JFC writing is hard.

Got my ears pierced yesterday. Today I have no idea what I was thinking. I do not like hassle or tribulations. Having wounds on my ears that have to be kept dry and clean is both a hassle and a tribulation.

Proof, too, that how you are towards trans people is compelling evidence of whether you are a good quality human being.

It's the first cold, clear, crisp day of the season and I am drinking every drop of it up like nectar.

Taking a writing day today to work on something about AI, disintermediation and the end of the free web. The notes are coming in at 8000 words...I really need to exert some self-control on this one.

Didn't stir my porridge before microwaving it, so the protein powder I added sat at the bottom and formed a solid puck. Curiosity and science demand that I try and eat it, right?

Just been to see Die My Love. Jennifer Lawrence gives such an incredible, riveting performance.

Had to tranquilise the dog yesterday (she cannot tolerate fireworks). She slept through everything, which was great. But today she's on a massive comedown and it's very sad to see. Tried to take her out for a short walk, and she just sat down, refused to move, and gave me the Paddington hard stare.

I'm wearing a big billowy dramatic sheer black silk dress today, and enjoying the fact that it looks almost-but-not-quite like a Halloween costume.

Today has been a transport disaster. Except for Brighton's new 3X bus route. Truly the Japanese bullet train of Brighton bus routes: Hove Station to almost my doorstep in no time at all.

Today is a strong candidate for worst commute of the year. The two preceding London trains were cancelled, so this one is rammed with commuters and half term families. Someone has committed an atrocity in the toilet, the smell of which has permeated the whole carriage, creating a frisson of disgust.

My gym app tells me the total I've lifted at the end of each session. Today's total was 4600kg - slightly more than a large male hippo.

Who else's brain is 100% Lily Allen lyrics today?

Trying to verify my identity with Companies House is one of the most painful digital experiences I've had in a long time. Think I'm going to have to give up and go to the Post Office to do it IRL. You know the digital experience is bad if I'm willing to go to the Post Office.

Really enjoyed One Battle After Another. Story is great, pacing is great, Teyana Taylor is great, LDC is great, score is great, and there's an absolutely incredible set of villains to hate.

Just when I think all the eccentrics have been gentrified out of Brighton: The path out of my office building is blocked by a couple sitting on the front steps with a loose, live chicken.

Have been tracking the growth of a giant puffball mushroom in the woods for a few weeks. Went to check on it and someone has stomped on it. On the one hand, I'm sad I don't get to see how big it would have got. On the other, I get it. It was begging to be stomped on and probably felt amazing

On a bus listening to a 2nd year American student try and explain how buses work to a first year American student. Neither of them had even got a bus before moving to the UK. It's kind of fascinating.

Never in my life had such a good foraging year for apples, cherryplums, damsons, sloes, bullace, hawthorn, apples...early though and literally rotting on the trees now

I've just published a report sharing the findings from a survey into the prevalence and effectiveness of different organising structures for content teams. (Thanks if you took part!) lapope.com/2025/09/22/u...

Do not use Gemini in Google Sheets for any kind of data analysis. Just tried it for some very simple survey analysis,and when I double-checked the results, there were discrepancies. Dug into it, and it seems to be inventing things.

Snuck out of work to watch Eddington yesterday afternoon. Was really interested to see Ari Aster doing something other than horror, and I enjoyed it. Joaquin Phoenix was brilliant (as always) but what I can't stop thinking about was the incredible way digital life was woven into the film.

Found a sweet spaniel pup today and reunited her with her people. I only thought about stealing her for half a second. This is the third lost dog I've found, and the only one wearing a collar and tag. She was back with her family in under 15 mins.

Feeling affronted that no one told me about Falafel House on St James's Street in Brighton. The best falafel I've ever had, and it was only £6.50. The pickles are so good I want to go back and buy a bucket-full.

Wellies and Mac were never out of the question for the first week of September, but I had hoped summer might hang on a bit longer.

Planted the first of my bulbs for the spring today. I've really loved tending our little pot-based garden this summer, and all the noticings: a new stem, a bud opening, visiting birds and bugs and butterflies, even the caterpillars that totally stripped the nasturtiums.

Saw Sorry, Baby today. Wholeheartedly recommend it (with a big content warning for r#pe) - it's so sharply written, but tender and emotional.

@mummarahingazza.bsky.social Sorry - I can't read the DMs you sent me as I can't verify my account. Have donated and shared some posts. Thinking of you and your family x

The algorithms are really pushing Florence and the Machine on me hard at the moment. I know it seems like a match, but I am unmoved and apathetic.

28% of children in your city live in poverty, Peter. But sure, Chat GPt premium for all is what the country needs. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

My neighbour - who has multiple dogs - has covered his garden in rugs and plastic matting. It smells exactly like you would imagine.

Well yes, I have procrastinated all morning, but I've switched my energy tariff, and my phone and pet insurance providers. Now looking for more domestic admin to wile away the afternoon.

Predictably obsessed with Gladys from Weapons. Also, I think I have a little crush on Josh Brolin now.

I feel totally sick and stupid posting about work stuff at the moment. Fiddling while Rome burns.

I wrote a guide to organising structures for content teams, with 5 different frameworks for dividing up the work, interacting with stakeholders, making decisions, and getting great content made. lapope.com/2025/08/18/o...

Asked to chair an event about AI. Unasked when I mentioned that I have a critical perspective.

Two proposal rejections in one day have done little for my luteal phase rage and despair.

My perfect-angel-light-of-my-life-best-dog-in-the-world is 5 today.

The TLDR is: the court thinks the issues in our case are so complex and important that it will consider them in full in November. Businesses shouldn’t rush ahead and follow the guidance, as it’s not set in stone. The fight goes on. goodlawproject.org/update/updat...

I'm at the cinema waiting for Harvest - a folk horror film - to start. I'm sitting next to two people who have loudly declared their disapproval and disgust at all the horror trailers. This is going to be interesting. (They also said they didn't know Stephen King wrote horror.)

My weird talent is booking gym sessions/yoga classes where no one else turns up. I end up getting private sessions at least once a month, and I'm not sure if I love it or hate it.

Allow me a brag: I've been running sprints all year with a small charity client to help them define a content strategy. The whole org has been involved in different points. The head of finance and ops just emailed me to say what a great process it's been and how much they've got out of it.

The image that should form in your mind as you read this thread is of loving families desperately fighting to keep their kids healthy and alive whilst being harried at every turn by the NHS, social services, the police, the British media, and the Labour Government. If this isn't fascism what is?

How anxious is my dog? Well this morning in a cafe a man did a totally normal sneeze two tables over, and Tilda got so scared she tried to climb into my bag and hide. (Sh'e 11kg and way too big for that.)

Cut my scrolling/trackpad thumb on a mandolin and the giant plaster is totally ruining my flow today.

Just had one of those stakeholder interviews that leave you wondering: Am I a strategist or a therapist?

Tried to fit my 50mins workout into 35mins so I wouldn't be late for meeting. I am now puce, look like I've been for a swim, and slightly shaky.

I forgot to share this here when I published it a few weeks ago: a zine and article about creativity and content, and why I think content leaders should be prioritising nurturing creativity lapope.com/2025/06/12/b...