Spent far too much of today doing my uni assignment. It’s been rewarding so far - I’ve been exploring a website prototype and critically analysing how accessible and usable it is from the perspective of a user with additional needs. Next, I’ll be implementing some suggested improvements. It’s fun 😁

Picked up FFXII: The Zodiac Age in the Steam sale. Let’s go nostalgia, I remember playing the original on PS2 as a teenager and being blown away by how far games had come since I was a little kid.

It’s a Sisters of Mercy kinda day 🖤

I never learned how to type properly, like a lot of people I’ve just been winging it. For the last few weeks I’ve been trying to learn to touch type & I’m finally getting to a point where I can manage slow speeds semi consistently. I still default to my old style & have to remind myself not to.

There’s a really big, old, crusty ginger cat that hangs around my neighbourhood and I hadn’t seen him all through the winter months. Given how dishevelled he looked, I feared the worst, but I saw him again today. Tentatively, I approached him and gave him some strokes & he let out the biggest meow ❤️

My doctor has told me to give up all tea, even decaf, even herbal. As a Brit, I’m finding this unfathomable.

Buckling in to watch the new episode of Industry. Been looking forward to this.

Back at work today! I’m feeling fresh and rested for the first time in months. Let’s see how long that feeling lasts.

Just passed my driving theory test last night, which means I can officially book a practical test. That’s a whole challenge in itself - between the bots and scalpers and massive backlog, it’ll be at least April/May before I can do it. Not that I’m anywhere near ready - lots more practice needed.

It’s always a struggle to think for the rest of the day after a driving lesson. It seems to totally exhaust my brain. Hoping that it becomes easier soon - I’ve been learning since April and I still find it quite overwhelming. Guess I must be a slow learner!

I feel somewhat bereft now that my massage course has concluded. Even though I know I need the rest, I really want a new learning adventure.

Stay awhile and listen. 🔊🎶 (Matt Uelmen - Tristram Village)

Today I got the news that I passed my exams for my massage therapy course 😁 It’s taken a lot of hard work over the last 6 months and I am so glad it’s paid off. With how stressful it was, I feel like I need many massages to recover 😂

Time for a cosy Sunday afternoon read. Brain is still feeling super slow but hopefully I can handle this.

Driving in Leeds be like… (glad it’s not me who has to do it)

Burnout is a crafty fucker - it let me think I had just about scraped through all of the big obligations I had, and then loudly announced itself by sitting me on my arse after a stomach bug and not letting me get up again. Even yoga feels too strenuous right now. Guess I’ve gotta take it easy.

Looking at gaudy Rightmove listings whilst listening to the build music from The Sims is becoming a new favourite pastime.

The agony of finding a song which I want to play on loop all afternoon but it loops terribly 😭

Japan Railway Journal is just so delightful. Thanks NHK World for making this available to me 😂 I love being able to do deep dives on various Japanese trains for no reason.

Now that the wedding is all done and dusted, I can actually focus on other things, like trying to meet new people in this city of mine. Or… I could get a motorbike license and drive many miles down the road to my old city and my long term friends. The license feels more doable 😅

At some point I’ll post about testing and development again… but at the moment I’m far too excited about other things, like the fact I’ve just bought some lovely new kitchen knives. The catalyst for the purchase was the fact I bruised my palm chopping some butternut squash. That was a step too far.

Hey everyone, I’ve been away a while and it’s because I got married! Hoping to finally have some headspace for online things again. Sorry to those who already saw the old post!

Yesterday all my worst pairing fears came to pass - I hopped on a call with a senior, got a massive headache and totally forgot how to code. Couldn’t even figure out how to get the First() item from a list or how to do a Select 💀 He was lovely about it, but goddamn I wish this wasn’t a thing.

People say don’t cry over spilled milk but what about spilled olive oil? The cost of this little incident alone is enough to make me tear up a little.

Pretty Hate Machine again? Oh go on then. I still haven’t found many albums better than this.

Bloodstock was awesome 🤘 Machine Head and Ministry absolutely killed it. We had some mega friendly campmates too. So good to feel that sense of belonging whilst also being pummelled by loud noises.

M&S have changed their “combo mix” crisps… I saw the packaging had changed and my heart sank. The tube shaped ones now have a stale texture and are just not as crunchy and satisfying. Curse my senses for noticing things like this. Why must the relentless push for “line go up” ruin my fave snacks?

There’s a massive difference between learning something because I want to, and learning something because I have to. The last while, it’s mostly been because I have to. I miss having the space to fall into a wiki hole for an evening!

Today’s vibes: open.spotify.com/album/1UBjGs...

So this was definitely on purpose, right? 😂

I never thought I’d see the day where developers voluntarily turn themselves into testers, but that’s exactly what they’re doing by inviting LLMs to create outputs from requirements they helped refine which they have to check for errors afterward. Obviously the tester skillset is valuable then.

Wow, I have a pretty severe case of Fuck Mondays.

Why is proper food so unappetising when it’s hot? All I managed for lunch was a yoghurt, a bit of granola and an ice lolly.

Too hot. Gonna watch the wiggly lycra men haul their bicycles around France for a while.

Life’s hard, bake babka. (It’s gluten free too)

Why is it so hard to find folks on my wavelength in this city? Where are you all hiding? 😂

After a rough work week, I’d have thought all the extra work for my massage course would have been impossible. But every time I’ve dipped into it I have felt energised, whether that’s giving a massage, attending a webinar, writing up reports or studying. It’s surprising me with how enjoyable it is.

Coming up to a year in my current role, which is awesome… only now I’ve got an email saying all my mandatory training videos are expiring and I’ll have to watch them all again 😭

Hilarious that I had hoped to meet some local friends at the course I’m doing and pretty much everyone I’ve spoken to does not live in my city. I am cursed 😂😭

Massage therapy course starts tomorrow. Very excited to meet lots of new people and build up a skill I very much enjoy using 😁

Office day on 4 hours sleep? COME AT ME BRO

Got back from my driving lesson (which was awesome, btw) and I was greeted by these little guys 😍

Excitement! There’s a new Freezepop album and it’s banging. This week may yet be saved. open.spotify.com/album/2r9XWJ...

It’s gonna be a grumpy Friday. Here’s a photo of my lovelies all snuggled in together.

Went to a book club tonight where I didn’t know anyone. It took *a lot* to go as I’m still pretty burnt out. No idea what’s normal at these things but I said some stuff, got some nods. Everyone seemed to know each other already. Hopefully I’ll get some more social links in this city soon…

_thunderclap_

Has anyone learned to drive in their 30s or older? I’m struggling with energy levels being low and life getting in the way. My lessons have only been fortnightly for the last couple and each time I’m losing my muscle memory.

I bought a bundle of ebooks recently and was disappointed to find that one of them was obviously entirely AI slop. I don’t understand the mentality of claiming you’re an author when you didn’t actually put the work in.

I identify with this mouse more than I should. It needs to recharge in a very impractical way at the most inconvenient time and cannot function while it does so. Big mood.

Another day, another inappropriate AI tool 🫠