Watched the first episode of "a Knight of the Seven Kingdoms". Stunning television, great casting. Happy that they're taking their time setting the story. The Dunk & Egg stories are important to me, and I got a bit emotional seeing them on TV, for some reason.

Bought a r36s handheld console. Pokèmon Gold is a go.

The great thing about the menu at work is that we cook without lactose and gluten, and try to avoid things like nuts (we use stone fruits instead) and most members of the allium family, so essentially, many of the major allergy groups are covered. Makes for very relaxed dinner services.

Since it's an amazing product to cook with, and incredibly healthy, am considering buying a bucket worth of nutritional yeast flakes.

Currently facing the most difficult task a human being can face: Setting up a WIFI printer.

Been watching SAS: Rogue Heroes, there's some really effective uses of modern rock and heavy metal in that show. (Airbourne, Motörhead). Same goes for the movie "a Knight's Tale" (the David Bowie dance number, for example.) That sort of thing should happen more often.

Kids are weird, refusing to eat tomato and cucumber. Completely cool with parsnip, passionfruit, nutritional yeast and pearl barley.

Read an article (in Dutch) earlier that argued that most Gen Z patrons in restaurants would much rather order through a QR code and not interact with waiters. Which interestingly is the opposite of my experience with younger people that come for dinner at my work.

Always thought sobriety would be boring. It is not, at all. In fact, clarity is one hell of a drug. Can highly recommend. The one downside to clarity is the realisation that you were quite often an inconsiderate prick during periods of heavy use and abuse. All that said: 8/10, would continue.

Amazing to think that, with the amount of information that is at our fingertips, the people that run the world seem to be complete idiots that do nothing with the wealth of information that could make everyone's life better.

Had three different employers last year, which is a lot, even for a chef. Two of them were just poor fits for both parties. Current one is great though. And we're looking to extend. Can see myself staying here for quite some time.

I would watch this competition.

Just found myself having to explain film rolls and non-digital photography to a 3,5 year old. Who's only context is seeing pics on our phones. Am exhausted. And he probably thought I was nuts.

If you're interested in a niche genre of books that are very good, maritime history, the last days of commercial sail: Alan Villiers' entire bibliography comes highly recommended by me, a lot of it is biographical, and when its not the research is solid.

There's a bit of a snowdrift outside, which is meant to get a lot worse as the day progresses. On a related note, out of 6 tables worth of reservations at work, we're down to 1. Wondering if we're even opening.

Been learning about my brain, dopamine balance and how it relates to addiction recovery. And apparently I've not sufficiently worked on that yet, because I'm displaying all the signs of someone that's only just in recovery, and not 5 years sober.

Not enjoying the state of the world one bit. At the same time recognising that I'm lucky enough to be able to be "just worried".

Season 2 of Fallout is incredible so far. Every storyline has been good. Norm, Thaddeus and Dane getting more screentime has been an excellent narrative decision. Maximus still balancing on the precipice of clumsy and competence.

Youtube is recommending me a 25 minute long video of a grown man complaining about a LEGO set. Clearly something must be fucked up with the algorithm. If I wanted to have painful eyes and ears, I've got bleach in the cupboard I can pour down the holes.

What are some of your favourite tragic heroes from games? Anything goes, can be boardgames, PC, console, cardgames, as long as the character is exclusive to a game. Personally going for Jim Raynor from StarCraft, they went hard on his development.

Heck yeah, 3-0'd a draft with this deck. Which objectively wasn't *great*, it lacked some explosivity, but turns out it was excellent at grinding out wins. All three matches went to three games, several games went well past 16 turns. Fun. :D.

Most of the reactions to this are about U.S. based athletes I sadly don't know, but this is a great question, because several immediately spring to mind followed by, yes indeed, "bless them."

I see there is talk about the fall of Rome in my timeline. This happens to be a pet subject of mine. Related to this, a claimant to the imperial throne, Andreas Palaiologos, made things needlesly complicated. He sold his claim to Charles VIII of France in the 1480's, he was in need of cash, y'see.

Arthur (youngest child, 1,5 years old): *snoring* *sound of him turning over* *fart* *chuckle* *snoring resumes* Clearly a sophisticate already.

Eldest is 3,5, interested in many things. Among those things is Spider-Man, because people shooting webs in bright onesies is extremely cool. This then invites his questions about what on earth a superhero is, and what makes someone a hero, stuff like that. Which is really fun for me to think about.

Roger de Flor day is early this year, so there might be multiples in 2026. It is the annual day on which I randomly think: "Roger de Flor / Rutger von Blum / Ruggero de Fior / Ruggero Flores was a fascinating dude, and we could use a TV show about the last 15 years of his life. "

Movie tip: "Der Tiger" on Prime. Fucking hell, so bleak, so good.

Saw someone post on facebook that they were already struggling with dry january. Which sets off some alarm bells, and suggests to me they should probably just quit drinking altogether. Obviously pointing this out is utterly pointless, and a conclusion they should reach themselves.

The frustrating thing is that they do this because they keep getting away with it. This has been the case for decades. There will be 0 consequences. Major sporting events will not be taken away from them, at worst some of their ambassadors will face some uncomfortable questions.

Was just in a vintage clothing store, obviously that's just upper middle-class speak for old second hand clothing, but that's another discussion. Anyway, they had a ca. 1900's phonograph/grammophone player in near perfect condition. I want it, I must have it.

My wife has just reminded me that, according to some conspiracy theories, I should be dead right now, because of the covid vaccines. Yet here I am, still obliged to pay my taxes. Frankly, I feel robbed.

Was looking for tattoo ideas to celebrate being 5 years sober, was considering something related to Michael III "the Drunkard", an unfairly maligned Eastern Roman emperor. This coin is all kinds of cool, and would look great as a tattoo.

Happy 2026, friends. Starting the year catching up on Fallout with a half asleep 1 year old on my lap. Could be worse.

This'll be my 6th sober New Years eve. Which makes sense, as 2026 will be the year in which I'm 6 years sober. Bought some really nice looking Elderflower drink to celebrate. And we have a metric fuckton of snacks.

Managed to completely fail my resolution for this year. Did not finish a single book. Started well north of 50. Yay ADHD. :D

Eldest is watching Road Runner cartoons, which has me considering the plight of Wile E. Coyote, who is faced with the unenviable task of defeating a foe he cannot defeat. Yet he throws himself on the task at hand with creativity, determination and tenacity. Truly a unsung hero.

Work tomorrow, and then more than a week off. Hells to the yeah.

Have always been amused by how scheduling works in my line of work. The day planner will have a start time, but no end time, per sé. You're just off when the work is finished. Starting at 14:00 today, done somewhere between 22:00 and 01:00, ish.

On the subject of biographies of famous generals: if anyone can recommend a good biography of Matthew "Old Iron Tits"* Ridgway, I'm all ears. *actual nickname, accept no substitutes.

Browsing through my book recommendations on various sites, encountered a biography of Walter Model, which is promising, he's fascinating, if controversial. The tagline however calls him "one of the most popular generals", which is worrying. Model was many things, but popular was not one of them.

Work during Christmas eve, you say? Cower, mere morta- I mean: Ho ho ho!

5 years sober today. Statistically at a very low risk of relapse. But when it comes to addiction, I find that statistics are meaningless, vigilance is key. On to a full decade and beyond. :D.

Relationship status: it's complicated* *our eldest has decided it's inappropriate for Charlotte and I to hug and/or cuddle.

Purchased 2 biographical books, one not problematic, the other slightly more so. But am not gonna turn them down at the thrift store for 1,50 euros each.

Drafted this monstrosity. The mana is great, the actual consistency of the deck is...suspect. Then again, give me good mana any day of the week.

Watching "Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man" with the eldest. Tremendous good fun.

Careening towards 5 years of sobriety, 9 days to go. Reaching the point where I'm finding it difficult to talk to people that knew me during the bad days. This includes making and then deleting over half of social media posts.

I find it deeply unfair that I have to wait over a month for the release of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms". Dunk and Egg are a great literary dynamic duo, and it is so exciting to see them on the small screen.

Not the biggest fan of wearing a wedding ring, also wildly impractical at work. So we came up with a medieval themed compromise. Psyched. :D

Every great fantasy series starts with a good map. And this is one of the best.