to read more often, smashing previous records, establishing a newfound love for the written word
Saturday Pizza Night with the kids also helped us dive into some classics and new releases from the plethora of on-demand services at our disposal
Vinyl hunting in charity shops and eBay started a new habit of logging my Archive Collection through Instagram posts (and an IFTTT recipe syncing with a Google Sheet)
Hacking the Apple Podcasts database and getting an Apple Home Mini in the kitchen helped track the extra podcast listening time I’ve lost from remote working (aka no commute time)

Health #

103 workouts over 2,924 minutes #

33% runs, 28% HIIT and 16% weight training

Average 76.6kg #

Ranging between 74.5kg and 78.5kg

Health Highlights #

Hit 75km goal in January for Maggie’s Centre, raising £210 in the process
Painful joints resulted in regular physio, custom orthotics and daily resistance band training to build up leg strength muscles
Shifted to HIIT in March to focus on core strength
Got 12kg dumbbells in the Summer to focus on functional strength
Generally feeling healthier now I’m in a habit of 3-4 workouts a week
Exercise definitely reduces around school holidays - I need to work out how to do fitness with the kids

#

Sides

House Finesse #

41 releases including 16 new mixes.
34,906 downloads (across all shows)

Make Life Work #

16 new episodes over 3 seasons.
1,856 downloads (across all episodes)

Sides Show #

Making @Fesshole with Rob Manuel was the most popular MLW episode (thanks to some timely RT’s)
Party Time with Disco 77 - his debut residency - was the biggest release day on House Finesse
Finally got some female talent on HF with guest appearances from Anna Cee and Amy Lauren
Hooking IFTTT and Zapier up with Google Sheets opened my mind to endless life tracking/hacking on my Personal Dashboard over the year
Euro 2020 motivated me to setup footballcal.com based on previous Sports Times efforts but saw very little engagement
On The Side went very quiet this year with interaction severely dropping from the community - likely due to reduced capacity/motivation following the novelty of Lockdown 1 and 2.0

Career #

606 Trello's completed #

Since monitoring from 1 October 2021

46 average weekly actions #

Most productive week before Christmas with 58 items

Work Milestones #

Returned to ASOS in March as Engineering Manager following 13 months as Delivery Lead at Alibaba Group’s WorldFirst
Recruited 3 engineers, promoted 3, lost 2
Setup and hosted 10 Lightning Talks and compèred 3 Tech Develops wraps
Introduced quarterly remote Speedback sessions to all my teams to encourage more rapid, honest feedback between engineers
Focused energy on Tech Brand, Emerging Talent and DEI initiatives across the EM community in Tech
Worked on a PETALS framework to measure morale on a weekly basis
October had the most office visits with December the least (thanks to Omicron variant)

Abducted

2022-01-10T00:00:00Z

author: Ken Warner
name: Si
average rating: 4.37
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/01/09
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Encourage faster feedback for personal improvement with Speedback

2022-01-12T00:00:00Z

Being aware and able to improve yourself is tricky at the best of times but without any feedback, how do you even know what to focus on next? Obviously, in tech, we’re quite familiar with the benefits of faster feedback so what if we use this principle on our own individual development? This is where the Speedback model comes in.

The problem(s) #

Software engineers are constantly looking for opportunities for technical improvements but often overlook their own personal development.
Engineering Managers (or equivalent) are trying to get the best out of their people, recognising achievements and identifying areas of improvement.
Annual reviews often seek peer/360 feedback to support the self-reflection with external thoughts and opinions but it can be painful to get any responses.

A solution #

I caught wind of a ‘speedback’ concept last Summer which creates a speed-networking environment but focused on personal feedback (hence the puntastic wordplay).

Speed-networking + faster feedback = Speedback

Ideally, this would be facilitated in a physical location with everyone present ready to rotate around the space. But, like many companies through the 2020-1 pandemic, we’ve shifted predominantly to remote working so this introduced a further challenge.

With this in mind, here’s how I approached it:

Book a time when all members of the team are available, typically an hour but dependent on team size. For a team of six, an hour should cover it but 90 minutes will allow for any over-running.
Inform the team in the description to prepare for each team-mate (you’ll probably need to remind them nearer the time too):
- one behaviour observed that yield positive outcomes
- one behaviour observed that could have been done differently/better
Once you know who’s attending, create a schedule for each possible pair. I used Fixture List — choose Player participant type and Once Only meetings, enter all the names and generate the schedule.
On the day, setup breakout rooms in Teams (or Zoom) for each sub-session. Ideally, this should be for each combination (e.g. Jon & Sarah) but you can try creating rooms for each pairing (Pair A, B, C) that can be updated each round (first, second, third).
As facilitator, you will be managing these breakout rooms for each round so you might benefit from an additional person supporting.
Start the session, remind everyone of the format, to take notes where possible and answer any questions/concerns. Maybe break the tension with some banter or a quick icebreaker.
Agree a suitable duration for each round. I found five minutes too short and 10 minutes quite loose — eight minutes seemed about right. MS Teams has a setting for enforcing this with a countdown timer in each breakout room.
Allocate the pairs to their respective rooms and commence the speedback sessions.
If you have odd numbers, there might be an odd one out on each round. Suggest they use that time to prepare or make notes whilst they’re fresh.
Between each round, the facilitator will have to rearrange the breakout assignments. Propose more banter whilst this is actioned as it can be quite tedious in MS Teams/Zoom and will keep morale high.
At the end of all breakout rounds, make sure everyone had time to give and receive all their feedback. If they ran out of time, suggest using one of the rooms during any remaining buffer time or arrange a follow-up call at a time that’s convenient.

Observations #

I facilitated four of these sessions throughout August, first as a pilot with fellow tech leads then with minor iterations across three different engineering teams (with six or seven participants, myself included).

Every session had fantastic responses such as it was really useful to recieve some honest feedback from peers, recognition for areas they’re strong and suggestions for what to focus on next. They liked the dedicated time with each other, especially when they don’t typically get the opportunity for non-work chat. It was also perfect timing as it was right before the end of our annual review cycle so they had content to help reflect on the past year and what to focus on next.

Most teams praised the format and would like to make it a regular occurrence, possibly introducing to retrospective formats or ideally providing the feedback more frequently throughout the working day, e.g. after a pairing session, team meetings/workshops or observed through business/team contributions.

When it came to note-taking, many people struggled to keep up/multi-task — I’m quite fortunate to have gained the ability to scribe in the moment so appreciate I’m an exception to the rule. One suggestion was to make notes immediately after the session or even ask your team-mates to share any prepared notes straight after.

Some engineers find it difficult to give much constructive criticism (even when they know it can be anonymous) and especially when it’s face-to-face. To gain confidence with some teams, we focused on positive feedback for the first round with future sessions to balance both but we could also provide coaching on how to structure comments without causing tension.

To ensure the context was set with some inspiration and structure, it can be beneficial to outline some topics to focus on, for example, technical skills, soft skills, or specific examples of behaviours.

As mentioned before, this model would be best suited for a physical room to eliminate the tedious UX of pair management between breakout rooms. For teams who are predominantly remote, there must be a better solution for organising the pairs in Zoom or Teams — maybe an extension, plugin or hack for the software would help.

On reflection, I was pleased with the results from the first iteration of introducing the speedback model to our teams. As we experiment with more formats, it’ll be interesting to see how the culture of feedback improves and how our engineers grow over the next 6–12 months. I highly encourage you to trial some of these concepts with your engineering teams and would love to hear how you get on.

FortNotes #1

2022-01-17T00:00:00Z

2020 was the year of WeekNotes. 2021 was MonthNotes. 2022 is all about the FortNotes.

In the interests of experimentation and finding the right balance, I’m keen to give fortnightly notes, aka FortNotes, a go. WeekNotes were very regular but demanding with some quiet weeks feeling pointless. MonthNotes allowed for more flexibility but got quite long and difficult to remember the detail. Fortnightly might find the right balance. (I’m also hoping Matt Asbury joins me on this venture following a brief chat about them)

Life #

Fun family day out at Legoland before returning to school and work
Bought a Smart ForFour from Cinch but had immediate diagnostics problems reported
Sold Mini Coops within 3 hours of posting on Marketplace
Joined Vinylbox with £15 voucher to see what turns up from the Ibiza collection
Joined Simply Cook for some new recipes to try in 2022
Trip to Bicester Village for some browsing with the family and spot of lunch at Cafe Wolsley

Work #

Tired of saying “Happy New Year” for the past 2 weeks
#ProTip: cancel any recurring meetings after a festive break as nobody has any progress updates
Inherited 5 more direct reports from a leaving EM colleague and started getting to know them directly
Triaged engineer mentor feedback through EM+LSE+Eng 1:1:1’s (before the LSE’s departure)
Slow pipeline of new recruits with new “TAG” model, only one phone screen in 2 weeks
Had a quiet day in London to talk through some DEI initiative topics and actions, along with a much-needed PT session
Got the Podcast Champs to brainstorm and agree some initial tech topics to cover and started procuring all the tools & equipment
Enjoyed seeing Alastair’s #LightningTalk of a Blazor app for internal tooling

Sides #

Recorded Make Life Work with Dustin Miller PolyInnovator and Andy Yates
Blogged about Speedback for faster personal feedback
Introduced Taiwo (aka Black Dynamite) to the House Finesse residency
Started exporting Apple Health data to Google Sheets using Health Auto Export, IFTTT and Sheetgo
Restored some BBC Sounds RSS feeds on ComediPlayer using Dlvr.it and IFTTT
Hooked up @DerbyCounty Twitter to a similar Facebook page with IFTTT with promising engagement from Sheffield United 2-0 result

Read 📚 #

The Profitable Content System by Meera Kothand
Abducted (second in the Kwan Series) by Ken Warner

Watched 📺 #

Stay Close on Netflix
Overboard on MGM/Prime
Screw on All4
The Girl Before on iPlayer
Matrix Resurrection
Greed on Prime

Listened 🎧 #

Mars Enigma

2022-01-18T00:00:00Z

author: Ken Warner
name: Si
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/01/17
shelves: currently-reading
review:

But I'm Not An Expert!

2022-01-24T00:00:00Z

author: Meera Kothand
name: Si
average rating: 4.05
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/01/23
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Crypto Profit

2022-01-25T00:00:00Z

author: Peter Bryant
name: Si
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/01/24
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Compliance

2022-01-30T00:00:00Z

author: Clare Littlemore
name: Si
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/01/30
shelves: currently-reading
review:

FortNotes #2

2022-01-30T00:00:00Z

An emotional time at work, quality family time walking and gaming and getting back into ALL the podcasts.

Work #

Enjoyed Ryan's #LightningTalk about tech-friendly objectives in Github Projects
Started looking at Mailchimp alternatives to setup some internal newsletters (EmailOctopus looks promising following Marc's recommendation)
Great chat with Jamie & Lion about how he's experienced #neurodiversity support at work
Celebrated some team changes and promotions with some remote Friday beers
Our first candidate interview of the new TAG process had a great attitude but just lacked enough experience to cut it in the team
Fascinating session reviewing the new Engineering Manager competency framework with my line manager, her often upgrading my self-assessment scores but raising interesting suggestions about neglecting areas due to too much kindness
London trip to say goodbye to Luca (with many succumbing to positive Covid results)
Presented a last minute "10 pro tips for engaging blog and podcast content" at #TechDevelops, creating slide content 2 hours before presentation
Wellbeing Day off last Friday so went for a swim, pub lunch and vinyl hunt

Life #

Got the new Smart ForFour put through Mercedes diagnostics but nothing came up - fun driving the courtesy A-Class for the day though
Challenging muddy walk around Castleton in the Peak District with the family
Struggled through home-schooling Princess following crazy number of positive Covid cases in her class
Geeked out at Pixel Bunker in Milton Keynes, button-bashing on Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat with The Boy
The Boy's first tae kwon do grading racked him with nerves
Rekindled a long lost love for (NBA) basketball, now looking into (another) monthly TV subscription
Joined the global Wordle craze with a new Ticktick habit, currently averaging a strong 4 attempts.

Sides #

Recorded MLW with Shannon from 9 second news app, Volv
Produced Andy’s episode
Set some 2022 KPI's for Make Life Work (4,000 downloads and 100 Twitter followers)
Introduced Taiwo to the House Finesse roster
Featured on Matt Asbury's Leaders of Engineering podcast
Made my own mix for House Finesse
Welcomed another Si to On The Side
Refined the Apple Health to Personal Dash setup, now with a daily chart of movement and exercise

Watched #

Afterlife S3 on Netflix
The Last Dance on Netflix
Fight Club on Prime (following Meat Loaf's passing)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels on Prime
Derby County's potential final game on Sky Sports (NowTV Day Pass)

Read 📚 #

Mars Engima (Kwan Series #3) by Ken Warner
But I'm Not An Expert by Meera Kothand
Crypto Profit by Peter Bryant

Listened #

Clap Back

2022-01-31T00:00:00Z

author: Nalo Hopkinson
name: Si
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2022/01/30
date added: 2022/01/30
shelves:
review:

Selling The Intangible

2022-02-09T00:00:00Z

author: Meera Kothand
name: Si
average rating: 4.47
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/09
shelves: currently-reading
review:

The Black Pages

2022-02-12T00:00:00Z

author: Nnedi Okorafor
name: Si
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/12
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Kwan Thrillers #4

2022-02-14T00:00:00Z

author: Ken Warner
name: Si
average rating: 4.37
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/13
shelves: currently-reading
review:

FortNotes #3

2022-02-14T00:00:00Z

Experimenting with different hybrid huddle models, launch Make Life Work S08, loads of TV and books recommendations and Covid finally caught Jobling Manor.

Work #

Completed my Engineering Manager competency review to identify key areas to focus on for rest of FY22 objectives including more coaching training and mindful of being over-empathetic/approachable
Excellent Lunch & Learn talk by Nat about women's periods, talking about the realities of what women go through and how men can help support better
Miro training to understand how to use it for virtual (hybrid) white boarding sessions, interesting to see all the integrations possible with popular team-based tech tools like Azure, Trello and Confluence
Three visits to the London office over past 2 weeks
Trained the tech podcast hosts how to setup recording equipment with Zencastr
Started a monthly engineering huddle to share demos of recent technical deliveries, showcase different team's ways of working and recognise efforts by nominations, who win a custom mug and coaster
Attempted a joint team strategy session in a hybrid environment but very low turnout due to Omicron cases surging around
Ordered some custom pin badges from Sticker Mule to hand out as additional recognition (such as annual anniversaries)
Useful workshop in the office to form a plan reviving the Tech Grad Scheme - nice to use my old Post-It's and Sharpie set for the first time in a while
Met up with Engineering Managers from our new Northern Ireland hub for some lunch
Blown away by Dylan's excellent Team Designer – a brand new custom app to truly understand the teams, people and skills across Tech with mixed sources of data causing confusion

Life #

Body MOT with a hearing test (all good, just reduction on higher frequencies) and much needed podiatrist treating my neglected Hobbit trotters
Booked a long weekend away to Munich with Mrs J, our first romantic getaway in years
Visited Richard III’s resting place in Leicester after collecting a taxidermy duck (previously a family pet) from a local expert
Realised I’ve been on the wrong tax code for the best part of the past tax year so overpaying now to make up for it
Covid took over the house with the other three being struck down last week but I've managed to dodge it (so far)

Sides #

Released S08E01 of Make Life Work with Dustin Miller PolyInnovator and S08E02 with Andy Yates about F1 Calendar
Updated the MLW and House Finesse Mailchimp email templates with clearer CTA's and optimised content, now plugging the merchandise
Released Disco 77 and Black Dynamite's shows for February on House Finesse
Explored cryptocurrency more, possibly using it for kids savings instead of ISA’s
Started a new (mini) series podcast called Make Life Work Bitesize - a weekly 10min monologue of my highlights, frustrations and learnings – pilot and second are live for feedback
Started migrating Calendly to Cal.com, offering Make Life Work bookings and consultation time for anyone looking for help
Fixed the Monzo feed into my Personal Dashboard following a bug I introduced, optimising and tweaking some of the data visualisations over weekly spends
Created a dedicated Instagram account for my Archive Collection, conveniently called @the.archive.collection - now to work out how to migrate the history across
Added 90s vocalists Kym Sims and Shanice on 7” to the collection

Watching #

The Responder on iPlayer – Martin Freeman playing quite a believable character for once
Toast of London on iPlayer – Matt Berry doing his thing but in Tinseltown
The Curse on All4 – Tom Davis and the boys from People Just Do Nothing in a comedy crime jape
We Are Lady Parts on All4 – great comedy about a Muslim female punk band
Chaos Walking on Prime – enjoyable sci-fi movie with Tom Holland's mind getting away with him
The Invention of Lying on Netflix – easy going (although some unnecessary sexual references) comedy with Ricky Gervais
This Is Going To Hurt on iPlayer – brilliantly dark comedy about a doctor struggling through hospital duties
The A Team on Disney+ – ridiculous action flick reminiscing over classic 80s Saturday evening entertainment
Sicario on Netflix – Emily Blunt plays a brilliant CIA agent trying to break the drug trade

Reading #

Clap Back by Nalo Hopkinson in the Black Stars: A Galaxy Of New Worlds series
Compliance by Clare Littlemore – a great (young adult) dystopian novel by wife of old friend Marc Littlemore
Selling The Intangible by Meera Kothand
The Black Pages by Nnedi Okorafor (also in the Black Stars series)

Cryptocurrency 1x1

2022-02-21T00:00:00Z

author: Andrew P. Hammond
name: Si
average rating: 3.43
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/20
shelves: currently-reading
review:

From the Desk of Lady Miss

2022-02-22T00:00:00Z

author: Keke Palmer
name: Si
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/21
shelves: currently-reading
review:

My Dear Friend Janet

2022-02-22T00:00:00Z

author: Keke Palmer
name: Si
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/21
shelves: currently-reading
review:

The Only Bitcoin Investing Book You’ll Ever Need

2022-02-23T00:00:00Z

author: Freeman Publications
name: Si
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/22
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Metaverse

2022-02-26T00:00:00Z

Loads of detail about metaverses, blockchain, cryptocurrency and NFT and quite up to date (referencing Facebook rebrand to Meta) but lacked the counter arguments such as health, social and technical implications. It desperately needs proof reading too - loads of grammatical and formatting errors on the Kindle edition (even some Mailchimp Javascript and CSS was embedded).

author: Brendon Stock
name: Si
average rating: 3.60
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/26
shelves: currently-reading
review:

FortNotes #4

2022-02-28T00:00:00Z

A fortnight of COVID, much-needed weekend away in North Devon, career clarity for rest of FY22, pensions vs BTC, 5 podcast episodes released, loads of IFTTT and a new direction for football communities.

Work #

Dodged the office last week until family were Covid free
Productive day in the office last Thursday testing out the shiny new podcast recording equipment followed by an EM interview in an actual room with other people in 3D
Identified key focus areas for department (domain) wide objectives, mostly around measuring and improving team happiness and productivity (an ideal opportunity to trial my PETALS framework) 🌸
Started looking into a Coaching Level 5 qualification with a cohort of other EM’s
Handed over the reigns on our "emerging talent" initiative including a Tech Grad scheme revival now 3 other EM's are helping

Life #

Long weekend in North Devon with Princess and Mrs J, surprising mum and enjoying the glorious weather on the coast
Booked in my prostate cancer blood test screening following a recommendation by my best mate
Took the boy out to shoot hoops, hopefully a new hobby we can enjoy together
Realised my pension portfolio across 3 providers has been steadily losing value over the past 3-6 months
Started exploring the potential in Bitcoin as an alternative asset investment
Re-evaluated kids' ISA savings plans, comparing interest rates and ROI
Finished daily Wordle habit but tried Lewdle for a few days instead

Sides #

Two more Make Life Work episodes with Shannon Almeida from Volv and Simon Scarfe from Cinch
DJ Programma and LYP returned to House Finesse after a few months
Loads of new IFTTT automation recipes including toilet tracker with iOS button and Siri, Coinbase transactions to Google Sheets, Trakt (TV) watch list to Sheets and Instagram posts to this blog
Posted Bitesize #3 – a better quality version from the home office setup, wrapping up my week (and missed last week due to the long weekend break)
Started compiling an "Origins" mix for House Finesse, mixing and mashing dance classics with their original samples
Setup some RSS to Twitter IFTTT recipes to automate some ComedyPods content
Rescoped Super Rams into a potential metaverse/DeSo experience for our Derby County community

Watched #

Pam & Tommy on Disney
The Teacher on My5
Starstruck Season 2 on BBC
Trigger Point on ITV

Read #

Kwan Thrillers #4 by Ken Warner
Cryptocurrency 1x1 by Andrew P Hammond
My Dear Friend Janet by Keke Palmer
The Only Bitcoin Investing Book You’ll Ever Need by Freeman Publications

Listened #

Lost Contact

2022-03-03T00:00:00Z

author: Nathan Hystad
name: Si
average rating: 4.12
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/03/02
shelves: currently-reading
review:

FortNotes #5

2022-03-14T00:00:00Z

2 (crap) movies at a brand new cinema, close monitoring of personal and domestic health, Spring-time walks, all the mid-year review prep, Dom's third appearance on MLW, plenty reviews and reflections for the future of my projects and a brand new sci-fi trilogy to read.

I'm also reconsidering the future of this "FortNotes" format. The original logic of finding a suitable balance between WeekNotes and MonthNotes is still the main driver but I'm also in a habit of weekly retrospectives which could feed into the Bitesize podcast content with these notes as guides. That said, I'd like to give it a few more goes to wrap up for the quarter before any more changes.

Life #

Visited brand new Arc Cinema in Daventry to experience it before others, first to see Sing 2 (not as bad as expected) then The Batman (dreadful in so many ways)
Smart meter installed following ridiculous electricity bills from Ovo (prior to planned price hike) - now meticulously observing power-hungry devices
Negative results from recent blood test screen for prostate cancer, diabetes and other fortysomething health risks
Met Andy Higgs for a spot of Turkish eggs breakfast in Yorks, first time in person since lockdown hit
Walked around Stanwick Lakes with the kids to enjoy the lovely Spring weather and fun with cinematic iPhone video on the zip-wire, followed by a brief trip to visit my BFF nearby in his (massive) new home
Trip over to Melton Mowbray for some disappointing lunch and over-priced shopping but missed out on any pork pies

Work #

One in, one out: an engineer handed his notice in but a neighbouring EM (teamwise and locality) accepted their offer, joining end of May
Observed how our talent team scout people with LinkedIn tools, suggesting a DEI language tool to analyse the outbound messages for any biases
Refined recruitment process to speed up engagement and, ideally, application to offer for a better candidate experience
Visited Birmingham office to meet-up with other EM's and some engineers for F2F meetings and socials
Commenced quarterly team Speedbacks to get peer feedback for mid year reviews
Recorded our first podcast episode with two senior web engineers - great content and ideas but needs lots of work to make it sound cohesive

Sides #

Making Dress Circle with Dom went live
Increased engagement on ComediPlayer from extra BBC Sounds RSS content
Reviewed Personal Dashboard charts and data for relevance and accuracy, identifying metrics I'm not interested in anymore (fitness durations, toilet trips) but also new ones to track (BTC growth, car finance and fuel costs, movies & TV shows watched)
Outlined a plan to reposition MLW on makelife.work for future product iterations and brand cohesion
Released Bitesize 4 but decided against anything last week
Made a guest mix for 1 Indie Nation podcast (to be released)

Read #

Watched #

Sing 2 and The Batman at Arc Cinema (great new cinema but crap movies)
Predator (fond memories ruined)
The Lion King (the original, not the remake)
The Adam Project (Ryan Reynolds)
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (killer cast)
Flight Of The Navigator (childhood classic)

The Art Of Saying NO

2022-03-15T00:00:00Z

author: Damon Zahariades
name: Si
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/03/14
shelves: currently-reading
review:

The Art of Influencing People

2022-03-16T00:00:00Z

author: George Green
name: Si
average rating: 2.95
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/03/15
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Lost Time

2022-03-19T00:00:00Z

author: Nathan Hystad
name: Si
average rating: 4.35
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/03/19
shelves: currently-reading
review:

FortNotes #6

2022-03-28T00:00:00Z

Calibrating energy prices, night out out in Birmingham, responsible MP’s, all the feedback for mid-years, driving recruitment, WMC mixes, record F1 traffic and the art of personal improvement.

LIFE

Challenged Ovo Energy on incorrect electric estimates now we know from the new smart meter average consumption is about £35-40/week
Saw Dylan Moran at Birmingham's Alexandria along with dinner at Comptoir Libanais and breakfast at Cosy Club
Contacted our local MP to support a major update on NG73 guidelines for endometriosis care, got an automated response saying they don't support EDM's then a long personal message to say he would definitely follow up in parliament
4× runs and 2× workouts but sustained steady weight with less variation

WORK

Completed 15 mid-year reviews for all my direct reports, asking a brand new question "If you were to leave tomorrow, what would be the main reason?" to observe any trends or actions within our remit
Recorded another podcast episode on event driven architecture with Amrish & Sarah, Lewis and Nat
London trip for an Orders platform huddle, 2 interviews and an EM IRL(ish) huddle to review our cross-cutting initiatives
Piloted my PETALS feedback framework on a few engineering teams to see promising results
Started experimenting with custom fields on Trello cards to track recruitment candidates
Setup an Excel document to track and visualise engineer participation on recruitment pipeline
Confirmed my first hire on the new process - but a long way to go finding 10 more this FY
Refreshed a Microsoft Planner to track and visualise Tech Blog content submissions from around the tech community with all steps on the funnel
In-house podcast production time with Lewis to share the load going forward (with a quick play on his DDJ-400's)

SIDES

Mixed and released my Spring Break '22 mix on House Finesse after reviving Going To Miami
Gathered some great qualitative feedback for MLW from OTS community members and some steer from a tweet poll to understand which direction to take the podcast and linked community
Connected @the.archive.collection Instagram to a dedicated Google Sheet which can be used for parsing later
Andy highlighted 13.5m calendar requests in 1 week on F1 Calendar's 2022 launch weekend
Created an Invite Codes page to share referral links and promo codes of services I personally recommend
Played around with WP Custom Post Type UI to store personal data like weight on this blog (following Simon’s pointer)
Dumped down some ideas for an app to help facilitate speedback sessions with remote teams in Zoom (MS Teams API doesn’t currently support their breakout rooms feature)

WATCHED

Mood on BBC (think Fleabag with singing)
The Instagram Effect on BBC (scary reality of social media)
Schindler's List on Prime (quite apt considering current affairs)

READ

The Art of Saying No by Damon Zahariades
The Art of Influencing People by George Green
Lost Time (#2 in The Bridge Sequence) by Nathan Hystad

The Art of Positive Thinking

2022-03-29T00:00:00Z

A step-by-step guide to Emotional Intelligence - How to control your negative thoughts, achieve mindfulness and realise your dreams including self-love and self-acceptance.

author: George Green
name: Si
average rating: 3.46
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/03/29
shelves: currently-reading
review:

POP: Speedback

2022-03-30T00:00:00Z

I recently heard on a podcast (citation needed) the idea of regularly creating a "product on a page" to keep creative juices flowing. This concept resonated with me as I've found my current role being people-focused doesn't allow as much creativity when working in tech. So I thought I'd give it a go.

Every month, I've got a Ticktick reminder to scribble down a Product On a Page (POP), no matter how far-fetched, stupid or brilliant it might be. As long as it's away from a screen with pen(cil) in hand, throwing down ideas visually, it's valid. For full accountability, I'll also share them on my blog and socials which might prompt further developments and interactions.

This first one is an elaboration on a recent blog post I wrote about facilitating faster feedback between team mates in a speed-networking environment called Speedback. Through running these sessions manually, it got me wondering how it could be made easier through some automation in MS Teams (other video conference software is available).

Speedback concept using automation with existing video call tools

On reflection, you can see this is quite a word-heavy scribble, not many visuals, something I'd like to improve through this ongoing exercise.

I'd also love to build something out of this but it will definitely need some support from engineers who have third-party API experience, ideally on Zoom, Office365 or Google Workspace.

What do you think? Would you like to join me in this exercise? Are there any other exercises you personally try to nurture creativity? Share with us.

Lost Hope

2022-03-31T00:00:00Z

author: Nathan Hystad
name: Si
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/03/31
shelves: currently-reading
review:

The Coaching Mindset: 8 Ways to Think Like a Coach

2022-04-12T00:00:00Z

author: Chad Hall
name: Si
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2022/04/11
date added: 2022/04/11
shelves:
review:

Strategic Mindset

2022-04-13T00:00:00Z

author: Thibaut Meurisse
name: Si
average rating: 4.28
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/04/12
shelves: currently-reading
review:

The Event

2022-04-15T00:00:00Z

author: Nathan Hystad
name: Si
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/04/15
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Life... With No Breaks

2022-04-27T00:00:00Z

author: Nick Spalding
name: Si
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/04/26
shelves: currently-reading
review:

The 5 Minute To-Do List Formula

2022-04-27T00:00:00Z

author: Magnus Muller
name: Si
average rating: 3.61
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/04/26
shelves: currently-reading
review:

April 2022

2022-05-02T00:00:00Z

Returning to the monthly cadence after a quarter of Fortnotes with holiday highlights, family health challenges, casual side project focus and a busy month with people at work.

Make #

Continued break from Make Life Work podcast whilst considering most appropriate direction forward
Started work on World Cup 2022 for Football Cal
More resident mixes on House Finesse alongside guest mix from Seattle House Mafia (old chum Paul Velocity's latest venture)
Re-shared my 1indienation mix on House Finesse
Guest appearance on the Evolution Exchange podcast about hybrid working

Life #

Suffered a nasty stomach bug for over a week, wiping me out for 4 days, losing 3.5kg in the process
Sold the caravan back to a local dealer after realising its not worth keeping
Mrs J broke her elbow on Easter Sunday but A&E suggested holiday travels should be fine
Enjoyable week in Eurocamp near Paris with 9 other family and friends – the kids in their element whilst adults relaxed at the bars
Setup my old decks properly to get back into some vinyl mixing

Work #

Confirmed another new SE offer and recruited 3 Spartans - an outsourced graduate bootcamp for emerging talent
Finished editing the first episode of the podcast before discovering Descript which could drastically improve the production time
Hugely successful with 2 Tech Develops sessions I organised with Lewis (Bitcoin) and Jamie (neurodiversity), the former breaking attendance records
"Nailed it" in mid-year rating - a fair assessment considering personal opinion and circumstances
Epic office day with 3 teams, meeting new plenty faces, saying goodbye to Talent Tom, plus delicious team lunch at Dishoom

Read #

Lost Hope by Nathan Hystad
The Coaching Mindset by Chad Hall
Strategic Mindset by Thibaut Meurisse
The Event by Nathan Hystad
The 5 Minute To-Do List Formula by Magnus Muller

Getting Things Done

2022-05-04T00:00:00Z

author: David Allen
name: Si
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2001
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/05/03
shelves: currently-reading
review:

GTD With The Bullet Journal

2022-05-04T00:00:00Z

author: Derek Reinhard
name: Si
average rating: 3.55
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/05/03
shelves: currently-reading
review:

POP: PETALS

2022-05-07T00:00:00Z

How do you regularly check the health of your engineering teams? Here’s my Product On A Page for quickly and easily monitoring with PETALS.

There are many frameworks and models out there to help track and improve team health. Some can be quite versatile and complex too but I’m keen to try a simpler mechanism for more consistent, faster feedback.

This model focuses on 5 key metrics:

Productivity
Enjoyment
Teamwork
Learning
Stress

Each metric is rated out of 5 which can then provide an AVERAGE score overall, creating the acronym PETALS.

Ideally, this score is quickly captured every week for more faster feedback but teams could use two-week sprint cycles as an iteration or even monthly/quarterly checkpoints (not recommended).

As scores are captured by groups of people, trends and outliers can start to be observed, anonymously or known. This would ideally be with teams directly but also as leaders too. By monitoring individual metrics, teams could try to create actions through continuous improvement and retrospectives.

Groups of PETALS form bunches of flowers, creating a delightfully visual indicator for easily highlighting team’s health. Numbers then correlate to colour palettes that can be customised or, for convenience, use a familiar Red-Amber-Green traffic light system (1 is red, 3 is amber, 5 is green) that is recognisable to most.

Over time, we should start to see improvements or, in the case of noticing concerns, acted on sooner rather than later.

I like the idea of using a convenient engineering comms tool such as Slack or Teams bots in a group channel. This can be configured for preferred cycle times (e.g. Friday lunch, end of sprint) then compiled into snapshot reports for individuals or teams. Data can also be exported for team reports, leaders and coaches.

Off to Be the Wizard (Magic 2.0, #1)

2022-05-14T00:00:00Z

author: Scott Meyer
name: Si
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/05/14
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Spell or High Water

2022-06-01T00:00:00Z

author: Scott Meyer
name: Si
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/05/31
shelves: currently-reading
review:

May 2022

2022-06-04T00:00:00Z

A mixed month of side project productivity, rearranged weekend away in Whitstable, podcast and people progress at work and minimised wellbeing driving Mrs J to school for 3 weeks.

(I've also used Markdown to write this post - a simpler workflow using an ongoing Ticktick action to capture thoughts and Wordpress block to publish)

Make #

World Cup 2022 MVP on Football Cal
New WORK Personal Dashboard including completed Trello cards & office visit count based on IFTTT geo-triggers
New Portfolio Metrics tracker for project KPI's (e.g. podcast downloads with website analytics)
My Platinum Party mix for House Finesse
This month's product on a page is PETALS - a possible framework for measuring team health
Added an index page to my blog for discovery of unlisted content
Bob Sinclair, Charles & Eddie, Kym Sims, Billy Ocean and Glitterbox Ibiza Where Love Lives Vol II added to The Archive Collection
Renewed this domain sijobling.com for the 16th year but let onephatdj.go.uk go based on virtually zero redirects tracked

Life #

Friday night drinks with old friends in a eerily quiet Birmingham city centre
The Boy came third in his first taekwondo tournament then enrolled as air cadet - all in the same week #ProudDad
Romantic weekend away to Munich cancelled from EasyJet chaos, instead settling on delightful holiday home in Whitstable with Princess, visiting Canterbury cathedral on a bus and enjoying local seafood restaurants
Not much exercise due to working at school for most of it; only 3 runs and 1 PT sesh recorded

Work #

Worked from school for 3 weeks due to Mrs J's broken elbow invalidating insurance, bouncing between two sites thanks to ongoing wifi issues
Spotlight slot on tech-wide Engineering update about EM initiatives with numerous comments how "natural" my presentation was
Decided which teams to line manage going forward with some difficult negotiations and conversations aiding the outcome
Visited our Customer Care office in Leavesden (opposite Universal Studios!) to see how they operate and the impressive environment they're in
Welcomed Steph to our Order Management teams officially
Hired our first senior engineer after months of interviews, highlighting how hard it is to find top-end tech talent in the UK
Started recruitment hunt for QA engineers, forming our local TAG community to help out
Talked to Lucila Sanjurjo from Farewill about different ways to measure team health
Internally released first podcast episode for early feedback after crowdsourcing the go-live plan remotely on a Miro board, followed by two more recordings about accessibility and recruitment
Trained EM Ed how to use Descript and hacked together an Outlook calendar-to-Trello automation on Tech Develops after watching Nat and Tzveta's amazing dyslexia talk
Two office visits along with the first (remote) engineer interview from a meeting room since the pandemic

Read #

Life… With No Breaks by Nick Spalding
Off To Be The Wizard by Scott Meyer

500 Social Media Marketing Tips Essential Advice Hints and Strategy

2022-06-17T00:00:00Z

author: Andrew Macarthy
name: Si
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/06/16
shelves: currently-reading
review:

POP: EM Bot

2022-06-17T00:00:00Z

This month, I had a moment of inspiration thinking about what I actually do in my role as an Engineering Manager and how much of it could possibly be automated as an EM Bot.

With the emphasis on growing individuals, there's a lot of admin that tends to take up my time. What if a bot could satisfy these needs allowing me to be more strategic and focused on using my people skills to better effect?

These were just some initial ideas that could technically be automated (third party services and API's allowing).

This would require some serious machine learning and automation, especially for any sequences dependent on complicated systems and deep neural networks, but some of the conversational "check ins" and connecting people should be quite straight forward to setup.

Finding time for side projects

2022-06-19T00:00:00Z

Before the pandemic, I used to get the train to London and back daily. Many would be surprised how much time I'd spend travelling to work but it actually provided me a couple hours of focus time - either reading, listening to podcasts or on side projects.

When lockdown hit, all that changed. Many people utilised the extra home time with hobbies and their own side projects but I had to create pockets of time from newfound family commitments with homeschooling and housework taking priorities. This would typically be in the morning (before work) or evenings (after kids and wife went to bed).

With lockdown restrictions easing and new office time expectations, I'm having to find a new balance between home and work commitments. I typically head to the office once a week now (mostly for social and mental health benefits) and often use the train time to focus on side projects, especially when most of it is now producing podcasts which actually benefit from no internet connectivity.

I recently read an interesting post on Indiehackers by Jasmina on some useful tips for finding time on side projects which many suggestions rang true for me. I thought it might benefit others to provide my customisations.

Batching activities #

One suggestion by Matt Trussell is batching. This could be with time blocks or even tasks.

In 2021, I started a time journal as I was curious how I spent my days between work, family and personal activities with 30 minute units (think Pomodoro technique). It was quite a commitment in itself but with some regular reminders spread throughout the day, it provided some interesting insights over time. Within a week, I had identified patterns and opportunities to carve out for side projects but also allowing a reasonable balance with my family and enough down time.

I also find it useful blocking activities together to minimise context switching.

If I’m in podcast mode, I focus on Make Life Work and House Finesse together.
If I’m in devops mode, I maintain updates and upgrades on the many sites I still maintain.
If I’m in admin mode, it will be all the domain renewals and social media accounts I manage.

You get the idea.

Use your "commute" time #

Ivan Đurđevac advocates remote work, or searching for a job that is permanently remote. I have mixed feelings about this as whilst I can see the benefits of less travel time, the counter benefits of physical relationships in person and head space working in an office can dramatically improve mental health and wellbeing.

As I mentioned before, by saving the offline time on a train for quality focus time, you can actually produce some great outputs without distractions. I tend to pencil my travel time for producing podcasts as (a) 45 minutes on a laptop with headphones typically creates about 15-20 minutes of content and (b) the limited internet connectivity of UK railways reduces online distractions.

On the days I'm not travelling, I tend to find I'm most productive in the morning than evening (this has changed over time - back in my 20s before parenting took over, I'd often stay up beyond midnight to focus on my side projects). The family are often awake at 6am to prepare for schools so, once I've got my wife and kids sorted, I've got an hour or two before work. Many days I will just read my Kindle but it's also ample time to smash out some quality code or content.

Bedtime schedule in iOS for 22:30-06:00

Whether you're a night owl or early bird, you need to be careful not to burn the candle at both ends. I typically get to bed by 11am with 6am starts - bedtime mode reminders on Apple Watch, iPhone and Mac are great at encouraging this but I’m not necessarily strict to the prompts (10pm notifications often get ignored).

Red lines set boundaries #

I like Bruce Cullen's "red lines" analogy to define limits. Like him, I have to set some priorities on what my commitments are and in specific priority order. Mine are:

Family
Work
Fitness & wellbeing
Side projects
Entertainment (reading, podcasts, TV)

Top 3 are mandatory then everything else is optional. Family commitments take top priority with work a close second. I set myself weekly fitness goals to ensure my body and mind are in a good place (which also lend toward quality family and work time) then all my side projects should flow around. I do value the importance of entertainment, especially relaxing with a book and cinema or TV with the family, but these things can be compromised if side project goals demand my focus and capacity.

Plan for the unplanned #

Vincent Vrijburg takes the weather into account when making short term plans. This also feeds into the above priorities.

Every week, I set my week goals publicly in our On The Side Slack community based on personal, fitness and side projects needs. I also reflect on the previous week's goals to ensure I'm not over (or under) committing. Using this data is crucial to managing expectations against my own capacity.

On The Side #week-goals for 19 June 2022

I also like to use weather forecasts to flex my goals. If the weather is good, I'll prioritise some outdoor activities like a run, family trips or drinks with workmates. If weather is miserable, I'll lean toward indoor HIIT or PT workouts, more reading and computer time. Whilst we can't rely on it, weekly forecasts are a good guide to work with and can be adjusted daily.

Career goals are personal goals #

Spencer Jones encourages negotiating personal development time in to your job.

I'm very lucky that ASOS provide one day every month known as Tech Develops to completely focus on individual growth through self learning. For me, this has been a great time to build on my podcast production skills.

Home podcast studio

I'm also leading a project to launch a Tech Podcast for the company. Again, this is a perfect opportunity for me to practice and hone my passions as a podcaster but actually as part of my day job. This all works toward my personal goals to be a professionally recognised podcaster.

It works two ways too. All my personal time spent improving my podcast knowledge and skills feeds into a professional project my employers will benefit from as well. Carving out dedicated time in the workday to podcast is a huge result for me personally and professionally. I recommend working personal goals into your professional career as it will give you much more job satisfaction.

An Unwelcome Quest

2022-06-24T00:00:00Z

author: Scott Meyer
name: Si
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/06/23
shelves: currently-reading
review:

How to encourage accountability in one-to-ones

2022-06-26T00:00:00Z

Regular one-to-ones (or 1:1 as I like to call them) are fundamental parts of quality line management and leadership. I have fortnightly half hours with all my direct reports and key team mates, weekly for the newer talent, to ensure we get a regular opportunity to chat about anything (not just work related) - some of my principles are actually documented in my Manager Readme on GitHub.

Through lockdown, topics have typically shifted towards wellbeing and personal circumstances but we also try to cover career progression and growth. These conversations often create interesting points and actions. However, I've found some individuals have difficulty remembering or acting on agreed next steps, often neglected on following discussions.

Over the past few months, I've been experimenting with new methods and mechanisms to encourage accountability and traceability following those chats. Here are some of the highlights:

Discuss and agree actions throughout your conversations, either in person or through text-based chat.
Create a pinned (live) document scribing important notes, ideas, actions with owners and goal dates. Both of you should be able to contribute towards this but, ideally, your direct report is the owner.
In Teams, try Meeting notes for super convenience; Google Docs and Confluence also help; GitHub Markdown docs in a personal repo also make for a tech-friendly alternative engineers can easily contribute towards.
Confluence actions and MS Planner also provide handy automated alerts when action due dates are fast approaching.
Make sure you reflect early in the call to check progress before it's too late and summarise priorities by the end of it.
This is NOT a status update but working towards improvements. It's often easier to ask "any progress?" rather than go line by line. (Again, using GitHub Markdown files provides handy diffs to see progress on each iteration).
Use it as a brag doc (aka hype doc) as well - record all those highlights for EOY/quarterly reviews.
Keep the document handy for rapid, live updates. Bookmark in your browser or pin to your Slack / Teams conversation.
Try setting end of day/week reminders to reflect regularly since the previous check-in. I'd also recommend a mid-week checkpoint when you're more likely to act on them.
Use async messages to chat when convenient, not waiting until the next 1:1.
Adjust format and frequency to fit each individual's personality. Some people are more keen while others need a purpose or prompt. Junior people are often working towards promotions whilst seniors are more content.

How do you try to encourage accountability with your direct reports? Do you have any other methods that might help? Share with me on Twitter

(Photo credit: LinkedIn Sales Solutions from Unsplash)

June 2022

2022-07-09T00:00:00Z

June was fun-packed with plenty weekends out, the start of Make Life Work S09, an unexpected surge of blog posts about line management and side projects, plenty fitness including the first 10km run in a year and some new EM's to work with.

Make #

Season 9 of Make Life Work is in full swing; recorded 4 episodes, released Michele Hansen's and prepared Carlo's edit
Struggled with my "Origins" mix - first pass didn't sound great so need to rethink it how to approach it
Blogged about finding time for sides, introducing accountability to one-to-ones and outlined an EM Bot Product On A Page
Some brilliant conversations in On The Side as we celebrated our third birthday
Added Sub Sub’s Ain’t No Love to The Archive Collection

Life #

Started plans for our wedding vows renewal on our anniversary this year, all to be hosted in our local church and pub
Thoroughly enjoyed Cambridge Club 2022 festival with Jacksons and Chic headlining alongside Mica Paris and Brand New Heavies
The Boy completed his first overnight DofE expedition around Southam
Spent fathers day with dad and the kids around the bbq and shooting hoops
Cancelled Fibre To The Property installation after realising how complicated it was to the building entrance points and nearest telegraph pole - apparently a common problem for Openreach as providers don’t evaluate conditions thoroughly enough
Got back into some serious fitness, even ran my first 10km in over a year

Work #

Welcomed EM Jen to our teams, along with my old mate Adrian from the Customer Profile world
First trip to Birmingham in a while to meet Jen and Tori in person
Summer afternoon of fun with the whole department in Regents Park - I was caught out on first hit of rounders game but amazing to spend quality time with teams in the searing sunshine
Said goodbye to line managing Niz, Joel & Guillem but hello to Dean, Doug, Venks & Loukas
Started outlining a blog post with EMHub about PETALS
First hybrid Tech Cascade since lockdown, momentous occasion with new CEO Jose kicking things off to some promising initial thoughts

Read #

Spell Or High Water - 2nd in the series of Magic 2.0 by Scott Meyer
500 Social Media Marketing Tips, Essential Advice, Hints & Strategy (what a keyword stuffer!) by Andrew Maccarthy
An Unwelcome Quest - 3rd in the Magic 2.0 series by Scott Meyer

Disrupted: Ludicrous Misadventures in the Tech Start-up Bubble

2022-07-12T00:00:00Z

author: Dan Lyons
name: Si
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/07/11
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Podcast Kit 2022

2022-07-20T00:00:00Z

Recently, it has come up a few times with friends, colleagues and an Indiehackers thread about what kit I use to make podcasts so, in the interests of DRY, I thought a blog post was in order.

Naturally, tools and equipment have evolved over time so this is my setup for 2022 whilst producing Make Life Work S09, 10 years of House Finesse (not forgetting 7 years of One Phat DJ and Funky House Finesse) and the start of our ASOS Tech Podcast.

Let’s get into it…

Organise with Cal.com - an open source equivalent to Calendly
Record with Zencastr (free solution for individual voices files) and Ableton (for mixing music)
Kit include Samson Q2 mic, AirPods and MacBook Pro - a trusted affordable mic with my reliable Apple suite
Produce with Descript - GarageBand has served me well but Descript provides a simpler, streamlined UX with the added benefit of automatic transcriptions (plus much more)
Artwork with Canva - web and iOS app for convenient (animated) graphics I can create on the move
Hosting with Pinecast - affordable hosting for as many podcasts you need with Hi-Fi addon for House Finesse audio
Publish with EasyWP - all the websites use WordPress which I now host with Namecheap’s affordable hosting solution
Promote with Buffer - all the socials (Instagram, Facebook and Twitter) are broadcast from a single point which can be scheduled and spread out over time to improve engagement

POP: Event Gifs

2022-07-22T00:00:00Z

For July’s Product On A Page, I started thinking about automatically generated images to promote calendar events.

The idea came to me when I was looking at Football Cal for this year’s World Cup in Qatar and how to share on the socials. We all know images and GIFs engage better than text plus it provides more opportunities for branded, impactful content beyond any character limits.

Event GIFs flow

Ideally, images can be automatically generated from an ICS calendar feed for simplicity but they could also be created manually or with another data source (JSON or XML). It could also be setup as an API that could integrate with automated services like IFTTT and Zapier.

Generated images can then be shared on social platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest to promote calendar events across communities and wider audiences.

GTD in 15 Minutes: A Pragmatic Guide to Getting Things Done

2022-07-28T00:00:00Z

author: Erlend Hamberg
name: Si
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/07/28
shelves: currently-reading
review:

New Threat (The Survivors, #2)

2022-07-29T00:00:00Z

author: Nathan Hystad
name: Si
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/07/28
shelves: currently-reading
review:

July 2022

2022-08-03T00:00:00Z

ASOS Alumni on Make Life Work, tons of new vinyl for the Archive Collection, plenty live music at Dad Camp, Finsbury Park and Princess' performance, major milestone with a work project and a "quiet" week to myself.

Make #

Released Carlo Beschi, Aj Wilson, Lewis Prescott and James Norton's episodes of Make Life Work Season 9
Blogged about my Podcast Kit after a few conversations around a Twitter Community and On The Side
Outlined another Product On a Page about creating event GIF's based on calendar feeds for sharing on social networks
Posted a ton of records from my birthday dig on The Archive Collection and created a dashboard based on release year, record format and archive value (some of the data is a bit dirty which needs attention)

Renewed HouseFinesse.com and MakeLife.Work for another year as I try to reduce my (unused) domain portfolio, focusing on those that are actually used
Enjoyed our first ever House Finesse group call with Disco77 and Black Dynamite, reminiscing over old tunes, moaning about modern music

Life #

Great fun on our annual Dad Camp trip, this time with a full weekend of music cover acts including an epic Whitney Houston finale
Enjoyed my birthday off with a healthy swim, record shop dig at Weedon Antique Village and cheeky lunch at Bacco Lounge
Blown away by Princess' drumming debut performance at school, she's a natural!
Saw George Ezra and friends at Finsbury Park with Princess and her BFF's family - great day out but hardly knew the support acts
Smart ForFour died on the way back from a school play with the alternator failing us
Finalised details for our Wedding Vows Renewal on our 17th anniversary next month
Quiet week alone with the whole family holidaying on Essex coast, spending much of it listening to records

Work #

Released our first ASOS Tech Podcast episode with Craig & Albino talking to Nat & Lewis about open source followed up by Emma's Day In The Life Of
Fascinating workshop with other tech leaders understanding our personality types with the Insights Discovery framework - turns out I'm 💚💛💙❤️
Hired another software engineer into our Stock & Fulfilment team
Had a coaching session with Jon, exploring how the GROW model can be useful
Started line management of 3 new engineers after handover of 3 others to a new engineering manager
Another great Lightning Talk from Lewis J about accepting Bitcoin with BTC Pay
Announced the Tech Podcast to all of engineering with some entertaining audiograms created in Descript
Enjoyed Dawn's ADHD Tech Develops session followed by an impromptu session demonstrating how to publish podcast content in Pinecast

Read #

Fight and Flight (Magic 2.0, #4)

2022-08-28T00:00:00Z

author: Scott Meyer
name: Si
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2017
rating: 3
read at: 2022/08/28
date added: 2022/08/28
shelves:
review:

POP: Transcribed Podcast Player

2022-08-31T00:00:00Z

This month, I got thinking about how to embed transcriptions into podcast episodes that are then displayed to users.

Coincidentally, the latest podcast specification now includes a <podcast:transcript> element for each podcast item. This takes a standard CRT transcription file URL which can then provide closed caption subtitles at appropriate timestamps.

None of the existing native podcast apps I’ve tested support this yet but Blubrry have rolled out an update to their web player which does.

Transcription podcast player Product On a Page

My product design displays subtitles over the artwork with additional functionality to bring subtitles to the core user experience such as quick navigation, speed and volume levels.

Subtitle displays can be customised for high contrast, inverted colours, dyslexia friendly, colour blindness and a number of other default favourites along with personalised preferences.

Transcriptions can either be manually curated or automatically generated using services like Rev or Descript then applied locally, through cloud storage or feed item settings.

Ideally, this would be a cross platform native app experience to leverage other device APIs and functionality. From my experience, iOS and Apple are more popular with Spotify quite close behind so initial focus would be on the Apple ecosystem. Web alternative could bring some interesting device parity but with some browser API limitations.

101 Podcast Episode Templates – Powerful, Done-for-You Episode Templates to Grow Your Podcast Audience (Big Podcast)

2022-09-02T00:00:00Z

author: David Hooper
name: Si
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/09/01
date added: 2022/09/01
shelves:
review:

Run Program

2022-09-03T00:00:00Z

author: Scott Meyer
name: Si
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/09/03
shelves: currently-reading
review:

August 2022

2022-09-03T00:00:00Z

A significant month marking 17 years marriage by renewing our wedding vows with all our loved ones. Plus a holiday to Netherlands and a few side project updates.

Make #

Wrapped up Make Life Work Season 9 with Cole Henley talking about illustrating Michael Rosen's book and overcoming serious health challenges and hit my 2022 goal of 5,000 downloads
Celebrated 10 years of House Finesse with a special "best of" mix by myself, guest mix from DJ Charli, choice mixes from Disco77 and Black Dynamite and a free Beyonce remix giveaway by LYP
Renewed makelifeworkpodcast.com for another year (as my most active side project)
Continued (almost) daily additions to The Archive Collection, pulling out vinyl from noughties and nineties
Gained a few ComedyPods followers thanks to authoritative RTs from Richard Herring and Rob Beckett
Outlined a Product On a Page for podcast player supporting transcriptions with subtitles

Life #

Blown away by the Birmingham Commonwealth games on a Saturday afternoon of athletics over the road from Mrs J’s childhood home
Had the most amazing day renewing our wedding vows (on our anniversary) at our local church, followed by all the feels and celebrations at the local pub with all our family and friends
Relaxing and enjoyable holiday in Netherlands for 10 days including overnight ferry from Hull, wild day out at Burger's Zoo, exciting trip to Movie Park Germany, impromptu overnight stop in Amsterdam's Arcade Hotel after Rembrandt's museum & canal boat trip, afternoon coffee in Emmerich and diversion through Vermeer's Delft on return trip home
Trip up to Shrewsbury for a big family BBQ and party to celebrate all the Summer babies (including our own)
Took Princess camping locally to Manor Farm for her birthday after setting up her new electronic drum kit

Work #

Welcomed Tomas to our Order Management family
Facilitated another round of quarterly Speedback sessions in preparation for end of year reviews
Met up with fellow local EM, Si for a Friday beer at his nearby Weedon Bec brewery - the first chance we’ve had all Summer
Commenced EOY reviews with a new GitHub guide I compiled to help structure engineers’ thoughts and reflections focused on objectives, day job, behaviours and personal development
Randomly asked to be on a photo shoot with some colleagues and team mates as part of a Tech brand value proposition project - watch this space!
Said goodbye to Viren as he packs bags for a new life in LA

Read #

Fight and Flight (book 4 of Magic 2.0) by Scott Meyer
New Threat (The Survivors #2) by Nathan Hystad

Radio Secrets: An insider's guide to producing powerful content for broadcast and podcast

2022-09-16T00:00:00Z

author: David Lloyd
name: Si
average rating: 4.31
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/09/15
shelves: currently-reading
review:

The Invisible Man

2022-09-26T00:00:00Z

author: H.G. Wells
name: Si
average rating: 3.87
book published: 1897
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/09/25
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Podcasting Made Simple

2022-10-08T00:00:00Z

author: Daniel Larson
name: Si
average rating: 4.21
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/10/08
shelves: currently-reading
review:

WIRED Smarter 2022

2022-10-13T00:00:00Z

This week, I attended the WIRED Smarter conference at Kings Cross in London.

After adjusting to remote working through the pandemic and the continued hybrid approach, it was refreshing to get out for an in-person event, free of the typical distractions at home. I was also looking forward to some inspirational talks from industry leaders. Whilst not all topics were relevant to what I do or interested in, I often find they're the curveballs that open up imagination and new areas to consider.

I took notes throughout the day so here are my thoughts and observations across the sessions I attended.

Common themes #

Passionate charismatic presenters who fundamentally believe in their individual topics
Diverse variety of people from around the UK and globe, quite a few from USA
Undertone theme seemed to be around selling their own products - with it being a commercial event directed at business leaders, it's hardly surprising
Shorter 20-25 minute sessions encourage more succinct message but lacked detail at points

The Impact of Web 3.0 with Tim Berners-Lee and John Bruce from Inrupt #

All about owning your data in Solid Pods which other services can access under your control
Solid is not Web3 and Blockchain (as currently hyped)
“The Web as we know it is broken”
Consider it as "zero party data", no vendor locking
"What's the business plan for this?" "We'll work that out later"

Overall, this feels like an early concept with ideal goals but no real world application yet.

The Matter of Everything with Suzie Sheehy #

One of the designers behind the Large Hadron Collider and 12 other experiments at CERN
Particle physics often not recognised as fundamental in cancer treatment
"We can create serendipity"
Most common feedback from CERN colleagues: Collaboration is key

Fascinating woman with such a wealth of knowledge and experience - get her book!

Innovation Across Three Dimensions with Werner Vogels, Amazon CTO #

Think about how the customer experience is currently limited to two dimensions, how can it evolve to 3D
References to John Lennon, 3D glasses, VR, AR and all that.
O3DE open source engine available from Amazon

Another loose concept that’s not really made much progress when it could have.

Squiggly Careers with Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis #

Popular podcast and book on a new way of thinking about career development
Impressive presentation style with Sarah live sketching on iPad
Career ladder analogy is limiting and archaic way of thinking
Career Safari with other teams and places (aka secondments)
Job swap should ideally be 3-9 months long

Love the idea of this concept, must check out the book and podcast to think about how it can be applied personally and with my direct reports.

Cyber security with Parisa Tabriz, Google Security Princess (and Google Chrome VP) #

Cybersecurity incidents in Europe increased more than 10x between 2018 and 2021
Nearly half of workers spend the majority of their day working in the browser (Forrester)
Project Zero team at Google publish known vulnerabilities
Hacking Google 6-part docuseries available on YouTube
Project Shield protecting 200+ Ukrainian websites
Automatically protect 5bn devices by Google Safe Browsing in Chrome

Parisa knows her stuff about Chrome and security - worth following online for further insights

Panel discussion for empowering founders #

Taavet Hinrikus - Cofounder Plural, formerly Transferwise (Wise)
Karl Lokko - Chairman, Black Seed
Check Warner - Partner, Ada Ventures
Omi Bell - CEO, Black Girl Ventures
Natasha Bernell - Business editor, Wired

Shocking 0.02% VC funds go to black women entrepreneurs!
Pandemic challenged investment. Upcoming financial crisis likely to be even worse. Rich always get richer - finance system needs addressing (Omi)
Founders always had to be scrappy, exploring creative ways to succeed, so could stand out and flourish (Check)
Tech giants will be laying off over coming years. What does that talent do? How do they fund efforts? Look back at last Web crash circa 2008 to learn (Taavet)
Resilience is key through tumultuous times - entrepreneurs are best at demonstrating this (Karl)
Mental health will be pushed through difficult times. VCs specifically provide capital and guidance to support entrepreneurs US still culturally not ready. Women's health also neglected, not just mental health. Shake the taboo systemically integrated in masculine history (Check and Omi)
Network and community build to get started, not just seed capital but emotional and knowledge capital (Karl)
"People fund people" (Omi)
90% black founders are self funded (Karl)

Engaging panel with intelligent and diverse contributors highlight serious issues in startup culture.

How The Future Works with Sheela Subramanian, VP Slack and Cofounder Future Forum #

Author of How The Future Works
"How does my job fit into my life?" not ”how does my life fit into my job?”
Pandemic, Women leavers, YOLO economy, great resignation
94% want flex in when they work, 79% in where

Focus Friday time - no meetings
Only use 4 D's for meetings
Calendar bankruptcy - clear out and rebuild every 6 month
Async text-based whiteboard for discussions instead of physical world whiteboard and table (loudest voice wins, uninspiring environment)
Establish principles and guardrails, set team level agreements, celebrate outcomes rather than activity
Team level agreement refreshed on quarterly basis
Vocal and presence != productive and valuable
Use office to build team camaraderie
Lead with transparency
Stronger self of belonging

Slack (and Teams) are the future of hybrid working but don’t neglect the importance of people’s time and focus.

The Truth About The Metaverse with Herman Narula - CEO, Improbable #

Written a book about it
"Ignore Facebook's poisonous distraction"
Platform provides 2bn operations per second (WhatsApp only 10,000 OPS by comparison)
M Squared is a metaverse protocol - for other vendors to adopt for distribution
Virtual careers possible, either in the metaverse or as consultant
Provide experience to customers - experiment with existing communities to understand demand (available from Improbable)
Blockchain and digital assets are foundation - hardware and headsets secondary

Metaverse has plenty potential but, like AR/VR, needs a killer solution to work.

1bn users on TikTok
#TiktokMadeMeBuyIt viral campaign
Short form video and live shopping are pushing the boundaries of what consumers expect from commerce

Bit of a publicity stunt for TikTok but worth recognising the power of the platform for retail

From D2C to Connect to Customer with Deann Evans, Shopify #

Structural shifts affecting the retails landscape (state of economy, the internet, privacy)
Apple’s shift to opt out of tracking hampers lead generation
More expensive to acquire customers now
C2C provides many pathways to consumers
The United Stand - unofficial Man Utd store with million followers
Starbucks Web3 loyalty programme

Can Binance Save Crypto with Jonathan Farnell, formerly eToro #

Binance mission to increase regulatory footprint
Binance been stable through volatile market and BTC crash
Work close with policy makers and compliance partners
Customer focus and money education
How is UK comparing globally? "Buoyant"
Biggest exchange in the world, 5 years old (is it bigger than Coinbase?)

Surviving To Thriving panel #

Jon Dixon @ Taggstar
Tina Chen @ Humanitea (dairy free tea)
David Rawaf @ Inovus Medical (surgical education)
Heinin Zhang @ yhangry - 500 chefs like Deliveroo
Jemma Waters @ Lloyds Bank (host)
(Deliberately selected diverse panel)

Lean startup - zero budget
Listen to customers, know the product and customer base first hand
Growth commonly on i18n
Heinin bought her own horse recently - success!
Aim to double revenue YoY
Nurturing talent as next generation
It's ok to take stock rather than react - “let me think about it”
Don't hesitate to get things done - get to market ASAP. As side hustle, it can take TOO long due to capacity. Keep lean!
Social Enterprise UK community, positive social purpose
Important to take time for yourself, burnout is huge risk and impact.
Have good people around you. Support, advice, balance, inspiration. Team work!

Another brilliant panel of experienced success stories, could’ve had longer to share knowledge.

The War of the Worlds

2022-10-17T00:00:00Z

author: H.G. Wells
name: Si
average rating: 4.08
book published: 1897
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/10/16
shelves: currently-reading
review:

100 Push-Up Challenge for Cancer Research UK

2022-10-31T00:00:00Z

Through November 2022, I'm taking on the 100 Push Up Challenge to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

I've always struggled with push-ups, rarely completing over 20 in a personal training session. This feels like a decent challenge that is possible if I break it down to enough sessions throughout the day but not easily. This is going to take some serious effort and determination.

I'll be documenting progress through November, starting on the 1st and all the way through to the 30th, mostly with video evidence on my Instagram Stories along with all my progress below.

Donate now directly to Cancer Research (and don't forget to provide Gift Aid where possible).

Having lost family members and good friends to cancer, along with others I know personally who are suffering through it, this is a cause I am personally close to. I know many people take on these sort of fitness challenges for many charities so anything raised is hugely welcome.

Daily Progress #

60 push-ups in 5 sessions
45 push-ups in 5 sessions
100 push-ups in 8 sessions using stairs
100 push-ups in 9 sessions using gym

October 2022

2022-11-06T00:00:00Z

Fun-packed month of birthday celebrations, dance music legends, conference-going, another podcast collaboration and feedback refinement at work.

Make #

Started another podcast project with fellow engineering manager and Twitter OG, Adrian
Pivotal podcasting moment interviewing dance music legend, Angie Brown for House Finesse including our first foray in video content on YouTube
Blogged about Wired Smarter conference and parsing IFTTT time stamps in Google Sheets
Refined some of the Apple Health tracking automation on my Personal Dashboard
Started tracking TV habits again using Trakt and IFTTT recipe to Google Sheet
Smashed out an "Addicted" mix for House Finesse
Enjoyed engagement from featured artists on my Archive Collection posts including Duane Harden and Kathy Brown

https://www.instagram.com/p/CiA7YWmt2BA/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Life #

Moshed along and partied with Blue Nation at their album launch party in Birmingham's O2 Institute
Stopped running after knee pains and personal trainer advice, now focused on core and strength
Blown away by Hamilton in London for Mrs J's birthday
Devoured a proper Birmingham curry with friends and family for ALL THE BIRTHDAYS
19km trek and camping to Brook Meadow in torrential downpour for the boy's birthday
Laughed along to some upcoming comedians at Derby Comedy Club along with a night away in nearby Castle Donington Airbnb
Signed up for the Cancer Research UK 100 Push-up Challenge through November
Cancelled Netflix subscription for a few months (to consolidate outgoings) along with other excessive subscriptions

Work #

Said goodbye to the Birmingham office before moving to a new location
More training to Podcast Champs on how to produce and release episodes with Descript and Pinecast
Integrated PETALS data into team PowerBI dashboards with Nick for more visual feedback during retros, sharing with other EMs and agile coaches
Coaching conversations workshop focused on the GROW model
Finalised first round of objectives for FY23 with focus on engineer development plans, team health, more Tech brand work and further work on the EM competency
Presented and facilitated my Speedback model to the Engineering Manager Community for Tech Develops, followed by a new model for faster feedback on objectives using forms and regular reminders

Read #

The Invisible Man by HG Wells
Podcasting Made Simple by Daniel Larson
The War Of The Worlds by HG Wells

Watched #

Solos on Prime
Night Sky on Prime
The Elon Musk Show on BBC
Backstage with Katherine Ryan on Prime
Inside the World's Toughest Prisons on Netflix

The Riddle of the Sphinx (The Kwan Thrillers #5)

2022-11-11T00:00:00Z

author: Ken Warner
name: Si
average rating: 4.47
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/11/10
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Out of Spite, Out of Mind (Magic 2.0 Book 5)

2022-11-25T00:00:00Z

author: Scott Meyer
name: Si
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/11/25
shelves: currently-reading
review:

November 2022

2022-12-09T00:00:00Z

A month of actual coding, shift to Mastodon, 100 daily pushups, 2 days out in London, new coaching opportunities, random EM connections and plenty TV time.

Make #

Migrated Make Life Work from Wordpress to 11ty on Netlify as a cost reduction and technical knowledge exercise
Tidied up the navigation and footer links on this website
Rewind to FHF43 on House Finesse plus another guest mix from Sarah Jae
One final tweet on my 16th anniversary following the Musk takeover chaos
Setup our own Mastodon instance with @Adrian at managingengineers.net
Created Mastodon accounts for Make Life Work, Derby County, House Finesse and One Phat DJ
Started plans for a new mixed format for Make Life Work podcast (based on listener feedback)
Renewed unstyled.com for the 19th year
Added Barry White, disco classics, Jungle Brothers, Junior Jack, Dimitri From Paris and Freestylers to The Archive Collection
Created Trakt to Google Sheet and Micro feed to Mastodon IFTTT recipes
Downgraded from Trello Standard (due to unused features) and cancelled Dropbox Pro with all files now in iCloud

Life #

Completed November's 100 daily push up challenge for Cancer Research, raising over £200 in the process and now able to complete 50 in one rep
Enjoyed BBC's Children In Need special matinee of Disney's Frozen musical in London
Educational trip to London's Imperial War Museum for a family birthday
Visited sixth form options for The Boy's media studies including Leamington Spa college
Failed to sell the Smart car to Webuyanycar with them asking us for £50 (to settle the finance agreement)
Gave blood for the first time in over 3 years, apparently my O Neg is in high demand, but for fifth time overall
Struggled through a long Winter flu, wiping me out of work for 2 days and pushup challenge for 3

Work #

Authentic Listening training with people around the company, finding an accountability partner in Fleur
Kicked off EM Development initiative, to identify and provide structure for EM's career growth
Started the Coaching Professional Level 5 apprenticeship with a cohort of fellow EM's
Lightning Talks from Lewis on growing an Instagram following and myself on why Mastodon
Contributed my first .NET PR towards the new Engineering Competency Framework project
Helped Simon and Manni introduce PETALS to their engineering teams as the framework gains further interest
Spoke to Dionne at TfL about mentoring more diversity into tech
Spoke to Sophie at What3Words through the Supermanagers Slack coffee roulette

Read #

Watched #

The Devil's Hour on Prime
The Elon Musk Show on BBC
Stuck on BBC
The Horne Section TV Show on All4
SAS: Rogue Heroes on BBC
Welcome to Wrexham on DisneyPlus
Tokyo Vice (Ep 1 & 2) on BBC
The Goes Wrong Show on Prime

Work Together Anywhere: A Handbook on Working Remotely -Successfully- for Individuals, Teams, and Managers

2022-12-14T00:00:00Z

author: Lisette Sutherland
name: Si
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/12/13
shelves: currently-reading
review:

The Anunnaki Mystery (The Kwan Thrillers #6)

2022-12-19T00:00:00Z

author: Ken Warner
name: Si
average rating: 4.60
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/12/19
shelves: currently-reading
review:

The Very Best of Fesshole

2022-12-28T00:00:00Z

author: Rob Manuel
name: Si
average rating: 3.94
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/12/28
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Weekly 2023.01

2023-01-09T00:00:00Z

The pilot episode of the original weeknotes, now available in audio and video format.

https://pinecast.com/listen/18b0466a-4221-4866-96df-e4c57a818d22.mp3

Audio version of NEW Weeklies

🔈 Download and listen| 📱Follow in Apple and Spotify | Subscribe to podcast feed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzJqyHnG1pU

Video version of the NEW Weeklies

📺 Subscribe to Youtube channel

Show Notes

ADMIN

New weekly audio/video format for 2023 as podcast and Youtube content
Tech setup in Descript, Ticktick, hardware inc Samson Q2U mic, backlight, ON AIR light box

LIFE 👨🏽

Back to work and school after festive break
Alton Towers fail
Hospital time with Mrs J

WORK 🏢

Returned from 2 weeks off
Introducing Notion to toolkit
PETALS gained traction with agile coaches sharing setup guides
Reviewed podcast metrics for fresh year

SIDES 💻

Best of 2022 mix for HF with new rainbow theme for 2023
OTS 2024 kickoff Thursday postponted to next week
MLW Mike & Sam reunion planned

ENTERTAINMENT 🎭

🎥 Four Weddings and a Funeral (Prime) ★★
🎧 The Birth of the New Guru (BBC Sounds)
🎧 macOS Ventura is Apple's Vista (Mac Geek Gab #961)
🎧 Kind Of (Grumpy Old Geeks #582)

CREDITS

Music: NEFFEX - Catch Me If I Fall

Big Podcast – Grow Your Podcast Audience, Build Listener Loyalty, and Get Everybody Talking About Your Show

2023-01-12T00:00:00Z

author: David Hooper
name: Si
average rating: 4.30
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/01/11
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Delta Paradox (The Kwan Thrillers #8)

2023-01-14T00:00:00Z

author: Ken Warner
name: Si
average rating: 4.68
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/01/14
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Weekly 2023.02

2023-01-16T00:00:00Z

The awkward follow-up to the pilot episode of my weekly ramblings about life, work, sides, entertainment and now tech.

https://pinecast.com/listen/aad292c4-2833-4ebc-9461-576c1458582a.mp3

Audio version of Weekly 2023.02

🔈 Download and listen| 📱Follow in Apple and Spotify | Subscribe to podcast feed

https://youtu.be/3aV7SELlZfk

Video version of Weekly 2023.02

📺 Subscribe to Youtube channel

Show Notes

Admin

No official sponsors or ads - nobody suitable despite offers
Newsletter now available
Stickers for suggestions and feedback

Life 👨🏽

Mrs J home from hospital
Zero fitness due to time
New Marshall T-shirt from Depop
HelloFresh vegetarian for a few weeks
- Korma-Glazed Tofu Wraps and Chips with Kachumber Inspired Salad and Yoghurt
- Chermoula Cauliflower on Harissa Lentils with Roasted Tomatoes, Garlic Ciabatta and Cheese
- Cheesy Chipotle Bean Quesadillas with Tomato & Rocket Salad and Soured Cream

Work 🏢

Good chat with Agile James about team focus and sharing responsibilities (plus kanban training for 22 & counting)
Tech Blog - 2023 Edition is coming with Medium redesign
Editing Tech Pod episodes again
ND talks planned for ND Week in March
PETALS

Sides 💻

Recorded MLW S10E01 with Sam & Mike
Setup Weekly's channels (blog, pod, YouTube, Apple, Spotify)
Created another WP site for stepdad's 60th
On The Side 2023 goals huddle with Sam H and Sam K
LYP's resident Ethno mix at Bachannalia
Reviewed domain portfolio (costs and value, 16 @ £142/yr)

Tech 🤓

How to start a companion newsletter for your podcast with Tyler Denk @ Beehiiv & Squadcast
Ticktick Premium codes available by email
Apple data request inc account info since Dec 2004

Entertainment 🎭

🎥 The Banshees of Inisherin on Disney+ ★★★★
📕 The Anunnaki Mystery (The Kwan Thrillers #6) by Ken Warner ★★★
📕 Big Podcast by David Hooper ★★★
📺 Soulmates (Prime) ★★★

The Love of Records

2023-01-18T00:00:00Z

On The Side has been abuzz this week with blogs about music, CDs and DVDs. Sam, Trev, Sam and Mike have all chimed in with their personal opinions, dividing the community on how physical media is appreciated in a digital culture. Here are my thoughts…

Rewind #

As a millennial (just about), I grew up with vinyl, cassettes and CDs to consume music (let’s not talk radio or TV - that’s a whole other debate). My parents collected their own music libraries across all formats; dad with his rock and electronic music, mum with her pop, disco and soul.

I have fond memories of my dad’s first portable Kenwood CD player sent from his brother in Japan along with Eurythmics, Fine Young Cannibals and Status Quo as a starting collection. It plugged into his Kenwood stack hifi he meticulously looked after, along with the delightfully clear speaker system he’d spent months shopping around for and fine-tuning (”don’t touch that equaliser, Simon!”)

The weekends were the time we’d all listen along to one of their albums from the collection; mum screaming along to Whitney tunes, dad head-bopping along to the bass lines of his deeper selection. We’d also spend many road trips heading up and down the M1 to Derby playing cassettes on loop. Carribean Queen is a distinct memory in Mum’s car along with Bomb The Bass in dad’s.

We’d sing or hum along knowing the words after learning them from the album liners, playing them relentlessly, almost rote learning every lyric written in sequential order.

These were the days of well crafted albums, when you KNEW what was coming next from the artist’s (or producers’) compilation.

Music was treated as the craft it deserves by the listeners.

Crate-Digging #

As I grew older and started earning an income, this love and passion for music continued when I’d spend most my money in HMV and Virgin Megastore. Many a weekend would be spent in Northampton shopping centre, flipping through aisles of CDs and vinyl, selecting the most valuable choice with my limited funds. (These were the days when singles would range from 99p to £3.99 on CD, some limited edition vinyl could cost over £10).

I grew my collection over years of browsing the stores, often spending hours alone hogging one of the record players, trying to find THAT track that captured me to be repeated endlessly on loop.

This hobby continued as I went to university, often spending my menial student loan (and overdraft) on records over decent food - beans on toast was substantial enough to allow for another record. I used to jump in the car with my (employed) DJ friends, head up to Leeds or other nearby cities to pull apart HMV’s biggest record collections for that one-in-a-thousand tune to play at our next gig.

I’m hopefully painting a romantic picture here, a true love for music that was tangible, unique, a real craft of art.

Then MP3s came along.

Digital Love #

Now don’t get me wrong. The digital revolution was a game-changer in many ways. With the internet came access to content that was typically inaccessible to most (thanks Tim). Obviously piracy was a serious issue, really challenging the music industry to adapt quickly and maintain control/income of their productions for their artist’s royalties. Mass produced music was feeling the pain when MP3s were gaining popularity, with early MP3 players quickly filling up with multiple albums.

Back in our university dorms, we’d use Napster or Kazaa quickly downloading the biggest hits for our parties, burning collections to CD for others to enjoy later. It was terrible looking back but with little-to-no income and students need to “live life to the full”, it became common practice for many to abuse this new-found access to music.

But whilst the masses enjoyed popular music, I was also spending many evenings browsing specialist directories and forums for my favourite genre: house music. This was an opportunity for aspiring DJs and producers to share their creations with dedicated fans, getting immediate feedback without the high cost and commitment of record presses or label distribution contracts.

Digital music enabled artists with rapid distribution & faster feedback whilst listeners had immediate easy access to endless choices across the globe.

As I graduated from university and found a job, online stores were starting to provide more platforms for DJs to browse new music and reward artists with a suitable income. Granted, most tracks ranged from 79p to £2.99, pennies compared to the physical media equivalent, but I assumed this was due to reduced production and distribution costs - royalties were the same.

During this time, I was now producing my own DJ mixes for podcast distribution, generally featuring the latest house and dance tracks to promote them to masses. At it’s peak, I got regular thanks and feedback from artists, producers and labels for growing their listener base and giving them the recognition they often deserved.

Because of the volume of music featured and regular frequency, I’d spend hours every week scouring the specialist online stores for the right 15 tracks - reminiscent of those crate-digging days of the 90s but, instead, scrolling through webpages of music to handpick a larger selection.

But I still felt like I “owned” that download, even if it wasn’t a tangible product I could hold.

I’d often burn a monthly selection to CD for listening in the car, especially when I’d typically spend a few hours every day driving to and from work with a reasonable-quality hifi system for appreciation the full audio range of heavy bass-lines and beats. This gave me something more tangible to own, and I’d familiarise with the curation of that playlist, typically taking the listener on an acoustic journey through the many sub-genres I personally selected.

Fast Forward #

Let’s come back to modern day. I’ve continued to purchase musical downloads from the likes of Traxsource, Beatport, Bandcamp and occasionally Apple. I still prefer to possess a copy of the music I enjoy, and reward artists with the (minuscule) royalties they collect from distributors and labels.

However, over the past few years, I’ve rekindled my love for physical media and vinyl. As the pandemic hit, I decided to get my old decks out the loft (inspired by all the superstar DJ’s broadcasting from their homes) and flip through my old vinyl stored in the loft. I did consider all the boxes full of CD’s as well but decided to leave them for another rainy day.

Since getting the bug, I then took to eBay, Discogs and local charity shops to build up my collection again. This has resulted in another side project known as The Archive Collection where I post my records (mostly 12” and 7” vinyl) to an Instagram account. Initially, this was for my own benefit as a way to catalogue my collection in a convenient way but it also provides an opportunity to engage with fellow vinyl fans or even the featured artists. Where possible, I namecheck artists, producers or labels who are on Instagram and they regularly get a reaction which brings another joy to me - connecting with the original artists and community who share the love for similar music tastes.

Eject #

When this conversation started in our community, I had plenty thoughts and opinions on music in digital or physical form. I’m not sure how to conclude but I’ve enjoyed reminiscing over my musical journey so far, reflecting on feelings and motions and sharing for anyone else to compare.

I guess my overall opinion is both formats have their place; digital music is convenient for instant access of infinite content but physical music provides the full story, a romantic link back to the origins of the art form and a respectable hat-tip back to the artist’s intentions.

They can both live in harmony in a modern world.

Weekly 2023.03

2023-01-23T00:00:00Z

A quicker Weekly, getting my head down on content alongside a much-needed office trip to London.

https://pinecast.com/listen/7a454429-7ecf-4661-a7ee-af82b4ca68fb.mp3

🔈 Download and listen| 📱Follow in Apple and Spotify | Subscribe to podcast feed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfQqOY-2A7Q

Admin

Newsletter now hosted on https://buttondown.email/si
Feedback gets sticky merch

Life 👨🏽

Back on fitness with tabata, glute stretches and PT
Sick child to factor around life plans

Work 🏢

London trip for two team huddles (plus PT & leavers lunch)
Featured on new ASOS Careers website

Sides 💻

Blog about The Love of Records
Compiled 2022 in Numbers
Edit Mike & Sam MLW and booked Adrian's
HF #REWIND to Funky House Finesse 22 from 13 years ago

Tech 🤓

Geofencing on smart cameras (Ring)
Looking for better USB-C hub

Entertainment 🎭

🎥 Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody ★★★
📺 Welcome to Chippendales (Disney+) ★★★
📕 Shifted by Ken Warner
🎧 Building Lasting Habits with ATOMIC HABITS by Faith Metobo on Blinkist http://blinki.st/c50b0fb37266

Shifted (The Kwan Thrillers #7)

2023-01-25T00:00:00Z

author: Ken Warner
name: Si
average rating: 4.44
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2023/01/24
date added: 2023/01/24
shelves:
review:

Why 75% of Podcasts Fail and How You Can Avoid it: What 100+ Podcasters Wish They Knew Before Starting Podcasting, Key Growth Hacks For Beginners

2023-01-25T00:00:00Z

author: Daniel Larson
name: Si
average rating: 2.90
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/01/24
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Remote Not Distant: Design a Company Culture That Will Help You Thrive in a Hybrid Workplace

2023-01-29T00:00:00Z

author: Gustavo Razzetti
name: Si
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/01/29
shelves: currently-reading
review:

2022 in Numbers

2023-01-29T00:00:00Z

Rather than look back at 2022 with the typical long read, I thought I’d try something a little different this time by pulling out some key metrics I’ve been compiling from life tracking on my Personal Dashboard. Let’s see how this goes…

Podcasting #

2,256 Make Life Work downloads #

5x S08 + 6x S09 episodes

39 followers (+3)

722 House Finesse fans (+25) #

8 mixes + 29 residencies + 7 guests

53k downloads

2,256 Make Life Work downloads #

5x Season 8 + 6x Season 9 episodes

39 followers (+3 on 2022)

Other Sides #

83 records in The Archive Collection #

66x 12" + 9x 7" + 7x albums

£625 on side projects #

£302 hosting + £109 domains + £163 tools + £51 MP3s

Health #

76.9kg average weight (4.3kg variance)

97 workouts (-6 on 2021)

15 workouts in March

2,817 pushups in November (126 on 22 Nov)

Work & Productivity #

31 office visits #

26 trips to London, 5 to Birmingham

+5 engineers across 5 teams #

7 new recruits, 2 leavers & 3 promotions

	Trello Work	Ticktick Personal
Completed	2,314	2,333
Daily Average	10.61	6.48
Most Productive Day	22	20
Most Productive Month	September (234)	November (502)

Enjoyment #

52 movies watched #

(on Letterboxd)

45 books read #

(on Goodreads)

93 beers recorded #

(on Untappd)

Weekly 2023.04

2023-01-30T00:00:00Z

Guz Khan, well-being day of records and lots of Adrian as I wrap up January.

https://pinecast.com/listen/af17e87c-a326-46e1-856e-13aec93c5421.mp3

🔈 Download and listen| 📱Follow in Apple and Spotify | Subscribe to podcast feed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35PhKP4wXds

Admin 🛠️

Automated WordPress content and newsletter from podcast feed
Tested iPhone recordings for remote updates

Life 👨🏽

Whole week at home, moving around the house for change of scenery (and meeting bants), standing desk
Guz Khan at Northampton Derngate

Work 🏢

Wellbeing day with haircut, swim, record dig & lunch with Si
Rotating teams with Adrian
More PETALS in more departments

Sides 💻

Finished producing Sam & Mike MLW
Recorded MLW with Adrian
Lat minute HF mix for Jan

Tech 🤓

Ivory from Tapbots
Mastodon in Buffer
Cmd/Ctrl+S saves my life

Entertainment 🎭

🎥 George Ezra on Prime ★★★
🎥 Enemy At The Gate on Prime ★★★
📺 Black Books on All 4 ★★★★★
📕 Why 75% of Podcasts Fail and How You Can Avoid It by Daniel Larson ★

Credits

Made with Descript
Music by NEFFEX

Weekly 2023.05

2023-02-06T00:00:00Z

Hybrid workshops, dedicated side project time and being remote not distant.

https://pinecast.com/listen/7e2ceaed-3fa7-4222-b6e5-4cdf8ff48c89.mp3

🔈 Download and listen| 📱Follow in Apple and Spotify | Subscribe to podcast feed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adiY_geej04

Admin 🛠️

Skipping over LIFE - is it TMI?
Shall I try one main thing from each section to keep it shorter?

Work 🏢

Ways of working manifesto workshop - hybrid mode with Miro

Sides 💻

Make Life Work S10 with Mike & Sam - regular focus time
Made It To The Weekend on House Finesse

Tech 🤓

Belkin MagSafe mount - is it worth £30?
Google App Scripts for Apple Health thanks to ChatGPT and Health Auto Export iOS app

Entertainment 🎭

📕 Remote Not Distant by Gustavo Razzetti ★★★★

Credits

Made with Descript
Music by NEFFEX

Weekly 2023.06

2023-02-13T00:00:00Z

Birmingham offices, House Finesse summer events and budgeting side projects

https://pinecast.com/listen/4317317a-a654-4a8a-8475-0e0eb3b4d3ce.mp3

🔈 Download and listen| 📱Follow in Apple and Spotify | Subscribe to podcast feed

https://youtu.be/_PRxSedyR1U

Admin 🛠️

Quickie Friday morning before work and weekend away

Work 🏢

Shiny new Birmingham office in "tallest office block outside London"

Sides 💻

Exploring House Finesse summer event in Colchester
Record MLW with Montserrat Cano

Tech 🤓

Monzo virtual card to manage sides

Entertainment 🎭

📺 Humans on All4 ★★★★★

Journey to the Center of the Earth

2023-02-15T00:00:00Z

author: Jules Verne
name: Si
average rating: 4.11
book published: 1864
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/02/14
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Weekly 2023.07

2023-02-20T00:00:00Z

Awkward conversations IRL, design by committee and is Kindle Unlimited overpriced?

https://pinecast.com/listen/1f41af75-b97d-41e2-9ebf-dbf1c1fca2bd.mp3

🔈 Download and listen| 📱Follow in Apple and Spotify | Subscribe to podcast feed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Teaz-difkmw

Admin 🛠️

Shorter week after weekend away in Belgium 🇧🇪 and France 🇫🇷

Work 🏢

Awkward conversations IRL - the lost art after 3 years of remote working

Sides 💻

Design by committee!
House Finesse event pencilled for weekend in August
On The Side Focus Time for Sunday evenings (demand, voting, committing)
Recorded Make Life Work with Ian Lurie

Tech 🤓

Make Life Work content from GitHub mobile web
Kindle Unlimited now over-valued at £9.50

Entertainment 🎭

📺 Sex Education on Netflix ★★★★

Credits

Made with Descript
Music by NEFFEX

Weekly 2023.08

2023-02-27T00:00:00Z

On-siters, breaking down siloes and how to automatically syndicate podcasts to YouTube.

https://pinecast.com/listen/3aafc9ec-0c28-48ee-a1fa-97c47d018c74.mp3

🔈 Download and listen| 📱Follow in Apple and Spotify | Subscribe to podcast feed

https://youtu.be/iYlIyJLiSR0

Admin 🛠️

Inbox Edition gets more insights but with deep-links to video and audio

Work 🏢

On-siter to discuss roles and responsibilities between EM’s, PL’s and BA’s
Fresh off Tech Develops about innovation and breaking down siloes

Sides 💻

Our first On The Side Focus Time on Sunday evening
Working on Montserrat Cano’s Make Life Work for next week

Tech 🤓

Headliner.app to generate videos for YouTube podcasts channel

Entertainment 🎭

🎬 Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania ★★

Credits

Made with Descript
Music by NEFFEX

The Other Place (The Glass, #1)

2023-02-28T00:00:00Z

author: Nathan Hystad
name: Si
average rating: 4.22
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/02/28
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Weekly 2023.09

2023-03-13T00:00:00Z

Speedback or forms, side projects on Linkedin and transcriptions on Pinecast

https://pinecast.com/listen/f3808c38-5692-4013-880c-beea57ac64b9.mp3

Read transcript | Available on Pinecast

https://youtu.be/3EmEPBTUwNs

Admin 🛠️

Submitted to Amazon, Boomplay, iHeartRadio, JioSaavn, ListenNotes now I've got a steady cadence and healthy 2 month archive
The new segues between sections - thoughts?

Work 🏢

Feedback models - speedback, forms - what works?

Sides 💻

Side project references on Linkedin (F1 Calendar and Make Life Work with Montserrat Cano) - yay or nay?

Tech 🤓

Automatic transcriptions now available in Pinecast

Entertainment 🎭

🎬 Empire of Light on DisneyPlus ★★★★

Credits

Made with Descript
Music by NEFFEX

The Little Book of Big Coaching Models: 83 ways to help managers get the best out of people

2023-03-16T00:00:00Z

author: Bob Bates
name: Si
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/03/15
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Enki (The Kwan Thrillers #9)

2023-03-20T00:00:00Z

author: Ken Warner
name: Si
average rating: 4.68
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/03/20
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Weekly 2023.10

2023-03-20T00:00:00Z

Youtube engagement beats podcasts, difficult work-life balances across the pond and improving smart speaker locations.

https://pinecast.com/listen/1525fe6d-a509-434b-9921-c61489b0d00d.mp3

Read transcript

https://youtu.be/khK3rPe4mI4

Admin

Engagement is better on YouTube but podcasts don't lend well to it. Newsletter is not growing. What does the future hold?

Work

Soft internal launch of our new Tech brand to some huge audiences after 18 months of effort
Mid year review done - useful reflections, noticeable improvement areas, PETALS getting more attention

Sides

Make Life Work Tuesday releasing Ian Lurie and recording with Malarkey & Dan #ProjectDan

Tech

Moved smart speakers around the house; Alexa in kitchen for timer control, HomePod higher up for better music acoustics, Google Nest in office for alerts and device control

Entertainment

📺 Luther (Season 1) on BBC iPlayer ★★★★

Credits

Made with Descript
Music by NEFFEX
Support Si 'Cast by contributing to the tip jar
Podcast powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-b0b82e for 40% off for 4 months, and support Si 'Cast.

Weekly 2023.11

2023-03-27T00:00:00Z

Serendipitous water-cooler moments, sharing Make Life Work editing duties with Adrian and QI chargers for wired headphones.

This is Weekly 2023.11, recorded on Friday 24th March 2023.

https://youtu.be/K7Tf6WDyEN0

Si’Cast Weekly 2023.11 on Youtube

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ytAmawC5IyaYstwolgQrZ?si=XTXleEewQC-phcxv1G8iWQ

Si’Cast Weekly 2023.11 on Spotify

Also available on Apple Podcasts | Transcript on Pinecast

00:14 Admin

No major changes apart from the segue audio, using the standard music bed for consistency - any better?

01:02 Work

Serendipitous water-cooler conversations after office visit with some really useful outcomes - I miss them!
6 mid-year reviews in a day - intense, especially back to back, but hugely satisfying

03:55 Sides

Adrian helping on Make Life Work production, first time I've let someone else loose on the edit - trust is key

05:29 Tech

QI charger for wired headphone use on iPhone

06:45 Entertainment

🎬 Allelujah ★★★
📺 The Peripheral on Prime ★★★

08:17 Wrap Up

CREDITS

Made with Descript
Music by NEFFEX
Support Si 'Cast by contributing to their tip jar
Podcast powered by Pinecast. Try for free, forever, no credit card required. Use discount code r-b0b82e for 40% off for 4 months, and support Si 'Cast.

https://si-cast.pinecast.co/episode/3307ed0f/weekly-2023-11

Weekly 2023.12

2023-04-03T00:00:00Z

Weekly 2023.12 talks career milestones, plenty PETALS, diving back into code and Race Across The World.

https://youtu.be/nelJad2Cpac

Si’Cast Weekly 2023.12 on YouTube

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5vkQyCp4sDrZGgTROFxGaY?si=PGWzHdxtT26U7qnXC2LWUg&dd=1

Si’Cast Weekly 2023.12 on Spotify

Read transcript

Recorded on Friday 31 March 2023.

Admin (00:05)

No content next week (Easter holiday), back on 17th April
Also considering shifting the angle to more lessons learned - thoughts?

Work (00:57)

2 years an EM back @ ASOS, approaching 10 years since joining
Working on PETALS feedback from other teams

Sides (02:21)

Released Make Life Work S10 finale with Malarkey and Dan Davies about the lost joy of web design
New drawer menu for mobile first experience plus minor design changes
16 year old REWIND mix of Beautiful Beats

Tech (04:14)

Transferred FOOTBALL.COM domain to Cloudflare at cost (~£7.50/ / $9.15USD for 1yr .COM)
Setup holding page for PETALS.team on Netlify with Next.js

Entertainment (05:59)

📺 Race Across The World on BBC (Season 1) ★★★★

Wrap Up (07:22)

Toot on Mastodon @si@managingengineers.net
Email si@jobling.com
All the Weekly archives

Credits

Made with Descript
Music by NEFFEX
Support Si 'Cast by contributing to the tip jar
Podcast powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-b0b82e for 40% off for 4 months, and support Si 'Cast.

Make Life Work

2023-04-12T00:00:00Z

When I started Make Life Work back in 2019, nobody expected work life balance to be challenged so much over the following years. 4 years and 10 seasons on, I've decided to bring the format to a natural close. Here's why.

Tech Focus #

Many in tech have been working remotely for decades. It's been recognised as an industry norm since the internet enabled distributed teams to communicate across the globe without travel or presence.

As someone who's always preferred working in person with teams, I was fascinated by how people established healthy routines and arrangements with their own work life balance remotely and in person; defining boundaries between professional and personal time, maintaining healthy relationships with loved ones and looking after their own wellbeing.

Building on my own social circles I've met through the years, from online and in person, I reached out to friends and peers to find out more. I wanted a range of situations to tell different stories and perspectives; people who are employed or freelanced, with kids and without, health challenges, personal circumstances and a variety of different cultures around the UK and beyond. Most of these naturally work in tech but I also wanted to juxtapose those with other industries and demographics where possible.

The Pilot #

At the time, I was working full time at ASOS, mostly in the London office, as a parent of two and husband. I wanted to extend my podcasting experience to more conversational formats after a year long stint with old friend James Norton on Verbal Diary so started to reach out to some immediately close friends in tech. I'd recently setup a Slack community for side projects so a few people in there jumped at the chance. I also contacted some Twitter friends who were also game, especially with their own side projects to discuss. Knowing I had to limit my commitments to avoid burn out, I decided to use seasons as milestones and only commit once a few recordings were scheduled and ideally in the can (pro tip learned from other podcasters).

Season 1 was released through December 2019 with Dom, Sam, Rachel, Dan and Mike then I had a brand new year to review how it went.

That Year #

With typical January ambitions, renewed energy and satisfaction of Season 1 dropping, I set off to find a new round of guests for Season 2. I lined up recordings with Naomi, Kevin, Ashley, Mark and Dan and released them through February.

Just as Dan's season finale dropped, news came from China of a potentially dangerous virus. I'd just started working at WorldFirst - a recently acquired Alibaba fintech startup - so we had a slight head start on what was happening with our China-based CTO forced to live in a hotel room for many weeks. When they told us to "take laptops home until further notice", little did we realise this would become the "new norm" for most and for quite a while as well.

Work life balances were about to change dramatically for most, truly testing people to the max, but also with the added pressure of a global pandemic seriously affecting everyone's health.

For me, it took some adjustments to find that new balance. My secondary school teacher wife and school kids were forced to do education from home – something never comprehended before. Providing the time and space for everyone to adapt and continue doing what they do was an education in itself; a dyslexic young one doing primary classroom exercises on an iPad, an autistic teenager starting GCSEs in his bedroom and a senior leader in secondary school trying to facilitate art classes from our dining table amongst me starting a new job with Chinese and Stateside colleagues to factor in.

Needless to say, side projects and recording a podcast was not high up my list.

Home Edition #

After settling into the new situation, like many, I found I had plenty spare time on my hands. Commuting wasn't a thing, socialising in person wasn't an option, even shopping in supermarkets left us with nothing better to do than watch more Netflix.

I had to keep my brain active and morale high (which TV does not do for me) so started reaching out to anyone who wanted to tell their lockdown adjustment story on the podcast.

It wasn't hard to arrange recordings with another awesome range of guests; Luke, Stephen, Dom, Alex and Mike all said "yes" and got Season 3's Home Edition rolling with a new angle about how they've adjusted their work life balance through lockdown. Obviously, it was wonderful speaking to them all after missing people in real life, plus we all had that shared passion for geeky tech stuff so that also helped me get through the newly isolated arrangements with like-minded folks (I love my family dearly but they don't necessarily satisfy my geeky needs).

Conversations Continued #

With a renewed passion and angle to the podcast, Season 4 came much easier with plenty people happy to share their stories from lockdown, giving me more variety to provide a diverse range of personalities and stories. Liz, Naomi, Franca, Dan and Brian lent their voices to another five episodes towards the end of 2020 before I took another seasonal break through to the new year.

With another round of new year resolutions motivating many, I decided to combine side projects by inviting some familiar names from our On The Side community with regular co-hosts and extra guests to bring their own stories. Mike and Sam joined me as residents with Shari, Juan and Jesse adding their thoughts on some topical conversations. I loved having others joining me on my side of the mic, giving us all a chance to bounce off each other, bringing out our personalities through more natural conversations. It helped knowing each other behind the scenes as it lent towards an extra level of comfort and banter, something that's hard to provide with irregular guests. It took me back to my Verbal Diary days with James, knowing how to play around a bit more. Unfortunately (for us), Mike had a new baby due so we tied that season up until he found a new groove.

It was another 3 months before Season 6 returned when I managed to line up some quite reputable names from tech. Rob Manuel (off of B3ta and @Fesshole success) and Chris Heilmann (from Yahoo and Microsoft) joined me to reminisce over some classic moments of the Web but also reflect on more recent projects. I also connected with MT McCann and Chris Murphy from Belfast and the internet's Lorna Mitchell brought her story on knowledge sharing with the web community.

Downloads were a record high thanks to a few timely RTs from the guests and it encouraged me more to keep going into Season 7 after a Summer break when I reconnected with Shari plus a range of new names to add more variety to the topics. Jamie & Lion and Wookie talked about their side gig along with the health challenges they live with, Dan Moore reached out from the States about his book writing, Silvia & Ely talked about their candle therapy joint venture as living partners, and Mubs talked about all his side projects he's built over the years.

It was at this point I was starting to feel the strain from making the podcast. I was losing the love and enjoyment of it all with all the editing taking its toll and work life pressures weren't helping either. Downloads were dropping and engagement was low. On The Side engagement was also on the decline with lockdown over, work life balance in turmoil and side project commitments reducing. Everyone was finding a new way of life and that pressure was felt in mine too. I needed a break.

Podmatch-Making #

During the slump, I found a website called Podmatch that tries to connect podcasters with new guests, thinking it might help find some potentially suitable people from around the globe. Maybe with people reaching out, I'd find my mojo again. Low and behold, it worked.

Dustin reached out to talk about polymathy (quite a relevant topic for me, juggling different skills in different environments) and Shannon Almeida from news startup Volv also reached out to talk work life balance whilst hustling a startup through the pandemic. With the motivation of inbound guests to get me going again, I also lined up chats with old friends Andy and Dom plus new friend from On The Side, Simon Scarfe, about habit tracking – another topic close to my heart.

With a renewed passion for the podcast, I then had a few more inbound guests reaching out to bring their stories, coincidentally many ex-colleagues from my time at ASOS. Carlo, AJ, Lewis, James and Patricia offered their voices to Season 9 along with Michele and Cole about their own self-employed arrangements with parenting duties and personal health concerns. The season finale wrapped up for another Summer break and not too soon as I was approaching another potential burnout overcommitting with 7 episodes.

I was also struggling to source suitable guests for the podcast, feeling like it had reached a natural end after nearly 3 years of starting it all. I was also noticing my typical cycle of enthusiasm and lost passion, especially in the latter part of the year, so gave myself a break to work out what's next. Was it time to sunset the project?

One Final Push #

As always, the new year arrived with more enthusiasm and a renewed engagement in our On The Side community. It was wonderful to see so many people thinking about their own goals for 2023 along with any side projects to compliment them. The energy from the community motivated me to give Season 10 a push.

I knew in my heart it could be the end but I wanted to go out on a high, experimenting with a few different formats based on what I enjoyed. Sam and Mike volunteered for a reunion nearly 2 years on, revisiting our panel discussion format I loved, Montserrat and Ian volunteered their stories from a mutual acquaintance's Mastodon toot, bringing some fascinating new voices to the conversation, and I reached out to old friends Adrian, Andy and Dan to provide their reminiscent stories too.

I did consider a solo monologue format as well but, after bouncing the idea around a few people, it felt unsuitable to the Make Life Work format (despite me being the common voice people probably followed it for).

I also had 5 episodes planned which took me back to the original season length, coming full circle on the audience expectations. I knew that would be enough for me to enjoy the production process before burnout potentially kicked in.

What Next? #

As I said at the start, that concludes the entire Make Life Work podcast as it's known. It's been quite the journey over the past 3 (and a bit) years, one I could never have expected when it all began.

I've thoroughly enjoyed speaking to such an amazing crowd of people, sharing their stories with a loyal following, and learning so much in the process.

Podcasting is an art form often neglected as something anyone can do. Granted, anyone CAN make a podcast as you technically only need an internet enabled device with a mic but crafting over 50 episodes of reasonable quality audio with tight narratives around 45 minutes long takes more effort than you might realise.

Originally, I used GarageBand on MacOS with Skype or Zoom calls for capturing audio. This took many hours to edit, up to 8-10 hours depending on the episode recording (especially as I adopted what I like to call the Nicholas Parsons technique to trim the fat). As the podcast evolved, I started to use tools like Zencastr to record the individual audio tracks (it was free through lockdown and continued for hobbyists since) and, more recently, Descript to produce the final audio – a game-changing app that uses AI to automatically transcribe audio, introducing a text-based interface for editing.

I've even taken all this knowledge I've acquired over the last 18 years of podcasting to help ASOS setup their own ASOS Tech Podcast, sharing what I've learned with a passionate community, enabling them all to keep the content coming. I'd love to continue providing knowledge and expertise for others to share their voice, possibly even turning it into another side hustle, but let's see where things go.

I've got other side projects in the works that will take up my own personal time so I'm keen to reserve capacity for them and not impact crucial family time with my wife and kids needing my attention this year.

After 10 seasons of Make Life Work, I believe I've found my voice. Now I just need to find the right topics to talk about.

Weekly 2023.13

2023-04-17T00:00:00Z

Inner source projects, the end of Make Life Work, Notion app and Brian Cox on Mars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EMU6N-g-5g

Weekly 2023.13 on Youtube

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ufL4TLzgMo4j54fDx25SA?si=M4KCLgALQrKd4bKlKzj2DA

Weekly 2023.13 on Spotify

Read transcript

This is Weekly 2023.13, recorded on Friday 14th April 2023, after a long Easter weekend break.

Admin (00:18)

More visuals in the videos - yay or nay?

Work (01:48)

How to contribute towards inner source projects with maintainers, pipelines, GitHub conventions:

Sides (04:28)

Blog about end of Make Life Work (as we know it):

Tech (07:02)

Notion app; great for docs but not so much plans

Entertainment (09:01)

📺 Brian Cox: Seven Days on Mars on BBC iPlayer ★★★

Wrap Up (10:55)

The Hidden Space (The Glass, #2)

2023-04-23T00:00:00Z

author: Nathan Hystad
name: Si
average rating: 4.27
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/04/23
shelves: currently-reading
review:

Weekly 2023.14

2023-04-24T00:00:00Z

Documenting personal development plans, timeline for PETALS.team, custom domain emails in iCloud+ and The Other Place by Nathan Hystad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljCrITGwDew

Weekly 2023.14 on Youtube

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6vXNivrOSsGpHpTVnPz9IZ?si=zWe1tfLcSouMqETeAo_9nA

Weekly 2023.14 on Spotify

Read transcript

Admin

Best day for newsletters - end of month, start of month or middle? Which week day? (Poll available on Mastodon and Spotify)

Work

Structuring PDPs in Confluence using custom templates, breaking down goals to objectives with action plans, resources, potential blockers, realistic goal dates & evidence

Sides

PETALS.team plan now in Trello with MLP (not MVP), plus POC design on Canva

Tech

Custom domains email hosted on iCloud+

Entertainment

📕 The Other Place (The Glass Book One) by Nathan Hystad - 3-stars

Credits

Made with Descript
Music by NEFFEX

Support Si 'Cast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/si-cast

This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-b0b82e for 40% off for 4 months, and support Si 'Cast.

Weekly 2023.15

2023-05-02T00:00:00Z

https://youtu.be/Jh7aqbw-EHQ

Weekly 2023.15 on YouTube

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2cj0te64nZSnxV3XLjdIsT?si=14__SsomQfaAGMw5xB77CQ

Weekly 2023.15 on Spotify

Read transcript

Team meetings IRL, accountability on side project goals, RØDE NT-USB and Simon Dunmore.

Admin

First Monthly newsletter on Buttondown
Descript templates & content style guides in progress with Canva

Work

Engineering team meetings IRL: stand ups, huddles, retros - good times with Sharpies and Post-It's… and PETALS works with (new) mobile friendly tools.

Sides

PETALS.team content first before wireframes and brand kit
Lock in accountability with side projects goals by sharing them with people @ https://ontheside.network

Tech

Røde NT-USB mini mic compared to original Samson Q2U

Entertainment

🎧 Simon Dunmore's final DJ set on Glitterbox Apple Podcasts and Youtube

Credits

Made with Descript
Music by NEFFEX

Support Si 'Cast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/si-cast

Random acts of kindness

2023-06-19T00:00:00Z

Some people are put on this planet to bring pure happiness. This week, two people have blessed us with truly random acts of kindness.

Roofing Hood #

We're currently repairing our kitchen roof after noticing some damage. What looked like a simple fix has quickly escalated to some substantial work, requiring quite a lot of manual work, heavy lifting and in awkward positions.

My father-in-law has kindly offered to do most the difficult work, acting as foreman whilst I do all the heavy-lifting and donkey work. I am not blessed with manual labour skills but, given instructions, quite happy to give it a go and learn quickly.

Last week, amongst a serious heatwave across the UK, we ended up removing plenty roof tiles and old woodwork. No mean feat with an active 70something and lazy 40something.

On Thursday, a friend of the family randomly turned up with some tools to help then continued to work on the property with my father-in-law. They made amazing progress throughout the day and when I returned from work, was surprised to see so much was done. It then transpired it was his birthday so he booked a few days off work. What a gent!

Coffee Delight #

One of my recent direct reports resigned this year (mostly for personal reasons) but we built up quite a strong relationship over our time, often encouraging each other with new challenges. We've kept in touch since leaving as he's become a good friend and, coincidentally, lives in Northamptonshire so we can actually meet-up occasionally.

This guy is a coffee connoisseur and even home roaster. He buys beans from around the world, toasts them with his own kit and hands batches out to friends. Before he left, he gave me a fantastic selection of roasts from Cuba, India, Ethiopia and even the renowned Jamaican Blue Mountain bean. They have taken pride of place in our condiments cupboard when I occasionally treat myself to a special blend, often messaging him when I do.

Following one of those message exchanges, he mentioned he'd taken delivery of a new batch and would be roasting last weekend if I wanted some. I said I've still got a few batches I'm getting through so not to worry.

This morning, I took delivery of a special parcel from him. The delivery even included a box of Turkish delight, all the way from Turkey (his home country) which apparently compliments the Cuban coffee roast perfectly.

I was blown away by his generosity. He had gone above and beyond to not only home-make something and also send the package in the post at quite a noticeable cost.

These random acts of kindness made me realise how lucky we are to be surrounded by such wonderful and caring people. In a time that's challenging and frustrating, it's worth finding the opportunity to give back where you can. It doesn't need to be financially costly either - merely a token gesture of help or time can make somebody else's day.

PETALS Snapshot 1

2023-07-05T00:00:00Z

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNpUcKVJtWA&t=1s

This is the debut #PETALS Snapshot where I'll be using a framework I've created to regularly reflect on side projects - including the #PETALS website itself.

This week, I've launched the website at https://petals.team/ after some early beta testing with our #OnTheSide Slack community.

All suggestions, feedback and questions are open - add them to the comments or reach out directly.

00:13 What is PETALS?
02:54 Scores
03:13 Productivity: 4
06:43 Enjoyment: 4
07:50 Average: 3.4

Don’t Be Arthur

2023-07-14T00:00:00Z

I can't be the only person in the world who thinks they've finished a job to realise later it's not quite done.

My wife has a pet name for me when I fall into this situation.

She calls me Arthur, short for Arthur Job (get it?)

It got me thinking about distractions at work, often the bottleneck to completing work items.

In Agile software delivery, there's a classic quote that's reminded to teams;

"Stop starting, start finishing."

It's for those situations when you've nearly finished something but decided to shift focus to something else, either as a shiny new distraction or getting blocked and frustrated.

Don't be Arthur. Finish what you started.

Share this story with your teams, make it a catchphrase when work is taking longer than expected.

(Apologies to any Arthurs out there who pride themselves on completing things. You're clearly better than me.)

PETALS Snapshot 2 - Launch feedback & personalised scores with Brian Suda

2023-07-19T00:00:00Z

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYDkR8YnYqc

Looking back over the past 2 weeks since launching the website, working on too much at the same time but fitting in a chat with Brian Suda on how the data could be used in one-to-ones

Show Notes #

This is the 2nd PETALS Snapshot, looking back since launching the website, working through some of the feedback and fitting in a chat with Brian Suda about how to use the data in different contexts.

00:13 What is PETALS?
00:32 Ratings
00:59 Since Launch
02:44 Emoji Encoding Fail
03:24 Google Suite Toolkit
04:42 Personalised Scores
06:05 Coffee with Brian
07:48 New Podcast Feed
08:59 Other Side Distractions
10:11 Credits

Where's Your Happy Place?

2023-07-21T00:00:00Z

Here's a conversation starter for any one-to-one's you're having where individuals seem quite dissatisfied or unhappy in their role.

Ask them where their happy place is.

This can be work-related or personal but, fundamentally, identifying what would bring out the best in them. What brings them joy? When are they "in the zone" and feeling at their best?

The key is then to understand what it'll take to get there, are there any obvious next steps for the individual, any impediments you can help them get past.

Being their happy place, it should motivate them to take those steps too, truly owning their actions and working towards that goal.

It's also worth understanding what's achievable. You might not get directly to the destination but the journey should be more enjoyable.

I tried this in a chat recently when someone wasn't entirely satisfied in their role. I asked them this exact question then they started thinking about it, going through ideal scenarios in their day job, picking out moments like pairing, coaching, optimising code, trying new techniques.

Some of the actions from this conversation were really easy to proceed with, others needed more investigations to take away. But the individual had the motivation to own these actions as it would bring them joy.

This is one of the reasons I use Enjoyment in the PETALS framework. Individuals can use the regular reflection to identify if they're enjoying their work or teams can even share common ground to bring the joy.

Keeping a close eye on enjoyment from a personal or leading perspective can try to improve job satisfaction and retention. It may motivate people to look elsewhere, not ideal, but you can at least try to explore better options for them as a manager before that situation occurs.

Use this question next time you feel like your direct report or mentee needs some encouragement and watch out for the sparkle in their eyes. ✨

(Photo credit: Brooke Cagle on Unsplash)

PETALS Snapshot 3 - Google Toolkit & where’s your happy place?

2023-08-10T00:00:00Z

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBNIFuCM4f4

The one when Si talks about launching the new Google Toolkit to the mailing list and how to bring joy to your work.

00:45 Scores
01:07 Where is your happy place?
02:27 Google Toolkit Launch
04:00 Brand tone in email
06:10 PETALS for distributed teams
08:20 Going global
09:31 Youtube thumbnails
10:16 Podcast feed
10:34 Taking a summer break

PETALS Snapshot 4 - Content updates and observing trends with Myles Sanigar

2023-08-24T00:00:00Z

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=266-t8Md3uY

This is PETALS Snapshot 4, the one after a Summer break.

00:55 Scores
01:14 Low productivity
02:13 Privacy content updates
02:37 Stickers
03:33 Email automation with Zapier
04:50 Myles @ Doxy
07:56 More content & cookies
08:58 Summer is over

PETALS Snapshot 5 - Google Toolkit fixes with Mike Street & wireframing with Brian

2023-09-06T00:00:00Z

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itoHtpzV4IU

This is PETALS Snapshot 5 as we get back into the rhythm of it all.

00:43 Scores are up
01:04 Low serenity
03:40 Cookie banner now in place
04:32 App requirements with Brian
06:09 Wireframing in Freeform iOS
07:02 Mailing list themes
08:51 EOY reflections
10:34 First talk & memorable URLs

PETALS Snapshot 6 - Microsoft Forms & Google/Slack automation

2023-09-20T00:00:00Z

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_iyjRm2OGQ

This is PETALS Snapshot 6 when Si talks about the new Microsoft Form, new Snapshots page, some more fixes and some automation concepts with Slack.

00:45 Scores
01:50 DKIM Fail
02:41 New Snapshots page
03:27 Microsoft Toolkit in progress
05:33 IFTTT to Slack
07:01 Another public talk
08:11 Chipping away

PETALS Snapshot 7 - All the toolkits, OKRs & leaving ASOS

2023-10-05T00:00:00Z

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PntDQNpC0ek

This is PETALS Snapshot 7 with a new Toolkits page, using PETALS on OKRs, app foundations and Devops Notts meetup.

CHAPTERS #

00:44 Leaving ASOS
03:13 Toolkits, toolkits, toolkits
05:46 Measuring team health with OKRs
07:00 Time-ranged responses in the app
10:47 Devops Notts confirmed
12:32 Final thoughts

SHOW NOTES #

New Toolkits page https://petals.team/toolkits
Inside Bramble - Day 100: Website Shenanigans https://open.spotify.com/episode/4n7O...
DevOps Notts: How you can grow your team culture with PETALS https://www.meetup.com/devops-notts/e...
Book your PETALS chat https://cal.com/jobling/petals

PETALS Snapshot 8 - Sharing at ManageOps and team trust with Laura Annabel

2023-10-26T00:00:00Z

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFfNqxGx14A

This is PETALS Snapshot 8 when Si reflects on his first public talk, new fortnightly dev time with Brian and a session with Laura introducing PETALS to her team.

CHAPTERS #

01:29 ManageOps
04:27 Laura's team culture
07:27 Dev Time with Brian
09:35 NEW Holographic Stickers
10:37 Get in touch

SHOW NOTES #

Join the ManageOps community in Birmingham https://www.meetup.com/manageops/
Laura Annabel Coaching https://www.lauraannabelcoaching.com
Register on the newsletter for a holographic sticker https://petals.team/newsletter

Learning Design Systems for PETALS

2023-11-10T00:00:00Z

In this video, I go about learning the latest in Design Systems to get some ideas and inspiration for the PETALS app.

TIMESTAMPS

00:56 Toot for help 01:45 Current branding in Canva 03:08 Original onboarding UX flow 05:35 Sprout Social 07:08 Orbit 08:13 Atlassian Design System 22:40 Follow along

SHOW NOTES

Toot for help: https://managingengineers.net/@si/111370888453459540 Sprout Social Seeds: https://seeds.sproutsocial.com Orbit by Kiwi: https://orbit.kiwi Atlassian Design: https://atlassian.design Shopify Polaris: https://polaris.shopify.com Material Design: https://m3.material.io PETALS Newsletter: https://petals.team/newsletter

PETALS Snapshot 9 - PETALS coaching & Google Sheet filter fixes

2023-11-15T00:00:00Z

This is the 9th PETALS Snapshot talking about booking PETALS time, Google Toolkit filter fixes with Mike Street and the first app user story demo.

00:33 Scores 00:48 Homepage refresh 01:20 Cal.com with NextJS fail 04:02 Mike @ Liquid Light 07:38 Google Toolkit date range filter fix 09:12 User onboarding app demo 10:06 Design system spike 10:45 DevOps Notts in 2 weeks 11:57 Get in touch

Public Bookmarks

2024-01-22T00:00:00Z

Taking inspiration from Trovster's links feed, I've decided to setup my own directory of links found from around the web with my own personal stance on them in a new Bookmarks section.

It harks back to the days of Web 2.0 apps like del.icio.us where people publicly shared their bookmarks, organising with suitable taxonomy (and machine tags) and I often reshared on my Twitter account which helped grow my audience.

Once I've got a workflow in place that helps me curate these in an efficient and suitable approach, I'll be sure to post something too. For now, I'm experimenting with a Ticktick x IFTTT recipe.

Apps Experimentation @ ASOS

2024-01-26T00:00:00Z

Before I left ASOS in 2023, I recorded a discussion with Callum and Elizabeth about the experimentation approach in tech for the ASOS Tech Podcast.

It was an opportunity for me to reflect on my personal time working in the old experimentation team back in 2015-2017, revisiting how things have evolved since then and explore some recent examples on how ASOS and their customers have benefited from it. I selfishly wanted to host this episode as well after producing the podcast for the best part of 2 years, mostly due to the topic being something quite close to me.

Due to scheduling, this was actually released after I left ASOS but it's wonderful to hear how the episode turned out (once Adrian had worked his production magic) and leave something behind for my old colleagues.

Have a listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6yN9UOpYeLujWxM0ViPaJw?si=GYeJW7PIQWKMgf97o6deYQ&nd=1&dlsi=50d52bf8508d4c35

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_UiZ8TvMtA

6 Nations Calendar

2024-02-01T00:00:00Z

Following the series of sports calendar projects, 6 Nations Calendar provides all the kick off times for the annual 6 Nations competition directly on your own mobile or computer.

Built in just two evenings using frameworks I've developed in the past, this was a great example to demonstrate the value of reusing tech to get a simple idea live in a short time frame.

It's using the Sports Times Gatsby framework I created back in 2019 for other competitions and is still in use on footballcal.com (which has been neglected since the Euro 2020 tournament). Due to the neglect, some of the code was outdated and required some updates, specifically on dependent Node packages.

I also realised the Moment.js library used to generate the ICS file introduced some breaking changes in that the date elements were now treated as integers instead of strings, plus the month value in the ICS library was offset by -1, which was identified in the user testing.

Visually, it's very simple - it's not my finest work but it's clean and useable so at least people can start using it. I changed the heading font to Michroma which is more modern than the previous Google Font used. The colour scheme has been lightened as well, plus the main call to action was made more evident with the full width solid background.

Being a very quick project, there's plenty enhancements I'd like to introduce but I can chip away at these through February and March as the competition continues. I've already received some suggestions and requests which will be implemented.

Evo Inspires

2024-03-15T00:00:00Z

I was recently asked by David Dowdall to talk to him for their Evo Inspires video series, a platform for leaders in tech to share some personal stories that could inspires others.

It was an honour to be featured alongside such successful and reputable names from across the industry so I tried to share thoughts on failing fast, encouraging line managers and how to support teams in a hybrid/remote world.

Watch the video on David's Linkedin and let us know your thoughts.

House Finesse 2024

2024-06-30T00:00:00Z

This year, I decided to refresh my house music podcast House Finesse with an updated format, website and sound to recognise all the different flavours we're bringing as a community now.

I also wanted to shift the website from the original Wordpress setup to a more sustainable 11ty build for costs and performance improvements. As a hobby side project, I was keen to focus on the core purpose but also explore ways of learning new tools and techniques along with practising some beliefs I've developed over my years.

The priority was to adapt the format to our audience and residents. New DJs were bringing fresh new styles and we had a variety of sub genres that we liked to present. This needed some consistency though and a brand style that we could all follow. I used the existing rainbow colour scheme and powerful typography for consistency and shifted the focus to the individual DJs styles with their own preferred structure, voice, sound and visuals along with appropriate photos on artwork. We've also started proving more commentary through the episodes along with shout outs for each other and some of our more engaged listeners to encourage the community purpose of the podcast.

The website was also due some serious love. Continuing the brand guidelines, emphasis is on the colours, typography and individual music styles. I created a standard template that extended the existing artwork format playing into the rainbow colours, bold typography and black labels harking back to our origins of music records along with prominent use of photography to highlight the featured DJ.

Technically, I decided to use the popular static website framework 11ty which provides a simple but performant platform that can be deployed anywhere. It's current configured on Netlify but this is easily migrated to other static site hosts if required. Being more comfortable with JavaScript but lacking some of the modern techniques, it was a great opportunity to learn with a personal passion.

The podcast is still managed on Pinecast, with the RSS feed now being delivered directly rather than via the Wordpress site. This means content can be delivered independently of website updates. Most activity are followers through the podcast apps so most people won't be affected by any website delays - it's a compliment to the main audio content.

I've been iterating on the process for publishing episodes, using GitHub PR's per episode and introducing features as required. Most updates are tracked on the GitHub project as issues (synchronised with my local TickTick app), and all releases are pushed to a Google Sheet with IFTTT for further syndication and backups.

(More to come)

How to measure team health and culture

2024-08-05T00:00:00Z

Back in July, I was invited up to Auto Trader's headquarters in Manchester to talk to Pete on their Roadmap Product & Tech podcast about team health and how PETALS has grown over the past few years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEYTw7toSQo

How to measure team health and culture on Youtube

I was honoured to be asked on their podcast as I've been very impressed with what they've done over the past year (we even compared notes last year based on what we did on the ASOS Tech Podcast). It was a great opportunity to meet Pete and the team in person but also share my story to a wider community, even diving into some of the roots and challenges faced with the idea of a framework for measuring team health.

Product on a Podcast - Agile Therapy Workshops

2024-11-21T00:00:00Z

Kicking off a new season of podcast episodes, reviving an old Product On A Page format I used to blog on a regularly basis.

This time, it's about mental health therapy and how it correlates with agile software delivery to make it more accessible, trying to shake the stigma often associated with mental health.

What are your thoughts?

How can MK become a tech hub?

2025-01-16T00:00:00Z

Today, I was invited to a Protospace Roundtable discussion with fellow tech leaders from around Milton Keynes to discuss how the city can become a tech hub.

https://youtu.be/kQLxkMBPO30

Chapters #

01:33 Inspiring the next generation with STEMx
02:27 How many people are looking for new jobs?
03:34 All those MK roundabouts
04:46 Tech week across MK
05:27 Advertising beyond social media
06:31 Hang out with the MK peeps

Massive thanks to Richard Wiggins and his Protospace team for organising this event at Santander's X+WHY Unity Place and inviting me along. Some amazing people in the room with plenty great ideas to bounce off.

Building Tools for Healthier Teams

2025-05-09T00:00:00Z

There’s a lot of talk about team health these days: retros, wellbeing check-ins, pulse surveys, the works. But in reality, many teams still struggle to see what’s going on until it’s too late. Or worse, they see it but don’t know what to do about it.

This post isn’t just a product update. It’s a reflection on what I’ve been building recently — tools that aim to make team health feel more visible, usable, and actionable. It’s also a bit of a love letter to side projects, collaboration, and the joy of making things that actually help people work better together.

Over the past few months, I’ve been focusing on two key projects:

A complete rebuild of our PETALS app, my lightweight framework for measuring and talking about team health
A new internal app, co-built with one of my engineers, that helps turn raw feedback into something constructive using generative AI

Here’s how those projects have come together — the thinking, the tech, and what I’ve learnt along the way.

Rebuilding PETALS from a spreadsheet hack to proper app #

PETALS has been my go-to framework for checking in on how teams are really doing. It’s light-touch and people-first, asking teams to score five areas regularly:

Rate your flower on productivity, enjoyment, teamwork, learning and serenity to get an average

The original version was held together with Google Forms, hand-crafted charts, and a spreadsheet full of fragile formulas. It did the job (just) but wasn’t something I could confidently roll out across multiple teams or organisations.

So we rebuilt it from the ground up, with two key goals:

Make it easier for teams to submit and view their scores
Turn those scores into something teams can actually use to reflect and adapt

The very first prototype we threw together last year used a clunky UI framework that didn’t scale well and wasn’t easy to work with — but it let us move fast, test ideas, and iterate on a super simple foundation. It served its purpose, but I was always hesitant to promote it more widely. I wasn’t happy with the aesthetics (it definitely wasn’t my finest), and I’m always conscious of how important first impressions are, especially when you’re building something that’s meant to feel supportive and thoughtful for professional teams in businesses.

So this time, we kept things lean but focused. The new app runs on Python/Django, hosted on Heroku, with a PostgreSQL backend. The UI is built with UIkit, chosen for its simplicity and speed. GitHub handles pull requests, a Heroku pipeline to automatically deploy from our staging and main branches safely and accordingly.

It’s been great fun getting properly back into web development after mostly being a tech leader for the past eight years. I’ve always chipped away at side projects (like all my sports calendars), but those were usually based on old frameworks with minimal interactivity.

This build has been a lot more detailed. I’ve learnt loads with Python and Django, and dusted off my front-end skills to make the UI clean and usable, while still keeping an eye on the important “-ilities” like accessibility, reusability, and maintainability.

I’ve also really enjoyed collaborating with other techies again. It’s been a genuine highlight getting back into regular Dev Time with Brian Suda, who I’ve worked with on and off since the noughties and still rate as one of the best engineers I know. And it’s been brilliant having Adrian Lansdown on the project too - an old friend and recent colleague who’s brought fresh ideas, skills, and energy to the mix.

The result? The app is now live, with a couple of teams actively using it in the real world, and we’re already getting positive and useful feedback. It’s not just a nicer form anymore; it’s a tool that encourages better conversations and helps teams see patterns in how they’re working and feeling over time.

Feedback is hard. AI can help (sometimes) #

More recently, I’ve started working on a small AI bot with one of my engineers for providing constructive feedback to your peers.

We all know feedback can be tough. Especially when it’s constructive, emotional, or poorly timed. People often hold back or water it down, or it lands wrong and makes things worse. So we wanted to explore whether AI could help reframe difficult feedback into something more useful and respectful.

The tool is simple:

You write what you really think
It rewrites the message using an LLM prompt to make it more thoughtful, constructive and respectful of your environment
You choose to share directly, send it via message, tweak or even bin it entirely

For example, if you write:

“They always take over meetings.”

…it might suggest:

“You have a strong presence in meetings — could you help create more space for others to contribute?”

The aim isn’t to sugar-coat the message, just to help people express themselves more clearly, especially when emotions are high. We’re testing it ourselves first, both as team members and leaders, and it’s already helping us pause, reflect, and phrase things with a bit more care.

We’ve kept it intentionally small for now. But it’s an interesting experiment in how internal tools (even simple ones) can support better communication and psychological safety.

Some reflective wisdom #

These projects aren’t perfect, and they’re not done. But they’ve already reminded me of a few important things:

Side projects are culture tools. Especially when you’re building with your own team, for your own team.
Design still matters. Taking time to make things usable and enjoyable is worth the extra effort.
Feedback needs help. Tools can’t fix culture, but they can lower the friction just enough to spark better habits.
Collaboration energises. Working with people like Brian and Adrian has brought fresh momentum and ideas I wouldn’t have come up with alone, the same goes for our internal AI bot.
We work in tech: we should use our skills to make our jobs better. There’s a lot of talk about team culture, feedback loops, and ways of working, but it’s even more powerful when we build tools that support those conversations. We should practise what we preach and use our own craft to shape how we work.

There’s also a lot of noise (and fear) around AI taking over our jobs. I don’t see it that way. I’ve been embracing AI to assist me, not replace me. It helps me write, reflect, and generate ideas faster (I even used ChatGPT to draft up this blog post which gave me a great skeleton straight away that I spent about an hour making my own).

But the core ideas? The intent, the shape, the human edge: that still comes from me. AI can support the work, but it’s our human creativity and care that drives it. I can’t see AI replacing that any time soon. Mr Altman even admitted this in a recent TED conversation:

https://www.youtube.com/live/5MWT_doo68k?si=bC6XyzeQ7uTVRYD3

What's next? #

We’ll keep shaping our PETALS app based on user feedback and explore ways to integrate the feedback tool into other flows, ideally a Slack bot!

And as always, we’ll keep experimenting with small tools that nudge better behaviours in our teams.

If you’re working on something similar, or want to borrow some of this thinking for your own team, reach out. I’d love to chat.

Vulnerability ≠ Safety (But It Can Be)

2025-05-16T00:00:00Z

This week, I saw two very different sides of psychological safety play out, and both left a mark.

First up, a team meeting.

It started off well; people were being honest, surfacing tough stuff that clearly needed to be aired. You could feel the bravery. But it didn’t stay safe for long.

Emotions bubbled up, a few defensive reactions crept in, and the mood shifted fast. One minute we were leaning into discomfort, the next we were skirting around it. That tipping point is delicate, and once it goes, it’s hard to pull things back without making it worse. Definitely one to watch closely and navigate carefully if you ever find yourself in that space.

Then there’s the flip side.

This week also happens to be Mental Health Awareness Week, and across the wider company, we’ve organised a handful of people to share deeply personal stories in public Slack and Teams channels to help raise awareness. Stories about anxiety, grief, burnout, endometriosis, and more. These weren’t easy reads.

But the response? Honest, heartfelt, and overwhelmingly supportive. People replied with love, related experiences, and a whole lot of respect.

I even reached out to someone who shared their journey with endometriosis, something I’ve only really started to understand after supporting my wife through her own experience in the past few years. That one message turned into a really valuable and unexpected connection that will probably last. Just from showing a bit of humanity.

It reminded me of something important:

Vulnerability doesn’t guarantee safety. But it can create it if we handle it right.

There’s a real difference between being open and being supported.

In smaller team spaces, emotions run closer to the surface, and without the right care or facilitation, brave honesty can quickly feel exposed.

In bigger spaces, especially when there’s no immediate expectation for a reaction, people can sit with the words, reflect, and respond with more empathy.

Here are a few things I’m taking away from all this:

Vulnerability is a gift, not a guarantee. You can’t force it, and when someone offers it, you’ve got a responsibility to hold it well.
Psychological safety isn’t created in one meeting. It’s a rhythm, a culture, a series of responses that say “you’re safe here” over and over again. Nurture it.
Bravery isn’t just speaking up, it’s how we respond when others do. That’s the bit that really matters.

We talk a lot about psychological safety like it’s a checkbox. But it’s more like a muscle: always being used, and only stronger with practice.

Let’s keep practising.

Find your own pace

2025-06-14T00:00:00Z

I write this off the back of a new routine I’ve got into this week.

Every weekday morning, I typically take the dog for a walk around the canal and fields so he can have a run and I can enjoy the great outdoors with a podcast that suits my mood. (This week, that’s been a mix of Jordan B Peterson audiobooks and podcasts about WWDC.)

After that, I’ve been hitting the gym to get back into some proper fitness. Typically 30 minutes on the elliptical followed by 30 minutes swimming, occasionally mixed up with weight training and rowing.

One thing I’ve observed in the gym is the variety of personas and routines others are doing. There’s a mixture of strength, cardio and core work.

In the pool, there’s a mix of elderly swimmers, friends catching up, and youngsters thrashing out laps — all moving at their own speed. I tend to fall somewhere in the middle; not super fit like the youngsters, but picking up the pace next to the gentler swimmers.

It got me thinking about team health and how it all connects.

Teams tend to have a goal — usually shared, though sometimes formed from individual goals that align toward a common outcome.

With fitness, it’s similar. We all broadly share one goal:

To be healthier and fitter.

That breaks down into individual versions of that goal, contributing to the greater good of a healthier society.

Naturally, governments try to encourage this — it reduces strain on healthcare. But we know that’s the dream, not the everyday reality. This often comes down to personal circumstances, personalities, abilities – ultimately, everyone is different.

When we talk about team health, we often focus on high performance and fixing weaknesses. But why?

As a team, it’s easier to support each other through challenges, learn together (PETALS!), and work out how to move forward.

We identify our own gaps and ask for help.

We might get useful feedback from peers that points us in the right direction.

But we do this together — with a shared goal and pace.

One thing I’ve been asked a few times about PETALS is how to use it from a leadership perspective – dare I say, comparing teams.

But you really can’t fixate on the metrics, especially with the arbitrary scores teams use.

PETALS is an introspection framework. It encourages conversation, rooted in personalised scores. Teams can benchmark and find their own language, but that doesn’t always translate across teams.

That’s where I come back to pace setting.

I might regularly score myself between 2 and 4, saving 1s and 5s for the extremes. My team might be similar, or there might be more variation. Another team could look completely different.

When it comes to improvement, what matters are the shifts.

For one person, that might be a nudge in productivity. For another, more learning. For someone else, a bit of serenity.

If you’ve had no learning time for months, then carving out an hour next week is a huge win.

If you already learn regularly, then something like a course or conference might be the step change.

This is pace setting in action. Everyone is different — but we should all strive for the same ultimate goal:

To make improvements to the way we work.

Just like with fitness, we all want to be healthier or fitter — but in completely different ways.

If we find a common language and a shared goal, we can support each other in the process. It’s easier in team sports; trickier with solo routines. But still possible.

The trick isn’t to obsess over the pace of others — it’s to understand your own rhythm, and keep an eye on your team’s.

Leadership isn’t about pushing everyone to sprint. It’s about creating the conditions for people to find their stride.

The most effective teams aren’t always the fastest or the loudest.

They’re the ones who know where they’re going, why they’re going there, and how they’re going to support each other on the journey.

So whether you’re swimming, coding, strategising, or just learning to ask better questions — give yourself and your team the permission to go at the pace that works for you.

That’s what PETALS is really about: not comparing, but connecting.

10 takeaways from LDX3 2025

2025-06-20T00:00:00Z

This week I had the chance to attend LDX3 (formerly known as LeadDev London), a buzzing two-day conference packed with bite-sized engineering leadership talks, practical insights, and a refreshing mix of inspiration and pragmatism.

Here are 10 takeaways that stood out for me…

1. Strong delivery doesn’t mean a healthy team
Metrics alone don’t tell the full story. Without context and action, they’re just noise. Consider asking your teams what metrics actually help them improve—not just what gets reported. (Oge Opara-Nadi, Hey Savi)

2. Weekly quality reviews can prevent a crisis
Quality is speed. Skipping it for short-term gains leads to breakdowns later. What lightweight rhythm could help you keep an eye on code health before problems appear? (Christine Pinto)

3. Repo health dashboards are back in style
Trainline built one to auto-lock repos under 40% health. It’s visual, objective, and promotes ownership. Could your team benefit from a visual dashboard to track repo or project health? (Simon McManus, Trainline)

4. Most devs still don’t get structured onboarding
First PR. First Jira ticket. First production impact. These onboarding quests create early wins and clarity plus the sense of satisfaction for the individuals. What would your team's "onboarding quest" look like? (Amtul Haq Ayesha)

5. Don’t assume, do challenge
When leading diverse or neurodiverse teams, challenge sweeping generalisations and co-create solutions. Your leadership style matters; is it permissive, authoritative, or something else? (Stacey Nutbrown, Capital One)

6. Confidence isn’t binary
Ask for a percentage. “How confident are you (%) that we’ll deliver this on time?” This opens up new conversations and surfaces hidden risk. Could this shift how you handle roadmap conversations? (Sean Bolton, Monzo)

7. Every output is an input
Every change feeds the next. Don’t wait for perfection; log it, learn from it, iterate. What small loop could you tighten in your team’s workflow today? (Matt Collier, Vercel)

8. Not all OKRs should stretch you
Some goals need ambition. Others need focus. Know which is which to avoid burnout. Take a moment to sanity-check your current OKRs; are they all pushing or balancing? (Neil Vass, Co-op)

9. Your job shifts as you grow
Presence, perception and patience are key when you lead other leaders. You’re not just managing people, you shape the system around them. Where do you need to show up more intentionally? (Gisela Rossi, Trustpilot)

10. Pair with AI, don’t rely on it blindly
Use tools like Claude and Copilot to reduce toil, but keep your critical eye sharp. What’s your team’s shared understanding of how to use AI responsibly? (Birgitta Böeckeler, Thoughtworks & Farhan Thawar, Shopify)

Some of the common themes across the 2 days…

Context beats metrics #

Great teams don’t just hit numbers; they understand what those numbers mean. Many talks reinforced the idea that data needs interpretation, intention, and follow-up to drive actual improvement. This strongly aligns with the PETALS approach: numbers should be conversation starters, not performance scores. When misused, metrics can create fear or false confidence; when used well, they unlock trust, reflection and action.

Quality is never a side project #

Rushed work, flaky tests, and poor documentation always cost more in the long run. Time invested in quality, whether through code reviews, retros, or weekly health checks, is time well spent. Tools like Trainline’s repo health dashboard show how automated checks and visual indicators can flag risks early, but they only work if they're reviewed and considered as part of your wider service health conversations.

AI is powerful, but not a shortcut #

AI tools are changing how we work, but human judgment, ethical thinking, and communication remain irreplaceable. Use AI to enhance your workflow, not replace your responsibility. Speed is great – but only when paired with scrutiny. There’s a wave of tooling that accelerates time-to-live, but with it comes risk. The idea of engineers simply reviewing AI-generated PRs sounds efficient, but without rigour, it can compromise code quality. It loops back to the quality thread: if you’re not checking thoroughly, you’re just moving faster towards tech debt.

Leadership is about enabling others #

You’re not the hero – you’re the enabler. Modern engineering leadership is about building psychological safety, amplifying others, and navigating ambiguity with clarity and care.

All in all, it was an interesting few days surrounded by amazingly talented and knowledgeable people, understanding how others work in tech and what we could explore next.

As an avid podcaster, I was also fascinated to be part of the Pragmatic Engineer podcast recording on the first evening when Farhan was interviewed by Gergely and opened up about some really interesting ideas around embracing AI in the workplace.

Which of these sparks something for you and your team?

Q2 2025

2025-07-06T00:00:00Z

It’s been a full-on few months. Between building products, running teams, raising money, and squeezing in the odd tattoo, here’s a look back at what’s been going on from April to June 2025.

A much-needed break in Cornwall #

After a pretty intense first half of the year, I finally took some time out for the late-May Bank Holiday. We headed down to Falmouth, Cornwall, staying in a family holiday home right on the coast. Stunning views, sea air, and plenty of places to unwind.

Caught up with family, tried all the local food & coffee places, and on the final day… got tattoos. Mine is a quote by Salvador Dali:

“Have no fear of perfection, you’ll never reach it.”

Felt like quite a powerful and relevant message considering my mindset and career.

Pro tip: Spread your holidays out across the year. It helps you reset more often and keeps the burnout at bay.

The PETALS app is finally live! #

After years of prototypes and plenty of late-night building sessions, we finally launched the PETALS app in May. A proper working product, now in the hands of real teams.

Simple, lightweight team health check-in tool
Charts, visuals, and rapid feedback mechanisms to streamline team reflections
Designed to spark meaningful conversations in minutes

Massive shout-out to Brian and Adrian who helped to make it happen. They've built features, squashed some bugs, and sanity-checked everything I was second-guessing. More than anything, they were brilliant accountability partners, proving how much a healthy team attitude matters when trying to ship something great. Our weekly Friday lunch checkpoints to talk through progress and challenges have been a huge help, as has the async Slack chats to keep ideas flowing in between.

We’ve got a handful of companies actively using it now which is a promising start, but we really want to scale things up in Q3 and Q4. The more teams we reach, the better the feedback and more useful data for shaping what comes next.

I also took some (new) stickers and promo codes to LDX3 hoping to build buzz with the ideal target audience, and while they looked the part, not much came from it. The old saying “Build it and they’ll come” really isn’t true as it used to be.

So the next focus is on creating awareness. We’re experimenting with fresh ways to demo PETALS through all our social channels, showing off its simplicity and potential in a way that actually sticks. Watch this space.

Industry vibes & reality checks at LDX3 #

In mid-June, I headed to one of the biggest conferences in the tech leadership industry, LDX3 in London (formerly known as LeadDev) to see what the rest of the industry is talking about.

TL;DR: We’re mostly aligned with modern leadership and engineering practices in my experience, both present and past. But there’s still a long way to go to reach the high performance or some of the biggest international organisations.

For a fuller picture of key takeaways, I wrote up my 10 lessons learned from LDX3 with plenty in there about tech leadership, neurodiversity and AI.

House Finesse turns 20 #

This year marks 20 years of my house music podcast, now known as House Finesse.

Back in July 2005, I uploaded a recently recorded mix called Funky Pants to my blog and tried submitting the RSS feed to Apple iTunes podcast directory to see what happens. After numerous featured moments on their homepage and charts, it's continued to grow a loyal audience, changing shape over the years from the One Phat DJ Podcast to the Funky House Finesse radio show and now the House Finesse podcast which I run with an amazing group of DJ's from Colchester UK.

We've now kicked off celebrations with a lush guest mix from Charlie Price, and we've got plenty more lined up through the summer.

In the mean time, I've also been exploring other ways to keep the community engaged with a brand new WhatsApp community for our listeners to interact with each other and the DJs and created some branded 20th anniversary merch (caps, tees, mugs… mostly just adorned by me so far).

20 years on and we're still keeping it fresh with the latest and greatest house music on the scene #housemusicalldaylong

Other highlights from Q2 #

21km for Dementia UK – I ran my first ever half marathon distance (on a cross-trainer, don’t judge) and raised £2,272 for Dementia UK
Leading 4 teams at once – I was responsible for looking after all four engineering teams in our Milton Keynes office while we backfilled another Engineering Manager position. Nearly 20 people, each with their own challenges and projects; a big stretch but loads learned.
Welcome back, old friend – We brought in Neil Crosby, an old Yahoo mate from 2006-2007, to take over the two teams I was managing temporarily. Great to reconnect and see how much things have changed since the early dev days.
Agent mode with GitHub Copilot – We ran a one-hour workshop in the MK office exploring GitHub Copilot Agent Mode. Not much was built, but the insight was gold; cynics found value, optimists were underwhelmed.
PETALS has been published twice – old ASOS colleague Nic Brown and good old friend Paul D have recently included (decent) references to PETALS in their respective books, Real World Agility and Beyond The Wireframe, both published this quarter. It’s an honour to be referenced alongside other industry leading frameworks but also an amazing achievement from humble beginnings.
EURO 2025 calendar was built in 2 hours thanks to AI – I created the full EURO 2025 fixture calendar from scratch in under two hours. It was the first time I've properly used AI to build software; ChatGPT cleaned and verified the data, then Cursor generated the Markdown files. It's a fun little side project I continue to keep dabbling in as it scratches a personal itch and nice to see others benefit as well.
Jobling MP in the making – The Boy ran as a paper candidate for the Green Party in our local elections this May, only to give people an alternative beyond the typical parties, but actually came out stronger than Labour.
Johnny Ball has still got it – It was totally surreal to meet Johnny Ball (yes, that Johnny Ball – aka Zoe Ball’s dad) at my wife’s school. At the impressive age of 85 years old, he gave a truly inspiring keynote to Year 8 Baccalaureate students but also kept all the parents and carers engaged too. Total legend.
Katherine Ryan at Utilita Arena – We saw Katherine Ryan live in Birmingham, a Christmas present for Mrs J last year. She was hilarious, sharp, and absolutely nailed the second half with top-tier audience improv.
Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe at The Alex – We also caught the stage version in Birmingham. It was sadly underwhelming though; decent concept but the delivery didn’t quite land.
Lone Wolf Comedy Festival Fail – We tried to celebrate the boy finishing his A-Levels in May with a comedy festival in Bicester… but we never found it. Disappointing signage and terrible mobile searching didn't help but we ended up having a pint at "nearby" Diddly Squat Farm instead.
Great British Food Festival at Holdenby House – Great day out with some friendly neighbours; delicious food, great music and entertainment, more sun than expected and maybe one drink too many. Definitely worth checking out if the tour swings by near you.

What's next in Q3? #

Here's some of my own goals I'll be working through the Summer months to keep me accountable and maybe get some help or ideas from anyone following along:

Taking a well-earned summer break; 3 weeks in Greece with the family to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary, soak up some sun, and enjoy quality time before the boy heads off to uni in September
Pushing more PETALS publicity across our social and community spaces with creative demos, clearer messaging, and a few fun surprises that might engage better than so far
Build out the PETALS Premium plan with Brian and Adrian; extra functionality, deeper insights and richer multi-team support which add extra value to organisations who
Start some lightweight habit tracking looking into my screen time, fitness activity, entertainment habits (Spotify, Plex and YouTube) and Duolingo progress. I’ve been gathering this data for years through some IFTTT / Zapier integrations to Google Sheets and now the plan is to build a simple tool (maybe with some AI agents) to visualise, review and share regular progress. I'm also thinking of basing it on Mike Streety’s brilliant Statman app which he built last year and shared in our On The Side community. It could be the perfect springboard.

Finding creativity in the pool

2025-07-11T00:00:00Z

Like many folks in tech, my head’s usually full of noise; podcasts, playlists, Slack messages, meeting notes. But I’ve found an unlikely place where my brain slows down just enough for creativity to catch up: the swimming pool.

Running fills the time, swimming clears the mind #

Three mornings a week, I hit the gym before work. I start with a 30-minute run, usually fuelled by a podcast or a mix from Glitterbox, Defected, or even my own House Finesse show. It’s productive, energising and full-on.

Then I swim.

No headphones, no music, no podcasts. Just me, four tiled walls, and water. It’s not inspiring on the surface, but it’s where the best ideas tend to bubble up.

Creative sparks in the quiet moments #

There’s something about the repetition and stillness that opens up space in my brain. Without distractions, I find myself drifting into ideas; not just for ALL THE side projects but also family stuff and work.

It reminded me: creativity often needs silence, not stimulation.

No browsers. No doom-scrolling. Just stillness.

The annoying bit: trying to capture it #

The ideas come but the problem is I can’t easily do anything with them.

My Apple Watch isn’t very helpful with wet fingers (I even struggle to end or pause my workouts).

I can’t exactly start shouting notes into my phone around the pool either - the strangers would be worried.

So, at the moment, I try to brain dump as soon as I get back to the locker room. But inevitably, some of them slip away.

Where I’m heading with this #

I’m still figuring it out, but I’ve started experimenting:

Taking more tech-free time outside the pool (quiet walks and screen-free lunch breaks
Bouncing ideas around with ChatGPT hands-free whilst driving - remarkably convenient when you're stuck in the car for up to an hour
Finding faster ways to get notes down straight after a workout, possibly using some AI to structure them thoughts
Letting go of the need to capture everything and trusting the best ideas will come back

Over to you #

If you’re feeling creatively blocked, maybe try doing less. Let yourself be bored. Go for a swim. Or a quiet walk. See what comes up.

Just don’t expect your tech to help while you’re dripping wet.

Fitness Pomodoros

2025-09-09T00:00:00Z

This idea hit me in the gym, then got shaped in the pool. That’s how most of my stuff comes together; push myself physically, then let my head wander until it clicks.

In the gym, I noticed something simple. My sets, rests and the clock on the wall lined up perfectly with Pomodoro timers. Twenty-five minutes of focus, five minutes of recovery. That’s how I work – why not train the same way?

Later, in the pool, I broke it down further.

What if you split 25 minutes of exercise into five 5-minute chunks, each with a one-minute cooldown?

Suddenly it wasn’t “finding a spare hour for the gym.” It was just one Pomodoro. That small shift made the whole thing feel more doable.

The more I thought about it, the more it made sense:

Research shows even five minutes of daily exercise can boost strength, endurance and mental wellbeing, especially in people who are otherwise sedentary (Tom’s Guide, 2024).
Short bursts of moderate movement have been linked to lower blood pressure and reduced risk of heart disease (Business Insider, 2024).
Like Pomodoros at work, structured intervals build consistency and reduce decision fatigue – a key factor in making habits stick (Lally et al., 2010).
And the overlap with mental health is huge. Swimming especially is rhythmic and meditative, shown to reduce stress and anxiety (Swim England, 2018).

It’s not a brand new thought, either. Others have played with the idea of “fitness Pomodoros” before; from early blogs like End of Three Fitness (2014) to more recent Medium posts about structuring workouts in 25-minute chunks.

What I’m playing with here is an iteration: weaving in cool-downs, mental health, and the way it integrates into a Pomodoro-shaped calendar.

What I like most is the flexibility. You can skip a Pomodoro when the day’s stacked, double up if you’ve got the energy, or fit them around meetings. I’ve even started setting all my work meetings as 25 or 50 min Pomos. It means when I’m planning my day, I can see exactly where fitness or wellness can fit in.

And once you stick with it, you find a natural rhythm. It stops feeling like a system and just becomes habit. Consistent cues, after a call, before lunch, between emails, help it embed and soon you’re not relying on willpower.

You’re just following the rhythm, like laps in a pool or steps on a treadmill.

Of course, it’s not perfect. Five-minute bursts won’t replace every fitness goal, and staying consistent takes effort. Some people might find it interrupts their flow, or feels too easy at times. But for anyone juggling work, health and headspace who are slaves to their calendars, Fitness Pomodoros offer a way to balance it all without overthinking.

Born in the gym, refined in the pool, applied in my calendar. That’s Fitness Pomodoros.

I’m now up on my gym Pomodoro, drafting this out, and need to get ready for work.

Q3 2025

2025-10-10T00:00:00Z

Summer 2025 turned out to be a bit of a mix for me; major milestones, unfortunate mishaps and a few big life moments. Between broken bones, pool time, and brainstorming MORE ideas, it felt like a season that somehow balanced chaos and calm. Plenty of learning, a bit of laughing, and a lot of reflection.

July #

As mentioned back in Q2, the House Finesse podcast feed turned 20 years old this summer. I wanted to mark it with something momentous. The original plan was a big party, but, as always, calendars didn’t line up, especially with most our resident DJ's gigging most weekends. Add in the small matter of my broken finger (more on that later) and inability to travel down to see the rest of the gang in Colchester, it wasn’t exactly easy.

So instead, we celebrated in the way we know best, plenty good music. We had a variety of guest DJs, including some younger talent like Charlie Price and Taylan, I couldn’t resist indulging in a couple of classics mixes, and the highlight for me was LYP delivering an amazing live set with The Unknowns.

‹ ›

[

13 Jun 2025 - HF275

Andi King #

](https://housefinesse.com/shows/hf275-with-andi-king/)

[

20 Jun 2025 - HF276

Disco77 #

](https://housefinesse.com/shows/hf276-with-disco77/)

[

27 Jun 2025 - HF277

LYP #

](https://housefinesse.com/shows/hf277-with-lyp/)

[

4 Jul 2025 - HF278

One Phat DJ #

](https://housefinesse.com/shows/hf278-with-onephatdj/)

[

11 Jul 2025 - HF279

Andi King #

](https://housefinesse.com/shows/hf279-with-andi-king/)

[

18 Jul 2025 - HF281

DJ Programma #

](https://housefinesse.com/shows/hf281-with-dj-programma/)

[

25 Jul 2025 - HF282

LYP #

](https://housefinesse.com/shows/hf282-with-lyp/)

[

1 Aug 2025 - HF283

Taylan #

](https://housefinesse.com/shows/hf283-with-taylan/)

[

15 Aug 2025 - HF284

DJ Tai #

](https://housefinesse.com/shows/hf284-with-dj-tai/)

[

22 Aug 2025 - HF285

Disco77 #

](https://housefinesse.com/shows/hf285-with-disco77/)

[

29 Aug 2025 - HF286

Love Sensation Live - Andi King #

](https://housefinesse.com/shows/hf286-love-sensation-live-with-andi-king/)

Another thing I’ve been working on this year is an “open office hours” slot with our On The Side community. It’s a Slack group where we share and support each other’s (mostly techy) side projects, and every Monday we commit to our weekly goals. I thought it would be a nice excuse to run a lunchtime office hours session, totally optional, just whoever fancies dropping in. Most weeks it’s me and Brian catching up on fun projects, which usually ends up drifting into PETALS ideas. Either way, it’s a good reset for the week and keeps me connected with that community.

One thing that definitely threw a spanner in our summer plans was an accidental (old man) fall in the dark which left me with a very awkwardly broken little finger. I assumed it was just bruised, but three days later an X-ray confirmed otherwise, complicated enough that I was referred to a hand surgeon, who promptly fitted me with a Giddens frame.

Giddens frame x-ray

Nursing a broken finger in the heat

The timing couldn’t have been worse, the surgery landed on day one of our three-week Rhodes holiday (for our 20th wedding anniversary no less), which naturally upset the family. It meant no swimming, bathing or driving for me, but it did force me to properly slow down and relax. After five weeks the frame was removed, and since then it’s been a weekly physio routine, trying to coax the finger tip back into some flexibility after the bone healed slightly the wrong way.

A surprise bonus in July was a trip to the Ministry of Sound Classical show; my sister-in-law won tickets and kindly offered me the spare as the obvious dance music nut in the family. The timing was a bit sketchy (the day after my fall), so it was definitely a case of careful raving in a field. Still, totally worth it. I got to see one of my musical heroes David Morales alongside 90s icons Judge Jules and Paul Oakenfold.

August #

The start of August was all about down time with the family as we enjoyed a good two-week break in Rhodes, more details in the dedicated travel blog. Naturally though, when my mind is winding down, it starts sparking all sorts of new ideas #neurospicy.

I kept touching base with Adrian and Brian on our weekly PETALS Dev Time (actually a bit of respite from the peak heat sitting in the share 2-3pm EEST) and I ended up designing some new PETALS merch to pimp our product on all my video calls and hand out to some folks who are championing the framework.

Whilst we were there, I had the annual reminder to renew SuperRams.com, a domain I’ve owned since 2003(!), which got me thinking about how we might revive that old community. It’s had several variations over the years, but the one I miss most is the era when we had over 13,000 followers on Twitter and a buzzing community of Derby County fans. Could we bring it back in a new way?

That’s when I started digging into Substack and its power for email newsletters. It felt like the right medium to reconnect. Alongside that, I realised our House Finesse newsletter was still on Mailchimp, which doesn’t have the brightest future, so I moved it over to Substack and rebranded it as the VIP Club. It ties neatly into the house music ecosystem and gives listeners more ways to get involved. It’s already been great seeing long-time listeners engaging again, and I’m hoping it grows as we keep building that community. (One other unexpected highlight from August was bumping into my House Finesse co-founder Stu, aka LYP, on a family trip to Woburn Safari Park - completely unplanned but wonderful to finally meet in person after nearly 15 years.)

Another project hitting 20 years this year is my old Midlands tech community, The Multipack. Back in the day, we met once a month in a pub around Birmingham to chat all things web, and some amazing relationships grew out of it - many of us are still in contact now. To mark the milestone, I emailed the gang (again, classic "social media" that still works), synced up calendars, and booked a Saturday curry on 18 October back in Birmingham, our home city. We won’t get everyone together, but hopefully it sparks more meet-ups in the future.

September #

PETALS wrapped up its summer promo with strong momentum, locking in several new teams and cleaning up the mailing list in the process. I ran a “Free Forever” offer to encourage more sign-ups, a success that also helped identify who’s genuinely active and engaged. Using our Brevo platform and appropriate social media campaigns, the promo pulled in a mix of new users and familiar faces now on a grandfathered plan with unlimited user accounts.

From there, the focus shifted to Autumn plans to build and release our initial paid plans, along with the next big thing, a PETALS Conference. The idea is to bring organisations together next spring or summer to talk team health, psychological safety, and effective practices, not just PETALS itself. It’ll be hosted in the West Midlands, probably Birmingham, to keep it accessible, and I’m hoping to attract a mix of case studies, workshops, and fireside chats. More details in my video…

https://youtu.be/FSH8k0zO-g4

Away from work, I’ve been experimenting with Fitness Pomos, using Pomodoro-style 25-minute bursts to fit in exercise between meetings. It’s hit-and-miss, but it’s helping me make movement part of the day instead of an afterthought.

We also added a new member to the family, our puppy, Lady, who’s turned the house upside down in the best way. We’re back in bleary-eyed parent mode with late-night garden trips, but she’s absolutely adorable.

And of course, the biggest moment of the month, our son heading to university. He’s studying Modern History and Politics at Manchester, settling in well after a long summer of travel and time with friends. It’s been a huge change for us, but we couldn’t be prouder.

Other Stuff #

Some other geeky projects I've been dabbling in…

I continued tinkering with automation through IFTTT, connecting my Spotify, Monzo, Strava and other habit activity tracking.
Started experimenting with a new "Add To Cal" system to log Spotify plays, YouTube likes, and TickTick tasks into Google Calendar for a clearer look at how I spend time. I even tried to spin up an app with Cursor and Replit for the project, but neither delivered enough to keep going, so I binned those as useful experiments. Lesson learned; spend more time crafting the actual PRD properly and give some suitable contextual baselines. AI builds tend to perform much better with that foundation.
Over the summer, I leaned heavily on Cursor (especially when one-handed) to work on PETALS, House Finesse, and SuperRams, before switching to try ChatGPT Codex for future dev work as I was already paying for that monthly subscription.

Some movie highlights…

Recently watched The Roses starring Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch, incredible performances and a brilliant dark comedy twist on the original.
The Long Walk also stood out, a brilliant cast delivering an intense, emotional performance that’s stuck with me.
On the flip side, Thursday Murder Club had a great cast but, for me, pretty lacklustre performances.
And for pure nostalgia, I indulged in Team America: World Police from 2004, definitely dated and contentious, but still hilariously dark.

On the personal side, I’ve been building better habits and actually sticking to them:

Daily Yudoku & Solitaire challenges and at least 15-minutes Duolingo session (which now include music lessons).
Daily exercise, usually a 25-minute Pomodoro-style run or swim every work day, weekends off.
Weekday journalling after work, often chatting with ChatGPT to capture my ramblings and shape them into something useful.
Reading twice a week, sometimes audiobooks, currently alternating between Tim Berners-Lee’s autobiography (narrated by Stephen Fry, very strange hearing him verbalise code) and Ready Player Two on Spotify, something I read in dead-tree a few years back but still find quite cathartic to relax.
I gave daily Elevate challenges a go through August, but they didn’t quite stick, a bit too demanding without the same sense of reward.
My new Eufy smart scales (a birthday gift) have made it easier to track progress on Mondays and Fridays, spotting the difference between a week of workouts and a weekend of overindulging.

What’s Next #

Heading into Q4, I’m gearing up to launch and promote PETALS Plus and Premium plans, with new marketing campaigns to match. I’ll also on the bench to speak at TechMids in November and have another possible meetup lined up soon after. Lots more ideas brewing, and, hopefully, a bit more sleep now Lady’s settling in.

Q4 2025

2026-01-05T00:00:00Z

October #

Chatted with some students at Binghamton University in New York about the PETALS framework and how it has helped teams with improving psychological safety through real-world case studies (annoyingly, the recording didn’t work very well, only capturing my audio). What a fantastic milestone to know the framework is now influencing academics in business schools.

Test print of Lizzie’s first book using Amazon KDP and Canva for designs. Lots of lessons learned, but quite happy with the first-ever attempt with printing books.

I started using an AddToCal tag on my TickTick items that automatically sync with my “Personal” Google Calendar. It’s been really useful to see how I spend my time and handy for looking back for posts like this.

Had an idea: Can we feed all the House Finesse mix tracks and DJs into an LLM for easier discoverability? Not much work on this, but noted down and shared here for visibility.

Saw The Bodyguard at Oxford’s New Theatre - surprise birthday present for wifey. Impressive performances but as a Whitney fanboy, my expectations weren’t quite met by the main singer.

Hosted our first Lean Coffee Leaders MK on 15 October - a casual space for local tech leaders to meet up over a lunchtime coffee, discuss their own work focus and challenges, and share the knowledge with fellow peers. I’m starting it off as an organic word of mouth invite first but we will open it up later in 2026 when we've established the right cadence.

Spent some time with apprenticeship students through Working Options, sharing some personal insights on working in tech for the past 30 years(!)

Organised the Multipack 20th anniversary curry in Birmingham but couldn’t make it due to a clashing family birthday. We need to organise another one for Q1 that I have to attend.

Spent a bit of time on unstyled.com - my studio brand - showcasing some of the projects I’ve worked on over the past few years.

Discovered O'Reilly (the book publishers) highlighted PETALS as a useful framework for measuring team health on a Lead Dev panel discussion - further evidence this is organically spreading around the industry as a thing.

Tried some “hotpod yoga” on a free trial in the iconic Weedon Bec site. Safe to say it’s not for me yet, way too intense and difficult for a beginner who needs some more practice in a smaller space where I can be corrected.

Rest of the family had a week in Disneyland Paris whilst I looked after the dogs. Gave me a chance to spend some much-needed time with my best mate over a few games of pool.

Introduced the 4th member to our PETALS dev team, Sertan - a good friend who also witnessed the birth and evolution of the framework, regularly advocating in his roles, and is also super passionate about building cool stuff.

November #

The Boy returned home from uni for a week to study (and feed properly). Still nice to have him back with us.

Continued refining the PETALS app paid plans, how best to provide value for money while scaling features for end users but also sustainably supporting it's growth fairly.

Released the first few episodes of Managing Engineers podcast Season 2, which I’ve revived with Neil Younger, a fellow Engineering Manager at the Cooperative. We’re committing to 10 episodes and wanted to record at least three episodes before releasing for peer review feedback from our close trusted circles.

Spoke at the Tech Mids conference in Birmingham, my first appearance at a full-day event after doing evening meet-ups for a few years. Huge milestone personally and really satisfying feedback from those who attended (plus a handful of new app registrations).

Moved SuperRams.com over to Substack (derbycounty.substack.com) where we could try to rebuild our old DCFC community away from the toxicity of X.com. Interestingly, our BlueSky sister account continues to engage with loyal Rams.

Random coffee pairing with Sandeep and Paul S from the Agile in the Ether community. Always fun to spend time chatting with more tech leaders from across the industry. Many of these folks are from government services which is completely alien to me.

Tried to raise awareness and cash for Movember with my first ever full face fresh shave of my life. It really was a shock to the family, Mrs J tempted to leave me, daughter actually crying at the sight of me, but it worked as we raised over £1,000 as a team at Rightmove. Needless to say it’s a one-off but I am glad it was worth the effort.

Fell off a roof ladder and seriously sprained the soft tissue in my right ankle. At first, I thought it was a broken bone but A&E assessments decided it was muscle. Either way, I was laid up in bed for a few weeks, then stuck working from home until mid December.

Interesting chat with a huge international enterprise interested in licensing their own instance of the PETALS app for all the companies they consult. It's a model we've never considered before but it's certainly feasible and evidence our framework really needs to consider data ownership seriously.

December #

I committed to a daily video release with a PETALS Advent on the main (video) socials. This was quite an intense project but a chance to provide micro posts (2-3 minutes long) on all sorts of team health topics, some with a festive twist, but some quite generic. It was initially planned to be made in batches but that wasn’t always feasible. I still found quite a slick process outlining, recording, editing, releasing and promoting with the kit I have, mostly thanks to Descript and Buffer. Archives are available on Instagram, Tiktok and Youtube.

We also hit the healthy milestone of House Finesse’s 300th episode which I naturally hosted with a selection of some resident requests.

Another Working Options session with students at Sharnbrook Academy interested in the tech community. Always rewarding to engage with a younger audience intrigued by software careers and quite reassuring feedback from them all on how it went. Always happy to do this, so reach out if interested.

Spoke to Paul I and Adrian H from Agile in the Ether community. Big thanks to Emily Weber for keeping this community going.

Really enjoyed seeing a performance of The Nutcracker at our local Macready Theatre - part of the original Rugby School. First time I've seen ballet live and now seriously impressed by the talented people.

Spent a lot of time during my Christmas break migrating my WordPress blog of about 15 years to this new 11ty build. The main bulk of content was quite straightforward but there were also some custom post types that weren't as straightforward until I loaded the full MySQL dump into ChatGPT and asked the right questions. Try it!

For the inbetwixmas week, we managed to get a break to the Cornwall coast for the whole family plus doggies. Lovely time enjoying all the local towns including Par, Looe, Charlestown and many of the pubs & cafes.

6 Nations Calendar 2026 refresh

2026-01-09T00:00:00Z

I’ve updated my 6 Nations Calendar for 2026, and the biggest change this year is where it lives. I’ve moved hosting from Netlify to GitHub so the CI pipeline is closer to the codebase, easier to test locally, and simpler to maintain. Nothing wrong with Netlify at all, it’s just another service to keep tabs on and I want to keep the moving parts small.

As part of the migration, I’ve been leaning on tools like Google Jules to prepare content, optimise the framework implementation, and refine parts of the UI. I’ve not pushed it too hard, but the recommendations have been genuinely useful for spotting code smells and bad practices early.

On the visual side, I’ve made a few refinements too:

A new heading typeface from Google Fonts to add a bit more personality
A different background gradient to give the site a fresher feel
Club logos on the homepage for a stronger sense of identity
A slightly bolder footer message celebrating that it’s made in the home town of rugby football

I’ll keep tweaking things as I notice them through personal use and any feedback that comes in. I also want to keep a better record of changes going forward, possibly by using GitHub commit automation to help.

Q1 2026

2026-04-06T00:00:00Z

Fatboy Slim at Alexandra Palace, Raye in Manchester. A gastritis diagnosis after years of not knowing. Three rooms of William Morris wallpaper. PETALS Plus plans nearly live. Training underway for a 35km walk along the Jurassic Coast. A switch from ChatGPT to Claude. And a 973-day Duolingo streak still standing. Here's how Q1 2026 went - including how this post itself got made.

Life stuff #

January kicked off with a trip to see Derby County vs Stoke - a family tradition we've established between the Derby and Stoke fans in the family. I love those visits, even when the performances are disappointing. Which they often are. 🐏

After years of digestive issues I finally got an answer this quarter: gastritis. It's a relief to know it's nothing more serious, though the trade-off is rethinking my relationship with alcohol, spicy food and caffeine. Adjustments are ongoing.

It was a brilliant week for live music in February. Lizzy got me Fatboy Slim tickets at Alexandra Palace for Christmas - a long time coming as a fan who'd somehow never seen him live. I went with old uni friends and we made a weekend of it. Genuinely special. That same week, we took our daughter to see Raye in Manchester as her main Christmas present. Phenomenal show, Raye completely outshone her sisters as support acts. We also got time with our son at uni, and watching the siblings connect in that older, more grown-up way was one of those moments you tuck away.

Mrs J and I also had a cheeky weekend at Brownsover Hall, fresh from a renovation. Beautiful decor, great food, friendly staff and the indulgence package was very much worth it. Minor gripe: some of the younger staff needed a few prompts to keep the drinks coming, but nothing that dented the overall experience.

Training has started for a 35km walk along the Jurassic Coast at the end of May. We attempted London to Brighton years ago (100km) and made it to 58km before calling it. This one feels a lot more achievable.

Three rooms in the house have had a William Morris wallpaper makeover this quarter. Cloakroom, downstairs bathroom and stairs. Looks brilliant. Highly recommend going a bit bold with wallpaper if you've been sitting on the fence.

PETALS #

PETALS has had a productive quarter. The monthly newsletter is now a proper fixture, mixing product updates, industry opinions and prompts to try. Open and click-through rates are solid, though engagement is still something to work on.

I made the call to revert the PETALS Slack space to the free plan. A handful of external members were using it actively but it wasn't returning enough on the paid tier, so the mailing list is now the focus. We've also moved our weekly huddles from Slack to Google Meet, which gives us recordings, Gemini-powered analysis and shareable archives. A proper upgrade.

The Plus plans are nearly ready to go live after a lot of detailed work this quarter with Sertan and Brian. One of the more interesting things has been watching prompt engineering and spec-driven development play out in practice. We'll be writing that process up once the plans are live.

Side projects #

Managing Engineers has kept its roughly fortnightly rhythm with topics covering quality engineering, remote working, metrics, communities and AI.

House Finesse has had a bit of a reset for 2026. Seasons are now aligned to calendar years with week numbers, which feels tidier. Taylan has joined with a monthly residency slot, and we've reorganised the schedule with quarterly residencies from Sarah, Taiwo and Disco77. The rest of us fill in around that structure.

The HF VIP Club has had its own journey. I started on Substack but moved to Patreon after some concerns about company ethics. Engagement is still finding its feet and Patreon's newsletter setup is more complex than I'd like. The more exciting development is that Stu (aka LYP) and I have started recording monthly conversations about the house music scene, leaning into the expertise we've both built up over the years. It's a proper podcast format and it's on Spotify, currently exclusive to VIP Club members.

6nationscalendar.com got its annual refresh this quarter, plus some new social posts. Still ticking along nicely as a personal project that means I never miss a game. This year I finally added the Women's 6 Nations fixtures too. Only took me long enough.

I've paused the SuperRams.com Substack for now to focus energy on PETALS and House Finesse. The Bluesky community around Derby County is more active and engaged anyway, so that's where the attention will go when I pick it back up.

AI tooling #

This quarter I made the switch from ChatGPT to Claude as my primary LLM. The US military situation was a nudge, but the results have generally been better too, especially for coding. I've also been trying Gemini for certain tasks, and Google Jules has been genuinely useful for some lower-risk project work.

I've set up OpenClaw on my M4 Mac Mini (always on, always ready) and I'm exploring personal automation from chat prompts. Direct access via WhatsApp is already working and I've started experimenting with safe, read-only services like Spotify. Lots of potential here.

Oh, and these blog posts themselves. I've started brain dumping raw moments into Claude and letting it curate and shape them into something coherent. You're reading the results. It feels like a good use of the technology - my thoughts, my voice, just a bit more organised.

Other tech distractions #

I switched to Castro for podcast consumption this quarter. The chapters UX is excellent, though I'm still finding my way between the inbox and queue interface. Recent updates have made it more manageable though.

I also tried AutoMemo, an iOS app for quick audio notes on the go. The CarPlay version is genuinely handy for recording thoughts on the commute, but the audio quality isn't good enough to repurpose for podcast use, which was the dream.

Journaling on iOS has become a regular habit too. This is less "blog mode" and more personal reflection, checking in on how I'm feeling rather than just logging facts. One thing I really like is how it automatically detects and pulls in exercise activity, which makes it easier to spot the connection between movement and mood. It's helping me find my voice a bit more and be more considered about my wellbeing. Recommend it.

I gave the Comet browser a try and came away unimpressed. Not worth the data trade-off. Brave remains my default, Safari as backup. Chrome stays off the table.

And finally, the iOS app development rabbit hole; I started looking into building something custom for listening to my legal MP3 collection during workouts. It's definitely possible with AI assistance but life got in the way. One for the backlog.

Reading #

Two books keeping me company in the quieter moments this quarter.

I Love You, Byeee by Adam Buxton: a delightful autobiography from one of my podcasting heroes. Warm, funny, full of great anecdotes from a genuinely interesting career. Highly recommend if you're a fan.

The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman: a much weightier read, but thoroughly gripping. Suleyman co-founded DeepMind, sold it to Google, and is now CEO of Microsoft AI, so when he writes about the implications of AI and biotech convergence it carries real authority. Scary in places, essential in others.

Habit tweaking #

I've been getting more deliberate about tracking my Greek language learning this quarter. What started as a Google Sheet evolved into a Numbers spreadsheet with some Apple Intelligence shortcuts bolted on. I swapped out a ChatGPT call (which was parsing screenshots) for a local model instead, which feels cleaner. The payoff is being able to see granular accuracy trends that Duolingo only shows you after a long session - genuinely useful for spotting where you're slipping.

On the content creation front, I'm deep into a #Threads100 challenge, using Blacktwist to schedule daily posts. I'm on the home stretch now. It's less about the engagement numbers and more about rebuilding the habit, getting back into the rhythm I had on Twitter. I've also been syndicating selectively to Bluesky, Mastodon and LinkedIn via Buffer. Worth a special mention for Blacktwist itself - it's a great example of vibe coding a real-world app in public, and it's been genuinely inspiring to watch it take shape whilst using it as part of my daily routine. Exactly the kind of thing that makes the current AI development moment so exciting.

Fitness #

Metric	Q4 2025	Q1 2026	Change
Total activities	66	60	-6
Total distance	222.3km	229.9km	+7.6km
Total time	36.1hrs	44.9hrs	+8.8hrs
Walking sessions	25	40	+15
Walking distance	59.9km	130.6km	+70.7km
Elliptical sessions	25	15	-10
Elliptical distance	149.7km	96.3km	-53.4km
Swim sessions	9	2	-7
Weight training	5	2	-3
Longest single activity	7.9km walk	11.6km walk	+3.7km

December was almost a complete write-off due to an ankle injury, Q1 was pretty much recovery with walking taking over from elliptical as the primary activity. The Jurassic Coast challenge in May is providing good motivation to build up the strength.

Duolingo #

Metric	February	March
Avg daily XP	425	545
Avg accuracy	80%	90%
Streak (end of month)	934 days	973 days

Tracking started mid-February. Greek picked up in March ahead of the annual trip to Greece in August and a potential side project rebuilding the hotel website.

Podcast listening - Castro #

Metric	February	March	Change
Total listening time	27h 33m	42h 43m	+15h 10m
Episodes listened	38	57	+19
Podcasts	15	15	-

Combined: 70h 16m, 95 episodes. Switched to Castro in February from Fountain - January data unavailable.

On the subject of podcasting, I also posted a YouTube Short in February on Apple going all in with video podcasting and what it could mean for the space. Worth a watch if you're interested in where podcasting is heading…

https://youtube.com/shorts/llAQiOn4xoA