Selfie in shadow and wood.

My shadow in evening sunlight on a wooden fence.

Car Play is one of those things that you don’t understand the value of until you’ve used it. And, when you have, you can’t go back.

Apple Car Play in use in an MG ZS EV.

A protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Shoreham’s East Street yesterday. 🇺🇦

A Ukraine flag flying above a protest in Shoreham-by-Sea.

Dreich.

Shoreham Harbour on a grey Thursday.

A Seaford seafront walk this afternoon.

The cliffs at Seaford.A boat on Seaford esplanade A healthy walking sign in Seaford. Seaford Bay.


This is officially my new favourite warning sign.

An UK Environment Agency waves warning sign.

Up and out for a self-defence class for the girls.

A Soo Bahk Doh self-defence class in Seaford, Sussex.

Coffee and chat with my youngest at Tom Foolery.

Iris with babychino.

This piece in the most recent Standart takes on a whole different tone given what’s happening in Ukraine right now.

A feature on the Ukrainian city of Lviv in Standart Magazine.

First time this year that I have finished a day’s lecturing at City, and it’s still been light when I left.

City, University of London

Weather like this makes isolation easier…

A stormy Sunday through a kitchen window.

Morning beach walk #2: cold, grey and a wee bit bleak. Still, was home before the rain hit.

Shoreham Beach looking east on 15th February 2022.

Two Apple Fitness Awards day:

Apple Watch Unity fitness challenge badgeHeart Month Challenge Apple Fitness Badge


Morning beach walk #1: Valentine’s Day

Lovely sun, but a cold wind, and plenty of spray in the air.

Shoreham Beach, looking eastwards, on February 14th, 2022.

Another day’s lecturing done.

A lecture pod at City, University of London.

Second screenbreak of the day: cleaning and refilling the bird feeders.


Giving myself a commute

One of the clichés of working for ourself is that, when you’re self-employed, your boss is an arsehole. And, in my case, that’s true. Traditionally the beginning of the year is one of my quietest periods, and so I’m able to chill out a little, attend to some self-care stuff, and try not to worry about work picking up soon.

This year, for a couple of reasons, I’ve really had to it the ground running.

And so, the work creep starts.

I start working in the evenings as well as during the day. And then I start feeling guilty for not working the weekend. And then I stop taking time away from my desk during the day.

Self-granted respite

This is not why I decided to go self-employed a decade ago. Hell, I used to only work a four day week, so I could spend an extra day with my daughters, until school stole them away from me.

So, today, I’m pushing back. It won’t help me, my bank balance nor my clients if I crash into Easter in an exhausted, burnt-out state. So, after I dropped the girls off at school, I restarted my “morning commute” beach walk.

Shoreham Beach — 7th February 2022

I’m going to try to make that a daily commitment. Every day I’m here at home, I do that walk after dropping off the girls, or as soon as I practically can, should I have a 9am meeting. It’s a small step to defending myself against cyclical burn-out, but (another cliché), long journeys begin with small steps.

Wish me luck.


Today’s edition of “spot the raptor”.


We made a friend in the churchyard this afternoon. 🐿

A squirrel in some leaves.

A morning long black in relaxed surroundings.