Words from Lee MoodyA personal blog covering software development, low-key escapades, and oxymorons.2023-11-25T20:56:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/Lee MoodyAutumn Alliums2023-11-25T20:56:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/25-11-2023/<p>My robin friend trusts me more and more. It keeps me company and enjoys all the worms I unearth. Could it be the same <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/02-04-2023/">robin friend from last April</a>? They're fiercely territorial little cuties, so I'm inclined to think so 🥰</p>
<p>As I moved some bricks from one place to another, again, robin friend went for this woodlouse but changed its mind, flinging it aside. Now I have to rewatch A Bug's Life. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95CCbtB8gWw">Yoo-hoo! Mr Early Bird! How about a nice, tasty worm on a stick?</a> Definitely going to sneak it in amongst some Christmas films.</p>
<p>As robin friend knows, there's a lot of progress to report. I've taken annual leave and spent most of the daylight available at the plot.</p>
<p>Remember those <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/12-02-2023/">pallets</a> I lugged through the streets of Sheffield last year? Yeah, I still haven't used them. Compost bays were high on my priority list in theory, but in practise I never managed to clear back to the compost bay area as planned. Can you even see them among the nettles?</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/FwEC9HWCBi-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/FwEC9HWCBi-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/FwEC9HWCBi-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/FwEC9HWCBi-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/FwEC9HWCBi-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/FwEC9HWCBi-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/FwEC9HWCBi-500.jpeg" alt="Nettles carpet some structure, a few half pallets are visible." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Unrealised compost bays, pallets now claimed by nettles.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The pallets aren't the only things reclaimed by nature. Where <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/14-11-2023/">this years pumpkins</a> were didn't get much weeding, since it was hard to get in there without disturbing the pumpkin plants.</p>
<p>In the photo below the pumpkin patch started just before the barrow and extended well past. Yet you can't see where the bed ends, it blurs into as yet uncleared ground. Life, uh, finds a way.</p>
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<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/VkTYQSBxiH-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/VkTYQSBxiH-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/VkTYQSBxiH-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/VkTYQSBxiH-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/VkTYQSBxiH-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/VkTYQSBxiH-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/VkTYQSBxiH-500.jpeg" alt="Two cultivated vegetable beds are carved out of scrubland, one stops shorter than the other." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>A pumpkin patch no more. Bramble and dock reign supreme once again.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>With crop rotation and the position of the sun in mind, this seems like a decent spot for alliums including onions and garlic for next season.</p>
<p>Previously <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/23-04-2023/">I planted out onion sets in April</a>, and harvested in August. I only grew them initially as they were a gift from my allotment neighbour. It didn't seem worth giving over the space at first, since onions are cheap from the shops and as far as I know taste pretty much the same. However, it continues to be surprisingly rewarding to have a home grown staple in storage for use through winter.</p>
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<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_5GcybKMsB-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_5GcybKMsB-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_5GcybKMsB-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_5GcybKMsB-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_5GcybKMsB-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_5GcybKMsB-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_5GcybKMsB-500.jpeg" alt="Attractive, half globe onions, green shoots still attached, sit in large plant pots." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>12th Aug 2022: This years onion harvest.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Clearing the pumpkin patch to make way for new alliums was a much bigger job than I anticipated – easier than the first time around, but time consuming. Next year I'll be sure to train squash in such a way that I can still weed if needed. I'm also mulching as much as possible, but without those compost bays it's expensive.</p>
<p>I uncovered the pallets as a statement of intent and in the mean time brought in some more compost and manure.</p>
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<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/e9jNhwiMu7-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/e9jNhwiMu7-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/e9jNhwiMu7-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/e9jNhwiMu7-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/e9jNhwiMu7-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/e9jNhwiMu7-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/e9jNhwiMu7-500.jpeg" alt="A freshly dug vegetable bed with compost bags laid on an adjacent woodchip path. Wooden pallets are stacked neatly at the end." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Pumpkin patch cleared once more, ready for mulch and alliums.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Those five 50 litre bags didn't go as far as I hoped, at a good enough depth to suppress weeds. I ended up applying a good 3-5cm of compost on the first 1m x 3m, or so, and then followed with <a href="https://www.strulch.co.uk/">strulch</a> (mineralised hay) over that and the rest.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/T-eImbjgX7-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/T-eImbjgX7-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/T-eImbjgX7-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/T-eImbjgX7-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/T-eImbjgX7-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/T-eImbjgX7-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/T-eImbjgX7-500.jpeg" alt="Hay blankets the vegetable bed. Soil is visible between rows made in the hay, like slats in a bed frame." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Strulch with rows of garlic, shallot, and onion.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In go alliums! 12 Elephant garlic, 20ish Solent Wight garlic, just 8 Golden Gourmet shallot, and about 24 of some kind of onion. We'll see how many make it. With the space I have cleared for them, I've prioritised getting garlic in the ground over onions. I'm interested to see how this autumn sown variety pans out though.</p>
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<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/afsxtwzgCP-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/afsxtwzgCP-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/afsxtwzgCP-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/afsxtwzgCP-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/afsxtwzgCP-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/afsxtwzgCP-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/afsxtwzgCP-500.jpeg" alt="A photo of work boots and legs, partially crouched and arm extended, balanced on a wooden blank barely visible amongst hay. Sizeable Elephant garlic cloves rest on a paper bag, ready to be planted." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Surfer dude takes an action shot: The muddy hay is my sea; an old broken plank my board; robin friend a shimmering albatross on the sunny horizon.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In other news. I've spent a good few years of my life trying to minimise plastic use, obsessing over plastic wrapped lettuce. This week I bought 4m x 20m of black plastic to run along the left hand side hedge. As I continue to use organic mulch and elbow grease to maintain existing beds and clear new ground on the right, that plastic will act as a mulch to clear further areas for cultivation.</p>
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<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jIkAMj7PzU-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jIkAMj7PzU-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jIkAMj7PzU-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jIkAMj7PzU-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jIkAMj7PzU-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jIkAMj7PzU-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jIkAMj7PzU-500.jpeg" alt="" width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Look at that! Plastic run right over a stack of bricks, more bricks haphazardly piled.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Unfortunately for me, the pile of bricks I moved from the back of the plot and neatly stacked were in the way again so I spent a morning rearranging my bricks and rubble. A satisfying job, in fairness. With a widened path, the plot is now 2% more buggy accessible. Hazards remain high.</p>
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<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/EpPh4mBxv_-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/EpPh4mBxv_-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/EpPh4mBxv_-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/EpPh4mBxv_-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/EpPh4mBxv_-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/EpPh4mBxv_-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/EpPh4mBxv_-500.jpeg" alt="Organised chaos. Multiple, square stacks of bricks partially encircle and contain a pile of mostly natural stone and rubble." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Order is restored. Have you ever seen such neat rubble?</figcaption>
</figure>
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<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/W7qMxiazGM-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/W7qMxiazGM-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/W7qMxiazGM-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/W7qMxiazGM-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/W7qMxiazGM-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/W7qMxiazGM-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/W7qMxiazGM-500.jpeg" alt="A view from the back of the plot leading outward. The whole plot is in shade. It's peaceful, organised, ready to rest over winter. Blocks of flats on a distant hill are shining bright, by contrast, with low, autumnal sun." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>3pm and today's jobs are done, time for a cuppa from my thermos.</figcaption>
</figure>
Pumpkin harvest2023-11-14T19:52:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/14-11-2023/<p>There's so much news from the allotment! Today, pumpkin chat.</p>
<p>I harvested three Crown Prince pumpkins this time last month. One is stored in a cold-frame at the allotment, one is sat behind me all day as I work in the loft, and a third has a Sharpie face and its mutilated remains live in our fridge.</p>
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<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1Xk5QoHKgV-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1Xk5QoHKgV-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1Xk5QoHKgV-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1Xk5QoHKgV-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1Xk5QoHKgV-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1Xk5QoHKgV-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1Xk5QoHKgV-500.jpeg" alt="Three handsome blue-ish-green pumpkins sit on a sunny woodchip path." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>12th October: Three Crown Prince pumpkins.</figcaption>
</figure>
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<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/P67AUlDCW3-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/P67AUlDCW3-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/P67AUlDCW3-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/P67AUlDCW3-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/P67AUlDCW3-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/P67AUlDCW3-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/P67AUlDCW3-500.jpeg" alt="A pumpkin with Halloween-style face drew on with marker. It's friendly and menacing. It sits on a wooden chopping board, with a big wedge cut out." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>3rd November: Halloween pumpkin becomes dinner.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/byy0mjqGyE-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/byy0mjqGyE-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/byy0mjqGyE-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/byy0mjqGyE-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/byy0mjqGyE-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/byy0mjqGyE-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/byy0mjqGyE-500.jpeg" alt="Pumpkin half-moons in a baking tray." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>Baking some for later.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A small centre means a lot of fruit. Over 4kg from the smallest. I've been making curry, and pie, and pasta dishes, and eating it in sandwiches, and even baking it in bread.</p>
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<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/iAnnLu265j-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/iAnnLu265j-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/iAnnLu265j-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/iAnnLu265j-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/iAnnLu265j-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/iAnnLu265j-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/iAnnLu265j-500.jpeg" alt="A Malai Kari. A coconut and sauce with spiced, roasted pumpkin on top, and a side of pita (close enough). All garnished with coriander. A glass of red wine and stray shed building instructions which I left out complete the picture." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Pumpkin curry – Meera Sodha’s Malai Kari (<a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/east/meera-sodha/9780241387566">East</a>). Stray shed instructions.</figcaption>
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<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/wZKG20Kxr_-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/wZKG20Kxr_-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/wZKG20Kxr_-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/wZKG20Kxr_-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/wZKG20Kxr_-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/wZKG20Kxr_-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/wZKG20Kxr_-500.jpeg" alt="A little portion of pumpkin pie on a plate. This is my breakfast portion, there's a mug of coffee too, with Nikkei's denshiba and the FT's Origami logo." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Pumpkin pie. Denshiba/Origami.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xkBkVL4ICV-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xkBkVL4ICV-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xkBkVL4ICV-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xkBkVL4ICV-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xkBkVL4ICV-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xkBkVL4ICV-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xkBkVL4ICV-500.jpeg" alt="A rustic pumpkin tart, with cursed looking pastry Halloween pumpkin topper." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>With leftover ingredients, I made cursed pumpkin tarts – delicious with ice cream.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/pVNpnntNno-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/pVNpnntNno-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/pVNpnntNno-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/pVNpnntNno-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/pVNpnntNno-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/pVNpnntNno-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/pVNpnntNno-500.jpeg" alt="A tin loaf of bread, with an unusual but attractive orange hue and pumpkin seeds." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>Pumpkin bread, using left-over sweet pumpkin pie purée.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Here are some culinary notes:</p>
<ul>
<li>The pumpkin bread was sadly under baked, adding pumpkin requires a longer bake to usual. I could tell when I took it out but didn't trust my instincts / couldn't be bother to swap it back out with the pumpkin rounds. Mistake. Because the edible edges were next level.</li>
<li>Meera Sodha’s curry I <em>loved</em>, 10/10 would make again. Next time I'll increase the tomato and decrease the coconut, which will suit both our tastes more.</li>
<li>On the pie/tarts, it was my first attempt at making sweet shortcrust pastry. Given that, they turned out pretty great, if I do say so myself. Pumpkin pie wouldn't be my first choice of sweet treat, but it's really grown on me massively. Especially with ice cream.</li>
</ul>
<p>We still have some leftover punpkin curry frozen, the two bigger pumpkins, and more of the original to go. What to make next? Leave a comment. Like and subscribe.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_XQNA7noFS-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_XQNA7noFS-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_XQNA7noFS-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_XQNA7noFS-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_XQNA7noFS-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_XQNA7noFS-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_XQNA7noFS-500.jpeg" alt="The original pumpkin is mostly eaten, but the wedge with its drawn face sits in our fridge veg crisper – looking out, watching." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>A pumpkin greeting me as I open the fridge for morning oat milk.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I've struggled to get to the allotment recently, especially with reduced light curtailing the evening. Mostly I'm trying to tidy up and get manure on to protect the ground over winter.</p>
<p>Leaving my fleece and fleece alternative exposed and unprotected all year was a mistake. Sticking it in the washing machine without shaking it out or pre-washing somehow was an even bigger mistake. Ooooopsss. <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/90/">Weeknote 90: CLR FLTR</a> 🙈</p>
<p>There's still new growth, however. We harvested a cauliflower (more like romanesco?) from the mixed patch of brassica surprise. And the cavolo nero is still giving too.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/FgLlX1wz5S-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/FgLlX1wz5S-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/FgLlX1wz5S-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/FgLlX1wz5S-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/FgLlX1wz5S-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/FgLlX1wz5S-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/FgLlX1wz5S-500.jpeg" alt="Green, lots of green, and a greenish cauliflower floret." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>12th November: Mixed cauliflower, brassica surprise.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jRThuNTTBW-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jRThuNTTBW-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jRThuNTTBW-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jRThuNTTBW-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jRThuNTTBW-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jRThuNTTBW-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jRThuNTTBW-500.jpeg" alt="" width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>12th November: Cavolo nero; brassica surprise; cavolo nero.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We might be enjoying cabbage, leek, and the odd mooli come spring if the frost isn't too hard and the slugs stay off. The mooli are small, the cabbage is quite eaten, and the leeks are pretty flopped and sad. Fingers crossed! Keep an eye out for updates.</p>
<p>One thing that is doing well in this little patch is rocket! It's gone to flower and seed but to my surprise, I'm still enjoying the leaves.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/6fniJvwEwt-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/6fniJvwEwt-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/6fniJvwEwt-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/6fniJvwEwt-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/6fniJvwEwt-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/6fniJvwEwt-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/6fniJvwEwt-500.jpeg" alt="" width="1000" height="791" /></picture>
<figcaption>12th November: Strawberries; spring cabbage; leek; rocket; mooli.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A wild dog appears! She was very skittish and wouldn't let me near her collar long enough to retrieve her owner's number. By taking a deceptively ambivalent posture, and with the help of a strategic little snack, I was able to keep her close until I heard her owner calling just a few plots down.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/c2voof4nmz-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/c2voof4nmz-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/c2voof4nmz-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/c2voof4nmz-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/c2voof4nmz-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/c2voof4nmz-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/c2voof4nmz-500.jpeg" alt="A dog stands on a bare vegetable patch, one half freshly manured. It stands alert, looking away from camera, with her cute little high-vis vest." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>12th November: Dog.</figcaption>
</figure>
Clr Fltr2023-11-14T17:56:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/90/<p>Classic weeknote! Because I'm writing it whilst super tired and ignoring tragic world events.</p>
<p>A little over a week ago (weeknote cheat, my rules here) was bonfire night. This is the first year we've been at home in Sheffield and not away, so we finally got to enjoy our nearby view over the city.</p>
<p>I may have taken a little thermos of hot chocolate and cream liqueur.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/I1yjwAFNoH-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/I1yjwAFNoH-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/I1yjwAFNoH-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/I1yjwAFNoH-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/I1yjwAFNoH-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/I1yjwAFNoH-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/I1yjwAFNoH-500.jpeg" alt="To the distance, a city aglow. Then dark, sweeping residential hills flecked with fireworks. In the foreground, a large colourful explosion illuminates a crowd." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>When did fireworks get so loud? :old-man:</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Last weekend I finished putting up a little shed, to replace our old one. I'd hoped to repair the roof but found the whole thing was rotten and barely held together by cobwebs.</p>
<p>Inside, 5 of what I think could have been <a href="https://www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/identify-nature/spiders-in-your-home/false-widow-spiders.html">false widows</a>! They can bite, but it's no worse than a wasp sting – apparently. I'm unashamed to say they felt my boot. I was brave and let some big boy (non-bitey) spiders flee.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Zhse0IDJaS-500.avif 500w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Zhse0IDJaS-500.webp 500w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Zhse0IDJaS-500.jpeg" alt="A close-up of a spider within a wooden shed. It has a big ol' abdomen with a narrow cream band." width="500" height="500" /></picture>
<figcaption>A false widow spider in our old shed?</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Tidying up the shed at home. Tidying up the allotment. I tried to wash some things I shouldn't have. CLR FLTR.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/QAfNEwiE2e-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/QAfNEwiE2e-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/QAfNEwiE2e-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/QAfNEwiE2e-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/QAfNEwiE2e-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/QAfNEwiE2e-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/QAfNEwiE2e-500.jpeg" alt="A brown, murky puddle extends from the corner of the washing machine. A tray lies mostly empty and useless. Towels are soaked." width="1000" height="1000" /></picture>
<figcaption>Least I've learnt about the little hose near the filter now. To drain without making a mess.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Guess what I found in the filter?</p>
<details>
<summary>Behind the filter, if you dare look...</summary>
<p></p><figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xRwtaQIGse-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xRwtaQIGse-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xRwtaQIGse-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xRwtaQIGse-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xRwtaQIGse-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xRwtaQIGse-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xRwtaQIGse-500.jpeg" alt="A small propeller within the washing machine, wrapped up tight with foul gunk." width="1000" height="1000" /></picture>
<figcaption>Hair and cotton ribbon and fine plastic strips presumably from allotment fleece / enviromesh.</figcaption>
</figure><p></p>
</details>
<p>From this mess to work. Which isn't a mess, but hasn't been easy this year.</p>
<p>Origami on tour. My team have been going around sharing our work and have had some really nice engagement and useful feedback so far. It's been a delight to see my teammates picking up this kinda work and doing a smashing job.</p>
<p>We also had a knowledge share session with our Nikkei colleagues. I didn't think to leave translation time in my presentation, but am pleased to say we got through it all at a relaxed pace and still had enough time for questions.</p>
<p>I decided I should take a more relaxed approach during these cold, bleak winter months. That plan failed yesterday evening thanks to the JavaScript ecosystem. CLR FLTR.</p>
<p>Don't worry though, I'm going to take a little time in lieu to reset. Get a few more daylight hours in at the allotment perhaps 😊</p>
<p>Speaking of, check out my <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/14-11-2023/">pumpkin based allotment update</a>!</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OdXfAezLkm-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OdXfAezLkm-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OdXfAezLkm-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OdXfAezLkm-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OdXfAezLkm-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OdXfAezLkm-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OdXfAezLkm-500.jpeg" alt="A pumpkin with Halloween-style face drew on with marker. It's friendly, it's menacing, it has a kitchen knife in its head." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Happy halloween. There's > 4kg of pumpkin there which we're still enjoying now.</figcaption>
</figure>
Dig and no dig2023-09-02T08:35:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/02-09-2023/<p>I've mostly cleared the sad, dead, blight-ridden tomatoes. I dug them a shallow grave toward the back of the plot, where I'm unlikely to grow nightshade family plants, such as tomato or potatoes, in the future. I believe the fungus to blame will persist in the soil but have read conflicting messages on how long.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jRm95k3cm4-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jRm95k3cm4-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jRm95k3cm4-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jRm95k3cm4-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jRm95k3cm4-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jRm95k3cm4-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jRm95k3cm4-500.jpeg" alt="A muddy patch with slender stick, a recently dug, round grave, surrounded by weeds." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>A shallow tomato grave (<abbr title="rest in peace">RIP</abbr>).</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In brighter news, I've been converting the (very dug) potato bed into a (not very dug) no-dig bed. I applied something like 6 bags of compost to a roughly 2x1.5m bed which wasn't cheap, but I'll need less to top up in the future. I've struggled to grow in it though, as I didn't compact it much. I found the compost I bought keeps the soil moist but itself dries out quickly, which young seedlings with shallow roots struggled with. After some trial and error I'm getting somewhere. The bed includes rocket, leeks, spring cabbage, and now young strawberries.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/NheCirADao-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/NheCirADao-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/NheCirADao-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/NheCirADao-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/NheCirADao-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/NheCirADao-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/NheCirADao-500.jpeg" alt="A neat vegetable bed, with even rows of young strawberries, followed by a row of spring cabbage, leaks, and rocket. The bed ahead is more roughly cleared, this is where peas were, two large nasturtiums dominate the corners and are full of flower." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>The new, no-dig bed with strawberries and friends.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It's here! It's here! And it's magnificent. My sunflower.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KbJpOx6WjY-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KbJpOx6WjY-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KbJpOx6WjY-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KbJpOx6WjY-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KbJpOx6WjY-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KbJpOx6WjY-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KbJpOx6WjY-500.jpeg" alt="A nice big, sunflower head. As big as your head, but more brown. Yellow/orange petals contrast pleasantly against a rich, deep brown centre. It reminds me of a bee." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>Sunflower <span class="emoji">🌞</span></figcaption>
</figure>
Jowler Note2023-08-28T17:40:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/89/<ul>
<li>This week, during dry spells between the rain, I've been painting outdoor furniture to extend its life. On Tuesday I did a bit of painting, popped inside to stir a pot, painted some more, went back inside for a stir, and so on. I cooked a surprisingly excellent marrow based pasta dish and completed a first coat of paint on our table at the same time. I'm an excellent husband. Toot toot! Despite sometimes putting stowaway slugs in our fridge, which R is not a fan of.</li>
<li>Surprisingly I haven't been to the allotment loads the last couple of weeks. The bank holiday was a welcome spell to get some jobs there done.</li>
<li>I think I'll go down now and finish taking down the tomato supports, if I have time. We're meeting some friends for the <a href="https://www.truenorthbrewco.uk/halfpintmarathon">half pint half marathon</a>, but I don't remember when. We did a few last night. They bought this <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pass_the_Pigs">pig game</a>. Loser buys the next round. Oh man, I better get a jowler today!</li>
<li>Reader, I just woke up and also really need to make time for a shower as well.</li>
<li>Smell you later!</li>
<li>P.s. R tells me the German word for blaspheming translates as God gossiping. God gossiping. Love it.</li>
</ul>
Megatron Note2023-08-28T17:40:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/88/<p>Remote work, works. At least with the right support and culture. I don't find it half dull though. Sitting alone for the best part of the day can be pretty uninspiring, no amount of video calls makes it better.</p>
<p>That's why I've started going to a co-working space once a week at <a href="https://www.union-st.org/">Union St</a>, a local co-op. There're so many people there doing interesting, inspiring things and I love how Union St really make an effort to cultivate a sociable community.</p>
<p>This week I joined some folks from Union St for a guided tour by The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust of The Megatron! We followed the river Sheaf under Sheffield City centre.</p>
<p>I don't have a photo that can show the immense, cathedral like sections; or that can convey what it feels like to know you're looking up to light breaking through platform 5 of Sheffield Station; or how cool it is to see bats flying under the city and learn of Sheffield otters. It was a lot of fun.</p>
<p>When sections collapse, or are under development, The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust <a href="https://www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/i/63445385/the-big-story-lidl-on-price-lidl-onheritage-biodiversity-and-flood-mitigation">campaign to instead open up the river</a>.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/4749hz2W_v-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/4749hz2W_v-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/4749hz2W_v-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/4749hz2W_v-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/4749hz2W_v-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/4749hz2W_v-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/4749hz2W_v-500.jpeg" alt="Intrepid explorers gingerly hug close to a brick wall whilst wading through a murky river, the water level is just below their wellies. There are trees and greenery around, with a bridge up ahead, it's a pleasant scene despite the danger of wet feet." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Clench, trying to keep our wellies above the water level.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SBgeSut8_N-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SBgeSut8_N-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SBgeSut8_N-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SBgeSut8_N-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SBgeSut8_N-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SBgeSut8_N-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SBgeSut8_N-500.jpeg" alt="A stone tunnel. A row of head torches beam out from the darkness as they move forward. A torrent of water rushes inward against them, splashing up high and soaking our explorers." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>A surprise deluge means we give up on staying dry.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I've also been making some <abbr title="Do It Yourself">DIY</abbr> progress. Since moving the washing machine and drier we've had a couple of gaps in our kitchen. It's had me scratching my head because we couldn't get doors to match our existing cupboards, and I also wanted to keep the tiles in one spot open for muddy boots (or wet wellies).</p>
<p>For 2 custom kitchen cabinets made of pine I was quoted over a grand from one cabinet maker! Instead, after putting it off for months, I've finally made a start on building something basic myself. I own a circular saw and pocket hole jig now.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/JFwPuaydMZ-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/JFwPuaydMZ-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/JFwPuaydMZ-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/JFwPuaydMZ-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/JFwPuaydMZ-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/JFwPuaydMZ-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/JFwPuaydMZ-500.jpeg" alt="Exposed gas and water pipes below a kitchen worktop." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>The gap.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I needed to access an isolation valve on one of the exposed pipes, to shut off the outside tap in winter, which I decided to solve with a small hole in the back of the cabinet – hidden below a shelf.</p>
<p>Turns out the floor rises to the back, adding to my challenge! I decided to cut the sides at an angle to compensate.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9Fn1inx6Uh-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9Fn1inx6Uh-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9Fn1inx6Uh-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9Fn1inx6Uh-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9Fn1inx6Uh-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9Fn1inx6Uh-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9Fn1inx6Uh-500.jpeg" alt="Half a kitchen cabinet. A small clamp holds sun-bathed plywood at 90 degrees." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>Plywood, with a precision hole to access an isolation valve.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/gIMXsAYvo7-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/gIMXsAYvo7-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/gIMXsAYvo7-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/gIMXsAYvo7-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/gIMXsAYvo7-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/gIMXsAYvo7-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/gIMXsAYvo7-500.jpeg" alt="An open, plywood kitchen cabinet with an open bottom and shelf. Buddy boots sit on the floor within and backpacks have been placed onto the shelf." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>There we are. Next job, the door...</figcaption>
</figure>
Pizza harvest2023-08-28T17:15:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/28-08-2023/<p>I don't have a huge amount coming out of the allotment due to a number of issues. Still, I've been able to keep cooking with home grown ingredients multiple times per week.</p>
<p>For example, when my sister and her partner visited earlier this August I rustled up a pizza with these allotment ingredients.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aT9nPCxjtZ-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aT9nPCxjtZ-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aT9nPCxjtZ-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aT9nPCxjtZ-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aT9nPCxjtZ-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aT9nPCxjtZ-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aT9nPCxjtZ-500.jpeg" alt="My chopping board featuring the bright oranges and purples of calendula and tree spinach. Along with the greens of courgette, kale, and basil." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Calendula, tree spinach, courgette, kale, and basil.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_vhIAozNJ2-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_vhIAozNJ2-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_vhIAozNJ2-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_vhIAozNJ2-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_vhIAozNJ2-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_vhIAozNJ2-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_vhIAozNJ2-500.jpeg" alt="Two unctuous, clearly homemade pizzas with tomato base, melted mozzarella, and cooked down allotment vegetables. Dressed with flowers and basil." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Homemade sourdough pizza.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Sadly the tomato base wasn't my own as my plants have all been hugely hit by blight, a fungus infection. I don't think the warm and very wet weather recently has helped. It's gutting because, after a tricky start, they were brimming with huge green fruits that will never ripen now. They'll mostly rot on a withered stem.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/h4-Amyx9MY-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/h4-Amyx9MY-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/h4-Amyx9MY-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/h4-Amyx9MY-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/h4-Amyx9MY-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/h4-Amyx9MY-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/h4-Amyx9MY-500.jpeg" alt="Big, pretty, green tomatoes hang from a dead vine." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>A dying tomato plant, hit by blight.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I'll save a few tomatoes though! I turned my back for a second and now I have rocket and cucumbers to go with. The cucumbers taste great too, not at all bitter.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9aOF8kT4DY-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9aOF8kT4DY-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9aOF8kT4DY-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9aOF8kT4DY-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9aOF8kT4DY-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9aOF8kT4DY-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9aOF8kT4DY-500.jpeg" alt="" width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>A modest but beautiful harvest: tomatoes, rocket, cucumber, and courgette.</figcaption>
</figure>
Alone Note2023-08-13T16:21:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/87/<ul>
<li>Despite feeling busy I'm still finding plenty of time to procrastinate this and that in favour of TV. It's not the only lure, Boulder's Gate 3 has caught my eye: No, it would consume me. Maybe if I actually did something on my <abbr title="Do It Yourself">DIY</abbr> task list it wouldn't keep growing.</li>
<li><a href="https://rowanmanning.com/weeknotes/145/">Rowan was right, The Bear is incredible</a>.</li>
<li>R is away for two weeks and three weekends, on an adventure.</li>
<li>I'm a greedy boy who gobbled up his annual leave.</li>
<li>On the one hand I'm living my best life as a functioning human: Yesterday I met loads of new people on a tour of allotments and spent all day socialising in the sun; today I saw friends, held their baby (very cute, real human now) and helped a tiny bit with renovations; and now I'm making a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/aug/09/how-to-make-the-perfect-vegan-moussaka-recipe-felicity-cloake">perfect vegetable moussaka</a>.</li>
<li>On the other hand: I'm generally eating weirdly, at weird times; I refuse to go to bed without someone here to – through only their presence – remind me I really aught to be asleep; and I just boiled the kettle and poured wine at the same time.</li>
<li>Like I said, living my best life.</li>
</ul>
<p>Goodbye again forever,<br />
Lee</p>
Marimo Note2023-08-07T19:48:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/86/<p>This week I've unintentionally learnt about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marimo">Marimo</a> moss balls (actually, algae balls) from two different angles. <a href="https://www.bbcearth.com/shows/the-green-planet">The Green Planet</a>, which is absolutely incredible, and the first few pages of <a href="https://www.janeperrone.com/legends-of-the-leaf">Legends of the Leaf</a> which I finally picked up.</p>
<p>I think I had some Marimo at one point. I used to be pretty into tropical aquariums. Though I'm always tempted to get one again, I'm now much more conflicted about keeping fish.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/js-cue4-ib-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/js-cue4-ib-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/js-cue4-ib-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/js-cue4-ib-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/js-cue4-ib-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/js-cue4-ib-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/js-cue4-ib-500.jpeg" alt="A 3 foot tropical aquarium, vibrant and alive, with various species of plants and colourful fish." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>One of my old aquariums, circa 2009.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Anyhow, I gather that Hokkaidō, Japan has a Marimo mascot called Marimokkori.</p>
<p>I'll let Wikipedia fill in the gaps: <q cite="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marimokkori">Marimo is the word for the green algae clusters that grow in some of Hokkaidō's lakes, while mokkori, literally "bulge", is a Japanese slang term for an erection</q> – <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marimokkori">Marimokkori on Wikipedia</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Marimokkori&iax=images&ia=images">Marimokkori, people</a>! <a href="https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Marimokkori&iax=images&ia=images">Marimokkori</a>! There are <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfw0UqQvACU">even dolls</a>. Anyway I thought you'd like to know about this <em>wildly inappropriate</em> yet hilarious moss ball mascot.</p>
<p>I'm still not doing weeknotes right now.</p>
<p>Goodbye forever,<br />
Lee</p>
Wedded Note2023-07-08T07:44:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/85/<p>"Sexting you at the mental health talk seems counterproductive" blasts through the speakers and over the pews. Gasps. Giggles. Barely concealed shock from Sheffield City Council's Registrar.</p>
<p>The newly married couple tried repeatedly to clear their song choice beforehand, but didn't hear back. They watch their congregation as the chorus kicks in, the penny drops, and Self Esteem (daughter of Sheffield) belts out:<br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGRxxIISTYs">M-O-O-D-Y, You know I-I-I'll be moody for life!</a></p>
<hr />
<p>Wow. Time flies. It's been a month since my last weeknote. I'm far less likely to write when actually doing things worth sharing:</p>
<ul>
<li>R and I drove to Exeter for a friend's birthday party. We helped them prepare beforehand by lending a hand to lay a floor(!), move in furniture, and bake pizza for 8 without a hob 💪 A truly fabulous 1940's themed cocktail party.</li>
<li>I attended <a href="https://leaddev.com/">LeadDev</a>. Mixed feelings. Some things to take away but it's hard to be excited by performance improvement plans and I prefer a smaller conference, I think, as it's easier to meaningfully meet new people. Although I did enjoy bumping into an old colleague.</li>
<li>Days later, our wedding. We walked down the aisle together, gave a joint speech, and made it our own. It came together beautifully. Our People of Esteem helped hugely and brought all their skills and talents, they're the absolute best ❤️ Everyone danced till the end, counter to what R's data analysis predicted.</li>
<li>We spent a couple of days in Malham to unwind. When we got back we went to a charity afternoon tea by Rahul (2018 Bake Off winner), raising money for Sheffield Children’s Hospital. Incredibly tasty and only £20!? Hurrah for a mid-week day off.</li>
<li>Later, <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/4/">we Cèilidh</a> 💃</li>
<li>Tomorrow, probably tidying and intense, quit-everything-and-become-a-subsistence-farmer Sunday Blues.</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<p>That's all for now. I think I'm going to intentionally stop writing weeknotes again for a bit because I need to maintain some mystique. Moody mystique. And because I can't be arsed.</p>
Summer of love2023-06-22T19:44:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/22-06-2023/<figure>
<video controls="" loop="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" width="480px" height="480px" aria-label="One ladybird on top of another, humping vigorously.">
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<source src="https://leemoody.co.uk/media/22-06-23-summer-of-love.mp4" type="video/mp4" sizes="480px" />
</video>
<figcaption>14th June: Look at them go! Look at them go! <span class="emoji">😲</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dWSc2p3Zw3-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dWSc2p3Zw3-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dWSc2p3Zw3-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dWSc2p3Zw3-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dWSc2p3Zw3-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dWSc2p3Zw3-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dWSc2p3Zw3-500.jpeg" alt="A larvae sits on a tiny sunflower plant. It's black, orange, and built like a little tank. A cute little tank." width="1000" height="1000" /></picture>
<figcaption>22nd June: Multiple plants across the plot are home to a ladybird larvae <span class="emoji">🥰</span> An aphid eating machine.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/79fhCdQ-VN-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/79fhCdQ-VN-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/79fhCdQ-VN-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/79fhCdQ-VN-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/79fhCdQ-VN-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/79fhCdQ-VN-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/79fhCdQ-VN-500.jpeg" alt="Not a pretty picture, little plant pots filled with mud. Dirty containers nearby are half full of rain water." width="1000" height="1000" /></picture>
<figcaption>22nd June: I almost forgot to keep sowing, with everything growing. Here's some greens from cabbage to lettuce. Leeks and spring onions. Beetroot sowed the other week has sprouted too.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Dc-1AcYvo7-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Dc-1AcYvo7-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Dc-1AcYvo7-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Dc-1AcYvo7-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Dc-1AcYvo7-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Dc-1AcYvo7-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Dc-1AcYvo7-500.jpeg" alt="Large, flat pea pods hang down attractively from a diagonal support. Below lush green lettuce and the pop of an orange nasturtium flower." width="1000" height="1000" /></picture>
<figcaption>22nd June: I haven't been to the plot much this week. Where did these come from!?</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Mi8_zre17M-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Mi8_zre17M-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Mi8_zre17M-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Mi8_zre17M-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Mi8_zre17M-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Mi8_zre17M-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Mi8_zre17M-500.jpeg" alt="My hand cradles 2 large, flat purple peas. They are vibrant and striking." width="1000" height="1000" /></picture>
<figcaption>22nd June: And these pretty Blauwschokker!?</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/DCMaNTZB8G-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/DCMaNTZB8G-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/DCMaNTZB8G-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/DCMaNTZB8G-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/DCMaNTZB8G-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/DCMaNTZB8G-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/DCMaNTZB8G-500.jpeg" alt="A re-used plastic takeaway container contains a rainbow of colour, including peas, flowers, and editable foliage." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>22nd June: I picked a little harvest of peas, nasturtium, tree spinach, and beetroot thinnings.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/rBMFomkD02-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/rBMFomkD02-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/rBMFomkD02-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/rBMFomkD02-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/rBMFomkD02-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/rBMFomkD02-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/rBMFomkD02-500.jpeg" alt="Peas, flowers, and editable foliage chopped up on a chopping board." width="1000" height="1000" /></picture>
<figcaption>22nd June: Chopped 'em up.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/a9J-olhrHj-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/a9J-olhrHj-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/a9J-olhrHj-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/a9J-olhrHj-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/a9J-olhrHj-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/a9J-olhrHj-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/a9J-olhrHj-500.jpeg" alt="A medley of allotment colours, cooked down and served with tortelini." width="1000" height="1000" /></picture>
<figcaption>22nd June: And made a little pasta dish with the help of Lidl. The peas were crisp and delicious.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Zv0qDKaB96-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Zv0qDKaB96-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Zv0qDKaB96-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Zv0qDKaB96-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Zv0qDKaB96-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Zv0qDKaB96-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Zv0qDKaB96-500.jpeg" alt="The foreground shows cleared ground and little squash plants ready to burst into their space. THe backdrop shows a formidable thicket of waist hight weeds. Dock flower spikes dominate." width="1000" height="1000" /></picture>
<figcaption>22nd June: The weeds in uncultivated areas have exploded, and are no longer in my control. Even in the cultivated patch I'm not on top of them at the moment.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/o4IfNv0Van-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/o4IfNv0Van-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/o4IfNv0Van-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/o4IfNv0Van-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/o4IfNv0Van-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/o4IfNv0Van-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/o4IfNv0Van-500.jpeg" alt="Neat rows of potatoes, with salad crops between" width="1000" height="1000" /></picture>
<figcaption>22nd June: It took an hour or so, but the potato area is looking much better. The potatoes haven't been growing much and look a little sad. Perhaps it's time to harvest, first earlies are due around now.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/admCL-ldi4-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/admCL-ldi4-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/admCL-ldi4-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/admCL-ldi4-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/admCL-ldi4-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/admCL-ldi4-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/admCL-ldi4-500.jpeg" alt="A delightful sunny allotment shot, full of summer growth." width="1000" height="1000" /></picture>
<figcaption>22nd June: Since my last update I've planted out squash and courgette. Anything I can find space for, I've plonked in. The corn is much improved on before, some more than others, and the tomatoes toward the back are looking way healthier ✨</figcaption></figure>
Zoomy Note2023-06-04T20:16:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/84/<p>To practise a long drive along a motorway I drove R to Leicester service station and back. Zoom! Zoom!</p>
<p>It became a rite of passage, since R passed before me and did the same earlier in the year.</p>
<p>On our first day trip to Leicester service station I ordered a plant based Burger King which was tasty but weirdly heavy. Nibbler's poop heavy. My stomach felt bad for the rest of the day. This time we had a light picnic near the coach-only parking bays, where cars had parked.</p>
<p>I used the Starbucks machine to get a coffee and selected the cold option. It was like an iced coffee but without the ice, just mildly colder than room temperature.</p>
<p>Service stations are magical.</p>
Sad tomatoes2023-06-04T19:43:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/04-06-2023/<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/lqvg-ZJZdM-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/lqvg-ZJZdM-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/lqvg-ZJZdM-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/lqvg-ZJZdM-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/lqvg-ZJZdM-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/lqvg-ZJZdM-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/lqvg-ZJZdM-500.jpeg" alt="A brick cold frame, with its lid propped open with a plank of wood. Lots of plants sit inside in pots. The ground in-between the pots is dry and clear of any competition." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>I took everything out of the coldframe and cleared it of weeds. It was a lot quicker and easier than the <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/16-04-2023/">first time I cleared the coldframe out</a>. I've enjoyed the odd strawberry from the couple of plants in there <span class="emoji">🍓😄</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PU_lvZh5I--500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PU_lvZh5I--1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PU_lvZh5I--500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PU_lvZh5I--1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PU_lvZh5I--500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PU_lvZh5I--1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PU_lvZh5I--500.jpeg" alt="All sorts of young plants sit neatly in rows, enjoying the evening sun. A fox glove with bright pinkish blooms stands out within a more wild verge to the left." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>I cleared more space toward the back and dug in well rotted manure, ready for a couple of squash (crown prince). At a glance things look great! But I'm worried about my corn (middle) and even more so my tomatoes (back).</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IkKLYykceK-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IkKLYykceK-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IkKLYykceK-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IkKLYykceK-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IkKLYykceK-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IkKLYykceK-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IkKLYykceK-500.jpeg" alt="A yellow tomato leaf, with a hint of green. It's peppered with dry, light brown speckles." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>Here's a tomato leaf. I had them in too small of a pot for too long, I introduced them to scorching sun too quickly, and then I planted them out right as evening temperatures dipped. I learnt this week that my allotment neighbour, and my actual neighbour one door down (!), both held out to put their corn out this weekend. Is everyone attempting to grow corn?</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/vHDGVXQdoZ-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/vHDGVXQdoZ-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/vHDGVXQdoZ-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/vHDGVXQdoZ-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/vHDGVXQdoZ-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/vHDGVXQdoZ-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/vHDGVXQdoZ-500.jpeg" alt="A more green tomato leaf a small amount of light brown speckles, fading to yellow around their perimeter." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>The lower leaves of my tomatoes are looking yellow and blotchy, though the growing tips are more green. Seems early, and this ground hasn't been cultivated in a long time, but I wonder if it's <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/disease/tomato-blight">blight</a> even <span class="emoji">😱</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/W29s8N12MI-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/W29s8N12MI-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/W29s8N12MI-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/W29s8N12MI-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/W29s8N12MI-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/W29s8N12MI-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/W29s8N12MI-500.jpeg" alt="Rows of plants: potatoes, onions, peas, and lettuce." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Everything already planted out is settling in, including lots (too much) of (a single kind of) lettuce – I've dotted it around, including under the peas there. More peas went out this week and I spent some time adding more twine to their support as they grew past where I left off 🙌</figcaption>
</figure>
Severed Note2023-06-01T21:01:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/83/<p>Forget about <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/28-05-2023/">the mosquitoes</a>, the businessmen have drunk my blood (like the kids at art school said they would). I feel drawn of lightness and creativity, as much as I ever possessed those virtues to begin with.</p>
<p>I've been thinking this for a while now.</p>
<p>Not unrelated, I binged <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severance_(TV_series)">Severance</a>. My first impression wasn't strong, slow start, but after a few episodes I was captured. I'm disturbed by how relatable and... cathartic? It felt.</p>
<p>Egg Bar Social? Yes please. Little eggs, lights, music, friendly colleagues, delightful.</p>
<p>I don't think I could fully relax into a Waffle Party though.</p>
In And Out2023-05-28T21:30:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/28-05-2023/<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/s6SQjDIUf0-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/s6SQjDIUf0-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/s6SQjDIUf0-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/s6SQjDIUf0-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/s6SQjDIUf0-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/s6SQjDIUf0-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/s6SQjDIUf0-500.jpeg" alt="Crossed legs, tea in a thermos cup, a bright and pleasantly cool morning on the plot." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>I slept weirdly one night and found myself at the allotment at 05:30am. It's a bloody good way to start the day, I'll say. Here I am having a tea break after an hour of digging.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/2yhNS7tq31-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/2yhNS7tq31-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/2yhNS7tq31-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/2yhNS7tq31-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/2yhNS7tq31-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/2yhNS7tq31-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/2yhNS7tq31-500.jpeg" alt="My leg, visible bites, with a small globule of visible blood." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>It gives me life, being at the plot, even when mosquitoes drain my life blood. It seems they're particularly active that early in the morning. All of a sudden I was viciously attacked, covered in bites and left visibly bleeding. Later in the week I drained a barrel of stagnant water and murdered the larvae which were borne of my blood.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/hUx3tHnSMO-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/hUx3tHnSMO-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/hUx3tHnSMO-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/hUx3tHnSMO-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/hUx3tHnSMO-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/hUx3tHnSMO-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/hUx3tHnSMO-500.jpeg" alt="Pretty weeds in front of a stack of bricks. Lush green, bright yellow buttercup, purples, and the magical seed heads of dandelion." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Weeds are pretty too. Also, surprisingly edible in lots of cases. It's not featured here but did you know you can eat cow parsley? Me neither. Just don't confuse it for hemlock which looks very similar and is fatally poisonous in even small quantities. I'm confident I can tell the difference now. There's lots of cow parsley around the plot, but I can't wait to find and identify hemlock whilst out and about.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KSl7_zAdRC-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KSl7_zAdRC-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KSl7_zAdRC-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KSl7_zAdRC-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KSl7_zAdRC-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KSl7_zAdRC-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KSl7_zAdRC-500.jpeg" alt="Wild strawberry flowers, dainty but promising." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Wild strawberry is also edible and on the plot. It's far easier to identify. Dainty but promising.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PXu_vDqpAc-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PXu_vDqpAc-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PXu_vDqpAc-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PXu_vDqpAc-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PXu_vDqpAc-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PXu_vDqpAc-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PXu_vDqpAc-500.jpeg" alt="A beautiful little frog, rich green with bright eyes. It has something covering its body, tiny white speckles." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Speaking of natural wonders, checkout my beautiful frog friend. So beautiful. A total prince. Sadly those little white speckles are from a degraded bag for life which was abandoned on the plot and burst into a billion pieces of plastic when I moved it. Filling the air, my lungs, and coating this little fella. We need to replace plastics where we can.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fCv-f1Oe7q-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fCv-f1Oe7q-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fCv-f1Oe7q-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fCv-f1Oe7q-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fCv-f1Oe7q-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fCv-f1Oe7q-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fCv-f1Oe7q-500.jpeg" alt="A small seating area against my house surrounded by plants, edible and decorative, and small potted trees. In front are multiple trays bursting with little plants in little pots, from tomatoes to corn. The sun shines bright and flares the photo." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>At home, seedlings have been in and out, getting used to outdoor life. Hardening off. I was so focused on introducing them to cooler weather, bringing them in at night, that I forgot to watch out for the heat. They went from a humid window sill to scorching patio... everything is a little yellow and a little crispy now. Totally viable but no doubt set back. I have learnt, and look forward to another run at it next year.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ao3R-EIVoX-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ao3R-EIVoX-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ao3R-EIVoX-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ao3R-EIVoX-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ao3R-EIVoX-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ao3R-EIVoX-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ao3R-EIVoX-500.jpeg" alt="A baby bok choi held aloft, light shines through holes which peppers its foliage." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption><a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/06-04-2023/">Baby bok choi, sowed early April</a> has become my first (non-foraged) harvest. The rows were pretty wrecked by slugs and flea beetle, now they've started to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolting_(horticulture)">bolt</a> in the heat. Nevertheless, a tasty crop that's finding its way into multiple meals.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/E7UYex9Y_T-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/E7UYex9Y_T-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/E7UYex9Y_T-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/E7UYex9Y_T-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/E7UYex9Y_T-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/E7UYex9Y_T-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/E7UYex9Y_T-500.jpeg" alt="A hearty portion of tofu, noddles, and greens steam in a pasta bowl." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>A Japanese inspired noodle dish. A hearty portion of tofu, noddles, and greens including baby bok choi, garlic chives, and basil mint from the garden.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9gKXFS3-Ur-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9gKXFS3-Ur-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9gKXFS3-Ur-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9gKXFS3-Ur-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9gKXFS3-Ur-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9gKXFS3-Ur-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/9gKXFS3-Ur-500.jpeg" alt="Egg fried rice with greens steams in an attractive bowl, white and decorated with a blue geometric pattern. Chop sticks rest on top." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>A Chinese inspired egg fried rice, with baby bok choi.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/yTb7ujhUVI-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/yTb7ujhUVI-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/yTb7ujhUVI-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/yTb7ujhUVI-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/yTb7ujhUVI-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/yTb7ujhUVI-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/yTb7ujhUVI-500.jpeg" alt="An open car boot with three bags of peat-free compost, three bags of manure, seaweed feed, and rope." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>Learning to drive means I can spend endless money on manure and compost at will. This is an expensive but very rewarding hobby... gotta get those compost bins built.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/pEjGxrb10N-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/pEjGxrb10N-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/pEjGxrb10N-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/pEjGxrb10N-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/pEjGxrb10N-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/pEjGxrb10N-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/pEjGxrb10N-500.jpeg" alt="Two rows of four brassica seedlings, with a fine mesh covering." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>Didn't totally keep track of my <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/06-04-2023/">brassicas, sowed early April</a>. I struggled to get good results with the little seedling tray and have no brussels at all. I've mixed up my cauliflower and purple sprouting seedlings. Something is planted out though, including two cavolo nero from my allotment buddy. It's a bed of brassica surprises! Hopefully the fine mesh will keep flea beetle off whilst they establish.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dorUgXgszt-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dorUgXgszt-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dorUgXgszt-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dorUgXgszt-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dorUgXgszt-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dorUgXgszt-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dorUgXgszt-500.jpeg" alt="The left side of the plot. A significant area is cleared and planted. There are neat rows of small corn and tomato plants. In front the bed curves. It's in a less formal, kitchen garden style and contains a variety of plants including lettuce, spring onion, tree spinach, chard, cavolo nero, purple sprouting step broccoli, apple mint, and sweet peas." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>I've got a lot in the ground this weekend. It's looking like an allotment. The rows are corn, and further back tomato plants. In front is a less formal, kitchen garden style area and contains a variety of plants including lettuce, spring onion, tree spinach, chard, cavolo nero, purple sprouting broccoli, apple mint, and sweet peas.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OP5hlz8LS6-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OP5hlz8LS6-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OP5hlz8LS6-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OP5hlz8LS6-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OP5hlz8LS6-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OP5hlz8LS6-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OP5hlz8LS6-500.jpeg" alt="A top down view. A tomato plant is visible through the top of its mildly protective fleece, where the fleece wraps around the three bamboo canes which support the end of the row." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>I may have jumped the gun as there will be a couple of cold nights here, around 7°C (or, "feels like" 5°C). Tomatoes I gather shouldn't drop below 10°C. They won't die, but I don't know how much they will be set back, or whether it will impact their crop. I've wrapped fleece around their support to hopefully keep a little heat and at least act as a wind break.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dT-Rm6vKdY-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dT-Rm6vKdY-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dT-Rm6vKdY-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dT-Rm6vKdY-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dT-Rm6vKdY-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dT-Rm6vKdY-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dT-Rm6vKdY-500.jpeg" alt="The right side of the plot. A significant area is cleared. Tidy rows of potatoes, onions, peas, stretch outward. Behind a tangle of weeds in full, lush growth." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Potatoes, onions, peas, all doing okay. More to follow!</figcaption>
</figure>
Nibbled Note2023-05-20T09:34:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/82/<ul>
<li><a href="https://play.acast.com/s/offmenu/ep-188-alex-jones">Alex Jones has the best taste in biscuits</a>. Digestive, Hobnob, Shortbread. Yes. And the corned beef pie! What a menu. What a delight. If I still ate meat, I'd definitely be making a corned beef and potato pie this weekend. When I was a child I'd sometimes help my mamma bake sweet and savoury pies, including corned beef and potato. I wonder if I'd be able to re-create the perfection.</li>
<li>I woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep. I ended up working the allotment 05:30 - 08:45, when my career cruelly curtailed my wholesome work. It's a frickin' wonderful way to start to the day, I'll say. It gives me life being there, even though a dozen mosquitoes viscously drained my life blood and left me for dead visibly bleeding.
<ul>
<li>Allotment man: Do you know you can make £££££ per kg of sawdust?</li>
<li>Me: Where does it come from?</li>
<li>Allotment man: The farm.</li>
<li>Me: Uh, I've got enough on at the moment, thanks though!</li>
<li>It took me a while to realise we probably weren't talking about very expensive sawdust.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>R says I'm lithe, like a seal.</li>
<li>This week was a great work week and I'm not really sure I can explain why without blowing my own trumpet too much or boring you with details. Let me try. It had a nice balance of leadership work, advocacy, and tech work itself.
<ul>
<li>Firstly, I'm really proud of all the team's work 😊
<ul>
<li>In particular this week, one of our team members published an excellent blog post (internally right now) to finally announce some of our big ambitions – woop woop!</li>
<li>We have some technical proof of concepts almost ready to demo.</li>
<li>We also put out a new special logo courtesy of a wonderful colleague getting involved and helping out with their illustration skills.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Chats with other teams clarified in my mind a possible roadmap for my team, to move toward our vision in a more positive and realistic way than what I thought was happening a week ago. Working to get buy-in for this thought.</li>
<li>Some process change I proposed was accepted by a broader group and I'm excited about it. Think it will help unlock my team's potential with improved collaboration and knowledge sharing across different groups.</li>
<li>That sounds very generic business. That's right, we'll harness business synergies to deliver on our product & tech growth strategy whilst meeting all personal <abbr title="Key Performance Indicator">KPIs</abbr> and departmental <abbr title="Objective Key Results">OKRs</abbr>.</li>
<li>Had conversations with 2 people about bootcamps, an opportunity to work with our team for a few weeks to see how we work and gain experience – absolutely 🙌</li>
<li>I shipped some actual code, helped a few people with technical things.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/81/">Last week</a> I went to the office and, under the harsh lights of the toilets, realised how scruffy I looked. My t-shirt collar all loose and frayed. So this week I bought a bunch of new ones off eBay (newish, with or without tags) saving enough £££££ to buy/sell some sawdust if I change my mind. I also splurged on some <a href="https://thelevelcollective.com/">The Level Collective</a> t-shirts, a nice looking Sheffield brand.</li>
<li>Train. Cautious sausage. Silly sausage. I make little reminders through the week and write them up properly later. I think this was for last week, but I don't remember what it means.</li>
</ul>
Cha Cha Cha Note2023-05-14T12:15:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/81/<ul>
<li>I made the long journey into the office again and had some super productive conversations. Turns out the thing I've been worrying about is probably not the thing I should worry about, and is in fact the opposite thing.</li>
<li>Met a person from sales (previously customer services) in the canteen and chatted about a b2b re-brand we're working on. If you'd like to get out of an annual subscription, I know how now.</li>
<li>Going to London for the day is always tiring and a bit of a drain on my personal life, but I come back energised work wise. A brief high. Like I could accidentally run to Winchester.</li>
<li>It was excellent to have a little more time at the pub with fellow FT folk this time.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6rS8Dv5g-8">Holding on the drinks with both hands tied on them like a</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6rS8Dv5g-8">Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, ei!</a></li>
<li>More friends were waiting for me at home, when I got back late on Thursday evening. We all had Friday off for a long weekend of walking around ours. We haven't gotten out into the Peaks enough.<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/l7Vppzfkxq-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/l7Vppzfkxq-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/l7Vppzfkxq-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/l7Vppzfkxq-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/l7Vppzfkxq-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/l7Vppzfkxq-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/l7Vppzfkxq-500.jpeg" alt="Millstones, huge circular rocks with holes in the center, pepper the landscape. Quarried a long time ago, they are weather-worn, covered in lichen and moss." width="1000" height="750" /></picture> <figcaption><a href="https://letsgopeakdistrict.co.uk/intriguing-millstones-of-the-peak-district/">Abandoned millstones</a> near Hathersage.</figcaption></figure><figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IemgHdxeeI-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IemgHdxeeI-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IemgHdxeeI-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IemgHdxeeI-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IemgHdxeeI-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IemgHdxeeI-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IemgHdxeeI-500.jpeg" alt="A moody scene. A mossy, rocky landscape stretches ahead then suddenly stops. An edge. Fog obscures the view, and the drop." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Invigorating weather around <a href="https://www.visitpeakdistrict.com/business-directory/stanage-edge">Stanage Edge</a>.</figcaption></figure><figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xjXiTT1fIO-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xjXiTT1fIO-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xjXiTT1fIO-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xjXiTT1fIO-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xjXiTT1fIO-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xjXiTT1fIO-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xjXiTT1fIO-500.jpeg" alt="A bright, sunny day with blue skies. Three people walk ahead toward craggy rocks which reach up through the horizon." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption><a href="https://www.visitpeakdistrict.com/business-directory/the-roaches">The Roaches</a></figcaption></figure><figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KOAvyVdg2i-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KOAvyVdg2i-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KOAvyVdg2i-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KOAvyVdg2i-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KOAvyVdg2i-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KOAvyVdg2i-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KOAvyVdg2i-500.jpeg" alt="The bottom of a deep, moss-covered chasm looking up. The sun shines bright through ferns. Positively Jurassic." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption><a href="https://www.visitpeakdistrict.com/business-directory/luds-church">Lud's Church</a></figcaption></figure>
</li>
</ul>
Variety Note2023-05-06T15:31:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/80/<ul>
<li>Did a bunch of stuff that wasn't <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/">going to the allotment</a>.</li>
<li>Wedding planning made a little more progress. I'm mindful R is carrying the biggest burden, as I procrastinate and instead make <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/">progress on the allotment</a>.</li>
<li>I painted our celler head which took frickin' ages. Two sunny days I spent labouring over that, <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/">instead of labouring over the allotment</a>.</li>
<li>We met with some friends at our local pub which was great, but it would have been nicer <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/">to hangout together at the allotment</a>.</li>
<li>Our own garden got a little <abbr title="tender loving care">TLC</abbr> from me too, but I would still rather <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/">care for the allotment</a>.</li>
<li>Absolutely obsessed, reader. Wish I could be there always. Absolutely. Obsessed.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.meetup.com/front-end-sheffield/">Front End Sheffield</a> yet again delivered with another high value talk. This time from Adam Jaggard from Mux. He shared how Mux uses <a href="https://www.mux.com/blog/slow-is-stable-stable-is-fast-building-mux-player-on-the-slow-platform-of-web-components">web components to provide customisable layouts/overlays for live streamed video</a>. I've stopped promising I'll actually ever help out by giving a talk. The bar is high! Unintentionally I gather. Sheffield's tech scene isn't massive, but is impressive.</li>
<li>I grabbed a spare ticket to <a href="https://heypresents.com/conferences/2023/speakers">All Day Hey!</a>, a tech conference in Leeds. I almost didn't, but am so glad I did. Learnt a lot; felt inspired; caught up with some colleagues; and (gasp) mingled with some lovely new people too.
<ul>
<li>It was so so nice to have a big bunch of FT people travel north ❤️</li>
<li>Oh my God though, I need to remember I don't like drinking any more. I've had a 2 day emotional hangover and continue to be very grumpy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Voted in the local elections before heading out to Hey! Our local Green party candidate held his seat 🙌 I'm a Green party member but I'm not engaged. I was thinking about stepping back and just donating or something, but have since been convinced even mild engagement is better than no engagement.</li>
<li>It's the coronation. I was going to make a savoury, Republican Roulade. It was to use similar ingredients to the <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/coronation-quiche">coronation quiche</a> but, crucially, would be Republican and a roulade. I talked a big game all week about my Republican Roulade. However I cannot be arsed, don't fancy it, and Lidl are out of organic eggs sooo... Probably just have a Vive la République Frozen Pizza instead.</li>
<li>Have a great bank holiday all!</li>
</ul>
Warmer weather2023-05-06T14:49:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/06-05-2023/<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/CHubxh7V4l-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/CHubxh7V4l-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/CHubxh7V4l-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/CHubxh7V4l-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/CHubxh7V4l-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/CHubxh7V4l-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/CHubxh7V4l-500.jpeg" alt="Holding aloft a battery powered hedge trimmer. A path extending out in front is covered with trimmings." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>I have a new tool. No more will my eyes be poked whilst clearing ground below the hedge.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/8GGYrawm6I-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/8GGYrawm6I-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/8GGYrawm6I-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/8GGYrawm6I-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/8GGYrawm6I-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/8GGYrawm6I-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/8GGYrawm6I-500.jpeg" alt="Large brassica seedlings jostle for space in a square pot." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>I met a new allotment neighbour, from two plots down. She kindly gave me some purple sprouting broccoli seedlings. This is fortunate, as <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/06-04-2023/">the purple sprouting broccoli I sowed</a> isn't looking so hot – it needed more light, and different compost.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Xxhf_4GQT_-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Xxhf_4GQT_-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Xxhf_4GQT_-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Xxhf_4GQT_-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Xxhf_4GQT_-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Xxhf_4GQT_-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Xxhf_4GQT_-500.jpeg" alt="A potted strawberry plant with pretty flowers." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>The couple of strawberry plants I was gifted are doing well under the coldframe. I've been taking them on holiday to visit the <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/02-04-2023/">lucky comfrey</a>. Bees are all over the comfrey at the moment, and I want them to have a chance to pollinate the strawberries too.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aRuabna6V7-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aRuabna6V7-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aRuabna6V7-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aRuabna6V7-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aRuabna6V7-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aRuabna6V7-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aRuabna6V7-500.jpeg" alt="A yellow iris with small, sword like leaves emerging. It is suspended in a water butt, held in place with string." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>I decided to salvage some abandoned <a href="https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/yellow-iris">yellow iris</a> (suspected yellow iris), after resisting for a while and watching it turn into a dry husk over several weeks. It's bouncing back! I'm proud of the little winch I improvised. It allows me to lower the iris as I take water from the butt. This is a temporary home.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/I6e32LoW2l-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/I6e32LoW2l-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/I6e32LoW2l-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/I6e32LoW2l-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/I6e32LoW2l-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/I6e32LoW2l-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/I6e32LoW2l-500.jpeg" alt="A small plant with mint-like leaves stands out amongst grasses and obvious weeds." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>Lemon balm is the latest useful thing I've identified growing beneath the brambles and dock leaves. It looks like mint but smells like lemon. Gardening gives you the opportunity to exercise all your senses.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ElwmiI0PcI-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ElwmiI0PcI-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ElwmiI0PcI-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ElwmiI0PcI-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ElwmiI0PcI-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ElwmiI0PcI-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ElwmiI0PcI-500.jpeg" alt="Woodchips! Loads of woodchips! With a loaded wheel barrow and shovel." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>Finally, a load of woodchip not too far from the plot! This is free to take, I believe tree surgeons drop off here, however there is never enough. Demand is high.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/nd2lZS5kCe-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/nd2lZS5kCe-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/nd2lZS5kCe-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/nd2lZS5kCe-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/nd2lZS5kCe-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/nd2lZS5kCe-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/nd2lZS5kCe-500.jpeg" alt="A view from the front of the plot. A coldframe. A woodchip path. Potatoes sprouting. A bamboo frame for peas. It's beginning to take shape, structure." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>The early bird catches the worm. I changed my plans and made the most of flexible working to gather as much as I could. It took about 10 minutes to go back and fourth with a single barrow load. Nine-ish trips later I had enough woodchip to create a path down the back and to one side of the coldframe.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/z_92L4RkyJ-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/z_92L4RkyJ-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/z_92L4RkyJ-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/z_92L4RkyJ-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/z_92L4RkyJ-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/z_92L4RkyJ-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/z_92L4RkyJ-500.jpeg" alt="A view from the back of the plot. Lots of progress has been made clearing ground of weeds." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>I'm making reasonable progress clearing ground but still need to enrich this area with manure. I'll soon have enough space to add corn, tomatoes, pumpkin, and courgette – all of which are taking over our window sills!</figcaption></figure>
Dirty work2023-04-23T14:18:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/23-04-2023/<p>This week has involved some more dirty work. I don't mean the kind which involves moving earth or manure, that's not dirty work. I'm talking about tidying up the mess of other humans.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OHSWXrQNiS-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OHSWXrQNiS-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OHSWXrQNiS-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OHSWXrQNiS-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OHSWXrQNiS-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OHSWXrQNiS-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OHSWXrQNiS-500.jpeg" alt="A slightly stomach turning bucket of human detritus: muddy plastics, rusted metal." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Some of the bags of disintegrating plastic really turns my stomach. You think, what was in there which is now leaking out?</figcaption></figure>
<p>Just when you're getting somewhere you spot a little something. Before you know it, an inch below ground, you find enough plastic and crap to fill a few more rubble bags – including long overpowered weed suppressing membrane, water bottles, rusty old beer cans, batteries, a rusted HSBC pen, and torn bags of mystery.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/gY9P7DRj-o-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/gY9P7DRj-o-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/gY9P7DRj-o-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/gY9P7DRj-o-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/gY9P7DRj-o-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/gY9P7DRj-o-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/gY9P7DRj-o-500.jpeg" alt="Open bin-liner sized bags showing rubbish collected from the plot. Includes lots of plastic, including disintegrating bags of compost, weed suppressing membrane – covered with mud and entangled with nature." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>The earth hides bags and bags of human rubbish.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/6fuogj-hqI-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/6fuogj-hqI-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/6fuogj-hqI-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/6fuogj-hqI-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/6fuogj-hqI-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/6fuogj-hqI-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/6fuogj-hqI-500.jpeg" alt="15 or more sacks of rubbish in green and black, large plastic bags. All neatly tied and arranged in a corner. Behind them larger items which would not fit including roof slates and scrap metal." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>I've bagged a lot up, including the <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/16-04-2023/">carpet which I started cutting up last week</a>.</figcaption></figure>
<p>Not everything abandoned on the plot has been bad. We found a blue chair, which I've kept. It has seen better days but is a welcome place to perch with a tea after hours at work.</p>
<p>Now we also have a second chair for guests. R spotted it, dumped outside someone's house. It (literally) rocks. Though its pink, elasticated upholstery is frayed and coming apart – we might be taking it to the dump this time next year – for now I think it'll make a nice addition for reading or otherwise lounging.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xQM4eJXCSp-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xQM4eJXCSp-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xQM4eJXCSp-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xQM4eJXCSp-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xQM4eJXCSp-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xQM4eJXCSp-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xQM4eJXCSp-500.jpeg" alt="Two old, found chairs sit empty beneath a tree. They're inviting." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>Our two chairs.</figcaption></figure>
<p>I drove to the allotment for the first time to deliver our new chair, and deliver manure. It's nice being able to drive.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/GCAsXcMYOg-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/GCAsXcMYOg-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/GCAsXcMYOg-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/GCAsXcMYOg-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/GCAsXcMYOg-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/GCAsXcMYOg-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/GCAsXcMYOg-500.jpeg" alt="A slightly rusty, beaten-up, old rocking chair sits sideways in the boot of a car. Its pink, elasticated upholstery is frayed and coming apart. The car is at the allotment, surrounded by greenery. Through the open boot window Sheffield city tower blocks are visible on a distant hill." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Special delivery. I love the greenery in this photo, contrasting with the car and the tower blocks of the city – visible through the rear windscreen.</figcaption></figure>
<p>It hasn't been all about junk this week. I also moved (yet more) top soil to deepen the very shallow bed, digging in a few barrows of well-rotted manure to improve the soil.</p>
<p>The bed is about 2.3 metres wide, divided into two with a small 30cm route to walk between them. Each is about 2 metres long, one for <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/16-04-2023/">onions (gifted from a neighbour last week)</a>, and another for peas.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SQ1778FVsz-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SQ1778FVsz-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SQ1778FVsz-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SQ1778FVsz-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SQ1778FVsz-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SQ1778FVsz-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SQ1778FVsz-500.jpeg" alt="A view of the cleared area of the allotment. Potatoes are protected by a white, fleece-alternative. Behind a freshly dug area. Bamboo canes in two rows meet in the middle, reinforced by another cane in the centre of the start and end of the rows, to form a structure for climbers." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>The onions are in to the left. The structure of bamboo canes will support mostly mangetout peas (which get quite tall).</figcaption></figure>
<p>Right now the bamboo structure is more suited to beans. Beans would have no problem winding up the bamboo but pea tendrils might have a tougher time holding on. I'll add jute twine or chicken mesh to make for a better pea support.</p>
<p>In other news, previous sowings are beginning to emerge!</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xRsDUSlCSV-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xRsDUSlCSV-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xRsDUSlCSV-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xRsDUSlCSV-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xRsDUSlCSV-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xRsDUSlCSV-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xRsDUSlCSV-500.jpeg" alt="Small, green seedlings emerge from a black plastic pot; they are yet to develop true leaves. A wooden lollipop stick indicates they are Cosmos seedlings." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Cosmos flowers have sprouted under the coldframe.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KXx6KxywUa-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KXx6KxywUa-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KXx6KxywUa-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KXx6KxywUa-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KXx6KxywUa-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KXx6KxywUa-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/KXx6KxywUa-500.jpeg" alt="Lush green potato shoots emerge in rows. Between them a clear row of bok choy seedlings stand out against a smattering of weed seedlings" width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>My <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/02-04-2023/">first early potatoes</a> have also sprouted! They're looking healthy. Between them is a clear row of baby bok choy seedlings too. I don't know how I'll weed these effectively and will wait a week or two before attempting to thin them out.</figcaption></figure>
<p>These allotment updates are chunky, huh? So much is happening! I'll save this weekend's goings on for an update next week, I think.</p>
Courier Note2023-04-15T07:41:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/79/<p>This is a boring weeknote. Or, if you find them boring already (rude), more boring than usual. It feels like every other part of my life is getting in the way of <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/23-04-2023/">allotment projects</a> at the moment 😅</p>
<ul>
<li>Whilst I'll make an allotment exception in favour of fun, sociable activities I have been more annoyed than usual to have to go to this place called work. Especially on sunny days.</li>
<li>Not that I haven't made plenty of time for the allotment! Seeds have been sowed; seedlings have been potted on; well rotted manure has been dug; rubbish has been cleared. Everything aches.</li>
<li>I drove our car for the first time. Of course I went to Homebase to gather gardening materials. We also went to collect an old, <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/23-04-2023/">abandoned chair for the allotment</a>. Probably it turned into a very expensive endeavour, as I drove through a bus gate 15 minutes before it would have stopped being a bus gate (:sad-blob:)</li>
<li>Oh! I also drove to see my grandparents ☺️ Previously we'd need to rely on a lift for the last leg. It was a 45-ish minute drive, each way, and all felt relaxed and comfortable. I even got in and out of their driveway smoothly. Although I did make one small whoopsie on the way back, which is fine and expected of a new driver but I'm still thinking about it...</li>
<li>Is this making me sound like a bad driver? I think it sounds worse written down. I've been trying to make excuses to drive to ensure I keep up what I've learnt and become seasoned at it.</li>
<li>My main, real concern is still parallel parking in tight spaces on our street. It's limiting the times of day I'm comfortable returning in the car without R for backup.</li>
<li>Huh, so, I missed the government's emergency alert system... 25mins post apocalypse I found it on my lockscreen.</li>
</ul>
<p>Other things happened this week too, probably, but I'm even bored of writing this now. Byyyeee! Thanks for reading, sorry for wasting your time.</p>
Driven Note2023-04-15T07:41:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/78/<ul>
<li>A sunny bank holiday meant <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/16-04-2023/">lots of allotment time</a> 🥰</li>
<li>With R away I was set to have perhaps a little too much time to myself. Thankfully my allotment neighbour was about; some family members popped by; and a friend's request for help shifting wardrobes snowballed into a gathering. Lovely.</li>
<li>House work? Wedding planning? No! Allotment. Only allotment.</li>
<li>Wow, going back to work, trapped indoors, was tough.</li>
<li>T. O. U. G. H. Tough.</li>
<li>Thursday I hauled myself to London for an office visit and came back more directed and motivated. It was an effective way to enthusiastically hash out some bigger projects with the team 😊</li>
<li>One of my personal priorities right now is mapping out front-end tools and techniques used by teams across the FT Group to inform shared technical decisions. I've generated a big ol' spreadsheet of tech, teams, and systems to start conversations where teams might not have a full picture of their own estate, and I've put together a kind of semi-structured interview. Next week I'll be trialling the format with our Engineering Insights team.</li>
<li>I'd like to be at the allotment right now, this Saturday morning, but whilst it's quiet out I'd like to drive our car for the first time more. I haven't driven since <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/77/">passing my test last week</a>. It's a bit intimidating since my instructor's car is quite a bit fancier, and electric. I'll wait for my beloved co-pilot to wake up.</li>
<li>Hope you have a restful weekend, ta ta!</li>
</ul>
Landscaping2023-04-14T20:17:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/16-04-2023/<p>A sunny, long bank holiday weekend!</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/qHkGMrZ1d--500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/qHkGMrZ1d--1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/qHkGMrZ1d--500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/qHkGMrZ1d--1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/qHkGMrZ1d--500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/qHkGMrZ1d--1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/qHkGMrZ1d--500.jpeg" alt="A spade, fork, and mattock stood upright, driven into a sunny, freshly dug bed for planting." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>I must have moved at least 20 barrows of soil from path areas to the <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/02-04-2023/">area without much top soil</a>. You can't really tell from the photo how much effort that was... hopefully whatever I plant there will have a chance now.</figcaption></figure>
<p>Our found mattock came in helpful here again. Over time I became a little exhausted and so less controlled in my movements. Reader, my steel toe caps work.</p>
<p>Throughout the work-week I'm constantly shovelling food and snacks and tea into my face. Procrastination? A habit whilst leg stretching? Pushing down the feelings? The crushing reality of life dribbling away whilst I fret we're all in agreement that paper is #fff1e5? Who knows. At the allotment, by stark contrast, I can labour merrily all day on a single hot cross bun and banana.</p>
<p>I mean, so long as I have a flask of tea! That will have to transition to iced coffee and water soon. 😎</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/tPJE5v11Eg-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/tPJE5v11Eg-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/tPJE5v11Eg-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/tPJE5v11Eg-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/tPJE5v11Eg-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/tPJE5v11Eg-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/tPJE5v11Eg-500.jpeg" alt="Onion sets (tiny onions) in a freezer, zip-lock bag." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>My allotment neighbour gave me some onion sets. He says he's rooting for our success with the plot <span class="emoji">🥹</span></figcaption></figure>
<p>I wasn't going to bother with onions. They're cheap to buy and much for muchness, right? But how could I say no to a kind offer! And it would be nice to get something low-stakes into the ground, keeping bare soil weed free is endless and unfulfilling.</p>
<p>I'll probably put them in the shallow-but-now-not-as-shallow-as-it-was area, but want to dig in some organic matter first to help with nutrients and water retention.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/2qgYm7pEV4-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/2qgYm7pEV4-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/2qgYm7pEV4-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/2qgYm7pEV4-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/2qgYm7pEV4-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/2qgYm7pEV4-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/2qgYm7pEV4-500.jpeg" alt="A brick coldframe with no lid. Inside is a mess of scattered pots, rusted metal, and weeds. Lush, fresh bindweed growth scales the perimeter. A couple of potted strawberries look lost, intimidated." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>Weeds have really started to take off, particularly within the new coldframe.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_l0G_zaPKs-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_l0G_zaPKs-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_l0G_zaPKs-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_l0G_zaPKs-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_l0G_zaPKs-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_l0G_zaPKs-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_l0G_zaPKs-500.jpeg" alt="A coldframe, cleared of unwanted plants and junk. To the left a wheel barrow stands full with a mass of perennial roots." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>You'd think clearing the coldframe wouldn't be much work. It's a small, well defined space, the weeds look small. Wrong! We'd cut them back before, so most of the work isn't visible. I tackled some of my toughest bramble roots yet. And the bindweed. The endless bindweed. Checkout the wheelbarrow of massed perennial roots.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/f-CTehjmf0-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/f-CTehjmf0-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/f-CTehjmf0-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/f-CTehjmf0-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/f-CTehjmf0-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/f-CTehjmf0-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/f-CTehjmf0-500.jpeg" alt="A brightly lit coldframe close-up, of plant pots with fresh compost, where lolly-pop sticks with written names indicate freshly sown seed." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>I sowed a variety of things in pots which are currently sheltering in the coldframe. I also have a couple of strawberries hanging out in there too, they were gifted by a different allotment neighbour.</figcaption></figure>
<p>My efforts to clear areas won't last long without plants or mulch to help suppress new, unwanted seedlings emerging. I'm going to have to get composting and planting soon!</p>
<p>In the meantime I sowed within the coldframe: shallot, I gather this is late to sow them, we'll see, there's just a few to try; leek, again I feel maybe a bit late, but I'll probably plant out as a group and harvest immature; spring onions; cosmos (an annual flower, thanks for the seeds, Gardener's World); french parsley, slugs willing; a sunflower, which I'm sure will die or be set back by the cold, but we'll see; and forget-me-nots.</p>
<p>Oh! And not to forget (hah) some opportunistic honeysuckle cuttings – plucked from a hedge-trimming pile as I passed a community garden in full swing.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/oIKLEK7pz1-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/oIKLEK7pz1-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/oIKLEK7pz1-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/oIKLEK7pz1-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/oIKLEK7pz1-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/oIKLEK7pz1-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/oIKLEK7pz1-500.jpeg" alt="Holding a paper packet of seeds to the camera. Personal details obscured, it reads: forget-me-not. In loving memory of St... 6th Jan 19..." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>I've been hanging onto the forget-me-not seeds for a while, since my granddad's funeral. He spent a lot of time in his garden, too. We'd always go on a tour of his modest but abundant garden together when I'd visit.</figcaption></figure>
<p>Forget-me-not are "a humble but glorious spring flower", which I love sparsely planted among grasses. Weirdly, considering I love forget-me-not, I can't bear most blue flowers – a part of me is almost offended by them. Bluebells are the only other exception I can think of right now, but having said that I'd say they have a kinda purplish hue really.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dYia9To7TI-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dYia9To7TI-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dYia9To7TI-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dYia9To7TI-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dYia9To7TI-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dYia9To7TI-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/dYia9To7TI-500.jpeg" alt="Small fox gloves planted out in a roughly dug over patch of ground." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>I made a little fox glove patch, very roughly digging over a patch and moving those plants I saved whilst clearing elsewhere.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/BcsChy8J01-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/BcsChy8J01-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/BcsChy8J01-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/BcsChy8J01-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/BcsChy8J01-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/BcsChy8J01-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/BcsChy8J01-500.jpeg" alt="A fold out seat, set out beneath a tree. In the backdrop, visible below the tree's small canopy, a new fox glove patch." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>The fox glove patch is behind a little seating area which I hope will look good come summer. Relatively speaking. It's unlikely I'll actually get to this area for some time.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ZTjoqWPWBs-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ZTjoqWPWBs-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ZTjoqWPWBs-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ZTjoqWPWBs-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ZTjoqWPWBs-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ZTjoqWPWBs-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ZTjoqWPWBs-500.jpeg" alt="Filthy carpet with a Stanley knife on top." width="1000" height="749" /></picture>
<figcaption>During the week it's been too wet to dig the ground. I made some headway slicing up all <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/02-04-2023/">the carpet I unearthed</a>. I'm in the process of bagging it up, ready to be disposed of. The Stanley knife seems both wildly, terrifyingly powerful but also frustratingly ineffective when I hit a snag of compacted carpet-mud-root.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/4nyK9mKLC0-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/4nyK9mKLC0-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/4nyK9mKLC0-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/4nyK9mKLC0-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/4nyK9mKLC0-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/4nyK9mKLC0-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/4nyK9mKLC0-500.jpeg" alt="A frayed, plastic weed suppression mat. It looks like reams of cassette tape." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>I'm also bagging up all the plastic weed suppression mats I found. These had long been taken over, with soil on top and weeds growing through. They've frayed into a thousand cassette tape ribbons, which I'm removing from the ground constantly. I will avoid using any for this reason.</figcaption></figure>
<p>The other day I thanked a blue tit for happening to drop a broken, plastic, mossy golf ball with the other I found on the plot. Both ready to bag up. Every little helps.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jrPRuPhe3Y-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jrPRuPhe3Y-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jrPRuPhe3Y-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jrPRuPhe3Y-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jrPRuPhe3Y-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jrPRuPhe3Y-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/jrPRuPhe3Y-500.jpeg" alt="Many small sprigs of rosemary planted snugly into a terracotta pot." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>In other news, a neighbour (at home, not the allotment) cut back their huge rosemary bush and left bunches out for passersby. I couldn't resist popping some trimmings into a pot whilst making dinner.</figcaption></figure>
<p>P.S. Guess what! This week 2 whole people – 2 entire human beings with lives of their own and other things to do – said they enjoy these allotment updates. That's nice to hear, because it takes a little while to write up. Thanks for letting me know 😊</p>
<p>P.P.S I watered some plants with the rotting corpse of a frog this week, but there's a multitude of aspects to discuss there and I just don't know how to fit that in. I leave you with that lovely image.</p>
Steady on2023-04-06T22:18:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/06-04-2023/<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/sUFgd8MfRw-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/sUFgd8MfRw-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/sUFgd8MfRw-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/sUFgd8MfRw-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/sUFgd8MfRw-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/sUFgd8MfRw-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/sUFgd8MfRw-500.jpeg" alt="A black leather sofa sits next to a yellow warning on a post, no dumping, no tipping. It's sunny, and the sofa isn't not appealing." width="1000" height="749" /></picture>
<figcaption>No dumping no tipping. Hopefully someone has arranged for this to be collected... anyhow back to our plot...</figcaption></figure>
<p>It's <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/02-04-2023/">all go at the allotment</a>, I'm using spring's increasing daylight and fair weather to spend a few hours there of an evening.</p>
<p><a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/76/">Last weekend friends visited</a> and spent some time helping over on the allotment. They took some pretty darn cool aerial photos and helped me build a coldframe lid for an existing brick structure. How excellent!</p>
<figure>
<video controls="" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" width="1280px" height="720px" aria-label="aerial shots of the allotment and my balding patch. It's clear progress is being made, maybe a sixth is cleared for planting.">
<source src="https://leemoody.co.uk/media/early-april-2023.webm" type="video/webm" sizes="1280px" />
<source src="https://leemoody.co.uk/media/early-april-2023.mp4" type="video/mp4" sizes="1280px" />
</video>
<figcaption>Our allotment from above. Pretty cool, right! I might edit something more polished and better optimised later, at the time of writing it's my bed time. P.s. checkout that <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/41/">bald patch</a>! Cor blimey.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The cold frame is a bit drafty at the moment but it should still let me sow more, earlier, especially with a little help from fleece. Before long it will also help me re-home seedlings which will quickly outgrow our windowsills.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SWcsKACENS-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SWcsKACENS-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SWcsKACENS-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SWcsKACENS-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SWcsKACENS-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SWcsKACENS-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/SWcsKACENS-500.jpeg" alt="Bare earth raked neatly." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>The potatoes haven't popped up yet. In the meantime, I sowed some baby bok choy between the rows this week.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/59ht83Pm2N-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/59ht83Pm2N-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/59ht83Pm2N-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/59ht83Pm2N-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/59ht83Pm2N-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/59ht83Pm2N-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/59ht83Pm2N-500.jpeg" alt="A bee on earth with a striking, bright ginger body including a slightly darker thorax." width="1000" height="999" /></picture>
<figcaption>I also came across this bee, look at it! Tawny mining bee? This is my first time seeing one.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/wNKyJERNfo-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/wNKyJERNfo-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/wNKyJERNfo-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/wNKyJERNfo-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/wNKyJERNfo-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/wNKyJERNfo-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/wNKyJERNfo-500.jpeg" alt="A dark blue dusk, where the moon shines bright above treetop." width="1000" height="462" /></picture>
<figcaption>I got a bit carried away a couple of evenings. It's lovely listening to the birds at different times of day.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OUtpvzb_6Z-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OUtpvzb_6Z-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OUtpvzb_6Z-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OUtpvzb_6Z-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OUtpvzb_6Z-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OUtpvzb_6Z-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OUtpvzb_6Z-500.jpeg" alt="Dusk on the plot, a small patch of earth appears to be cleared of weeds." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Clearing more planting space. Oh my gosh, the <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/couch-grass">twitch</a>! The twitch! I was feeling a bit tired and glum after this, it took ages, and I've so many things to make space for... and a lot of the cleared space has <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/02-04-2023/">little top soil</a>... and not much has been mulched yet... and I haven't got the woodchip at hand for the paths... and...</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RJkB3gsmGQ-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RJkB3gsmGQ-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RJkB3gsmGQ-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RJkB3gsmGQ-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RJkB3gsmGQ-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RJkB3gsmGQ-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RJkB3gsmGQ-500.jpeg" alt="Seedlings in pots of all kinds. Up close, growing strong, tomatoes with their first true leaves." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Today was nice, sunny. I took the day off for my driving test. I spent the morning sowing seeds and re-potting seedlings.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ffj7ApkpEj-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ffj7ApkpEj-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ffj7ApkpEj-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ffj7ApkpEj-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ffj7ApkpEj-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ffj7ApkpEj-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ffj7ApkpEj-500.jpeg" alt="Small, knobbly seeds. Smaller than a pea but larger than grains of sand or grit, which I expected." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>Chard seeds are not what I would expect.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/N6xizOQgZf-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/N6xizOQgZf-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/N6xizOQgZf-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/N6xizOQgZf-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/N6xizOQgZf-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/N6xizOQgZf-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/N6xizOQgZf-500.jpeg" alt="A lush spring pot of white hyacinths, apple mint, crocus and cyclamen foliage. In the backdrop potted trees are in bud." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>I don't have a work bench. To sow, I scrabble hunched on the floor. This time I'm happy about that, what better way to appreciate my garden with the sweet smell of hyacinths.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Cg1tV9ugLZ-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Cg1tV9ugLZ-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Cg1tV9ugLZ-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Cg1tV9ugLZ-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Cg1tV9ugLZ-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Cg1tV9ugLZ-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Cg1tV9ugLZ-500.jpeg" alt="" width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>Seedlings: Calendula Fiesta Gitana; Tomato Gardener's Delight; Tomato Ribbed Of Parma. Just sown: Epazote; Brussels; Purple Sprouting Broccoli; Cauliflower (mixed seeds, courtesy of my allotment buddy)</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/w1dfFM0_BR-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/w1dfFM0_BR-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/w1dfFM0_BR-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/w1dfFM0_BR-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/w1dfFM0_BR-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/w1dfFM0_BR-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/w1dfFM0_BR-500.jpeg" alt="A windowsill seed planter with lots of plastic cylinders as cells. Tape with names written in pen indicate which seeds are to go in which row of cells." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Laugh out loud, this labelling didn't last. I got happy with the cauliflower sowing and did too many. So I didn't end up sowing chard in this container, to make space for the amount of purple sprouting broccoli I originally planned. Then I think I accidentally mixed some of the seeds around between the cells as I tried to tidy up. What surprises await.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/q7jDUZL3uY-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/q7jDUZL3uY-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/q7jDUZL3uY-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/q7jDUZL3uY-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/q7jDUZL3uY-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/q7jDUZL3uY-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/q7jDUZL3uY-500.jpeg" alt="Tiny green seedlings of tomato (Sweet Aperitif) and basil, freshly emerged from their compost." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Tomato Sweet Aperitif; Basil.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/4qCGd9Ml0y-500.avif 500w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/4qCGd9Ml0y-500.webp 500w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/4qCGd9Ml0y-500.jpeg" alt="A small chilli seedling, its first true leaves just forming." width="500" height="500" /></picture>
<figcaption>Chilli: Santa Fe Grande; Aji.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/0bD5tYtqGZ-500.avif 500w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/0bD5tYtqGZ-500.webp 500w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/0bD5tYtqGZ-500.jpeg" alt="A pea shoot, recently germinated. It has a couple true leaves." width="500" height="500" /></picture>
<figcaption>Pea: A few sweet (for flowers, not for eating); a few Sugar Snap (saved by my allotment buddy from a crop he grew last year); Blauwschokker (an interesting, purple variety courtesy of a friend). I have too few of each. If I can get hold of another root trainer this weekend, I'll try to get more going under the new cold frame.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Y-Ox2UnRqA-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Y-Ox2UnRqA-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Y-Ox2UnRqA-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Y-Ox2UnRqA-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Y-Ox2UnRqA-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Y-Ox2UnRqA-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Y-Ox2UnRqA-500.jpeg" alt="A baby Nasturtium, leaves yet to unfurl." width="1000" height="1000" /></picture>
<figcaption>Nasturtium, a good <a href="https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/10-companion-plants-to-grow/#what-is-companion-planting-fe0c8b6b">companion plant</a>.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IVvAT7PObu-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IVvAT7PObu-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IVvAT7PObu-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IVvAT7PObu-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IVvAT7PObu-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IVvAT7PObu-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/IVvAT7PObu-500.jpeg" alt="" width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>I've started dumping soil taken from pathways to the <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/02-04-2023/">area with little top soil</a> (only 4 barrows so far). You can barely visibly tell! My back is quite displeased with this week of work.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/w7GDBaXHku-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/w7GDBaXHku-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/w7GDBaXHku-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/w7GDBaXHku-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/w7GDBaXHku-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/w7GDBaXHku-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/w7GDBaXHku-500.jpeg" alt="A path down the front of the allotment, by the coldframe. It's made of bare earth. Though it has been disturbed it looks fairly level, not like multiple barrows of soil has been moved." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Laying down some temporary path markers has really lifted my spirit! It has shape! I'm reminded that taking on an overgrown, <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/08-01-2023/">dump</a> of an allotment is a marathon, not a sprint.</figcaption></figure>
<p>Typically you'd have one big, practical path down the middle of a plot. Instead, I'd like to experiment with two big paths down both sides of the plot, along the hedges, and work with the uneven topology and natural pathways which have formed by the entrance. My thinking is the centre is the most valuable, sunny space. Plus running down the sides with heavy loads such as manure should encourage us to maintain the hedge.</p>
<p>Imagine tomatoes filling the curved bed in front. Imagine brushing past rosemary, thyme, and sage, whilst passing the small centre circle. We can always try something else if this doesn't work out. But if it does work out, I'd perhaps fancy some cordon fruit trees in the curved front bed. What a welcome that would be! They'd also add intrigue, disguising the shape and contents of the plot behind.</p>
<p>Look at me, all excited again. I'm getting way ahead of myself.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/7ZlLAQBSW_-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/7ZlLAQBSW_-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/7ZlLAQBSW_-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/7ZlLAQBSW_-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/7ZlLAQBSW_-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/7ZlLAQBSW_-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/7ZlLAQBSW_-500.jpeg" alt="Mucky skinny jeans. Brown soil on black." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>Ooops, these aren't my allotment trousers.</figcaption></figure>
<p>Peas out ✌️</p>
Automotive Note2023-04-06T17:22:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/77/<ul>
<li>I took today off work, and I used it to pass my driving test. Woop.</li>
<li>Sorry, close friend or family member, for not telling you before you read this. I didn't tell many, didn't want to make a fuss.</li>
<li>It does feel like an achievement. I'm quietly very happy. My father has been on at me to learn to drive since I was 16.</li>
<li>To celebrate I bought a doughnut, cut it into two, and ate the whole thing to myself. Which felt very wrong. Me and R usually share a doughnut. They're away this weekend and I miss them already. Such. A. Sap.</li>
<li>On the other hand I get to eat a whole can of mushy peas with tea tonight. Living the solo dream!</li>
<li><em>(That's right this is my blog, henceforth I'm calling my evening meal "tea" here. Probably I'll have a cob with my mushy peas – perhaps even follow up later with some supper. Tomorrow, when mother visits, we might enjoy a scone pronounced like "cone").</em></li>
<li><em>(Where did that come from? Linguistic liberation!)</em></li>
<li>Now, we'll see if I can drive without incident in our own car. Sing with me!<a href="https://youtu.be/5GHXEGz3PJg?t=105">.. We all have a Honda (we all have a Honda)</a>! Thanks for the ear worm, J.L – I'll never hear anything else now, I'm looking forward to our next road trip.</li>
<li>I'm going to need to learn how to actually parallel park on our street; it's a terrace, on road parking, chockablock with cars right and left. Wish me luck, reader!</li>
<li>As the weather improves and the days draw longer, I'm spending many more hours at the allotment. Truth be told, I've felt a little despondent at my hard won progress. This first season is tough going. But for the most part there's no place I've yet found which makes me as happy or more content than there; listening to bird song with a warm thermos to hand, after hours of toil. A delight.</li>
<li>Not to mention community: It's a shared project, with my allotment buddy; our allotment neighbours seem lovely; friends visited last weekend, we built a coldframe together 🙌 Hopefully soon I'll replace the mud with healthy plants and will be able to share the results of my labour of love 🌿🥔🍅🥦🌻</li>
<li>I'm writing <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/">bigger allotment updates</a> separately, if it's something you're interested in.</li>
<li>Bye now, enjoy Easter weekend all. Ramadan Mubarak, also!</li>
</ul>
Go go!2023-04-02T18:13:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/02-04-2023/<p>Okay, it's all go at the allotment! Let's bring you somewhat up to speed.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/53aisEoWUl-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/53aisEoWUl-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/53aisEoWUl-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/53aisEoWUl-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/53aisEoWUl-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/53aisEoWUl-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/53aisEoWUl-500.jpeg" alt="Dirty, mangled carpet heaved to the front of the plot. Foot for scale. Much more carpet than foot." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>I've been digging a lot. Here's some carpet I unearthed and removed. Using carpet to suppress weeds used to be sound advice... before they were made of plastic. Unlike wool, this will never degrade. Instead, with time, it got buried by nature.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fJ0i3d9U8r-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fJ0i3d9U8r-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fJ0i3d9U8r-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fJ0i3d9U8r-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fJ0i3d9U8r-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fJ0i3d9U8r-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fJ0i3d9U8r-500.jpeg" alt="A delightful robin perched on old, mucky carpet." width="1000" height="1000" /></picture>
<figcaption>My Robin friend picked it of worms.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/eWKYivnJFG-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/eWKYivnJFG-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/eWKYivnJFG-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/eWKYivnJFG-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/eWKYivnJFG-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/eWKYivnJFG-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/eWKYivnJFG-500.jpeg" alt="Foxglove plants in pots, sheltered in an open coldframe." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>I saved some fox gloves as I went along digging up brambles and other perennial weeds, they'll probably go back in nearish a nice seating area.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/qyy917Q_KQ-500.avif 500w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/qyy917Q_KQ-500.webp 500w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/qyy917Q_KQ-500.jpeg" alt="A fox approaches, sticking close to the boundary edge." width="500" height="667" /></picture>
<figcaption>And here's the fox. It popped by as it went next door. I took a photo and looked at my phone. When I looked up again, they were right there! Right in front of me! We both jumped.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RC0EIGRl-D-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RC0EIGRl-D-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RC0EIGRl-D-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RC0EIGRl-D-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RC0EIGRl-D-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RC0EIGRl-D-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RC0EIGRl-D-500.jpeg" alt="Small, pretty yellow flowers contrast against soft moss and brickwork." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Glad I spared this plant too, turns out it's comfrey. I've been rewarded with little yellow flowers.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/m5ukoN4lT8-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/m5ukoN4lT8-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/m5ukoN4lT8-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/m5ukoN4lT8-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/m5ukoN4lT8-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/m5ukoN4lT8-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/m5ukoN4lT8-500.jpeg" alt="A fire of wood and twigs burns." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>My allotment buddy got a fire going. We've been able to clear some of the organic rubbish which we cannot compost.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ulZDY2jYpb-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ulZDY2jYpb-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ulZDY2jYpb-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ulZDY2jYpb-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ulZDY2jYpb-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ulZDY2jYpb-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ulZDY2jYpb-500.jpeg" alt="A low down shot of the hedgerow highlights small piles of flat rocks which have been removed from the ground." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>More digging. Endless digging. It's slow going, with all these rocks in the ground.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/K5Ury1xT8f-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/K5Ury1xT8f-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/K5Ury1xT8f-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/K5Ury1xT8f-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/K5Ury1xT8f-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/K5Ury1xT8f-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/K5Ury1xT8f-500.jpeg" alt="A square area of land is smartly cleared for planting. Easter egg: A cat at the entrance watches a mouse." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Progress.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/XvdYgEvXtr-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/XvdYgEvXtr-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/XvdYgEvXtr-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/XvdYgEvXtr-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/XvdYgEvXtr-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/XvdYgEvXtr-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/XvdYgEvXtr-500.jpeg" alt="Below a few inches of soil, impenetrable wet rock that has no visible end." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>I haven't cleared a whole lot of usable ground. Half of what I've cleared has barely any top soil, which I suspect will dry out too quickly come summer. This may look like a man-made slab but it's not. It appears to be the hillside. Depth improves beyond a 2-3 metre squared patch, thankfully.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<video controls="" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="auto" autoplay="true" width="1280px" height="720px" aria-label="Mattock swings down and hits rock, throwing up shards within a dust cloud.">
<source src="https://leemoody.co.uk/media/catchup-7-pick-axe.webm" type="video/webm" sizes="1280px" />
<source src="https://leemoody.co.uk/media/catchup-7-pick-axe.mp4" type="video/mp4" sizes="1280px" />
</video>
<figcaption>The mattock we found on-site being used as a pickaxe – yep, it looks like rock all the way down.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fGWkjIODmw-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fGWkjIODmw-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fGWkjIODmw-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fGWkjIODmw-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fGWkjIODmw-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fGWkjIODmw-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fGWkjIODmw-500.jpeg" alt="A huge pile of big and small rocks, all quite flat, as seen under the hedgerows previously." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Moving various cairns from across the site in one giant statement piece, until I decide how they're used or where they live.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/0b5WeDaBDZ-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/0b5WeDaBDZ-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/0b5WeDaBDZ-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/0b5WeDaBDZ-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/0b5WeDaBDZ-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/0b5WeDaBDZ-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/0b5WeDaBDZ-500.jpeg" alt="Trenches dug with a neat row of seed potatoes." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>In go 3 rows of first early potatoes.</figcaption></figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/-8ZzeC8Y5L-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/-8ZzeC8Y5L-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/-8ZzeC8Y5L-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/-8ZzeC8Y5L-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/-8ZzeC8Y5L-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/-8ZzeC8Y5L-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/-8ZzeC8Y5L-500.jpeg" alt="Potato bed covered in a white mesh. The sun shines from behind. The shadow of a figure (me) stretches out, posing with the peace sigh." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>Potatoes protected by a fleece alternative, enviromesh. Peace.</figcaption></figure>
Theatrical Note2023-04-02T17:39:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/76/<ul>
<li>We went to see <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2023/mar/17/the-good-person-of-szechwan-review-crucible-sheffield">The Good Person of Szechwan</a> this week. I wasn't so sure to begin with but enjoyed it more and more, it was good fun, a welcome laugh.</li>
<li>During my <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/75/">considered hiatus from weeknotes</a> we went to see <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standing_at_the_Sky%27s_Edge_(musical)">Standing at the Sky’s Edge</a> which was, by contrast, <em>incredible</em> – eight Olivier Award nominations incredible.<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ip_p6WKNeH-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ip_p6WKNeH-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ip_p6WKNeH-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ip_p6WKNeH-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ip_p6WKNeH-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ip_p6WKNeH-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ip_p6WKNeH-500.jpeg" alt="The theatre set of Standing at the Sky's Edge. Orange sets around the perimeter contrast against a grey kitchen. The works 'I love you will u marry me' hangs from above in neon." width="1000" height="662" /></picture> <figcaption>Standing at the Sky's Edge, Crucible Theatre, Sheffield</figcaption></figure>
</li>
<li>The weekend has been excellent, full of good food (the labneh!) and outdoor activities. Some of our friends visited; both my Men, equally the best; along with their partners who are also close friends, though due to the patriarchy neither of them have an official position at our wedding. We should make a new one, Esteemed People of The Bride and Groom.</li>
<li>One of my men helped me build a coldframe at <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment">the allotment</a> 🙌</li>
<li>We also collected wild garlic from a walk, which I've turned into a pesto today.<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/HoDxOD0koi-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/HoDxOD0koi-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/HoDxOD0koi-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/HoDxOD0koi-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/HoDxOD0koi-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/HoDxOD0koi-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/HoDxOD0koi-500.jpeg" alt="Cut wild garlic on a kitchen counter, sat it a glass of water. The glass features Henderson's Relish, 'strong and Northern'." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture> <figcaption>Wild garlic, pre-pesto.</figcaption></figure>
</li>
<li>Hope you'll enjoy my breath as much as I'll enjoy the pesto.</li>
</ul>
Epoch 1 Note2023-03-28T08:48:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/75/<p>If you ignore the intervening year since <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/74/">my last weeknote</a>, it's like I never missed one at all.</p>
<p>Weeknotes are kinda revealing, no? For someone who cares about privacy, and keeps social media to a minimum, there's a lot of information about my life here for stalkers or a dystopian UK state to use against me and my rebel cause – lol no, I'd shamefully keep my head down, we all know it*. I decided a period of mystery wouldn't be a bad thing. And oh boy, you missed a lot!</p>
<p>At the same time, I was not having fun at work: "Work continues to be tricky at the moment [...] My sleep is suffering." Long story short, my team exploded due to yet another cut <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/5/">in a pattern</a> which suggested that the far reaching impact of our work as a services team wasn't understood or valued by our senior leadership. As the only remaining experienced team member, and as a hiring manager, I didn't feel I could talk openly without further damaging the team(?) but also couldn't ignore what was going on.</p>
<p>If not for my lovely colleagues I would also have left ❤️ I reached out to friendly faces across different groups, discussed the situation and the potential risks to their teams, and sought support. I also found myself a mentor I could talk with candidly about my options and external job search, who was exceptionally understanding and helpful – I'd leave every meeting energised.</p>
<p>A crisis is a catalyst for change. With the help of my mentor and the people around me, I tried to make the most of that and did a bunch more advocacy work, talking with senior leadership, giving talks, and took the opportunity to take part in my first round table conversation at our internal tech conference – interesting. My efforts seem to have paid off somewhat! I was super pleased with my end of year feedback, because I wasn't sure what to expect:</p>
<p>> Lee has responded well to the situation and has worked very hard with the team around him to form positive vision and plans for the future. I'm way more excited about Origami than I ever was before and that has an awful lot to do with Lee.</p>
<p>Total brag. Thank you for the kind words, anonymous 🙇</p>
<p>My team is growing, more people are engaged. I'm now a manager and I've enjoyed it more than expected, I've learnt a lot and continue to work on trying to be a good manager. It's meant seeking advice from experienced managers, taking part in internal training, and ample reading. I'd totally recommend <a href="https://resilient-management.com/">Larua Hogan's Resiliant Management</a> as a starting point – even if you're not a manager, it's a good way to learn what you should expect of your manager.</p>
<p>Today we're back to a team of 3 engineers, along with our existing part time delivery teammate; we have a new part time product manager; and we're hiring our first dedicated designer in forever!</p>
<p>Though I'm enjoying a leadership role, I have been missing hands-on technical work which was hugely squeezed over the last year. It's great to share responsibilities with dedicated disciplines rather than half wear so many hats. I'm beginning to have more time to focus on my role as technical lead. We have some exciting technical architecture decisions to make this year.</p>
<p>So what else have you missed? I can swim now; I went to a cycling confidence thing as promised; I have <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/">an allotment</a>; I started to take driving lessons and my test is coming up; we did lots of fun things, most recently visiting Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Montenegro; and, oh yeah, our wedding is approaching fast.</p>
<p>What. A. Year.</p>
<p><em>* off the scent, they'll never suspect me now</em></p>
Pallets2023-02-12T15:24:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/12-02-2023/<p>I'm scavenging wooden pallets. A place nearby that designs plaster coving and cornicing has become my semi-regular supplier – I asked, they're cool with me taking them.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aKppA-09NO-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aKppA-09NO-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aKppA-09NO-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aKppA-09NO-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aKppA-09NO-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aKppA-09NO-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/aKppA-09NO-500.jpeg" alt="" width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>Me struggling back up the hill to my home by night, newly acquired pallet in tow.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Slowly, surely, I'm heaving them from A (the plasterer) to B (my house) to C (the allotment).</p>
<p>Pallets aren't all made the same, I've learnt, and these are bloody heavy. Heat treated, large, and usually of high quality.</p>
<p>I was very pleased to hear a fellow allotment couple admire my pallet as I passed, and wonder where it came from – that's right, check out my excellent pallets and feel jelly. Though I do have some competition from an unknown neighbour! They go before I get to them, if I'm not quick.</p>
<p>My plan is to construct three 1.2m<sup>2</sup> composting bays sooner rather than later, so I can keep the plot tidy and reduce costs for me and my allotment buddy next season by producing our own compost.</p>
Flicker2023-02-03T09:57:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/03-02-2023/<p><a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/24-01-2023/">Freezer moved aside, brambles slashed back</a>, me and my allotment buddy were left with a further pile of organic debris on the plot. I'm very keen not to add to the mess...</p>
<p>I imagine the more weathered stacks could be great for the soil if left or composted. We need lots of compost! However, with no power for a shredder to break down larger material, and little hope of making good enough compost straight away to decompose seeds, we decided to start a bonfire instead.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/5V91bF7n8R-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/5V91bF7n8R-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/5V91bF7n8R-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/5V91bF7n8R-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/5V91bF7n8R-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/5V91bF7n8R-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/5V91bF7n8R-500.jpeg" alt="A huge pile: small old branches; twigs; fallen leaves; moss; and green nettles which punctuate at the perimeter. I lean against it, leg outstretched. My boot appears tiny." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>One of multiple piles of organic matter on the plot, boot for scale.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ZLUClJY3xq-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ZLUClJY3xq-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ZLUClJY3xq-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ZLUClJY3xq-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ZLUClJY3xq-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ZLUClJY3xq-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/ZLUClJY3xq-500.jpeg" alt="Sawn logs arranged neatly to allow airflow around kindling which is placed on top. The kindling has started to light." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>My allotment buddy knew what was up and bought along some kindling and a <a href="https://youtu.be/u6diTROxK7I?t=370">firesteel (YouTube)</a> – wow, they're a thing, very fun. Kindling alight.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PRTp3h7jvu-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PRTp3h7jvu-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PRTp3h7jvu-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PRTp3h7jvu-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PRTp3h7jvu-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PRTp3h7jvu-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/PRTp3h7jvu-500.jpeg" alt="A small fire consisting of a few logs." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Finally, a sustained fire.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We eventually got a fire going but found everything was too wet. One of us would have to be there all night without more dry wood to build up the fire quickly – or, like, petrol.</p>
<p>Long story short, we put out our little camp fire and left the mountains of matter for another day. We'll try again in dryer weather, when the hedgehogs have finished hibernation.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RsBYe0yJQZ-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RsBYe0yJQZ-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RsBYe0yJQZ-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RsBYe0yJQZ-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RsBYe0yJQZ-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RsBYe0yJQZ-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/RsBYe0yJQZ-500.jpeg" alt="A mossy, old branch atop of of the piles. Mushrooms and fungus fruit from its damp, peeling bark." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Some of the stacks have been there awhile and have delectable fungus in fruit. I'm enamoured by this scene despite The Last of Us.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We won't burn it all. I'd like to leave a smaller, permanent pile at the back for the benefit of the plot, its wildlife, and its humans. 🌿</p>
Chop chop2023-01-24T16:48:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/24-01-2023/<p>I spent the morning admiring nature. Watching a pitch black, hairy caterpillar make its way slowly across my backpack; speculating on what mammal might have made the large paths through the undergrowth; inspecting weeds I couldn't identify and wondering if they might be welcome.</p>
<p>I spent the afternoon with a strimmer and bramble busting cutting blade. It took all of 3 seconds to become power mad. Eat my petrol!</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1XvKBgxs8N-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1XvKBgxs8N-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1XvKBgxs8N-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1XvKBgxs8N-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1XvKBgxs8N-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1XvKBgxs8N-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1XvKBgxs8N-500.jpeg" alt="I'm stood with a petrol strimmer. It's quite large and is supported by a brace around my torso. My hat is red. My work boots are new. And I look pretty fetching, if I do say so myself. Anyway. I'm flanked by too large rusty drums, rusty freezer, and an old tire. Among more rubbish we've brought to the front of the allotment ready to remove." width="1000" height="749" /></picture>
<figcaption>Me, a rented strimmer, and a pile of rubbish we moved to the front of the allotment.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/o6K1hlqxgu-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/o6K1hlqxgu-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/o6K1hlqxgu-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/o6K1hlqxgu-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/o6K1hlqxgu-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/o6K1hlqxgu-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/o6K1hlqxgu-500.jpeg" alt="Facing away from camera I approach a huge area of tall, thorny weeds to cut down. They are somewhere between my waist and shoulder in height." width="1000" height="749" /></picture>
<figcaption>Eat my petrol.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/TWD115Es0f-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/TWD115Es0f-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/TWD115Es0f-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/TWD115Es0f-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/TWD115Es0f-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/TWD115Es0f-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/TWD115Es0f-500.jpeg" alt="A hoe, rake, mattock, serrated blade, shears, and lopper are lent against a dilapidated cold frame." width="1000" height="749" /></picture>
<figcaption>We found hidden tools whilst clearing out. The mattock I am particularly happy with.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/z0pfrY-i7D-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/z0pfrY-i7D-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/z0pfrY-i7D-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/z0pfrY-i7D-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/z0pfrY-i7D-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/z0pfrY-i7D-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/z0pfrY-i7D-500.jpeg" alt="" width="1000" height="749" /></picture>
<figcaption>A pile of organic debris. The site is less intimidating now we can see and navigate its topology.</figcaption>
</figure>
A New Patch2023-01-08T17:13:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/allotment/08-01-2023/<p>I've taken on an allotment! A co-tenancy with a local friend. It's bigger than our old flat by a factor of 10. That's a lot of brambles to dig up.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/awDRLJtcQ_-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/awDRLJtcQ_-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/awDRLJtcQ_-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/awDRLJtcQ_-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/awDRLJtcQ_-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/awDRLJtcQ_-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/awDRLJtcQ_-500.jpeg" alt="A large overgrown, green hedge. There's a small opening in the middle, just about visible, where a door used to be." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>The entrance is overgrown, the door is on the floor.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/zAICxF0_DM-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/zAICxF0_DM-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/zAICxF0_DM-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/zAICxF0_DM-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/zAICxF0_DM-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/zAICxF0_DM-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/zAICxF0_DM-500.jpeg" alt="A disused fire place in an out building. There's no roof. Ivy grows down the chimney breast. The floor is as carpet of low growing moss and weeds. Scrap wood is scattered to the left." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>There's an out building. It doesn't have a roof. Or much in the way of walls. But it does have a kind of fire place.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_R9EVlKbPt-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_R9EVlKbPt-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_R9EVlKbPt-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_R9EVlKbPt-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_R9EVlKbPt-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_R9EVlKbPt-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/_R9EVlKbPt-500.jpeg" alt="A beautiful green view of the allotment and out beyond Sheffield, skyscrapers punctuate an area of trees. In the foreground weeds grow tall. Thorned brambles rule. A large pile of bagged rubbish and a bumped fridge freezer sit within the undergrowth." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>Brambles rule. There's a dumped fridge freezer. The view, though, the view. And the potential.</figcaption>
</figure>
Spring Note2022-03-19T08:22:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/74/<ul>
<li>🎶 1, 2, skip a few, 99, weeknote-100. I missed another didn't I.</li>
<li>Chillis are planted. The last couple of years I've used the heat from the modem router to help them germinate, but this time I've upgraded to a heated propagator. I bought the smallest propagator I could just for the chillis and then bought a whole bunch of other exciting seeds – I'm going to need a bigger propagator 🌱✨ (or put the heating on, not in this economy!)</li>
<li>I'm still enjoying sandwiches with a dollop of <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/year-1/">chilli jam made last year</a>. We also have home grown, home made fermented aji paste left which is <em>oh my God</em> so bloody tasty.</li>
<li>We visited <a href="https://www.alnwickcastle.com/">Alnwick</a> (pronounced Annick) which was delightful. There's a fabulous garden – I mean I imagine it's fabulous outside winter, because it's pretty good now – where we learnt a lot about water dynamics from their sculptures. I also learnt how to murder my enemies with a tour of their poison garden.</li>
<li>I went for a beautiful run in Alnwick but made my injured knee much, much worse. Gutted I couldn't run more whilst there. I've not run much the last couple of weeks and not at all this week to rest up. Today I'll go for a short recovery run to build back up 💪</li>
<li>At least I could still swim. I mean. Try to. After only 2 lessons I'm making great progress. This week I swam a length freestyle with confidence, without a little floaty board – the boards all have kids teeth marks in them which makes me snigger, they're for floating not for eating.</li>
<li>Father and handy man Alan were a great help again, fixing up <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/70/">that step</a> among other things.</li>
<li>More decorating! Less sick of it and more excited as the image comes together. We've ordered a bed and a new carpet should be fitted in a couple of weeks.</li>
<li>Oh my goodness everything is so expensive. Little cash flow issue over here. Looking forward to my bonus at the end of this month 🎉</li>
<li>Work continues to be tricky at the moment. Having moved I can't commit to the new in the office 2 days a week or equivalent requirement so am uncertain about the future – among other uncertainties for the team. I've locked work away in a little 9-5 box for now where it's safe. A partial success...</li>
<li>My sleep is suffering. For the last few months I've been <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/66/">sleeping so much better than I have in years</a>. This week I've had a couple of terrible nights and have suffered migraines in the day. How did I ever live like that!? This week I'll be more conscious of my sleep hygiene to get back on track. It helps to have a good book to read before bed. Something that's engaging but doesn't need you to think too hard. So I've put down <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/how-the-world-thinks/julian-baggini/9781783782307">How the World Thinks: A Global History of Philosophy</a> in favour of <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/crying-in-h-mart/michelle-zauner/9781529033793">Crying in H Mart</a>, which I picked up in a fantastic independent in Alnwick. I'm a few chapters in and already my heart has broken.</li>
<li>I'm heading into the office in a couple of weeks and paid for a hotel to spend a couple of days there. I'm so looking forward to mingling with colleges <abbr title="in real life">IRL</abbr>.</li>
</ul>
Collected Note2022-03-04T17:36:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/73/<p>Russia's attack of Ukraine continues and gets worse. I want to keep my weeknotes light rather than share my reckons on world events, so may not mention in coming notes, but please consider donating if you're able – checkout the <a href="https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-crisis-appeal">red cross appeal</a> and this <a href="https://dpashutskii.notion.site/dpashutskii/Help-Ukraine-9a92bc1e949747648104d1e1d284d7e3">list of other ways to help</a> (thanks Alex).</p>
<p>[seamless transition to triviality]</p>
<ul>
<li>This week started with The Worst case of Monday blues.</li>
<li>Then, an upward trajectory.</li>
<li>At work I got a little kick out of writing a little script – needs more work and tests – which takes a <a href="https://sass-lang.com/">Sass</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abstract_syntax_tree">abstract syntax tree</a> generated by <a href="https://github.com/tonyganch/gonzales-pe">gonzales-pe</a> and swaps out a given function call for a variable, taking its arguments into account. I think this is cool because it's generic, so it's easy to define new function / argument combinations and map them as needed. Unlike a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_expression">regex</a> it's much easy to handle things like <a href="https://sass-lang.com/documentation/at-rules/function#keyword-arguments">keyed arguments</a>. Hoping it'll enable our little cute team be more bold in breaking <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/API">API</a> changes of <a href="https://registry.origami.ft.com/components">the UI components we look after</a>, by potentially automating the most repetitive parts of migration that would be required for teams across the FT Group who depend on them – and have more immediate projects to worry about.</li>
<li>☝️ <a href="https://www.ft.com/">ft.com</a> has finally dropped IE11 so there's a big opportunity for us to remove some technical debt, reduce our component bundle sizes to improve site performance, and support more brands, sub-brands, and modes across the group – always good for collaboration, design consistency, and reducing repeated work.</li>
<li>With father's help I spent Thursday pulling up floorboards and following cables around and learning about <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZN6hiGLtrE">ring circuits (YouTube explanation)</a> – oh my, technical debt is so much worse in the physical world.</li>
<li>Speaking of physical technical debt our <a href="https://www.lick.com/uk">Lick</a> of paint plan has evolved into removing old paint, filling, sanding, moving some sockets from spurs to the ring main, replacing the carpet, removing an old hidden hearth, and laying new floorboards.</li>
<li>Can't wait to be done and buy a bed frame.</li>
<li>It was an early start today for a swim lesson, which <em>finally</em> I managed to get booked in after a lot of chasing.
<ul>
<li>I sink. I cannot float without moving.</li>
<li>I still can't swim well – like just about one or two 25m lengths – but I'm confident I can improve.</li>
<li>Now I have drills to practise between lessons, and don't worry so much about getting in other's way, and don't feel so silly.</li>
<li>Focusing on legs and arms separately is helping.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A swim lesson was a good start to the day but it was a good day on multiple fronts 😀
<ul>
<li>Except a garden centre delivered me a shit tonne of the wrong compost.</li>
<li>Except I worked too hard today and had no lunch break, except scoffing peanut butter intermittently. This is unusual. I strive to not work hard and am mostly supported and successful in that. Although sometimes I have to think really hard, way harder than I want to. And other times I dream of Origami sprites at night and wake in cold sweats. But in terms of hours, and taking breaks, and working flexibly I'm very lucky. But not today.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Week off, baby! First half <abbr title="do it yourself">DIY</abbr>, second half relaxing around <a href="https://www.visitalnwick.org.uk/">Alnwick</a> and spending time with friends on the return leg.</li>
<li>Now I'm off to make up for missing lunch by gorging myself on snacks until R is back for dinner time.</li>
<li>Snacks and wine. Snacks and wine. Snacks and wine.</li>
<li>THEN! Mush and spätzle! Mush and spätzle! Mush and spätzle!</li>
<li>What a life.</li>
</ul>
Disarrayed Note2022-02-28T17:02:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/72/<p>Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine is terrifying, I admire the bravery and resolve which is being reported of everyday Ukrainians. If you're looking for ways to show your support I noticed the <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/UkrEmbLondon/status/1497327537923502088">Ukrainian Embassy to the UK is fundraising</a>, also check out <a href="https://withukraine.org/">withukraine.org</a>.</p>
<p>Okay, and now for a step change into usual ramblings. I missed one so here's a bumper update of nonsense. Lucky you, huh?</p>
<ul>
<li>00:00, olive juice, mould, mysterious crawlers and their eggs. Without further comment.</li>
<li>Bleach and fire. Fire and bleach.</li>
<li>We moved house! As always, one more box would have been really helpful. The thought of unpacking at the other end was daunting. When did we get so much stuff? We considered doing a lucky dip box sale, £50 a box, to get rid of it all.</li>
<li>We started packing meticulously but half way through systems broke down and the blender got split across 3 boxes. That would have been fun for the lucky dip.</li>
<li>Whilst unpacking a mattress, labelled as a 2 man job, R to me: “I’m about half a man and you’re about 3/4 of a man”. I'll take that as a compliment.</li>
<li>The coaxial cable into the living room is connected to a satellite rather than an arial. Apparently our TV has partial support for satellite. We can get BBC 1 London, BBC 2, ITV, and Channel 4 but each is listed about 8 times, and only 1 works, and in between is a sprinkling of porn channels – which also don't work.</li>
<li>We refuse to get a Freesat receiver because we will not become a dual remote household.</li>
<li>This means I've been watching men's curling. It wasn't <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4ohG2I0NA8">as exciting as bowls can apparently be</a>.</li>
<li>Remember the storms? Yeah those were bad. Our new home didn't blow away but a massive plank of wood crashed from our neighbour's scaffolding. Gotta get on setting up life insurance.</li>
<li>Hello Capt. Moody here - Sainsbury's uses my proper title for deliveries, and I expect you to too.</li>
<li>Lacking furniture to unpack into I've been shuffling piles of objects around the room until their feng shui is just right.</li>
<li>Hey Siri, remind me in 1 years time to sell, donate, bin, or use any remaining crap stashed in the eaves.</li>
<li>We paid to get the locks changed which I expected to feel like a sensible waste of money, and nothing more, but actually it felt like a delightful statement of security. How many minutes can one stare at a lock with delight? Many. This was only slightly tinged by my jealousy that <a href="https://notes.matthinchliffe.dev/063.html">Matt's door is a much nicer door</a>.</li>
<li>Checkout <a href="https://iammero.net/posts/earlydoors/">Mel's excellent weeknote</a>.</li>
<li>An Openreach Engineer went up a phone line pole to fix our internet in quite gusty weather. I'm grateful no-one fell to their death such that I can get a better internet connection – frankly, a 5G tether was surprisingly good.</li>
<li>Our Openreach engineer has a leaky bay window and is dealing with bug infested floorboards. I was no help having solved the leaky bay window in our last rental by moving out. Can't play that card again for a while.</li>
<li>Work is difficult at the moment. Positive news was quickly followed by very not positive news. Exciting opportunity is the mantra 🙃</li>
<li><abbr title="oh my god">omg</abbr> so tired of <abbr title="do it youself">diy</abbr> and we haven't achieved anything yet except making things worse (in some cases a necessary step, in some cases less so). Can't wait to progress and buy a bed frame.</li>
<li>Walking Dead survivors are better groomed than I am right now.</li>
<li>wd-40 anti-friction dry ptfe lubricant is my new favourite thing – lubing everything up in here</li>
<li>Green porridge, hemp, meh. Without further comment.</li>
<li>That's the bullet I'm ending on.</li>
<li>No that was.</li>
<li>Wait, this is.</li>
</ul>
Quarantined Note2022-02-13T08:30:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/71/<ul>
<li>This week has been a bit of a nothing week.</li>
<li>R has been isolating with covid.</li>
<li>I'm not legally required to isolate whilst testing negative but have mostly stayed inside too, just in case, bar the odd walk or run.</li>
<li>It's been 7 days so far and I'm still testing negative. We've made no attempt to isolate from one another. Strong as an ox!</li>
<li>Each morning I test negative I run to R roaring "strong as an ox!"</li>
<li>Usually I'm the sickly one.</li>
<li>I binged <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_of_Us_Are_Dead">All of Us Are Dead</a>, "a South Korean coming-of-age zombie apocalypse horror streaming television series". Oh Yang Dae-su!</li>
<li>We should have moved by now. It's been a bit annoying to rearrange, and a bit annoying to climb over boxes each morning. I've just gotta be strong as an ox for a few more days so we can move.</li>
<li>If I test positive over the next few days will I do the right thing or keep it secret and end up eating the flesh off the face of my contemporaries?</li>
<li>At work: Yikes, it was possible to inject <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANSI_escape_code">ANSI escape code</a> characters into one of our services to achieve arbitrary code execution 😬 I'm glad we offer a security/bug bounty.</li>
<li>Also at work: I've been using TypeScript and getting more familiar with it. Back in 2020 I had started learning <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/5/">TypeScript in my own time</a>; that was dumb because: a. For my own personal purposes I really couldn't care less about TypeScript and b. The pandemic was in full miserable swing. Learning new things for work in work however, lovely!</li>
</ul>
<p>Until next time friend.</p>
Positive Note2022-02-08T20:08:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/70/<p>Hey, we're officially responsible for the maintenance of a house! Let me give you a brief tour through my eyes.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/qCt9Oru_MW-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/qCt9Oru_MW-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/qCt9Oru_MW-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/qCt9Oru_MW-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/qCt9Oru_MW-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/qCt9Oru_MW-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/qCt9Oru_MW-500.jpeg" alt="Dark, claustrophobic close-up shot in a haunted brick out house. Two golden horse heads on crossed sticks peer upward. My haunted eyes stir forward, directly into the camera lens." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>We didn't find any bodies, yet there were some surprises.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/bS6ScMXq-b-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/bS6ScMXq-b-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/bS6ScMXq-b-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/bS6ScMXq-b-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/bS6ScMXq-b-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/bS6ScMXq-b-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/bS6ScMXq-b-500.jpeg" alt="Me knelt by a bath, my head laid on its corner. White tape holds the side panels of the bath together. Also of note is my favourite red hat and ginger beard, which some – definitely not myself – may say is magnificat (I wonder if anyone finds this description?)" width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>Held together by tape, but after many flats without one a bath is a bath.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/JN3K4ZlxZv-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/JN3K4ZlxZv-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/JN3K4ZlxZv-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/JN3K4ZlxZv-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/JN3K4ZlxZv-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/JN3K4ZlxZv-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/JN3K4ZlxZv-500.jpeg" alt="A large patch of paint peels from the wall. I use my body to artfully frame it." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>Whoops, this wasn't there before, we've changed decorating priorities.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/tdUZvkCXCc-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/tdUZvkCXCc-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/tdUZvkCXCc-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/tdUZvkCXCc-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/tdUZvkCXCc-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/tdUZvkCXCc-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/tdUZvkCXCc-500.jpeg" alt="Me lunged from step 2 to step 4 of a staircase. Looking fabulous." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>It's wobbly Mr. Moody – unsure how to fix the 3<sup>rd</sup> step yet.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fegs0-zHRZ-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fegs0-zHRZ-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fegs0-zHRZ-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fegs0-zHRZ-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fegs0-zHRZ-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fegs0-zHRZ-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/fegs0-zHRZ-500.jpeg" alt="A me sized patch of tiles missing from a kitchen wall." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>Here lived a happy family fridge, larger than life.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The more time we've spent there the more I'm loving it, and the less daunted I am by niggles and worries. I'm hopeful it'll be a wicked place to set down roots and can't wait to move in!</p>
<p>In other news: R has tested positive for covid. We're isolating in our rental among boxes piled high, whilst busily trying to stop the internet from moving to the new house and rearranging with the removals company.</p>
<p>Well, the few hours we were there was nice, we'll be in for the long haul, what's waiting another week or two! 😅</p>
Compressed Note2022-02-02T20:02:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/69/<ul>
<li>you thought I missed one, I didn't, here I am, it's just late</li>
<li>we've been mopping up canceled Christmas plans with friends and family, it's all been very lovely</li>
<li>I passed through Walton on a train and spotted the company who sold me a refurbished chair is next door to the company who sold me a refurbished monitor – awww they’re warehouse neighbours</li>
<li>we may or may not be home owners at some point before Friday, when we may or may not take possession of a home as agreed</li>
<li>on the reverse train journey I spied a McCain chips factory outside Peterborough; with more gulls circling than I've ever seen. Gulls love chips</li>
<li>now I finished reading <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleishman_Is_in_Trouble">Fleishman Is in Trouble</a> I think maybe ignore <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/68/">last weeks divorce musing</a></li>
<li>I'm ditching <a href="https://www.spotify.com/">Spotify</a> for <a href="https://www.deezer.com/">Deezer</a> over the whole <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/02/spotify-shows-that-when-platforms-become-producers-the-results-are-messy/?itm_source=parsely-api">Rogan thing</a>. It's annoying enough how hard they push podcasts, never-mind paying "over $100 million" to support that kind of content</li>
<li>if only I could buy "NOW That's What I Call Indie / Rock Running 2022" on CD-ROM. Then I could rip it to my computer and put it on my Garmin watch for runs and then I could listen to everything else on <a href="https://tidal.com/">Tidal</a> but I can't buy "NOW That's What I Call Indie / Rock Running 2022" because it doesn't exist so Deezer it is</li>
<li>oh no, I really want better speakers</li>
<li>oh no, it really would be nice to collect LPs</li>
<li>💸💸💸</li>
<li>maybe after (if) we move and there's anything left after buying a bed and bedside and a sofa and a tv stand and a wardrobe and maybe some drawers and a washing machine and a...</li>
<li>my jaw is aching, I'm scared it might <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/52/">lock up again</a>, not a good sign</li>
<li>thanks for listening, you're a good listener</li>
</ul>
Committed Note2022-01-23T15:29:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/68/<ul>
<li>I still haven't knowingly contracted covid. So far, so good. This week I've been testing more frequently because of being pinged as a close contact. I think it happened on a train journey. None of the train staff were wearing masks but since few passengers were around they kindly offered me a Cadburys Chocolate Eclair, which was lovely, so I can't stay mad.</li>
<li>I pulled the trigger on a dehumidifier and it's the best thing. Great at drying clothes in winter without a tumble dryer.</li>
<li>Checkout my orchid, back in flower. I thought it would be a difficult one to look after but seemingly not. I wonder if it will appreciate dehumidifier water, condensed to remove impurities (the instructions say not to drink though). <figure><picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/374xU0J63K-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/374xU0J63K-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/374xU0J63K-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/374xU0J63K-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/374xU0J63K-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/374xU0J63K-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/374xU0J63K-500.jpeg" alt="A purple orchid, variety unknown, with an abundance of purple flowers across three stems and long, green leaves." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture><figcaption>It's a purple orchid, variety unknown, with a strong floral scent.</figcaption></figure></li>
<li>I'm reading <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleishman_Is_in_Trouble">Fleishman Is in Trouble</a>. I'm only half way through but it's sounding a lot like me and R and everyone should definitely divorce (metaphorically, not married). I make sure to let R know, repeatedly, which is very healthy in a relationship actually.</li>
<li>Speaking of commitment, house purchase update: We agreed a completion date! No exchange has happened yet, it should happen soon 🤞 I'm excited and love it but, now the time to legally commit has arrived, also fear everything it stands for. Can you imagine, being able to live somewhere securely for more than a year or two?! What will that feel like 5 years in?!</li>
<li>Now would be the time to exit. To quit my job, buy R out of my half of the Miele vacuum cleaner, move to Wales – somewhere beautiful, remote – and learn a practical skill that's actually useful. But I'll focus on the optimism and excitement and hold course for a future crisis.</li>
<li>Hey, my watch reports that I’m stressed after a beer and dirty fries and extremely salty falafel, isn’t that interesting.</li>
</ul>
Spattered Note2022-01-17T20:51:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/67/<ul>
<li>Something, something, work, run, swim, pub, friends.</li>
<li>I need to practise my swimming technique, first by figuring out how to breathe from the side. Something tells me my breathing technique is slightly off:
<ol>
<li>turn head</li>
<li>get water in nose</li>
<li>swallow water</li>
<li>stop</li>
<li>cough, splutter</li>
<li>repeat</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>It's hard to practise comfortably in shared lanes though, alongside people who know how to swim. The regulars must be less than enthused with my almost stationary, gasping, splish-splashing. Please send tips. Couch to 5k of swimming?</li>
<li>I had Friday off and, let me tell you, not being at work is the best, even if you only took the day out of necessity for [administrative task].</li>
<li>Got to not hoard annual leave.</li>
<li>I'm enjoying work right now though: Proposed a thing to team; team got behind thing; pairing with excellent member of said team to see if/how we can make thing reality.</li>
<li>Web people: I had mistakenly thought that setting a font size on the root element would influence width based media queries using em/rem values, but that is not the case. Shame. The following quote from the CSS specification makes sense, otherwise it would be possible to end up in an infinite loop, but it makes aforementioned proposal more tricky. <blockquote>When used outside the context of an element (such as in media queries), the font-relative lengths units [e.g. rem, em] refer to the metrics corresponding to the initial values of the font and line-height properties.<cite> - <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/css-values-4/">CSS Values and Units Module Level 4</a></cite><blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS4kjOsSooM">i'm not superstitious but i am afraid to prune my money tree (YouTube)</a></li>
</ul>
Wakeful Note2022-01-08T13:21:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/66/<ul>
<li>Every weeknote "woe is me" I can't sleep. I've been a zombie the last few years.</li>
<li>No more! What will life be like, if I can be not tired all the time?</li>
<li>So new year new me, I sleep now. I'm a sleeper.</li>
<li>No pressure, stressing about sleep won't help sleep silly, it's all good; early bedtime you; relax with a chill bedtime routine; pop a few unnecessarily fancy nootropics/supplements (hey if placebos work, they work); devices away a few hours before bed, please; no caffeine after 11am you junkie; get some exercises in in the morning routine, not only later in the day; stare at the sun now (ARGH, CIRCADIAN RHYTHM TAKE THIS).</li>
<li>I've felt more relaxed, more productive, more optimistic 📈😌</li>
<li>It's very early days but so far so good. Let's see if I can make this a habit.</li>
<li>Okay, caveat, I'm very sleepy today. Life. One too many pints 📉</li>
<li>Worth it.</li>
</ul>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/-xgdDDOlR5-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/-xgdDDOlR5-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/-xgdDDOlR5-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/-xgdDDOlR5-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/-xgdDDOlR5-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/-xgdDDOlR5-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/-xgdDDOlR5-500.jpeg" alt="My sleep quality graph for the beginning of January. High, high, high, higher, higher, lowwwww." width="1000" height="856" /></picture>
<figcaption>sleep quality (%) 2-8th January</figcaption>
</figure>
Lazy Note2022-01-03T17:14:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/65/<ul>
<li>Don't let the end of Christmas and New Year celebrations get you down. Pour another glass of Baileys, open a few more disappointing utility chocolates, and ride this train with me to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelfth_Night_(holiday)">Twelfth Night</a>! I won't let R take down the Christmas decorations.</li>
<li>Christmas was lovely but plans had to change quite late in the game. Some were cancelled, some went virtual, where we'd stay over Christmas itself "necessitated" a 5 step <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_tree">decision tree</a> to account for various permutations of covid prevalence. Plan (1) was scuppered but plan (2) came good. I got to spend more time with my youngest siblings which was really nice.</li>
<li>My littlest sister is exceptionally sharp but was no match for (much) older brother nonsense. I briefly convinced her that Pokémon are real, not in this country of course, and that once I very nearly caught a Pikachu – a half truth, but on Pokémon Go before my bus interrupted – however ultimately I failed as a trainer and set aside my dreams. Instead I settled to become a web developer because, well, I have bills to pay and quite like it, I suppose.</li>
<li>She was reluctant to believe me and asked excellent probing questions which almost caught me out, but ultimately she had no reason not to trust me. I came clean quickly and felt guilt later on when she asked me why I lied. Trust. Lost. Aww, I think she forgives me though 😅🙏</li>
<li>Fun fact, all children toys are now a surprise it seems. They're either hidden in an egg, or need the application of water to reveal hair/accessory colour, or have an otherwise <a href="https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9533970">elaborate unveiling</a>.</li>
<li>2022! Jeez. I feel old. We brought in the new year with friends and board games. Hurray!</li>
<li><a href="https://www.jamesacaster.com/cold-lasagne/">cold lasagne hate myself 1999</a> 😂❤️</li>
</ul>
Ode Note2021-12-19T12:29:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/64/<p>Warmth parts frigid air,<br />
Sheep fade behind rolling fog,<br />
Leg forward exhale.</p>
<hr />
<ul>
<li>I'm running regularly again and it feels good.</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/JMKQVPV1pf0?t=79">Ode to Joy</a>. I watched Die Hard with around 70 colleagues this week, remotely. The best Christmas tradition. I was way more excited for it than I was the cancelled Christmas party, to be honest. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0CL__Tvp-o">HO-HO-HO</a> 🎅🎄🔥</li>
<li>Whoopsie. A system error led hundreds and hundreds of people to a small church all at once, each seeking a 2pm covid booster jab. Fortunately I was in a hurry to get back to watch Die Hard and so had arrived a little early, before the worst of the furore.</li>
<li>I'm still absolutely, utterly obsessed with watching dehumidifier reviews on YouTube; we have some damp/mould issues here, so I crave fresher air. I don't think I'll eat or sleep or live life normally again until we're able to move and I can buy the perfect unit.</li>
<li>Hey! This morning I woke up without feeling tired or mildly ill. I even had the spring chicken song stuck in my head 😂 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN-Qbn_fdu0">I’m a spring chicken, I’m yellow and small, my feathers are fluffy and they’re keeping me warm</a>...</li>
<li>What's going on.</li>
<li>As last year I'm going to skip next week's note. Have a Merry Christmas, reader 👋</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<p>Leg forward inhale,<br />
Sheep fade behind ghostly veil,<br />
Beard soaked with fog juice.</p>
Damp Note2021-12-12T18:02:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/63/<ul>
<li>I'm pretty sure I have nothing of note to share with you this week, if I ever have. Like yesterday I got trapped on the sofa most of the day watching something, or nothing – Bob's Burgers and maybe something Christmassy? Then some childish anxious part of my brain stayed up into the night watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2nSChFJLTg&t=258s">clips of shit horror/Christmas films</a> and researching dehumidifiers and air purifiers into the early hours (<a href="https://rowanmanning.com/weeknotes/57/">a little bit Rowan's fault</a>).</li>
<li><abbr title="Probably">Probs</abbr> it's a symptom of being a bit anxious about the house buying and the covid situation. Kswah swah (I'm spending some time on the island of Mancreu).</li>
<li>Was offered an intro session to the gym which I took. It was very helpful, I've mostly avoided the area with the men and the machines but I kinda know what's what now. A technical interview at work overran so I changed at home and ran through the rain and the cold to meet the personal trainer on time, arriving soaked and breathless. It wasn't my best idea but I did get there on time.</li>
<li>Tried to swim. Just about splashed my way to the other end of the small 25m pool. Success!</li>
<li>Anyway now I'm running again and <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/60/">cycled that one time</a> and swam that one time I'm basically a triathlete.</li>
<li>Song of the week, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/64Kl9EKfbWlUsKK2rGQC3x?si=66a72e9779244ba7">Rae Street</a> (Spotify).</li>
</ul>
<p>👋</p>
Cyclical Note2021-12-05T17:06:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/62/<ul>
<li>Trying to buy a house continues to be stressful. Our surveyor is not communicative and we don't know when to expect the full report. With repeated chasing we know the report is at least in progress. We've been given a couple of sentences which include the words "rot", "joists", and "ceiling will have to come down" without much more context. Not exactly what I was after.</li>
<li>I did pick the surveyor with a promotional video consisting entirely of not-particularly-relevant stock footage that opens with a runner and surfer in slow mo, with music that sounds like the start of a porn [<em>dances, gyrating hips</em>].</li>
<li>02:14 Baileys nightcap is fine, it's December.</li>
<li>“We’re talking the 3am playing with no lights on you” – Spotify called my insomnia out in Spotify unwrapped. Mind your own business, Spotify!</li>
<li>Spotify also confirms that <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/47/">I did indeed listen to Frame Of Reference by Drug Store Romeos too many times</a>.</li>
<li>I'm in another Peep Show loop and have made it to the Christmas episode, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTBskvj3Amg">Christmas Dinner with the Corrigans</a>. Cauliflower is <em>not</em> traditional!</li>
<li>One for you web developers, I've spent some time playing with <a href="https://kit.svelte.dev/">Svelte Kit</a>, it's a pretty cool framework. I appreciate how it handles progressive enhancement for many of the benefits of a <abbr title="single-page app">SPA</abbr> architecture without all the downsides, and its file based router is nice too. I've started building a blog with Svelte Kit to experiment. If I finish maybe I'll write a post about it, but there's a high probability I'll get bored before then.</li>
<li>We had friends visit for First Christmas. They bought the <em>best</em> home made lebkuchen; I made a chocolate and cinnamon babka; mince pies were gathered from a <a href="https://www.visitpeakdistrict.com/explore/towns-and-villages/bakewell-p680091">Bakewell</a> bakery (and a Bakewell pudding was eaten); this was washed down by Baileys. So indulgent. All I want to eat now is heavily boiled broccoli.</li>
<li>We did a mini marathon of Home Alone 1 & 2 – doesn't the pigeon lady look a little like Piers Morgan? Aside, if you're looking for Christmas films to watch checkout <a href="https://rowanmanning.com/weeknotes/57/">Rowan's Christmas movie review</a>. I can't bring myself to watch the Netflix ones but R approves!</li>
</ul>
Blank Note2021-11-27T11:04:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/61/<p>Last week <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/60/">I ventured out into the world with hubris</a>. This week I've barely left the house. It's been a sad and mucus filled week. Multiple lateral flow tests report negative which is almost annoying – so this is just a cold!? It won't shift.</p>
<p>So I've spent a lot of time on the sofa binge listening to <a href="https://podcasts.voxmedia.com/show/nice-try">Nice Try</a>, season 2. It's pretty interesting, give it a listen.</p>
<p>>"Nice Try’s second season, Interior, is all about the lifestyle products that have been sold to us over and over, and the promises of self improvement they have made, kept and broken."</p>
<p>And that's about it! I'm off to tentatively re-enter the world with a walk. There's a good amount of snow about, I'm looking forward to the invigorating cold and gentle sound of crunching under foot.</p>
Hubristic Note2021-11-20T19:29:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/60/<ul>
<li>Last Saturday I joined a free cycle confidence session with <a href="https://www.pedalready.uk/">Pedal Ready</a>. I spent an hour with one of their excellent instructors on quieter roads, learning tips to help me cycle around vehicles safely. Then we cycled from one park to another as a group. It was pretty fun and I would be comfortable now on not too busy roads. So is my next step to get a bike orrrr..?</li>
<li>Winter is darker and colder than usual, I swear. I’m <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/year-1/">still so tired</a>, reader, if you were wondering.</li>
<li>I went to the gym again and discovered I can't do a single sit-up all the way. I used to be able to! At some point in the last decade... time flies.</li>
<li>Ironically, back when I could do a sit-up, I’d probably feel embarrassed exercising in a gym. Now I'm happy to writhe around like a pathetic worm next to strangers, in the name of health and self improvement.</li>
<li>Made my 3rd visit to the office since March 2020 and had a great day. With an inflated sense of my own importance I announced my visit ahead of time to the entire product and tech Slack channel. My mission was to spend no time at my computer and I pretty much succeeded. Loved catching up with friends and meeting new people in the physical world too. 🙌</li>
<li>Going in with an explicit goal to socialise and chat work felt way more fun and productive than highly lauded water cooler chat. The downside was that I did miss some people who couldn't make it into the office in the end, which was sad, but I'll catch them next time! 🤞</li>
<li>My commute is now a ~6 hour round trip door-to-door so I treated myself to a taxi on the last leg back. The taxi smelt strongly of <a href="https://duckduckgo.com/?q=cherry+sourz&t=ffab&iax=images&ia=images">cherry sourz</a>, but there was no cherry sourz air freshener.</li>
<li>It was a late one by the time I got home because I stayed for drinks and boardgames. It was the Christmas special for the FT's boardgame meetup so I took my new Christmas jumper (it has lots of robins, I love it). Obviously November is too early for a Christmas jumper so I took it in my backpack and whipped it on at the pub. No one noticed or cared so I demanded attention and then my jumper got an applause and I realised what I had done.</li>
<li>On the way back I tried two Greggs at the station, both were out of vegan sausage rolls (I felt quite strongly hard done by, reasonable). But Pret the halls, I had my first xmas sandwich, whilst still wearing my xmas jumper.</li>
<li>Had a mince pie and broke out the <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/8/">lockdown port chalice</a>, too. It's all kicking off.</li>
</ul>
<p>P.s. Fully agree with <a href="https://notes.matthinchliffe.dev/052.html">Matt's praise of Stath Lets Flats</a>, we loved series 3 so much, and laughed so hard. It's perfect.</p>
Wheek Note2021-11-12T23:09:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/59/<ul>
<li>Wheek! We visited some friends over the weekend. They have 3 lovely, well pampered guinea pigs who were fun to meet. Wheek, wheek, wheek! I think that sound means yes please, more snacks please human (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB8j3X3UyZA&t=155s">guinea pig noises, YouTube</a>) 🥕</li>
<li>Weak! Feel bad about the work week.
<ul>
<li>I wasn't very productive. Big, vast, nebulous project is really coming together and feels less big, vast, and nebulous. However I've stumbled close to the finishing line and didn't make much headway this week. Actually, the project is at proposal stage so really I've stumbled close to the starting line? I need to get the progress written down and presented in a format to gather feedback and support for remaining questions. Maybe next week will be better.</li>
<li>I've been unfocused at times thinking about house stuff: Has our solicitor got everything they need (answer: yes); has the surveyor got back to me yet (answer: no); is the mortgage valuation going to be low (answer: ?); will we own that unexpected square infront of the neighbours' kitchen as shown on the land registry record (answer: ?), and if so will I need to assert my claim by camping on it with a little flag (answer: no).</li>
<li>I did finish an online <a href="https://frontendmasters.com/courses/accessibility-v2/">accessibility course</a> at least. It's a fantastic introduction to building accessible sites, and a great refresher, but I think if I want to take my accessibility work to the next level I need more specific training and practise. I have my eye on some issues at work that'll help me do that, they would be good ones to pair on to share the learnings too 👀 I'll resist more plates and save that for feeling better about point 1.</li>
<li>Also helped (in a very minor capacity) organise some work Christmas events. Very excited! 🎄 Related note: My first ever Christmas jumper has arrived. It features lots of robins and I love it, what a great eBay find.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Weak! Finally went to the gym for the first time, didn't I. Joined a class which was way too much for me and I couldn't keep up and now days later everything still hurts. Everything. My arms hurt, my chest hurts, my thighs hurt, my knees hurt, my toes were cramping, my bottom somehow hurts. Anyway of course now I've been to the gym that one time I consider myself an athlete, as such I figure I ought to keep myself in peak performance and so have stocked up on plant-based protein powder.</li>
</ul>
<p>It's been a weak week with wheeks.</p>
<p>Ta-ra then 👋</p>
Squash Note2021-11-08T19:17:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/58/<ul>
<li>Reflecting for <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/year-1/">my first year note</a> felt a bit like starting an actual new year, so;</li>
<li>I finally signed up for a cycle confidence course that'll hopefully get me used to cycling on the road and zipping about.</li>
<li>I started up running again. I did my usual 5k route but with a few pauses and lots of wheezing. The result: my nipples on fire! 😳 A danger of running in the cold and the rain I was unaware of.</li>
<li>I joined the gym. I haven't been yet. Classic.</li>
<li>Halloween: Devils, ghosts, ghouls, and dinosaur skeletons came from nowhere and took all the chocolates. We underestimated the number of neighbourhood children. We stood no chance.</li>
<li>We finished watching Squid game. I know you've seen it or you've already been told to watch it. Do - and definitely watch with subtitles rather than the dub.</li>
<li>Loved <a href="https://rowanmanning.com/weeknotes/year-1/">Rowan’s year note</a> – love the collage of photos at the end, and I should definitely add web mentions to my site.</li>
<li>Very sad to see <a href="https://twitter.com/caitoriordan">Cait</a> leave. We never worked together directly and only talked a handful of times, but it means a lot to trust your boss's boss's boss's boss (edit: oops, I had missed a boss). The leaving speeches were both touching and funny, even though I missed the <a href="https://alicebartlett.co.uk/blog/weaknotes-165">barely perceptible in-joke</a> (sad blob).</li>
<li>Our offer was accepted on a house! It apparently wasn't the highest either, which is nice, it makes me feel less worried about offering a ludicrous amount... like someone else was more ludicrous... hurray! 🤞</li>
</ul>
<figure>
<video controls="" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="auto" autoplay="true" width="480px" height="640px" aria-label="A tiny skeleton ghost, a little pumpkin, a butternut squash, and ratty look out of our bay window and out to the cold street. A fiery orange glow flickers menacingly.">
<source src="https://leemoody.co.uk/media/halloween.webm" type="video/webm" sizes="480px" />
<source src="https://leemoody.co.uk/media/halloween.mp4" type="video/mp4" sizes="480px" />
<img src="https://leemoody.co.uk/media/halloween.gif" alt="" />
</video>
</figure>
Year 1 Note2021-10-29T21:29:00Z2021-11-01T00:36:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/year-1/<p>Our eyes peered northward,<br />
Wind turned cloud gathered doors shut,<br />
Now then we are here.<br /></p>
<h2>Hello</h2>
<p>Hi there, this is my first year note; a summary of my year for friends, family, and internet <abbr title="strangers">randos</abbr> who find their way to my blog. It's a strange edit – some important things will be missed and many a nonsense will be discussed in depth.</p>
<p>Instead of writing a year note in the new year I've decided to write one as every 52nd weeknote. Yes this year note is late but you're not my supervisor! Unless you are... Jake... is that you?</p>
<h2>R's Best Bits</h2>
<p>Before we get into my summary of the year, here're some thoughts from my partner.</p>
<p>R's highlights:</p>
<ul>
<li>Letterbox cheese sandwiches - <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/52/">52. Teary Note</a></li>
<li>Prawn cracker of the future - <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/51/">51. Filthy Note</a></li>
<li>Dog musings - <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/46/">46. Noisy note</a></li>
<li>The balding - <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/41/">41. Balding note</a></li>
<li>Jab chat - <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/40/">40. Crispy Note</a></li>
<li>Mingled ashes - <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/33/">33. Deceptive Note</a></li>
<li>Great dog picture - <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/19/">19. Avian Note</a></li>
</ul>
<p>R's observations <em>(and my response)</em>:</p>
<ul>
<li>Complaining you are tired in every single one<br /><em>(I'm so tired, reader)</em></li>
<li>The note names are my favourite bit<br /><em>(will I run out of words?)</em></li>
<li>The house hunt has been longer and more involved <abbr title="in real life">IRL</abbr> than it is in my head<br /><em>(yeppp)</em></li>
<li>Why are you always ill<br /><em>(or always whinging?)</em></li>
</ul>
<h2>World</h2>
<p>It's been a difficult year of weeknotes. We were well into the pandemic when I started and since there has been another lockdown, lots of uncertainty, government ineptitude and u-turn, another-another lockdown, anxiety, loneliness, sickness, death, and tears.</p>
<p>Yikes!</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ab34Su42Ps-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ab34Su42Ps-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ab34Su42Ps-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ab34Su42Ps-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ab34Su42Ps-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ab34Su42Ps-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Ab34Su42Ps-500.jpeg" alt="An exterior shot of someone's house. In the front window a life-sized skeleton model, arms spread to the top of the window, mouth open. A paper speech bubble reads: Get me out of here. Been here since March 23rd." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>"get me out of here, been here since March 23rd" - skeleton, a Halloween decoration in Balham, London, credit: R, 2020</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Let's focus more on the positive. I'll just sneak a few titbits of anxiety throughout. The bitter broccoli in the child's macaroni. Nom nom nom.</p>
<h2>Move</h2>
<p>We moved to Sheffield! Thank you to the few people we know here who have all been so welcoming ❤️</p>
<p>I can't believe we've been here nearly a year. On the other hand it feels like an absolute age ago when I first started writing these notes and we were still living in London. Our neighbour's builders had dramatically drilled their way into our flat, a major remote working distraction, and I must have felt it was worth sharing (<a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/1/">1. Meek Note</a>).</p>
<p>We're looking to buy our first home now here in Sheffield, which is theoretically exciting but actually pretty stressful – the market is wild, other people had the same idea.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/yTPRUJnrY9-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/yTPRUJnrY9-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/yTPRUJnrY9-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/yTPRUJnrY9-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/yTPRUJnrY9-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/yTPRUJnrY9-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/yTPRUJnrY9-500.jpeg" alt="A snowy hill. People snowboard and ski. On the horizon trees a stunning view of the city nestled in the hills." width="1000" height="531" /></picture>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/WS8QL7dUlu-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/WS8QL7dUlu-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/WS8QL7dUlu-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/WS8QL7dUlu-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/WS8QL7dUlu-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/WS8QL7dUlu-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/WS8QL7dUlu-500.jpeg" alt="A sunny hill of rolling grass and lush greenery. On the horizon trees a stunning view of the city nestled in the hills." width="1000" height="534" /></picture>
<figcaption>a view of Sheffield, winter and summer</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>And no wonder, it's beautiful here; the city is alive with activity and events; there's great food and drink, yes please; and all the green, so much green, in the <a href="https://www.theoutdoorcity.co.uk/">outdoor city</a>.</p>
<p>We'd been scheming to move for ages. In February of 2020 I attended <a href="https://frontendnorth.com/">Front End North</a>, a tech conference in Sheffield. I was there for the very-excellent-and-relevant-to-my-interests-speakers, yes, but mostly – can you keep a secret? Mostly I was there so my company would pay for me to explore Sheffield 😅</p>
<p>Our plan was to have a last blow-out year in London then make the leap to Sheffield in 2021. I could never have imagined then that we'd be moving during a global pandemic and that I'd be able to move and keep my job.</p>
<h2>Career</h2>
<h3>Remote Work</h3>
<p>Avoiding a clean leap to Sheffield has been a blessing and a curse.</p>
<p>I'm still working from home almost full time, I haven't got colleagues nearby to hang out with, I'm struggling with being home alone most days, and it's definitely not sustainable. Did you know I'm actually a social butterfly?</p>
<p>I'm not particularly keen on the long commute or co-working spaces whilst the pandemic is ongoing but both could help. We're expected to be in the office at least 2 days a week next year. Will the "new normal" turn out to be better? Or will it be too huge a money and time sink?</p>
<p>In the meantime I should update my LinkedIn profile in case things don't pan out. I'm hoping for the best but feeling lots of uncertainty and anxiety and loneliness over it in the meantime.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/y1VIVUoDeG-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/y1VIVUoDeG-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/y1VIVUoDeG-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/y1VIVUoDeG-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/y1VIVUoDeG-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/y1VIVUoDeG-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/y1VIVUoDeG-500.jpeg" alt="A photo of me sat at a dining table working. Taken in secret from the point of view of R, working from the sofa. I'm wearing a suit for fancy formal friday. I have no beard. I look weirdly young? I'm sat on a cushion because of the uncomfortable dining chair. Working from a 13 inch Macbook." width="1000" height="825" /></picture>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/3CK3FAyvZl-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/3CK3FAyvZl-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/3CK3FAyvZl-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/3CK3FAyvZl-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/3CK3FAyvZl-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/3CK3FAyvZl-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/3CK3FAyvZl-500.jpeg" alt="I'm sat in my office / guest bedroom – we have a guest bedroom! This time I'm facing the camera smiling, cup of tea in hand. My desk is a proper desk. There's a good sized monitor, a proper camera as a webcam, and fancy microphone on a boom arm. Behind me a plant trials down the wall, other picture hooks remain empty." width="1000" height="840" /></picture>
<figcaption>How it started: candid, fancy formal, focused, doing my best with a tricky situation. How it's going: posed, fake, fancy office equipment, complete wanker, empty picture hooks to represent my empty soul. </figcaption>
</figure>
<h3>Progress</h3>
<p>At the beginning of the year I felt somewhat rudderless, like do I want to keep doing what I'm doing? Now I feel more confident.</p>
<p>Hello my name is Lee. I'm a senior software engineer. I'm a UI engineer. A design systems person. And I'm not shit, mostly.</p>
<p>Also this year:</p>
<ul>
<li>I've had the opportunity to be a mentor to a couple of mentees which has been pretty rewarding and definitely helped in reverse with my own understanding of the company, our processes, and the technology we use.</li>
<li>The team have been working more closely with the design team again which is great. I've loved being part of creating a more healthy and effective design system group. There's still a lot to do, which is more exciting than daunting! We could still do with securing funding for a couple of new roles though.</li>
<li>Recently I've been writing more design guidelines myself and experimenting with custom plugins for design tooling which has been kinda fun. Speaking of fun were're making some big changes to the team's offering, there's lots more interesting things to work on. I'm excited about the direction of the team.</li>
<li>Feeling pretty flush after a significant pay correction. Hurray for pay bands on the way?</li>
<li>I contributed to organising some product & technology social events. My baby was a few plant themed events. We have so many green thumbs in the company! Got to admit, I was a teeny bit star struck to secure a talk and Q&A with <a href="https://www.janeperrone.com/">Jane Peronne</a>.</li>
<li>And I continued to give talks to share and advocate for the team's work, but better? I recently received a handful of positive messages after an internal talk "you absolutely smashed that presentation". Am I ready for promotion to conferences?</li>
</ul>
<h2>Family & Friends</h2>
<p>We've spent lots of time with family and friends this year yet there are still people we haven't seen in ages or for not long enough. We're very fortunate to have such a good bunch. ❤️</p>
<p>Highlights: 2 beautiful weddings, lazy weekends with friends exploring each other's home towns and eating <em>all the pastry</em>, and <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/41/">spending time with my very little siblings</a> – I hope they haven't grown up too much since then!</p>
<h2>Hobbies</h2>
<p>I just about kept up running 5k a few times a week but that is over. I'm going to build back up. I'm going to start swimming. I'm going to get on my bike – I'm going to get a bike and get comfortable riding a bike on the road then I'll get on my bike. You'll see!</p>
<p>We have a small garden now which was a delight to have in summer. I didn't make the most of it for gardening though, I thought we might have bought a house sooner, or that allotments would be more available. I did grow some chillis again though! They did well. We could hear passersby comment on them regularly, and people would stop to chat whilst I was out watering them. 😊</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xQScK_dqjF-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xQScK_dqjF-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xQScK_dqjF-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xQScK_dqjF-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xQScK_dqjF-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xQScK_dqjF-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/xQScK_dqjF-500.jpeg" alt="3 varieties of chilli sat outside my front door. Their branches are heavy with chillis, red, orange, and green." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
<figcaption>chillis</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Of course, there was also plenty of time in lockdown to stretch my dough skills and try some new breads. Oh yes, I need to make a babka again!</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/t3sH3XgDTx-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/t3sH3XgDTx-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/t3sH3XgDTx-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/t3sH3XgDTx-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/t3sH3XgDTx-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/t3sH3XgDTx-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/t3sH3XgDTx-500.jpeg" alt="A huge circular, chocolate babka bread on a plate." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>homemade sourdough babka</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/T-EcwC713I-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/T-EcwC713I-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/T-EcwC713I-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/T-EcwC713I-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/T-EcwC713I-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/T-EcwC713I-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/T-EcwC713I-500.jpeg" alt="Pretty bagels on a cooling rack. Half with black and white sesame seeds, half with poppy seeds." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption>homemade sourdough bagels</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Fin</h2>
<p>I think that's it! Not it, but enough it for now. I'll share more it next week, I guess!</p>
Everything Note2021-10-23T12:43:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/56/<p>✨ This weeknote is brought to you by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7SPIFAwwGA">Everything Now Corp</a> ✨</p>
<ul>
<li>I'm growing my beard a little longer and need to buy some grooming products, a fancy brush, some nice scissors. I've shopped around this week and can't decide. A little beard care set would make a good christmas gift, and I'm difficult to buy for, but I don't think I can wait. I'll buy a nice set for myself, now – see this is why I'm hard to buy for.</li>
<li>The other week my barber gave my beard a shampoo, a brush, and then trimmed it into shape. It looked and felt so much better than before!</li>
<li>A beard shampoo and brush feels like a weird thing to pay for. I'm not entirely comfortable having someone so close to my face. It was good though and I'm much happier with the result than my previous barber. Usually my tactic for finding a barbers is to pick a cheap one that looks just the right amount of shabby and stick with it until I move far enough away that I really can't keep going back. This time I've swallowed my social anxieties to try a few places and I think being a fickle customer has paid off.</li>
<li>So I bought a personal Macbook. I've been holding out for the new Macbook Pro announcement but now they've arrived can't bring myself to part with so much money, or wait for the major Air redesign expected next year. Instead I bought a used Air from <a href="https://uk.webuy.com/">cex</a>. I'm super happy with it.</li>
</ul>
<p>✨ This weeknote is brought to you by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7SPIFAwwGA">Everything Now Corp</a>. ✨ <br />
✨ Explore our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2qx5P0kQSM">Infinite Content</a> or continue reading below ✨</p>
<ul>
<li>It seems almost completely brand new with only 2 battery cycles. I went for the only 16GB RAM model they had, which also came with 500GB storage. I'll have to find an excuse to install some VMs because really I don't think I need the extras in hindsight, this machine is incredible.</li>
<li>R's take on my Air vs. the fancy new Pros: "I could probably get a better boyfriend but it doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy you". Fair.</li>
<li>I feel pretty good about saving ~£300 on the usual retail price, and ~£700 by resisting my filthy desires for a Pro machine. £700 is enough money for me to quit my job and do nothing but joyously <s>sit on my arse</s> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_ping">tang ping</a> for an entire month.</li>
<li>To go with the Air I'm getting an external monitor too. They're difficult and expensive to get hold of with the supply chain issues at the moment. I talked myself down from an all singing, all dancing, 4K 27" model and have a <a href="https://www.europc.co.uk/dell-u2520d-ultrasharp-25-usb-c-monitor-25-2560x1440-wqhd-16.9-led-backlit-2x-displayport-1x-hdmi-2x-usb-c-3x-usb-europc-1-yr-wty-146942.html">refurbished WQHD 25" model</a> on order instead.</li>
<li>Do I get an award for my restraint and hardship?</li>
<li>If you're in the market for a monitor keep in mind <a href="https://bjango.com/articles/macexternaldisplays/">MacOS doesn't scale to 4K as well around 27"</a>; WQHD, 5K, or a larger display is probably the way to go.</li>
</ul>
<p>✨ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC30BYR3CUk">I guess I've got everything now</a> ✨</p>
Cinematic Note2021-10-18T18:20:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/55/<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-58887591">TikToker wins 'lumpy' oat milk war with Lidl</a>. Congratulations! What did they do? Request a refund and harness the power of social media to hold a supermarket to account. What did I do? Gag down a couple of cartons of grossness then quietly vow not to buy another. Waste not want not! So meek though.</li>
<li>Hot tip, Lidl actually sell <a href="https://minorfigures.com/products/oat-milk-barista">Minor Figures</a> at the moment for a decent price (£1.39). It's way nicer in coffee than home-brands and cheaper than <a href="https://www.oatly.com/uk/products/oat-drink-barista-edition">Oatly</a> barista edition.</li>
<li>I felt pretty ill last week all of a sudden and tried to work through it only to back out half way through the day to take the afternoon off sick. The following day I felt a lot better and was back at work. The moral of this story is: don't be an idiot, rest when you need to.</li>
<li>Work otherwise? I've been experimenting with the <a href="https://www.figma.com/">Figma</a> Plugin API to generate <a href="https://www.figma.com/best-practices/components-styles-and-shared-libraries/">UI libraries</a> from <a href="https://www.designtokens.org/glossary/">design tokens</a>. I'm thinking with generated libraries we could keep design and engineering teams in sync, and quickly create UI libraries for new brands and mode combinations (dark mode, high contrast mode), which our design teams could <a href="https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/4404856784663-Swap-style-and-component-libraries">swap out as needed</a>. There're <a href="https://www.figma.com/community/plugin/888356646278934516/Design-Tokens">existing plugins</a> which go the other way around but Figma doesn't seem an ideal place to author large numbers of design tokens, including more abstract things like <a href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/easing-function">easing functions</a> for animation, and the workflow to review changes with Figma as the source of tokens can get tricky too, and. Well. Anyway. This weeknote is heading off track, I really should write a separate blog post. Just to say there's lots more to do, and lots of people to consult, but it's looking more and more feasible that we can get to a future where design decisions and the terminology to describe them are shared across teams and platforms (design tooling, web, native, etc) and that's pretty exciting for lots of reasons.</li>
<li>Here's a treat to apologise to anyone not interested in the last massive bullet: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4ohG2I0NA8">This bowls shot (YouTube) is epic</a> – epic.</li>
<li>Also this week, we celebrated our anniversary belatedly by going to <a href="https://maveli.co.uk/">Maveli</a>, a south Indian restaurant which we found does a most excellent parotta – so crispy and soft and <em>*mouth waters*</em>. After Maveli we headed out-out to a bar for the first time in a long time and I discovered how old I am.</li>
<li>That's not all! We also watched Bond, James Bond. Don't worry, no plot spoilers here: there's a scene in Hammersmith which features some excellent pubs in the background and in the foreground... a certain well regarded newspaper. It's fun being in the exact spot during <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boat_Race">the boat race</a> whilst shouting "go on Oxbridge!" with excitable indifference.</li>
<li>Where are the weeks going? I'm intending to write some kind of year-in-review weeknote but here we are at week 55 already.</li>
</ul>
Oat Note2021-10-11T18:40:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/54/<ul>
<li>Huge news! Massive news! I finally tracked down <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/CasualUK/comments/haol9a/comment/fv3yqmu">that famous Come Dine With Me episode</a> on the internet 🤣 Dear Lord, what a sad little life.</li>
<li>It was our anniversary last week which involved sitting at home feeling a bit sneeze-y and miserable and stressed and fraught about the home buying / figuring out the trajectory of our lives over the next decade situation. We'll try to celebrate again next week, there's a certain Indian restaurant with our name on it. 😋</li>
<li>Over the weekend we hosted R's parents. Their dad studied at the University of Sheffield some moons ago so we went on a nostalgia tour. We took the chance to swing by the Arts Tower and go up the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paternoster_lift">paternoster lift</a>, the largest surviving one in the UK. Fun but not again thanks. It would be so me to get mixed up on the floor numbers and end up mangled 😅</li>
<li>We made the most of car access to pop to Bakewell and try a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakewell_pudding">Bakewell Pudding</a>, as distinct from the tart. They're delicious! I was also keen to pickup some <a href="https://www.derbyshireoatcakes.co.uk/2021/07/22/about-the-derbyshire-oatcake/">Derbyshire Oatcakes</a> and oh my, they're so good. Why aren't these widely available!? They're nice in the same context as a pancake but also have the utility of a wheat wrap, with added substance. I'm going to buy more and put everything, <em>everything</em>, in an oatcake wrap. Everything.</li>
</ul>
Equestrian Note2021-10-04T19:36:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/53/<ul>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/1z4B46FemfEF5VUq3yi6Bh?si=ebb6f717bea643f1">As I Try Not To Fall Apart (Spotify)</a> is the latest song to absolutely take over my mind. My brain: again, play it again!</li>
<li>This last week felt unproductive, the last couple of weeks have really. I need to shake off (misplaced?) guilt and get back on the donkey.</li>
<li>Maybe I'm burnt out, I dunno, bleh.</li>
<li>We had a most excellent time hosting friends, turning the place around like an Airbnb, and hosting some more. The walk we usually take guests on gives some spectacular views but I should keep in mind most of our guests' legs aren't used to the hills 😅 The hills giveth, and taketh away.</li>
<li>For dinner we rolled out one of our specialist dishes, veggie burritos. We have a salsa recipe to die for and home-made hot sauce to boot. They're usually vegan but we add sour cream as a treat when guests come, fancy.</li>
<li>On the house buying front we found another place we like and made an offer, 25% over the guide price, and didn't get it! We don't know the winning offer but know the seller and agent alike are astounded at what someone was willing to pay. Yikes.</li>
<li>I visited the office!
<ul>
<li>Set off about 7am, worked on the train, got into the building about 10am.</li>
<li>Working on the train was good actually, focused, but I have to plan ahead for mostly offline work.</li>
<li>I did my first ever train poo – sorry fellow passengers – because if I'm going to be getting the train more often in the morning I better get used to it. Reader, I'm liberated, there's a whole new place I'm comfortable enough to poo. Maybe I should poo on a plane next! Never a bus though (see <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_Education_(TV_series)">Sex Education season 3</a>).</li>
<li><em>R thinks after a year of revealing my inner most thoughts and feelings to the world of randos here that I've finally crossed the line by talking about poo, but here we are.</em></li>
<li>It was so nice catching up with people at the office (and coffee shop and pub) 💛 I had a decaf cup of tea when I got home to balance out the jäger bomb (thank you!) which I shot as I shot out the door to bomb it to my train.</li>
<li>A ~3hr journey on the way in, whilst working, fine. A ~3hr journey on the return leg, a little tipsy with nothing much to do, welllll less fine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/Beardynoise/status/1443517155430084611">I don’t need petrol, cuz he runs on carrots!</a> (and also I still don't have my drivers license)</li>
</ul>
Teary Note2021-09-24T17:57:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/52/<p>This week has been extremes of fun and sadness.</p>
<h2>Saturday</h2>
<p>With a few others we did <a href="https://www.truenorthbrewco.uk/halfpintmarathon">The Sheffield Half-Pint Marathon</a>, a "celebration of some of Sheffield's best independent beer pubs and bars in aid of <a href="https://www.sheffieldmind.co.uk/">Sheffield Mind</a>", and it was so good.</p>
<ul>
<li>I think our route was: Rising Sun Inn; The York; The Punch Bowl; The Raven Inn; Church; Riverside Kelham; The Bar Stewards; The Old House; University Arms; The Common Room; Forum Kitchen + Bar; The Broadfield; Waggon & Horses.</li>
<li>I'm glad we had the opportunity to finally check out an array of local pubs since we moved, hurray for vaccines!</li>
<li>En-route highlight: I had the best Halloumi and falafel gyros I've ever eaten – or was that the half-pints, sun, and good company talking? ☀️ Which was followed by locally grown grapes for dessert, gifted to us by a couple of kind women as we passed their plant sale, before they enthusiastically encouraged us on to the next half.</li>
<li>En-route not-highlight: Conversation turned to the pandemic, the government's response, and the attitude of the Conservative wing who would rather let it rip and take the weak. I talked about the unexpectedly sudden death of my grandma, who died a few weeks into the first lockdown, and began to cry.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Sunday</h2>
<p>I enjoyed(?) my first <em>real</em> hangover since the before times! 🎉 I crawled out to get a coffee; I did some sweeping up of the garden; then binged Come Dine With Me.</p>
<h2>Monday-Wednesday</h2>
<p>The first half of the week is a blur. Miscellaneous work and household chores, really. I did present at our tech all-hands meeting and got some really nice feedback from a few people afterward, thank you 🙇♂️ Apparently I'm capable of telling a good story whilst somehow hiding my fear of speaking into the void at 100s of eyes.</p>
<h2>Thursday</h2>
<p>My granddad's funeral.</p>
<ul>
<li>I was foolish to go without tissues.</li>
<li>It was lovely to chat with family members who I've never really spoken to in years and years, not properly. Hopefully the next time we meet won't be another funeral but a happier occasion.</li>
<li>Lots of Guinness was drunk.</li>
<li>I had woken up unable to open my jaw properly, it was painful, I don't know why. My front teeth scraped grated cheese from open sandwiches as I posted items of the buffet to my belly like a letter through a letterbox.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Friday</h2>
<p>Today.</p>
<p>Friends have arrived! They're at a gig tonight and staying for the weekend. We haven't seen them in <em>ages</em>. They've bought gifts of home-grown vegetables and home-made pickles. My kinda people.</p>
<hr />
<p>What a week. Reading it back, it's perhaps been the most normal week in a long time, with an incredible amount of socialising, but has also been a week scarred with the repercussions of the pandemic to date. I'm emotionally and physically and maybe actually hungover. I need a good sleep to roll into a weekend of fun with our guests 🙌</p>
Filthy Note2021-09-17T21:52:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/51/<ul>
<li>I’ve barely been able to sleep all week; my sleep hygiene suffered, and created a negative feedback loop – I’m absolutely bloody filthy, reader. But last night was better! 🤞</li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/4Id8y3OUKisdSKxpmSqFEq?si=f27abf6180834659">I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep (Spotify)</a>.</li>
<li>Prawn cracker of the future: what am I referring to? Have a guess and we'll see if you're right later.</li>
<li>This little piggy went to market… and this little piggy crashed into the banister at high speed; I squealed, and sulked for 2 whole days.</li>
<li>We’re still hoping to buy a house but places are going so fast… like 56 viewings booked in 24 hours, taking no more viewings fast.</li>
<li>We might be here a while. A humongous RHS plants order will make it all better. Chillis out, grasses and autumn flowers in – I’m absolutely bloody filthy, reader (but because of compost, not poor sleep hygiene, and that's the way I like it).</li>
<li>March Moody will have bulbs abloom. 😌</li>
<li>The reveal. A prawn cracker of the future is… a… fortune cookie! Well done if you guessed right. R got it. That’s nothing. R is very, very good at translating my whatchamacallits.</li>
<li>Here's a great looking site, with a great article on <a href="https://www.joshwcomeau.com/css/designing-shadows/">designing shadows in CSS</a>.</li>
<li>Work's going... well? A significant, surprise pay adjustment last week (I think that means I was being paid less than my peers, but am focused on the positive here, this is ahead of pay bands being published); a surprise, group wide well-done-all-we're-doing-well-despite-covid bonus this week; and a positive shout out from a colleague in a mass email 🥳</li>
<li>May your week be full of sleep and compost. 👋</li>
</ul>
Biblical Note2021-09-11T12:11:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/50/<ul>
<li>I may have said something untoward in church whilst <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/49/">at the wedding</a> for He has set upon me a ceaseless swarm of nasty flies. Where from!? We think there might be a rotting corpse under the floorboards somewhere; our <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/27/">suspected rat</a> would trigger traps without being caught so we've had poison down for a while.</li>
<li>At least <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/50/">the-promise-breaker-with-eight-legs</a> will have fun. Seriously, spiders are taking over too, but the enemy of my enemy is my friend.</li>
<li>Burn. Down. The. House.</li>
<li>On Wednesday I took an ad-hoc day off to enjoy the sun. Such sun. Where has the week gone?</li>
<li><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1143712409">London CSS 6: Creative CSS (Twitch recording)</a> was super inspiring. I loved getting a glimpse at the speaker's thought process, and how they came to build the beautiful projects that they have. <a href="https://twitter.com/amit_sheen">Amit</a> shared how he plans out web animations with practical advice that was a revelation to me.</li>
<li>🎶 More chillis! Making jam. More chillis! Pineapple hot sauce for me. More chillies! Ferment those bad bois up. More chillies! Nom nom nom.</li>
</ul>
Evasive Note2021-09-06T20:05:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/49/<ul>
<li>My granddad passed away this week. I also learnt a former colleague of ours (of R and I) sadly passed away, too. As friends and family sometimes read these weeknotes it would feel weird to not acknowledge that but I shan't say anymore.</li>
<li>In cheerier news <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/48/">the wedding</a> went ahead! Although a cold was introduced to the Bubble of Prestige which caused quite a fright – that is the bubble of important family members, plus me, during the run-up. Thankfully a PCR test confirmed we needn't have worried. Lateral flows and cocktails all round!</li>
<li>It was an amazing weekend. There's so much I could talk about. How R described me as a hanger on to the vicar in rehearsal (not inaccurately 😂); the spectacular church and venue; the speeches; the excellent, and unique, taste of the bride and groom (my word, even the place names were noteworthy).</li>
<li>I got to meet some of R's Liverpool contingent, which was nice. When we got to talking about moving to Sheffield and where I'm from, I described myself as northern enough to know the word "nesh" but not northern enough to not be nesh, which I think is about right.</li>
<li>Turns out sambuca is still a shot I enjoy if I'm going to "have" to shot something. Tied with gin. Tequila not so much, thanks.</li>
<li>All summer has been a rollercoaster of cautious isolation weeks before a fun thing, then cautious isolation again. Now my calendar is empty I'm keen to make the most of local activities before the inevitable winter consequences of loosened covid restrictions. Like, maybe I'll find someone to come to the cinema to watch <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/09/__trashed-4/">Candyman</a> with me. R doesn't like horror. And neither do I, really, except I do... kinda... just I'm still scared to look in the mirror two days after watching the trailer...</li>
<li>Boo!</li>
</ul>
Cautious Note2021-08-27T22:06:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/48/<ul>
<li>Mead is a drink I want to love more than I probably do right now. I read an <a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/08/recreating-a-medieval-mead-calls-for-a-giant-cauldron-to-caramelize-">article on how to make medieval mead</a> and it's very, very tempting, but... I was quite put off by the "this can scald your eyeballs" bit.</li>
<li>I took 10% time at work (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20%25_Project">like 20%, but less</a>) to try out <a href="https://kit.svelte.dev/">svelte kit</a>, I'm a fan.</li>
<li>Otherwise, lots of meetings at work this week. I've been helping run technical interviews. It's been tiring but surprisingly rewarding. Nice also to reflect with my fellow interviewer (hi!?) on why we like working at the FT, and within our team, when candidates have asked; some have seemed shocked at our tenure.</li>
<li>Is it just me that's only now spotted <a href="https://www.yorkshiretea.co.uk/brew-news/is-it-a-stoat-is-it-a-weasel">the tea weasel – or stoat</a>?</li>
<li>I also saw a couple of squirrels humping – cute.</li>
<li>That's about the only time I left the house this week. I've been particularly scared of covid for reasons of not wanting to bring down R's sibling's upcoming wedding. I'm staying with their immediate family the week before, just enough time to incubate covid and force very important guests – mum, dad, siblings – to self isolate. I've done all I can to avoid that eventuality, except refuse to stay the week before, my conscience is clear-ish.</li>
<li>R took more time off and is already there. We've been apart for the longest time since records began. And after being in each other's <em>constant</em> company the last couple of years I expected... more? Sure I lived by my (covid-fearing) whims with impunity but, eh? I'm looking forward to being reunited.</li>
<li>That's it. Winter is here. The house is apparently still warm but my fingers and toes have sensed the change and turned back to ice. It's too soon!</li>
</ul>
Pointy Note2021-08-22T12:05:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/47/<p>Hello, welcome to my web page or RSS feed.</p>
<p>Work stuff first, then other stuff, then the end.</p>
<ul>
<li>Did I program at all this week? That's not a problem as such I'm just wondering where the working week went.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://ft.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/FT_External_Careers/job/London-FT/Software-Engineer---FT-Origami_JR006999">My team is hiring</a> so I've been getting familiar with the interview process of larger teams who hire regularly, and working with my team to adapt a technical test for the job description.</li>
<li>I've also been making a greater effort to prioritise design team collaboration; it felt like we drifted for a while but we're more active of late and I want to contribute to that momentum 🙌</li>
<li>This week that manifested as getting more familiar with <a href="https://www.figma.com/">Figma</a>; adding to design system guidelines; catching up with designers to say hello and chat about their projects/processes; and talking with our Creative Director, which was super enthusing - there's a whole world of products which expand out from our core ft.com brand, I think our team could help support their development more.</li>
<li>Oh, and also this week, I ran new Introduction to <a href="https://origami.ft.com/">Origami</a> sessions. We've had excellent feedback in the past but I haven't been getting much feedback from attendees recently, so I'm increasingly paranoid it needs work (<a href="https://medium.com/@mathowie/an-introverts-guide-to-better-presentations-be7e772b2cb5">I'm a pretty monkey?</a>)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Also this week <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/1b9X8S1gflcRRRfhTHcxs3?si=Z9tI8Vy0QTqQwzGeHfD2XA&dl_branch=1">Drug Store Romeos</a> have taken control of my brain. Probably Spotify will shame me with a tube ad for playing Frame Of Reference too many times.</li>
<li>I made a kimchi grenade. Further details upon request.</li>
<li>In the series of "<a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/19/">Lee pays a little more attention to birds</a>": I forgot to tell you, we saw a <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/pied-flycatcher/">Pied Flycatcher</a> for the first time when we were <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/46/">on our way to Nǎm Sông</a>.</li>
<li>Finally, I'm double jabbed baby! The first dose didn't seem to give me any side-effects, except a sore arm, but I think the second one did. I got the jab early on Friday morning and woke the same night feeling pretty unwell and achy, unable to get back to sleep. I didn't feel good Saturday either. Worth it! 💉💉 I'm feeling much better now after a massive lie in.</li>
<li>Shame I felt ill on my time and not work time, though. Weekend redo? 😏</li>
</ul>
Noisy Note2021-08-16T20:18:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/46/<ul>
<li>I finished reading <a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/309419/the-salt-path/9781405937184.html">The Salt Path</a> within a week, an incredible feat given how slowly I work through fiction. I couldn't put it down.</li>
<li>It was a joy to browse a bookshop after a long hiatus. For other finds <a href="https://www.ebay.co.uk/">eBay</a> is a great way to pick up good quality, cheap second hand books (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Amazon">Amazon</a> 🖕). So let's keep this fiction train rolling!</li>
<li>This week we had our neighbor's poor doggo* barking all night long, absolutely howling. We got no sleep. She had been left alone, scared of the world, and desperate for attention: I relate.</li>
<li>After a while I started to wonder if there had been a murder. Of course we didn't say anything when our neighbour returned the next day. Hopefully it was a one off. Do you think <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lassie">Lassie</a> would have been as successful if everyone ignored her?</li>
<li>I got runner's knee – I think that's the technical term for something not right in the knee area – and hobbled about for a bit. It's fine now. I thought you would want to know?</li>
<li>Our local community magazine had a page about “Why so many Londoners are heading to the Beautiful North [and pushing up property prices]” - <a href="https://youtu.be/VImnpErdDzA?t=14">are we the baddies</a>?</li>
<li><a href="https://blog.typekit.com/2016/04/29/combining-typefaces-free-guide-to-great-typography/">Combining Typefaces</a> is a helpful little guide to... combining typefaces. The e-book version is now available to download for free. I've especially appreciated the references it points to for tangential learning.</li>
<li>Drip...drip...drip...drip...drip..?..?..drip-drip. I <em>finally</em> fixed the dripping tap! Hurrah! I took it apart and gave it all a good clean with vinegar. However I replaced the cartridges the wrong way around so now we have to push back for liquid and pull forward to stop the flow. We've decided to change our behaviour rather than swap them around, lest risk a return of The Dreaded Drip.</li>
<li>R chose <a href="https://www.namsong.co.uk/">Nǎm Sông</a> for our first indoor restaurant experience this year. We sat on the floor and ate from a little table, legs crossed. There was no shortage of chairs when we visited Vietnam but it was a fun novelty. The food was delicious. The distinctive coffee bought back nice travel memories.</li>
<li>Beer garden! New people! My default form is a hermit, and in a new city during a pandemic I'd be a full-time recluse, but thankfully <a href="https://twitter.com/chicgeek">Laura</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/caolan">Caolan</a> are nearby and excellent. 🙇♂️</li>
<li>Interestingly, as this relates to pub chat, a large spider broke our understanding! We agree to live in harmony on the condition it live between the dishwasher and the wall, the fusty liminal space for evil things, with the option to explore near the bins late at night – if it scares me by the bins in the early hours when I'm making more pointlessly-decaf-tea that's okay, it's its time. But to cut a long story less long than it could be I found the-promise-breaker-with-eight-legs above the cooker yesterday. Completely against our understanding! I did some research to see if knowing more about its species could bring us closer. It couldn't. I'm very itchy and would like to burn down the house. Maybe with the drop in temperature <a href="https://www.uksafari.com/housespiders.htm">my spider cohabiter could be in search of a mate</a>.</li>
<li>That's all! A long one this week. I expect a short one next, we'll see, bye for now!</li>
</ul>
<p><em>* In my actual unsanitised note, taken on the night, "poor doggo" was originally written "pissing yap arse dog". I don't know why I'm telling you this, but there we go.</em></p>
Celebratory Note2021-08-07T15:41:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/45/<ul>
<li>We attended our friends' wedding! It was, completely magical.</li>
</ul>
<p>These lines of writing are here to get in your way. To put space between the wedding, which was by far the most exciting and wonderful event of the last week, and the rest of the weeknote which is longer but less significant.</p>
<p>Ok, ready?</p>
<ul>
<li>I finished reading <a href="https://shapeofdesignbook.com/">The Shape of Design by Frank Chimero</a> for a second time. My original copy was taken from a laundrette in Ladbroke Grove years ago, where I had left it by mistake. Where are you now little book? Who has turned your pages?</li>
<li>To me The Shape of Design reads pretentiously in places, it can bring out my cynicism, but there's a part of me that wants to indulge in that. Amongst metaphor and simile there is some sound advice and insightful thoughts about the creative process. One piece of wisdom I re-learnt the more tricky way recently, based on end-of-year feedback from a peer: <blockquote>"The creative process, like a good story, needs to start with a great leap of lightness, and that is only attainable through a suspension of disbelief. The objectives shouldn’t be ignored forever, but they should be defined ahead of time, set aside, and then deployed at the appropriate moment so that we may be audacious with our ideas." <cite>- <a href="https://shapeofdesignbook.com/chapters/03-improvisation-and-limitations/">Frank Chimero</a></cite></blockquote></li>
</ul>
<p>Back to brief points – what is this weeknote?</p>
<ul>
<li>Made chilli jam.</li>
<li>Made sourdough.</li>
<li>Used the same pot.</li>
<li>The bread is spicy.</li>
</ul>
<p>Thus concludes this disjointed weeknote, ta-rar 👋</p>
Artistic Note2021-07-29T17:13:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/44/<p>Did you know I have an in-house proof reader? They are busy this week. If a word doesn't make sense it's because my spelling was so bad the computer couldn't figure it out and I picked the wrong word from the options provided. I did not enjoy English at primary school (2/10 - see me) 😅</p>
<ul>
<li>I attended a technical writing course at work this week. I learnt our team are pretty good at technical writing, and that we can be better. The sessions were delivered by Cherryleaf who host the <a href="https://www.cherryleaf.com/podcast/">Cherryleaf podcast</a>. I haven't checked that out myself yet but it might be a good listen if you're looking to improve your technical writing.</li>
<li>We didn't get <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/43/">the house</a>. It sold for a great deal of money, around 20% over the guide price. In hindsight it was worth that much to us, and we can afford it, I'm sad we missed out. Onwards! I'm strangely zen in my disappointment.</li>
<li>Our rental house has many hooks but we don't have much to put on them still. On the wall in front of me now are 7 picture hooks and 5 remain empty; I have a devils ivy trailing down from one, its pot made secure on the shallow hook against its will; on another there is a digital archival print of a collage featuring pretty shapes, daisies(?), a couple of butterflies with male and female symbols, and a dead bird... its sum is greater than its parts.</li>
<li>The art speaks to me. It reminds me there is a beautiful world out there whilst I'm working at my desk. And of death. And that I should not be sat here.</li>
<li>Hello! Conversely I'm more enthusiastic to be sat here than ever. I've finished reading <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/printed-books/art-direction-for-the-web/">Art Direction for the Web</a> and can't wait to put some of what I've learnt into practise.</li>
<li>Movie recommendation: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocks_(film)">Rocks</a> 😭 ♥️</li>
<li>It's a 4 day weekend for me, hurrah! 🕺💃</li>
</ul>
<p>Until next week friends.</p>
House Note2021-07-22T20:10:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/43/<p>Oh no, my schedule is messed up, I missed one. Did you notice?</p>
<h2>So, we did a scary thing...</h2>
<p>We put an offer in on a house! We spend hours agonising over every little purchase — shoes are a nightmare for me — but just offered hundreds of thousands of pounds to buy a house after poking around for all of 15 minutes. 😱</p>
<p>We found it just impossible to know how much is a sensible offer. We gather it's not unusual here for agents to list guide prices 10% below expectations, which makes things tricky, and the market is hot too. The house we made an offer on has gone to best and final offers with multiple bids over the guide price to begin with. If you're interested there's a somewhat mortifying <a href="https://www.channel4.com/programmes/location-location-location/on-demand/69728-003">Location, Location, Location episode</a> where one couple report being outbid on 8 properties (but do get one in the end), and another couple who are outbid by £70,000! (poor Phil, you tried)</p>
<p>I doubt our offer will be accepted but our fingers are crossed! We love the area, and the house itself is a good size with space enough for family and an office. We think it would make a lovely home to settle into for the long term.</p>
<h2>And I spent time with family...</h2>
<p>We went away with some of my family. I haven't seen one of my sisters since... the Christmas before last? I'm so happy we got to spend some proper time together. I was a total fun sponge to begin with but did eventually take part in some of the outdoor, on-site activities 😂</p>
<h2>And I did my job...</h2>
<ul>
<li>At work my mid-year review went well, it was lovely to read the positive feedback ☺️ I know what to keep on doing.</li>
<li>It might just be because the sun's out but I'm feeling more optimistic career wise. I have a long term direction in mind on a high level, and some interesting projects to work on too. I felt lost for a little while there.</li>
<li>For one of those projects I started researching <a href="https://github.com/design-tokens/community-group#design-tokens">design tokens</a> and the ecosystem of tools/services around them. They're kinda snazzy variables that can be compiled cross-platform, but, more interesting than you might be thinking. My mindset going in was a bit dismissive however since I... okay... I wrote about the surprising operational and product benefits that a company like the FT could benefit from but it was a bit involved for a weeknote. Maybe I'll write a blog post! Or share the eventual proposal, most of my team's work is in the open. 🎉</li>
<li>You could use design tokens to manage design decisions for specific colour spaces so I found myself on an interesting <a href="https://bjango.com/articles/colourmanagementgamut/">colour management tangent</a>, which you might find interesting too. <blockquote>“The proliferation of wide gamut displays means colour management errors are now more severe, and more common. If you own a new MacBook Pro or iMac and colours in certain apps look oversaturated, this is probably why (hi, Slack).” - <cite><a href="https://bjango.com/articles/colourmanagementgamut/">Marc Edwards</a></cite></blockquote></li>
</ul>
<h2>It's hot...</h2>
<p>It's hot...</p>
<p>It's hot...</p>
<p>I'm enjoying the sun though! As are my chilli plants, they're looking fabulous. I had a good chat with a passer-by about them, which was nice.</p>
<h2>Extra...</h2>
<p>I leave you with a super interesting article, <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/07/unsolicited-seeds-china-brushing/619417/">The Truth Behind the Amazon Mystery Seeds</a>.</p>
<p>
</p><details>
<summary>Spoilers: the last paragraph is poignant.</summary>
<blockquote>
"Few of us truly understand the machines and systems at our disposal; we click a button and move on. Meanwhile, tens or hundreds or thousands of miles away, something starts to happen. Steps are taken, wheels are set into motion, decisions—and perhaps mistakes—are made. By the time the distorted ripples of cause and effect make their way back to us, we may no longer recognize that we were the ones who threw a stone into the water."
- <cite><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/07/unsolicited-seeds-china-brushing/619417/">Chris Heath</a></cite>
</blockquote>
</details>
<p></p>
<p>That's all, be well dear reader! Hey, it's nearly the weekend. 🙌</p>
Foot Note2021-07-14T18:15:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/42/<p>I <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/39/">stayed up all night again</a>. This time I wasn't stuck in a YouTube loop but just couldn't get to sleep, not even for a moment. Normally, in desperate times, rewatching a David Attenborough documentary would quieten my mind but not this time.</p>
<p>"And here we see a wild Lee in its natural habitat. A nocturnal creature, Lee stays up all night keeping watch for predators."</p>
<p>At 5am I gave up and went for a walk around local parks and ancient woodlands. I saw a kestrel up close, a woodpecker far away, and this here giant slug.</p>
<figure>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/l4xc47dVBY-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/l4xc47dVBY-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/l4xc47dVBY-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/l4xc47dVBY-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/l4xc47dVBY-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/l4xc47dVBY-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/l4xc47dVBY-500.jpeg" alt="A rather large slug hangs perfectly vertically from a tree leaf, holding on by its tail end. It's a long way down for a slug." width="1000" height="750" /></picture>
<figcaption><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hang_in_there%2C_Baby">Hang in there baby.</a></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>On Friday friends visited for a long weekend. They were still with us for the Euro 2020 final so I agreed to watch my first ever full football match without complaining. England vs. Italy. We went to <a href="https://www.bragazzis.co.uk/">Bragazzi's</a> pre-match, an Italian deli with great coffee and the best sandwiches (get there early before they're gone) 😋</p>
<p>Surprisingly, I got well into it. Not firework up the arse into it, but, invested. Looks like we've got a pretty great team! The Italian team were not so sporting. I'm shocked it's possible for individual players to rack up yellow cards without repercussions for the team.</p>
<p><picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/x03pFLncy--500.avif 500w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/x03pFLncy--500.webp 500w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/x03pFLncy--500.jpeg" alt="Euro 2020 football final. Italy player Giorgio Chiellini yanks on the shirt neck of England player Bukayo Saka, pulling him back and off his feet." width="500" height="223" /></picture></p>
<p>Shame English football fans, on the other hand, can be <em>so terrible</em>!</p>
Balding Note2021-07-04T19:06:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/41/<p>This week we have plants for main, with a side order of family, and a petite dessert of caramelised web design/development. Dessert comes with custard, so don't worry too much about the taste.</p>
<p>It's been a full week of relative freedom post-test-and-trace-isolation. <a href="https://alicebartlett.co.uk/blog/weaknotes-147">Alice</a> and <a href="https://rowanmanning.com/weeknotes/36/">Rowan</a> have had to isolate for 10 days too (I'm sorry, that sucks!) They're way <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/39/">less of a baby about it than I was</a>.</p>
<p>I visited some of my dad's side of the family for the first time in almost a year(!) I have two very young siblings and it was fun to spend time with them. My youngest sibling is younger in years than I am in decades. They were suspicious of the strange man that appeared in their home, but I think I won them over by the end of the weekend. My second youngest sibling was looking forward to my visit, which is pretty sweet. We did colouring competitions, drawings, I taught them how to make paper airplanes (this was a lot of fun), we even played hairdressers:</p>
<ul>
<li>E: "Why is there a patch at the back? 😱"</li>
<li>Me: "Because I'm going bald, like daddy."</li>
<li>E: *<em>shakes head, silently, in shock or disbelief or in embarrassment of this news</em>* 😱😱</li>
<li>Me: "I am! That's okay though, I still look pretty with clips in right?"</li>
</ul>
<p>Back home, I woke up to find a mystery envelope by my door. It had "good luck!" hand-written on the front. My sleepy self took that as a threat and was pretty alarmed when bulbous green contents spilled out. I forgot that Alice was very kindly sending me succulent cuttings through the post. 😂 I'm so excited to see if they'll take, especially the <a href="https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=fishbone+cactus&iax=images&ia=images">fishbone cactus</a> 🤞</p>
<p>My chillis are growing pretty well, even outdoors in Sheffield's torrential rain. Feast your eyes on this curious little fella I found on their leaves.</p>
<p><picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1zY_c9hOD_-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1zY_c9hOD_-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1zY_c9hOD_-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1zY_c9hOD_-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1zY_c9hOD_-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1zY_c9hOD_-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/1zY_c9hOD_-500.jpeg" alt="Left: Harlequin ladybird larvae on a chilli plant. The plant is in flower, with unripe chillis growing. The Harlequin ladybird larvae is a little scary looking. Mostly black with a bit of a spiky orange rectangle and 6 legs. Right: A zoomed view of the ladybird larvae." width="1000" height="1000" /></picture></p>
<p>At first sight it's pretty scary looking but I learnt it's actually a gardener's friend. It's a <a href="https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/garden-wildlife-identifier-ladybird-larvae/">Harlequin ladybird larvae</a>! It roams around quite impressively, like a tank, an absolute machine. I'm sure it's hunting down unsuspecting aphids that could otherwise damage the chillis.</p>
<p>That's family and plants, I also promised dessert. I've discovered <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/membership/">Smashing Magazine membership</a> is a great way to access <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/printed-books/">Smashing books</a>. If you're a designer or developer of digital products, you might want to check it out. I've joined and downloaded a couple of e-books that are design orientated, it feels good to re-focus on design again and do some active learning.</p>
Crispy Note2021-06-26T11:02:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/40/<p>When necessary I'm well up for a national lockdown but <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/39/">these last 10 days of self-isolation</a> have felt quite tough. I've barely slept all week and made some... questionable... decisions.</p>
<ul>
<li>You're reading the words of someone who now uses a <a href="https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=sony+a5100&iax=images&ia=images">Sony a5100</a> for a webcam, and has a microphone boom arm on the way. Improved <abbr title="audio-visual">A/V</abbr> equipment makes up for tired, unintelligible babble right? It does, right?</li>
<li>Maybe there's something to be said for a tired, <abbr title="you only live once">YOLO</abbr> attitude. After months of putting it off, and feeling slowly more isolated, I finally reached out beyond my day-to-day work bubble for a friendly catchup and support in the way of a career conversation. It was really nice and surprisingly invigorating.</li>
<li>I ended up taking a day off as a wellness day* which was a huge help also. I almost feel guilty for taking it but need to shake that attitude. My intention was to lay in a dark corner with a duvet, but with space to breath I actually ended up sitting outside in the sun assessing my competencies against the FT's <a href="https://engineering-progression.ft.com/">career progression framework</a>. After the chat earlier in the week, and in a better mindset thanks to the wellness day, I thought of way more positive examples.</li>
<li>I'm ready to get stuck in and actively pursue promotion! 💪 My manager is supporting me 🙇♂️</li>
<li>A potted tree in our garden dried up <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/38/">whilst we were away</a>. And yes, in honour of our cripsy tree, I believe I did sing an alternative snippet of <a href="https://www.metrolyrics.com/o-christmas-tree-lyrics-christmas-carols.html">O Christmas Tree</a> to a small group including our Chief Product & Technology Officer.<br />
🎶🎶 🎶<br />
O crispy tree,<br />
O crispy tree,<br />
How lovely are your branches!<br />
🎶🎶 🎶<br />
Yes I'm pretty confident that did in fact happen.</li>
<li>I've finally had my first covid vaccine shot now our self-isolation period is over. The centre I went to was near Sheffield University. When did students get so frightfully young? 😱 Get out of my way kids! Don't you see I'm old, frail, and in need of vaccination.</li>
</ul>
<p>Reader, getting a vaccine was great but I leave you with the biggest news: We ate the last of the sauerkraut I made in London. That is, the last of the cabbage we bought from veg man. I miss him dearly. We never said goodbye. 🎻</p>
<hr />
<p><em>*A wellness day is a kind of informal paid leave that the FT has offered Q1-2 this year, on top of existing leave. It's designed to help people with the stresses and complications of the pandemic.</em></p>
Regretful Note2021-06-19T05:14:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/39/<ul>
<li>It's 05:14am and I haven't gone to bed yet. I got sucked into a YouTube rabbit hole learning about cameras, lenses, and microphones.</li>
<li>My remote working setup is on the mind. I'd like to improve it. Getting a lamp and speaking with more clarity would go a long way, but instead I'm likely to splurge many pounds on exciting equipment.</li>
<li>The Sony WH-1000XM3 I've been rocking are fantastic for music on the Northern Line but less great for video calls, their microphone is terrible.</li>
<li>This realisation has come late, after hosting a plant-themed Product & Tech social event with special guest <a href="https://www.janeperrone.com/">Jane Perrone</a> this week. My hosting skills need work for sure but I think it went well overall. It was fun. Jane was wonderful and I'm super happy people showed and brought excellent questions!</li>
<li>It's 05:30am and I still haven't gone to bed. Is this weeknote comprehensible?</li>
<li>Probably I've been on YouTube learning about cameras, lenses, and microphones <em>literally</em> all night because <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/38/">self-isolation</a> has put me in a strange place. It feels unnecessary, we feel fine, our lateral flow tests are still negative, but we're playing by the rules. I can't wait to be free! Just 5 more days.</li>
</ul>
<p>Now it's 05:47am and I still haven't gone to bed. Oh my God, what have I done 🙃 On that note, friends: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdwuW8n3JYA">good afternoon, good evening, and good night</a>!</p>
Late Note2021-06-15T18:26:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/38/<p>To my countless fans, I'm sorry this weeks drivel is delayed.</p>
<ul>
<li>Remember <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/35/">I said I'd update you on my new glasses</a> but didn't? Well. That's because it was a boring update. I went for a different style and I like them a lot. <a href="https://www.eyeyesheffield.co.uk/">EYEYE Sheffield</a> did an excellent job.</li>
<li>Remember <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/34/">I said I'd keep you posted about the Kombucha from scratch attempt</a>? No scoby formed. I tried again. It's mouldy now.</li>
<li>I finished reading <a href="https://resilient-management.com/">Resilient Management</a> by Lara Hogan. I recommend it even if, like me, you don't have direct reports. It's helpful to understand what you should expect from your manager for one, but I also found a bunch of tips useful for my non-manager role e.g. on communication and project management – I'm definitely going to look at new projects through the lens of a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsibility_assignment_matrix">responsibility assignment matrix</a>.</li>
<li>We visited R's family for a holiday, it was great to spend time with them, and it really did feel like a holiday because they live close to a beach – reminder that a UK holiday is a holiday, not a staycation. The weather really came through. We did lots of walking and ate lots of good food (and ice cream). One cool, misty morning I got in the sea (<s>where I belong</s>) for a bracing splish-splash, and was joined by a couple of swans. 😍</li>
<li>Two lateral flow tests later we spent a few days with friends in Cambridge. 🙌 I had a punt at punting but didn’t do well 😂 We ended up colliding with a boat selling drinks, which was awkward, then into a willow tree. I didn’t quite get that I could use the…stick? as a rudder. I was too focused on trying to push off in the right direction. Fortunately one of our friends knew what he was doing and navigated most of the time like a champion (it's hard work!)</li>
<li>Sadly we missed <a href="https://sheffdocfest.com/">Sheffield Docfest</a> and a cute yard sale back home, damn-it, hopefully next year!</li>
<li>Pandemic reality has returned with vengeance. Today we've been alerted by the Covid-19 contact tracing app that we've been in close contact with someone who has tested positive. The timing means the contact happened on the train home. The app says we must self isolate fully at home for 9 days, even if we get a negative test 😭</li>
</ul>
<p>Stressful. We're going to need another holiday.</p>
Office Note2021-06-06T10:46:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/37/<p>This week, in the life of Lee*.</p>
<ul>
<li>R's sister and partner were on a quiz show! I was excited, they did well, but the format was so sedate I aged by 50 years.</li>
<li>R's mum reads some of these! On an unrelated note, I continue to be a model partner. 😇</li>
<li><a href="https://notes.matthinchliffe.dev/">Matt</a> left the FT which is sad. We didn't get to work together too much, I would have liked to more.</li>
<li>With Matt gone I can start wearing <a href="https://www.bigwildthought.co.uk/">clothes with little animals</a> on the breast, without feeling like a copy-cat. Every cloud. 😅</li>
<li>I attended a career workshop to see if that would help me shed gnawing existential career woes. One exercise had us graph our career with time on the x axis and contentedness on the y. It's an interesting visualisation, especially if you take the time to annotate it with projects, promotion, and other events.</li>
<li>I've definitely been most happy in highly collaborative, autonomous group environments, where we've been able to support each other and recognition has followed in the way of review or promotion. That's hardly unique or insightful, though, is it? 🤔</li>
<li>Enroute to the office for the first time in 452 days, very early morning, I was bounced by a train guard into paying another £108 for a new ticket. Despite having the right ticket/credentials on me already. I think it was the end of their shift. We were both tired, I was being slow, they were being ruthless. I should have been angry, and am now, but was confused and simpering at the time. 🥺</li>
<li>Being in the office is nice. Social skills need rebuilding though. <a href="https://rowanmanning.com/weeknotes/">Rowan</a>: “You’re real!” Lee: “I know!" 😂 I loved going for lunch and gathering a little group outside a pub after work.</li>
<li>Everyone should have a fancy toilet with various seat options and built in bidet, like we have in the office.</li>
<li>The eco friendly, gentle deodorant I've been using during the pandemic had its first major challenge. I think it may have failed. Colleagues, let me know.</li>
<li>Office gossip is valuable, and has been lacking. Still waiting on juicy gossip to return, like "doesn't Lee smell now?" I'm bad at gossip, all take-take-take.</li>
<li>I miss London.</li>
<li>I love Sheffield.</li>
<li>Franco Manca is a safe, delicious choice. But too efficient. You can't pass time there. 🍕</li>
<li>Teens are snogging in gross corners near train stations again. Nature is healing.</li>
<li>We're using the <a href="https://twitter.com/DasSurma/status/1400849775617097736?s=20">wrong metric to monitor site bundle size</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p>*The life of Lee, sanitised somewhat for an unknown audience of family, friends, enemies, colleagues, colleagues who are friends, colleagues who are enemies**, internet randos, internet randos who could be friends, internet randos who could be enemies.</p>
<p>**I have no colleague enemies really. Or, do I?</p>
<p>Your friend or enemy,
Lee</p>
Staycation Note2021-05-31T12:50:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/36/<p>Intro: Less exciting stuff first.</p>
<ul>
<li>At work, a talk by Paul Comerford from the <abbr title="Information Commissioner's Office">ICO</abbr> Technology team was informative. The <a href="https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/news-and-events/news-and-blogs/2021/03/building-on-the-data-sharing-code-our-plans-for-updating-our-anonymisation-guidance/">ICO are working on updated guidance for handling anonymous and pseudo-anonymous data</a>. They are looking for input, such as case studies of privacy enhancing technology. It made me think of <a href="https://usefathom.com/">Fathom Analytics</a>, a company who I think are getting it right. Down with Google <s>Analytics</s>!</li>
<li>We just discovered another hole to the outside world in our kitchen, above our cupboards, hidden behind a chopping board left by our landlord. No wonder it has been so cold in there these past few, bleak months. 😅</li>
</ul>
<p>Interlude: Darkness. Bright sun rises on a closeup shot of closed eyes. Then, the <a href="https://youtu.be/IeAm176qsa0?t=68">Windows XP loading sound</a> plays. Eyes open. I’m awake!</p>
<ul>
<li>We’ve had friends stay with us this bank holiday weekend, it’s been unbelievably relieving to host for guests in our new home. It’s felt like a proper holiday. I'm refreshed. We nope-ed out of one venue that wasn't taking appropriate covid precautions but otherwise have had a smooth weekend of fun. The weather has been immense, we’ve done a lot of walking through scenic nature, visited cafés aplenty, and I got the chance to cook a roast for 5! There was an excellent rise on the Yorkshires, you’ll be pleased to know. We ate outside in our sunny garden, followed by drinks and ice creams. 🎉</li>
<li>It was the perfect occasion to use our dishwasher, what a treat. But wait, oh no, it didn’t drain fully when we used it that one and only time, when we moved in, months ago. So we had to clean dishes and mouldy, stagnant, algae water. 🙃</li>
<li>Remember I deleted WhatsApp? A friend that didn't join the Signal bandwagon sent us an actual, physical letter! We have no printer to reply though, my handwriting is dreadful. Our weekend guests suggested a typewriter in jest. Reader, I <em>really</em> want a typewriter now. Don't suppose you have a cheap one going, or have a recommendation?</li>
</ul>
<p>Outro: Movie recommendations.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_of_the_Dead">Army of The Dead</a> is a fun zombie film.</li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncut_Gems">Uncut Gems</a> is a fun, I-don’t-know-what film. I know, I know, Adam Sandler. It is good though. Stressful. Not what you would expect.</li>
</ul>
Some Note2021-05-23T18:45:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/35/<p>Habit has kept me writing weeknotes even when I don't really feel like it (cough, now). A small, productive, reflective task has felt like a good thing to have over the last 35 weeks. If I could develop more positive habits, who knows? I could be an astronaut, PM, or the next UK winner of the Eurovision Song Contest.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaTRNImqnHM">Iceland got my vote</a>. I like their style. ❤️</li>
<li>Saw my mum for the first time in 296 days!</li>
<li>Ordered new glasses, more on that next week.</li>
<li>My chilli plants are taking over the bedroom. I put them outside in the sun, then it hailed.</li>
<li>It is raining at present. Pray to the Gods for sun!</li>
<li>A week off is soon, but far. Too far.</li>
<li>In the words of <a href="https://www.adam-buxton.co.uk/podcasts">Adam Buxton</a>, take care, I love you, BYEEEEEEE.</li>
</ul>
<p><span lang="fr">Fin.</span></p>
Yeasty Note2021-05-14T18:51:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/34/<ul>
<li>According to my internal monologue I started this week an absolute zero and ended a hero. Pizza and socialising yesterday evening followed by fun, productive teamwork today was exactly what I needed. Over a year on and I'm still figuring out what I need from remote work.</li>
<li>I had a dream where everyone went back to the office at the same time, completely unrestricted, and there was an intense air of celebration. In the dream I triumphantly marched around the office, bursting through doors - as if I'm not so tepid - to smiles and high fives everywhere. Going back won’t be anything near that, but catching up with a few colleagues in the flesh will feel as good. I’ve booked a train.</li>
<li>For a product and tech social I proposed a plant swap and have been helping the rest of <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/21/">Culture Club</a> to organise a little something. The idea has moved on from a plant swap, but is still going to include a group activity as well as opportunities to share photos, stories, and care tips. I hope people get involved and have a fun time! 🙌🌿</li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/Madi_MacMahon/status/1386301542995795971?s=20.">Madeleine’s Twitter reaction to a musical washing machine</a> speaks to my soul.</li>
<li>We had epic thunderstorms this week. ⛈ If you're not here you don't care and if you are here you already know, but there we are.</li>
<li>I don't know anyone locally who makes Kombucha, so I'm trying to grow a scoby from shop bought Kombucha. A week in I have sweet smelling, yeasty sediment. I will keep you updated.</li>
</ul>
Deceptive Note2021-05-08T12:21:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/33/<ul>
<li>Voted, and hey, the candidate I voted for won it!</li>
<li>Picture a zombie. What do you see? Grey skin, bags under the eyes, wheezing and groaning, maybe drool, perhaps it’s running toward you. Well, I must have caused a fright this week on my first run in a month. It’s likely no coincidence that I haven’t slept well in a couple of weeks either and, although you can’t tell through the webcam, I am an absolute zombie friend. Feed me brains.</li>
<li>R doesn’t think we’re ready to mingle our ashes upon death. The last line of intimacy.</li>
<li>Have you seen <a href="https://www.channel4.com/programmes/snackmasters">Snackmasters</a>? It has two chefs compete to recreate a brand-name food and is a lot of fun. You get to see inside the factory with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayde_Adams">Jayde Adams</a>, who is excellent and, unlike <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregg_Wallace">Gregg Wallace</a>, appropriately enthusiastic. I rediscovered the joy of Shredded wheat, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shredded_wheat#/media/File:Two_shredded_wheat.jpg">the big Shredded wheat</a>, but I'm <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestl%C3%A9#Controversy_and_criticisms">not comfortable giving Nestlé my custom</a> so that's enough of that. Does anyone recommend an off-brand alternative? The little ones aren't the same!</li>
<li>In other exciting news our windows have been cleaned. They're looking so, so much better. The outside is 3D now. We hired someone as I didn't fancy acquiring a ladder and then going up it, but otherwise would have liked to do them myself. I know the technique because I cleaned windows for a little while as a young'un to save up for my first laptop (that worked out pretty well for me).</li>
<li>We spotted a majestic owl on the way home from an IKEA trip! We stared and stared and told the bus driver who was also quite excited to catch a glimpse. Anyhow when we were home we started to have our doubts and it turns out it's a fake owl, presumably a Sheffield Wednesday mascot. We did think it was quite still!
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Q4nv_ztDH4-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Q4nv_ztDH4-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Q4nv_ztDH4-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Q4nv_ztDH4-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Q4nv_ztDH4-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Q4nv_ztDH4-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/Q4nv_ztDH4-500.jpeg" alt="A majestic owl perched way up high on a building chimney. It's not an owl though, it's fake.](/images/not-an-owl.jpg) ![A closer view of the majestic owl, perched way up high on a building chimney. It has long ear feathers. It's not an owl though, it's fake." width="1000" height="1333" /></picture>
Probably I shouldn't have posted so hastily for identification in the "#wfh-birdfeeders" Slack channel at work. I don't need so many photos of a fake owl, either (🤣😭😳)</li>
</ul>
<p>Yours foolishly,<br />Lee 👋</p>
Timely Note2021-05-01T01:57:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/32/<p>This week, inspired by an <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Withings+Activit%C3%A9+Pop+Smartwatch+Teardown/78395">iFixit teardown of a similar Withings watch model</a>, I cracked open <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/31/">my beloved, broken smart watch</a>.</p>
<p>Sadly I couldn't have a full poke around as I ruined the head on one of the fifteen (15!) teeny screws and couldn't remove it. They were so so tiny, I almost lost one.</p>
<p><picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/oASRVddMdB-500.avif 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/oASRVddMdB-1000.avif 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/oASRVddMdB-500.webp 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/oASRVddMdB-1000.webp 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/oASRVddMdB-500.jpeg 500w, https://leemoody.co.uk/images/oASRVddMdB-1000.jpeg 1000w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/oASRVddMdB-500.jpeg" alt="Tiny tiny screw, so tiny on top of a fingertip. A couple of millimetres long?" width="1000" height="1333" /></picture></p>
<p>Not to worry though, they just needed tightening a little.</p>
<p><span lang="fr">Et voilà!</span> A watch that tells the time again. ♥️</p>
<figure>
<video controls="" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" poster="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/withings-watch-fixed-poster.png" preload="metadata" width="640px" height="360px" aria-label="A recording of my Withings Watch, fixed, with dials turning.">
<source src="https://leemoody.co.uk/media/withings-watch-fixed.webm" type="video/webm" sizes="640px" />
<source src="https://leemoody.co.uk/media/withings-watch-fixed.mp4" type="video/mp4" sizes="640px" />
<img src="https://leemoody.co.uk/media/withings-watch-fixed.gif" alt="" />
</video>
</figure>
<p>A <a href="https://therestartproject.org/right-to-repair/">right to repair</a> feels like an important part of tackling climate change. I'm feeling inspired to explore <a href="https://therestartproject.org/">The Restart Project</a>, and maybe attend a Restart Party in the future!</p>
<p>On the other hand, I had talked myself around to a shiny upgrade. It would be a shame if I were to drop my watch from a height again 😇</p>
Commercial Note2021-04-25T14:08:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/31/<ul>
<li>This week in ridiculous American adverts, <a href="https://youtu.be/_zvofrrw_s8?t=61">TubShroom! It's so cute</a>.</li>
<li>I dropped my watch onto bathroom tiles, from a height, one too many times and it's no longer keeping time 😭 It was the first generation Withings Activité. I'm disappointed they don't offer repair or recycling and am unsure if a watch repair shop will be able to help. I loved it so much. Withings don't make a model the same anymore. They have a version which is close but looks much cheaper, the <a href="https://www.withings.com/uk/en/withings-move">Move</a>. Their premium <a href="https://www.withings.com/uk/en/scanwatch">ScanWatch</a> is more fancy than I'd like with a digital display. I'm tempted to drop the smarts entirely and get something like a <a href="https://nordgreen.co.uk/collections/mens-bestselling-watches">Nordgreen</a> but, eh, I dunno. Someone who knows watch brands, help! My wrist is so naked.</li>
<li>Thinking about spending money that should go toward our first mortgage deposit, the <a href="https://www.apple.com/uk/imac-24/">new iMacs</a> are swish aren't they? From the photos I’d be tempted by the purple, pink, or maybe green. But let’s face it I’d panic and buy grey. Classic. Safe. Versatile.</li>
<li>For you designers and web developers out there, here's an excellent <a href="https://sarahmhigley.com/writing/tooltips-in-wcag-21/">article by Sarah Higley on tooltip accessibility</a>.</li>
</ul>
Split Note2021-04-18T12:34:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/30/<p>It's been a funny week.</p>
<h2>Monday-Tuesday</h2>
<p>Aaaaahhh. The beginning was productive if not particularly exciting, with the nagging sense of dread, frustration, and self loathing running hot but suppressed.</p>
<h2>Wednesday</h2>
<p>Midweek was punctuated by a day away from work. I made an effort to leave the house on a long 24km <a href="https://www.theoutdoorcity.co.uk/activities/sheffield-round-walk-p1092711">Sheffield Round Walk</a>. I saw friendly people, sheep-s, forests, flowers, and bracken. Parks and birds, rivers and streams. Cliffs, moss, allotments, and sunny pubs. I heard bees, chatter, bleats, water trickling and cascading. For a while I heard nothing at all. The first half was relaxing, the second half allowed me to exercise some demons by pushing on through tiredness and dehydration (guess who planned poorly).</p>
<h2>Thursday</h2>
<p>Aaaaahhh. My career conversation was rambly. Clearly I want to keep working on my skills, pick up new ones, progress, but I obviously don't know exactly where to.</p>
<h2>Friday - Saturday</h2>
<p>The week ended with a flurry of excitement, almost normality: a sunny pub visit meeting lovely new people (the first new <abbr title="In Real Life">IRL</abbr> people since the before times), a partly spilt pint (completely thrilling), a catch-up with other friends virtually the same evening, and, the following day, meeting one of my siblings and their partner for the first time in about a year.</p>
<h2>Sunday</h2>
<h3>Morning</h3>
<p>Aaaaahhh.</p>
<h3>Present</h3>
<p>"Actually this is fine. Everything will be okay. I'm so fortunate. What a day. Oh it's nice to be writing this outside now we have a little outside space."</p>
<p>"WASSSSSPPPPPPP!!"</p>
Scroll Note2021-04-11T18:56:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/29/<p>Stay a while and listen.</p>
<ul>
<li>Oh yeah, that's right Diablo fans, there's a remastered version of Diablo 2 in the works. <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/videos/980071965">Ars Technica streamed the technical alpha on Twitch</a>. It looks like an incredible revamp, that's true to the original and interestingly lets you switch seamlessly between old and new graphics. Diablo is <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/10/">one of the limited number of video games I play</a>, that I played when I was young and stuck with. Maybe one day I'll pick up another franchise. In the meantime, there's lots of <a href="https://diablo.fandom.com/wiki/Sanctuary">Sanctuary</a> left to explore.</li>
<li>Put 75ml rapeseed oil in a small saucepan with 5 fat garlic cloves and 100g salted, roasted peanuts. Set over a low heat and bring slowly to a boil. Add half a tablespoon of chipotle flakes and a quarter-teaspoon of salt. Do some other stuff, blend. What do you get? Oh my goodness so much tastiness. Make <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2021/mar/20/meera-sodha-vegan-recipe-swede-mushroom-tacos-peanut-salsa">Meera Sodha's swede and mushroom tacos with peanut salsa</a> right now. You need to shop? Okay, tomorrow then.</li>
<li>Did you know rats laugh (I wish we could have a laugh with our rodent co-habitants but relations are tense, traps have been set)? Sophie Scott discusses <a href="https://philosophybites.com/2016/10/sophie-scott-on-laughter.html">the meaning of laughter on the Philosophy Bites podcast</a>. Seems laughter is universal and primitive, yet heavily influenced by culture and learnt. Apparently we don't reach peak laughter interpretation until our 30s!? When was the last time you laughed a proper belly laugh? Like not a bit but uncontrollably, contagiously, unreasonably laughed so hard you cried? I don’t remember. I need it so much. Thanks, pandemic.</li>
<li>Where pandemic taketh, pademic giveth too. Good news! My hair is now so long it reaches where my hairline should be. I could have one wicked comb forward, if I wanted. <em>(Points finger at butt, makes smouldering tssss sound)</em>.</li>
<li>At work I've been spending time revamping a couple of talks/workshops to introduce new colleagues to <a href="https://origami.ft.com/">Origami</a>. The last time they were updated it was quite hastily done in response to the pandemic. I'm still conscious of droning on though, it's easier to have a back-and-forth <abbr title="in real life">IRL</abbr> isn't it? I learnt of <a href="https://www.mmhmm.app/">mmhmm.app</a> this week and think it could be a fun way to make a pre-recording, that people can go through at their own pace, more engaging. Something to follow up with.</li>
<li>I branched out from bread this week to bake a birthday cake. It was a tasty, ugly affair. The topping/decorating aspect needs practice (soften your butter more Moody, and keep on whisking!) We'd share with you if we could but I'm afraid we're going to have to eat it all ourselves.</li>
<li>Bye now friend 🧁👋</li>
</ul>
Cellar Note2021-04-04T17:55:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/28/<p>"You'll have to tread new ground to soon secure your Easter treat. There might be a ghost, a body, or a mouse lurking you don't want to meet."</p>
<p>I was tricked into our cellar for the first time today. It's damp and gross and I'm pretty sure it's haunted but I followed R's clues down there to find my chocolate Easter bunny. This year I planned a hunt for R too. So. Much. Fun. Having more than a 1 bed flat to search really took it to a new level.</p>
<p>What else happened this week?</p>
<ul>
<li>Planning my day in excruciating detail continues to be helpful, in work and at the weekend. Often the plan isn't followed as things crop up but it's good to reference. I can make more effective priority calls and maintain focus through the constant undercurrent of stress and biscuit eating.</li>
<li>My foot is injured and it's difficult to walk far. It must have happened whilst running, I think I remember a concerning twinge, but... I went for a walk with another real human being, slept, and trekked to B&Q for a click and collect purchase before noticing?</li>
<li>That's right I met another human! For a walk <em>and</em> lunch out on a bench. Aren't other humans great? I have now exhausted my list of local contacts (2) and we're unable to drive to see other friends or family soooooo... roll on 17th May!</li>
<li>I think I may have been verbally assaulted on my way to collect an asparagus fern, a new addition to the family. Someone shouted quite suddenly "tangerine!" I can only think, in hindsight, that my gingery beard must have been looking particularly magnificent in the sun. They were old enough to not be a prat so my initial reaction was to assume Tourette's syndrome and ignore? I should've asked. It was bewildering.</li>
<li>Our house is full of flour now, I did a big order to experiment with my bread making.</li>
<li>We also broke into our annual (more or less) delivery of loo roll from <a href="https://www.talkable.com/x/3GldIX">who gives a crap</a>. This year I opted to pay £2 more for the premium bamboo version. It's nice. On the one hand when we can have guests again I want their bottoms to be cared for, on the other hand I'm embarrassed that the loo roll says premium on it. I'm now a person that pays a premium for loo roll and displays that fact.</li>
</ul>
<p>Happy Easter 🤗 ☀️</p>
Banana Note2021-03-27T09:55:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/27/<p>Oh I have so much to gibber about.</p>
<ul>
<li>Has it really been a year since the first UK lockdown? Yikes. That knocked me at the beginning of this week.</li>
<li>A miserable week succumbed to a good Friday (not <em>the</em> Good Friday, that's next week). I woke up early, got out for a run right away, and planned my day in extreme detail. I actually planned to feel hyped for some work I've been un-hyped about — it worked — and for must-not-forget tasks such as to eat a banana 🍌. Productivity up. Mood up. Has Lee Moody <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/26/">got his poop together</a>? Will it stay together?</li>
<li>It's lucky I have any bananas 🍌 left to snack on. We're being taunted by a fiendish rodent. Possibly a rat. Possibly a very, very hungry mouse.</li>
<li>There's a lovely little community garden near our house which I appreciate greatly in passing, on my way to buy bananas 🍌 and other such goodies from our local grocer. This week I learnt the land belongs to persons unknown. There had been houses there owned by two Soviet brothers, who were killed in an accident in 1957. When the relatives the properties were left to never came forward the buildings were eventually demolished as dangerous structures. In time local residents managed to get a licence for horticultural use and got funding for a garden. Apparently the rights of the Russian owners are not affected should they ever reappear — this news is brought to you by Active8, a local magazine dropped through our letterbox.</li>
<li>I finished reading a book! <a href="https://www.diana-evans.com/ordinary/">Ordinary People by Diana Evans</a> (that's Ordinary People, not Normal People). Rated. I'm an excruciatingly slow reader. In the beginning of 2020 I was turning that around and had read 3-4 books before the pandemic hit, which is an achievement for me. I struggle to focus whilst reading and, when I do, spend time on each sentence. I've picked up another work of fiction and, a few pages in, have already got stuck on the variety of plant used to divide farmland in the Indian setting; <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_banana">red bananas</a> 🍌, which are apparently sweeter and softer than the Cavendish; reminding myself what a Mongoose is; and I learnt the word vacuous (am I vacuous?)</li>
<li>A reminder Amazon is a dumpster fire. Revenue is <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/03/amazon-argues-its-not-liable-for-product-that-severely-injured-toddler/">more important to them than ensuring they list safe, legitimate products</a>. Misleading <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/amazon-counterfeit-fake-products/">counterfeits fulfilled by Amazon is not a small or new hazard</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p>I'll leave you this week with some web bits and bobs:</p>
<ul>
<li>Web folks, <a href="https://css.oddbird.net/rwd/query/">could container queries be a thing soon</a>? Chrome has shipped a prototype behind a flag.</li>
<li>Web folks again, this <a href="https://www.jackfranklin.co.uk/blog/comparing-svelte-and-react-javascript/">Svelte and React comparison</a> is interesting. I haven't worked with either much, mostly only whilst helping new engineers integrate frame-work agnostic <a href="https://origami.ft.com/">Origami components</a>, but think I'd reach for Svelte first for a side project.</li>
<li>Web folks again again, did you know about the <a href="https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/text-level-semantics.html#the-wbr-element">wbr element</a>? I didn't. Or forgot. It represents a line break opportunity, if you want to <a href="https://css-tricks.com/better-line-breaks-for-long-urls/">get picky about when a URL breaks</a> for example.</li>
</ul>
Human Note2021-03-20T11:12:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/26/<p>For the first time in 92 days I had an in person conversation with another human being, who isn't R and didn't go: "Oh yes the weather is nice today. Oh nothing much. Ah I think it wants me to use my PIN. Thanks, you too." It was refreshing to get out for a walk and be a human with another human.</p>
<p>You'd think having not met with anyone outside my small household for so long, and with my emphasis here on being human, that I might have come across aloof and clearly quite socially deprived but it was a nice, normal catchup... <em>I think</em>.</p>
<p>The glow of doing a thing didn't last though. Most of this week I've been trying to get my shit together and failing. I keep moving poop, trying to get it into a nice little, manageable pile, but then there the poop is over there again. Is someone moving my poop?</p>
<p>This weeknote got weird. I'm sorry I'm going to have to delete all these one day. I hope they fade from any feeds or archives they might end up on.</p>
<p>The home-made kimchi is good by the way.</p>
Mishmash Note2021-03-13T15:06:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/25/<p>Following Sarah Everard's murder I've heard a lot of dreadful stories of male violence this week. I'm sure you have too. I don't have anything useful to add here, but it would feel remiss not to acknowledge male violence as a tragedy of our culture, that needs to be addressed by men.</p>
<p>Next up, a mishmash of things:</p>
<ul>
<li>With flexibility and no commute I've found that my sleep and/or morning routine expands to fill the time afforded to it. However one day this week I started work at 9am and enjoyed an earlier finish. Please send praise.</li>
<li>My group at work had a special Show & Tell this week of lockdown keepers, new hobbies etc. Whilst my colleagues have run further than ever, learnt guitar, taken up sculpture carving, I've done nothing but discover the joys of a regular takeaway and joined R's mission to <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/13/">use up our old mace</a>. Pandemic redo? I'll try harder 😬</li>
<li>I was already living some kind of lockdown life before the pandemic, to be fair. Sourdough, banana bread, and (a bit of) running was already my thing. Get off my metaphorical lawn everyone!</li>
<li>I'm exploring new ferments at least and have some kimchi on the go, which I'm pretty excited to tuck into.</li>
<li>Oh no <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-fungible_token">NFTs</a> are a thing now. I wonder how large the environmental impact will be — of the transactions that is, not the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-56335948">burnt Banksy</a> — <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/feb/27/bitcoin-mining-electricity-use-environmental-impact">Bitcoin's energy use</a> is astonishing.</li>
<li>Love Her Majesty and all, but, maybe we shouldn't have a royal family, huh?</li>
<li>Kensington ErgoSoft Wrist Rest Support for Slim Keyboard, yes thank you, rated 🙏🙏🙏</li>
</ul>
<p>Bye, may your weekend also be filled with baked goods and tasty ferments 👋</p>
Standard Note2021-03-06T12:09:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/24/<ul>
<li><abbr title="Business as usual">BAU</abbr>: baked a bit, ran a bit, did my job to a personally disappointing but vaguely passable standard.</li>
<li>Bought another celeriac. Why did no one tell me about this fantastic root vegetable?</li>
<li>This week's novelty comes from the 2021 census, my first as an independent household. How exciting: hello there, we exist!</li>
<li>I installed Windows on an external <abbr title="">SSD</abbr> using <a href="https://rufus.ie/">Rufus</a>. It’s soooooooooo much quicker compared to my iMac’s secondary 5,200rpm hard drive, even though it’s limited by USB 3.0. It's maybe even quicker than the inbuilt <abbr title="Solid-state drive">SSD</abbr> MacOS boots from (which is ~8 years old, to be fair). Now I can play Age of Empires without gnashing away at my teeth with impatience. <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/10/">Wololo</a>!</li>
<li><a href="https://onewayroadtobeer.com/">36 days until 5 of us can meet in a beer garden</a> ☀️🎉🍻 Erm but I'm not even sure I want to anymore, leave me alone in my hovel!</li>
<li>Goodbye reader, your friend, the hermit.</li>
</ul>
Desk Note2021-02-27T10:26:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/23/<ul>
<li>It's here! The ludicrous desk I ordered, which should have arrived within a week, is <em>finally</em> here. I've spent 1.153% of my adult life to date waiting for its delivery. In limbo the whole time, unsure whether to go for a walk, unsure whether today would be the day it would finally arrive. This working from home thing may be a more persistent situation for me so it's nice to be off the dinner table.</li>
<li>The sun has got its hat on, hip hip hip hooray! Except not hip hip hooray, it's only gone and lifted my spirits and ruined <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/23/%5D(/blog/weeknotes/21/)">my new weekend routine of watching movies of the scary, trapped, isolated, cold genre</a>. Bloody sun being lovely and bright. I'm trying to mope here.</li>
<li>We did a murder mystery social at work. At first I was not keen but it quickly grew on me until I broke somewhat, and ended up holding back laughter in a way I don't think I've done since the before times. Here is my review in emoji form: 😬🙄🙈🤣🧐👏. I’d make a terrible detective though.
<ul>
<li>Me: Hi, detective Moody here, I'd like to ask you some questions. No pressure but did you do the murder?</li>
<li>Mr. V Guilty: No.</li>
<li>Me (internal monologue): Hmm it would be good to know where they were at the time of the murder but they probably won't tell the truth and I don't want to keep them.</li>
<li>Me: Well, that'll be all, hope you have a nice day Mr. V Guilty.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Think that's about it for this week, see ya.</li>
</ul>
Small Note2021-02-19T18:39:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/22/<p><a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/21/">Last week's romantic note</a> was an abundant update given lockdown but this week I have little to offer, 3 things:</p>
<ol>
<li>A strange noise, anxious and tired and tinged with self loathing: faaahhhhh.</li>
<li>A culinary recommendation: Pancakes. 🥞 🎊</li>
<li>A TV recommendation: <a href="https://www.channel4.com/programmes/its-a-sin">It’s a Sin</a>, which is at once fun, uplifting, and heart wrenchingly tragic 😭❤️</li>
</ol>
Romantic Note2021-02-14T15:40:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/21/<ul>
<li>This isn't really a romantic note. I did brave a fancy bakery for me and R, bought myself a lovely pastry I did, but they didn't have what I had in mind for R and I panicked and bought the only underwhelming baked good they sold. Happy Valentine's day. We still love each other though.</li>
<li>I haven't been keeping up with the learning bird song thing but did see a <a href="https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/tits-crests-and-warblers/goldcrest">gold crest</a> and a few <a href="https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/thrushes-chats-flycatchers-starling-dipper-and-wren/redwing">redwing</a> for the first time. Are there more varieties of birds here or is it that I'm paying more attention?</li>
<li>WhatsApp and Instagram are out of my life! I may be estranged from my family and friends but I get to be smug and superior now that one fewer of the tech giants has me in their sweaty, grasping hands. Joking aside, people are increasingly available on Signal and I'm happy to call/text others old-school, it doesn't feel like a hardship. I will miss people's pretty Instagram photos but Facebook really is quite icky.</li>
<li>At work I helped find and resolve a serious vulnerability this week. Spending the best part of the day with a colleague speculating on how the systems we maintain could be vulnerable and how that could be exploited, if at all, was exceptionally fun. The exploit we fixed involved an understanding of how <a href="https://github.com/">Github</a> uses <a href="https://git-scm.com/">git</a> to handle Pull Requests and how <a href="https://bower.io/">Bower</a> is implemented too. It's worthy of a blog post from the team.</li>
<li>On the topic of work The Culture Club, an organising committee for product and tech socials, has a new helper. Me! I'm confident my natural energy and enthusiasm for fun will be constructive and of the utmost helpfulness (little sarcasm there, I'm really counting on you to read in my voice a lot of the time).</li>
<li>Happy lunar new year! I made massively long noodles. Nom nom nom. Flour, water, salt, love, time, and baked baking soda. Baking baking soda changes it from sodium bicarbonate to sodium carbonate, which I gather is more alkaline, and gives noodles springiness (I wanted to fact check that before spreading a lie and now I'm thinking I need to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/dining/15curious.html">make pretzels with baked baking soda</a>).</li>
<li>Heydon has a new Webbed Briefs video out, <a href="https://briefs.video/videos/why-the-indieweb/">Why The IndieWeb?</a> Love them! If you do too and are able support on <a href="https://opencollective.com/webbed-briefs">open collective</a> or <a href="https://liberapay.com/Heydon/">liberapay</a>.</li>
<li>I watched <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thing_%281982_film%29">The Thing</a> (the 80s one). How old do films have to be to be a classic? If it's not already a classic it will be one. The scary, trapped, isolated, cold genre of film is really ticking my boxes of late. Especially whilst wrapped up warm inside with popcorn and a drink. Let me know if you have any recommendations.</li>
</ul>
Social Note2021-02-07T12:12:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/20/<ul>
<li>This week in lockdown gluttony: I got a "hangover" from being too greedy with my chip shop choices, is this a symptom of growing older?</li>
<li>You might think, well, treat yourself, at least the <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/15/">running habit has somewhat stuck</a>, despite winter. Hahahahaha! Nope, this week was the first week I've run since then. I didn't go far and I didn't go fast but it felt great. The hills here quickly tired me out however what goes up must come down and I barrelled home.</li>
<li>I watched <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lighthouse_%282019_film%29">The Lighthouse (2019)</a>, which is a good watch if you're into psychological horror/thrillers. Wow, I hope I don't end up stuck in a house with one other person unable to leave a small island for months on end. That would be unimaginable.</li>
<li>My local tech community has an <abbr title="
Internet Relay Chat">IRC</abbr> channel which I joined but haven't interacted with so far (boo! my name is notlee, the friendly ghost 👻). I've actually never used IRC before but am pleased to report that I managed to avoid an <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36158172">Ed Balls moment</a> — incidentally Ed's cooking up a storm on <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000rq7b">Celebrity Best Home Cook</a> at the moment.</li>
<li>A few colleagues have been experimenting with a virtual office space in <a href="https://gather.town/">gather.town</a>, complete with roof garden and secret lounge. It's been so much fun. I actually went and stood by the virtual water cooler, had a chat with someone, and ended up resolving a little technical issue. Nice! Because of the physical, mingling element I reckon a virtual bar or something with games could be an excellent remote social. We learnt if you hit a certain key repeatedly your character's arms wave about and a little heart appears above your head, the return of the office romance?</li>
<li>Thinking about work here's a web development thing I loved this week, "<a href="https://youtu.be/6qSN50Qk_54">Lea Verou: The web design cheat code: Using SVG to bridge CSS’ gaps</a>". Lea helps us understand the SVG view box, animate CSS backgrounds, produce some snazzy borders, and recreate <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squigglevision">squiggle vision</a>.</li>
<li>It's grim out there but the snowdrops are out, spring and summer are creeping closer. Hopefully we can catchup in real life before too long 😊</li>
</ul>
Avian Note2021-01-31T13:40:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/19/<ul>
<li>Reader the outside is amazing! I've been in a rut, and not leaving the house for exercise, but this week I did better and at least got out a few times for a walk. Here's a photo I took on the way. Zoom in to the left and treat your soul to a very good boi enjoying a puddle.
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/NhOP2c33lL-500.avif 500w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/NhOP2c33lL-500.webp 500w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/NhOP2c33lL-500.jpeg" alt="A view of a park. Grass stretches into the distance and rolls over a hill. A few large, leafless trees stand tall from the grass. Behind, clusters of trees and higher ground obscured by fog. To the left a very good boi, a large dog in a puddle, legs entirely submerged. It seems to be having a lot of fun.](/images/good-boi.jpg) ![The previous image cropped to focus on the good boi." width="500" height="316" /></picture></li>
<li>There were more unexpected treats, birds I've never seen before. Spotting a few <a href="https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/thrushes-chats-flycatchers-starling-dipper-and-wren/nuthatch">nuthatch</a> took me by surprise, they're so beautifully colourful with a striking black eyestripe; I've also seen a <a href="https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/larks-sparrows-wagtails-and-dunnock/grey-wagtail">Grey wagtail</a>, despite the name one of its defining features is its yellow belly (and particularly yellow arse); I also spied a couple of <a href="https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/thrushes-chats-flycatchers-starling-dipper-and-wren/treecreeper">treecreppers</a> which were super fun to watch navigate up and down a tree trunk, it was their seemingly unusual movement which caught my eye initially.</li>
<li>I've also spent some of my lunch time trying to learn the song of more familiar birds with a <a href="https://levparikian.com/index.php/twitter-birdsong-project/">birdsong learning guide, organised by week</a> (loving the "working from home bird feeders" <code>#wfh-birdfeeders</code> Slack channel at work). Some songs are easier to remember than others, it's actually quite difficult. Turns out I very strongly associate the Chaffinch with being young and at my grandparents house, which is kinda nice.</li>
<li>My take away this week? Ditch Twitter at every opportunity and enjoy twitter! 🌳 🌦 🚶♂️</li>
</ul>
Antsy Angsty Note2021-01-23T12:36:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/18/<p>Join me in this weeknote as I self indulgently fret over my privileged and fortunate existence. I'm glad you're here but why do you read these notes again?</p>
<ul>
<li>This week the Sunday evening feels spilled into a week long saga. What do I want for my career? Wait, do I even care for a career or is that just what the man wants me to think? I'm a sad, stupid potato. How have I grown recently? What does grown even mean? I sprouted a beard, but that doesn’t make me feel less like a stupid potato. I like potatoes. Boil them. Mash them. Put them in a stew.</li>
<li>To try and figure out on what skills I wanted to develop I listened to <a href="https://leaddev.com/professional-development/career-vectors-technical-leaders">Meri Williams' talk, career vectors for technical leaders</a>. In her talk Meri defines a number of career vectors, skills to focus on to prepare for different kinds of roles. That including aspects like hands-on technical knowledge, tech strategy, commercial understanding, etc. The key isn't to aim to be great at all vectors but to think about where your current skillet sits along the vectors, which vectors you enjoy, which you currently employ in your role, and how that compares to other roles. I love the way of thinking but wasn't in the right mind-frame to assess myself. I got into a hot mess trying to figure out what I want, throwing around vague ambitions, that may or may not be my own, and slapping on numbers.</li>
<li>Okay, I thought, let's not focus on work. Probably if I had an allotment to sit in I'd feel better. So I read <a href="https://www.spacetobefree.co.uk/thoughts/newyear">figuring out what you need to flourish in the new year</a> which I had bookmarked from somewhere(?) The article suggests a less goal/output orientated way of figuring out what to aim for but again I was in no place to think about soup.</li>
<li>I bought all this up with my manager, prematurely, as incoherent babble. "Something something new! Something something! Angst angst angst. Startup? Angst angst angst. Something something something! Oh no, I don't want to talk about it."</li>
<li>Anyway antsy ambition does not mix with angsty despondency. It might be the lockdown effect, I'm feeling much more chilled out now and think I should probably come back to more ambitious thinking later.</li>
<li>In my last weeknote I was a bit snarky but the Financial Times product strategy is exciting. If it turns out I am after a different challenge after all, as well as an allotment, there's sure to be plenty of interesting projects to get involved with. Our <abbr title="Chief Product Officer">CPO</abbr>, John Kundert, has written about the <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/financial-times-our-subs-product-strategy-2021-john-kundert/"><abbr title="Financial Times">FT</abbr> <abbr title="Subscription">Subs</abbr> and Product Strategy on LinkedIn</a>. I love the focus on people, diversity, and inclusion. Don't let my rambling mini-crisis put you off. The FT is a great place to work, <a href="https://aboutus.ft.com/en-gb/careers/current-openings/">and is hiring</a>!</li>
<li>It's my birthday soon and I shall celebrate early this evening with a big dirty vegan takeaway, there are a bunch of excellent restaurant and takeaway options nearby our new place. Nom nom nom. Surely that'll push down any lingering antsy angst.</li>
<li>Have a good weekend ✌️</li>
</ul>
Massive Note2021-01-16T15:37:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/17/<ul>
<li>Big news! After years of talk and visits it's finally happened. We live in Sheffield now. We're paying London and Sheffield rent at the same time for up to two months and this makes me sad.</li>
<li>I never want to move again because it's a lot of hard work, admin, and anxiety. Especially during a pandemic. We couldn't really have a clear out so we moved with everything, including our pantry. One of the more <em>fun</em> hassles of the move was when the lid came off a jar of dry Cannellini bean. Beans cascaded everywhere! We were finding them for days. We got a big kick out of packing Tetris wins though. Hmm yes I think this rolling pin <em>will</em> fit perfectly within this rolled up lamp shade.</li>
<li>You enter a train carriage and need to decide where to sit. There’s a global pandemic and national lockdown. Travel is not allowed outside limited exceptions. Masks are mandatory and social distancing is strongly advised. There’s one other person already minding their own business in the carriage. Where do you choose to sit? <ol type="a">
<li>Nowhere, it’s an empty train, find your own carriage.</li>
<li>Sit immediately in front of the current passenger.</li>
<li>Sit a few rows over from the current passenger.</li>
</ol>Apparently the answer is B, sit immediately in front of the current passenger. Did you get it right reader?
</li>
<li>We were super fortunate that it was lovely and sunny when we arrived. In the days following we've had loads of snow. It has been so fun to watch people sliding down hills on sledges, I've even seen snowboards and skis out!</li>
<li>The snow chat is all based on my one and only short walk so far. We do want to be careful in case we picked up covid along the way. It is the strangest bubble. I half expect London to still be outside sometimes.</li>
<li>Work wise I don't have much to report, I've been focused on the move, but am starting to feel twitches of enthusiasm return after feeling pretty bleh for a while. This week I spent some time getting to grips with company strategy and have to admit some of the less intuitive diagrams I've come across make me snigger. Draw a box around some maybe connected things, some arrows pointing in, some arrows pointing out, add a squiggly line here connecting this and that, et voilà!</li>
<li>That's it. Right, back to cleaning this new place! 🧹🧼</li>
</ul>
Sick Note2021-01-09T10:18:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/16/<ul>
<li>Pyjamas.</li>
<li>Dressing gown.</li>
<li>Duvet.</li>
<li>Blanket.</li>
<li>Central heating.</li>
<li>I was ill this week and spent a good portion of it trapped in a single room, isolating whilst awaiting a covid test. I had <em>all the things</em> and still felt cold and shaking!?</li>
<li>The test came back negative thankfully. It was just your friendly neighbourhood miscellaneous illness.</li>
<li>So I spent too much time on Twitter.</li>
<li>Did you know the <a href="https://twitter.com/krishashok/status/1346471495883624448">engineering behind rice cookers is amazing</a>? I'm not worthy of having engineer in my job title.</li>
<li>Or did you see this <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexSelbyB/status/1346415533286170624">Google search trends tweet</a> showing a spike in searches for terms like "long division", "fractions", "area of a circle". Hehe, good luck parents! The pandemic has shown how vital internet access is. No one should be left without access based on un-affordability. Free internet access for all doesn't sound like a "<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/nov/15/free-broadband-essential-uk-compete-john-mcdonnell-labour-policy-openreach">crazed communist scheme</a>" now, does it Boris?</li>
<li>Also I spent too much time on YouTube. Have you seen productivity YouTube? If you want to find the best note taking app to improve your productivity there is hours and hours and hours of content to waste your time watching.</li>
<li>I did a tiny pixel art, with a limited pixel count and colour palette. I love how your brain fills in the gaps, changing just a couple of pixels makes a massive difference!
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/z7aYu89oQE-500.avif 500w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/z7aYu89oQE-500.webp 500w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/z7aYu89oQE-500.jpeg" alt="Blob pixel art people. From left to right: template person, business man, business women (such style), pandemic person (such despair), hench person, happy summer time person." width="500" height="83" /></picture>
<picture><source type="image/avif" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OuKeizzI---500.avif 500w" sizes="50vw" /><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OuKeizzI---500.webp 500w" sizes="50vw" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="auto" src="https://leemoody.co.uk/images/OuKeizzI---500.jpeg" alt="Blob pixel art people made better by tweaking a few pixels, for example by removing the inner neck outline." width="500" height="83" /></picture></li>
<li>Hello please accept my application to your fine arts institution.</li>
<li>Be well, be safe, and don't forget to go outside 👋</li>
</ul>
Idle Note2021-01-01T11:31:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/15/<ul>
<li>Christmas was different, but nice.</li>
<li>I enjoyed making Christmas crackers for two, with cute little decorations from <a href="https://www.silverpasta.co.uk/">Silverpasta</a> inside.</li>
<li>Santa bought me slippers. I wasn't sure at first but am now a full convert.</li>
<li>I've been able to just about hang on to running, less frequently and less far but still somewhat consistently and that's what matters. I started running ages ago with <a href="https://www.goodgym.org/">goodgym</a>. Running with others in a supportive environment helped me get over public exercise self consciousness — lunging with strangers outside Whole Foods a few times will do that. I moved house though and stopped running. Until last year when I picked up <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/couch-to-5k-week-by-week/">couch to 5k</a>, which is a brilliant app to develop a running habit.</li>
<li>Outside of running once or twice a week I've been eating a lot, sleeping a lot, and watching a lot. Notably Pixar's new movie, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_%282020_film%29">Soul</a>. It has some of that Pixar magic. 💛</li>
<li>Friends on Twitter seem to be refreshed and productive. I. Am. Not. There. And would rather lay in a corner, perhaps with cake, until May. Solidarity to anyone feeling the same.</li>
<li>Hopefully by May me and these weeknotes will be more energised and interesting. Until then, <a href="https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/daim-almond-cake-chocolate-and-crunch-20347627/">daim cake</a> please. Happy new year reader 🤞</li>
</ul>
Prayer Note2020-12-19T17:49:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/14/<p>Dear reader, before week note 14 starts, some context. Tier 4 has just been announced for London and the south east and I am drinking wine. That feels relevant. Will it affect the nonsense I commit to writing? Maybe.</p>
<ul>
<li>This week I learnt our notice period on this flat is two months. I was so sure it was one month. I checked, didn't I? Double checked? Nope. Two months. If we move imminently so not to disrupt R's start in a new job that could be a lot of rent overlap.</li>
<li>Oh graceful Lord of Land, we pray for mercy. May you, almighty one, bestow great competence on your Agents of Letting, thus they may find your excellence a new purse on which to collect reluctant tribute.</li>
<li>We did put an offer in to let a new place from the 28th but didn't get it. Either someone was available immediately or we didn't win the tenant popularity contest, not helped because we had to put the offer in without viewing.</li>
<li>Determined to have every chance to secure a second rental opportunity I booked an expensive, non-refundable train last night and readied the hand sanitiser for an in person viewing on Monday.</li>
<li>Ha, nope! Tier 4 has put a stop to that. 5 other people will be viewing. We'll make a generous offer without making an impression in person and hope for the best (it's not right, to let applications must be unbelievably open to prejudice).</li>
<li>Oh your excellence, Lord of Land, we pray thee take us to your bosom and, in this new dwelling, we shall serve thee well.</li>
<li>My sleep continues to suffer dramatically. Turns out my mum and most of my siblings are having difficulty too. We had a cute little catchup at 3am this week.</li>
<li>Last night I got a full night. Rejoice! The secret, apparently, is a fun, festive online viewing of Die Hard with colleagues, many carbohydrates, and a decent amount of port.</li>
<li>Die Hard is a Christmas film.</li>
<li>I even remembered a dream. Me and Nigella Lawson were having a conversation with a third person and I pronounced microwave in the way Nigella did recently on TV (me-crow-wa-vay), in a knowing, poking fun way, and we all had a jolly good laugh.</li>
<li>The barber shaved a chunk of hair out above my ear this week. They tried to correct the mistake by taking away more hair and have gone prettttty high over the ear on one side. I didn’t notice until I got home. An undisclosed mask related casualty perhaps? They said I was their first customer. I thought of the day but maybe ever!? At least it's hat season and we can't really go anywhere.</li>
<li>The <abbr title="general practitioner">GP</abbr> near our home has a gazebo outside for the elderly to await their Covid-19 vaccine. The news of an approved vaccine didn't faze me, but the sight of it being rolled out did. I felt all sorts of contorted emotion, but definitely there was a smile.</li>
<li>On that note, merry christmas dear reader! I hope your plans aren't too f*cked, if you had any. For me, it's all mince pies and Christmas films from here until the new year. There won't be much to update on so I'm going to skip next week's note.</li>
<li>Until 2021 friend, all the best!</li>
</ul>
Mace Note2020-12-12T11:29:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/13/<ul>
<li>Ding dong, the mace is gone! ♪♪♫</li>
<li>We’re using up our older spices which aren’t in pleasing Sainsbury’s or Spice Mountain containers. This week we finished the mace. It was a banana bread that accommodated the last teaspoon. So 2020.</li>
<li>Flat hunting for a new city which is under tier 3 restrictions, from a city across the country under tier 2 soon to be 3 restrictions, a couple of weeks before Christmas, with enough furniture to be a burden but not to be useful, in a hurry, with a person (myself!) who <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/10/">sweats the details of an ice cube tray purchase</a>, is a tad all consuming. We might have to ease up and bide our time.</li>
<li>Beep boop. I am Lee’s sleep tracker. Boop beep. Processing sleep pattern. Boop... Boop... Boop... Failed to retrieve sleep data. Boop. Beep. Analysis: broken. You are broken. Beep. Boop.</li>
<li>In happier news, it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. I sent out some Christmas cards and I really should be embarrassed at my handwriting, it'll be a surprise to me if anyone can read them but it's the thought that counts.</li>
<li>R cut some wrapping paper too short and used the <a href="https://youtu.be/dYXaxeJBj5k?t=43">diagonal wrapping method</a> to make it work successfully, you're welcome dear reader!</li>
<li>The present is part of a gift bag which includes “Lee’s Christmas chutney”. It’s true I made it but the recipe is <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/mary-berrys-christmas-chutney">Mary Berry’s Christmas chutney</a>. What a fraud. Hope you don’t mind my taking all the credit Mary! It's a very good recipe.</li>
<li>We visited friends last weekend for a socially distanced walk outside the city. There was a lot of mud about, which added a perilous excitement, but the sun was out and shining bright. We paused by a graveyard bench to exchange gifts and eat Pret Christmas sandwiches — followed by frangipane mince pies, as is the tradition I am now merrily a part. 🙌🎄🥪</li>
<li>Tonight we'll be Zoom socialising. Bring on the FaceTime festivities! Until next time friend.</li>
</ul>
Unassuming Note2020-12-04T18:46:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/12/<ul>
<li>This week we ordered a DIY Poutine Kit from <a href="https://the-poutinerie.myshopify.com/">The Poutinerie</a> and it was the most excellent lockdown treat. I shared a link enthusiastically on Twitter. According to Twitter's analytics quite a few people followed that link (I'd go as far to say several). Did you click dear reader? Mother! I made it! I’m an influencer!</li>
<li>Someone made coffee at a coffee shop on TV this week. I miss the sweet, sweet, haunting squeal of a coffee machine.</li>
<li>I started work on updating a charity website I helped build a few years ago. My plan is to audit accessibility, data privacy, performance, etc, etc, and fix a couple of bugs along the way. I'm thinking I'll share my work in a blog post along the lines of “Making A Website A Bit Better Than It Was Before” but can't decide how much effort I want to put into it.</li>
<li>Speaking of accessibility audits, Alistair Duggin delivered a talk this week "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1R7QXEzsYw">Accessibility testing: tips to succeed</a>". If you work on websites I highly recommend giving it a watch.</li>
<li>R's job hunt was successful 🎉, pending references and contract. I'm so proud of them. They worked so diligently and did so well in interview. Which means it looks like it's finally happening. We're moving to Sheffield!</li>
<li>That's right. The big news is at the end of this unassuming week note. We've been planning to move for a few years now, I even attended <a href="https://frontendnorth.com/">Front End North</a> earlier this year to spend more time in Sheffield (and because of the exceptional line up of speakers). 2020 was going to be an exciting and busy year for us. We wanted to pack in all the best London activities we could before moving away but alas that's not how it worked out.</li>
<li>Exciting times!</li>
<li>Anyhow, until next week dear reader. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. I'm off to put up Christmas decorations 🙌🎄</li>
</ul>
Babka Note2020-11-28T07:31:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/11/<ul>
<li>Reader, I had my first beard mishap this week. 😱 On the internet <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Internet,_nobody_knows_you%27re_a_dog">no one can tell you're a dog</a> or that you're missing a chunk of beard below the chin.</li>
<li>I sent my sister a birthday card with a cat's arse by accident. The cat is sat on a chair looking cute and putting it's legs in the air like a silly billy but oh no! It’s actually trying to lick it's arse or something and there’s a little "x" character where it’s bottom would be.</li>
<li>Why am I not in Brighton? Why am I not at <a href="https://ffconf.org/">ffconf</a>? A wonderful conference with wonderful people ❤️ Bloody Covid huh?</li>
<li>Tap, tap, tap tap. That's the sound of me typing away at this furiously on less than 3 hours sleep. Ooof there're going to be some spelling mistakes.</li>
<li>It's not the first time this week that I've got less than 3 hours sleep. Yuk.</li>
<li>Last week a colleague shared <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210401202031/http://www.mydailysourdoughbread.com/life-twists-sourdough-cinnamon-chocolate-twist-bread/">this sourdough Babka recipe</a> in our baking Slack channel at work, along with photos of their bake. I was so jealous of and ravenous for their Babka that I had to bake one too. Now I'm waiting for the oven to warm to bake my second Babka this week!</li>
<li>My expectation is that Babka 2 will have improved form thanks to better rolling but taste will take a hit, I totally forgot to add cinnamon. Looks like I'm baking a third next week.</li>
<li>I'm trying to hold in the gluttony now to maintain gluttonous fulfilment through December, Christmas, and the rest of the pandemic. Unsuccessfully.</li>
<li>The Great British Bake Off is over. A slice of innocent joy 😭 Although Channel 4 you can stop with your music making me think the cake will topple when it won't, I just. Not now Channel 4. We're too fragile for your cake related tension.</li>
<li>Tara interviewed tech leads at the FT and wrote what she found in a blog post, <a href="https://medium.com/ft-product-technology/technical-leadership-in-customer-products-cec00bf983bd">Technical Leadership in Customer Products at the FT</a>. It's so good. What a great way to meet people, find out more about a role, and set youself up to do that role in the future. I'd love to read more blog posts like this for different roles, from the FT and elsewhere.</li>
<li>More weeknotes alert! <a href="https://notes.matthinchliffe.dev/">Matt Hinchliffe</a> wrote an excellent weeknote. Loving the design of the site, gifs, sparkles, cursor trail, and all.</li>
<li>The taps are slowing. The end of this weeknote is near. Hope you have a good weekend reader!</li>
</ul>
Wololo Note2020-11-21T11:46:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/10/<p>Nothing! Nothing! Leave me alone! Is what I wanted to write this week. How rude. Also, not true.</p>
<ul>
<li>A group of friendly FT folk met virtually to play <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Empires_II">Age of Empires 2</a> this week. I won.</li>
<li>The only surprising thing about my win was how small the margin of victory was, considering. Originally released 1999 I've been playing since I was young. During my time at university it was re-released. I got a little obsessed and racked up 509 hours of game play. That's about 70 working days! Imagine what else I could have done with that time.</li>
<li>I'd do it again.</li>
<li>Wololo!</li>
<li><a href="https://www.beer52.com/join/3N9FGT">Beer52</a> delivered a stout which tastes like Terry's Chocolate Orange and, with Christmas approaching, as far as I'm concerned they've proven their worth.</li>
<li>My thumb became infected I think. It swelled, became red, and hot. I fretted endlessly. R said if I wasn't going to do anything about it, like see my GP or a pharmacist, I wasn't allowed to complain. My retort was that I am taking a course of action and that course of action is to wait and see, it's just an anxiety riddled course which I shall complain about!</li>
<li>Anyway it's fine now. But don't take that as a reason to wait and see if you're in a similar situation. I once danced too aggressively at a wedding. My shoes gave me a small blister. It became infected and that eventually lead to intermittent hospitalisation and eventually surgery. An infection is not to be messed with.</li>
<li>I'd never have ended up in London if it weren't for that incident. My life would be very different. For example, I might be less of a wanker when it comes to coffee preference. That's a story for another time.</li>
<li>Am I allowed to write wanker in my weeknotes?</li>
<li>Speaking of which R tried to order an ice cube tray this week. I interfered and complicated the situation. You can't just buy an ice cube tray! It's got to be the <em>forever</em> ice cube tray. What dimensions are the cubes? What material is the tray? Is there a lid? Can it go in the freezer any way around? They're looking forward to decorating and furnishing a future home with me.</li>
<li>Together we compromised on cost, size, and features. We now have cubes of ice. We're keeping the little fish ice cube tray too. I'll use it for freezing herbs.</li>
<li>Parsley fish!</li>
<li>Oh hey, you web developers out there, did you see Heydon has a new video series out? Webbed Briefs. Brief videos about the web, its technologies, and how to make the most of them. Checkout the <a href="https://briefs.video/#pilot">aria brief</a>. It's excellent. It's wild.</li>
<li>At the start of my weeknote venture I had you in mind the whole time dear reader. I still care about what you think, I hope you enjoy my weeknotes in some way, or find them useful, but increasingly I'm cutting corners. Like I'm not always wrapping up well. I'm done when I'm done.</li>
<li>I'm done.</li>
<li>The end.</li>
<li>See ya.</li>
<li>Byeeeeeeeeeeeeee.</li>
</ul>
Stilted Note2020-11-14T12:06:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/9/<ul>
<li>More people are writing weeknotes and I love it. I'm following <a href="https://alicebartlett.co.uk/">Alice</a>, <a href="https://edds.me/">Edd</a>, <a href="https://simonplend.com/category/building-my-indie-business/">Simon</a>, <a href="https://rowanmanning.com/weeknotes/">Rowan</a>, <a href="https://jamesloveridge.dev/">James</a>, and <a href="https://www.wheresrhys.co.uk/61-boring-birds/">Rhys' so called boring birds</a>. My RSS reader of choice is <a href="https://feedly.com/">Feedly</a>.</li>
<li>We watched <a href="https://www.danielkitson.com/">Daniel Kitson</a> this week. He's touring empty theatres with a new, live-streamed show: Dot. Dot. Dot. I don't know if I can describe his shows but they're so good. In this show Daniel recounts his pandemic experience thus far. The tone is spot on. We laughed aplenty and were left feeling good but there was no sugar coating how devastating the pandemic has been. You'll want to signup to his mailing list to get tickets. They sell fast.</li>
<li>/// Oh hold on, Nigella Lawson is telling me on TV I can eat banana peel. In curry. Tell me more Nigella.</li>
<li>What else this week?</li>
<li>At work a panel discussion "overcoming imposter syndrome". Thank you for sharing everyone involved 🙇♂️ I like to think that I don't suffer imposter syndrome but that's not quite true judging by chest tightening, teeth gnashing anxiety hearing other people's experience. It's somehow difficult to admit, but I think I try to bury feelings which logically I believe are unhelpful.</li>
<li>Also at work this week, Engine Room, our internal conference. Much praise for everyone involved in organising it. The shift to an online event went well, in fact I engaged much more this year than previously. In particular I enjoyed the open spaces. People were invited to host a conversation on a topic they care about and attendees could choose which open spaces to partake in. It was excellent to see and hear from people who I haven't interacted with much since shifting to working from home.</li>
<li>Prior to open spaces there were two tracks of talks. I delivered a talk for one of the tracks. On watching back I found that I erm-ed tremendously. Tremendously! There was also some of that upward inflection at the end of statements sprinkled in, as if I was asking a lot of questions. I was a little nervous. It's been a while since I've spoken to that many people at once. Note to self: you erm and um when you're nervous, don't do that silly. It went ok though, I'd like to do it again. Thanks for listening those who were able to attend. I hope you found it interesting and/or useful. 🙌</li>
<li>Half way through Engine Room I popped to our local bakery for a pastry and pretended it was a free intermission snack 😁🥐☕️ Post conference Google Meet drinks were also fun. It's been too long since I've hung-out with lovely work people at the Virtual Sea Horse.</li>
<li>I have a new mantra this week. It goes: "You don't need a new phone yet. You don't need a new phone yet. You don't need a new phone yet." I'm holding on to my 6S for another year, it's working just fine, but the 12 mini is mightily alluring.</li>
<li>That's all folks. Miss your face (unless I've never seen it). Byeeeee.</li>
</ul>
Dusty Note2020-11-07T10:22:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/8/<ul>
<li>This week we went to a fancy restaurant. We split our dishes between us like heathens, for maximum enjoyment. I used to be firmly opposed, outside of inherently shareable food like pizza, but have come round. Who wouldn't like to try more dishes in one sitting? Our own little set menu. My order was mushroom Stroganoff which came with Spätzle — my first Spätzle! And a Chocolate & Hazelnut Gugelhupf, chosen primarily for the accompanying rum sauce. More rum and or caramel sauce on everything please.</li>
<li>We chose the restaurant to use a gift voucher from last Christmas, before lockdown v2. We were far more cautious during the days leading up to lockdown v1. Since we could work from home we had locked down before it was official. It's difficult to get back into that mindset this time. We've very much been stuck on what can we do, according to the rules, over what should we do.</li>
<li>On the very last day before lockdown v2 I went to my local charity shop and bought a little port chalice. I'm ready!</li>
<li>With the rest of my week off I've been binging Fear The Walking Dead. "But Lee only last week you said you were a big scaredy cat!" Yeah a zombie series doesn't count. There are few jump scares and it's a very physical threat, which is understandable and familiar. In a long running series how different groups form and respond to various challenges is the focus over pure horror. Paranormal horror on the other hand. No.</li>
<li>I've also been cleaning a lot. I've dusted places no tenant has dusted before. No object has remained unturned.</li>
<li>Drink coffee. Dust. Drink tea. Fear The Walking Dead. Vacuum. Fear The Walking Dead. Drink tea. Mop. Fear The Walking Dead with a cookie and tea. Dust more. Fear The Walking Dead. Wash down the skirting boards. Fear The Walking Dead.</li>
<li>Thank goodness we can only afford a small one bed flat in London. How does anyone keep more than that clean?</li>
<li>Bonfire night was actually pretty fun. We prepared a feast akin to what I used to enjoy at my grandparents. We baked jacket potatoes, like, properly with a lovely crispy skin and cloudy inner. We also caramelised a mound of onions (it's healthy if you use Vegan Block, right?) Which we used to bury veggie hotdogs, along with a cheeky Sauerkraut addition, mustard, and ketchup. On the side, minted mushy peas. Nom nom nom, nom nom.</li>
<li>After the meal we went for a stroll in the dark to look out for fireworks. Someone was setting them off on the Common which was fun, except they were holding them like a wand. Firing explosions of light this way and that from their hands. I'm grateful we got a little lockdown firework display, but we didn't linger.</li>
<li>Until next week friend. 👋 Time for more housework and another episode of Fear The Walking Dead.</li>
</ul>
Scary Note2020-10-31T10:46:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/7/<p>Just a short note this week. Halloween is here and I'm hiding under the duvet, scared of the dark and my own reflection.</p>
<ul>
<li>This week I've finished binging both The Haunting of Bly Manor and The Haunting of Hill House. Would I recommend them? No. Would I binge The Haunting of [Some Other Old Building], advertised with a slightly different thumbnail image? Yes.</li>
<li>I like horror but usually rely on others to make me watch them. I'm a big scaredy cat. Especially when it comes to paranormal horror. Maybe it stems from a legitimate fear of hallucination.</li>
<li>The Haunting of [Whenever] series aren't too scary but I legitimately woke up from a nightmare this week involving the demon from the Insidious film. I don't even remember the plot anymore but I still think about the demon's face and that music. "Tip toeee, throughhhh the tulipsss, throughhhh the meadowwww, by the willowww tree, come tip toeee, throughhhh the tulipsss, with meeeee, ooooo!" No thanks mate! Thinking about taking up the tulips actually.</li>
<li>At work I've spent a lot of time working on presentation slides this week. I have a lot of respect for the people who regularly deliver interesting tech talks, and deliver them well. It's a skill I need to work on. Planning and delivery 😅 If anyone has any tips or learning resources I'm open to recommendations.</li>
<li>Did anything else happen this week? Most definitely. But I have vegetables to buy don't you know? Before the rain starts. Byyyyeee!</li>
</ul>
Squiggly Note2020-10-24T10:38:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/6/<ul>
<li>As lockdown began to lift we started looking locally for activities and discovered there is a gin distillery right on our doorstep. We booked in a tour and had a lovely evening. In Covid times it involved sitting stationary on our own table in a sparsely populated distillery whilst fun stories, facts, and tasters were delivered.</li>
<li>Long story short we have plenty of gin in the flat. Since we've cancelled plans now we're under tier 2 restrictions, I think enjoying it at home is the main theme of this week 😅 🍸</li>
<li>Old Tom was my favourite. A little sweeter than London Dry. Apparently it gets its name from a time the government tried to limit gin consumption with a large licence fee, where the tom cat became a symbol for illicit gin outlets. Something something cat symbol. Something something password. Something something gin chute into the mouth.</li>
<li>Woah, graze.com memories.</li>
<li>Plant Twitter had helped me identify some house plant pests recently. Looks like they might have been thrips. Yikes! I ended up reluctantly binning the plants this week. 😭 In a small one bed flat, full of plants, there's no where for them to go safely until nursed back to vigour. I had tried giving the leaves and stems a regular, soapy sponge bath but found the critters returned quickly. Removing the worst affect foliage would have helped but wouldn't have left much of the plants, they were small. Since they took pride of place and won't be growing much this time of year I didn't go for that.</li>
<li>You win some, you lose some.</li>
<li>I continue to enjoy the <a href="https://play.acast.com/s/amazingif">Squiggly careers podcast</a>. Would recommend! They discuss topics of career development including career confidence, job crafting, career pivots, etc. My career has not been very squiggly. At the FT I work alongside wonderful engineers, many with interesting hobbies or non-tech backgrounds. Oh God, I'm soooo dull.</li>
<li>If I were <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_We_Do_in_the_Shadows_(TV_series)">an energy vampire</a> would you tell me, dear reader?</li>
<li>That's all for this week. I'm off to <s>drain the energy of an unsuspecting victim with my dullness</s> do something exciting.</li>
<li>Have a nice weekend! 😊</li>
</ul>
Work Note2020-10-16T17:11:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/5/<p>First, another apology dear reader. I said I wouldn’t say again but I will: wow, so sleepy! This week started strong on the sleep front but fell off a cliff toward the end of the week. I was knocked more than would be expected by negative news at work.</p>
<ul>
<li>Since the pandemic picked up our team has been down a senior member and working reduced hours, for a total 32.5% reduction in team hours.</li>
<li>It was supposed to be temporary but we’ve learnt that our team member won’t be replaced. Despite hiring elsewhere we’ll remain down 25% for the foreseeable.</li>
<li>Our team of 3 own ~100 projects of varying sizes, from individual front end components to chunky services. They’re used across the FT Group. As a tiny team we deliver outsized value. I worry that value is diminishing, starting slowly but picking up pace, as we’re unable to offer our usual support whilst finding time to innovate effectively on our foundations.</li>
<li>Treading water for a(nother) year does not align with my ambitions — and definitely not those of the product teams who depend on our work — so what to do?</li>
<li>There are options. We aim to increase design consistency and reduce the time teams spend repeating work. We want teams sharing and building on each others good work. So a large part of our job (often the best part 💛) is to support and coordinate the work of other teams. If we can take collaboration further, including secondments to our team and more cross-group effort on shared projects, that could be beneficial in a number of ways.</li>
<li>It’s hard to stay positive though, morale is way low. My thoughts and feelings aren’t cohesive yet either. I’ll try writing them down in private, I think, to help figure out my options.</li>
<li>Working reduced hours has given me time to work on personal projects again. Like setting up these weeknotes, learning <a href="https://www.typescriptlang.org/">TypeScript</a>, that kind of thing. This week I did make some progress migrating a personal project to TypeScript but, mostly, I ended up watching Pokémon.</li>
<li>Including the episode where Giovanni battles Gary with Mewtwo – so cool – I can finally place the movie within the series.</li>
<li>Aside: Did you see <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-54507760">a Pokémon card sold for £173,000</a> this week? A shiny Charizard. Somewhere at my parents there could be a small fortune in an old shoe box.</li>
<li>It was nice to give up on productivity that day. Sometimes you've just got to mooch, huh? I'm definitely going to lean into mooching this weekend. <em>Flails arms around at the world, gestures in the direction of bullet 1 and 2</em>.</li>
<li>In not unrelated news the jar of speculoos spread is nearly empty again. I swear it can't be just me running it down. It probably is.</li>
<li>If you'd actually like to get your shit together I highly recommend Arjun's article <a href="https://medium.com/thegadhian/the-art-of-getting-your-shit-together-bfffec5211b3">The Art of Getting Your Shit Together</a> 😂</li>
<li>Oh! Seamless tangent to the best update. Inspired by Bake Off I put my sourdough to a new use. Bagels! They turned out really well. In other bread news I've also managed to get my chapatis puffing up nicely 🎉</li>
<li>And don't get me started on the most excellent dal I made last week. Don't. This is a week note. Not a last week note. You'll have to wait until I make it again to know what's so special.</li>
<li>Usually I'll sprinkle in a few helpful learnings of the week but I'm not sure I've got much for you today. Although I saw Jake Archibald shared an <a href="https://jakearchibald.com/2014/visible-undoes-hidden/">article to demonstrate an interesting characteristic of the CSS <code>visibility</code> property</a>. "If you set an element to <code>display: none</code> the browser ignores all of its children, if a child sets itself to <code>display: block</code> it will remain hidden. This isn't true of <code>visibility</code>." What that means is you can reveal elements within an invisible parent element. Checkout the demo in <a href="https://jakearchibald.com/2014/visible-undoes-hidden/">Jake's article</a>. It wins the most oddly satisfying button of the week award.</li>
<li>Quick note on my notes. Thank you to the person who told me they love my week notes. There's no tracking on my site so its nice to hear someone reads them — and even likes them!</li>
<li>With that, I'm out of here. I have an appointment with the sofa, comfort food, and old tv.</li>
<li>See ya. 💛</li>
</ul>
Cèilidh Note2020-10-10T12:30:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/4/<p>Yikes, another week of poor sleep. Twice not until gone 4am. It's become pretty much the norm. Boring to update on. Let's just assume I'm very tired from now on. Be kind to me, friend, if you spot grammatical or spelling mistakes.</p>
<ul>
<li>This week was the anniversary of our relationship. We already knew each other from work, but for our first proper date we went to a cèilidh. A cèilidh! Since then we've cèilidh-ed every year to celebrate.</li>
<li>Sadly it's not Covid secure to dance in close quarters, holding hands and spinning around with 80 plus sweaty strangers. Instead we treated ourselves by braving the Tube and heading to China Town. It was the perfect evening.</li>
<li>The rain was heavy but thrilling, everything's a novelty now isn't it? We were safe under our umbrellas and soon arrived at a pub we like ― our second pub visit since March, our first inside. It was cosy. Not busy. And the bouncer was doing an excellent job at the door, checking for masks and sending some groups away. There was a fire. I had a fresh Guinness! It was so cosy and all too wonderful given <em>the situation</em> this year 😭</li>
<li>We headed to a restaurant, continuing our wild night not in the flat. China town is on it! Our hand sanitising and temperature check was handled deftly as part of a smooth and relaxing welcome.</li>
<li>And guess what? They had vegetarian soup dumplings! Sploosh! Nom nom nom.</li>
<li>You've heard enough of this extravagance, sorry, dear reader. It was just nice to be able to celebrate.</li>
<li>What else happened this week?</li>
<li>I had a think about why I'm still on Twitter. Is it an addiction to doom scrolling? Maybe, but that's not a good reason. Perhaps to keep up with news in the world of tech? Or champions of a cause? No, there are better forums (podcasts, blogs, edited aggregators, actual publications). The only positive thing I can think of is having an opportunity to connect with friends and colleagues, and the things they care about.</li>
<li>So I purged my feed and now only follow people I know, with a couple of exceptions for people I've engaged with enough to feel like I know 😅 I'm hoping to: be less despairing on Twitter; see more from the people I'm close to; pick up other content intentionally and with focus. Let's see how it goes.</li>
<li>On the topic of tech news and content discovery, I'd recommend watching <a href="https://aneventapart.com/news/post/designing-intrinsic-layouts-aea-video">Designing Intrinsic Layouts by Jen Simmons</a>. Jen shows how we can build modern layouts with CSS Grid and Flexbox, often using content length to determine layout. The result is more reliable, flexible layouts with less CSS. In the video Jen also shows some inspiring examples of more creative layouts for the web. I've followed Jen's work for a while. My biggest take away from watching this was that Jen annotated screenshots to figure out a layout in CSS ― I should be doing that!</li>
<li>In other work related discoveries, I learnt briefly about <a href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/EventSource">EventSource</a> this week. It's a method of pushing events from a server to a client over <abbr title="Hypertext Transfer Protocol">HTTP</abbr>. The Financial Times use it to deliver live updates on developing stories. It seems to me like a more familiar alternative to <a href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/WebSockets_API">WebSockets</a>. Unlike WebSockets though EventSource is unidirectional. The server sends events to the client but the client can't send an event back.</li>
<li>That's all for now. Until a sudden spike of energy and enthusiasm seizes me late tonight, I'm off to lounge about and eat biscuits.</li>
<li>Ta-ta, be well!</li>
</ul>
Relieved Note2020-10-03T09:40:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/3/<p>Weeknote 3! Look at me go. As I edit this I realise I have more to say than usual but it's even less interesting. I appreciate you, dear reader:</p>
<ul>
<li>This week we met some friends for a catchup, pizza, and too much wine. Like, for real, in the actual flesh. Can you even? It was lovely. <em>So</em> refreshing.</li>
<li>Though I wasn't half maudlin the next day.</li>
<li>Otherwise we've perhaps been overly cautious these last few months of lowered lock-down restrictions. I'm thinking we should have made more figurative hay whilst the literal sun shone. But winter is coming and restrictions are rightly tightening again.</li>
<li>Will Butler has a new album out in full this week, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/4M6ypRmlMvKBynpS3mVnZ8">Generations</a>. I've been a bit obsessed. I can't resist upbeat bleakness with a little <abbr title="synthesiser">synth<abbr>.</abbr></abbr></li>
<li>At work I wrote my password in an <abbr title="Objective Key Result">OKR</abbr> spreadsheet, and left it there for the company to see.</li>
<li>My manager text me on my day off "does this mean anything to you?" 😱 It wasn't even a good password. Embarrassing.</li>
<li>I've spent some time reading about <a href="https://www.typescriptlang.org/">TypeScript</a> this week. More projects at the Financial Times are using TypeScript, including projects by my own team, so its time to actually spend some focused learning time.</li>
<li>I was reminded <a href="https://a11ysupport.io/">a11ysupport.io</a> exists. It's a community driven site which tests browser features against assistive technologies. For example you can find out how the <a href="https://a11ysupport.io/tech/html/datalist_element">datalist element</a> performs with different screen readers and browser combinations. There are also resources to help you learn to test with assistive technologies yourself.</li>
<li>Speaking of assistive technologies did you know an outright ban on plastic straws is a bad idea? Me neither until this week. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IBH0pcKzlY">"One person's ecological conversation starter is another person's nutritional lifeline"</a>.</li>
<li>We do need to remove single use plastics elsewhere, and reduce the environmental impact of our waste more generally. Looking at you large corporations and government.</li>
<li>My final note this week, <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/1/">the carnage of week one</a> is resolved. I wasn't sure it would be. The people who drilled through our wall had promised to fix it up. However they didn't show when they said they would, multiple times, and didn't let me know they couldn't make it either. I got a tad frustrated at the ghosting. I wanted to say "what the f*ck is going on, if you're busy or have other worries fine just let me know, or if you're never going to do it just f*cking say I can work with that too". What I actually said was that I was disappointed. The screws are gone, the mirror is back, and the holes in the wall are again hidden 🙌</li>
<li>Right, that's all for this week, I'm off to titivate my receding hairline in our newly restored mirror. Bye friend!
</li>
</ul>
Sleep Note2020-09-25T20:40:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/2/<p>Ok I think <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/1/">week note one</a> was actually quite a good week note, if I do say so myself – toot toot (that was the sound of me blowing my own horn). This week may be a lesser update. I've mostly been focused on renewed anxiety and not sleeping.</p>
<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/1/">carnage of last week</a> isn't resolved yet. It did get worse though. The main light in the bathroom started flashing on and off rapidly. Along with the massive pointy screws and holes in the wall, where the mirror once was, it was a bit of a horror show. We had to put some fairy lights in there instead.</li>
<li>You might be thinking that gentle, heart shaped fairy lighting in the bathroom would feel like pooping in an enchanted woodland but you would be wrong dear reader.</li>
<li>At least I learnt all about fluorescent lighting, the starter, the ballast, etc. Turns out the bulb just needed replacing.</li>
<li>At work I attended a Let's Talk About Race round table, organised by FT Embrace. Beforehand I was a little nervous, and not quite sure what to expect, but actually the format was pretty great. Our host would talk on a topic, we'd split into a smaller group to discuss, and then return to the broader group to share via text based chat. It was a good opportunity to identify racism at the FT; share successes between groups, such as changes to recruitment; and get used to talking about race with a random group of colleagues from across the business.</li>
<li>I dusted off and reread my copy of Clean Code by Robert Martin (a.k.a Uncle Bob). There's plenty of good advice in there. Although it's a bit absolutist, and I don't need to know about JUnit internals. I decided to checkout Robert's blog and Twitter. I know they're tech famous but haven't paid much attention. Let's just say <a href="https://meaganwaller.com/framework-whipped/">yikes</a>! And <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/unclebobmartin/status/1279449928058757121">yikes</a> again! Clean Code isn't making it back on my bookshelf.</li>
<li>There's a space on my bookshelf, if anyone has any recommendations for me?</li>
<li>Ok, there are actually two spaces on my bookshelf but one is for <a href="https://unbound.com/books/legends-of-the-leaf/">Legends Of The Leaf by Jane Perrone</a>. If you're a fan of house plants you might be interested too. Jane also hosts the excellent <a href="https://www.janeperrone.com/">On The Ledge podcast</a>.</li>
<li>Otherwise I've mostly been doom scrolling and vegetating this week. The spoils of past Lee have come good though. We've been enjoying fermented aubergine, the recipe for which is from <a href="https://www.theculturedclub.com/book/">The Cultured Club</a>. It sounds gross but I heartily recommend (sauerkraut sounds gross too if you call it fermented cabbage). It's particularly good with tortellini or in a roast mediterranean veg, couscous situation.</li>
<li>There's not going to be any fermented aubergine this evening though. I'm off to enjoy a whatever-is-in-the-freezer-wrap. 🙌</li>
<li>Byeee.</li>
</ul>
Meek Note2020-09-18T23:05:00Zhttps://leemoody.co.uk/blog/weeknotes/1/<p>All the cool kids are writing week notes. I thought I'd give it a go too. Other week notes out there are personal, funny, and informative – way better to follow than a Twitter stream – but I can't promise mine will be any of those things, dear reader.</p>
<ul>
<li>Today in working-from-home distractions: three to four massive f***ing screws burst through our wall and destroyed a large built in mirror and its lights. Our neighbour is renovating their bathroom, and I guess we are now too.</li>
<li>Having to go and speak to strangers about the carnage they've unknowingly wrought, and arrange amends, wasn't my plan for this evening... <em>excuse me not to be a bother but...</em></li>
<li>It would be much easier to deal with without having to get a tenancy agency involved. Yuk.</li>
<li>In other news I attended a webinar at work called The Virtual Communicator. There were a lot of good tips. I'm particularly keen to reintroduce more body language by being further from the camera, or maybe even standing; and to work on talking with more clarity and pace. I haven't listened yet but our host, Nick Trumble, has spoken on the subject in <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-virtual-communicator-with-nick-trumble/id1517272914?i=1000477056901">an inrehearsal podcast episode</a>.</li>
<li>What else happened this week? Time is one now. Happy <a href="https://calendar2020.noj.cc/">202nd day of March</a>!</li>
<li>I reread this <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2019/04/display-two-value/">article by Rachel Andrew</a>. It's really useful to understand CSS formatting contexts, through the lens of new display values. For example to understand what <code>display: inline-block</code> is all about, or what affect setting <code>display: flex</code> on a CSS grid item will have.</li>
<li><a href="https://leaddev.com/harassers-are-nice-me-and-probably-you">Harassers are nice to me, and probably to you</a> by Sarah Milstein was also a stand-out read for me this week. Sarah discusses what harassment looks like, how with more power it can become harder to identify, and what the leaders in our organizations can do to become aware of harassment.</li>
<li>I'm finding it hard to concentrate on writing because Monty Don is talking about wild flowers in the background.</li>
<li>I love Monty Don.</li>
<li>Last Saturday I made a <em>right</em> mess. I got compost all over my dining area, living area, home office, and potting shed (they're all the same place). One day I will have outside space 🌱 ❤️️</li>
<li>There has been a lot of time to watch the house plants reward my efforts with new foliage since I've had a hard time sleeping this week. If you found some crispy garlic on the hob whilst making 2am toast would you eat it? Yeah, same!</li>
<li>Anyhow, I'm home alone this evening for maybe the second time since March. What will I do with this new freedom? Watch Lord of The Rings again, woop woop 🙌</li>
<li>Until next time.</li>
</ul>