2023-03-29: Not sure where my headphones are. Feels like the worst possible start to the day.

2023-03-22: Each Ted Lasso episode is one closer to the end, so I’m relishing watching it but also my …

2023-03-21: Pressed

2023-03-20:

2023-03-14: Finished my Ted Lasso catchup. Season 3 tomorrow. I can’t sleep, I’m too excited (Always …

2023-03-14: Just trying to power through. I know the choices that I can make that will make me feel better. At …

2023-03-13: love is spelled T-I-M-E. This Is The Greatest Form Of Love - The Daily Dad

2023-03-13: Anxious about having to start preparing our class assembly this week. If it was just that, it would …

2023-03-13: When your stomach drops but your heart hopes… That it’s just a twist in the story! Then you actually …

2023-03-12: Wordle 631 3/6 🟨⬛🟨⬛⬛ 🟨🟨⬛⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2023-03-12: How To Become A Serious Reader - Cal Newport

2023-03-11: I’ve dipped in and out of For All Mankind so much I feel like I’m on Season 3 not Season …

2023-03-11: Kasey Chambers covers Lose Yourself Slow build of a cover. Awesome 🎵

2023-03-10: My friend and I have a thing where if we just want to get something off our chest, we end our …

2023-03-09: Looking for suggestions for albums to fall asleep too… What do you list to?

2023-03-06: “I don’t know. I need help. I’m sorry. I was wrong.” —Still Life by Louise Penny Source: The first …

2023-03-06: Really warming to Shrinking on Apple TV+. Some great lines but also lots of feels like. Even if …

2023-03-04: Was not expecting that from Episode 3 of The Last of Us. 😭

2023-03-04: No hug is too long. No doppio espresso is too dense. No beach is too empty. No new baby is too …

2023-03-04: Woken early by kids. Exercised No hot water so had to have a cold shower Just put the second load …

2023-03-03: I don’t often get solitude. Was grateful for the solitude of working out in the gym on my own today. …

2023-03-01: Got a notification because my heart rate dropped below 40 to 39 bpm 4 times last night. Hoping it’s …

2023-02-28: “I hold my children, and I hold my wife, and I know that they will die. And I know that it could …

2023-02-28: Students who are able to acquire a lot of general academic knowledge—often those with highly …

2023-02-28: Love this from the students in our class.

2023-02-28: Ted Lasso — Season 3 Official Trailer | Apple TV+ - YouTube

2023-02-26: Guys, length isn’t everything when it comes to film-making - Wendy Ide - The Guardian Felt this in …

2023-02-26: Sunday brunch… coffee and 碗杂面

2023-02-25: Lirdle Like Wordle, but with one lie per answer. Via Metafilter Don’t play this. It’s …

2023-02-25: golden talk Creative insight of any type — be it business strategy, an ad campaign, or computer code — requires …

2023-02-25: “You got an organ going there, no wonder the sound has so much… Body.” DJ shadow …

2023-02-24: The Last of Us Going in, both L and I know nothing about it. I’m aware of the game but don’t know …

2023-02-23: Blossom

2023-02-21: I don’t cross the road For a moment, I’m in control As I wait awhile

2023-02-21: Kids and worry, name a better combo! Not eating enough! Tonight though, it was like they’d not …

2023-02-21: Seems like Substack doesn’t like Kill The Newsletter anymore. Are there alternatives? I much …

2023-02-21: But it's included Perhaps the amusement park includes as many rides as you like, even if you’re feeling sick or have …

2023-02-20: That ending! Finished reading: Golden Son (Red Rising Series Book 2) by Pierce Brown 📚

2023-02-19:

2023-02-19: Patience. noun the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, …

2023-02-18: King Doggy the Third! His father lost in the Aegean and his grandfather lost around Hainan. Long …

2023-02-18: Less consuming, more creating. Doesn’t matter what it is, doesn’t matter if it’s …

2023-02-17: Like this photo Elise took.

2023-02-15: TED LASSO - MARCH 15th. TED LASSO - MARCH 15th. TED LASSO - MARCH 15th. Season 3 Official Teaser | …

2023-02-12: One of my Airpods gave up, or the case did, I don’t know. If I pressed hard it would charge, …

2023-02-12: Harrison Ford is great in Shrinking. 📺

2023-02-11: Heaving for Wakanda Forever

2023-02-11: Did another week of exercising 5 times. Consistency above everything else.

2023-02-11: The most important thing we’ve learned, So far as children are concerned, Is never, NEVER, …

2023-02-09: Wordle 600 2/6 ⬛🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Pretty fun game, anyone else tried it?!

2023-02-07: As Heard On Radio Soulwax pt 2 is now on Apple Music. Still remember listening to this at …

2023-02-06: Just finished Lockwood and Co and really enjoyed it. Sticking the books on the list of things I want …

2023-02-05: I undo my shoe laces. I have a single resolution this year. Just that one. I will endeavour to complete this task …

2023-02-05: These are the things bouncing around in my head. I’ve got all these things floating around in my head. Anne Mueller’s piece about pain. …

2023-02-05: Elise aka Dj Cleopatra’s new track! Loving this. Nm - Incredibox

2023-02-05: 面条!New noodle place near our flat. So good.

2023-02-05: Enjoying Lockwood and Co on Netflix. Think I’m going to start reading the books. Always enjoy a fun …

2023-02-04: a year in photos aka one photo everyday Make an album on your phone for each month. (For bonus points share it with your mum.) Add a photo a …

2023-02-03: Relistening to Nirvana’s Unplugged. 🎵

2023-02-03:

2023-02-02: Yumo (4yo) is LOVING Shape Island on Apple Tv+. We’ve just ordered the books as a result. 📺 (I might …

2023-02-01: Conditioning workout today. On Assault Bike 5x15 secs 3x 1:15min 1x 3min The first 5 intervals were …

2023-01-31: Today I am grateful for calling my parents.

2023-01-28: 烧烤

2023-01-28: Consistency first. 6th day of exercise this week. #xmasabs24

2023-01-27: 247 on Wii Bowling. Feel like I’ve peaked.

2023-01-26: There’s a difference Between screen time all alone And altogether

2023-01-26: Just finished catching up on Craig Mod’s pop-up newsletter TOKIO TŌKYŌ TOKYO. Always a …

2023-01-25: Today I am grateful for reading and not sleeping so I can finish a book. Such a pleasure.

2023-01-25: Started tidying my desk. I have issues with throwing stuff that’s my problem.

2023-01-25: Finally got around to ordering my photos for my 1 photo a day project and have started a new album …

2023-01-24: I am most at peace In enforced rest periods Of HITT

2023-01-24: Elise is loving this beatboxing sequencing app. It’s a whole lot of fun. Here’s her latest effort …

2023-01-23: Time to exercise: 30minutes (total) Time to start exercising: 2 hours

2023-01-21: Before exercise - Feel unmotivated. Things are hard. I am powerless to resist endless scrolling of …

2023-01-20: IT’S COMING!

2023-01-20: How do you deal with your phone photos? Mine sort of just pile up and up…

2023-01-20: Young Poppy in Mythic Quest Season 3 is uncanny. 📺

2023-01-19: Speed ran through this. It’s not Rivers of London but still enjoyable. Makes me think about the two …

2023-01-19: When you wake and your dreams are just precious thoughts. Like your subconscious and conscious are …

2023-01-17: Today I am grateful for table tennis at lunch with colleagues 🏓️

2023-01-16: Today I am grateful for dancing to disco with the kids.

2023-01-15: Today I’m grateful for Yumo and I having the best time playing Super Mario 3D World this …

2023-01-13: Love these books so much. One of those series where I love the world the author has created. The …

2023-01-07: The hardest part of being a parent. Apart from the terrifying thought of outliving your kids*. Is …

2023-01-07: Talked about this film with friends this evening so much that I considered rereading the book and it …

2023-01-07: 10 Ways to Warm Up - by Jessica Hagy

2023-01-04: And if I could I’d raise my arm And wave a wand To end all harm And if i could With just a …

2023-01-04: Unreal. The greatest leg of darts of all - YouTube

2023-01-03: Some New Year’s resolutions that won’t end up in your pile of shame - The Verge

2023-01-03: First day actually in school since November 9th. Thankfully some students aren’t back in until …

2023-01-01: Finally caught up with the Detectorists Xmas Special. It was just enjoyable. 📺

2022-12-31: You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. On Children by Kahlil …

2022-12-31: Choose a word. Any word. One word. Make it yours. Whiteboard it. Write it every day on your planner, …

2022-12-31: 100 things that made my year (2022) - Austin Kleon Things I won’t do but wish I would. I …

2022-12-30: The year in review: 50 wonderful (tv and film) things from 2022 : NPR. I had this thought recently …

2022-12-30: We enjoyed Glass Onion a lot. The Serena Williams cameo was great.

2022-12-29: the everyday human gesture is always a heartbeat away from the miraculous – that ultimately we make …

2022-12-28: As an experiment, for one continuous month, make the focus of one in every three things you share on …

2022-12-21: The Apple Music animated album covers sometimes make me jump. Movement where I don’t expect …

2022-12-21: As she acquired British citizenship by descent, she has been unable to pass on citizenship to her …

2022-12-15: I am always encouraging my students to read, this poem started last year to try and encourage them …

2022-12-15: Lyra is sick so I’m trying to do e-learning as a teacher and supporting the kids. FUN!

2022-12-14: Beau Miles has a new video up. “I’m going to spend 12 days doing new things.” This …

2022-12-11: This weeks* resolution: Things that can wait, can wait. I don’t need to do everything now. I …

2022-12-10: Nothing but good things to say about Porkbun for dealing with my domain. Any issues have been with …

2022-12-09: Couple of hooligans. ❤️

2022-12-07: “A child enters your home and for the next twenty years makes so much noise you can hardly stand it. …

2022-12-07: Loved the finish to Andor. Barry Season 3. 2 episodes in but damn. L and I enjoyed the first …

2022-12-07: Not my favourite Slow Horses book but still love the writing. Finished reading: Spook Street by Mick …

2022-12-06: I write this, then two minutes later…

2022-12-06: ‘It was like an apocalyptic movie’: 20 climate photographs that changed the world - Climate crisis - …

2022-12-06: Without caffeine I wouldn’t have the explosive energy required to sit in a chair all day every day. …

2022-12-04: I think I had a lie in. Was in bed till 8:30!!

2022-12-03: Enjoyed the first episode of Slow Horses Season 2.

2022-12-02: Just like that. We can finally leave our compound freely. Haven’t been past these gates in three …

2022-12-01: Things I use my Apple Watch for Silent alarm To find my phone Heart rate monitor for exercise. Is …

2022-12-01: Just realised there’s new Slow Horses tomorrow!

2022-12-01: Wordless words are now involving puns?! FEAST on thanksgiving? How the Wordle editor is ruining …

2022-12-01: Happy to see kottke.org back again. One of those sites that I associate with the internet because …

2022-11-30: Finally finished one.

2022-11-30: I’m still on Twitter because it does give me lots to think about for my teaching. And I come …

2022-11-30: This Fred again Boiler Room mix has been sustaining me the last couple of days. Lockdown is hard.

2022-11-29: Still no Ted Lasso Season 3 date. FYI

2022-11-27: A fun game of Ticket To Ride on Board Game Arena with friends in Australia.

2022-11-27: I Can’t Be Trusted aka I Am The Weakest Link aka I Can’t Put My Screen Away Down What …

2022-11-26: Feels like the plot is secondary to just loving the writing. May go back and watch the Apple TV …

2022-11-26: Normalize the boring, useful gift. critter.blog

2022-11-24: It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but I am loving Thumper+ on Apple Arcade. Reminds me of Super …

2022-11-23: Skating the empty pool.

2022-11-20: We continue to watch The Peripheral but not with the greatest of enthusiasm. Definitely enjoying …

2022-11-20: Getting Yumo involved in the morning coffee.

2022-11-19: Turned on “Show posts but no replies” in the settings and it’s makes the timeline …

2022-11-19: Currently falling down a DAP rabbit hole. No audiophile, I just can’t be trusted with my phone …

2022-11-17: Schrödinger’s kids - hypothetical kids may be considered simultaneously both (sounding like …

2022-11-15: Today’s prompt is aluminium which is, of course, pronounced aluminium and not aluminium. I jest. In …

2022-11-13: Since we’re in lockdown again, I’ve started making little zines again. Helpful to try and get some …

2022-11-13: When I asked him why somebody who didn’t have very much seemed so happy, he said, because “I have a …

2022-11-09: It’s “funny” how much I, as a teacher of small children, strongly dislike working …

2022-11-08: Love this post by Austin Kleon on skateboarding. A wealth of links too. Drawing at the skate park - …

2022-11-08: Going back to online learning tomorrow here in China.

2022-11-08: Hi Koo!

2022-11-08: I miss A Softer World.

2022-11-08: Phone advice… Would like to upgrade my wife’s iPhone 11(I think). Is the 14 enough? No deep interest …

2022-11-06: We went out on our skateboards today and messed about and it was great. Made this video of Elise and …

2022-11-06: Matthew McConaughey Dudes Journal #greenlightsjournal - YouTube

2022-11-06: Matthew McConaughey Dudes Journal - YouTube

2022-11-05: Six O’Clock wake up Fighting myself for patience Throat swabs and coffee

2022-11-05: Day 4, finally got around to 5 hours after getting up. Aiming for consistency across all the rounds. …

2022-11-04: “In this clip from a 2019 panel on “Self Esteem in the Age of Social Media,” comedian Bo …

2022-11-03: Todays anaerobic training. 5 rounds of 1min max effort and then 5 minutes rest. My Apple Watch …

2022-11-03: The gym is closed. Which is a source of frustration because it’s an important part of my …

2022-11-03: This set of Experts rating emojis is why I do love the internet, sometimes.

2022-11-03: A common issue in China is our multi-letter names versus Chinese names of 2 or 3 characters. So it …

2022-11-02: Finally dragged myself out of bed at 5:30 to row. Today was an endurance piece. It was a struggle… …

2022-10-31: So, the gym I use is closed for renovations. Which is horrible because working out is so important …

2022-10-29: Girls are awesome

2022-10-18: 3x 1km rows. A little faster than last time. A chance to get out of my head for a little while.

2022-10-18: When the thing you need to do is the last thing you feel like doing. In this case, that thing is …

2022-10-16: ❤️

2022-10-14: Opened the fridge to this surprise! #dayinthelife

2022-10-13: With both Hong Kong and Taiwan getting rid of restrictions and welcoming back tourists, mainland …

2022-10-12: As a teacher, something we talk about to parents about is making Maths real. At our age range …

2022-10-08: Remembering that it’s worth working on your health before you have to work on your health Had a go …

2022-10-08: The Big [Censored] Theory When the Netflix-produced Korean show Squid Game went viral and won …

2022-10-08: I was considering getting an old iPod recently but for different reasons. I just wanted to …

2022-10-07: Reasons I put on weight Eating sweet foods so the kids don’t. If I eat the rest of the biscuits …

2022-10-05: the way you act is contagious to people around you The Mirror – Jakob Greenfeld Via the amazing …

2022-10-05: Misogi: Do Something So Hard 1 Day a Year That It Profoundly Impacts the Other 364 | by Sam’s …

2022-10-05: I don’t really listen to podcasts, I never feel I have the time but I enjoyed this discussion …

2022-10-01: Currently re-reading Vicious Circle by Mike Carey. Am still feeling, just generally overwhelmed with …

2022-10-01: Played some Lego Jurassic World on the Switch with the kids today, that was a whole lot of fun …

2022-09-30: Yup, definitely the conversion I’m looking for…

2022-09-28: How I’m feeling.

2022-09-25: Be Drunk by Charles Baudelaire - Poems | Academy of American Poets

2022-09-25: You’re not selfish if you take the afternoon off because you’re tired or headachey or cranky or …

2022-09-25: Creating a reading list. A mixture of fiction, non-fiction, classics and new authors. Setting a …

2022-09-25: Say goodbye to the ‘tiger mom’. Welcome to the school of jellyfish parenting I feel this. In China …

2022-09-24: Since, L and I quite happily didn’t drink in August I’ve realised that sometimes, certain drinks …

2022-09-24: Looking at old photos of the kids. I have two thoughts… They’ve grown so much. I still wear that. …

2022-09-21: Your Kids Are Not Keeping Score - The Daily Dad

2022-09-21: Really think about it. What’s the smallest number of hours you could work per week and keep your …

2022-09-21: Mosquitos didn’t wake me up, but they kept me awake.

2022-09-18: I remember when I was at university cough years ago and mp3 players were just becoming more common. …

2022-09-15: Explaining how to make a roux to the boy

2022-09-10: The Enigma of the Eel: The Elusive Science of Earth’s Most Mysterious Creature – The Marginalian And …

2022-09-10: 10 Reasons Forrest Gump is American Royalty

2022-09-10: Enjoyed this talk about the the book and see, and feel, a lot of myself at the moment in it. …

2022-09-10: Wordle 448 4/6 ⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜ ⬜🟩⬜⬜🟨 ⬜🟩⬜🟩⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Took a while but got there, aim high innit.

2022-09-08: Meanwhile, Chengdu, city of 21m, has Covid lockdown extended indefinitely - China - The Guardian

2022-09-08: Sitting at my desk at 7am feels both better than being grumpy at home but also, overall, worse.

2022-09-07: Now is now, it can never be anything else wrote Laura Ingalls Wilder. It’s all we have. We should …

2022-09-06: You need to honor work by not working. You need to not be all about business. Don’t Be Always …

2022-09-06: Some things Since the kids started school they are both falling asleep so much faster. Bedtime is still …

2022-09-05: Wordle 443 4/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-09-04: Elise was lucky enough to do this yesterday! 🪂

2022-09-03: Wordle 441 4/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜ ⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Ha.

2022-09-02: What kids actually want is you. What kids actually need is Dad. As Dear Abby quite brilliantly put …

2022-08-30: Hasn’t rained in weeks. First day of school, it’s tipping it down.

2022-08-29: Wordle 436 2/6 ⬜⬜⬜🟩⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Carlton.gif

2022-08-29: Working up to a G-Shock!

2022-08-28: I know I should read more but struggling to get into the right headspace to do so. Feel like I’m …

2022-08-27: MIA - Paper Planes (Sung by 210 Movies!) - YouTube So cool.

2022-08-25: The hallmark of a resilient, productive and sustainable culture is that disagreements aren’t risky. …

2022-08-25: Should have gone to bed earlier.

2022-08-23: We’re often presented with an image of parenting that is a bit too perfect. Like a Norman Rockwell …

2022-08-23: I thought that the whole city I live in, a city of a few million people, needs a COVID test tomorrow …

2022-08-21: It’s taken 40 years but great peaches are something else right? 🍑 Never too late.

2022-08-21: Yumo sprayed me with the plant sprayer thing at 6:15am. An auspicious start to the last day of the …

2022-08-20: Massage I had a headache, just a dull ache. I think it’s related to being stressed about going back to …

2022-08-18: Today’s TOKIO TŌKYŌ TOKYO is great. I sympathise with not being able to get coffee early in …

2022-08-17: Some translations are amusing and others combine English in unique ways. Though often it’s hard to …

2022-08-16: Today I am grateful for making the time for coffee with friends, something I don’t do enough and …

2022-08-15: I know @maique has mentioned it but if you haven’t I cant recommend @craigmod ‘pop …

2022-08-15: Over the heat now.

2022-08-14: Really enjoyed this Netflix documentary. Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story (2022) - IMDb Follows …

2022-08-13: Ha! I haven’t watched BCS but this made me chuckle, comments are good too! New promo images for …

2022-08-13: Saturday morning Mario 3D World. Taking suggestions for other similar, child friendly games we could …

2022-08-13: Someone once tried to shame Stilpo for his daughter’s reputation. His reply is worth noting: “She is …

2022-08-08: Be consistent. More than nothing.

2022-08-07: 🥵

2022-08-06: Your water is haunted by the ghosts of other people. All the other people. Things I haven’t …

2022-08-05: Today is 10 years, to the day, that I arrived in China and the path my life too forever changed. …

2022-08-05: Still impressed that I’ve managed to keep doing a photo a day that I, eventually, print and then put …

2022-08-05: Wordle 412 5/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-08-05: Adult exercise Found this interesting. We want people doing exercise, especially as adults, but how do we get …

2022-08-03: Packed lunch dinners Elise has always had school lunch but with Yumo joining soon, we will soon be paying for 3 school …

2022-08-03: evenings and weekends Yes to this, I don’t know how people can put the kids to bed and then do more work. I just can’t. As …

2022-08-01: reciprocal virtues The happiest older people I’ve ever seen are hanging out with each other. The crankiest ones seem to …

2022-07-31: Dads on tour I went away with some friends from work last week. 5 days away. 5 days away from Lyra …

2022-07-23: If I wanted to let Yumo play this at home, what would I need?

2022-07-23: 10 Rules for Assertive Rest - by Jessica Hagy

2022-07-22: A nice reminder for parents. You think you’ve got your act together, then you have kids. You think …

2022-07-22: For example: If I wake up and check messages and social media … would I like to spend that time in …

2022-07-21: 漏奶华。Fried toast with sweetened milk filling and covered in cocoa. So delicious. We had it in …

2022-07-21: Focus. I struggle with it, like so many of us do. I turned off notifications on my phone, now I just …

2022-07-20: It feels like, It’s not just getting Time To yourself . It’s having time, With the right Frame of …

2022-07-20: Everyone Everywhere Needs Waymond Wang - YouTube Everything Everywhere All At Once is a genre …

2022-07-18: Lunch

2022-07-18: Chongqing, China. Urban population, approximately 8 million. Province population, approximately 30 …

2022-07-16: 21 Spooky Triangles Where Things Get Lost - by Jessica Hagy

2022-07-14: Found myself strongly agreeing with this. “I’ve always known that I enjoy time with the kids more …

2022-07-14: Cooler today so got outside! Only 33… Had to stop briefly to look for Elise. She was at home. All …

2022-07-11: The biggest barrier to creativity is feeling that it’s not for you. We were trying to bypass …

2022-07-11: Car says hot!

2022-07-11: Microphone help! I have sometimes recorded me talking to the kids but feel like a microphone would …

2022-07-11: We really enjoyed Everything Everywhere All At Once. It was also cool to see the family switching …

2022-07-11: Why we need to recognise the power of teacher expectations - Tes Magazine

2022-07-09: Regret and my new exercise mantra So here’s what you do. When you’re faced with a tough decision, picture yourself in the future …

2022-07-07: They are always your babies. The mother of all worries never stops - Parents and parenting - The …

2022-07-07: Wordle 383 4/6 ⬛🟨⬛🟨⬛ ⬛⬛🟨🟨⬛ ⬛🟨⬛⬛🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-07-06: Actually got to the gym today instead of working out in the balcony. Was good to have some company …

2022-07-04: Dealing with the temperature by sitting in a shallow river in a plastic chair.

2022-07-03: Some press ups, some sit ups and tuck jumps, some drawing and some learning how to write in a tally. …

2022-07-03: Americans would call it grilled cheese right? A fried cheese sandwich? Except we added, tuna, mayo …

2022-07-02: Wordle 378 3/6 🟨⬛🟨🟩⬛ 🟨🟨🟨🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Still playing?

2022-07-02: When it’s hot, eat hot pot, obviously.

2022-07-01: Alex Honnold takes another, very competent, free soloing for the first time. Such a nervy video …

2022-06-30: I just watched Beau Miles looking for a wallet and enjoyed it. (It’s not really about the wallet.) …

2022-06-29: like this quote about doing things you want as a parent The other thing I would like to say is that once you have kids we often think that once they get in …

2022-06-29: Quick question: I often see books quotes here in an image with the words on the left and the book …

2022-06-28: Carry a book like you would a phone! gilest.org: Daydreaming is better than doomscrolling

2022-06-25: A while back, I read a quote that said something to the effect of “all of us have experiences, but …

2022-06-25: The point is, when you’ve been conducting your working life at the speed of a freight train, it …

2022-06-23: , again Starting Ending Packing up lives Goodbyes Tearing Embracing Promises to keep Sleep

2022-06-22: Wordle 368 4/6 ⬛🟨⬛⬛⬛ ⬛🟨🟨⬛⬛ ⬛⬛⬛🟨🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-06-21: We used to call these superman’s. It started with the kids then they asked me to do it with their …

2022-06-19: Reverse angles

2022-06-19: Sonder: to realize that everybody on Earth is living a life as complicated, intense, and vibrantly …

2022-06-18: Compassion fatigue If your role requires you to be emotionally available and empathetic, then your cup needs to be …

2022-06-18: Do not get in the way As a parent, you need to let go. You need to let your child blossom. You need to think of your child …

2022-06-18: Sometimes, the things you need are not the things you do. Funny that.

2022-06-18: Looking down from the golden eagle and looking up to it.

2022-06-18: PSA - At least for Apple One, Family sharing is only allowed if your Apple Store is configured to …

2022-06-17: Selfies

2022-06-17: I know I’m not 100% because I slept through to my alarm, which I rarely do. It’s something that I …

2022-06-16: 流沙包 is one of those things we don’t translate because “steamed egg custard buns” isn’t as catchy. So …

2022-06-16: TWENTY REASONS FOR BEING Another poem

2022-06-15: swissmiss - A Poem for Someone Who is Juggling Her Life

2022-06-15: 1 mile run * 100 skips 80 sit ups 60 KB swings at 55lb 40 pull ups 24ish minutes *Long way round to …

2022-06-14: a solid litmus test for low value work. If you could do it hungover, it’s probably low value. …

2022-06-12: Blueberry field in the rain

2022-06-12: I realised that twice last week that I talked to people about some of the things that are constantly …

2022-06-11: Take care. Ducks on the road.

2022-06-11: I don’t think I’ve ever rewatched something as fast as I’m rewatching the first season of the …

2022-06-10: I still remember the first time I thought I was deathly sick one morning before realising it was …

2022-06-09: Live forever Want to live forever? Be kind. Make the world shine! Even just a little To create a glow That …

2022-06-09: Always feel like getting up silly early is a double edged sword. Youngest “bed danced” me awake at …

2022-06-09: The Whippet 148 How do you know if you genuinely need rest, or you’re just using that to …

2022-06-09: Always enjoys Beau’s videos. Racing an excavator to save this house’s wood from landfill - YouTube

2022-06-08: One of them In bed… One of them barely moves One of them is doing interpretive dance In the morning… …

2022-06-07: Kate Bush trending Glad that Kate Bush is trending again. For me it brings back memories of our old Volvo estate. The …

2022-06-04: The noodles, when they’re good are so good.

2022-06-04: I enjoyed this piece about walking the Cotswold since I grew up nearby And I like the idea of a …

2022-06-04: It was 5am. On a Saturday. Of a 3-day weekend. I’m thinking about my science lesson on Monday.

2022-06-03: Reddit

2022-06-02: The date I arrived back in China after visiting the UK nearly three years ago.Have not left, nor …

2022-06-02: Photos of me, by the kids.

2022-06-01: What’s the most important thing in our lives? What’s the next most important thing? What are we …

2022-05-31: We have no working way to get photos off the camera except this!

2022-05-31: Using Mood to track my mood once a day.

2022-05-31: Enjoyed this one the most of the first 3 Slow Horses books. Finished reading: Real Tigers by Mick …

2022-05-29: Because why wouldn’t there be a dinosaur wrapped in a towel in the bathroom to startle you?

2022-05-29: Long story short. A friend has me browsing second hand film cameras. In the meantime I got …

2022-05-29: “The inner workings of the mind of a teacher in 2022” from Unsplash A newsletter I …

2022-05-29: Currently reading the third Slough House book. The story line is fine and enjoyable but I am loving …

2022-05-29: “Warning; before beginning a program of physical inactivity, consult your doctor. Sedentary living …

2022-05-28: Coffee in the rain.

2022-05-28: Be a good steward of your gifts. Protect your time. Feed your inner life. Avoid too much noise. Read …

2022-05-28: Watching some of the students in my class this week I realised you can “pull down” on the iPad …

2022-05-27: Is there a simple way to share an article from NetNewsWire to Micro.blog on my iPad?

2022-05-27: Elise is loving Prehistoric Planet on Apple TV+. Dinosaurs in a nature programme style with David …

2022-05-27: Mornings are the best, but also the worst. ⬆️Morning cuddles ⬇️Losing your patience at the start of …

2022-05-26: Wordle 341 2/6 ⬛🟨🟨🟩🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Carlton.gif

2022-05-25: Ask. Our need for help is simply not obvious to others, so make it clear that you want help. Do you …

2022-05-25: Wordle 340 5/6 ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟨⬛🟨🟨⬛ ⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 This is the way.

2022-05-24: Lot on at work this week. I have been trying to not let it overwhelm me (as I do normally). …

2022-05-23: 7:45pm. Lost my patience. Just ran out of steam. Just annoying. So close to making it.

2022-05-23: Florence + The Machine - Free The feeling comes so fast and I cannot control it I’m on fire, …

2022-05-22: When you meet with opposition, even if it should be from your husband or your children, endeavor to …

2022-05-22: A night away with Lyra feels like turning myself off and on again.

2022-05-22: The best bit about hotels is always how little stuff I have when I’m in them.

2022-05-22: Rewatching Ted Lasso with Lyra. So good to see it a second time around and to watch it again it’s …

2022-05-21: Night away with Lyra. This is me just sitting and not having to have half an eye, ear or mind on the …

2022-05-21: Our 3 HomePods are all an hour fast. No idea why. No idea how to rectify it. Which is great.

2022-05-21: Grateful to @patrickrhone for writing this post about friendship because it has spurred me to …

2022-05-21: Top tip! Want some time alone at the weekend? It’s easy, get up at 5am. Then when the kids wake at …

2022-05-21: Wide awake at 5am on the weekend.

2022-05-19: Wordle 334 6/6 ⬛🟨⬛⬛🟩 ⬛⬛🟩⬛🟩 ⬛⬛🟩⬛🟩 🟨⬛🟩⬛🟩 ⬛🟩🟩🟨🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-05-19: Forty and one day.

2022-05-19: Sidecar is great. It just worked. Now I need something to hold up my iPad. Any recommendations for …

2022-05-19: Pretty good present haul this year. iPad, skateboard, booze, some Lush body spray, French fries and …

2022-05-19: Parents got me a cake. Sponge with dried pineapple, rosemary, mint, seaweed and meat floss. While I …

2022-05-16: Not going to the gym because I’m skateboarding with Elise.

2022-05-14: Wordle 329 2/6 ⬛🟨🟩🟨⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-05-13: each haircut each set of outgrown clothes each start of a new school year moves us closer to that …

2022-05-13: This post about being a father and a teacher is basically me. Strange to read something that so …

2022-05-12: Not sure why I’m shushing the kids as I sneak up on something in Breath of the Wild. Also, my horse …

2022-05-11: Everything in your life has a tiny string tugging at your attention. I like this way of thinking …

2022-05-10: Excited that Craig Mod’s new Pop-up Newsletter is from near where I grew up. Starting on thhe …

2022-05-10: Coffee machine isn’t working. Worst day ever.

2022-05-08: So. My Chinese credit card will work to buy books from Amazon but not digital products like a …

2022-05-07: Guilt Won’t Help – Daily Dad This job is hard enough. You are flawed enough. You have screwed up …

2022-05-07: Noodles 🍜

2022-05-07: What case do you use for your iPad? Would you recommend it?

2022-05-07: We’re Living in the Golden Age of Competitive M&M Stacking

2022-05-06: In other news. Our summer holidays this year are the longest ever. But we’re going to be unable to …

2022-05-06: Really enjoying Knotwords. A new word game with a free daily puzzle. Looks like it should be far …

2022-05-05: Left my copy of Four Thousand Weeks somewhere when out for dinner. Apparently I bought it in …

2022-05-05: Wordle 320 6/6 🟨⬛⬛🟩⬛ ⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩 ⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩 ⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩 ⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-05-03: I love teaching but on the days you’re not feeling it it’s hard work. And it’s not the acting …

2022-05-02: Walked 30minutes to see how far I’d get while listening to a podcast.

2022-05-02: When you open Wordle to realise you’ve already solved it.

2022-05-02: Nintendo won’t accept my new credit card. Oh. It’s not activated. That must be it. …

2022-05-01:

2022-04-30: A buffet is not a challenge. A buffet is not a challenge. A buffet is not a challenge. A buffet is …

2022-04-30: Ginseng and coffee and life! A litre of coffee that basically comes in a bucket.

2022-04-30: Getting moving with @CrossfitLinchpin

2022-04-30: Efficiency is highly overrated; Goofing off is highly underrated. Regularly scheduled sabbaths, …

2022-04-30: At first try I think I much prefer the timeline without replies that you can now do in @Gluon!

2022-04-29: BeBold101 - Nicholas Bate

2022-04-29: We get so wrapped up in numbers in our society. The most important thing is that we are able to be …

2022-04-29: We were in the taxi on the way to school. Elise said something to me in annoyance, love (maybe) but …

2022-04-28: Technology is great but the practicalities of trying to manage a class of using it can be “tricky”.

2022-04-27:

2022-04-26: Decided to walk home and ended up walking home with a colleague, which was nice

2022-04-26: Interesting chat during reading with the 7/8 year olds in my class about watching things when I was …

2022-04-25: The balance between solitude and loneliness is a knife’s edge. I feel this one so much. Between …

2022-04-25: Wordle 310 3/6 ⬛🟨⬛🟩🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Almost.

2022-04-24: Episode 57 Rain or sunshine?

2022-04-24: Rain or sunshine? reddit.com/r/stoicism

2022-04-23: CrossFit Linchpin 112 dumbbell power snatch at 20kg 6:51

2022-04-22: Incredibly, your Apple HomePod may now be worth more than its $299 MSRP - The Verge

2022-04-22: So cool… right?!

2022-04-22: The act of drawing something has a “massive” benefit for memory compared with writing it down – …

2022-04-22: Walking and talking with Yumo was just amazing. Sure the location was quiet, cool, in nature but …

2022-04-22: Shared joy is double joy. Shared sorrow is half a sorrow. Swedish proverb. What joy or sorrow have …

2022-04-22: I love Beau Miles videos so much. I could listen to him talking forever. In his new video he …

2022-04-22: Was empty when we drove through, but imagine if it was busy…

2022-04-22: Wordle 307 2/6 ⬛🟨🟨⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Already hung the washing I put on at 3am but also already did yhis by …

2022-04-21: Little morning walk with Elise

2022-04-20: Basketball in the mountains

2022-04-20: Just finished Season 8 of Letterkenny and now have M83 - Do It, Try It lodged firmly in my head.

2022-04-19: Spent some time with just our eldest today. The difference between being with both of them is just …

2022-04-17: testing

2022-04-17: Just finished Severance and now I want to watch it all over again. Really enjoyed it. 📺

2022-04-17: Kai: Who are you? Po: I’ve been asking myself that question. Am I the son of a panda? The son …

2022-04-17: Do love this short video of Magnus Carlsen playing chess in a bar. Magnus at my university bar …

2022-04-17: The Case Against Homework - Alfie Kohn

2022-04-16: Flying from the US to China Quite a list

2022-04-16: Wordle 301 3/6 ⬛⬛⬛🟩⬛ ⬛⬛🟨🟩⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-04-15: Welcome to the real life. It sucks, but you’ll love it. sometimes. From a new cafe-restaurant’s …

2022-04-13: Took Elise to McDonald’s today, so that we could get out of the house since she got up so early.

2022-04-13: Switched the cold part of the shower to the beginning and it’s definitely more challenging.

2022-04-12: 20minutes 400m 15 burpees 4 rounds + 7 burpees Went slow so as to keep moving. White tshirt on a wet …

2022-04-12: Still slowly making my way through Four Thousand Weeks and scribbled this on my desk. I’ve also …

2022-04-12: Meditation and making coffee myself was replaced with cuddles and Yumo trying to help. I’ll take …

2022-04-11: Wordle 296 3/6 ⬛🟨⬛⬛🟨 🟩⬛⬛🟩⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Fun one today…

2022-04-10: After it popping up in so many newsletters I’m finally, very slowly, reading Oliver …

2022-04-10: Very excited that the new Rivers of London book by Ben Aaronovitch is out.

2022-04-10: (1) your creativity to fatigue (2) your health to busyness (3) your focus to e-mail (4) your passion …

2022-04-09: 油茶 Porridge with spices, fried chicken peas and “crunchy bits” absolutely shouldn’t be a great …

2022-04-09: Watching baseball in Apple TV with morning coffee. Not a clue what’s going on but try something new! …

2022-04-08: Think I’m going to treat myself to a new iPad Air for my 40th in May. But I don’t want to wait, I …

2022-04-06: E: (Drinking Non-dairy chocolate milk for the first time.) Is this made from plants. Does this mean …

2022-04-05: Home exercise .

2022-04-05: Finished reading: Dead Lions by Mick Herron 📚. Really enjoyed this second book. A few bits really …

2022-04-05: 100 ways to slightly improve your life without really trying | The Guardian Try something new …

2022-04-05: Wordle 290 6/6 ⬛🟩🟩⬛⬛ ⬛🟩🟩⬛⬛ ⬛🟩🟩⬛⬛ ⬛🟩🟩⬛⬛ ⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-04-05: Being the early riser in a couple before kids: 🥳 Being the early riser in a couple after kids: 😬

2022-04-05: Today is a national holiday in China so we get Tuesday off. I guess this is a little like what a 4 …

2022-04-03: The average runner runs too fast on their slow days and too slow on their fast days.  Yup. Source: …

2022-04-03: If you haven’t watched Jelle’s Marble Runs - marble racing with commentary - before then …

2022-04-03: Elise has really taken to Santorini. Which is cool. Now, I have to prepare myself for her beating …

2022-04-02: Wordle 287 2/6 🟨⬛🟨🟨⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Oooooo

2022-04-02: Annie Mac to launch club night ending at 12am ‘for people who need sleep’ - The Guardian Still late …

2022-04-01: Did something for me Because choices must be made You can’t have it all Inspired by this Austin …

2022-03-31: Hit Them With One Of These – Daily Dad

2022-03-31: The physical therapy metaphor | Seth’s Blog

2022-03-31: Told school today that I won’t be travelling to the UK this summer. Was always the decision but …

2022-03-28: Our parent and teacher meetings today are all online. 21 15minute meetings today…

2022-03-27: Giving up trying to update my Watch 3 but also don’t seem to be able to skip the update.

2022-03-26: I’m happy with Pocketcasts on my iPhone but are there decent podcast apps for my Macbook you …

2022-03-26: Four of us from work exercise 3 times a week in our school gym.m We write our workouts on the board. …

2022-03-25: Got an email to ask what my summer plans were… I know I’m not going to leave China for a host of …

2022-03-24:

2022-03-23: So. Was reading a text with some students about bees. So. Today I am grateful for bees and their …

2022-03-23: Currently finding my son a whole lot of stress. I love him so much.

2022-03-23: Day 2. Power cleans and writing. Something for the body and something for the mind.

2022-03-23: Finished reading: Slow Horses by Mick Herron 📚 Really enjoyed this. Going to have to resist reading …

2022-03-22: Left work a little earlier today. I find teaching is a job where there’s always something else I …

2022-03-22: Feeling much better after doing some exercise yesterday.

2022-03-22: Currently reading: Slow Horses by Mick Herron 📚 in advance of the new Apple TV show.

2022-03-19: Currently, this is cutting a little too close to home. When I burnt out and how I recovered

2022-03-19: The Batman

2022-03-19: Saw The Batman last night. Not knowing much about it. After getting over the idea it wasn’t Nolan or …

2022-03-18: I could potentially travel _ home_ to the UK from China this summer but realistically it’s not …

2022-03-17: “If you weren’t my dad I will be your friend.”

2022-03-16: Wordle 270 5/6 🟨🟩🟩🟩⬛ ⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-03-16: Urgh. 2 or 5.

2022-03-16: COVID things are picking up a bit again in China as they try and come down on cases again. From …

2022-03-15: There’s no reason to rush. There’s no reason to rush through bedtime or dinner or the game. There’s …

2022-03-14: Inevitable

2022-03-13: Tofu and chilli

2022-03-11: You screwed up. No way to change that. But the one thing about parenting is that it gives you second …

2022-03-10: Still got A Softer World in my head.

2022-03-10: its not the pressure its the pressure, over time constant erosion I’ve been rereading asofterword. I …

2022-03-08: I feel like The problem with your partner giving you Some time To yourself. Is that, if …

2022-03-06: Wordle 260 4/6 ⬛⬛🟨⬛⬛ ⬛🟨⬛⬛🟨 ⬛⬛🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-03-05: What else you going to do at 7am on Saturday?!

2022-03-04: Sometimes the kids take such lovely photos.

2022-03-04: Wordle 258 3/6 ⬛🟨⬛🟨⬛ ⬛⬛🟩🟩⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-03-04: Had a lovely evening, some pizza and beers with friends. Time to go home and relax… LOL I …

2022-03-04: Children born of two Places, cultures, languages Living in two worlds

2022-03-04: Have been working on remembering my MEDS recently. Meditation, exercise, diet and sleep. These being …

2022-03-04: This morning, at work, I will be dressing up as a piece of fruit for a hastily put together …

2022-03-03: At some point in January I decided I wanted to print one photo a day and put it in an album. I got a …

2022-03-01: Bowl of oil Bowl of beer Bowl of boiling hot fat Living in this region of China. I can’t resist the …

2022-03-01: Wordle 255 4/6 🟩⬛⬛🟩⬛ 🟩⬛⬛🟩⬛ 🟩🟨⬛🟩⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-03-01: Normally my frustrations build and build until they crash To leave regrets thrown about scattered up …

2022-03-01:

2022-03-01: Shout out to the primary/elementary teachers grateful for March since it’s so much easier to write …

2022-02-28: Our class is meeting this author this week. A book written in prose about a by trying to fit in. I …

2022-02-27: I’m genuinely loving Letterkenny. So much that I’m moderating how quickly I watch it.

2022-02-27: Despite living in the city of 8 years and driving for 5, my sense of direction here is poor. So we …

2022-02-26: Wordle 252 3/6 ⬛⬛⬛⬛🟨 🟩⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-02-25: 🐻‍❄️

2022-02-25: 🐻‍❄️💃

2022-02-22: When you come to something so late but you’re so happy because there’s so much to …

2022-02-20: I like Austin Kleon a lot. I have his first book, that is currently on loan to a colleague. While I …

2022-02-20: the expectation that teacher should give up evenings and weekends in order to meet minimum standards …

2022-02-19: We loved Peacemaker. For so many reasons, well Just Eagley really

2022-02-19: Eyeing up the food a friend’s new restaurant.

2022-02-19: I love you. I’m proud of you. It’s you I like. You are special. You are enough. You’re the most …

2022-02-18: Some teens seek out COVID shots against their parents’ 175 wishes : Shots - Health News : NPR

2022-02-17: Urgh. Wordle. Lyra old word list because the new site doesn’t load in China. Everyone else I …

2022-02-16: Today’s solution diverges from the original Wordle’s :( Very confusing at the moment! Source: The …

2022-02-16: The wonderful world of Chinese hi-fi The Verge isn’t blocked in China so I occasionally open …

2022-02-15: 22 Things for a Saturday on Planet Earth - Nicholas Bate

2022-02-14: “I’m a believer in the ordinary and the mundane. These guys that talk about ‘quality time’ — I …

2022-02-14: Elise: Mum! Dad! Yumo threw a new toy out the window. (We live on the 3rd floor) Us: What. What …

2022-02-12: Sitting on a plastic stool with another as a table, on the kerb of a busy road. These are perhaps my …

2022-02-12: Wordle 238 3/6 🟨🟨🟩⬛⬛ 🟨⬛🟩⬛🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-02-11: Wordle’s original url now redirects to the new one. Which means that it’s stopped working in China …

2022-02-08: I like the challenge of Wordle and sometimes I do want to get it in the least number of guesses. …

2022-02-08: Wordle 234 3/6 🟨🟨⬛🟨⬛ ⬛🟩🟩⬛🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-02-07: 150 burpees

2022-02-06: I may have complained in the past that some in some Sichuan dishes the meat is so small and bony as …

2022-02-05: We are loving Peacemaker. Though, my biggest concern is Eagley’s well-being.

2022-02-05: Good Things A personal compilation of good sensory things in life.

2022-02-05: Does everyone else write notes and ideas for Wordle? I can’t imagine not doing it.

2022-02-05: Not the gym I want And it is far from perfect But it is enough

2022-02-02: Elise just said, “It’s cuddle time mister!” to me.

2022-02-02: Book a prize: Idaho library has wait list for story eight-year-old hid on a shelf | Books Loved this …

2022-02-02: Wordle 228 3/6 ⬛⬛🟨⬛🟨 🟨⬛🟨⬛🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-02-02:

2022-02-01: The watch strap broke on my old one but it still fits Elise! We synchronised watches too!

2022-02-01: The watch strap broke on my old one but it still fits Elise! We synchronised watches too!

2022-02-01:

2022-01-31: Hand in hand in hand in hand.

2022-01-31: CrossFit Linchpin workout today. Good to be moving but this is the second day in a run that I’ve …

2022-01-30: “When somewhere familiar to you feels exotic, you’re winning” Beau Miles’ …

2022-01-30: I can’t focus to write it properly. So here’s a list. I runned. Just went out and did it. We joke …

2022-01-29: Communal bikes We live in a ‘compound’ of 8 18-floor towers. All the kids leave their bikes and scooters on the …

2022-01-29: We’re loving Peacemaker but if something happens to Eagley…

2022-01-29: Introduced Lyra and her friends to leading with 3 set words on Wordle and then going from there. Her …

2022-01-28: For reasons I got up at 4am. I know I’m going to crash later but right now, I am loving the …

2022-01-28: I should listen to some new* music I’ll put this playlist on Get to 4th song Love this one …

2022-01-27: Spent a whole lot of time looking at G-Shocks…

2022-01-27: Wordle has the additional bonus for my wife and her friends to learn lots of new English words!

2022-01-27: Up at 5:15. Today was easier and I was happier to do it. Was drifting in and out of sleep. Then …

2022-01-27: Quincy Jones: Nadia Boulanger used to tell me all the time, “Quincy, your music can never be more or …

2022-01-27: We do not teach because by doing so we can eradicate the differences between rich and poor. We do …

2022-01-26: Day 146 Stand up and walk away Your desk, your work, from busy There’s a world outside! Up at 5:30 …

2022-01-25: Shot on iPhone 13 Pro | Chinese New Year - The Comeback | Apple - YouTube

2022-01-25: Better Results in your Home Gym, 22 - Nicholas Bate Yeah I like this list. My issue is accepting …

2022-01-25: What else you going to listen to at 5:33 Followed by; 27-21-15-9 Burpees Sit ups 11:31

2022-01-24: Two years ago today…

2022-01-24: Wordle 219 3/6 ⬛⬛⬛🟩⬛ ⬛🟨⬛🟨⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Team effort* *Lyra sent me a screenshot of hers before id got to …

2022-01-24: Alarm set for 5:15 Rolled out of bed at 5:50 Decent start. Managed a little time to myself.

2022-01-24: Keep going.

2022-01-24: Those of us Brits who married non-Eu citizens before Brexit are not surprised by this. Brexit leaves …

2022-01-23: Monday to Friday I get up at 6:10 at the latest. I try to go to bed by 10, though am pretty …

2022-01-23: Dordle 7&6/7 🟨⬜⬜🟩🟨 🟨⬜🟨⬜⬜ 🟩⬜⬜🟨🟨 ⬜🟨⬜🟨⬜ 🟩⬜⬜🟩🟩 ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ 🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜ ⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ …

2022-01-23: Wordle 218 3/6 🟨⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟨⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-01-22: Board Game Areana scratches the board game itch but it’s just not the same. At least has given …

2022-01-22: Wordle 217 5/6 ⬛⬛⬛🟨⬛ ⬛⬛⬛🟨⬛ ⬛🟩🟩🟨⬛ ⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-01-22: This week. 22/1/21 With thanks to @maique for the idea. This is all off the top of my head but hoping to make notes for …

2022-01-21: I am looking forward to talking about todays Wordle with people tomorrow. *I’m going to …

2022-01-21: Dapper. Dapper is a strange word isn’t it.

2022-01-21: Monday to Friday

2022-01-21: I smell AMAZING.

2022-01-20: Why Being Bad at Games Like Wordle Doesn’t Mean You’re Not Smart– LX

2022-01-20: Came home to the kids listening to techno. Amazing.

2022-01-19: Wordle 214 2/6 ⬛⬛🟨⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 When your day peaks at 6:15am.

2022-01-18: I’ve no idea how good Peacemaker is. I just watch the opening credits on repeat.

2022-01-18: Colleague gave me these today! Such memories!

2022-01-18: Wordle 213 4/6 🟨⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟩🟩⬛⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I like this pattern but got it before I completed it!

2022-01-17: They Could Be Your Last Words – Daily Dad – The Blog Mannnn.

2022-01-17: 11:12 This was intense. 20lb wall ball 53lb kb

2022-01-17: Wordle 212 3/6 🟨⬜⬜🟨🟨 ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-01-15: So, in effect, the scientists believe we learn to forget some memories while retaining others that …

2022-01-15: Wordle 210 3/6 ⬛🟩⬛⬛⬛ ⬛🟩🟩🟨⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I’m spending lots of time overthinking this. How about you?

2022-01-15: Coffee, catching up on Wodapalooza and leftover roast duck quesadilla for the kids.

2022-01-13: Wordle 208 4/6 ⬛🟨⬛🟩⬛ 🟩⬛⬛🟩⬛ 🟩⬛⬛🟩⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Found this one tricky! Locking in the two at the start makes …

2022-01-12: Wordle too complicated? Try Letterle! Letterle 2/26 ⬜ 🟩 https://edjefferson.com/letterle/

2022-01-11: Helping Lyra practise!

2022-01-11: Wordle 206 3/6 ⬛⬛⬛🟨⬛ 🟨⬛⬛🟩🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-01-11: Two years today since we saw Mum and Dad. We were just lucky I guess that they came Christmas 2019. …

2022-01-09: Dinosaurs are kind of amazing! I realised reading about them always blows my mind. They were how …

2022-01-09: Aiming high today! Lying in bed with the two kids this morning and thinking, ‘one day I’ll miss this’ …

2022-01-09: Wordle 204 3/6 ⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩 ⬜🟩🟩⬜🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-01-08: Coffee and Onitama

2022-01-08: Kindle and spicy snacks.

2022-01-08: Wordle 203 3/6 ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬛⬛⬛🟩⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

2022-01-06: Not everything that erodes your focus is bad. Source: Execupundit.com: Focus Pocus

2022-01-06: Happy New Year. Here’s to more of the same in 2022 Source: More of the same

2022-01-05: Games and discos

2022-01-04: Do not count, just move Let’s get this thing started Hashtag Christmas abs

2022-01-03: I feel it when I open my computer at home to browse Youtube, RSS or Twitter. It’s the feeling …

2022-01-03: Unicorns, Jaipur, chocolate and beer to end off the first day of work.

2022-01-03: In the spirt of may word of the year I walked home. #slow

2022-01-02: Number 1!

2022-01-02: Starting as I mean to go on. I sat and read all of this without opening new tabs or apps. #slow …

2022-01-02: Is there an easy way to just see people’s posts and not all the replies? I want to read what …

2022-01-01: A word for the year I’ve been thinking about this a whole lot since I read it. I’ve shared it with a few …

2022-01-01: Coffee and Uno

2021-12-31: Got a massage from the blind masseur that my friend has been raving about for a long time. Was …

2021-12-31: The Wordle creator posting as Powerlanguage discusses the game and particularly the ‘one a day …

2021-12-29: Christmas. As ever, I never write because there’s always so many things I’m thinking about and I …

2021-12-27: “It’s not that we have too little time to do all the things we need to do. It’s that we …

2021-12-27: I wish OS X and iOS both had either System Preferences OR Settings. I often use search to find them …

2021-12-27: Escaping the Trap of Efficiency: The Counterintuitive Antidote to the Time-Anxiety That Haunts and …

2021-12-27: A Supervillain Origin Story in Wrestling Done Right: Cody Rhodes - YouTube

2021-12-24: For Those I Love - I Have a Love (Overmono Remix) - YouTube Love this.

2021-12-24: So close!

2021-12-24: I Asked 64,182 People About “Jingle Bells, Batman Smells”. Here’s What I Found Out. - YouTube …

2021-12-22: 22 Possible Goals for 2022 - Nicholas Bate Lots to think about in this list.

2021-12-21: One of the reasons I exercise is to keep up with the kids…

2021-12-21: Yumo lost his treasured blanket somewhere out and about yesterday… I’m sadder than he is!

2021-12-19: NINE DARTER! | WILLIE BORLAND STRIKES PERFECTION AT ALLY PALLY! - YouTube Makes me miss sitting in …

2021-12-18: 3 Things The Most Productive People Do Every Day - Barking Up The Wrong Tree‘ Move. Screens. …

2021-12-18: At a giant soft play for Elise’s classmates birthday.* *Elise goes to the school I work at so all …

2021-12-18: 10 lessons in productivity and brainstorming from The Beatles | by Tom Whitwell | Fluxx Studio Notes …

2021-12-18: composing end-of-year poems out of the fragments found in her phone notes. Going to try this later …

2021-12-16: I forget who mentioned it but I’m really enjoying The Alpinist on Netflix. Thank you stranger!

2021-12-16: Can anyone recommend a domain provider or doesn’t it matter which you choose?!

2021-12-15: If I buy a new domain for micro.blog and start using it will everything “transfer” over. Does that …

2021-12-13: Time of my life. Not feeling it today but glad I at least moved a little. 20 burpees before. 5 …

2021-12-12: Rewatching the last 2 episode of the first seeason of The Witcher in prepration for the 17th!

2021-12-12: This morning I have tried to explain what “live” music is the kids and have listened to some drum …

2021-12-11: Today was our work/friend’s* Santa Pub Crawl. We all went for the first place and the Lyra …

2021-12-11: Me Time I struggle with feeling like I need some time to myself and not getting it. We, as a family and I, …

2021-12-11: Weekend update 50 burpees done. Done in jeans because everyone else is napping.

2021-12-11: Daily Dad Again The point is not to discourage you about being a parent with these descriptions, of course. You …

2021-12-11: Currently reading: False Value (Rivers of London Book 8) by Ben Aaronovitch 📚 I’ve got so many …

2021-12-11: Weekend Update Youngest was in our bed and kicking at 2am and then awake again at 6am. I’m …

2021-12-10: Also, today marked 100 days of haikus* I walked home today And drew a heart in the dust Love is …

2021-12-10: Aims for the weekend Remain calm Do 100 burpees

2021-12-08: While it’s hard to be away from your children, it’s also hard to be with your children. At least, …

2021-12-08: A Tree a Minute: planting 1440 trees in a day As there are 1440 minutes in a day, and I love …

2021-12-07: Considering asking Father Christmas for a vibrating watch that doesn’t need charging everyday. …

2021-12-05: Portrait by Yumo (3 years old)

2021-12-05: Feedback on Feedback – 3-Star learning experiences Bookmarking

2021-12-05: 12 treasure chests in the golden age of CPD #2: Student Culture | Joe Kirby Bookmarking this.

2021-12-05: Day 82 - 92

2021-12-05: Can you say Squid Game in Korean? TV show fuels demand for east Asian language learning

2021-12-03: Volume 2 if my Zine, “Better out than in”

2021-12-02: I know I’ve seen talk of Townscaper on here but just found the web demo via Kottke. It’s lovey isn’t …

2021-12-02: Better Out Than In - Volume 1 A mini-zine.

2021-12-01: 1SecondEveryday. 50 burpees a day for 5 days of the week. Not sure why.

2021-12-01: I’m still doing my one haiku a day. Even if I’m not posting them here, I do post them on WeChat for …

2021-11-30: In other news, I’m doing 50 slow burpees before bed because doing a burpee challenge seemed …

2021-11-29: Does that make sense? Breaking bad habits – elements of learning I like the idea of trying this. …

2021-11-28: How Adam Would Book… Keith Lee - YouTube The first 2 minutes are awesome. The last 19 minutes …

2021-11-28: One page closer to a new notebook!

2021-11-28: It feels 50-50 whether I put my label less plain T-shirts on the right way around.

2021-11-27: Singing our song. Everytime by Britney. At this point I’ve forgotten why it’s this song.

2021-11-27: Elise skied for the first time today and really took to it!

2021-11-27: You’re putting a voice in their head You’re just trying to get them to behave. You’re just trying to get them to listen to you, to stop …

2021-11-25: In other news, I’ve been trying to do no screens between 9pm and 7am. It’s strange in …

2021-11-25: Literature Clock This is cool

2021-11-23: The funny thing is, my wife wouldn’t consider either of these dishes spicy. Me however I do. Can’t …

2021-11-22: Indeed, the mere expression “work/life” embodies a mistake: it assumes work and life are …

2021-11-22: A few days ago, on the way home from school, my nine year old son told me he couldn’t wait to …

2021-11-22: Wandering around in a digital swamp is a pretty common way to spend an hour these days. Alas, most …

2021-11-22: Distraction log – Chris Glass I like this idea.

2021-11-21: Love/hate this daily word game. You have 6 attempts to guess a word. Letters are yellow if correct …

2021-11-20:

2021-11-20: Dear Teacher - by Courtney Martin - the examined family Love this.

2021-11-20: Oliver Burkeman: What if I never change? • Hurry Slowly Can I make time to listen to this?!

2021-11-19: Our current thing is to say, “3,2,1 freeze” and then you have to make a pose.

2021-11-18: How could you possibly be patient? Or fun? Or supportive? Or curious? Or attentive… when …

2021-11-18: Day 78

2021-11-17: 3, 2, 1 and freeze Single beautiful moments Phone down and heart open Somehow these photos were …

2021-11-16: Note for a colleague.

2021-11-16: What It Is a book by Lynda Barry Ok one more to the “I’ll never read it” list. I …

2021-11-16: 100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet a book by Pamela Paul Putting it on a list of books …

2021-11-15: Day 75

2021-11-14: Introducing the Icelandverse - YouTube via

2021-11-13: The global streaming boom is creating a severe translator shortage - Rest of World

2021-11-13: Amelie Lens at Atomium in Brussels, Belgium for Cercle - YouTube Loving this.

2021-11-13: Will hopefully get around to watching Shang-Chi this weekend after it was never released in China. …

2021-11-12: Time is not given If we wish, we can make it We have to make time Today I was consciously trying to …

2021-11-10: Eddie Kingston Got No Business F***ing Being Here A wrestler talking about his struggles has me …

2021-11-01: father, husband, worker bee father, husband, worker bee ain’t no time left for me

2021-10-30: Super Mario 3D World is considerably easier when I play on my own and not with the kids on co-op. …

2021-10-28: A Comprehensive Guide to 250+ of Apple Music’s New Mood and Activity Playlists - Crikey.

2021-10-28: Day 58 The guilt is toxic Never enough, never good Scalds, poisons everything Trying to do the best …

2021-10-26: Has anyone used https://boardgamearena.com to play board games online? Any good?

2021-10-26: Yumo has just lost self-serving tomato sauce privileges. No single person needs that much tomato …

2021-10-24: You have to go the way your blood beats. If you don’t live the only life you have, you won’t live …

2021-10-24: It’s 7am Snacks, Switch behind the sofa At least it’s quiet

2021-10-23: day 53 high speeds, high spirits screaming, laughing and crying one more day at soft play

2021-10-23: I know that smells evoke certain memories but I find certain songs evoke strong memories of the …

2021-10-23: Sting And Shaggy: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert - YouTube

2021-10-22: So happy to see Dune at an IMAX.

2021-10-21: In a related post was this one about how what multitasking does to our brains and how as teachers we …

2021-10-21: When we as a society begin to explore the rationality of the amount of work output we expect from …

2021-10-21: Love bombing.

2021-10-20: I love by Alex Dimitro and then inspired I love by Courtney Martin who writes Write one, too? Or …

2021-10-20: The board is finished. Long live the board.

2021-10-20: Lo-ghost – Fetch Me In The Morning - YouTube This track showed up on a playlist recently but somehow …

2021-10-19: Episode 56: Are Humans Animals? Elise and I discuss it briefly!

2021-10-19: Don’t mind me, I’m over there, at 9am, crying at my desk.

2021-10-18: Garlic with aubergine. Definitely not aubergine with garlic!

2021-10-17: Can I just read now?

2021-10-17: My migrations between other people’s classrooms in different schools reminds me to see our teachers …

2021-10-17: The Imperfectionist: The life-changing magic of not tidying up

2021-10-17: Records Just write up my haikus that I’ve mostly just been posting on WeChat. And my exercise for …

2021-10-17: Sure, Elise is learning to read and that’s amazing. But, I think I’m more impressed by how she can …

2021-10-16: Follow Aaron Rolph’s 2700km bikepacking trip up the United Kingdom, taking anything but the …

2021-10-16: New idea: I will play any song the kids want again as long as they shout, “can I get a rewind?!”

2021-10-15: Sad that Friday isn’t Ted Day.

2021-10-11: 21-15-9 Deadlift 90kg Box jump Toes to bar 10:46 This one was intense.

2021-10-11: Day 41

2021-10-10: I’m happy not being a massive audiophile but sometimes when I don’t realise I’m …

2021-10-10: Day 40

2021-10-10: Can anyone recommend a Ted Lasso podcast?

2021-10-09: Day 39 Maybe make a change Maybe do the opposite Will that be the spark?

2021-10-09: Got my mug of dirty, brown water ready for the season finale!

2021-10-05: This article on words of Korean origin being added to the Oxford English dictionary is interesting. …

2021-10-04: Fireworks. Love this one that Lyra took

2021-10-03: Cheese coffee is back!

2021-10-02: We went back again for breakfast. So spicy. So delicious. We got there just before it got really …

2021-10-02: Day 2: Dark

2021-10-01: 9 years ago, 7 years ago and this morning. ❤️

2021-10-01: Where are the kids? They’re too quiet… Oh, they’re hiding behind the sofa playing Mario Kart.

2021-10-01: Touch - October Photo Challenge

2021-09-29: Last teaching day in the old building. Next week we move into the new building.

2021-09-29: The only thing worse than there being a giant spider in the office… There not being a giant …

2021-09-28:

2021-09-27: This is for @gaby

2021-09-27:

2021-09-26: Parenting From Ted Lasso’s talk of fathers, rewatching Arrival and it’s part about children, the …

2021-09-26: Sunday.

2021-09-26: Hiding

2021-09-25: (Apologies in advance, I have searched before asking!) I like the idea of using my domain for my …

2021-09-24: As a teacher, I’ve written countless reports. Today was the first time I’ve recieved …

2021-09-24: Day 24

2021-09-23: Day 23

2021-09-22: Day 22

2021-09-21: A rough day, today Of my kids being themselves Work weighing heavy

2021-09-21: Day 21

2021-09-21:

2021-09-21: Living While Black, In Japan is making me reflect on my time in China. Will I ever return to the UK? …

2021-09-20: Day 20

2021-09-20: Very happy!

2021-09-19: Day 19

2021-09-18: If this isn't nice... One of the things [Uncle Alex] found objectionable about human beings was that they so rarely …

2021-09-18: Coffee and noodles for brunch

2021-09-17: Dinner out

2021-09-17: Day 17

2021-09-16: 烧烤!So good!

2021-09-16: Day 16 The cleaner always sorts the papers on my desk and honestly it’s the best.

2021-09-15: Day 15

2021-09-14: Meet the World’s First Carbon-Neutral Soccer Club Just up the road from where Mum grew up.

2021-09-13: Day 13 Sunday wasn’t great Caught up inside my own head Time to breathe and smile

2021-09-12: How much do you think about this country’s obesity crisis? I used to, but now I think more about the …

2021-09-12: Day 12

2021-09-12: Elise just gave me a thumbs up and then winked at me because she did some great eating. Which was …

2021-09-11: Yumo is getting better! Not bad for 3 years old.

2021-09-11: Working hard!

2021-09-11: Morning jigsaws. In other news one of my 7 year old students made me realise my chess skills are not …

2021-09-11: Day 10 is sponsored by Ted Lasso and the song Risk It All by Ella Henderson.

2021-09-11: Does anyone use Bitwarden? I currently use Lastpass but undecided about paying or switching to …

2021-09-11: It’s 5:45am and I’m having a coffee and a little cry watching Ted Lasso.

2021-09-10: Dealing with money stuff and other stuff I find stressful is difficult enough and more so when the …

2021-09-10: Day 10

2021-09-09: Beer and Splendor

2021-09-09: Chilli cucumber!

2021-09-09: Day 9 Yumo was looking over the back of the sofa, like a meerkat. Tigger and his blanket held …

2021-09-08: Day 8

2021-09-07: The conversations I have with my kids. Where 东西 is Chinese for thing. Him: 东西 Me: pardon? What do …

2021-09-07: Front squats 7x1

2021-09-07: Day 7

2021-09-06: Believe.

2021-09-06: Didn’t think I had the energy but managed my first sub 20minute 5k row today!

2021-09-06: Episode 55: Elise Talks About PE Yumo jumps in too!

2021-09-06: Episode 55: Elise Talks About PE Volleyball!

2021-09-05: Love that this coffee shop is so close to wear we live. ☕️

2021-09-05: Day 5

2021-09-04: Would often read Wirecutter for advice about what to buy, so sad to see it go behind the NYTs …

2021-09-04: 凉面 is a Szechuan snack that’s cold noodles mixed with chilli and a few other things. So delicious.

2021-09-04:

2021-09-04: Still no Dune release date in China. Nooooooo

2021-09-03: Last year I taught Year 1 (kindergarten) and had been doing so for 5 years. This year I’m in Year 3 …

2021-09-03: Happy with that. Pleased that I was able to keep moving more. Getting older, getting fitter!

2021-09-03: Ted Lasso day!! #believe

2021-09-03: Day 3 at the dining table

2021-09-02: A beautiful life…

2021-09-02: Seven Lions - Returning to you. Had this on repeat recently. ❤️ #TranceThursday music.apple.com

2021-09-02: Morning fights

2021-09-01: Yumo likes to grab the tokens but it’s still nice to play. Good for Elise’s maths too!

2021-09-01: I liked the colours of the fallen seeds.

2021-09-01: Day One of Thirty

2021-08-31: An aspirational list. Back to School/Work: The Manifesto, 22 - Nicholas Bate

2021-08-31: 90 seconds faster than March!

2021-08-31: Rediscovered Chrvches yesterday and that’s what been sent on repeat. A big fan of their vocalist and …

2021-08-31: My sister and I are doing a haiku a day for September which I am absolutely sticking to this time… …

2021-08-30: The worst part about having kids is having to do all the things you want them to do. Put down your …

2021-08-30: Today’s workout was fun and just what the Dr ordered. Just consistent work. 3 rounds 100m farmers …

2021-08-30: Monday is my busiest day by far with the added bonus of trying to be ready and trying to relax a …

2021-08-29: How To Make Reading A Part Of Your Child’s Life – Daily Dad The American cosmologist Carl Sagan …

2021-08-29: So nice when they get on!

2021-08-28: Foundation ⏤ Official Trailer | Apple TV+ Will be interesting to see what this is like. I …

2021-08-28: Hanging about!

2021-08-28: Photobombing Lyra’s selfie.

2021-08-28: But if you’re at work, there’s not a lot of evidence that more stress is the best way to have less …

2021-08-28: Flickr This is the first photo I posted to Flickr on September 28th 2004. 17 years ago. 17. Actually, …

2021-08-27: Hey Siri, I’m not your biggest fan Hey Siri play The Black Album by Metallica Sorry, I don’t know that album Hey Siri play Metallica by …

2021-08-26: Things I’ve eaten recently. The first one was amazing. The second is a regular thing we have. You …

2021-08-24: Ministers accused of failing to secure rights of Britons with foreign spouses in EU This should …

2021-08-23: Today I’m grateful that none of the micro.blog people seem to follow professional wrestling. So, I …

2021-08-21: Climbing, though technically I always did bouldering was one of my favourite things to do in the UK. …

2021-08-16: (1) Worrying about what other people might think (2) The distraction of trivia and melodrama (3) The …

2021-08-16: We’ve talked about being present before, but it’s worth repeating: The key to great parenting is …

2021-08-16: I love my job, right But in it, there’s elements That stop me sleeping Is that just me?

2021-08-14: Day 5 - Her riding is so much better! Today she made her next step and fell off. We’ve stopped today …

2021-08-14: Day 5

2021-08-13: We’re all watching Ted Lasso right? Surely not a coincidence?!

2021-08-11: New board! Also, definitely noticed that I should have eaten something before exercising.

2021-08-11: Day 2 with mum. Who needs helmets?!

2021-08-10: Summer holiday workouts done. Back to school tomorrow. Hoping to maintain the consistency…

2021-08-10: Day 1 of learning to ride a bike went pretty well! Mostly me that was the nervous one

2021-08-07: Writing

2021-08-07: Apparently yesterday was two years to the day that we arrived back in China after visiting the UK. …

2021-08-07: An Italian Tourist Walks into an Olive Garden… — Trip Out Reminds me of when my Chinese wife had a …

2021-08-07: Asked Siri to play some music to go with morning coffee. So we’re listening to Linkin Park, System …

2021-08-06: New passport…

2021-08-04: Double rainbow!

2021-08-03: The UK government website says 11 weeks for a passport renewal from China… Except, we got the email …

2021-08-02: Chinese food.

2021-07-31: There is no way Jamie Tartt would say, ‘blocks’ when refering to distance. There was …

2021-07-30:

2021-07-30: She’s taken them out. “I want my teachers to do it.”

2021-07-30: Day 2 daddy hair care. All on my own!

2021-07-29: Day 1 Daddy Haircare: Lyra did it today as I couldn’t. Onwards!

2021-07-28: I want more apps with a finite scroll, which respect, rather than seek to consume, my time and …

2021-07-28: Lunch with Lyra

2021-07-28:

2021-07-27: Ignorance and the Curious Idiot

2021-07-26: My Ted Lasso stickers arrived!

2021-07-23: HITT in front of the air con because it’s hot.

2021-07-23: FYI New Ted Lasso today!

2021-07-23: Since UK passport applications from abroad are now all sent to the UK for processing. I’m …

2021-07-23: Phew. Dune passes Chinese censors.

2021-07-22: I know I’ve been watching too much Justified because I want to wear a cowboy hat, eat fried chicken …

2021-07-21: Brunch with a beer.

2021-07-21: Despite everything at least the Olympics is in a very close time zone to me!

2021-07-16: I like this responseto the writing prompt: When the robots revolted, a sizable chunk of the human …

2021-07-15: I’m at this stage where I’m reading it a chapter at a time and only in a situation I can properly …

2021-07-14: I find applying for my passports for the kids incredibly stressful. Just applied for a renewal for …

2021-07-13: At the top tier of just about any sort of endeavor, you’ll find that the performers have coaches. …

2021-07-10: Consistency > intensity My issue is and has always been consistency. Life always gets in the way …

2021-07-10: 8am on a Sunday morning. Coffee on the sofa with the kids and having a cry at the end of Raya and …

2021-07-08: Finally got around to having a Chinese lesson. I live in the country so feel like I should be doing …

2021-07-05: Bit late to the party but Breath of the Wild is pretty good isn’t it?

2021-07-04: Reading “The Library didn’t only contain magical books, the ones which are chained to their shelves …

2021-07-04: Notifications Off! The Distraction-Free Benefits of Five-Hour Work Days “When you are a social …

2021-07-04: Pro: I’m naturally waking up early and feeling good. Con: So are my kids.

2021-07-04: Italia 1990 World Cup BBC end credits

2021-07-03: Hot pot.

2021-07-03: Signal somehow sent a confirmation message to my Chinese phone number. It wasn’t working …

2021-06-28: Lijiang, China.

2021-06-28: All the mushrooms 🍄

2021-06-27: If you’re missing any garlic, I think I found it.

2021-06-27: Things I realised in the 6 hours before I found my wallet today. I don’t remember the last time I used it. My bank accounts are ok. It’s ok. I can get …

2021-06-27: Taobao is a Chinese platform for selling. 99% of the things I buy online are from it. It has …

2021-06-27: Coffee and book and dance lessons. I am loving this book, I’m already feeling sad that the more I …

2021-06-27: Closed borders. ‘Unnecessarily cruel’: how Australia’s closed border is forcing migrants to leave permanently I do …

2021-06-26: Photo by Yumo, 3.

2021-06-26: Coffee and book and roller skating lessons.

2021-06-25: Last day at school - Which is always strange in our environment. Worked out and burnt my nose. …

2021-06-25: Schools out for the summer!

2021-06-25: The carry got tough but glad I stuck with it. Though doing it in this heat was fun.

2021-06-21: Album t-shirts are a thing but are book cover t-shirts?

2021-06-21: I’d rather sip water all day and Lyra has this big water bottle to do that but I find it much easier …

2021-06-21: We finally decided to buy a Switch so I can play BOTW. Lyra wanted Just Dance and so those are the …

2021-06-19: View from a friend’s flat. This city manages to be incredibly built up but still has lots of …

2021-06-19: We’ve finally visited the theme park 10 minutes from our house. It’s taken 7 years! But it’s a kid …

2021-06-19: Despite living in China and not Japan, lots of head nodding to this video titled 12 Reasons not to …

2021-06-19: Drum and Bass on a bike - loving this. This makes me miss the UK. Funny the things that do that.

2021-06-17: Work will subsidise a new MacBook! Should I get a Pro over an Air? Did I need a Ram upgrade?

2021-06-16: Too hot. 105ish in F.

2021-06-15: Today I’m grateful for air con in the lift.

2021-06-14: I’m so tired. Such a fun weekend but not relaxing!

2021-06-14:

2021-06-14: Hiding in the hotel bathroom because it’s 6am and I’m wide awake but everyone else is sleeping.

2021-06-13: Chengdu.

2021-06-13: 🐼

2021-06-12: An odd day. Kids have been themselves which has, at times, been overwhelming. But we’ve also …

2021-06-12: 🍺

2021-06-12: Chameleon on Apple Arcade is the worst. The simple jump with one press and change colour with …

2021-06-12: 🚅

2021-06-12: I love my daughter, obviously. And it’s amazing how she effortlessly switches between 2 languages …

2021-06-11: The parcel my sister sent from California to China 7 months ago arrived… It arrived back in …

2021-06-07: Slowly getting some board games that are at the very least can be played with 2 people. So Lyra and …

2021-06-06: Not bad actually!

2021-06-06: I am so grateful that Mythic Quest on Apple TV+ is released weekly. I enjoy it so much more for …

2021-06-06: Coffee, noodles (not pictured), more coffee and some games with friends from work.

2021-06-05: Loki is out this week! A nice surprise indeed.

2021-06-05: The Daily Dad As we’ve said before, our kids don’t owe us anything. It is we who are obligated to …

2021-06-05: Arlo Parks: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert - YouTube Didn’t realise she’s only 19. Wow.

2021-06-04: Definitely better in a glass bottle. Reminds me of drinking in a similar fashion, stood outside a …

2021-06-03: Seneca wrote that death isn’t just some inevitable event in the future. Death is happening right …

2021-06-03: “I’m not saying we’ll live to see some sort of paradise. But just fighting for change makes …

2021-06-02: Still can’t bring myself to write in my new notebook. It always starts so neat and then…

2021-06-01: Hi. I’m giving a colleague a notebook for the next academic year. I want to add some words In it. …

2021-06-01: FYI it’s not Wednesday as I thought, it’s only time Tuesday.

2021-05-30: Looking down

2021-05-29: Posters for Japan’s National Pillow Fight Contest - Spoon & Tamago These are cool but the pillow …

2021-05-27: Was playing games and having a beer outside just as I got a message from a friend that they were …

2021-05-26: “Darling, the internet isn’t working.” “Have you…” “Yes. …

2021-05-24: Back after a week, felt good to lift heavy again.

2021-05-22: This was not the right way to go it we got to where we need to be!

2021-05-22: Lunch! Two different pancakes and cold noodles.

2021-05-21: Long week. Will be happy when reports are handed in next week.

2021-05-20: For all that your kid has been through this past year, and all they will go through in the years to …

2021-05-20: Trying to get some work done before the weekend is proving stressful. Grateful though for making …

2021-05-19: I realised that Signal was blocked in China but didn’t realise that I can’t receive a verification …

2021-05-19: Also, I had to called the UK government to sort something out and while the automated system kicked …

2021-05-19: New phone! Can’t get a Signal verification code. Not used to the not having a home button Or 3D …

2021-05-18: When the kids are grumpy just as you walk out the door to go to work is the worst.

2021-05-17: Today's Daily Dad was just what I needed. We can’t let a bad day or a bad person get in the way of being a good parent. And we definitely …

2021-05-17: Not quite sure this is how you do it…

2021-05-16: Two bags dad.

2021-05-16: If/When we leave China the lack of cheap, delicious noodles is going to be a problem. Excuse the …

2021-05-16: It's not Tim Duncan’s Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Speech - YouTube “You showed up after …

2021-05-16: Tim Minchin covers Ball Park Music ‘Exactly How You Are’ for Like A Version - YouTube

2021-05-16: When Yumo stops saying “Daddy cuddle high,” when he wants me to pick him up will a sad day indeed.

2021-05-15: Just had my second dose.

2021-05-15: Kids are shouting. I’m drinking coffee, making breakfast and listening to an “I miss Emo” playlist. …

2021-05-15: ⚡️

2021-05-14: “Do you want to be right or do you want to be together?” the examined family, Courtney Martin: ‘Hard conversations don’t fix hard things.’ …

2021-05-14: Today was pull ups, lunges and then some time on the assault bike! Was fun because Helen and I were …

2021-05-14: Seth Godin: Starting and finishin Starting and finishing Sometimes the rule is: You don’t have to finish, but you do have to start. …

2021-05-12: Ha. 5 minutes later I read this. That’s why kids can never “take away” from our careers or “hold us …

2021-05-12: There’s plenty of extra work I need to do but after I’ve done my normal work and family stuff the …

2021-05-10: 20 back squats Row 4K 20 back squats I hate running but I’ll always row.

2021-05-10: Why time for reflection is the key to teacher CPD | Tes News The CPD puzzle: why don’t …

2021-05-09: Yesterday was lovely, kids were at school* and Lyra and I went to IKEA in the morning. Then she went …

2021-05-09: If you want kids who listen to you, you have to strive to be worthy of being listened to. If you …

2021-05-09: Added most of the newsletters I wasn’t reading to my rss. Thanks @dancohen for the suggestion!

2021-05-09: I think we’ve fetishized the idea that your job should be your passion. It’s ok for your job to just …

2021-05-09: Teaching Kids Kindness Prepares Them for Success - The Atlantic

2021-05-08: Mads Mikkelsen, In Conversation My approach to what I do in my job — and it might even be the …

2021-05-08: Stopping to return a football that went over the fence. “Football is life!”

2021-05-08: Cal Newport, Study Hacks: The Neuroscience of Busyness There was a time, not that long ago, when …

2021-05-08: Reasons to be Cheerful: When Italians Abandoned This Village, Refugees Brought It Back to Life

2021-05-06: I don’t ‘call’ people, except my Mum. I can’t even imagine …

2021-05-06: Episode 54: Off The Cuff We say some things.

2021-05-06: “The kindest people are not born that way, they are made. They are the sounds that have experienced …

2021-05-06: Sacrilegious for someone of my profession to say, maybe, but I don’t like giving people books unless …

2021-05-05: Elise’s Rules 1. If your piece is taken you can put it back anywhere on the board on your next move. …

2021-05-05: I like the browse sometimes while my class is looking for books to take out of the school library. …

2021-05-05: “Updating an Apple Watch Series 3 is a nightmare in 2021” I like mine well enough. It’s useful …

2021-05-05: Fred again.. feat. The Blessed Madonna - Marea (We’ve Lost Dancing) (Official Video) - YouTube …

2021-05-04: The new Marvel megatrailer: The Guardian And, I don’t know about you, but there was a moment …

2021-05-04: Do exercise. Feel better.

2021-05-03: Spain’s Four-Day Work Week Is a Game Changer “The key is flexibility,” he adds. “Some workers …

2021-05-03: 100 swings and 10 Turkish get ups. Just to get moving a little.

2021-05-03: We've lost dancing This popped up on the Dance XL playlist and I haven’t stopped listening to it. This year …

2021-05-03: Today I’m grateful for Lyra taking the kids out so I can a little time and space. So, obviously I’ve …

2021-05-02: Took the kids to the theatre to see and adaptation of a Chinese book.They mostly loved it and I …

2021-05-02: Elise knows how to use the camera from the iPhone Lock Screen. She just took this!

2021-05-02: Rediscovering Enter Shikari through some of their concerts on YouTube and the first album I listened …

2021-05-02: Today I am grateful for coffee. As I am every day. I’m cutting down though. Coffee at work …

2021-05-02: What’s better for children: sleep or exercise? the team examined the optimal balance between …

2021-05-02: One of my favourite ice lollies. In the UK we would call them Twisters but her in China they’re …

2021-04-30: Today I’m grateful for feeling better then I have all week.

2021-04-29: Summer is coming.

2021-04-29: As I drove to work that I’d forgotten to brush my teeth. Then I realised I’d be hugging the kids …

2021-04-25: Today I’m grateful for having some time without kids at home.

2021-04-25: Lunch and coffee with Lyra.

2021-04-25: Mum would call it ‘potching about’. Though a quick search doesn’t throw anything …

2021-04-25: More morning art.

2021-04-25: So, sometimes I sit on a bean bag in the kid’s when they go to sleep. Recently Yumo has been getting …

2021-04-24: Today I’m grateful for having dinner with friends who understood that I was just really tired and …

2021-04-24: There’s totally a difference between when chatting online someone says lol but isn’t really laughing …

2021-04-24: Morning art

2021-04-23: This Tiktok video about working retail really tickled me. Must have watched it 10+ times since …

2021-04-23: Kurt Vonnegut // “Nobody will stop you from creating. Do it tonight. Do it tomorrow. That is …

2021-04-22: Our flat is too small to watch TV at night after the kids have gone to bed, mostly I’m ok with …

2021-04-22: Got vaccinated yesterday! But then got frustrated with the kids not sleeping. Then got up before 6 …

2021-04-18: Lyra: Let’s have pizza. Me: OK. Which place shall we order from? Elise: I WANT CHEESE PIZZA.

2021-04-18: Enjoying James Hoffman’s second episode about the Aeropress - Understanding the Aeropress . He does …

2021-04-17: My friends may as well be in China It started with a thing happening recently, then it made me realise something and finally I’m still …

2021-04-17: Episode 5 of Mythic Quest was something else. Quite the depature from the rest of the series.

2021-04-17: Something about when the kids take photos of me.

2021-04-17: 咖啡☕️

2021-04-16: Closing Time There’s a bar near us. That is now closing. It happens a lot. Us Westerners (foreigners) like …

2021-04-15: 烧烤。

2021-04-15: It’s weird how kids grow up. Like, the physical stuff, getting bigger, walking and talking you kind …

2021-04-13: Episode 53: Miss Hammond Elise freestyles but the microphone didn’t work so well.

2021-04-13: Episode 52: 10 Little Dinosaurs Reading with Yumo

2021-04-13: Morning routine of shower with cold water to finish, meditation and then coffee and Chinese practice …

2021-04-12: Started the day well and feel like that carried me through the rest of the day until I exercised …

2021-04-11: Before and after. Took a year but I finally got it cut.

2021-04-10: Ok, totally into The Falcon and The Winter Soldier now. That ending, crikey. Also, one house of Zemo …

2021-04-07: Can’t wait for Loki after watching the trailer. Much more my cup of tea compared to Falcon and the …

2021-04-07: Going away with the kids is always “fun” but hotel breakfast makes up for it!

2021-04-05: Walking home

2021-04-04: Lovely evening. Played a couple of games of Splendor and a first game of Catan. Watched the latest …

2021-04-04: We did try to find a name we liked for our second that started with V so that our initials would …

2021-04-04: Jump!

2021-04-04: When you’re simultaneously annoyed at your child but also realise you need to console them. …

2021-04-04: Is there a quick way to share a website I’m looking at on Micro.blog? There’s nothing on …

2021-04-03: Interesting conversation with E about why she can speak two languages. She’s not really sure, maybe …

2021-04-03: I’ve stopped eating poached eggs.* *When Y is around as he always wants to eat all of them.

2021-04-03: E decided to join us today. She’s going to read for 7minutes a day.

2021-04-03: Day 3 done

2021-04-02: Once again, the only thing that I’ve needed to change was myself. Hopeful that the new morning …

2021-03-30: Friendships It will no doubt get me into trouble with the medical profession, but it is not too much of an …

2021-03-30: 6x 500m with 3 minutes rest in between each set. Rowing is the devil.

2021-03-29: Our teaching team had 31 parent meetings. 31! So much sitting on small chairs.

2021-03-28: The Guilt of Not Working More, When We're Done for the Day Zen Habits At the end of a day of work, there can be a simple practice of wrapping things up and …

2021-03-28: When you recommend something in a game but it fails… Oops. I’m also very sorry for what I …

2021-03-27: Grandparents are in and we’re out with friends staying in the hotel we got married at.

2021-03-27: Also, this photo from last night. We go out to eat with friends a fair bit and I always find it …

2021-03-27: Daddy exercise became family exercise. Sit ups because high five sit ups. Squats and tuck jumps they …

2021-03-27: I never used to lie in before I had kids. Now that I have kids. I can’t. This message is brought to …

2021-03-27: Torn From Austin Kleon whose blog is, if you said I could only visit a few websites would be up there. …

2021-03-26: China is maybe changing tax laws next year which may have a big impact on me. Clear as mud.

2021-03-25: Always interesting the cultural differences that pop up when you marry someone with different life …

2021-03-25: I do like reading through the Discover timeline. Especially after reading the recent articles on …

2021-03-23: Baltimore restaurant owner drove 6 hours to cook for customer with cancer - The Washington Post …

2021-03-23: I spent some time last night writing down the 8 rules from the link I posted yesterday.

2021-03-22: Two things happened to me today as I was driving that made me feel good. A car pulled out of front …

2021-03-22: Listening list Talking to Rich about albums and he gave me this list. Which I intend to get through eventually, …

2021-03-22: Eight Rules These make sense to me. Do not run away from the thought you may be an idiot as if this …

2021-03-22: Success at School vs. Success in Life “We need to be outwardly entirely obedient while …

2021-03-22: Is there a simple way for me to make my archives page something other than the giant list it …

2021-03-22: I wrote this mini-book a year ago today! It was the start of us coming out of lockdown. Yet a year …

2021-03-21: So proud of Elise. She played “car dj” using my phone to play tracks off her playlist …

2021-03-21: Put Roni Size - New Forms on in the car today and no one complained. Following up with Goldie - …

2021-03-21: What are you missing?

2021-03-20: Glamour.com “We didn’t know it was bad, because you seemed okay,” my daughter said. “And if you are …

2021-03-20: I’ve been trying to use my phone and computer less. Most notifications have been turned off. …

2021-03-19: Album Update Jon Hopkins - Immunity Anthony and the Johnsons - I am a bird now Question is, is …

2021-03-19: swissmiss: Home “Home is not where you are born; home is where all your attempts to escape cease”. …

2021-03-19: Seth Godin: Resilience Resilience is a commitment to a design, an attitude and a system that works …

2021-03-19: There’s more and more smaller coffee shops in the city. Often they’re “Internet famous” for their …

2021-03-19: Didn’t buy it but after messaging British friends will buy one next time FOR SCIENCE! (It’s not …

2021-03-19: How stressed I am seems directly related to the number of times I press the key fob to lock the car. …

2021-03-17: No sign of the vaccine but is that a problem? China has employed blunt but effective quarantine measures to contain Sars-CoV-2 successfully, and …

2021-03-17: Album listening updates: Power Trip - Live in Seattle (Thrash metal but I read an article about them and had a listen. Was a …

2021-03-17: 5 rounds 15 one arm kettlebell swings (since I didn’t have a heavier kettlebell) 15 burpees 10:41 …

2021-03-16: Morning cuddles The morning between getting up between 6:10 and leaving at 7:10ish is all about …

2021-03-15: 1 mile run. 2k row. 1 mile run. Nice and steady. Still feels strange to run but got it done. …

2021-03-15: FaceTiming nainai and Elise was talking about her day. Apparently her new phrase is, “boys are mad.”

2021-03-15: We’ve been told we can leave our province during our Easter break. Woo! Still no idea when we can …

2021-03-15: The Strokes - Is This It? Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Californication Alt-j - An Awesome Wave Future …

2021-03-15: Looks like a nice spot to sit.

2021-03-14: Album 2. Keaton Henson - Birthdays I heard on of the tracks on Sherlock (the US version) and …

2021-03-14: Today’s new idea that I just thought of but haven’t thought through. This week, I’m going to listen …

2021-03-13: What is writing, what are words? I’m currently reading Exhalation by Ted Chiang. One of the short stories involves the …

2021-03-13: If this isn’t nice. Let’s talk about why I didn’t capitalise the last e.

2021-03-11: It’s taken my 4 days but I’ve finally finished watching the AEW’s PPV.

2021-03-11: Pleasant hour playing pool with Lyra.

2021-03-10: I’m not sure I totally trust microwaves that don’t spin around.

2021-03-09: Been listening to this a lot lately. Though, still no closer to getting around to working out how to …

2021-03-09: All I could think of in the final episode of Wandavision was when Po fights Kai in the spirit realm …

2021-03-09: Played Splendor (Marvel version) for the first time at lunchtime and then a unicorn sparkle game …

2021-03-08: testing1

2021-03-08: The worst app for distracting me on my phone is the web browser.

2021-03-07: 4 episdoes of For All Of Mankind in a weekend is basically as close to binging as I’ll get. …

2021-03-07: Started taking photos with Lyra’s old Sony camera. It’s kind of fun actually. I like it. …

2021-03-07: Just finished Here We Are (Notes For Living On Planet Earth) on Apple TV+, a kid’s program …

2021-03-06: Enjoyed the 1st episode of For All Mankind. Especially as our Year 1 (kindergarten) class has been …

2021-03-06: Gamers. Is a Switch still worth buying? 🎮 🕹

2021-03-06: Am aware of our good fortune of being able to meet friends for dinner last night and Elise being …

2021-03-04: Feeling very up and down this week between work and kids and everything feeling a bit too much at …

2021-03-04: Slept better. Felt better. Had a morning cuddle.

2021-03-03: Me: Do you want some more avocado? Elise: (sad voice)I just really want unicorns to be real. 🥑 🦄

2021-03-02: Some time to not rush.

2021-03-02: Boundaries “The idea of “boundaries” has become so porous when it comes to cultivating work/life balance that …

2021-03-01: It started with Lyra, we’d say “I love you more than (thing that I really love - coffee …

2021-02-27: Lyra’s birthday so she’s organised a big party for her and the girls. She’s going all out and is …

2021-02-27: It’s not a workout if you don’t take a selfie or track if… Heavy deadlifts yesterday and 4K …

2021-02-24: This article makes me miss the UK something rotten. 12 of Britain’s best new campsites and …

2021-02-23: Episode 51: Lyra And Yumo Look At A Book Yumo tends to speak to me mostly in Chinese, even if he mostly understands what I say in English. …

2021-02-22: Cold shower challenge. Day 1: Ridiculous. 10 seconds. Onwards!

2021-02-21: Cold showers It started with my sister saying she was doing a challenge of going in the ocean every day and she …

2021-02-21: My bedtime routine involves meditation, some water, the Apple Music bedtime beats playlist, some …

2021-02-21: Episode 50: Theme Park Big takeaway was Elise was braver than we thought she’d be. Yumo had to deal with not being big …

2021-02-21: First run. Went for my first run with Helen today. - We didn’t anticipate waiting so long at pedestrian …

2021-02-20: 🎡

2021-02-19: Wandavision, eh?! So good. Now, I just need to watch it all again. Fun to read online discussions …

2021-02-18: Local green plum wine served in the classiest of vessels.

2021-02-17: The Daily Dad linked to Maggie Smith’s Poem called Good Bones and I’ve got it stuck in …

2021-02-17: Daily Dad - The harder path is worth it I liked yesterdays Daily Dad It’s not fair to subject your kids to all the things that have broken …

2021-02-17: Hill sprints with added weight*. *Weight was one child and two badminton rackets.

2021-02-16: Today was going to be me sitting alone doing stuff but has turned out to be sitting with people. And …

2021-02-16: This mornings movement.

2021-02-15: Hot pot at friends.

2021-02-15: Today I am grateful for the lady who had an appointment but let our kids get their hair cuts before …

2021-02-15: Hey Micro.blog if you haven’t watched Detectorists I think you should, it’a a British …

2021-02-15: Morning workout with Lyra, kids joined later because the only time they don’t want to watch tv is …

2021-02-14: Carole King's Tapestry and its memories. Carole King’s Tapestry is 50 year old but I can still listen to it. For me, it reminds me of …

2021-02-14: Only 3 more episodes of Wandavision which doesn’t feel like enough… Latest episode was …

2021-02-13: Signed up for the Fitness+ service but apparently I can’t Airplay to my old Apple TV 3. Which …

2021-02-12: Busy day. Safari park this morning/afternoon. Then some time at Lyra’s uncles before dinner with her …

2021-02-11: Morning workout

2021-02-11: swissmiss, swissmiss: The Good News They don’t publish the good news. The good news is published by …

2021-02-11: Coffee grinder handle was in the bathroom, obviously.

2021-02-11: Our Chinese New Year holiday started today with me being confused because my alarm was going off. …

2021-02-10: Ummmm, apparently people at work think this…

2021-02-10: When it’s not even 7am and your Apple Watch is telling you to breathe.

2021-02-08: Monday night! Whoop!

2021-02-08: Episode 49 - Daddy Cuddle Daddy cuddle!

2021-02-08: When I don’t get up because until the last minute because trying and failing to have five minutes to …

2021-02-07: I just spent some real money and I can’t remember the last time I did that.

2021-02-07: A little hungover today. Not too much that it meant I couldn’t go out but just enough that …

2021-02-07: I’ve got my photo-taking workflow pretty well sorted now. 1. Go somewhere with Lyra. 2. Let …

2021-02-07: We caught up with the latest 2 episodes of Wandavision last night. Such a change from the first 2.

2021-02-06: A walk out to have lunch, then naptime and then wine with some friends. Today was nice.

2021-02-06: 80rmb/£9/$12 with 300 games. A little bit tempted…

2021-02-05: Facebook’s misleading campaign against Apple’s privacy policy I’d be quite happy with a much …

2021-02-05: We be consistent Because we old and we creak But we still want abs First attempt at Helen and …

2021-02-05: That episode of Tokyo Diner was just what I needed after such a full-on day at work.

2021-02-02: A choice, this or that Time for you or time to sleep Feels like, dreams or dreams

2021-02-02: Getting time to myself or getting enough sleep. It’s one or the other.

2021-02-02: Dug out a grinder I got given. Not the fastest but good enough. Who am I to not let the kids help?!

2021-02-01: Just got back from a Royal Rumble viewing with some people from work. Was good fun. I like watching …

2021-02-01: Did some running because I don’t like it and that is why I did it. Tried to keep up with Helen and …

2021-01-31: “This would be a cool place to come and work!” We caught ourselves saying that today and realised …

2021-01-31: like sand in the sea gone away, away i’ve come back down and settled like sand in the sea I remember reading about …

2021-01-31: If this isn’t nice.

2021-01-30: Hot Pot!

2021-01-30: No taxis, it’s ok I’ve had a drink, feeling fine This man will take us! We’ve gone away but …

2021-01-30: Deb from Napoleon Dynamite…

2021-01-30: Our initials… I prefer YELO though I think. We had a conversation before Yumo was born that …

2021-01-30: Today in parenting. Most stuff is trial and error. Though somethings, in hindsight, seem obvious. …

2021-01-30: What’s your reasoning behind such a long passcode for your phone? Security? Of a sort. My daughter …

2021-01-29: Episode 48: Ten Little Dinosaurs We do some more reading.

2021-01-29: Can you know brokenness without being broken? https://vimeo.com/313725613 After losing his leg to cancer as a young adult, Jon Wilson struggled …

2021-01-27: I’m watching Ted Lasso again.

2021-01-27: I pay for Apple Music and also 200gb of storage. If I subscribe to One Family do I then need to …

2021-01-27: The funny thing is all I ever wanted I already had There’s glimpses of heaven in every day In …

2021-01-27: Neither of us was 100% on Monday but back on it today! 1minute cardio (run/bike) 1 minute rest but I …

2021-01-27: Hey! This is your Trance Thursday reminder for tomorrow. Maybe let’s do a theme tomorrow? Favourite …

2021-01-27: Feeling fitter, happier and more productive today. Such a change. The difference is so noticeable.

2021-01-26: If you tell the kids you’re going to do something, then do it, otherwise don’t say it. I …

2021-01-26: So curly at the moment!

2021-01-26: Wonderwall x Smalltown Boy (Mashup Cover - I like this!

2021-01-24: I predict that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cartoon Opening Theme (1987) will be my most played song …

2021-01-24: Keep kids busy Try not to go crazy Try not to eat too much My rules from day one of our …

2021-01-23: Making worksheets for Maths on Monday on Saturday night is the most relaxed I’ve been all day. The …

2021-01-23: Episode 47: A Bunch Of Daisies By Kes Gray And Nick Sharatt Elise likes these books, Daisy has an active imagination!

2021-01-23: Loving the Tiktok Sea Shanty remixes. The electro (?) version in particular, it’s gone on my …

2021-01-23: Watch Wandavision. Discuss obvious stuff with Lyra. Go online to read about all the stuff I missed. …

2021-01-23: Elise and I have copying a picture from an Anthony Browne book.

2021-01-22: Episode 46: Ten Little Dinosaurs Yumo and I read a story together

2021-01-22: Episode 45: Little Beauty By Anthony Browne Also, hot dog.

2021-01-22: #teamconsistent

2021-01-21: Thursday is the new Friday

2021-01-21: Walked a new way home because Baidu Maps said we could. Took us down a random muddy path but it was …

2021-01-19: Episode 44: Willy The Dreamer By Anthony Browne Elise talks about the banana laden book.

2021-01-18: Exercise continues. Having someone to go with makes it harder to not go and more fun when I do. Having someone working a …

2021-01-18: Episode 43 - Elise Records On Her Own She talks about Zog by Julia Donaldson

2021-01-18: Seth’s Blog, Seth Godin: Three types of kindness

2021-01-17: Episode 42: Book Review We talk about Willy the Champ by Anthony Browne.

2021-01-17: No idea what to make of the first 2 episodes of Wandavision honestly, but I know we’ll keep …

2021-01-17: “I’ll follow you into the dark” cover by Frank Watkinson. I’ve been …

2021-01-17: Daddy’s Breakfast Diner is open. I’ll cook whatever you want as long as I have the …

2021-01-16: The kids enjoyed the lychee and orange Oreos that have been released for Chinese New Year but I …

2021-01-16: grown-ups “She’s a grown-up, isn’t she? Grown-ups and monsters aren’t scared of …

2021-01-16: Update: I’ve allowed Elise to dress herself. Mum is not going to love her choices.

2021-01-16: What’s the quickest way to check when I bought my iPhone?

2021-01-16: Youngest was being himself last night* so have been up since 4:30. Fast forward to 7 and the kids …

2021-01-15: Very proud of ourselves.

2021-01-14: Not exactly the back of a lorry but close…

2021-01-13: Operation Xmas Abs* has started again for another year. *All very tongue in cheek but have started …

2021-01-12: I’m much calmer, things are bothering me less, I not getting hung up on things recently. Both at …

2021-01-11: You Should Go to Bed Super Early - I’ve been trying to do this, it’s so easy to get …

2021-01-09: Stressful week at work and then the kids not going to sleep easily last night and then not getting …

2021-01-08: In today’s ‘things that feel strange’ now… We had parents come in to school …

2021-01-07: Amor Fati “Amor Fati is a mindset that you take on for making the best out of anything that happens. Treating …

2021-01-07: This is my monthly (?) thought that I wish I didn’t need an Instagram account to view …

2021-01-07: When going out and eating feels extravagant. Yes that’s a pasty, but because it’s China it has sweet …

2021-01-06: In parenting news - Elise when Lyra offered her more melted cheese, her fav, from the pasta said, …

2021-01-05: Episode 41: Talking About A Book Yumo talks about some of the things he sees in a book. His Chinese is currently stronger than his …

2021-01-04: In other news, I’ve turned off notifications for Wechat and Whatsapp which normally leads me …

2021-01-04: We’ve all been ill the last 4/5 days (NOT COVID) but it’s meant I didn’t go back …

2021-01-01: Two of my favourite writed have made lists either today or yesterday. Austin Kleon has done 100 …

2021-01-01: Laptops killed work-life balance - Saw this and it has been something I’ve been thinking …

2021-01-01: Happy New Year everyone! The clock ticked over just as we were putting our two to bed. If this …

2020-12-31: Does anyone grind their coffee at home? I think I’d like to, interested if anyone does? Obviously …

2020-12-30: Our youngest’s favourite food is anything + plum sauce. Today was steamed fish and plum sauce …

2020-12-30: Daily Dad - The present is pleasurable enough I like this reminder. The parent who thinks this is an occupation you “win,” who believes it’s …

2020-12-30: I always like reading John Gruber on Facebook, here he echos the Seth Godin’s piece, Facebook …

2020-12-29: Hired a lounge for the afternoon while the grandparents watched the kids. We watched The Invisible …

2020-12-28: Lasagne club rules The first rule of lasagne club is you do not talk about lasagne club. The second rules is you can’t …

2020-12-27: 26th Day of a Mile a Day Today was my 26th day of walking a(t least a) mile a day (in one go) in December. Tonight, I forgot …

2020-12-27: I keep coming back to Seth Godin’s post on social media, why it is the way it is and how it …

2020-12-27: I can’t recommend Midnight Diner on Netflix highly enough. It’s about a small diner in Tokyo and the …

2020-12-25: Happy Christmas everyone x

2020-12-24: My Christmas resolution, which is a thing now unless it was already a thing, anyway, I’m going to …

2020-12-23: kind 2020 is the year of the Kind Movie — and it couldn’t have come at a better time Also, tv because it …

2020-12-23: Fell down a bit this afternoon with using my phone but had lunchw ith Lyra, wrapped some presents am …

2020-12-23: 'Want to change the world? Start by being brave enough to care' I’m trying to be more focused today, possibly tomorrow too, which mostly means not picking my …

2020-12-23: This time I woke up when the youngest crawled into bed with us sometime between 12 and 5am. Then the …

2020-12-22: breaking point I feel like I’m better at knowing when i’m reaching my ‘breaking point’, …

2020-12-20: We’ve come to a hotel for two nights with two friends, we’re on our third bottle of wine, the kids …

2020-12-20: Raffles in Chongqing.

2020-12-20: Name writing

2020-12-20: Did not like the Ted Lasso finale. It was perfect.

2020-12-19: What’s your favourite Christmas film? Bonus questions: What’s your favourite kid’s Christmas film?

2020-12-19: 好爱你 (hǎo ài nǐ) I’d got this card for Lyra for Xmas but broke it out yesterday at McDonalds because it felt …

2020-12-19: Yesterday I was thinking about this quote a lot: If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll …

2020-12-18: Episode 40 Yumo has a brief chat

2020-12-17: Got gifted this. Looking for suggestions beyond eat it with a spoon. Which is also why I haven’t …

2020-12-17: I have a soft spot for some of Tiesto’s early mixes, particularly In Search of Sunrise 2 and …

2020-12-16: Just remembered that tomorrow is Trance Thursday and that has cheered me up!

2020-12-14: Cancelled trip We were due to fly (2 hours maybe) to the south coast of China (so not leaving China) in a week for …

2020-12-14: Episode 39 - The nutcracker Yumo plays a clip from the nutcracker over and over.

2020-12-14: Day 2 of writing her name

2020-12-13: Elise has started writing her name after starting at kindergarten. Even though I teach students …

2020-12-13: I know I’ve read about Ted Lasso on here, I think @maique has mentioned it? But, I’ve …

2020-12-13: In other news, I upgraded to Micro.blog to the Year and in the process realised I need to be making …

2020-12-13: Episode 38 We talk about Christmas and I try to make the most of my premium subscription!

2020-12-13: Thanks all, Hover it is!

2020-12-13: Where do you register your domains? Does it matter?

2020-12-10: My 1 mile a day Is the bestest part of it Except cuddles, duh

2020-12-10: this evening's rabbit hole... This timelapse of the song Better Days by Radical Face. The technicality of it wasn’t my cup …

2020-12-08: Christmas is coming and I've been not been feeling great at all recently, For the last few weeks, really. Today, I realised, maybe they’re connected? I read a post on a …

2020-12-08: A mile a day continues, still only walking, building up to running, maybe. After Kottke linked to …

2020-12-07: Read title and decide I’d like to make that. Open link. Look at list of ingredients. Scroll …

2020-12-06: The week ahead is going to be full on and I’m not feeling prepared for it going either physically or …

2020-12-06: Andy Duguid - Be From the latest Above and Beyond Group Therapy. This track is as far as I got and …

2020-12-05: It keeps coming up. Though, maybe I’m just noticing it more. Guilty Pleasures and the idea …

2020-12-05: We have a HomePod but the options for smart homes in China are cheaper - mostly Xiaomi stuff - but …

2020-12-04: HomePod Mini’s are available to buy in China! But delivery would be between the 21st-28th …

2020-12-04: Day 3 of 1 mile per day. Except it was 2 miles because that’s how far away from work I live. …

2020-12-03: ‘revenge bedtime procrastination’ - when “people who don’t have much control over their daytime life …

2020-12-02: I see all your fancy pizzas but tonight we did “wrap pizza”. Plain tortilla, bolognese sauce from a …

2020-12-02: no finish line I read yesterday about how Austin Kleon was writing about there being no finish line and talked …

2020-11-30: Is this month of posts going to reinforce writing? Maybe, maybe not but I’m glad I stuck with …

2020-11-30: On thinking I need to stop A colleague of some student’s parents* left China and tested positive on arrival in their home …

2020-11-30: It’s important to take photos when you go somewhere.

2020-11-29: I love him so much. He’s such hard work at the moment.

2020-11-29: This weekend has been anything but pedestrian. Same as all weekends then… #mbnov

2020-11-28: Just heard my first Xmas song! Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime

2020-11-28: You just took in hiding, from yourself always slip-sliding, everyday a mask your wearing, trying to …

2020-11-27: The dilemma this week: Struggling to find time for myself after family and work and it starting to …

2020-11-26: Lyra made Tiramisu and it is amazing.

2020-11-26: Having kids you have to constantly adjust. Now they’re mobile! Now they’re talking! Now they have …

2020-11-25: “This is a call” is a track from the Foo Fighters first album that I have a really strong memory of. …

2020-11-25: This video about the hip-hop artist NF called The Power of Vulnerability stopped me and is going to …

2020-11-25: Youngest managed to snap this of me reading with Elise. He apparently knows how to access the camera …

2020-11-24: Am enjoying the BBC’s His Dark Materials. I’ve been meaning to go back to the books …

2020-11-24: I’m grateful some of the teachers I work with always have provisions. Sometimes a snack is …

2020-11-24: Been in the restaurant twenty minutes and none of the staff have said a word to me. It’s been …

2020-11-23: I remember when you bought the 36 exposure films. So many things to capture! #mbnov

2020-11-23: In the interests of science and because I’ll try anything once* I bought one of these on the way …

2020-11-22: Borders are a big part of our life and will continue to be. We had to make a choice for the kids …

2020-11-22: What does everyone want for Xmas? Do you make a list with your significant other and buy each other …

2020-11-21: A haiku a day Inspired by this article little sister and I have been exchanging haikus this week. In a, …

2020-11-21: Winter is Christmas and makes me miss Christmases ‘back home*. The build up, the food, the …

2020-11-21: Sometimes it feels like the thing I/you need to do to feel better is to be alone and do things …

2020-11-21: How to tidy your home. Invite people around. Say to yourself, I’ll just say - “sorry about …

2020-11-21: Caution!

2020-11-21: ”Untitled” Digital composition. Yumo 23/11/20

2020-11-21: daily dad from this week This week has been too much, so I’m just catching up with the Daily Dad emails. It says a lot that I …

2020-11-20: Things fade, Eventually Hurt us, a little less. I spilt wine on someone, When I worked in the pub, …

2020-11-20: 'I should have loved biology.' I should have loved biology but I found it to be a lifeless recitation of names: the Golgi apparatus …

2020-11-20: Today’s entry in things I saw in the little convenience shop over the road… It’s not even in …

2020-11-20: “We Are The Champions” on Netflix says - ’Explore an array of unique competitions, from the …

2020-11-19: Finally put some money towards @kottke after running out of excuses for doing so. Consistently …

2020-11-19: It's family. I worked late at school and Lyra thought she had an English lesson so we got to have dinner together …

2020-11-19: Dinner of spam, quail eggs, many types of tofu and vegetables cooked in a beef broth.

2020-11-19: It’s possible our youngest will go down without getting up repeatedly but it’s also possible I could …

2020-11-19: Possible is too often overshadowed by its siblings. The elder, ruder, sibling impossible and its …

2020-11-19: “Deep listening is an act of surrender. We risk being changed by what we hear.” Full quote

2020-11-18: It’s getting late. My dependence on working late is not sustainable! #mbnov

2020-11-18: He went to work every day before Hannah went to school, and in the evening he worked at home. When …

2020-11-17: I’ve been on a bullet train in Japan and regularly get the fast trains here in China but while …

2020-11-16: It feels weird to be overwhelmed but it not be COVID related. And I know it’s ok to be so. I think …

2020-11-16: 3 rounds 50 sit ups 1 minute at the top of the press up. Total time: Not sure. About 3 songs from …

2020-11-16: I can never tell what my first memory is. Whether it is my memory or something I’ve put together …

2020-11-16: I just noticed Apple Arcade on my MacBook App Store. So I ‘think’ I could do that and I kinda like …

2020-11-15: “I really don’t mind coming into the office to work.” Yes. Sometimes after the weekend, it’s …

2020-11-15: Basically my home is as automated as it’s going to get. We can do a disco and that’s it. …

2020-11-15: Who says romance is dead?! Airdropping messages while out with the kids and hearts on Saturday …

2020-11-15: I like this ‘Nobody is normal’ video for Childline that I saw on @Kottke. He says, ‘I was comparing …

2020-11-15: Work at work, home at home. Reading this discussion on Metafilter about people’s experiences of working from home and …

2020-11-14: Being smart often has little to do with being persuasive. Reading this has me thinking of people …

2020-11-14: Memories of Pepsi in glass bottles, at grandma's house. I had Pepsi today. First time in a while because I’ve finally not drinking full-fat soft …

2020-11-14: I don’t do spooky films. I don’t enjoy them. It means I can’t sleep. #mbnov

2020-11-14: Lovely afternoon in the park.

2020-11-14: Foo Fighters - Times Likes These on Saturday Night Live. It’s times like these you learn to …

2020-11-14: Elise’s Dinosaur workout 🦖10 dinosaur raaaaas (lunge and go raaaa) 🦕10 brontosaurus reaches (jump …

2020-11-14: Loving this Tinlicker One Mix on Apple Music. I’ve got stuck listening to the second track* …

2020-11-13: ‘no more guilty pleasures’ I love Austin Kleon We all love things that other people think are garbage. You have to have the …

2020-11-13: Don’t guess. So much of my anxiety comes from this. #mbnov

2020-11-13: It’s been an overwhelming week in some ways between work and family. Wasn’t feeling great this …

2020-11-12: We create challenges for them (our children), but we are not the challenge As usual, taking something from the Daily Dad We don’t raise tough kids by inflicting pain on them. …

2020-11-12: The places I eat. Tonight was on the pavement next to a 4 lane road. The garlic mushrooms were …

2020-11-12: Would i wear the same thing everyday if I could? I sometimes think I would and in fact I kind of do. …

2020-11-11: Often, I feel like I have something to say but not the time to properly form it between family and …

2020-11-11: Saw these in the school library today!

2020-11-10: Being social, even online, is something I wish I was better at but have accepted as something I find …

2020-11-10: Elderly. Grandparents are elderly but never your parents, I mean, until they are. #mbnov

2020-11-10: After yesterday’s I’ll advised kettlebell workout, today’s workout was just about moving a little. …

2020-11-10: Some photos from the weekend. It’s a little section of a bigger tourist attraction done up in an …

2020-11-09: Omar’s Law states that a probability that a child will offer the correct leg/arm/hand/foot to …

2020-11-09: 🦖🥰😂🦄🙃🌮🙁🎄 elise

2020-11-09: I think my issue with the challenges is I don’t like to force it. I want it to be perfect and …

2020-11-09: My experiences are You can’t force people to change They have to do it for themselves I say …

2020-11-08: I’m thinking about what binds us and how those things are not the same everyone we know. A common …

2020-11-08: Beau Miles has a new video where he drinks wine found by the road and answers questions. I enjoy his …

2020-11-07: Hot pot!

2020-11-07: 23:06 Leaving it late. I am inflated by spending time with my wife and friends this evening.

2020-11-07: Night and day.

2020-11-07: Lyra and I are going away for the night while the grandparents try and keep up with the kids - which …

2020-11-07: One of the biggest sacrifices I make as a parent is eating things so my children don’t. Cake, ice …

2020-11-07: This article in the Guardian of critics admitting to getting things wrong has me thinking of what …

2020-11-06: Tried to do a workout. First Elise joined in for the jumping jacks and burpees. Then she got bored. …

2020-11-06: Picking up the kids from school is such an amazing feeling, every single time. For the first ten …

2020-11-06: I am always puzzled By my feelings for Friday The week is over! Again The weekend is here! Again I …

2020-11-06: I know The World Waits™️ and the UK is now on lockdown again but… Both our children slept …

2020-11-05: Stoop. Droop. Loop. Coop. Soup. #mbnov ✏️

2020-11-05: Christmas - it either feels too early or too late, never just right.

2020-11-04: and the word is near but all I can think is the opposite of how the distances between us, currently …

2020-11-04: Episode 37: Elise Predicts The Winner Of The US Election Phew!

2020-11-03: Work is just… it’s not that it’s difficult, no, that’s not right as it is, it’s the volume of …

2020-11-03: As a, relatively, recent father and a teacher of, relatively, small children, kids always astonish …

2020-11-03: I skip breakfast a lot but since I’m trying to exercise more regularly l feel like I need something. …

2020-11-02: Something I miss about the UK is pork pies. Something else I miss is fruit concentrate aka cordial …

2020-11-01: Cuddles are the best. I’ve rolled my eyes in the past when mum has said it to me, but some things …

2020-11-01: One great thing about having kids is that they force you into an active practice of love whether you …

2020-11-01: I enjoyed The Mandolorian - Justified crossover episode a whole lot.

2020-11-01: I’m from the UK and so I’m used to the weather not being the best. That said, the …

2020-10-31: Also date night.

2020-10-31: Date night is serious business.

2020-10-31: My heart is moved by all I cannot save: so much has been destroyed I have to cast my lot with those. …

2020-10-31: Being present I’ve been trying hard to be more present this morning. And the effort has been worth it. I’ve felt …

2020-10-31: Saturday morning train tracks with Elise

2020-10-31: Is anyone considering Apple One? I already have a family music subscription and pay extra for 200gb. …

2020-10-31: 5 Nice Things Kottke just linked to this post titled An Easy Way To Practise Gratitude which is about a game where …

2020-10-30: The kids were allowed to dress up today and it was the first time I’ve seen a Black Panther, which …

2020-10-30: Every morning the security guards take our temperature and say good morning in Chinese. Today though …

2020-10-29: Stayed up late reading, which I haven’t done in a while. Another YA book out of there school library …

2020-10-28: Today in Chinese crisp flavours: creme brûlée and milk tea!

2020-10-28: Exercise today was row 5k. Which I do because I know it’s good for me, even if I’m not a huge fan. …

2020-10-28: Youngest didn’t wake until 5am so Lyra and I got the bed to ourself all night. Then the eldest …

2020-10-27: Made lasagne for tomorrow. Did some exercise. Was productive. Felt good.

2020-10-27: Shoutout to the Wayback Machine for saving the lasagne recipe I like to use after it disappeared

2020-10-26: Yumo moved out of our room and into his sister’s. The first night we gave it up but they both …

2020-10-25: IKEA

2020-10-24: This letter to an ‘agony aunt’ from someone who has lived in their partner’s home …

2020-10-24: The originally makes sense apparently but the English trans unit so much.

2020-10-24: Is there a way to block websites in Safari on my iPhone? I’ve deleted apps but can’t be trusted not …

2020-10-23: I don’t think it’s a coincidence my anxiety kicked in after I felt good about myself for doing …

2020-10-22: I’ve managed to remove a notification I’ve had for months and never been able to. So I’m feeling …

2020-10-22: Today, try to hold some of the dark and some of the light side by side. Don’t turn away from either …

2020-10-22: Youngest did not sleep well and was slow getting back to sleep. So now I’m off to work and feeling a …

2020-10-21: New plan: Have something to do in the evening. I find I come home from work and spend time with the kids and eventually get them to bed and then I …

2020-10-20: lessons stand up for what is right prioritize your mental health being flexible brings success your voice …

2020-10-20: My favourite thing about iOS 14 is definitely the photo widget. A constant stream of photos of the …

2020-10-20: I think there’s something wrong. with my. spacebar as it keeps adding i n adding in spaces …

2020-10-19: In other related news about my kids. Things they’ve been competitive about recently… Going …

2020-10-19: This evening Matthew I’m going to be the father from the Lego Movie… “Stoooppp messing with …

2020-10-18: Another rollercoaster weekend is over… We’ve talked about watching Monsters and Love but …

2020-10-18: Losing my patience. Losing my patience with my children is the worst and yet still, it happens. This week has been …

2020-10-18: Listening to Jocelyn K. Glei’s podcast Hurry Slowly and this week it’s titled The Angst of …

2020-10-18: Today I’m grateful that kids here can have parties again. Reminded recently that Elise’s 3rd …

2020-10-17: I think that I’ve put the old iPad one of the kid’s uses in a safe place. Thing is, it’s such a safe …

2020-10-17: Roads

2020-10-17: Care and love After reading Austin Kleon’s post We love because we care I asked Lyra to help me buy the book. …

2020-10-16: Drinking, silly talk with colleagues was just what I needed after this week. Physically I’m ok but …

2020-10-14: Wednesday October 14th, 6:34pm, Chongqing, China The youngest loves the marble run set we have and …

2020-10-14: Episode 36 - roast Duck Roast duckkkk

2020-10-14: Still, somehow thought it was Tuesday but apparently it’s already Wednesday. Time seems to be a …

2020-10-12: Forever ago I rewatched my quarantine 1 Second Everyday just now. I did it from January 24th which was Day 1 for …

2020-10-12: So I’m at least 90% sure I’ve got all day Wednesday to take my photo for the challenge. For me it …

2020-10-12: Episode 35: After Dinner Chat Does what it says on the tin.

2020-10-11: Elise reading.

2020-10-11: This error. @help

2020-10-10: Today Time alone with coffee, a notebook and a book Lunch with Lyra Afternoon beers with friends 1 minute …

2020-10-10: Lunch with Lyra.

2020-10-10:

2020-10-10: Pretty satifisfied with how The Boys finished Season 2, how things were wrapped up and how …

2020-10-09: Yesterday I was grateful for a less stressful bedtime. Thing is, the kids were just as troublesome I …

2020-10-07: Noodles and then a drink and chat with a friend while the grandparents are watching the kids was …

2020-10-06: My new mantra is, ‘one thing at a time.’ Which in theory is quite simple and in practice …

2020-10-05: After yesterdays watching of Vampires vs. the block, Lyra and I watched Attack the Block today. …

2020-10-05: Cuddling your kids is great but when they cuddle you as toddlers it’s so much better. They’ve just …

2020-10-05: exercise New me continues. Am I peaking too early? Broke out the kettlebell and did this: Perform 5 circuits …

2020-10-05: Also, the plan to turn my life around is going pretty well. I haven’t lost my patience with …

2020-10-05: I’ve started to reread the last but one book in the Rivers of London series by Ben …

2020-10-04: Cultured.

2020-10-04: Vampires vs. The Bronx on Netflix was fun. Not too heavy to watch In the afternoon while the kids …

2020-10-04: Soft play is THE BEST!!!11

2020-10-04: Episode 34: Elise Records Her Own Brief Episode About unicorns obviously.

2020-10-03: Finally got around to finishing my rereading of Dune, inspired by the trailer for the upcoming film. …

2020-10-03: Episode 33: Good Choice And Bad Choices Plus Yumo says some stuff.

2020-10-03: Places

2020-10-03: People.

2020-10-03: Lovely 24 hours away with Lyra for our 6th Wedding anniversary on Thursday. We had a nice Airbnb, …

2020-10-02: Oh my goodness. The penultimate episode of The Boys was just so very good. Very excited for the …

2020-10-02: Vaffamix - Ethno Love (Vaffa Superstar Remix) I could listen to this forever.

2020-09-30: Press all the buttons!

2020-09-30: Getting this error using Sunlit. Is that just me?

2020-09-30: Today’s exercise!

2020-09-30: Lunch included pig ears and century eggs. Neither of which I’m a massive fan of. Eggs should be …

2020-09-30: Episode 32: Unicorns Are Real And they have a horn

2020-09-29: Just finished Russian Doll on Netflix. Highly enjoyable. LOVED the lead. Will definitely be watching …

2020-09-29: “Classic trance with a 2020 twist.” This is right up my street. Still love the trance I would listen …

2020-09-29: Another day!

2020-09-28: Saw Tenet again. Wasn’t as overwhelming but still can’t comprehend what was going on really. Will be …

2020-09-28: “If this isn’t nice I don’t know what is.”

2020-09-27: Trying to get back into some good habits. Definitely taking it a little easier today.

2020-09-27: How do you share photos/updates with family? I don’t really want to use FB or Instagram. We …

2020-09-27: Daring Fireball: ‎Widgetsmith and The Case of the Missing App Store Bunco Squad If Apple ran a food …

2020-09-26: More words

2020-09-26: Holiday! National Holiday in China so we have a week off. Leaving the country is impossible as everyone …

2020-09-25: So there’s an American remake of ‘cult tv thriller’ Utopia starring John Cusack. …

2020-09-25: “Up for a challenge?? A poem a day- when you would reach for your phone? Reach for your journal and …

2020-09-23: Made last night and reheated today. Made the late night supermarket run worth it. My best one yet, …

2020-09-23: My favourite iOS 14 feature is having random photos of the kids appearing on my Home Screen. So …

2020-09-22: Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Advice For Living Another often-asked question when I speak in public: “Do you have some good advice you might share …

2020-09-21: Yesterday introduced Elise to some tasty music -Buffallo Charge - Dub Phizix and Strategy Also they …

2020-09-21: Parent teacher interview always make me nervous but after I’m always grateful for them. It’s easy to …

2020-09-20: A girl at Elise’s dance class has a t-shirt that says - “I need a break” and I’m totally feeling …

2020-09-19: Reset The few hours Lyra and I just had were just what I needed. A chance to reset my mindset and for me …

2020-09-19: First time in a cinema since I can’t remember. We saw Tenet. It was amazing. I think, I’m not sure. …

2020-09-19: Also, this is the only time I get that I’m free of children and I need to make the most of that.

2020-09-19: My tolerance for annoying stuff happening when Lyra and I are out without the kids is basically …

2020-09-19: Unicorns and My Little Pony are Elise’s current favourites.

2020-09-19: Great grandma gave Elise and Yumo some money. We could have got the same toys cheaper online but I …

2020-09-19: Kids remember everything. You think they didn’t but it’s in there somewhere, waiting to come out.

2020-09-17: We started writing with our 5 and 6 year old students today. It’s a pretty useful skill I …

2020-09-17: Do not like how Apple pins chats in Messages. I don’t like the giant bubbles, why can’t I have …

2020-09-17: Lyra just made cheese on toast for the first time. So proud.

2020-09-16: Certified Young Person Paul Rudd Wants You To Wear A Mask

2020-09-16: Today was good and that was almost entirely because of me and my attitude. It was good. Good.

2020-09-16: In China at least. Kids having Kid versions of Apple Watches to stay in touch with parents is very …

2020-09-16: I would like an iPad. So that my MacBook becomes work only. I just don’t need to do that. I have …

2020-09-16: “My relationship with the entire world in this moment depends entirely on the relationship I have …

2020-09-13: Episode 31: Yumo Doesn’t Say Much See title.

2020-09-13: Coffee and a book. Really getting back into Dune.

2020-09-12: Spicy spicy spicy and definitely Lyra’s.

2020-09-12: In this email talking to a mindfulness teacher was a quote that struck me and now I can’t stop …

2020-09-12: Episode 30 “Wee Wee” Elise’s choice: Paw Patrol.

2020-09-12: How to be more present and alive in the moment Sometimes I’m aware that I should be doing one thing …

2020-09-12: Only 26c (73f) today. Jeans it is!

2020-09-12: Paying up front In China people typically pay up front. From buying phones outright and then paying-as-you-go, to …

2020-09-11: Was in bed before 9 and then had a restless child between 3-5am and up at 6. Today’s plan is to just …

2020-09-10: Just watched the new Dune trailer and will now pick it up the book from the library at school today. …

2020-09-09: 冰粉bing fen - is one of those foods that i like but would never catch on in the UK. It’s sort of …

2020-09-08: Reading this about Instagrams changes make me glad I ditched it again. The reason I joined again was …

2020-09-08: Elise at 6:50am: “Why do cereals need milk?” It’s too much art for these sort of questions。

2020-09-07: Spent the evening sorting the kids toys… Which I’m taking as a sign I was in a good mood! I …

2020-09-07: Episode 3 of The Boys* - My one word review is: Crikey. Kicked things up a notch I think. 📺 *Though …

2020-09-07: Episode 29: Ghost Sam Hi again. A quick chat before Elise went to sleep. Hopefully this is the start of more regular …

2020-09-07: Milk tea China is crazy for milk tea as well as other fruit based drinks. There’s countless places open …

2020-09-07: I didn’t stop between 7 and 5 but managed to keep it together today. Busy but I didn’t let it get to …

2020-09-05: Recent crop of beans and beetroot from our land*. *That is thousands of miles away and that mum and …

2020-09-05: Question. What are my options for my over 10,000 Flickr photos? It’s such an amazing snapshot …

2020-09-05: Daily Dad Email. Daily Dad is a daily, duh, email about being a better dad. The tagline is, ‘every dad needs a …

2020-09-05: We tried to lie in but it’s tricky with small children climbing on you.

2020-09-04: The Boys 📺 Just finished episode 1 of season 2 of The Boys. Interested to see how it goes from here. The things …

2020-09-04: Zen Shorts Zen Shorts and it’s follow up Zen Tie, Zen Ghosts and Zen socks by John J. Muth are some of my …

2020-09-04: The aim this week was to get through. Hoping to recharge the batteries a little this weekend… …

2020-09-02: Reading

2020-09-01: First impressions of the new Sunlit app are very positive. I like the new look a lot.

2020-08-29: One of things I find hard as a parent is the weekends. What’s a good weekend? What do I want/need? What do I feel I should do (with the kids)? Today, …

2020-08-29: reading In a nearby park is a coffee shop that has books you can read. We’re in the habit of going at the …

2020-08-29: In Which Teenagers Can’t Make Phone Calls We call them phones but I rarely make calls on mine.

2020-08-27: Passion fruit beer and spicy porridge. I know how to treat myself!

2020-08-25: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When your job involves working with young children (I teach Year 1(kindergarten)) and you have small …

2020-08-23: Dadding I’m still thinking about Kenneth Koch’s poem this weekend, “You Want a Social …

2020-08-22: Spending an hour in McDonald’s at 1am talking about work with a colleague. I’m loving it!

2020-08-21: Am out for dinner with my phone and a face mask. I must have forgotten something.

2020-08-20: We call it shaokao because we’re not sure how to translate it to English so just use the Chinese. …

2020-08-20: Just waiting for my friend to turn up so we can dinner. It’s an odd feeling not being in a rush, not …

2020-08-20: Grandparents are watching the kids. Lyra is out. So have the time to go to the school gym and do …

2020-08-18: Today’s afterwork exercise…

2020-08-17: Ok, I didn’t make it to the gym this evening but I did do some KB swings, squats and press …

2020-08-17: exercise plans In theory it made sense. I want to exercise more regularly but I’m also aware that when I …

2020-08-17: 6:00 - Snooze 6:09 - Get up 6:30 Coffee and some scrolling 7:00 Didi (Uber) to work 7:30 First day …

2020-08-16: The Home Office This story of a British lawyer being refused a visa he didn’t apply for always gets me as I …

2020-08-16: Rereading and enjoying Ted Chiang’s - Stories of your life and others, a collection of short …

2020-08-15: My top parenting tip for today is: if you choose to hide under the covers on a bed, cover your soft …

2020-08-15: Reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar with Elise asked, “Yes, but why do caterpillars become …

2020-08-15: Have been trying to use the instant camera we have more. Partly because we’ve got lots of instants …

2020-08-15: Youngest has been awake since 5. Sent Lyra to the spare room at 6ish. Elise woke at 6:30. It’s now 8 …

2020-08-13: communication A strange truth about communicating is that we don’t get to choose whether we do it or not. In the …

2020-08-13: A friend came around this evening so Elise could give her her birthday present. Elise and Yumo were …

2020-08-13: I agree with the sentiment I read on Kottke.org about Your School District’s Reopening Survey …

2020-08-13: Deep breath The classroom is nearly as set up as it’s going to be. We have new students coming in tomorrow …

2020-08-12: How China Controlled the Coronavirus - The New Yorker A teacher in China recounting his experience. …

2020-08-11: All I can think about when reading this article about paying by the hour is… When I’m getting …

2020-08-11: New habits! Yeah, but will it last? I’ve been making an effort recently with things… Not using the phone around the kids Less …

2020-08-11: Enjoyed reading @MDonaldson writing about Spotify. Makes me want to make more effort to support the …

2020-08-11: It’s strange that, by the looks of it, when our students return next week it will look normal. …

2020-08-10: FYI running in 36 degree heat will leave you feeling unwell. Wouldn’t recommend it. Who knew?!

2020-08-10: First morning done at work. Brain is now mush.

2020-08-09: A new notebook for a new school year.

2020-08-09: Back to school tomorrow We’ll have a week without students and then students will start on the Monday. Will find out what …

2020-08-09: Cocktails

2020-08-08: Yumo is potty training, which we’re hoping will be easier since he wants to do what his older …

2020-08-06: Nervous flyer I remember the first time I was nervous flying. Growing up, it’s not that we flew a lot but …

2020-08-06: Finished our night away with a trip to the hospital after getting my finger very briefly trapped in …

2020-08-06: Even if I’m not taking part I’m really enjoying the photos from the contest! Thank you everyone!

2020-08-06: I do not need to buy new stationary. I do not need to buy new stationary. Am resisting the urge that …

2020-08-05: An afternoon sat on the floor of our hotel room cutting and sticking was very relaxing!

2020-08-05: Day/night away Grandparents are in and we’ve gone away, mostly visiting places that are popular online. Pho, then …

2020-08-04: Full names. It’s interesting to hear Elise talking to classmates as she leaves school. In Chinese she uses …

2020-08-04: Tea-tales Another day, another new place. This was to try some new tea based drinks. Those these ones are …

2020-08-04: 🌶️

2020-08-04: Have been going for a shortish walk after dropping Elise off at kindergarten. It’s been nice, …

2020-08-04: Welcome back for the 2020 school year! [A letter from your local superintendent and school board] Welcome back for the 2020 school year! We are incredibly delighted to have our children and …

2020-08-03: Trying to get Siri to play Jaja Ding Dong from the Eurovision move by Will Ferrell was a fun …

2020-08-03: I go back to work next week. So I’m been trying to sort my sleep routines out a little. Going to bed …

2020-08-02: 'My Mission is to keep the light in your eyes ablaze." To my boy, all that energy, so wild Love your hues and your blues in equal measure Your comings and …

2020-08-01: If you haven’t seen it, this video of Alanis Morrisette performing via the internet while …

2020-08-01: Another day, another adventure This time without kids and with a taxi there instead of a taxi. It definitely ticked the adventure …

2020-08-01: It’s this hot, so we’re sitting outside instead of inside.

2020-08-01: Pringle “taco”. Things I’m going to make at home!

2020-08-01: Norsemen Really enjoying Norsemen on Netflix. I read it described as Vikings meets Monty Python, which I kind …

2020-08-01: Youngest has been up since 5:30. Got annoyed and am now annoyed about being annoyed. We need a plan!

2020-07-31: As someone whose job it often to encourage and support parents to leave their child at school when …

2020-07-30: Lyra wanted something like this after she had it in a place in Chengdu. Turned out ok, avocado, …

2020-07-30: Getting in the car with/without children. Without kids. Approach car. Unlock. Put on seatbelt. Spend some time choosing the right music.* …

2020-07-29: Starting to think about going back to school Summer holidays are coming to an end. For us in China, school will reopen for students on 17th …

2020-07-29: Little place for a drink after lunch

2020-07-29: At the dentist for the first time in too long… Fun!

2020-07-26: It’s Sunday, so I’m jealous of all the roast dinners people are eating in the UK.

2020-07-25: Annoying as someone without an account when Instagram wants you to log in to look at something …

2020-07-25: Youngest spent 10minutes sitting happily watching the water.

2020-07-24: I dreamt I had a new job (a new school in a different country), that I could fly and that there were …

2020-07-23: Bbq and then Worms and watermelon beer this lunch time with Claire was lovely. Some mix up where we …

2020-07-23: Noodles?

2020-07-23: Sports Have Been on Pause. It’s Time for a Reboot. - The New York Times Ideas for how to improve …

2020-07-22: exercising Workout today was supposed to be 3 X 1000m row but I was forced to run instead. First time …

2020-07-21: Music for mediations from a Japanese Zen Buddhist monk using a mic and a loop machine. Really …

2020-07-19: A proper effort. Lyra and I made a proper effort to not spend time on our phones when we were with the kids. A few …

2020-07-19: Went on another adventure* today! *take the light rail for a few stops and find somewhere to eat …

2020-07-19: Goodbyes I am reminded of what I wrote when Natalie left last year. We said good bye to Wil this week, who is …

2020-07-18: We all started in our room, youngest in the cot and the eldest in bed with us because she wouldn’t …

2020-07-15: “Take care of yourself.” Chengdu train station with some kind words.

2020-07-14: People in this city are wearing their masks a lot more than the city we live. As well, they are …

2020-07-14: Coffee without the kids is so nice They are annoying but I miss them so much. Though I think mostly it’s worry. Our children are mostly …

2020-07-14: Fish and chips Scott’s is a fish and chip shop in the UK that hosts Chinese tourists after the Chinese president …

2020-07-13: Away for two days to ANOTHER city WITHOUT kids!

2020-07-12: Patience is low today. Which I inevitably obsess over as. Then up being annoyed about being …

2020-07-11: Adventures. Our youngest likes to see the light rail trains. We always point them out when we see them. Yet, we …

2020-07-11: 鸳鸯(Yuānyāng) It’s the Chinese name for the Mandarin duck and where the first character refers to the male …

2020-07-09: Episode 28 - “Two Sues” Hi again! Elise talks about our evening out.

2020-07-09: Hot pot for lunch.

2020-07-09: An Unlived Life I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living …

2020-07-09: 3 Links I keep meaning to post things I like but I normally end up sending various links to different …

2020-07-08: Death by 10m Shuttle Sprint Place 2 cones 10m apart. With a running clock, sprint 10m in the 1st minute, sprint 20m (10mx2) in …

2020-07-07: Fitness always takes a backseat during term time when family and work take up all my time. So …

2020-07-06: Obviously, I love my children. I worry about them constantly. Sometimes I try not to think about …

2020-07-05: Foofighters. Yesterday was 25 years since Foo Fighters released their debut album. I was a little young for …

2020-07-05: Lyra and I talked about cutting down our screen time and leading by example and if that isn’t the …

2020-07-05: Lyra and I spent some time with a book before meeting a friend for lunch while the grandparents …

2020-07-04: Burpees and kettlebell swings on the balcony. Partner workout while the kids nap.

2020-07-03: Reading this about Hey but I don’t feel I use my email enough to warrant paying and switching from …

2020-07-02: Holidays. We travel a fair bit. Partly, I think because of our location - which makes Thailand, Cambodia and …

2020-07-02: Back home to multiple bedrooms and not the 4 of us sharing two twin beds pushed together! Heaven!

2020-07-01: Does your job and your life ever overlap? For me as someone who teaches small children and have two …

2020-06-30: Nice to be mixing up days because of being on holiday and not because of a global virus.

2020-06-29: In children news. 1. Elise says, “open sesame” at automatic doors to make them open 2. When we run …

2020-06-29: Holidays with kids. It is nice to be away. It is. And hotel breakfasts are amazing. It’s just hard …

2020-06-26: There’s a thousand things swirling around my head. That I’m hopeful I’m going to …

2020-06-26: NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts have always been on my radar on the occasions I head over to Youtube. …

2020-06-26: School’s out!

2020-06-24: School finished today. Students had their last day yesterday and teachers finished today. We did a little more packing up …

2020-06-24: Last day of school!

2020-06-23: Going to be a weird end to a strange school year. We’re going to have a disco with the kids, except …

2020-06-21: Episode 27: “Father’s Day” We try to talk about Father’s Day a little.

2020-06-21: Happy Father’s Day Dads!

2020-06-21: Lift drinks

2020-06-21: Sometimes Sometimes, I like living in a country where I don’t speak the language and where people who do …

2020-06-20: Clean your teeth everyone. Soft play is terrifying.

2020-06-20: It’s Saturday morning. The kids have been playing with each other!!! It’s amazing.

2020-06-20: Episode 26 “Journey Number 5” We’ve just read Aaron Becker’s third book in the Journey trilogy that’s called Return. Though, at …

2020-06-19: Episode 25 “scooters” A brief chat about scooters

2020-06-19: Just created a Week 20 e-learning folder. Mannnnnn

2020-06-18: Time away Sometimes the best thing I can do for my family is to have some time away from them. I think about …

2020-06-18: Driving in China - Lessons in life. I rediscovered that I had a journal in Day One titled Driving in China that I’ve tried to …

2020-06-17: 串串 You pick your sticks and then boil it in spicy oil. As well, it reminded me how busy China is …

2020-06-14: Couple of photos from last night. Back with a bump today. Small children are a rollercoaster eh?

2020-06-14: Have been promising to make this out of the back of the book Tiddler by Julia Donaldson for a while. …

2020-06-13: Episode 24: “Late Night Chat” Picking blueberries and waiting up for mum and dad.

2020-06-13: One of my first memories of coming to the city I now live in was the weather. A muggy, heavy, heat. …

2020-06-13: Lovely afternoon having a few drinks and not feeling additional, small child related, stress. As …

2020-06-13: Daytime drinking because my wife is amazing and has taken the kids out for the day. Guinness for …

2020-06-13: Looking forward to seeing Dads. Trailer looks really good. Dads is a heartfelt and humorous …

2020-06-13: Just submittd my Microcast to Apple! Thanks to @manton for the support but also @chet for this post …

2020-06-13: Knocked off another couple of 3* mirror races on Mario Kart 8 this morning! Still aiming for 3*s on …

2020-06-12: Parents, what are your thoughts about posting pictures of your children online? I have some friends …

2020-06-12: Can I still gift a micro.blog account? I thought I could but I’m not finding anything.

2020-06-11: Episode 23: “Yumo Says Some Name But not Others” Yumo says some names of people in our immediate family but not others!

2020-06-10: My wife and I are trying to be good, food-wise, at the moment but it’s really hard. Since work …

2020-06-09: Been a week since my AirPods case stopped working. This morning finally got the headphones from my …

2020-06-08: Engaging. After reading some of @MDonaldson’s newsletter about starting to use Micro.blog and how it …

2020-06-07: Episode 22:”Dinosaurs” Some dinosaur chatter.

2020-06-06: Home alone update: I’m playing Mario Kart on the tv!

2020-06-06: Lyra has taken the kids out to a friend’s for a few hours! So, I’m obviously, struggling to make the …

2020-06-05: Morning jealousy I’ve always been a little jealous of other’s morning routines. Since, these days, mine …

2020-06-04: Episode 21: “You Eat Your Head” Elise reluctantly talks a little about school.

2020-06-02: Episode 20: “Elise Talks A Little Bit About Going Back To School.” TLDR: See the title.

2020-06-01: Every 3minutes for 30minutes - 12 calorie sprint on the Assault Bike. First four rounds were ok. …

2020-05-31: Had breakfast in a place that’s a pretty decent copy of another Western style place that we like but …

2020-05-31: Whether Elise either dresses herself, like this morning, or is helped she currently always wants to …

2020-05-30: Awww. The last 10 minutes of Season 2 of Schitt’s Creek was lovely. I mean, I’m enjoying …

2020-05-29: Changes at school. Covid19 has meant a lot of changes at our school. Some teachers went away at Chinese New Year at the …

2020-05-29: Episode 19: “Pizza Talk.” Elise presses buttons, Yumo wants to join in, I put it online regardless.

2020-05-29: Episode 19: “Pizza Talk” Elise talks about pizza and Yumo lays down a backing track.

2020-05-29: Our team is a little more on top of things today. And as a result, have a little more time to talk …

2020-05-29: Last night was the first night this week I didn’t work at home (after going to work). Woke up …

2020-05-28: School. In no particular order: - Reports are done but… - Doing e-learning and teaching students in …

2020-05-25: My gen 1 AirPods case has stopped charging. Which is annoying and frustrating but probably should …

2020-05-25: Trying hard to, ‘be the change.’ Last week was rough because everything was getting to me. …

2020-05-24: Today in China…

2020-05-24: L has turned her hand to macarons recently… These are the second batch. They’re so good.

2020-05-23: Episode 18 - “helicopters “ Elise talks about her new toy

2020-05-22: Reasons I update things on my phone: (in order of priority) 1. To get rid of the red circle

2020-05-21: Episode 17: Dinosaurs Eat People Elise talks a little about dinosaurs.

2020-05-19: A morning routine Darling children all around Everyday a storm Having small children awake from …

2020-05-17: We were watching the Matthew Mconnughey and Anne Hathaway film Serenity last night and the best bit …

2020-05-17:

2020-05-17: Up This site said we were 439m on the 69th floor. Now, most of the time I take things for granted. …

2020-05-17: Hole - Violet I listened to it again recently after discovering it on an old hard drive. It takes me …

2020-05-16: A night away with Lyra and without the kids. Almost didn’t get in. A nice view from the window. Air …

2020-05-16: Bought a new book today, Lyra asked me if I’d finished my other books. I have not. See number 2 on …

2020-05-16: True friendship “Be courteous to all but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them …

2020-05-16: A friend mentioned Schitt’s Creek in passing and I’m slowing working through first …

2020-05-14: Episode 16: “The Family Gets Nicknames” Following straight on from the last episode. Lyra learns what scruffy means.

2020-05-14: Episode 15: Mr Tiny Man Elise gives her brother a new name.

2020-05-13: I should sleep I should sleep but, if I stay awake A little longer I feel, I can hold tomorrow off …

2020-05-13: Yellow by Elise. 🌈

2020-05-12: Oranges. Photos found this photo for me… 📷🌈 #mbmay

2020-05-12: Episode 14: “Zog And The Flying Doctor’s” By Julian Donaldson. Retold By Elise We’ve read this a lot this weekend. She did pretty well!

2020-05-12: I want to record my daughter talking to family and friends online. Both would be using iOS. What’s a …

2020-05-11: Red. I keep thinking I want a new unlined notebook but keep coming back to the thought that I should …

2020-05-11: Episode 13: “Are we An Incredible Family?” Bit noisy this.

2020-05-10: phone dependency I ended up watching Jerry Seinfeld’s new special on Netflix. There’s a bit he does about how our …

2020-05-10: Saw this and remembered I needed to do a quote today. 💬

2020-05-10: It’s Sunday and it’s not even 9. I’m working; because I don’t know, What else I …

2020-05-10: Episode 12: 爸爸 A trial run of talking with Yumo… Who is on the verge of talking. He understands what we’re …

2020-05-09: EMAILS FROM MY CHILDREN’S SCHOOL BEFORE 8:00 AM DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS - Ouch.

2020-05-09: “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter …

2020-05-09: Episode 11 - “Hi Natalie.” The audio of a video I took of Elise talking to a friend about a book we’ve read called Journey by …

2020-05-09: I was doing so well with talking to Elise but it kind of fell off. Anyway, I did a short video for a …

2020-05-08: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you …

2020-05-07: From this post on a email subscription

2020-05-06: I’m sorry I have to say it but you look like you’re sad Your smile is gone; I’ve …

2020-05-05: When I think I’m teaching, I’m probably not. When I don’t think I’m …

2020-05-04: “If this isn’t nice, what is?” 💬 I can’t remember where I first heard this Kurt Vonnegut quote but I think about it a lot. It’s a …

2020-05-03: Tales from the Loop Watched and enjoyed the the first episode of Tales from the Loop. A series based on the work of a …

2020-05-03: The human bean: 40 days on a tin-bean diet This video is titled The Human Bean: 40 days on a tin-bean diet. I’ve always enjoyed watching the …

2020-05-02: It’s my birthday. I’m 68. I feel like pulling up a rocking chair and dispensing advice to the young …

2020-04-30: Episode 10: “汪汪队” Elise and Lyra talk about Paw Patrol.

2020-04-29: Episode 9: “It’s Not A Hat” We talk about the time Elise fell off a swing.

2020-04-29:

2020-04-28: Episode 8: “Cupcakes And Donuts.” We, briefly, talk about salad and vegetables. Which is apparently our families favourite food! Who …

2020-04-28: One thing at a time Yesterday was rubbish. Today, I’m __ trying__ to not try and do everything at once and then beating …

2020-04-27: Episode 7: “Three Frightful Heads” A discussion of Room on the Broom by Julian Donaldson, both the book and film.

2020-04-27: Things that aren’t work. I think I’ve realised that, in week 12 of e-learning and 14 weeks since this started, since I …

2020-04-27: What Social Distancing Looks Like Across the World - What Social Distance Looks Like Across the …

2020-04-27: One of these day, I’ll sort out my morning routine. At the moment it always leaves me stressed …

2020-04-26: Episode 6: “We Played Everywhere” First time recording outside and not at bedtime. We went to a ‘theme park’!

2020-04-25: This chilli oil with garlic is amazing with dumplings.

2020-04-25: Episode 5 - “because it’s bad times” Elise deviates from dinosaurs and talks about airplanes and cars and her grandparents.

2020-04-25: Traumatic Chinese Haircuts I was due to get my haircut during Chinese New Year but obviously, that didn’t happen. So …

2020-04-25: I’ve seen a book I’m interested in. However, I’ve still not finished the books …

2020-04-24: Pruning uncomfortable memories. So. I have too many photos. I don’t need that many. Lots are there because I never curated …

2020-04-24: It’s a Zoom screensaver but my daughter was having a meeting with it earlier. …

2020-04-24: Episode 4: “They’re All Beautiful” Elise shares her thoughts on Despicable Me.

2020-04-23: Episode 3: “Paw Patrol Rescue everybody, the end.” Elise talks about Paw Patrol and sings the theme in English and Chinese.

2020-04-23: Time zones are the worst. I replied to two messages I received overnight first thing this morning …

2020-04-22: Episode 2: School Elise presses the button to start recording. Elise talks a little about school and why she hasn’t …

2020-04-21: Episode 1 - Unplanned at bedtime After reading about @Chet’s podcast with his children, I kind of liked that idea. Then I listened to …

2020-04-21: I’m in China. We can go outside. School is closed (for my age level, Yr 11/13 went back …

2020-04-19: It’s occurred that parts of me are everywhere. A number of conversations spread across …

2020-04-18: Also, this screenshot we drove through recently. Not complicated at all.

2020-04-18: Waiting on my first Michelin star.

2020-04-17: Future dreams (Not entirely prompted by the lockdown but it’s probably influencing my thoughts.) …

2020-04-17: Four Albums I can listen to all the way through. Heavily influenced by my late teens/early 20s listening habits, 3 of the albums are 14 years old or …

2020-04-17: Anyone else have the WFH situation where it’s fine if you stay in the office (or where ever) …

2020-04-16: Hi @vincent i just opened Gluon and got this error. I don’t think I’m doing anything I …

2020-04-16: Bouncing back with some old tracks Slight regret at yesterday’s beers but feeling like I’m starting to bounce back a …

2020-04-15: Drinks with Claire. Walking into the light Drunkenly buying flowers on the way home.

2020-04-15: It’s funny the things that give you a new perspective, that make you look at the things you do …

2020-04-15: Beers of the world. Lovey afternoon discussing a potential return to school and just chatting. It’s …

2020-04-14: I’m a sucker for these “group sing alongs” - This time it’s “You’ve got a friend” by the …

2020-04-14: Tried out my new 32kg kettlebell today. Glad I stuck with the 24 as long as I did. The 32 was a …

2020-04-11: Our ‘e-learning break’ is coming to an end and I’m dreading Monday and going back to work aka …

2020-04-11: 西贝 This restaurant is one of my favourites. It’s called 西贝(xī bèi) and is Mongolian style food. Lots of …

2020-04-10: Other people Had a few beers with a few friends in the afternoon and then a few more over dinner with a few more …

2020-04-10: parents are not ok Lots I associate with in this piece entitled Parents are not ok by Chloe I. Cooney. Two bits that …

2020-04-09: Not often I get to drive 70mph in China. 120kmh is reserved for roads well out of urban areas. Was …

2020-04-09: Lost my patience with the kids and now in a foul mood. Wish I could start today again.

2020-04-08: care and reverence This question answered by Nick Cave talks a little about appreciated the here and now from the point …

2020-04-08: Announced today that local (which we aren’t) schools in our area in China will begin a staggered …

2020-04-08: Noticing your mother tongue One of the things that always - jumps out at me, surprises me, that always makes me stop me about …

2020-04-07: One minute I’m fine and then suddenly my anxiety, which was under control, has snowballed, runway …

2020-04-07: Our rented and furnished flat has 3 bedrooms all with doubles in. This has meant that our eldest has …

2020-04-07: L said, go look at the kitchen, “I’ve sorted it a bit…” and so I go and I look and it looks …

2020-04-06: Enjoying John Krasinski’s Some Good News videos at the moment. Bonus Hamilton sing along in this …

2020-04-06: the world that’s in your pocket is not the world? Second in the series of song lyrics that have struck me… Though it’s more spoken word. That …

2020-04-05: 芝芝咖啡。Cheese coffee. It shouldn’t work but I love it.

2020-04-05: There’s a world outside And I know ‘cause I’ve heard talk In my sweetest dream I …

2020-04-04: 'a fraction of our attention' This piece by Leo Babauta on ‘The practice of meticulous attention’ resonated with me this …

2020-04-04: Hot pot / 火锅 - boiling oil which you put food in to cook.

2020-04-04: Just pulled out a couple of on-line-wins on Mario Kart. My day has peaked basically.

2020-04-03: Today was the last day of our 9th week in e-learning. Never been more glad of a break.

2020-04-03: This article where writers were asked what would their characters do in a pandemic is fun. At least …

2020-04-03: Also, I feel bad for working. That’s something hasn’t changed the whole 9 weeks …

2020-04-03: Baby Shark is on repeat in the lounge as I work in the spare room. There goes my Apple Music …

2020-04-02: Kettlebells on hold for some Yoga today. It was nice, I assume I’ll not have to spend so much …

2020-04-01: I took he hard drive out of my old Mac and it’s full of stuff. One of the things was some …

2020-04-01: Played an online game with some friends and then it just transitioned into just chatting. Even if I …

2020-04-01: Happy with using the Micro.blog hosting and transferring my Wordpress blog over was really simple. …

2020-03-31: I hate that my exercise is so doable. I’ve not got any excuse really. What fraction of the day …

2020-03-31: Came to Micro.blog by accident, now I post to my blog again! However, I feel like I like the idea of …

2020-03-31: Put my head in my hands for a few breaths because trying to work while the kids bounce between …

2020-03-29: Today I started to try and deal with my thousands of photos. As I’m deleting many many photos, …

2020-03-28: In the Apple store 5 minutes and I’m all like, “could I do all my work on an iPad?”

2020-03-28: Obviously we’re eating something spicy food, in this case roast fish.

2020-03-28: Ohhhhhhhhhhh. We’re out without the kids! First time in 9 weeks!

2020-03-25: It’s such a strange moment. One day you’re suddenly having conversations with your children.

2020-03-25: I’ve just made a folder on my computer for Week 9 of e-learning. 😐

2020-03-25: So late it’s almost early. A giant storm just passed over us. With such intensity, That I thought of …

2020-03-24: Thus we never see the true state of our condition till it is illustrated to us by its contraries, …

2020-03-24: Apple Music has added “Get Up!” Mix, an upbeat selection, which I’m starting the day …

2020-03-22: Self-isolation - Vol 7. A new normal.

2020-03-22: We went out to a park today, sat on a mat in the sun and had snacks. Elise was brave on her …

2020-03-21: Just put together a table but obviously that’s too simple so i added two more children and that was …

2020-03-20: Out for a stroll in the sun with Lyra and the eldest. Ice cream, some chips and a drink. Was very …

2020-03-19: Shout out to Elise for the back cover art.

2020-03-19: Another sunny day and e-learning is on hold for a virtual sports day (kids encouraged to log a range …

2020-03-19: New rules today for our city are that anyone coming from overseas into China has to go to a hotel …

2020-03-18: Was reading this discussion Metafilter about fun social activities that don’t involve leaving …

2020-03-18: There is food in there, it’s not just dish of chillis.

2020-03-18: Tea and sun 🌞

2020-03-18: Played Fibbage with some friends in Australia over video chat. It was fun! I find making the effort …

2020-03-18: Apple Music normally puts similar music in my Favourites Mix but this week it’s given me …

2020-03-18: Question: I mostly use my Macbook at home but if I bought a extra monitor - would it work with a …

2020-03-17: It’s funny - now self-distancing/isolation/quarantine has hit the Western world there’s more …

2020-03-16: This one was hard work trying to decide what to put in it. It’s been a tough few days but I wanted …

2020-03-16: Mum and dad took us out of school for 8 months when I was 9. They were both teachers and we did an …

2020-03-16: Anyone else manage to keep things in check as long as you need to be. Then when you don’t need …

2020-03-15: Feeling a little better for going outside for milk tea and dumplings. First time eating out in a …

2020-03-15: Day 52. Lyra and I have never been bored with 2 small children but today has been hard because I …

2020-03-15: It’s strange. Now that things are getting worse in the West there’s lots more for me to read about …

2020-03-14: I’m sweating, my mouth burns and my nose is running. Sick? No, just Lyra wanted hot pot for dinner.

2020-03-14: I think that one of the hardest bits of the self-isolation is, since we’ve been with the kids …

2020-03-14: Health check to get into the shopping centre.

2020-03-14: Friday 13th was day 50 for us. Tomorrow we’re planning to all go out in the car for the first time …

2020-03-12: Outside! E and I went out of the compound today. First time I’ve been out in 4 weeks. Which sounds crazy when …

2020-03-12: Self-isolation vol:4. What’s on you mind?

2020-03-12: One of the singer finalists on Chinese tv is doing the show from his flat!

2020-03-11: Morning routine. Coffee and kettlebells.

2020-03-10: Self isolation Vol:3 Better out than in.

2020-03-10: I have to admit it was good to get outside even for a short while.

2020-03-10: No idea how I came upon Lunarbaboon webcomic but the mix of Dad stuff and mental-health stuff is …

2020-03-10: Never more focused then I when I feel down. I guess nothing else matters so much and I’m not …

2020-03-09: There was talk yesterday about the ‘lockdown’ (only 1 person being allowed to leave every 2 days) …

2020-03-09: This was just a list I made at the start but I realise it’s pretty much just working from home. …

2020-03-07: Austin Kleon was talking about mini-zines recently so that’s what I did this afternoon.

2020-03-07: @help Hi! Is there a reason I can’t type in Chinese characters in the app on my Macbook? When …

2020-03-07: Last night I tidied my desk and felt all the better for doing it. Not my greatest work, there was …

2020-03-06: Struggling to get into Season 2 of Altered Carbon. It feels completely different and I’m not …

2020-03-06: Kettlebell swings are feeling stronger, which I guess is coming from some consistency. Which is …

2020-03-05: Squashing coffee, exercise and just taking 5 minutes into the time between making breakfast and an …

2020-03-04: 41 days of self-isolation 3 weeks since I've been out of our compound. 3 weeks since I've spoken …

2020-03-04: Day 41 is bad.

2020-03-04: Yesterday Day 40 of self-isolation wasn’t too bad, here’s hoping 41 isn’t so bad …

2020-03-02: This week, we’re going to try and put some order into our week. I’ve started by making the …

2020-03-01: Quarantine cooking: finding relief from the coronavirus anxiety in the kitchen. It’s strange …

2020-03-01: The hardest part of this coronavirus lockdown in China is that my wife and I get so little time to …

2020-02-29: Blue skies

2020-02-29: Just learning that with Family Sharing on iOS that in-app purchases can’t be shared. So, …

2020-02-29: £5 a month just to play Grindstone ok Apple Arcade just doesn’t make sense.

2020-02-28: Both L and I have both kind of hit a wall recently. It’s now 5 wks of being stuck inside. I can …

2020-02-28: I like the film viewing process when I don’t have a clue about it. It’s just so nice to …

2020-02-27: I miss rolls of film. I say that because apparently my 200gb of iCloud storage is full and I …

2020-02-26: My wife tidies as she goes when she cooks and I’m very much in the - I’m cooking not cleaning school …

2020-02-23: Been a tough weekend. Now into our 5th week of self-isolation. It’s normal now, not going out …

2020-02-23: I used to watch The Office but fell out of it. We got Netflix recently and have watched the last …

2020-02-23: View off the kitchen balcony

2020-02-23: Finally took todays nap time to get the Switch my friend kindly lent me off the top of the cupboard …

2020-02-22: I would love to see a playlist of music I’ve ‘loved’ on Apple Music but in the last day …

2020-02-22: I’ve turned off screentime on my phone. We’ve totally given up on trying to not use our phones …

2020-02-22: I was going to try a screen free Saturday but here I am. The kids are, mostly, playing nicely in …

2020-02-21: Was interesting to read a discussion of subtitles of Parasite on Metafilter but I also read this …

2020-02-20: Today’s Day 28 of self-isolation. I’ve been making a ‘freestyle’ …

2020-02-20: I know I’m busy because I completely forgot to open my RSS reader.

2020-02-20: I have such clear memories and ideas about some of the music I listened to when I was a teenager. I …

2020-02-19: @vincent I’ve downloaded Gluon but can’t post and I think that’s because my blog isn’t hosted by …

2020-02-18: Had a moment with the eldest and it made me realise the importance of something. Of making time to …

2020-02-18: Wide awake at 3am because I went to bed early to ‘get a good nights sleep.’ Ah well. Still, …

2020-02-16: Still working on the superheroes name. Tomorrow, they plan to tell someone it’s ok to not know …

2020-02-16: Can’t we all just get along the kids are pointing maybe it is going to kick off maybe …

2020-02-16: the struggle is I said today was going to be happy haikus but that’s gone out the window. The struggle is that …

2020-02-15: Saturday in Haikus. I tried not to use my phone today. Ended up writing some haikus instead. This are mostly first …

2020-02-15: I’m loving digging into this Makers and Mavericks list by Hiut Denim. So many interesting …

2020-02-14: My freestyle @1secondeveryday is up to 326 snippets since we started staying at home. I say to …

2020-02-14: We live in a compound - a group of 5 18-floor towers- it has a front gate. I’ve not been out the …

2020-02-14: Work + Family Were once separate and now crashing together Powerpoint to do

2020-02-13: I think we’ll stay in this weekend. Self-isolation is the new going out.

2020-02-13: It’s interesting how in our bilingual household certain words don’t get translated into English. We …

2020-02-13: Currently working while the kids pop all the balloons in the house.

2020-02-13: We’re doing ‘e-learning,’ posting daily work for students, responding to both their work and …

2020-02-12: In other news managed to setup the router I bought over a year ago to have a separate vpn WiFi …

2020-02-12: In the disco today is Armand Van Helden remixes. We’ve got mixes of Spin Spin Sugar, Sugar Is …

2020-02-11: We made an effort to tidy today. We’ve kind of been letting things go, so toys were everywhere. …

2020-02-11: The one bad habit I now have is going to bed much later. Before, I’d get a decent 7-8 hours …

2020-02-10: I feel like what works best for me, in terms of habits, is to not tell anyone and just get on with …

2020-02-08: The daily trip over the road to the Lawsons (little shop, convenience hop, Spar) is the highlight of …

2020-02-08: Continuing in the series.

2020-02-08: Sometimes losing my temper is cathartic. A hard reset. This morning was hard. My stock answer to how …

2020-02-08: When you wake up and are briefly happy it’s the weekend… before you remember you’re stuck in …

2020-02-07: It’s hard. The foreign office in the UK is saying we should definitely leave China (but we can’t …

2020-02-06: “Daddy + Elise” Art therapy

2020-02-06: Day 14

2020-02-05: Medical Police’s account of a world wide virus is about the only one I can handle at the …

2020-02-04: Half an hour, forty five minutes, sitting, playing with my phone, drinking a couple of beers and …

2020-02-04: Before we were self-quarantined the problem was that I got no respite, I worked with small children …

2020-02-03: Families, questions. Your family is whichever motley crew of dysfunctional humans you love so damn much you would do …

2020-02-03: L went to get permits for the kids to leave China today but apparently they aren’t doing them until …

2020-02-03: Empty road outside our flat. There’s never only 1 car on it.

2020-02-03: This piece on why millennials are bad at hobbies is interesting, particular about how much harder it …

2020-02-03: There's a world outside. And I know, 'cos I've heard talk In my sweetest dream, I would go out for a …

2020-02-02: Every Day is Day One. I did pay for Day One , the journaling app, but honestly, I never stick with it. So, I have a glut …

2020-02-02: Enhance.

2020-02-01: Clack, clack, clack. Feels like we’re on a rollercoaster but stuck on the first long ascent.

2020-02-01: Wife went to get exit permits for the kids today but it was closed, so will have to wait till …

2020-02-01: How I’m doing. Two graphs on Day 10 to show effects of staying at home because of the Coronavirus.

2020-01-31: Started preparing some things for students next week, since school is closed, and it was nice to be …

2020-01-30: Occurred to me as I was chatting to a friend, the longest one of us has been out of the flat in the …

2020-01-30: Since we ‘trapped’ at home at the moment, I made this for my wife and I. A voucher for some free …

2020-01-30: My vote don’t count - Aimed at America but plenty of takeaways for others too, about the importance …

2020-01-29: It’s an interesting thought, I read on an email called Digitally Well, that I now pretty much …

2020-01-29: I read this story on Reddit a long time ago. It’s the story of a man getting help with his …

2020-01-28: Day 5 of trying to not leave the flat in China. Still a constant battle to keep the kids entertained …

2020-01-24: With the Coronavirus, the foundation I work for has shut their schools in mainland China. We were …

2020-01-24: When they lead with the you looking sheepish…

2020-01-22: In the last 5 minutes, I’ve read that Flickr are raising their prices, I don’t know what …

2020-01-22: Today in the spirit of, ‘if I want to want my children and students a to be willing to try then I …

2020-01-21: Anyone else not able to imagine being in any other job? (Regardless of how you feel about your job.)

2020-01-21: Throwing stuff in the bin always makes me nervous. Especially fast food restaurants when I’m tipping …

2020-01-19: E likes to get me to draw something and then she colours it in. She works on her drawing and I work …

2020-01-19: Reasons to be cheerful is a site that tries to do what it says, highlighting some of the reasons to …

2020-01-19: Found the photo I was thinking of the separate devices/things I used to carry around in 2008.Camera, …

2020-01-19: L was complaining about her iPhone 8 camera yesterday. Which is more of a complaint that it isn’t a …

2020-01-18: lyra’s old flat I think this is the first time I’ve seen the outside of the flat my wife grew up. We went past …

2020-01-16: I’ve been making an effort to listen to new music recently since I have all this (Apple) music and …

2020-01-15: I read a tip about faking inbox zero by archiving all my emails in Gmail, but read about the idea of …

2020-01-14: Do not let daily to-ing and fro-ing to earn what we need to keep going prevent what you once felt …

2020-01-12: Apple - Chinese New Year Video Link Quite aside from it being from it being a bit of a tear-jerker. It’s set in Chongqing, …

2020-01-12: I made this bingo sheet to give me things to do that aren’t playing mindlessly with my phone. …

2020-01-09: Hands

2020-01-09: I play with a friend half way around the world using Chess.com but I just don’t like the time delay …

2020-01-08: New Resolution. One resolution at a time. To continue all year. First resolution: Go to bed before …

2020-01-07: So many good things on the internet that are well worth my time, but it’s such a struggle to just …

2020-01-06:

2020-01-06: Started the new year with a new plan. While there are numerous plans that would work, I’m happier …

2020-01-05: First attempt at some blackout pages. Deliberately started at the front of the book and forced …

2020-01-04: I stopped watching NWA Powerrr but started again today. The promos are amazing, it’s the …

2020-01-04: Breakfast. 碗杂面. Noodles with stewed beef and chick peas. Spicy, numbing and causing me to break out …

2020-01-03: Avocado and wasabi, sweet potato and coconut and pumpkin and caramel. Slightly out there crisp …

2020-01-03: 芝芝美式 - Cheese Americano.

2020-01-02: 香菜拌牛肉,coriander beef served cold. Spicy and delicious.

2020-01-02: Analog January!

2020-01-01: My Flickr account is such a glorious snapshot of my life when I used it. There’s so many …

2020-01-01: The Analog January Challenge - I think I could get behind this and fits with the things I've been …

2019-12-31: Hello Elliott. This wasn’t a story about hacking, or revolution, or giant sci-fi machines… This was …

2019-12-28: Statues in the ground…

2019-12-25: “When you love someone, the best thing you can offer is your presence. How can you love if you are …

2019-12-24: I used to love Spaced, Simon Pegg’s comedy series, but after watching Star Wars - Rise of Skywalker. …

2019-12-24: I was tired, a little hungover and just wanted to sit on the sofa when we went to do these photos. …

2019-12-23: Spoilers! After watching The Rise of Starwalker, wife and I are taking advantage of my parents being …

2019-12-22: I like the 8 in the lift on the way to R’s drama class.

2019-12-22: Not knowing what you did to fix something is still fixing it!

2019-12-21: This one, @hollyhoneychurch. I use it as a reminder and quite often just like to turn it over and …

2019-12-16: Mum and dad arrived at 11:30 last night, so obviously the first thing to do was go out for a few …

2019-12-14: Late night beer run.

2019-12-09: I feel like, that I’m better at knowing how much I need to push when working out. So today, I …

2019-12-09: I like this post about someone asking those closest to them the question, “Please tell me how …

2019-12-07: Parenting This piece by Austin Kleon is brief, and awesome. Becoming a parent is also an opportunity to treat …

2019-12-04: Day 2. Every 30seconds for 20min. 1x clean and jerk @ 70kg. Challenging but manageable weight. Two …

2019-12-03: Day 1 of trying to get into better habits. Starting Simple and Sinister again. 100 kettle swings and …

2019-12-02: I saw this article titled “I have come to dread looking after my grandchild each week” …

2019-11-23: A mile an hour -Running a different kind of marathon. Sometimes Youtube does recommend something …

2019-11-16: Parcel collection in China. Parcels don’t get delivered to your flat, instead they go into a locker …

2019-11-16: Starting to feel better after a couple of days off work. With it has come the the strength to …

2019-11-16: My Apple Music - Replay 2019 because it’s shared with the 3yo features both “Hey Micky You’re …

2019-11-11: a stage.” I’ve been thinking of this a lot since I read it a couple of days ago. Life, as a total of …

2019-11-11: Harmony Project - Chali 2NA - Comin Thru

2019-11-11: Yesterday L took the kids out for a couple of hours. We always tend to do things altogether at the …

2019-11-09: When at home, do you always like to read in the same place? A particular chair or spot on the sofa? …

2019-11-07: Parents. I feel like with time being so limited between work and home. I need some things to do that …

2019-11-07: We drove past this building a lot and I’d always just assumed it was some sort of government …

2019-11-03: Today had started so well, I realised 10mins into our drive that we hadn’t argued about the music …

2019-11-01: Food took ages and they forgot my beer. It was amazing. Nice to be bored for a while. Followed up …

2019-10-31: If I took all the time I spend trying to format the work I’m doing, on whatever program, the …

2019-10-31: I always like the way the 3 year olds photos turn out. I think this a panorama shot.

2019-10-30: A definition of love “It’s a verb. It’s an active engagement with all kinds of feelings—positive ones and primitive ones …

2019-10-30: One of my favourite things about Apple Music is that my weekly playlist is one kind of music, this …

2019-10-27: Lunchtime dumplings

2019-10-26: The boy does not like wearing shoes in the car.

2019-10-21: Places to put things at home are normally pretty easy. 1. Stable 2. Unaffected by gravity But then …

2019-10-21: working parents For working parents our careers tend to be busiest when our children yearn to have us around the …

2019-10-20:

2019-10-19: Just finished watching Back to Life about a women who has just got out of prison. It’s quite …

2019-10-19: The 1y.o. found the missing Paw Patrol member Zoomer. I couldn’t find him anywhere! Good work Y!

2019-10-13: Happy to see Scotland and Japan going ahead in the Rugby World Cup.

2019-10-09: When you hear and love the remix first and then hear the original and it’ll never be enough.

2019-10-09: Wonder how many of the Apple Arcade games I can play on my Macbook that work fine with just the …

2019-10-08: Want to upgrade to Catalina but the one app I need in China, my VPN, won’t work. So having to hold …

2019-10-06: That Sunday morning and we’ve been up since 6am look.

2019-10-06: Quick! The kids are napping, you need to relax. Always find it hard. What should I do with myself. I …

2019-10-06: 007: 5 minute free write - Nappies Sit down. Close your eyes. Rotate your neck slowly in circles while counting out-loud to 5. Once you …

2019-10-05: E’s first bike!

2019-10-05: Staying or going Going away with my wife’s friends for a couple of days has been enlightening in terms of the …

2019-10-05: 油茶(you cha) is basically porridge with spices and some crunchy rice noodles on top. It’s delicious.

2019-10-04: I’d love for this view to be British countryside but I’ll take the convenience of the fast trains in …

2019-10-03: You get used to the English when you live in China but this from the hot springs we went to today …

2019-10-02: 3 taxis, 2 trains, 2 metros, 2 falling outs, lots of spicy food, 3 beers, 1 coffee.

2019-10-01: New thing. Getting the 3yo to take photos…

2019-10-01: Happy Anniversary. Today is my 5 year wedding anniversary. The kids woke at 6, one was coughing and we went to the …

2019-10-01: New Mr Robot next weekend! Doing some reading and watching to catch up a little.

2019-09-30: 🏸️

2019-09-30: We went to this little sushi place for lunch. It’s clearly very popular but is hidden away in a …

2019-09-29: Zen shorts. One of favourite books is a children’s book called Zen Shorts by Jon J Muth. As much for its …

2019-09-29: E went to kindergarten today - a Sunday!* - so I dropped her off and then came to have a coffee and …

2019-09-28: Dinner and drinks.

2019-09-24: Peculiar Prompts: 365 Ways to Explore, Make, Think, and Write Saw this and dl it because I feel like …

2019-09-24: A Tribute to Brooklyn Nine-Nine “001 Watch your favorite television show. Any episode. Describe everything you are seeing, as it …

2019-09-24: Finally replaced the debit card that expired at the end of August. Since then, I’ve survived just …

2019-09-22: Grandparents with the kids and I’m watching the rugby and trying to enjoy a little time to myself.

2019-09-21: 5am Saturday morning coffee and some peace and quiet before the weekend starts and the kids wake.

2019-09-18: Living here has definitely changed how I react to temperatures. It’s 23c today and it feels cool. …

2019-09-17: Letter of intent We got an email about completing a “letter of intent” with regards to our contracts. Since schools …

2019-09-15: The Tail End This post about our time left and what we do with it was just what I needed, even if it …

2019-09-15: Daughter just tried to put the CD on top of our Homepod… Also, we don’t have anything …

2019-09-15: The UKs Chinese food revolution - I take all the food talked about in this article for granted now. …

2019-09-15: In other news, yesterday I introduced the family to Haddaway’s - What is love. This led to …

2019-09-15: Moments. Life feels full on, constant in its intensity and I am always craving some time to myself. Some …

2019-09-14: Saturday afternoon beer…

2019-09-14: Our brains are not multi-threaded by Cal Newport. In my job there’s so many little things to …

2019-09-13: Parking is always a pain when we visit L’s relatives. Narrow streets with cars on both sides makes …

2019-09-11: I want to write more But I don’t know what I want to write about or what I want to say. I know I want to find the time …

2019-09-07: You want a social life, with friends This popped into my head last night as I sat on the sofa and …

2019-08-27: My MacBook Pro screen packed up today. Closed it. Carried it somewhere. Opened it. Nothing. Another …

2019-08-27: China. Construction continues…

2019-08-23: fear of smartphones For reasons I’ve been making a point of “faffing” about with my phone a lot less this week. At work …

2019-08-21: a positive reminder I find it hard to be on the Internet and to stay positive so this music video shot from the front of …

2019-08-19: First day of the new school year. It always feels like starting again and not like continuing.

2019-08-06: When we are away from Chongqing L always craves spicy food. So she’s getting some now. Veg and meat …

2019-07-08: What does that mean in terms of friends? I often say, I rudest to people I feel closest to. Because …

2019-07-03: Being back in the UK (In no particular order.) * How much for parking?! * Supermarkets and all the wonders inside * Fish …

2019-06-29: Flavours

2019-06-28: goodbyes “I think one of the hardest bits of living abroad is missing home. And I mean that in the sense of …

2019-06-27: Dinner. I couldn’t finish it, because it was SPICY and I’m about to do a few drinks. I don’t think …

2019-06-18: home As I’m less than two weeks away from going back to the UK. It’s making me reflect on what home means …

2019-06-14: These circles represent where Mum and Dad, brother, sister and I live. I’ve followed dad and …

2019-06-11: The problem is that I’m trying to use my phone less and eat less crap, but with two small …

2019-06-08: I know she was asking me to wait, that she was giving me a refund and then I would need to pay …

2019-06-07: Performance in the shopping mall.

2019-06-07: Today is Duanwu festival. Which is famous for dragon boats racing zingzi - sticky rice wrapped in …

2019-06-06: We are allowed to officially wear shorts to work today. I am comfortable because 30 degrees and …

2019-06-05: The storm that passed over this morning was crazy.

2019-06-04: Between this and Years and Years on the BBC, I’m feeling very aware of my own mortality. This …

2019-06-03: Hot.

2019-06-02: Interesting reading reviews of authentic Chinese food in the UK. My first thought is - that sounds …

2019-06-02: Out for lunch

2019-06-02: Morning meditation cancelled today when the 3yo climbed into my lap for a cuddle. Totally worth it.

2019-06-01: Today is children’s day. So the shopping centre was packed in a way that is totally normal to …

2019-06-01: Was nice to go out without the kids but even two drinks was enough. The thought of an actual …

2019-05-31: “Senior diet expert.”

2019-05-31: Out for a burger and a beer.

2019-05-31: Jocelyn K. Glei’s ‘Hurry Slowly’ is pretty much the only podcast I’ve maintained …

2019-05-31: View from the balcony for my morning kettlebell workout. Accompanied by some drum and bass.

2019-05-29: Getting up at 4:30. Pro: I like having the time in the morning before the family gets up. Con: By …

2019-05-28: “Brewed for happiness.”

2019-05-28: Haven’t been eating much sugar recently… Just slipped and inhaled 3 cookies. Ooops.

2019-05-27: As a parent but also a teacher, this stuff is so interesting. This Is How To Make Your Kids …

2019-05-27: Evening Plan. Home > Friend taking the big kid so we can watch > Marvel Agent’s of …

2019-05-27: Morning routine - meditating, coffee, exercise. Managed some work too this morning before the boy …

2019-05-26: Evening markets are good for noodles, fruit, clothes and Peppa Pig stickers.

2019-05-26: 28c and 69% humidity. Hot and sweaty.

2019-05-26: I miss going for breakfast in the UK. I’d love to be able to go somewhere for a full English

2019-05-26: Exercise It was always the thing that kept me level and recently, while that’s still true. The time …

2019-05-26: Really enjoyed watching this video by the people working at Micro.blog. Especially the talk about …

2019-05-25: Two photos of our GoT finale.

2019-05-25: E has packed a bag, a small basket and the sofa is now a plane. ✈️

2019-05-25: I get a lot of these from an app E uses on my phone.

2019-05-25: Toddler film names: Frozen - Let it go (song) Big Hero 6 - Microbots Zootopia - Uh uh uh (It’s in …

2019-05-25: Outside in the compound for a walk

2019-05-25: Thought I heard the baby crying. Went to check on baby. Baby was still asleep. Woke the baby.

2019-05-25: Reading reports and hoping the baby doesn’t wake. Worked out how to add Markdown support so …

2019-05-25: Your phone should be like your toothbrush I was doing so well recently but have fallen off the …

2019-05-25: Watching Mission Impossible - Fallout. Felt disappointed he wasn’t winning the fight in the …

2019-05-25: What a view for lunch!

2019-05-25: Ep. 531 - Stood - 532 - Lunarbaboon …

2019-05-25: I like to think I do some of this. > Self Explanation Bright Spots …

2019-05-25: Saturday morning soft play. I asked for cheese though.

2019-05-25: Just finished aTheories of Flight by Simon Morden. Such a fun read, it’s one of the books that I …

2019-05-25: Surprised I got to get this to work around breakfast!

2019-05-25: Testing…

2016-02-01: Maybe Maybe it’s married life, maybe it’s home being somewhere in China, maybe it’s …

2016-01-02: Resolutions The mindset we need isn’t the positive-thinking mantra that failure is impossible; it’s …

2015-12-15: Moving And when I can feel our baby move, if that isn’t the most glorious thing indeed.

2015-10-09: And sometimes. And sometimes, the universe seems so big that nothing matters much. And sometimes, our troubles, our …

2015-10-09: You If you must wait, Wait for them here in my arms as I shake If you must weep, Do it right here in my …

2015-10-08: I think I realised what it is. The reason that I feel like I do. There was the time I drank tequila straight on the balcony at 2am. …

2015-10-06: breathe.

2015-10-03: Glorious This week was glorious. Like a holiday should be but which we’re never sold on. Instead of beaches …

2015-09-28: Cambodia. Different. Different is good. It’s a holiday. It’s time with friends. It’s time to …

2015-09-13: China!

2015-09-06:

2015-09-04:

2015-09-04: Living. You can take a horse to water… I’ve been sending a friend a lot of quotes lately. …

2015-08-31:

2015-08-31: I'm fine I want to write more. I never know what to write about. I say I’ll sit down and just see what …

2015-08-29: sweeping up after yourself It doesn’t make sense to me that you wouldn’t want to remember your life. This concept of partying, …

2015-08-23: Those times When you fall off the edge and getting back involves a long climb. Returning isn’t simply a …

2015-08-05: Photos I realise I didn’t take enough pictures of people. Here are some though.

2015-08-04: a list I meant to start a list of things I was going to start doing in the coming school year. I just never …

2015-08-02: Goodbye I don’t think I like good byes. It’s not easy when it’s ‘good bye, see you next year, possibly, visa …

2015-07-31: home Home is the place I go back to, the place I sleep and eat, where I spend most of my time, a place I …

2015-07-25: jealous Jealousy is easy. You can be jealous of everyone! Look at that person in a fancy car that you …

2015-07-16: Work in progress.  

2015-07-06: I didn’t think it would happen. It did. It’s a week in but I can feel the stresses and …

2015-06-30: Overwhelm It was nice to see some of the things in that last post. It was nice I had a quiche this morning and …

2015-06-29: Day one In no particularly order - understanding other people’s conversations around you, Kate, paying …

2015-06-18: Bloc Party. Have been posting to omar.tumblr.com more and more. It’s more private then Facebook and other …

2015-03-18: fearless I tell my girls this every day whether is teaching them to ride their scooters, working on their …

2015-03-17: Friends

2015-03-14: friends Some old friends visiting from Beijing. Somehow managed to keep it a surprise from Lyra! …

2015-03-10: Selfie Post catching the ball with my face.

2015-03-05: It's never just one thing is it? Yes, that the thing at work is proving difficult but it’s not just that. It’s that …

2015-03-03: Long way down

2015-02-27: Post Workout

2015-02-27: Bridge

2015-02-26: KTV

2015-02-22: Late night snack. Not been to bed before since Tuesday. Yesterday we went to a park, then spent the evening at a hot …

2015-02-21: Chinese Homework. Homework- 1. 是的 2. 先。。。然后 我先学汉语然后我可以交中国的朋友 我先学汉语然后吃饭 我先做完了作业然后睡觉 3. 一边。。。一边 我现在一边喝咖啡一边学汉语 我一边做饭一边听 …

2015-02-21: Majiang It’s the small things that can present the biggest shocks living abroad. Though, it’s …

2015-02-21: Chinese food.   Make too much. Eat too much. Still have left overs.

2015-02-20: Photo of a photo. The photo was 60p.

2015-02-19: 新年快乐

2015-02-17: Chinese New Year List of Things To Do. Meditate - Everyday. For at the bare minimum of a minute. Gamble - Set a limit. Take a chance. Drink …

2015-02-17: Chinese lessons

2015-02-15: Weekend. Did things, worked on things, practised, spent time with L. Nothing but memories to show for it. …

2015-02-14: rings

2015-02-14: love Was at school on Friday. We were manning a stall for Chinese New Year. There was a parent who I know …

2015-02-14: Returned. The last night of our stay in Thailand at the beginning on January, L left her rings in the …

2015-02-14: Dinner.

2015-02-13: Officially, finally, married.

2015-02-10: Chinese lessons.

2015-02-08: Sunday dinner

2015-02-07: Love and laughter

2015-02-01: Welcome, slippers for everyone!

2015-02-01: Korean BBQ

2015-02-01: Hill Sprints: This is ok. I’m alright, I’ve got this. It’s good, I’m breathing hard. I …

2015-01-31: 火锅 Put over a high heat until boiling. Add meat and veg.  

2015-01-28: Meeting with Liz Short, expensive visit to the British Consulate today to promise I’m not married.

2015-01-28: Chinese notes

2015-01-25: time out  My favourite cafe. It’s big and open and you have to order through an instant messaging app …

2015-01-21: irate, of late My patience is worn thin. I think it’s because of work. Just for a change I feel like …