Outside engineering

A bit about who I actually am.

I spend a lot of time on engneering projects, but there's plenty going on outside of that too. This is just what I actually get up to.

Currently training for a half-marathon, listening to a lot of Fontaines D.C., and slowly working my way through a backlog of places I still want to visit.

Visitor Count

Connecting to the counter...

Travel

I like getting properly lost somewhere new.

I don't like doing tourist checklists. I'd rather wander around a neighbourhood for a few hours, find somewhere good to eat, and see what the place actually feels like day to day.

New York

Spent a week there earlier this year. I'd been wanting to go for a long time and it didn't disappoint the sheer pace of it, the neighbourhoods all having completely different feels, the food being genuinely great everywhere. Did more then one run in central park it was that good.

Asia last summer was the big one Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore across about five weeks. Japan was probably my favourite the bullet train and spring baths wher so nice.

Elsewhere: Budapest, Vienna, Slovakia for a few days each. Budapest especially the cruse and the bars.

New York Japan South Korea Taiwan Hong Kong Singapore Budapest Vienna

Music

I've been playing since I was about eight.

Cello first, then bass guitar, and trombone when the occasion calls for it.

Cello, bass guitar, and the occasional trombone

I started cello in primary school and kept at it through county orchestras and into university. It's a proper commitment but that's part of what makes it satisfying you can't fake your way through it.

Bass guitar came later and has a very different energy. I mostly play casually, mess around with pedals and effects, and play with friends. It's less formal and I like that contrast.

I go to live gigs fairly regularly — rock and indie mostly my wrapped was all royel otis this year.

What I'm listening to lately

Fontaines D.C. have been on rotation for a while. Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, and a bit of jazz depending on the mood. just got off a beatles phase after seeing the documentry.

I also play music with flatmates when we get around to it, which is always a bit chaotic and usually more fun than anything planned.

Running

I started two years ago and got kind of hooked.

I didn't expect to enjoy it this much. The Sheffield half-marathon is the next target training is going reasonably well, though hills here are a bit relentless.

Sheffield hills are no joke

I track everything on Strava, partly because the data is interesting and partly to compare with my flatmates — I'm the slowest.

I run wherever I end up — went out in Central Park when I was in New York, and a few coastal paths in Asia. Good way to actually see a place.

Before running

Cricket, rugby, Tae Kwon Do, Judo

Played cricket and rugby for Mold teams for about five years growing up. Also hold a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and an orange belt in Judo — started both young and stuck with them long enough to actually get somewhere.

Scouts

Went from Beaver to Scout leader.

Been involved since I was young

Started as a Beaver and kept going through Cubs, Scouts, and Explorers. Eventually became a leader myself, which I've been doing for a few years now. It takes up time but it's worth it — watching younger people get confident at things they weren't sure they could do doesn't get old.

Also got my Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award along the way, which involved a lot of walking in the rain.