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Blog · May 4, 2019

All the right moves

All the right moves

Today I managed to earn this award on my Apple Watch - 1,000 move goals. I don't quite know how that's possible, especially since a burst of energy a month or two ago sent my move goal sky high. But I've got a good relationship with the goals on my watch now - not over-taxing myself to try and reach them and then burning out, but using them as motivation …

Blog · May 1, 2019

Invisibility isn't always a power

Invisibility isn't always a power

I'm currently listening to the audiobook Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez. It's focus is on the gender data gap - the ways in which the world is often unthinkingly designed for men and how that affects women in real and unexpected ways. I'm finding it hard going, not because of the book itself - it's well written, researched and read - but because the unintended and far-reaching consequences of …

Blog · April 30, 2019

Winter is coming... just a bit slower for me

Winter is coming... just a bit slower for me

Okay, Game of Thrones fans, look away now because I know you’re just enjoying some of the best episodes ever (apparently), but I am still miles behind you. Yes, that’s me, one of those people that gets caught up on the hype train at the very last minute and then has to watch seven seasons in about six weeks. I’m doing pretty well actually. I tried watching Game of Thrones …

Blog · April 27, 2019

Generate the blog that makes you feel better

Generate the blog that makes you feel better

It's been a long time since I made any significant changes to my blog and the system it runs on, and now, seemingly overnight, everything has completely changed. This isn't the work of a moment though. This is something I've been thinking about for at least three years. The problem I've used Wordpress for many, many moons now and whilst I've always thought it was functional in a way that …

Blog · April 26, 2019

Navigated with skill

Navigated with skill

Recently, I was given a handful of Cornish beers, the spoils of a trip to the South West coast, and one of them was Doom Bar. I know you can buy this in plenty of places around the country, but still, it's always a little bit more special when something comes to you from where it's actually made, isn't it? I'm not a big beer drinker really, but I wanted …

Blog · April 24, 2019

The Solar Express

The Solar Express

The most recent episode of Robert Llewellyn's Fully Charged YouTube series focused on the fun and future-proof idea of solar-powered trains. Electricity-powered trains are front and centre at the moment, with the ongoing works to upgrade the length of the Great Western Railway line, but this episode talks of a short track that goes just a little bit further. Based in Australia, where there is a little bit more sunshine …

Blog · April 23, 2019

Ten years of Film Watch

Ten years of Film Watch

I always start these anniversary posts with the warning that "I don't usually like to celebrate such things but here I am going to anyway." I have realised, though, that it's something to do with the ten year anniversary of things. That's the one I like because it's a nice round number and because it seems like a long time. Ten years is the one that Film Watch is celebrating. …

Blog · April 22, 2019

That's travel, man

That's travel, man

The little gem of a show that is Travel Man returned last week, and it debuted a new four-episode run with the wonderful guest star Dawn French. In case the show has passed you by, it features Richard Ayoade taking a celebrity guest on a whirlwind 48 hour trip to various holiday destinations. Previous episodes have featured Aisling Bea in Budapest, Jon Hamm in Hong Kong, and Paul Rudd in …

Blog · April 22, 2019

Rocketing through each hour

Rocketing through each hour

Beats 1, Apple’s live streaming radio service, has a lot of great content. It can be hard to keep on top of it, and I’ll admit it does lean towards the cooler end of the music spectrum than I would place my own listening habits. However, what they do well is getting a variety of guest presenters in to host a show and therefore airing lots of different tastes and …

Blog · April 15, 2019

100% but not the end

100% but not the end

Just a celebratory post to have reached 100% completion on the main Spider-Man game. I think this is the only game that isn’t Tomb Raider that I’ve played to completion. And yet somehow there is still more to do with three DLC expansions to get 100% on. It’s not like Marvel to have more content than it’s possible to keep up with!

Blog · April 12, 2019

Five reasons to love Fleabag

Five reasons to love Fleabag

If you pay any attention to TV and culture on the internet, you’ll likely have heard people raving about Fleabag. I’m sorry to say that I’m just going to add to the adoration here, because it really was that good. I have to admit, though, that I only caught on to the Fleabag bug recently, and revelled in the joy of binge-watching it. I actually have to go one step …

Blog · April 7, 2019

Fit and funny

Fit and funny

There’s always a big push these days to get people up and active and try and stem the sedentary lifestyles we have grown so used to. Given the many initiatives that are out there, I was wondering whether it wouldn’t be useful to have a celebrity or two making online videos that help try and show people how a) accessible and b) fun training and working out can be. It …

Film · March 29, 2019

Creed

Blog · March 28, 2019

Out of your hands

Out of your hands

It’s always been a surprise to people that, despite being someone who avidly followed Formula One for a good ten years, I really don’t care much for cars. Recently someone asked me what car I drive, the vehicle I have sat in pretty much every day for two years, and it took me about twenty minutes to remember. I’ve always loved the freedom and independence being a driver gives you, …

Blog · March 28, 2019

Start with a black screen

Start with a black screen

It doesn’t matter what you think of Apple or their offerings this week from the latest announcement event. This video, that kicked off the reveal of their TV+ programming, is special. Simple and pure, somehow moving and momentous, really digging into the wonder that is creativity. I could watch it over and over, I really could. And whilst we’re on the subject, I’m fascinated to see what Apple’s foray into …

Blog · March 24, 2019

Don't call me, call Kevin

Don't call me, call Kevin

A while back I stumbled across the YouTube channel of Call Me Kevin, a gamer who posts ten minute videos of how brilliant he is at doing badly. The commentary makes it all, of course, hilarious thoughts as he manages to create sprawling Sims houses with grumpy adults bumping into each other, or horrifying zoos with enclosures stuffed to the brim with hippos and the occasional keeper trying to keep …

Blog · March 24, 2019

Goodbye list, hello life

Goodbye list, hello life

I’m retiring my Life List for a few reasons but mostly because it’s been around for ten years and I’ve not achieved very much of it. The reasons behind having a list are still good, I do think it’s useful to have a bit of inspiration for achievable goals, if you need it. But I’ve found, probably since I started the list, that it’s not inspiration I’m lacking, it’s time. …

Blog · March 17, 2019

Swift lessons

Swift lessons

Learning Swift programming isn’t easy, but I must admit the language has stuck with me far more than any other attempts I’ve made to learn programming languages in the past. I credit much of that to the 100 Days Of Swift schedule that I mentioned last time – a brilliantly structured path that gives you code snippets to learn, example apps, and challenges to keep practicing. With that in mind, …

Blog · March 3, 2019

Get home before the morning comes

Get home before the morning comes

I recently finished watching Russian Doll on Netflix, the show created by Natasha Lyonne and Amy Poehler, featuring the former as Nadia who relives the same night over and over. It’s Groundhog Day-style drama and although it was a bit of a rollercoaster to get there, by the end, I really loved it. Here are a few thoughts: The good thing about reliving the same time period over and over …

Blog · February 25, 2019

Podcast of the Month - The Good Place

Podcast of the Month - The Good Place

Whilst I am up to date with The Good Place (makes a change!), I hadn’t realised there was a podcast from the makers that dated back to the end of series one. Recently I heard some chatter about how good the podcast was, and so I quickly subscribed and started catching up. The chatter was right, this show is really good. Obviously you should only listen if you have watched …