January was a month of reflection, rest and rediscovery. February is a month of self-love, consistency and pushing forward. Goals for the month include getting back to 10K training, more healthy home cooked meals and reorganising my inventory. Let’s get it. 💪🏻

In gamedev, we joke about how we shouldn't care so much because "we ain't curing cancer" so chill, right? But you know what? These last few weeks reminded me that the Arts, esp accessible Art like videogames is incredibly important because games have a big place in sculpting cultural norms.

Lovely dinner with my girl Julie at Yügo in Belfast this evening. Some crispy pork dumplings and chicken katsu with the signature Yügo sour to wash it down. Definitely worth the trip for some Japanese style tapas.

Started watching #SonicPrime lately. It’s definitely not the same writing style as Sonic Boom which tickled my funny bone. I’m still enjoying it though, the story arc seems well thought out and I’m pleasantly surprised with the voice acting and the art style. Very seamless animation.

Been in thinking mode since waking up at 6am this morning and thought I’d put these thoughts to the @ivgorchestra.com artistic team. @adamc.ivgorchestra.com didn’t appreciate my productive efforts.

Doing my utmost to stay on top of my health this year. Had to fight every comfort zone/time micromanagement nerve today just to get myself out for a 30min walk. Simultaneously feeling very defeated from fighting my brain and pleased that I got some fresh air today.

I would absolutely cuddle the crap out of this cat.

Been a busy day of admin for @ivgorchestra.com so far, now on teaching some Rock & Pop and Musical Theatre vocals alongside a few violin students.

Song of the day: “Ophelia” by The Lumineers.

Algorithm check-in as we’re fast approaching February. If you enjoy content and are interested in: ▪️Music education ▫️Classical music ▪️Video game music ▫️Embroidery ▪️Baking ▫️Arranging music ▪️Book reviews ▫️The Legend of Zelda ▪️The Elder Scrolls ▫️Halo ▪️Miscellaneous nonsense Then like away! #promosky

Coffee’s made, breakfast has been ingested, admin is on the go. New week, let’s be having ya.

It’s OK to buy games at launch. It’s OK to buy games on sale. It’s OK to play games via a subscription service. It’s OK to borrow games from your friends. It’s not OK to shame others for how they access gaming. Financial situations are different for everyone. Be kind about it.

Saw #Nosferatu in cinema today. As someone not too fond of the horror genre, there was something quite poetic about the story and cinematography of this film. Wouldn’t recommend eating your dinner before watching it though, there are some graphic scenes in the mix.

Hunkered down in the house as #StormEowyn makes its way across Ireland. Everyone claiming it was due to die down around 2pm might be mistaken. Trees behind our building are doing some Pilates fighting against the wind.

Battening down the hatches ahead of #StormEowyn coming in. Crazy to think all to Ireland is being hit with a red alert and potentially reaching wind speeds that land us in category one hurricane territory. I need a break from extreme weather.

With Storm Eowyn about to hit Ireland, I’ve been offered the option to take online lessons again for the next few days rather than travel to the music school. Honestly would rather chop my own arm off. Online lessons are so much more draining than in-person because of technical faff.

A not taken on the same day before and after of a woman who needed her natural hair colour back for a while. Mostly to save money post-Christmas but also because this is my take no shit hair colour as I prepare to take 2025 by a very quiet but still takes leaves off the trees storm. 💇‍♀️

This hits a little too close to home and is probably why not being able to finish #TearsoftheKingdom until I have collected every single thing and finished every possible side quest in the game feels like less work than it is.

The vibe in my hairdresser’s salon is unmatched.

Busy musician life day today. Morning lessons until noon, quick lunch and a walk, vocal practice until 2pm, lesson prep until 3pm, evening lessons until 9pm. Coffee needed.

While applicable to so many people today, this is definitely a reminder for all people every day. We all gotta take care of ourselves. ❤️

New week, new affirmation, new page in the book. Feeling productive and more aligned with myself this week. Finally over the post-Christmas slump and ready to tackle a few more areas that I want to review in my life for the year ahead.

Currently playing the Kingmaker campaign in #Pathfinder with potentially the squishiest party and our Witch just critical failed trying to climb down a wall as we are attempting to sneak into the big bad’s fort. We may not survive the night.

Not just January getaways, Blue Monday has also become a retail marketing campaign like Black Friday. Don’t be tempted by the influx of emails from retail companies in your inbox if you are struggling financially post Christmas.

Ok, finally decided that the Nouda shrine in #TOTK is officially the worst because I know how to solve the puzzle and am placing a stack of metal balls in the same place in the path and watching it go off in a different direction each time because game physics sucks.

Sundays are for lying in, brunching, lots of tea, gaming and dreading the inevitably of Mondays.

The reality of practicing diploma music. Constant tuning adjustments trying to get a clean run of the end of Hummel’s Fantasie for Viola. 30mins on the last page alone full of sighs, death stares at my own instrument and confusion.

The beginning of the Halo Legendary runs has finally taken place tonight alongside my brother. Got to The Silent Cartographer in CE before calling it a night. Never have I appreciated the plasma pistol more.

Goals for 2025: 🔹 Up-skill in my field as much as possible. 🔹 Save a crap ton of money. 🔹 Play a lot more games - not necessarily new games, just turn my consoles on more. Basically, I might become a proper hermit this year.

2025 in a nutshell…

Ran my first timed 5K last Sunday in aid of Cancer Focus NI. Haven’t quite recovered but it was well worth it just to feel the accomplishment of making it around the streets of Belfast.

Truth!

Currently putting together a recording schedule plan of Christmas covers for YouTube. Mixture of viola, violin and singing in mind. Suggestions for songs are very welcome.

Guess I'm where the sky is blue now. Time for some serious business alongside nonsense. Which could be the tagline of my autobiography.