2025-12-08 03:36:36
There's no real idea of "winding down for Christmas" where I work. Clients release budget and work ramps up towards pre-break deliverables. This is the long way of saying I've been busy!
I had my annual review; good feedback from my peers. I am skirting the fine line between "invaluable" and "bottleneck" which is kind of a good thing in some ways 😂
Related to work, I've been learning a bit of Python while I pull together a small internal tool. It's a nice looking language and surprisingly powerful; coming from a JavaScript background, it's been nice to work with. I imagine I am committing all kinds of sins but, so far, I am the only person who has to use it so there's no pressing desire to polish it until it actually works.
We had our annual IMPACT Awards do. My team was nominated in several categories — for two products I actually worked on which was exciting. Sadly, the Gold eluded us but a Silver and a Bronze will do nicely. It all goes towards boosting our profile within the company and showcases the excellent work we do.
A chance chat with Chris, the handyman we use for jobs I need a hand with, and I learned that Alan Garner who wrote "The Weirdstone of Brisingamen" is still alive and lives around the corner from me!
I'll pick up my copy once I've finished "The Dark is Rising" Sequence, apparently it references local landmarks so it should be an interesting read — I knew it was set in Cheshire, I just didn't realise how local it was.
I was hoping to get through Susan Cooper's Sequence by Christmas but that's looking unlikely so Garner may have to wait until the new year.
I feel like I've been falling behind with Christmas films too; this time last year I'd watched twice as many. I have a feeling I'll hammer a fair few once we start prepping for the day. Wrapping presents usually involves a couple of films in the background.
2025-12-07 16:40:58
"Hating you for Christmas" by Everclear
Shimmering along in that "post-Grunge" era that didn't seem to take off so much, Everclear had some absolute tunes. Weird flex to go Christmassy but I'm not mad at it!
2025-12-06 18:37:54
"Is this Christmas?" by The Wombats
Scouse jangly indie that is considerably less serious than most scouse jangly indie, The Wombats can definitely put out a good tune and this original ode to Chrimbo hits all the hallmarks of their inimitable style.
2025-12-06 04:41:02
"Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)" by The Darkness
Dismissed as a joke, The Darkness are actually a bunch of extremely talented folks with an ear for a banging tune. This is no exception.
2025-12-05 03:12:22
Retro Bar in Manchester has closed. I wasn't the most regular bar fly but it was a constant venue in my decades living in Manchester; known for a decent club night or two and as a cracking venue for seeing bands of a certain size/popularity/fame. For example, I remember seeing Frank Turner there on one of his first solo tours.
I have fond memories of the place; I had my thirtieth birthday there nearly twenty years ago. I danced with Cheddar Gorgeous in the club downstairs during Sparkle Festival and drank with Damnation Angels in the bar upstairs after they refused to play because the stage was too small.
I stopped in a for a drink a couple of times after they rebranded to Hive because it was handy for my old flat and the office.
Now it's shut up, messages of thanks taped to the windows and faded posters and graffiti adorn the outside as a sad monument to the diminishing live music circuit that once shone so brightly in Manchester.
2025-12-04 22:40:24
"I Want an Alien for Christmas" by Fountains of Wayne
Twee but not saccharine, this ode to an imaginary interstellar Christmas gift drips with childhood fantasy and earnest awe.