Category: Random

  • Fuck the Tories.

    Fuck the Tories.

    This year is the first time in an election that I haven’t voted The Green Party of England & Wales.

    In a way, I feel sad about this. My vote is counted in a part of the country where there is traditionally a Labour Party stronghold and the next contender would be The Conservatives, who I definitely don’t want to see win.

    So, with that, my vote went towards helping secure the Labour seat in my area.

    A portrait of Matt and Ine. Matt wears a Labour-party themed t-shirt from the band Los Campesinos!

    If you are unsure of who you should be voting for in this upcoming election, check out the Vote for Policies website to help guide you in the right direction. And, if you want to Stop the Tories, then check out the website tactial.vote for voting advice.

  • Back to basics

    Back to basics

    For a while I felt like I was spending way too much time staring at my mobile phone. From the minute I would wake up in the morning, to going to bed at night, I clearly was addicted to the bright lights of the screen.

    This was confirmed when I installed ActionDash on my mobile. Much like Google Digital Wellbeing, the app reveals just how much time you are spending with your eyes glued to your digital device. The results were devastating.

    So, with that small revelation, I pulled my Punkt. MP01 from the back of the wardrobe and popped my SIM card into the dumb phone.

    For near to one month, I have been detoxing from digital once again.

    When at the office, I have a computer to hand. When at home, I have a computer to hand. The time in between these two locations I felt didn’t need to be dominated by the buzzing and whirring flow of digital data between the internet and my pocket. And so I ditched my smartphone. My Samsung Galaxy S8 stays in the lounge at home and has been reduced to a glorified MP3 player.

    Slowly but surely I come to recognise the changes; I find it easier to focus, my mind is more clear of distractions or obsessions, I become more human.

    Nowadays, if you wish to get in touch with me, the quickest bet is to send me an old-school SMS or just call me. Otherwise, email and snailmail.

    I look forward to hearing from you.

  • LGBT+ Pride badges · The Pin Prick

    LGBT+ Pride badges · The Pin Prick

    These two badges came in the post this week from The Pin Prick – makers of really cute enamel pin badges. Most of the badges they sell are LGBT+ themed, but there are also a selection of really cool pins targeted at anyone who is familiar with design tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, Sketch, etc.

    Now I’m the proud owner of these two LGBT+ themed pin badges; a rainbow pennant pin and a transgender bar pin. They also look really awesome.

    I love how great they look, but also that they are quite subtle. And Jarrell Goh, owner of the store, sends through a little hand-written note with the order!

    Support independent business and show that you’re an LGBT+ ally… or just buy some designer tools to let everyone know how cool you are. Either way, you can visit the Etsy store or pinprick.shop to browse the full range of pin badges.

  • Cuddles with Madge

    Cuddles with Madge

    If anyone was doubting my love for cats, here’s a picture of Madge and me having a cuddle in the morning.

    Of my two cats, Madge is the one who is less cuddly. Unless it’s on her own terms. After Ine and I have gone to sleep, she’ll usually creep in the bedroom and up on to the bed and cuddle up for the rest of the night.

    Try to put her there yourself and she’ll shoot out of the door like a speeding bullet.

    A photo of coxy cuddling up with his kitty Madge.

    What a cutie. 😻