2025-01-03 21:54
In an attempt to diversify the content that I post, I've decided to start recording my favourite tune of the week.
Notes (Page 3)
2024-12-31 10:23
Our shiny new diverter valve actuator motor arrived today and we have hot water again! It's only when you can't have a hot shower or run hot water to wash the dishes that you realise just how much we take it for granted.
No hot water
Today, a rather important part of our boiler - the bit that controls whether heat is applied to the central heating system or to the taps - decided to die.
It died whilst set to heat the central heating, meaning that the house is lovely and warm but we have no hot water to wash with.
At least I now know what a diverter valve actuator motor is. Every cloud.
Curved monitors
Used a curved monitor at the office today for the first time. Seems silly/obvious now that I've used one, but it didn't really occur to me that horizontal lines on the screen are slightly curved and I'm not sure I like it. Won't be rushing out to buy one anytime soon.
Marilyn Monroe
Sometimes things fall apart, so that better things can fall together.
Marilyn Monroe
Similar:
Some things have to end for better things to begin.
Unknown
2023-07-13 12:43
Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles, it takes away today's peace.
Randy Armstrong
Hob: The Definitive Edition
I picked up a copy of Hob: The Definitive Edition after it went on sale in the Nintendo Switch eShop back in January. It had been sat on my wishlist for a few years, so it was good to finally get to play it.
Probably the most impressive thing about the game is the world itself. Trees, grass and lush vegetation on the surface, with machinery and cogs underground. That machinery springs to life when you solve puzzles or unlock the next area of the map, moving huge parts of the scenery in such a satisfying way.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. My only gripe was that the game did chug a bit during visually intensive moments, but that's more of a limitation of the Switch hardware than the game itself.
Ellie's first family portrait
Susan and I were left feeling all warm and fuzzy inside this week when Ellie brought home her first family portrait from preschool.
All three of us have been drawn wearing red lipstick, so I can only assume that the one in the middle with the biggest belly and head is me!
2022-09-20 12:25
After 10 days off, which included a bank holiday for the Queen's funeral (that fortuitously extended my time off by another day), it's back to work for me.
Time off always seems to go by quickly, and, whilst this past week was no different, it did feel like a good break. Despite catching a slight cold, I feel rested and ready to go again.
7 weeks until my next break. Let's go!
2022-09-17 12:05
Each morning, when I open the curtains in her bedroom, Ellie says, “The colours are back!”. It's so cute that she thinks the colours go to sleep at night.
2021-12-20 00:00
No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.
Socrates
2021-06-27 12:25
- The week is off to a miserable start with heavy rain. It's actually pretty chilly, too. But then shorts and tshirt is my go-to remote working attire of choice.
- An Etch office poll to see if staff prefer to stack cups up or down on shelves provides incredibly divisive (I stack mine facing down).
- England won last night (Tuesday) to finish top of Group D. They'll face the runner up of Group F, which'll be either France, Germany or Portugal. 😬
- Lots of meetings today (Wednesday). Spent some time researching font rendering in browsers. I feel like there's more I can be doing in this area to make website text look better.
- Got a client meeting coming up for some idea generation. Also took part in the weekly Etch Play live show on Twitch.
- Finishing the week with some Figma prototyping.
2021-03-18 17:43
As of today, I have officially been working remotely for an entire year. It weirdly seems like a long time yet has somehow passed quickly.
Part of me always thought I would work remotely one day but the pandemic has made that a reality much sooner. It may have forced us all into remote working but for me that's the way it's going to stay, too, now Etch are a remote-first organisation.
Twelve months ago I started a remote working timeline to document how I was feeling and some of the big pandemic updates that were happening. I managed to keep that going until day 173, by which point it had become incredibly boring and repetitive but it was definitely a worthwhile exercise during a difficult time.
Annual leave during Covid
I've always been pretty bad at remembering to book time off, sometimes going months and months before taking a break. It's something that I've gotten worse at during the pandemic. In my mind, I reduce the importance of any time off by telling myself, "I can't go anywhere anyway!".
It's a weird way of thinking because time off during the pandemic has actually felt less stressful than during 'normal' times. You can't go anywhere or see anyone, so there's no expectation that you need to make the most of your break by doing something every single day.
Sounds like good downtime. Now, if I can just remember to spread the rest of my annual leave evenly throughout the rest of the year...
2014-03-28 21:00
One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.
Master Oogway, Kung Fu Panda