Tag: Local Area

What happened after my van was broken into (or how you can harness a customer's negative experiences for good!)

9 March 2017

My van was broken into the other night. Someone removed the front front side window, from the outside, without breaking the pane. They took a dashcam and walkie-talkie but kindly left the window pane in the gutter unbroken! I'm ok, all is well but I had a problem: I had a van with no front, […]

What no-one will tell you about rocking employment fairs! (specifically the Manchester Digital talent fest)

3 February 2017

All you need to know: Get a ticket Turn up. Talk to as many tech companies as possible to try understand what they do and how they operate All you need to know to rock it: Do: Ask people lots of questions – especially about the area you're most interested in. People LOVE anyone who's interested […]

When I first thought about this, I worried I might lose friends, then I realised it was the right thing.

31 May 2015

"Imagine that money wasn't something you had to worry about – what would you do?" Once you figure out the answer, you're meant to head down the most efficient path there. Working 'to get rich' when you're seeking to 'have a happy family life' may not be the most efficient route for you. It's […]

I love you Bess.

15 May 2015

My darling dog Bess came to the end of her well lived life yesterday. I tried to tell her many times, and I hope she knew: I love you Bess. She's buried where we often used to walk her, above Glossop, where the pine trees catch the wind that sweeps across the moor and a […]

I protested BBC iPlayer in 2007, and I don't regret it.

5 March 2014

During the summer holidays of 2007, I was a teenage sailing instructor who was volunteering locally, to teach younger teens how to sail (better) for a week. On Tuesday, I skived off teaching, jumped on a train to Manchester and changed my life forever. But that's not the beginning… A few months earlier I was […]

Could we see a cyclist-friendly Taxi firm in Manchester?

8 February 2013

I'm a cyclist. But that doesn't mean I cycle everywhere, all the time, I take the train, I take buses, I take trams and quite frequently I take taxis. Taxis and cyclists don't always get on, this doesn't have to be: I take taxis a lot more often than if I owned a car. The […]

Sunset over Manchester

3 February 2013

When I work from home, I usually work with my curtains closed, partly because of prying eyes in the street, and partly because the extra light makes the screen hard to read. Yesterday, I saw, through a gap, a glimmer than suggested I should have a quick look. I didn't regret it:

What being a victim of crime was like for me.

1 February 2013

Since reading my friend Dan's travel blog of his exciting day in South Africa where he talked/sneaked himself out of two muggings in a day, I've given some thought to how I'd try to handle these kind of situations. What happened A few months ago, as I was cycling into town after work, I was […]

The Bogle Ramble :: 26 miles across Manchester on foot

4 March 2012

You can sponsor my efforts here on mydonate and let mySociety know how much you appreciate them! The Bogle Ramble was an interesting challenge: throughout the day I made a video blog, capturing my thoughts, messages of thanks to my sponsors and other notable moments. httpv://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF25263D4A30A029A&feature=plcp The Eighty Three Bus, Overtakes me once again, please […]

Windsurfing at Glossop Sailing Club

5 March 2010

Not so long ago I put together this short video of people windsurfing on a windy day at Glossop Sailing Club. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NVwx5aojhVk What do you think of it? It's pretty much my first ever watersports video that I've spent any time editing and I know I've still got a lot to learn… How would you […]

Reservoir Dog?! (A close call)

13 January 2010

As I now live in the centre of Manchester, and being cooped up in a flat is certainly not enjoyable for a dog, Bess, our well loved Staffordshire Bull Terrier currently lives at home with my parents. As my father is usually at work all day, usually it falls to my mother to walk her. […]

What is the most useful thing you will do towards a future career when you're young?

18 May 2009

This XKCD cartoon strangely captures essence of most of my complaints with the way ICT and technical subjects are taught in schools. For me, it was a extensive number of weekends trying to make various different project work and multiple evenings getting to know the right people in the tech industry – thanks to the […]