I have been thinking about a career change for a number of years, but without much direction. I have worked in the UK finance sector for over 20 years, and within finance teams doing various roles for over 25. I'm a maker at heart, but also technical and would like some way to balance these more […]

Taking a trip back in time this weekend, currently looking through a coin collection I haven't seen since I was a child - currently hunting for one specific coin. There will be a photo if I find it! At some point I have a couple of tins containing letters, cards and "autograph" books and also […]

And the final version of "The Positively Positive Heffalump". I'm fairly happy with this one, it's a thank you card/picture for someone who has been looking after me at work though various health issues this year. #mastoart #mentalhealth #makers

RE: https://cupoftea.social/@teabynameteabynature/115804236617936475 I feel like this may need to be a 2026 reality now? I need more books and projects to stop the doom scrolling, and a more solid career backup plan. #mentalhealth #doomscrolling

I wouldn't say I have a reading list but I haven't read this much in years. I started "Witch King" by Martha Wells in mid-December, which I enjoyed immensely (waiting now for the second installment). Once that was complete, I then re-read "Fifth-Season" by N.K. Jemisin, and have now finished […]

A tad distracted with Luanti today, after having the "spawn in rock" bug yesterday, I updated to full Luanti from the old MineTest under Linux Mint, then transferred everything I had already built. Building my second "Portal-esque" complex in a fabulously […] [Original post on cupoftea.social]

Finally got moving on my project, "rough" draft now done, resulted in a forgotten half cup of tea. Meet the Positively Positive Heffalump #mastoart #mentalhealth

Today's conversation with myself while starting a project: - You should have started earlier - That cutting mat is too small, any idea where the larger one is? - Why do you start the day before you want it finished - I might be too stressed for this - Stop procrastinating with something else […]

I really wish I didn't come up with last minute ideas when I have a busy weekend. Especially one's where I can only half visualise what I want to do.. Think heffalump, yellow raincoat and sou'wester, dancing in a puddle wile wearing sunglasses and waving a rainbow umbrella, and maybe frog […]

Had a spare while, so started reading a new book. Witch King by Martha Wells, just one chapter, but to far so good, interested to see where this goes. Having a comment by N. K. Jemisin is a good sign, as another new to me author in the past year. #bookstodon #fiction

Unusually, I'm going to do a three good things: 1. Finally got an all clear letter through for my annual scan that I've been having since I was 28. I know they'd call be back quickly if they found something, but the confirmation makes me breathe easier. 2. Nice catch up with an old boss before […]

Unusually I came away from the local supermarket grinning like a fool tonight, the store seems to have upped the anti on their playlist in terms of volume and content, not just Christmas songs which is a blessing for the staff. Cher wasn't doing it for me tonight though lol On making my way to […]

There's a few off the wall things I'd like in a house, two are train related. Always liked the idea of a model railway that ran between rooms via the walls, low enough that you could see it and high enough it wouldn't get in the way, but also big enough you might be able to send something […]

Amazon might not notice that you stopped shopping with them* but if you take that same modest bit of disposable income and spend it on art bought directly from artists, the small electronics projects of your friends, helping people in dire financial situations and the the local theater all of […]

This is a bit of a calling all cars situation. I didnt expect the server bill to be quite as high this month and combine that with media bill both have gone out and left me £234 out of pocket. Combine that with food and other bills. I bought a vinyl cleaning machine last week since it was […]

Fun thing from last night, my right eye decided to have a strobe lighting effect all on its own for a few minutes, didn't matter if it was closed or all external light blocked out. This was once I'd gone to bed. Not sure if this is something to keep an eye on being a migraine sufferer? #eyehealth

Swedish band - check, fun total strangers to sit next to - check, for added bonus make those strangers Swedish ladies - check. I went, I saw, I listened, I boogied and sang, and maybe Lena will never be as good as Marie Fredriksson, but it was a fantastic night and I'm very glad I came up for […]

Green space break, can tell the squirrels are getting ready for winter, they are chonky. One squirrel keeps having a bit of a to do with a crow so may need to find extra nuts #greenspace #mentalhealth #squirrel

Train one into London, then probably head east for lunch and a wander in a favourite haunt. I never buy anything but do find a few curiosities, depends which market is on. Then head north west on the Hammersmith line for tonight's gig. Going solo to gigs is fun but daunting when it's in "town" […]

I swear there is a tea goblin, and they pop in when I'm not looking and take a few swigs of my tea. How does it go so fast otherwise? #cots #tea

Low spell slot error, is it bed time yet? #mentalhealth

Shuffle has given me back to back Matchbox Twenty so far - Unwell, 3AM and How Far We've Come... Pretty apt if you ask me #mb20 #matchboxtwenty #playlist

Just caught up on the posting, ah 1995 must have been when I started losing connection with the UK music chart and didn't have an alternative other than to head back in time. Wasn't a Britpop kid, was never into the boy bands other than the odd tune, and the incoming Hip Hop/RnB, very much felt […]

Lots of animated tooting in the tootumsphere for #totp tonight. Thoroughly enjoying this, getting a good picture of what's actually on the "box" 😆

Today I was introduced to: I don't have ducks or a row I have squirrels And they are at a rave I appended this to include: And one is in the corner Rocking With tears in its eyes It's also possible that two are having a row 🐿️ I did really well at work on Monday, team of 4 was a team of 2 […]

Cooking a chicken and cumin curry, headphones on and shuffling along to what ever comes on... So far Nickelback and Four Non Blondes... No judging please, next it could be Country, Shakira or P.P. Arnold 😊 #music #mentalhealth

3 years ago today. I decided I didnt want to be on Musk's twitter when he bought it. Went off to find an instance that was more local and the big one couldnt handle the traffic at the time so I made COTS as an idea. Seems it worked somewhat ? Happy Birthday Cupoftea.social #cupofteasssocial

I think the MET office left out an adjective in the forecast this morning, the showers are decidedly wintery here, if not bordering on sleet. Are they being too cautious? #ukweather

Today's tea marks the start of a couple of days productive break. Car is in for service, need to do a major update to the laptop and see if I can finally move to a newer kernel and not turn it into a brick. May also try and do some writing or even sketching […] [Original post on cupoftea.social]

A lonely nasturtium flower has bloomed this week on the windowsill of my office, it's a little out of place with the cold weather in the UK this week.

It's been a week, month, year, whatever, and I know there are lots of people with a hell of a lot more to worry about than me, but really feel like I'm at the bottom of a mineshaft and I can't see the light at the top. Feeling really stuck. #mentalhealth

Strange day, brain has not been kind to me, but got a interesting idea in my head yesterday, which I wrote some dialog for while cooking dinner. I now have manged to get some words on paper, that includes a heated discussion over whether a goblin gets to keep wearing a cast iron saucepan […]

That's my monthly donations to my admins done. They do a lot of work to keep things running smoothly and up to date, so if you can spare a few coins for them, I'm sure they would appreciate it! #cots #thegamerstavern

Gah! Someone needs to tell our IT team not to push updates on a Friday. Made the mistake of allowing laptop to update before I head home, currently doing laps around the office while it grinds through them lol

When you should have channeled your inner rock star at the supermarket but instead are going to rock your sunglasses while cooking dinner. Suspect migraine rumbling since this morning, hoping it's only minor not a major one, those can get scary #migraine

I dont know if I havent added something up properly or someone cancelled their membership donation. However, we need £24 from one off payments to reach our goal by Friday. If you havent donated to keeping the lights on at COTS this month id appreciate it. https://ko-fi.com/cupofteasocial […]

Another "doodle" today, this one is of my Elder Scrolls Online Khajiit, Ji'Sari, also a quite peculiar cat. The basis of the drawing was a screenshot taken a few years back where the familiar looked like it had something to say, so Ji'Sari crouched down to listen. #mastoart #eso #thegamerstavern

Always thought there should be an alternative version of the Spice Girls, members including Old Spice, Mixed Spice, Furry Spice* We never did quite name the rest... *Furry spice being my alternate name for ground coriander, always looked a bit furry in the jar #totp

Today's doodle is inspired by the current event in Elder Scrolls Online which is a community event to break through the Writhing Wall, as a reward for completing tasks various items drop, one of which is a Bismuth Drinking Horn, this is my first draft #mastoart #eso

Ive done quite a bit of work this week on updates. A load of polish to keep things on COTS for Photo / Video quality and trying new things for the future. We are still in need of £41 in one off donations towards reaching the goal before end of next week. Thanks to everyone that donates […]

Today's doodle is inspired by the current event in Elder Scrolls Online which is a community event to break through the Writhing Wall, as a reward for completing tasks various items drop, one of which is a Bismuth Drinking Horn, this is my first draft #mastoart #eso

It's 3am, not lonely*, but my brain has decided to give me an old song about cotton picking. Something about being "down in Louisiana, just about a mile from Texarkana, in them old cotton fields back home." No clue where this came from but I'd like to be asleep please. *No apologies for the […]

We are shy of £88 for the rest of the months donations goal to cover costs for COTS Ive done quite a bit of work recently on updates and the servers. Including tidying up the database which is an ongoing issue but I keep at it. Anyway, Id appreciate the help in costs for running COTS […]

After 5 days in Gartmore, Scotland on a leather working course, I now have new slippers(ish), a belt and also a backpack. I feel like I ended up with a bit of a mid-century modern colour scheme going on accidentally, as the slippers were in a cream and brown […] [Original post on cupoftea.social]

My last night in Scotland, spent it chatting with five other ladies, one Irish, one Scottish, one from Northumberland, one from New Jersey and the other from Oregon. Spent half the time discussing regional accents, hilarity ensued, was then dive-bombed by a bat on the way back to my room, this […]

We're a little behind with donations as it goes quiet this week with monthly donations. If anyone can help keep the lights on at COTS id appreciate it. https://ko-fi.com/cupofteasocial

Not often you get to stay in a building that witnessed the formation of two political parties and also housed a cult. It now provides crafting holidays... Scotland thank you, I think I need to plan a return trip.

Should have brought my own tea bags, Twinings English Breakfast is just not cutting it #cots #tea

That's my monthly donations to my admins done. Currently 280 odd miles from home, it's a tad blustery still and another 200 odd to go tomorrow. Now debating whether it's going to be an evening of crochet, sketching or writing some dialog for my Elder Scrolls characters in their alternate […]

You know you have too many projects when it's going to take 2 days to get where you are going, and you're debating how many projects to take. You're also only going to be there 5 nights and may not actually make any progress with them as you're going on a leather working course for the first […]