Monday, 13th April, 2026

I really want one blog, that I look after, write in and slowly improve and add to over time. I need something easy to write in. Like Wordpress or pika but I shame myself when thinking about those as they’re for “people who don’t know how to make websites”. Which I know is rubbish and makes no difference. Then I say “I don’t want to pay for something I can do myself for free”. Fine but I still haven’t done anything.

So what’s it going to be?

Probably nothing, as that’s the tradition.

The new iPhone 17e for my wife arrived. Even though it’s the “cheap one” it still looks every bit as premium as a regular one. Plus coming from a 12 Mini, it seems leaps and bounds better. Do I need one? 😅

I’m getting into the meat of Digital Minimalism book now. 30 days of not doing what I don’t want to do - perhaps stopping for 30 days makes more sense - but stopping what? Reddit for one. YouTube? Maybe, I remember some TUI YouTube feeds thing, which I think may be part of the solution so I watch a handful of channels that I like and then not watch crap for an hour more. But I think I’m meant to stop for 30 days, as I really don’t need YouTube for anything. I’m kinda thinking no computer full stop. Or maybe no internet browsing. The only thing I’m thinking is I still want to make this blog (yeh right) and still yet to try out Claude code for a few app ideas for myself.

Is hill walking route planning a good use of time? I think so as I like walking but maybe planning out hills that I’m probably never going to get to for years is maybe unnecessary.

I do sit on a computer all day at work, and it’s easy to do some life admin or even maps for the upcoming walk, so no computer at home is feasible.

I do need something else to do. I’ve been enjoying reading books on the kitchen sofa. I kinda want to learn morse code and daily practice is said to be the best way.

Usually moderation of everything in sensible amounts is the best solution. Not going without and not doing too much. But I suppose the purpose of the 30 days without is to break the habit and then form better ones.

Sunday, 12th April, 2026

Disneyland was good but also exhausting. Be nice to get home.

Finished three Andy Weir books whilst away (The Egg is perhaps a short story vs a book!) and then browsed to see what else was on my e-reader. I didn’t take the X4 because I wanted to read at night in the dark as we share the room with the kids - although they frequently go to sleep with full lights on.

Anyway, started Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism. Only just started but I think I’ll like it.

the key to thriving in our high-tech world … is to spend much less time using technology.

This is exactly what I feel about computers/devices.

Whilst I was away, a friend joked me with as to if “I was missing my computer”. Not at all.

Anyway, back to the book.

Wednesday, 8th April, 2026

I keep bidding on Apple keyboards but then losing by £1, mostly as I don’t want to pay very much. Then after I lose the auction, I think that maybe it’s best I don’t buy one as I don’t really need it and it’s just some clutter. I could use the Bluetooth keyboard I have right now but I don’t, so why would I use the Apple one? Because it looks nice and completes the setup better…if I wanted to do it, I’d already be doing it.

Will probably still buy one. Find an auction that ends 3pm on a Tuesday or something like that.

We decided my wife needs a new phone and daughter gets her old one. Apple has a lot of models these days…AI helped narrow it down though to 16e or 17e. I setup alerts on hotukdeals and this morning 20% off on Amazon for the 17e! Could get a better model as refurb but she’s not interested in that and I think the 17e is the ideal spec. We’re going away but I ordered anyway and I rescheduled delivery on Amazon so all good. Was going to have it delivered to work but they need a code or confirmation in the app at delivery and that would be difficult so skipped that idea.

Made me realise my phone is pretty old. 13 Pro is 2021 I think. The battery is getting a bit weaker but it still lasts all day…just about. I’m not really interested in a new phone, maybe except the 48MP camera but wonder if I can see a difference.

I did wonder about an android phone, but tiny things keep me in Apple, like home kit and screen time controls. iMessage, less so as everyone just seems to use WhatsApp…not that I really like it but there we go. Photos are nice but I don’t really use it, I never got the Mac to manage it and think I’d rather install immich (w/e) and set that up. But I can’t be bothered to move, it’s just easier to stay on iOS. Supposedly iPhone 13 will keep getting updates into 2029.

Off to Disneyland tomorrow. If I’m a grumpy old dad, I’d say why can’t the wife and kids go and I’ll stay at home and look after the cats. But I’m sure it’ll be wonderful. 🏰🪄🫧🔮

Tuesday, 7th April, 2026

Found this site, to waste more time.

Sunday, 5th April, 2026

Happy Easter! 🐣

The Apple wireless keyboard (A1644) is surprisingly cheap. I thought I’d have to get the really old one but think I can probably get one of these for under £20. They’re not the TouchID ones, but that’s perfectly fine. USB c charging.

Think I need a Mac for when iPhones go crazy and need restoring. Windows arrangement is crazy, I must’ve spent 4 hours trying to sort out my daughter’s phone. Maybe the phone has issues but boy are there a lot of Apple devices errors as to why I can’t update…🤬

Now the recommended method, via Reddit, is to use iTunes and not Apple Devices…plus disable so many windows features.

Saturday, 4th April, 2026

We were in the library and there was a comic strip style book about asylum seekers from the perspective of a kid. I read it. Then thought “I need to shut the fk up complaining about things”

Speaking of complaining, I’m not really looking forward to Disneyland Paris. 🤷

When I simplifed this site, I got rid of several years of entries and basically made it a single page website. I even deleted the git log so they were all truly gone. It was refreshing, but a tiny part of me thought maybe I should’ve kept them. Well, turns out I did (or mostly did) because of an experiment converting the site to a dayone journal. Goes from 2021 to mid 2025. I’ll just leave it there for now.

I have a grandfathered tier of “plus” in DayOne. Means I don’t pay a subscription, which is nice and so maybe I should be using it more. It’s a very nice app. I have the family journal in it, which has suffered in recent times. Maybe I should try my keyboard to phone method. The surface one is fine but kinda want an old Mac wireless one. Then 3D print a phone stand and setup somewhere and write up our day.

I’ve been reading Project Hail Mary, and so not been on the computer, but I think writing up the journal would be time better spent than on the computer.

Thursday, 2nd April, 2026

Jack has made a nice site with Claude code using 11ty. Thinking about doing the same but then I went to pika.page and liked it (again). For me it’s the entry of the blog that’s the problem. Where I write it and how I get photos and text in. Maybe Claude can’t make me a pika.page style editor which then pushes the content to the static site.

Or maybe I’ll sit outside in the sun with my book about time.

Did take the X4 to the play park with the kids and read some there. Then when we were back at home on the trampoline, I dislocated my finger but somehow pushed it back into place almost immediately. Probably from the shock horror of seeing it at a wrong angle. Seems okay but sure does hurt.

Well everything has sold, bar one hard drive that I need to list. Two of the drives have sector count errors, which means they either need overwriting or using some hidden, reserve sectors. Would take about 16 hours to run that on the computer, and may not fix it. So I’d rather sell them with the issue for a knocked down price. I have explained it in the listing but I’m sure someone will come back. If so, I’ll just refund them and let them keep it as it’s of no use to anyone.

So…now what? I achieved the “sell stuff equal to the Neo”. This is where I should have some life values or something that I can test decisions against.

Probably I shouldn’t buy it.