2025-04-14 23:20:06
It’s been a while. In fact, it’s been about four years since I last made a video. For ages, I told myself I’d get back to it, but I kept putting it off. The excuse? My life wasn’t interesting enough. I wasn’t jetting off to far-flung places or capturing glamorous moments — just regular life, with the odd photo when I remembered.
But I’ve started thinking differently.
Rather than waiting for something “exciting” to happen, I thought: why not treat this like a kind of video gratitude journal? A way to capture and appreciate the things I do get to do — because there’s actually quite a bit that I enjoy, even if it’s not flashy.
So, this weekend, I decided to take a trip to London. Just me and my son. We packed our cameras and headed off in search of a good coffee, a few interesting photos, and maybe even an adventure or two.
If you know anything about street photography in London, you’ll know the Barbican is a bit of a classic. Brutalist architecture, light and shadows playing all over the place — it’s almost impossible not to get a good shot there, especially on a bright spring day like this one.
We wandered around, snapped some frames, and soaked up the quiet buzz that the place always seems to have. There’s something about it that makes you slow down a bit.
Next, we made our way to the Bank of England. Another hotspot for London photographers, though we may have mistimed it a little. The light was harsh, and — as is tradition — every nearby building decided it was the perfect moment to set off alarms, start beeping, or power up loud machinery. Great for atmosphere. Not so great for audio.
To top it off, my Osmo Pocket 3 decided it didn’t like my face with sunglasses on. Still, we managed a few interesting shots, and I even had a classic photographer moment: stood patiently framing the perfect scene, when James — my son — walks up, taps his phone, and nails the shot instantly.
You can’t come to London with a camera and not head to One New Change. The view of St Paul’s from that walkway is iconic — and for good reason. We made the walk, snapped the shots, and swapped roles with James for a moment: I was now the one waiting for him to get the photo he wanted. Let’s just say I have a new-found respect for how patient my wife has been over the years.
We finished our photo walk with a bit of a detour — a ride on the cable cars over the Thames. It took a little effort to get there (and the trains were absolutely packed), but it was worth it.
If you’ve never done the cable cars before, they’re definitely worth the trip. You don’t get to use your usual TfL contactless passes anymore, which is a shame, but the views on a day like this? Incredible.
And for anyone wondering about accessibility — it’s spot on. Lifts, level platforms, smooth boarding. If you’ve got mobility needs or travel with someone who does, you’ll be just fine.
Hello everybody — this is something a bit different, isn't it?
I suddenly realised that I hadn't made a video for about four years. I'd been putting it off and putting it off. My excuse was always that I didn’t have a life interesting enough. I didn’t go to exciting places, I didn’t travel the world taking loads of photos… and I told myself my life just wasn’t interesting enough to make videos.
So instead, I’ve decided to make something like a gratitude journal, I guess — but in video form. A way for me to look at the things I do do. And I do do some vaguely interesting things!
Today we’ve come to London. I’ve brought my son with me, and we’re currently at the Barbican — which is, in my opinion, the street photography Mecca of London. We’re trying to get some nice shots, and later on, we’re also (weirdly) going to ride some cable cars. The family were meant to come too, but my wife's not well, so instead we’re filling the day with some street photography. I figured I’d just make a video along the way.
Second stop of the day is, of course, a short walk down to another street photography favourite — the Bank of England. I’ve just discovered that my Osmo Pocket 3 doesn’t like my face with sunglasses on, but honestly, it’s almost impossible not to wear them today. Which is weird… in April. But we’re savouring the sun, because it’s going to rain for the next week or so.
Got some good shots at the Barbican, which is almost impossible not to do on a day like today. Hopefully we’ll manage a few more.
Unfortunately, we’ve caught Bank at completely the wrong time — the light’s a bit harsh. So we’re going to circle back and return later in the day.
And everyone seems determined to turn on all their equipment and beeping noises just when I start recording. Typical. One annoying thing — I was framing up a shot and said to James, "I like the shadow there with the security camera — what you need is the perfect person." And he just clicked it — got the perfect subject straight away, whereas I sat there for ten minutes and didn’t find anyone close.
Such is the life of a street photographer. Whether you camp out and wait for the perfect person, or you’re just jammy like James.
I’ll pop his shot up in the video — he’s shooting with his phone at the moment, but he’s really got an eye for detail right now. It’s great to see him sharing the passion.
We’re heading down to St Paul’s now — can’t visit London without popping to One New Change. It’s basically a rule.
I’ve now become that long-suffering photography partner — waiting around while James gets the shot he wants. I have a new-found appreciation for what my wife goes through while I’m doing exactly the same thing!
So, we made it all the way across London — it was a bit of a mess getting from Bank. The train at Stratford was ridiculously packed. But we made it — we’re on the cable cars!
If you’re in London doing all the touristy things like we are, it’s definitely worth a ride. Unfortunately, it's not included on your tap-on, tap-off TfL stuff anymore, but the views — especially on a day like today — are spectacular.
Insert proper vlog music here for the slow-mo section or whatever you’re supposed to do.
The good thing is, it’s really accessible — lifts, flat platforms, and easy to get on and off. Well worth checking out, even if — like me — you’ve got a little girl in a wheelchair. If you’ve got mobility aids, it’s still definitely accessible.
I forgot to film an outro. That’s the reality of it.
It’s now like three days later. I was editing the video and, by the time we’d been on the cable cars, grabbed something to eat, and made the trek back across London to get to the car for the two-hour drive home… I just completely forgot.
But it’s edited together quite well. I’m actually quite proud of it, to be fair. I’m hoping this’ll be a thing — but who knows?
You can subscribe, like, and do all the “YouTubey” things if you want — but honestly, I’m just making these for me.
Got some great shots — as did James — so we’re both happy. And that’s the aim of the game, isn’t it?
Hopefully see you all again.
2025-03-05 15:06:42
There’s a strange thing that happens to people when they become known to do something. It could be a certain position at a company, a hobby, or even a topic they are particularly passionate about. Once they reach a certain point, they lose themselves and become ‘that guy’ and it becomes difficult to shake. Unfortunately, that’s been me for quite a while.
I’ve spoken to people about this before, for example, Daryl Baxter, for a while, was ‘the iPad guy,’ and it took years for him to shake it. He’s now the Tomb Raider guy — but that’s his fault! Even worse is when someone interesting gets an important role in a business, and they become simply a mouthpiece for that company. All personality of themselves is removed, and the reason you followed them disappears.
I don’t want that to happen with my work on Micro Social. Most of my posts are in relation to the app, and I don’t want to just become that app guy. An issue further impacted by my lack of time to write recently with all the work I am doing on said app. Thankfully, development will slow down as the app becomes well-rounded. Features are less required, and larger work takes a back seat.
I intend to split out blog posts, documents, and a lot of communication into a Micro Social micro.blog account. So when this happens, I’m hoping normal service can resume. I can get back to consuming the community in a more human way rather than talking about micro social all the time! But the best-laid plans and all that.
2025-02-22 21:00:00
In recent times, a notion has been repeatedly mentioned by a certain type of self-proclaimed intellectual. You know the kind: those bead-wearing, ayahuasca-drinking, podcast-interviewing types. They have a saying that goes something like, “Do something now that your future self will thank you for.”
This modern mantra is an updated version of something my grandfather used to say, “Write some checks for yourself.” It’s a wonderful way to think about life, though I doubt the aforementioned tribe even know what checks are. But, to be fair, the sentiment is valuable, so I’ll let them off.
The essence of this saying is simple yet profound: prepare and invest in yourself now to reap the benefits later. It’s about thoughtful foresight and making conscious efforts that your future self will benefit from.
Take running, for example. On my long runs, I sometimes allow myself the luxury of a slow mile. I can afford this because it’s been “paid for” by the faster miles I ran earlier. Those fast miles have built up a reserve of fitness and endurance that I can draw upon when needed.
Or consider the way I prepare for my working week. Spending some time on a Sunday evening to plan and organise makes a world of difference. It’s like building a buffer. When Monday morning arrives, I’m less stressed because my past self took the time to smooth the way.
Parenting is another area where this concept truly shines for me. Those early mornings with my daughter Luice are much more manageable because past me hasn’t overdrawn the energy account by going to bed late. By ensuring I rest adequately and manage my time well, I’m able to wake up refreshed and ready, rather than exhausted and resentful.
Whether it’s saving for a rainy day, learning a new skill, or simply maintaining a healthy lifestyle, these are checks written in the present that your future self will cash with gratitude and satisfaction. So, the next time you hear that modern saying, perhaps take a moment to ponder its wisdom. And maybe, just maybe, consider writing some checks to your future self. It’s an investment worth making.
2025-02-22 14:23:31
Here in contains number 3442 of ways that I can over spend and overthink my relationship with technology. I am well aware of my shortfall as a human, my ability to appear moronic, and you should not take any advice from my blog posts or podcast appearances. I annoy myself far more than I annoy you, so please know this before reading on.
Since writing about the MacStories iPad Mini review, I’ve been thinking about a lot about my relationship to technology again. Those that have read anything from me over the last few years will already be aware of my tenuous relationship with my phone, but this time it is a little different. My frustration is finding a place where my working life does not push in to, and the idea of a third place raised by Federico in said iPad Mini review highlighted these frustrations and a possible solution.
My working life is essential to me, I design and create for a living, so in many ways it is perfect. To earn a living doing something you enjoy is everyone’s dream; however, I have an inability to switch off unless clear lines are drawn. So, as with every idea that plagues my brain, I went exploring options to find a sanctuary away from working life, in an attempt to disconnect.
I found that place in the first place I went looking. Mainly because I can’t afford to be messing around, but also because the iPad Mini is a great device. Granted, the current 7the generation version that I opted for is a waste of money for most people. However, if you accept the shortfalls of the device, and have a clear idea of what you want to achieve, you will have a much better experience.
I would get a better experience reading on an e-ink device. Arguably, I would have a better experience watching media on a larger device. Hell, I carry a ‘better’ device that is only slightly smaller, in an iPhone 16 Pro Max around in my pocket. With all this in mind, I still adore the iPad Mini for providing a third place. One that is away from the email apps and Adobe sweet that both my phone and MacBook contain.
Carving out this place has been hard going. I’ve needed ScreeTime blocks, signing out of iCloud, and a lot of will power to find this place. The trick is not treating it the same as all your other devices. You only get here by not doing things. By not installing all the usual apps, or copying things over and being clear on the place you require.
At the end of the day now, you will only ever find my iPad Mini lying around the home. My iPhone is in my office, my MacBook is asleep, and the only time they are used is if I really need to. The iPad Mini provides everything I need. If it doesn’t, the intentional barrier of having to go and get something else to achieve the goal provides just enough breathing room to decide whether I want to do it or not.
It has resulted in less blog posts being written, perhaps less things being ‘done’ but I am perfectly happy with that. I like this place.
2025-02-20 21:00:00
Presently, I’m taking a bit of a break from being online. I’ve spent so much time looking at things, testing features, and replying to people getting ready for Micro Social to launch that I am a bit burnt out. It’s at this point that I realise the importance of iOS Shortcuts and the great API Micro.blog has.
I’ve been making things using Shortcuts for years. Back when it was Workflow, it essentially powered my day-to-day life, including my company. The app enabled me to work from an iPad, and I was constantly digging in and improving things.
At times like this, though, when I want to be away for a while, I can still write, publish, and share everything I need to, without needing an app. Apart from Ulysses, of course. There’s no friction, no distractions, and no fuss. Of course, Micro Social doesn’t try to hack your brain for more attention, but I’d still find myself scrolling or replying to mentions. So with a few Shortcuts on my phone, I can carry on as I was and still take the break I crave.
There’s some realisation here too. I know I should have built the share sheet well in Micro Social, and no doubt it will come. However, right now, I couldn’t get where I wanted to, so I included Shortcuts by Jarrod instead. Mainly because this fits in with my usage of micro.blog, but I also understand that they can be confusing and not straightforward to make yourself.
I much prefer this extra friction between me and the web. I have no self-control! So I will always opt for great Shortcuts over more integrations, and at this point, we must acknowledge why these work so well. Without Manton building a great API for micro.blog, none of this would exist. There would be no Shortcuts and no Micro Social at all — and for this, I am truly grateful.
2025-02-20 15:30:00
Whilst listening to a recent episode of Modern Wisdom, the topic of boredom came up. As with many things in my life, this conversation arrived exactly at the right time. I’m not sure if the universe talks to be or this is some kind of frequency illusion, but it happens quite a lot for me. Anyway, the short but sweet conversation got me thinking, and this post is a result of those thoughts.
“Just to round out the boredom thing, it feels to me like if you don’t have something to take up your time, your habits, and your behaviour will sort of default to the path of least resistance.” — Modern Wisdom: #894, 25 Jan 2025
These thoughts are obviously affected by my current mental state, which is not the greatest it has ever been. I have a very busy task list currently yet find myself constantly unmotivated to do anything outside of work. Defaulting instead to spending too much time online. If you’ve read just a few of my posts before, you’ll know I absolutely hate that!
So the quote above finds me at a particular point where it reflects my life currently. I follow the path of least resistance, which unfortunately is the supercomputer in my pocket, only too willing to hover up my time and attention. It’s easier to pluck my phone from my pocket than it is to open a book to read, or write a blog post I’m working on.
Not only in terms of effort but also in terms of return. I can ignore the world around me much easier, scrolling social media than I can reading a book. I’m self-medicating my way out of the boredom feeling, and that’s not something I have usually struggled with.
Perhaps I’m burnt out. Perhaps I’m struggling with other underlying problems, but currently I am so bored with being busy that motivation for needed tasks is non-existent. There’s some work to do here to ensure these habits do not get out of control, and thankfully, listening to other people’s thoughts on topics makes me aware of the work that needs to be done on myself.
