Megatron Note

Authored August 28, 2023

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.

That's why I've started going to a co-working space once a week at Union St, 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.

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.

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.

When sections collapse, or are under development, The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust campaign to instead open up the river.

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. — Clench, trying to keep our wellies above the water level.

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. — A surprise deluge means we give up on staying dry.

I've also been making some DIY 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).

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.

Exposed gas and water pipes below a kitchen worktop. — The gap.

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.

Turns out the floor rises to the back, adding to my challenge! I decided to cut the sides at an angle to compensate.

Half a kitchen cabinet. A small clamp holds sun-bathed plywood at 90 degrees. — Plywood, with a precision hole to access an isolation valve.

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. — There we are. Next job, the door...