Today I've been in my job for 10 years, after many jobs that lasted more on the scale months I'm glad I found a home. Many changes with going from 60 to 160 staff, COVID meaning we went to home working and a change of CEO about halfway through this time

Off to Milton Keynes with work today, I think the last (and possibly only) time I was there was for Capdown's "last" gig. Hopefully no damaging ribs on this occasion

Lovely day celebrating my sister's wedding on Monday, managed to resist taking a bite out of my broccoli bridesmaid bouquet

Spent my day doing various jobs in the garden after a lengthy dog walk before it became too warm, apprehensive about what aches I'm going to have tomorrow

I thought all attire as a bridesmaid for wedding on Monday was sorted, I'd bought some shoes, now conversation has gone to back to light up shoes (an original part of the plan) tempted to DIY it to the shoes I have...

6 months ago I had 0 brothers-in-law (brother-in-laws??) as if today I now have 2! Excited for the actual wedding in Monday, but please youngest sister has the legal bit done. I guess that makes me the old spinster sister 😎

I am a little too excited about our new pressure washer. It is so good! I've done all the decking today (never get decking, it was here when we moved in) and I normally do that over 3 days. So cool 😎

I've not done one of these in a little while, 5x5 Friday. Listened to Frank Turner for the first time in ages as went to a Campfire Punkrock anniversary gig, enjoyed it but will now not bother for some years. A few other gigs from the week with Lande Hekt, and No Peeling supporting a different gig.

Looking to do a bit of customisation on some default male band t-shirts, went to look for some videos about sewing them - so many just about how to cut them! Found a good video on re-hemming the arms but necks seem to just get the snip/ignored

Once again trying to attribute my aches, as much as being away at a festival and another gig I think it is all actually gardening, and only 1 of 3 raised beds are cleared (1 doesn't need doing just yet)

So after the Lightyear matinee yesterday our 5 year-old would now like a trombone.

New Lightyear and Slow Gherkin getting me through my last 2 hours of work before MPF

I saw @problempatterns.bsky.social at JT Soar tonight for the first time (and Stupid World) and what a fantastic live band they are. Treated myself to a cap, wondering if I can squeeze in any of their set at MPF - a key reason for going to the gig tonight is due to clashes there!

It seems that tomorrow I may need to be the Easter bunny

Very exciting day in our house, we have a pressure washer of our very own and it is at least twice as powerful as the one we normally borrow from my parents. Hoping this will half the time it takes to clean the decking, I hate decking (it was here when we moved in and would be a pain to replace)

Sorry, talk about dreams, in my dream I couldn't scream, apparently that was only in sleep as woke my partner up because I was screaming - what a lovely way for us to start our day

Currently looking at the conundrum as to how we parent around school holidays, even with my part time hours we are many weeks short (if we ever want to take time off together!)

Mystery jar left on our doorstep - some sort of chutney but neither my partner or I know of anyone planning to give us one

Trying to work out why I ache - is it gardening (significant digging), shifting some flooring, the cold that is going round the rest of my house, or just being 40 - all of the above is the most likely answer

Last year for a hen-do abroad I managed to pack everything for 5 days in a small suitcase, for my sister's weekend do in the same county I live I have the same suitcase (clothes), a backpack(games), bag for life (booze and potato equipment) and a bag of wood

Slightly different Friday with Women in Punk event at Rough Trade

Off to the Less Than Jake winter circus tour tonight, I think I'm most excited for Bouncing Souls, but do love an Aquabats performance. Hoping we get there in time for the Bar Stool Preachers, but know we'll get other chances to see them this year

Went into the office today for the first time in a year, lovely to see colleagues, and continued to a good evening for post work drinks, but glad to have a reason to leave and now be quiet at home with the dogs

Attempting to be a little less online, especially being on holiday last week (a very wet Cornwall) and it seems Bluesky has become slightly lost to me

Brewed by monks...

A mixed bag for 5x5 this week

I've been contemplating signing up to UpScrolled, but I like to pretend I'll just ditch social media completely instead of something else (unlikely), and I can't get over the fact the logo is practically that of my old uni (Portsmouth)

Someone I know is very critical of how other people use their social media and I now want return this wirh the rubbish currently on his stories, not sure who the audience is but it certainly isn't me

Lovely jaunt out to an Essex nature reserve for our last team day out before it all changes due to our wonderful director moving on to new things. Added bonus of seeing two of the best people for a couple of drinks before my train home

5 by 5 Friday. Streetlight and MPF, has been a week without as much opportunity to listen to music so some of these are relatively few plays. Not sure about the 3 blanks

I have an old DSLR camera that I stopped using as the framing was misaligned. Had tried various troubleshooting measures over the years, decided to have another look today - the advice that worked was turning it upside down and giving it a bit of a whack! I had nothing to lose really

This morning my son was listening to the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Black Sabbath - he picked them with the smart speaker because he wanted 'Mighty Thor' and 'Iron Man' - not sure these songs actually exist in the form he wants. He often listens to Queen, but that is not the Flash he thinks it is

I'd often use that old other site to complain about trains and even though @eastmidsrailway.bsky.social aren't active on here I'll shout into the void about my frustrations. It starts with good news, an updated timetable meant actual options for getting home in an evening from Nottingham

Post a picture you took (Following all the 2016 posts, this is from 10 years ago)

5*5 Friday a little bit of nostalgia, Blue Monday, a few MPF and due to seeing Subhumans this week discussed anarcho-punk and related things

My partner potentially has to go to the States for a conference late in the year, last year the political landscape made it unappealing, who knows what it will be like come November 2026

A slightly belated 5x5 Friday

So far still snow and no rain, hoping it holds as little one was so excited for it last night - he did throw around a bit of slush after dancing outside when the snow started

My top 100 albums of the year - Marrowbone Lane being on the top 3 times seems about right! (Reissue & 2 original, not sure if that is due to Chewie/Chewing on Tinfoil or my change in streaming services) Unsurprisingly the albums on this that came out this year would be my top ones of 2025

Merry Christmas and all that to those that celebrate. Having a 5 year old means it is a wonderful chaotic time. For the the first time since before he was born we didn't host which was lovely, and he had a great time playing with his cousins and I enjoyed more sitting (ideal with my bad ankle)

The #1 movie when you were 10 years old is how your 2026 is going to go:

Obviously the weather is celebrating my impending fortnight off with so much rain. At least this means I don't look out of place in my wellies - the only shoes that currently fit my swollen sprained ankle

With not working Fridays and booking Monday and Tuesday off, I now enter my last 2 working hours of the year. Eased into the day with a presentation to a number of CEOs. Now to try to tie up a project

1 5th birthday party down, 3 to go this weekend.

5x5 Friday, no idea what the blank is. Some year in review, and again MPF additions (a common theme)

Marrowbone Lane appearing in my top 5 twice is correct

More bands need to do winter wear, I've left my only scarf at a friend's, so this is the merch I need to buy.

My slightly belated 5x5 Friday, a lot of it influenced by MPF, both existing and new announcements (and we did manage to budget so have bought our tickets) Sitting top is the new Brutalligators album, which I thoroughly recommend - a joy from last MPF, where I bought a lovely hat of theirs

Bumped into a school friend with his dad this evening, felt slightly awkward with a quick chat to try and catch up at least 15 years (24 years since we were at school the contact fizzling out). Was nice that he came to say bye and a brief hug as he left.

Pretty pleased with the latest MPF line-up, we booked accommodation a while ago, really need to sort actual tickets but with our son's birthday, my sister's wedding and now Christmas it may be an expense for next year. I hate delaying as know presales matter