https://rhiaro.co.uk/2020
type: Collection
type: Container
contains: star-wars
contains: sick
contains: photos-bursa
contains: started
contains: week-in-review
contains: photos-ayvalik
contains: photos-lesbos
contains: photos-ayvalik-2
contains: photos-bursa-2
contains: week-in-review-2
contains: photos-uludag
contains: bus-tr
contains: photos-bursa-3
contains: sofia
contains: cat
contains: burns
contains: bus-days
contains: week-in-review-3
contains: flight
contains: cgn
contains: photos-manc-edi
contains: week-in-review-4
contains: photos-sofia
contains: photos-kitb
contains: sleep
contains: 2019-in-review
contains: no-idea
contains: photos-wedding
contains: london
contains: photos-london
contains: photos-stickford
contains: switzerland
contains: vipassana
contains: everything-i-own
contains: bus
contains: photos-mont-soleil
contains: photos-bern-biel
contains: openactive
contains: direct
contains: photos-zagreb-transit
contains: photos-tirane
contains: conveniences
contains: french
contains: photos-sarande
contains: photos-sarande-2
contains: js-scoping
contains: weather
contains: close-enough
contains: photos-sarande-3
contains: photos-sarande-4
contains: going
contains: photos-sarande-to-ksamil
contains: photos-ksamil
contains: photos-butrint
contains: photos-ksamil-to-sarande
contains: hiking-ksamil
contains: coronavirus
contains: kitten-shopping
contains: office
contains: banned
contains: wish
contains: crochet
contains: photos-pizza-lasagne
contains: meetings
contains: overcast
contains: falafel
contains: curfew
contains: breakfast
contains: beans
contains: lockdown
contains: ramen
contains: pressure
contains: photos-sarande-5
contains: photos-isolation
contains: week-in-review-5
contains: bookingcom
contains: psql
contains: photos-balcony

2019-in-review
type: Article
content: In 2018 I travelled all over Europe, mostly alone, and got to know myself better than ever. 2019 was a continuation of this, with a few unexpected twists, new lessons, and reinforcement of things I discovered last year. I posted logs or photos or blogposts to my site 4,974 times and posted 9,032 individual photos. tl;dr Continued to travel around Europe; visited lots of new places, and returned to places I know and love. Met a few wonderful new people. Kept in touch or reconnected with many others. Tested the limits of my sociability. Did contracting work as well as my day job, but not enough to add up to full-time. Went out of my way to attend RWOT conferences twice. Looked after other peoples' pets. Took a detour to visit Elizabeth in Zimbabwe for 2 weeks (broke the no-fly rule). Had a rhino-related near-death experience. A long, hot, Balkan summer; swam in the sea often, got a lot of migraines from the heat. Learnt to read Cyrllic with ease. Returned to the UK for Co-op and family stuff. Did more exercise than last year. Not that the bar was high. Fell in love with the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Won NaNoWriMo! But overall wrote less than last year. Overcame a bit my aversion to fire, through necessity. Goals for 2020: more of the same really. But with more solitude. Words I wrote 321 things. On my site I posted 261 short notes or commentary with photos, and 60 longer articles. I also logged non-blogpost writing 34 times. These all comprise approximately 95,722 words in total (52,001 off-site). That's a mean of 262.25 words and 0.88 posts per day. That's less than last year; missed my 'write more' goal. I wrote about 153 different topics, with the most common being travel (99), life (69), week in review (50), nanowrimo (29), writing (21), food (15), tourism (13), vegan (12), Bulgaria (10), ods (9), montenegro (8), and hiking (8). My NaNoWriMo project was Quest for Brothers, but I didn't write much else. Travel I stopped in a total of 22 countries; I visited 12 cou…
name: 2019 in review
published: 2020-01-31T23:24:00+00:00
tag: didwg
tag: writing
tag: food
tag: quantified+self
tag: https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/2019
tag: life
tag: year+in+review
tag: travel
tag: week+in+review
tag: digital+nomad
tag: transit
tag: logs
tag: ods
tag: w3c

burns
type: Note
content: Burns' Night and Chinese New Year are at the same time this year, and I'm gonna be in Scotland. This sets all my favourite food senses tingling.
published: 2020-01-19T12:14:00+02:00
tag: life
tag: food

bus-days
type: Note
content: Okay imma go be on a bus for a couple of days (literally), see you on the other side.
published: 2020-01-19T23:59:18+02:00
tag: travel
tag: bus

bus-tr
type: Note
content: I hate how Turkish bus stations are such a hustle. Like you're surrounded by bus company reps all trying to talk you into taking their next bus to wherever. As if you've turned up to the bus station without having already decided where you're going and when. I mean occasionally, sure, but it can't be often enough to justify the amount of effort they put in.
published: 2020-01-16T17:25:00+03:00
tag: turkey
tag: bus
tag: travel

cat
type: Note
content: At a cafe in Sofia, the biggest cat I've seen, possibly small tiger, has made herself at home on me. My legs are numb, and at one point she wrapped her arms around my waist under my hoodie and stuck her claws in. I guess I'm never leaving. Btw nothing makes me happier than this exact scenario.
published: 2020-01-18T11:14:00+02:00
tag: cat
tag: travel
tag: life
tag: sofia

cgn
type: Note
content: I'm in Cologne Airport again. It's one of my favourite bus stations. Good signage for buses, seating, pretzels and coffee, power and wifi (mostly), and warm fuzzy memories of all the other hours I've spent here between unreasonably long bus rides.
published: 2020-01-21T16:47:00+01:00
tag: cgn
tag: life
tag: travel
tag: bus

flight
type: Note
content: Me: mentions being just off the nightbus on the first leg of my journey from Turkey to the UK Colleague: but you're going to get on a plane eventually right? Me: ..... a what?
in reply to: bus-days
published: 2020-01-20T00:33:00+02:00
tag: life
tag: travel

photos-ayvalik
type: Add
content: I missed the coast, so went to the sea! Via a 4.5 hour bus ride from Bursa to Ayvalik. There, via CouchSurfing, I met a beautiful cat and a beautiful human who let me stay in their home for a few nights, even when my plans went slightly squiggly due to weather. Ayvalik is lovely and I came so close to staying there instead of Bursa, and may have made a slightly wrong choice, but now I know I can go back for longer in the future. I reconnected with another couchsurfer who I'd met in Bursa, and we walked the two hours or so around the coast to the island (connected by bridges) of Cunda, which has a charming seafront and view of Ayvalik. It was very windy and gloomy, but that made coffee at the other end all the more welcome.
published: 2020-01-07T21:10:48+03:00
summary: Amy added 61 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202001-coast/
target: 202001-coast

photos-ayvalik-2
type: Add
content: Return ferry to Ayvalik where the weather was beautiful again, a day of working with a sea view, a nice breakfast with my host, and a return bus to Bursa.
published: 2020-01-11T19:52:30+03:00
summary: Amy added 39 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202001-coast/
target: 202001-coast

photos-bursa
type: Add
content: New Year's Eve with my new friends from CouchSurfing. We watched Putin's speech and stayed up all night talking and playing games like jenga and charades. I slept (eventually) in a bed shaped like a car. At the weekend some of them came to Misi for breakfast; we walked around the village, then took a trip to the lake at Dagyenice. We (they) built a fire, roasted chestnuts and made tea, and played with the local ducks and dogs. It was a wonderful afternoon.

photos-bursa-2
type: Add
content: The Bursa 1326 Panorama Museum, which is a big dome painted on the inside with a scene of (I think) the founding of the city. It's surprisingly cool! Entry is 5tl (less than €1) and there's all kinds of interesting cultural stuff inside the building too. When I went in there was a traditional drum and dance performance happening. I also wandered past the Ataturk House museum, and through Kulturpark and Merinos.
published: 2020-01-12T19:35:45+03:00
summary: Amy added 17 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202001-tr/
target: 202001-tr

photos-bursa-3
type: Add
content: My last days in Bursa came all at once. I squeezed in some more museums - the Ataturk House (which is nice to visit but has no signs or information, just furniture and pictures, and took me all of 5 minutes to go around); the Archaeology Museum (which has plenty of info in English and is as good as archaeology museums always are); the Textiles Museum at Merinos (which is in an old textile factory, and incorporates a lot of interesting social history about the local industry as well as technical information and old machines); and the Immigration Museum (on the top floor of the Textile Museum; not much in English, but fascinating exhibits all the same). I worked from Good Call and At Kafe. I spent my final night in Gorukle at the meeting of Bursa Speaking Club, saying farewell to all of the amazing people I met this month. I stayed over at Juli's and in the morning Fatih came over to make us delicous soup for breakfast. What a sendoff! In the Mado cafe by the bus station, I discovered a vegan ice cream menu; they didn't have any of course. The last thing I did before I got on the bus was eat cig kofte... of course.
published: 2020-01-16T19:48:28+03:00
summary: Amy added 31 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202001-tr/
target: 202001-tr

photos-kitb
type: Add
content: I convened a gathering of some people close to KitB, to treat him to a fun long weekend before his imminent wedding. The concept of a 'bachelor party' is pretty gross, so we called it a Stag Don't or the #kitparty. On the first day we stayed in Edinburgh, ate at Snax and ConsiderIt, and went to the Camera Obscura. I didn't have high hopes, but it turned out to be awesome. The views from the tower are great, and the silly museum of illusions is surprisingly good. We most enjoyed the Vortex and the Hall of Mirrors, and ended up spending more than 2 hours there. Then we all took a train to Dunkeld & Birnam, a little village an hour and 40 mins north of Edinburgh. I fell in love with the place. It has hills and waterfalls and vast ancient forests, and a secret vegan food scene. We walked around the area, ate a lot of course, and chilled and played board games in our hostel (Jessie Mac's). On the 25th we cooked ourselves a Burns Supper. I'd definitely consider moving there.

photos-lesbos
type: Add
content: The ferries were still running from Ayvalik to Lesbos! Only a few a week, and the one I wanted to take got rescheduled due to wind. Anyway I made it, Eleni (from last year!) met me in Mytilini, we ate pancakes, then took the bus to Petra where I stayed again in my favourite seaview room where the ocean rolls constantly. The next day I worked from there, then went to stay at Eleni's house in Filia and hang out with her family. We ate many good things and I'm so grateful for random connections that turn into lasting friendships :)
published: 2020-01-09T23:21:38+03:00
summary: Amy added 44 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202001-coast/
target: 202001-coast

photos-sofia
type: Add
content: I spent a weekend in Sofia to break up my bus journey from Turkey to the UK. Just chilling, cafeworking, and eating, with a visit to the Museum of Earth and Man which is full of shiny rocks. Food at Edgy Veggy, Sun & Moon, Dreamhouse and Satsanga. Then the long haul to Cologne, via Arad, over a couple of days.
published: 2020-01-27T22:33:45+00:00
summary: Amy added 44 photos to https://i.amy.gy/20200102-uk/
target: 20200102-uk

photos-uludag
type: Add
content: I finally went up Uludag on Bursa's epic cable car. It takes about an hour, with a change half way. At 105tl (about €16) it's expensive but well worth it. The views are incredible (I managed to get a clear day), and it's a relaxing ride. If you pick your times well you can get a cabin to yourself. I spent a few hours at the top, wandering around through the snow, watching people ski and sled, and drinking tea in a cosy cafe. It's a ski resort at the top with a lot of hotels. If you're less lazy than me, there are some wonderful hikes as well that can quickly take you away from the bustle of the touristy area. And chairlifts to take you to the very peak.

sick
type: Note
content: I am very cold and a bit sick. Planning tons of stuff next week anyway from bed and assuming I'll be better tomorrow cos I really don't have time for this shit.
published: 2020-01-02T18:58:11+03:00
tag: life
tag: travel

sleep
type: Note
content: My sleep cycle has been all over the place last couple of weeks due to travel and events and timezones, but my super reliable body clock still woke me up without an alarm at 0914 this morning - one minute before standup.
published: 2020-01-29T09:50:02+00:00
tag: life
tag: sleep

sofia
type: Note
content: Sofia is one of my favourite cities to do nothing in. I've only ever spent short stays here, and did a walking tour the first time for an overview. There's probably tons to do really but there's nothing obvious so it's easy to just chill out and rest in nice cafes. Which is what I need this weekend. (To start to recover from Turkey, Country of Lovely but Socially Demanding Extroverts.)
published: 2020-01-17T12:28:00+02:00
tag: sofia
tag: turkey
tag: travel
tag: life

star-wars
type: Note
content: (Star Wars RoS spoiler) . . . . . . . I'm reading all the theories about the hacky ending change of RoS and I know on close inspection the editing is totally fucked, but my (apparently) controversial but strongly held opinion.. I was so happy that Ben Solo just died instead of the happy ever after that everyone seems to want. Seriously. I'm extremely bored of characters always being paired off in all media ever. For every new SW movie I've been dreading it happening to Rey. I was enjoying a lot the weight given to her non-romantic strong and loving relationships with those around her. More of that. If anything, I was hoping for the development of a caring sibling-type relationship between Ben and Rey. But also Ben Solo was a jerk. Rey deserves better. And we're swamped with the idea that people (especially women let's be honest) need a [single, male] romantic partner to complete them. Ugh. So yeah. Good.
published: 2020-01-01T19:55:00+03:00
tag: feminism
tag: media
tag: star+wars
tag: romance

started
type: Note
content: I started this year by having chips (fries) for breakfast, and I just feel like that's worth noting.
published: 2020-01-05T15:28:00+03:00
tag: food
tag: life

week-in-review
type: Article
content: Visited Gorukle, the studenty suburb of Bursa. Failed to do any yoga. Celebrated New Year with new CouchSurfing friends. Got sick for a few days from new germs and not sleeping at the right times, probably. Stayed in bed. Went on a village and lake adventure with CouchSurfing friends too.
name: Week in review: 30 Dec - 5 Jan
published: 2020-01-05T23:59:59+03:00
tag: travel
tag: week+in+review
tag: couchsurfing

week-in-review-2
type: Article
content: Went to Ayvalik, on the west coast of Turkey, and couchsurfed and walked. Took the ferry to Lesbos to visit Eleni and family, and enjoy the view from the room in Petra where I spent last December. Then back to Ayvalik for a couple of days of cafe working, then bussed back to Bursa. Went to the 1326 Panorama Museum in Bursa. Mostly worked on OCDS DRT stuff. Finished season 2 of Lost in Space, and proceeded with The 3%. Tactfully ignoring the classic JSON vs JSON-LD debate happening in the DID WG for my own wellbeing.
name: Week in review: 6 - 12 Jan
published: 2020-01-12T23:59:59+03:00
tag: greece
tag: ferry
tag: week+in+review
tag: travel
tag: turkey

week-in-review-3
type: Article
content: Went on the cable car and spend an afternoon in the snow on Uludag. Hit up a bunch of museums, and cafe worked in Bursa. Switched to OC4IDS related things. Said goodbye to Bursa with a nice sendoff from new friends. Bussed to Sofia for a chill weekend of eating at my favourite places, visiting new places to eat, and catching up on work. And then bussed away..
name: Week in review: 13 - 19 Jan
published: 2020-01-19T23:59:59+02:00
tag: turkey
tag: travel
tag: week+in+review
tag: oc4ids
tag: bulgaria

week-in-review-4
type: Article
content: Bussed from Sofia to Arad, Arad to Cologne, Cologne to London. Half a Open Data Services Co-op CoGM in Manchester, then onward to Edinburgh. A long weekend celebrating KitB in Edinburgh and Dunkeld & Birnam.
name: Week in review: 20 - 26 Jan
published: 2020-01-26T23:59:59+00:00
tag: uk
tag: travel
tag: ods
tag: work
tag: kitb
tag: week+in+review

bus
type: Note
content: I was so proud of myself for having enough foresight to bag a €20 bus ticket from Bern to Bari, and after 10 days offline I remerge to find there's a coronavirus outbreak and an impending quarantine directly in my route. I am supposed to have 4 hours and a transfer in Milan on Tuesday evening. Probably gonna play it safe and reschedule this. Is it an emergency enough yet to just fly to Albania? Nah of course not. Just a small (multi-day) detour through Croatia, no big deal. (If the risk was getting stuck anywhere but Italy, I'd be more chill about it, but the chance of taking a bus into Milan and not being able to leave? Of all places? Nuh uh.)
published: 2020-02-23T23:31:00+01:00
tag: travel
tag: coronavirus
tag: italy

direct
type: Note
content: Look, I understand if Croatiabus/Jadran Ekspress can't run a direct bus from Zagreb to Tirana, but gotta stop pretending it's direct and making me change twice, begging surly bus drivers for info in the process. Somewhere deep down I knew this, which is the whole reason I wanted to go via Italy and take a ferry in the first place. Anyway at least the Balkan Adriatic coast is all gorgeous.
published: 2020-02-29T07:50:00+01:00
tag: bus
tag: transit
tag: travel
tag: balkans

everything-i-own
type: Article
content: I haven't written a post about everything I carry around with me since I, Nomad, when I gave away everything I couldn't carry and left the US for Japan. Since then, I have downsized considerably, and became a bit hooked on the idea. I left the US with a 52L top loading backpack and a 40L side loader. In Malaysia I gained and lost stuff, but gave away more than I gained; in Australia I swapped the side loader with my cousin for a more compactable (and tattered) 35L rucksack; by the time I got back to Europe the 35L was about empty and I left it at a hostel in Croatia. Then I spent eight months in Sarajevo getting more things, winter clothes, awesome boots, etc. The whole lot, filling up my 52L bag, I left to my yoga teacher, and packed the rest into an orange 40+5L I bought for €30 on amazon. I love the orange bag. For a cheap knockoff it's done very well. It's front loading, has an expandable front pocket, lots of places to attach stuff, and I can tighten many straps to size it down when it's not full. It probably has another couple of years of use in it, though it's starting to show wear; one of the straps is splitting away, and it has a lot of soy sauce stains on the inside. I backed the RiutBag kickstarter last year, after extended questioning and personal video replies from Sarah Giblin, the designer, on twitter. They were due to be shipped in October, when I had a trip back to the UK scheduled anyway. In the end I fouled up putting my address into kickstarter properly, and it didn't get sent out with the first batch. Racing an uncertain brexit at the time, I left it as late as possible to but eventually gave up on the bag and booked last minute travel to Bulgaria. The bag arrived the day after I left. My Mum unboxed it in a video call for me, and I spent the next few months thinking about how great it will be to have a smaller bag. The orange bag lent itself to downsizing well, as whenever I gained space I could pull in the side and bottom straps. Mostly I ende…
name: Everything I own fits in a 35L RiutBag now
published: 2020-02-12T12:24:00+01:00
tag: riutbag
tag: travel
tag: digital+nomad

london
type: Note
content: In London it's legal to murder someone for standing on the wrong side of the escalator in the underground. #littleknownfacts
published: 2020-02-05T11:40:30+00:00
tag: life
tag: london
tag: travel

no-idea
type: Note
content: I had no idea that being Best Man meant helping to write the vows in an etherpad from different rooms at midnight before the ceremony BUT HERE WE ARE (facepalm).
published: 2020-02-02T00:26:01+00:00
tag: life
tag: kitb

openactive
type: Note
content: The OpenActive Modelling Opportunity Data spec is so nice. It's well written, well structured, and all the Linked Data stuff is done properly. I need to refer to it for ODSCo-op work at the moment, and it's a real delight. Similarly the Realtime Paged Data Exchange one is also nice.
published: 2020-02-28T16:47:00+01:00
tag: data+standard
tag: openactive
tag: ods
tag: standards
tag: specification
tag: tech

photos-bern-biel
type: Add
content: A couple of days in Bern and Biel, some sun, more snow, lots of tasty vegan things.

photos-london
type: Add
content: St Austell to London by train. Food with friends, and wandering around Camden. Almost missed the train back to Grantham because I stopped for a not-chicken sandwich at Temple of Seitan, but worth it.
published: 2020-02-05T18:40:40+00:00
summary: Amy added 26 photos to https://i.amy.gy/20200102-uk/
target: 20200102-uk

photos-manc-edi
type: Add
content: Nightbus from Cologne to London, breakfast in London, then a train from London to Manchester for a day and a half of Co-op stuff, and eating of course. Then onward to Edinburgh.
published: 2020-01-24T10:39:12+00:00
summary: Amy added 16 photos to https://i.amy.gy/20200102-uk/
target: 20200102-uk

photos-mont-soleil
type: Add
content: London to Frankfurt (cigkofte stop), Frankfurt to Basel, and a day there. Then Basel to St Imier to Mont Soleil by funicular, and 11 days on the mountain at Dhamma Sumeru for Vipassana. The weather on the mountain changed every day, and was always spectacular. The most beautiful grounds of a meditation center I've been to so far. Then down the mountain, on to Bern.
published: 2020-02-26T19:44:36+01:00

photos-stickford
type: Add
content: Food (including a 3 course Gregg's meal) and jigsaws and pool with Mum, then departure once again.
published: 2020-02-10T22:42:52+01:00
summary: Amy added 16 photos to https://i.amy.gy/20200102-uk/
target: 20200102-uk

photos-wedding
type: Add
content: Time for a trek to the other side of the country for KitB and M's wedding. I took the train to London (dinner with TomSka) then nightbus to Penzance. I picked up (or they picked me up) some of Kit's family members (including Pedro the poodle) and we picked up pasties and boxes of other wedding stuff, and drove it to St Austell. The venue was a beautiful grand house on the beach. I took my Best Man responsibilities as seriously as possible, helped with unpacking and setting up and organising, did a lot of washing up, made many pots of tea for two dozen people, and most importantly, de-panicked KitB as necessary. At midnight before the ceremony, Kit was messaging me for help with his vows, mixed with barely coherent notes about all the other things that needed doing the next morning. We ended up working on his vows in an etherpad, and I took responsibility for remembering and delegating all of the other stuff. There was a great wedding planner to help too with setting up the furniture and decorations. All of the guests from both families eagerly chipped in. It's nice to have a group of people who are keen to have tasks delegated to them, and everything got done on time. I made sure Kit got dressed, and ironed his pocketsquare, and didn't lose the rings. 15 minutes before the ceremony we were both hungry, and had an emergency crumpet in the kitchen. It seemed all of a sudden that it was time for the ceremony to start. I didn't realise that the Best Man stands at the front with the Groom while the Bride and her father walk down the aisle. It felt like I was giving Kit away. There were about 25 guests. The ceremony was backed by big windows and a sea view, and led by the local registrar and an eccentric family friend. M started crying almost immediately, so I did too. There were lovely readings, and lovelier vows, and paperwork. We all went outside to throw confetti, then the professional photographers took Kit and M down to the beach. The meal after the wedding was amaz…

photos-zagreb-transit
type: Add
content: A beautiful day in Zagreb; food at Vegehop and Oaza Joyful Kitchen, as well as vegan supplies from Bio & Bio and another new nearby bio store. Then back on the bus(es) all the way to Albania.
published: 2020-02-29T14:21:47+01:00
summary: Amy added 13 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

switzerland
type: Note
content: I am in Switzerland and it is very nice but everything is too expensive. Also UK border control checked me out but French didn't check anyone in, and there's no border control on the train between DE and CH (very different to crossing by bus, where you're hounded by police every hour and a half). So I dunno if I'm really here tbh?
published: 2020-02-11T18:52:00+01:00
tag: travel
tag: switzerland

vipassana
type: Note
content: Head's up I'm going on a Vipassana retreat tomorrow, so if you need anything from me before next month, you'd better let me know right now. I've got most of tomorrow to computer.
published: 2020-02-11T18:57:00+01:00
tag: vipassana

week-in-review
type: Article
content: Swung by Glasgow to see Felicity and Rory. Finished crocheting a baby-sized chilli and matching hat to.. put a baby in. Hopefully it makes it to the baby before she gets too big. Went back to my Mum's for a couple of days. Worked. Did my taxes. Changed the wifi password and broke all the smart devices. Train to London, dinner with TomSka, nightbus to Penzance. A weekend in a giant seafront house for KitB's awesome wedding.
name: Week in review: 27 Jan - 2 Feb
published: 2020-02-02T23:59:59+00:00
tag: friends
tag: kitb
tag: travel
tag: uk
tag: week+in+review

week-in-review-2
type: Article
type: Activity
content: Travelled back from Cornwall to London then back to Lincolnshire. Worked from Mum's for the rest of the week on OC4IDS stuff. Visited Grandma a couple of times. Watched Netflix and did jigsaws and played snooker with Mum. Packed my RiutBag! Train from Grantham to London (delayed), bus from London to Frankfurt (late), train from Frankfurt to Basel (delayed). A day in Basel, then trains and funicular to Mont Soleil for Vipassana.
name: Week and a half in review: 3 - 12 Feb
published: 2020-02-12T12:45:00+01:00
tag: uk
tag: travel
tag: week+in+review
tag: life
tag: vipassana

banned
type: Note
content: Albania has banned walking outside after 6pm? Apart from just making people stay inside more, I don't really get it. But uhh sure. Everything is fine.
in reply to: https://www.albaniandailynews.com/index.php
published: 2020-03-16T18:24:00+01:00
tag: covid19
tag: albania
tag: coronavirus
tag: travel

beans
type: Note
content: if anyone wants to airdrop a crate of baked beans to Sarande that would be super cool. Supermarket own brand acceptable. Heinz, whatever, I'm pretty desperate. Branston, however, unacceptable.
published: 2020-03-23T18:03:00+01:00
tag: vegan
tag: food
tag: life

bookingcom
type: Note
content: Booking.com auto emails saying "[destination] is calling your name!" that used to come at least once a day have now stopped, which is good of them.
published: 2020-03-30T10:45:00+02:00
tag: coronavirus
tag: life
tag: travel

breakfast
type: Note
content: Sometimes you just need spicy rice for breakfast. (Sticky rice cooked with vegetable stock and tumeric. Tofu fried in olive oil with garlic, paprika and black pepper, then veggies thrown in: mushrooms, red peppers, peas, sweetcorn, green beans (last 3 from the freezer). When the water has reduced from the rice, mixed all the veggies in to cook together for a couple more minutes. Drizzled soy sauce and hot sauce. Coffee is balkan/turkish style.)
published: 2020-03-23T10:40:10+01:00
tag: fedikitchen
tag: vegan
tag: food
tag: life

close-enough
type: Note
content: Ooooh I'm close enough to Greece again that cafes have freddo espresso.
published: 2020-03-07T14:32:00+01:00
tag: albania
tag: coffee
tag: travel

conveniences
type: Note
content: My favourite modern conveniences are hands down toastie makers and underfloor heating. (I have neither right now but had both recently and I miss them.)
published: 2020-03-02T19:57:00+01:00
tag: life

coronavirus
type: Note
content: I'm in Albania, in the south. All reported coronavirus cases here are currently in the north. After the first two cases a week ago, schools were closed. By the end of last week, tourist attractions, bars and restaurants everywhere were closed. This weekend, no public transport, no non-essential shops, and from tomorrow no non-essential travel of any kind nationally. Only ambulances and freight will be moving, basically. Most of the land border crossings are closed. These are far stronger measures for far fewer cases than the UK has. So far the streets are quiet, but that's normal in a holiday town at this time of year. I've seen a few people wearing masks and gloves, and all grocery store workers are wearing them. But there's no panic buying, at least in Sarande, and even hand sanitizer is on offer at the supermarket checkouts. To fly back to the UK I'd need to get to Corfu or Tirana, and while there seem to still be EasyJet and RyanAir flights (but not until the end of the month), currently the ferries and buses are cancelled so I dunno how I'd get to an airport anyway (okay, I do, I'd have to get written permission from the police to be on the roads - as a foreigner with a plane ticket, it's possible - then find someone with a car willing to drive me to Tirana). I'm going to get some more groceries later, just in case something flips overnight, but I definitely feel like I'm better off here than trying to get back to the UK any time soon. Plus the weather is really good and I have a nice sea view from my balcony. I'll be staying home mostly, or maybe going down to sit on the empty beach, and hoping the internet and power stays on.
published: 2020-03-15T13:31:00+01:00
tag: covid19
tag: coronavirus
tag: travel
tag: albania

crochet
type: Note
content: Having trouble to stay focused even when I'm not working. Doing some crochet while I'm taking a TV break occupies my hands so I'm not constantly tabbing over to twitter or the news. It's totally normal for me to not go out for days at a time, and have no meatspace contact with people. I usually have good control over the compulsion to constantly rotate through all online communication channels, but the last few days this has gone out of the window. Some wisdom from coworkers about this yesterday; perhaps it's because the world is changing so fast in the background. It's hard to just carry on in default mode right now because when you check back in on the world it's more vastly different the longer you leave it. Will adjust to this eventually, I guess.
published: 2020-03-19T17:03:00+01:00
tag: covid19
tag: coronavirus
tag: life

curfew
type: Note
content: The problem with the new curfew (outside hours 5am to 1pm), besides the obvious, is that most days it takes me hours to psyche up to go outside to get groceries or whatever. No way I'm gonna be able to do this by lunchtime.
published: 2020-03-23T10:02:10+01:00
tag: albania
tag: coronavirus
tag: covid19
tag: life

falafel
type: Add
content: Last night I made falafel, based on a recipe by Jack Monroe. I approximately doubled the recipe, and didn't measure or weigh any of the ingredients; subbed the fresh herbs with carrot tops, and threw a clove of garlic in. Delicate application of water and flour to the final mix and it was pretty easy to get them to hold together. Delicious!
published: 2020-03-22T10:36:06+01:00
summary: Amy added 7 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

french
type: Note
content: A couple of weeks ago I ended up on the wrong train in Switzerland for complicated but totally valid reasons and managed to explain why to the ticket inspector sufficiently well that he let me off, in case you were wondering where my French is at.
published: 2020-03-03T15:44:51+01:00
tag: french
tag: train
tag: travel
tag: language

going
type: Note
content: I'm going hiking without my laptop for a couple of days, back on Friday.
published: 2020-03-11T08:41:00+01:00
tag: travel
tag: hiking

hiking-ksamil
type: Article
content: On paper it's a 3 and a half hour hike from Sarande to smaller, even more touristy town of Ksamil. I decided to make a day of it and visit all the beaches along the way. There are so many beautiful ones, and at this time of year, absolutely nobody on them. So in the end, this took more than eight hours (here's the GPS trace) and was exhausting, but worth it. It's possible to follow the coast for a large part of the way. Sometimes it's interrupted by hotels, but when nobody is around I scrambled over rocks, hopped a few fences, and proceeded on. It was also necessary to plough up a few uneven brushy hillsides in order to reach a trail I was sure would be there.. Did I mention there are a lot of beaches on the way? Some are attached to hotels and bars, but all is quiet at this time of year. Others are coves with little trails or steps down to. And others aren't really accessible at all, except with some rock scrambling. Part of the way to Ksamil is the village of Manastir, so named for the Monestary on the hill (I presume). To walk through the grounds (it's empty, I think) is a small detour, but a worthwhile one. I lost the trail I was trying to follow from openstreetmap, but there were other trails or easy terrain down the far side of the hill. It was getting late and I was running out of steam, so for the last stretch I skipped a few beaches and rejoined the road. There is a dirt track running along by the coast through an olive grove in the immediate approach to Ksamil. Ksamil itself has many beaches, and I managed to catch the sunset. I stayed in 'Apartment Skrapalli', one of a set of small studio-style rooms with kitchenettes. It wasn't fancy, but it was €13 per night, had everything for cooking (including a drip coffee machine and a toastie maker!) and the hosts, an elderly couple who don't speak english, were charming and plied me constantly with homegrown lettuce, lemons, fruit juice (no thanks to raki) and coffee. The next day I let my feet recover, and just …
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Hiking to Ksamil and Butrint
published: 2020-03-15T09:33:21+02:00
tag: travel
tag: hiking
tag: albania
updated: 2020-07-07T15:30:00+02:00

js-scoping
type: Note
content: JavaScript variable scoping will be the death of me.
published: 2020-03-06T09:34:00+01:00
tag: nodejs
tag: javascript
tag: hacking
tag: ods
tag: openactive

kitten-shopping
type: Article
content: This is another in the series of very occasional posts about clothes and shopping because I do this stuff so rarely as to be a novelty worth writing about. My good friend KitB got married in February, and asked me to be his Best Man. Which was a really good way to make me come to a wedding in winter in the UK when I would rather be in Turkey. KitB also decided we should wear matching suits. The thing about that is, KitB has a well-fed, average-height, broad-shouldered sort of figure, and I am petite, short, with hips and boobs. It turns out your average - or even high end - highstreet suit maker does not account for this scenario. We took advantage of me being in Edinburgh last October to go suit shopping together to get this sorted out... and we couldn't find anywhere that makes their suits in a range of sizes and shapes. The whole affair is gendered bullshit, that can't conceptualise of a world where people with different body shapes might want to wear the same clothes, because of some arbitrary divide based on genitals. We quickly had to face the reality that we wouldn't find exactly matching suits from the same place. Particularly not in-person, at short notice. But what we did manage to do was get Kit to try on a bunch of things so he could narrow down what he actually wanted to wear at his wedding, which until previously had been pretty much completely up in the air. At some places, the assistant in the shop put a "men's" small on me and pinned it in a few places to show how it could be adjusted to fit. But in all cases it still looked like I was wearing poorly fitting clothes. There was nothing to be done. But Kit decided on navy blue and a waistcoat, and I committed the details to memory as best I could. We figured, somewhat dejectedly, that if I could get a navy suit that was close enough and we wore matching ties, that would have to do. The next day, alone, I hit the charity shops. Secretly I was a bit pleased we didn't figure this out from a proper suit s…
name: I am become Best Man, Best of All the Men
published: 2020-03-16T11:07:00+01:00
tag: uk
tag: kitb
tag: life
tag: wedding

lockdown
type: Note
content: I know it's not the isolation olympics, but wild to see UK people freaking out about 'lockdown' when they can still go out at any time, ride trains and buses and drive cars between cities..
published: 2020-03-24T08:51:00+01:00
tag: covid19
tag: life
tag: coronavirus

meetings
type: Note
content: We're having a few more and more intense Co-op meetings than usual at the moment, but they're all about how we can best look after each other under the current circumstances.
published: 2020-03-20T13:30:00+01:00
tag: ods
tag: work
tag: cooplife
tag: opendataservices.coop

office
type: Note
content: My office, for at least the rest of the month and probably longer depending on how things go. Not the worst. I can see two islands today I've never seen before. I think fewer cars around must mean the air is clearer.
published: 2020-03-16T17:55:00+01:00
tag: albania
tag: life
tag: workfromhome

overcast
type: Note
content: It's overcast today, very still, and eerily quiet. No cars, no people, barely the sound of waves breaking. A couple of lively nests of swallows live in the building across from me, and sometimes I hear a cockeral crow or a dog bark. Last week the curfew changed to going outside between 6 and 10am and 4 and 6pm only. On Friday evening, another update was issued, cancelling most of the weekend: From 1pm Saturday to 5am Monday, nobody is to go outside at all. Nobody seems to know what Monday will bring.
published: 2020-03-22T09:56:00+01:00
tag: covid19
tag: coronavirus
tag: life
tag: travel
tag: albania

photos-butrint
type: Add
content: Walked from Ksamil to Butrint, about an hour. No trails around the coast, so mostly just went by road. The ancient city of Butrint is a tourist attraction, and was closed by sudden government coronavirus measures. As if there'd be anyone there at this time of year anyway. A local at a nearby hotel pointed me towards a hole in the fence behind his property. Had thought I might hike around the area a bit and take a bus back, but it quickly became apparent the local buses had stopped running too. On the way back, detours to some other bits of the coast, and other beaches in Ksamil I hadn't been to yet. Route on runkeeper.

photos-isolation
type: Add
content: Isolation Kitchen begins in earnest! I bought a loaf tin along with masses of baking supplies I haven't really bought since I started travelling, so I could fully commit. Featured here: Ad-hoc buddha bowl Turmeric spicy breakfast rice Khinkali (Georgian dumplings, filled with mushroom or potato) Chocolate coconut cake (sugar free) for the Co-op's 5th birthday The last of my vegan cheese on another lentil lasgane Lemon and poppyseed drizzle cake (sugar-filled) Bean-burgers, made from mashed white beans, carrot, carrottops, and red onion; coated with dry mix of semolina, paprika, turmeric and salt before frying. Food is so good.
published: 2020-03-29T23:47:47+02:00
summary: Amy added 26 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-ksamil
type: Add
content: A slow day, recovering from the hike, just exploring beaches in Ksamil (on runkeeper). It's a quiet town with no tourists, beautiful but for unfettered construction and lots of unfinished buildings too. You can swim to the islands, when it's warm enough. Saw a few people out in masks and gloves, and police were bellowing something through a loudspeaker.
published: 2020-03-12T20:11:09+01:00
summary: Amy added 51 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-ksamil-to-sarande
type: Add
content: Hiked back to Sarande from Ksamil (on runkeeper). Stopped by the beaches I missed on the way down. Found some under-construction super fancy houses and accidentally trespassed. Watched the sunset from my new balcony.
published: 2020-03-14T19:53:09+01:00
summary: Amy added 37 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-pizza-lasagne
type: Add
content: Using some of my precious vegan cheese supplies on delicious lasagne (with garlic bread and salad) and pizza (with homemade sweet potato and potato chips).
published: 2020-03-19T20:39:42+01:00
summary: Amy added 14 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-sarande
type: Add
content: Arrived in Sarande, a seaside town that is quiet at least at this time of year. Explored the area, sat by the sea, ate Albanian food at te Beoua.
published: 2020-03-04T18:35:22+01:00
summary: Amy added 41 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-sarande-2
type: Add
content: A walk up to Lekursi Castle with views over Sarande and towards Ksamil.
published: 2020-03-05T18:48:56+01:00
summary: Amy added 27 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-sarande-3
type: Add
content: A torrentially rainy weekend inside, but the views were still nice. The balcony cover has blue sky and clouds pattern on the inside to make you feel better. Walks into town when there was a gap in the clouds.. cafe working, visits to some old ruins, and a pizza at Limani. Found a bakery that sells somun, and burek with spinach or potato! Good to enjoy by the sea. At the somun with homemade grah.
published: 2020-03-08T20:42:31+01:00
summary: Amy added 19 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-sarande-4
type: Add
content: Went for a hike around the coast to the north of Sarande. There's very quickly not much there. There's a rough road to follow for quite a long way, although the sea itself is only accessible in a few spots because the cliff is quite steep. There are lots of cows, and a few secret beaches.
published: 2020-03-10T20:57:01+01:00
summary: Amy added 60 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-sarande-5
type: Add
content: Isolation in Sarande: photos of the sunset from my balcony, the floofy doggo on the balcony in the next building, and the little bit of beach in front of my building. Some gratuitous spinach byrek by the sea when I went into town for essential things like a SIM card.
published: 2020-03-28T19:15:31+02:00
summary: Amy added 28 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-sarande-to-ksamil
type: Add
content: Hiked from Sarande to Ksamil, along the coast as much as possible. Some of this was trails, some was scrambling through undergrowth or over rocks or through the edges of hotel property or construction sites. Took detours to as many beaches as possible, until energy was low. Here's the train on RunKeeper.

photos-tirane
type: Add
content: I spent my first weekend back in Albania in Tirane. A good opportunity to eat out at Veggies, as well as grab a few more vegan supplies that are less available outside of the city. I found Edinburgh's Chocolate Tree chocolate in a bio store! Then on the bus to Sarande.
published: 2020-03-01T21:26:21+01:00
summary: Amy added 16 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

pressure
type: Note
content: Some pressure to 'take advantage' of the non-curfew hours to go out and take a walk, but I don't need to and wouldn't on a normal day, so why now when going outside should be restricted to essential trips? Stop projecting restlessness onto me, I can sit still in my chair all week no problem.
published: 2020-03-26T11:01:00+01:00
tag: covid19
tag: coronavirus
tag: life

ramen
type: Note
content: I really want ramen but I don't want to buy individually packaged single-portions of noodles. What do?
published: 2020-03-26T10:48:00+01:00
tag: food
tag: life

weather
type: Note
content: Weather on the Albanian Riviera seems to be scheduled around my work/days off. Aka it's hot and sunny when I need to stay inside on my laptop and forecast rain and storms when I'm free to go hiking or to the beach.
published: 2020-03-06T16:45:00+01:00
tag: weather
tag: albania
tag: travel
tag: life

week-in-review
type: Article
content: Came down from the Vipassana mountain and went to Bern. Changed my travel plans to work around Italy's coronavirus outbreak.. Bussed from Bern to Zagreb, spent the day, Zagreb to Dubrovnik to Kotor to Tirana for the weekend. Did some OpenActive dataset gathering stuff.
name: Week in review: 24 Feb - 1 March
published: 2020-03-01T23:59:59+01:00
tag: travel
tag: week+in+review
tag: openactive
tag: bus
tag: albania

week-in-review-2
type: Article
content: Explored my new home of Sarande. Continued to work on OpenActive stuff. Walked up to Lekursi Castle. Watched the rain.
name: Week in review: 2 - 8 March
published: 2020-03-08T23:59:59+01:00
tag: albania
tag: travel
tag: week+in+review
tag: openactive

week-in-review-3
type: Article
content: Worked at the weekend and early in the week to get OpenActive stuff moved along. Then left my laptop at home to go hiking for a few days, when the weather was good. I walked from Sarande to Ksamil, explored Ksamil and hiked to Butrint and back, then back to Sarande. By the time I was back in town, coronavirus lockdown measures were really kicking into gear. Stocked up with smoki and pickles.
name: Week in review: 8 - 15 March
published: 2020-03-15T23:59:59+01:00
tag: covid19
tag: travel
tag: albania
tag: openactive
tag: hiking
tag: coronavirus

week-in-review-4
type: Article
content: Had an unproductive, anxiety-fuelled week with lots of co-op meetings, as coronavirus exploded around the world and the Albanian government keeps switching around and strengthening its curfew measures. Pretty sure I will not be returning to the UK any time soon. Borders closed, flights cancelled, internal transit halted. Caught up on some blog posts and made lots of tasty coping food. Spent too much time on twitter and news sites. Started crocheting a poncho. Felt extremely grateful for my job, my naturally reclusive nature, my balcony, view, and the weather here.
name: Week in review: 16 - 22 March
published: 2020-03-22T23:59:59+01:00
tag: covid19
tag: ods
tag: week+in+review
tag: coronavirus
tag: opendataservices.coop
tag: food

week-in-review-5
type: Article
content: Curfew update: outside hours 5am to 1pm. Went outside via balcony, to the beach in front of the building, and into town for a SIM card and byrek on Saturday. Started thinking about declarations of interests of UK politicians, and getting back into memorious. Got stuck into figuring out the DID Registries stuff better. Binged Avatar: the last airbender. Cooked some very delicious meals and cakes.
name: Week in review: 23 - 29 March
published: 2020-03-29T23:59:59+01:00
tag: albania
tag: life
tag: week+in+review
tag: ods
tag: dids
tag: memorious
tag: food
tag: vegan

wish
type: Note
content: I wish I was one of those people who gets more productive during a crisis. Like, distract myself by burying my head in work. But I'm not. So you know. Sorry coworkers.
published: 2020-03-18T13:45:00+01:00
tag: covid19
tag: work
tag: life
tag: coronavirus

article
type: Note
content: That BBC article about peoples' housemates who refuse to stop being virus spreading vectors is really stressful to read.
published: 2020-04-17T07:57:00+02:00
tag: coronavirus
tag: covid19

coop
type: Note
content: Open Data Services Co-op usually get together in person quarterly. We weren't able to this month, for obvious reasons. But we replicated our usual style of gathering online this afternoon, and it was positive and productive and I ended the day crylaughing with my colleagues. Even though we spend tons of our times in video calls on a normal day, somehow the video call replacement of our in person gathering still stood on its own as a special event. I'm super appreciative of my colleagues who sorted the agenda and planned and facilitated sessions, and just in general of all of them <3 (Next week: enforced fun)
published: 2020-04-30T18:34:00+02:00
tag: cooplife
tag: life
tag: ods
tag: opendataservices.coop
tag: work

facebook
type: Note
content: I tried to make a facebook account so I could join an expats group to ask for information about visa extensions and stuff. I was blocked for ages on not having a phone number, and finally caved and put my new Albanian number in. Then it wanted a photo of me to verify I'm me (compared against what??). And now the account opening is 'under review' and I can't use it yet. At the same time I found an email address for some Albanian authorities and long story short it's literally taken less time to get an Albanian visa extension approved than it has to just open a facebook acount smh
published: 2020-04-17T08:59:00+02:00
tag: coronavirus
tag: travel
tag: albania
tag: visa

funny
type: Note
content: It's funny how Morrissey died a few years ago but still seems to be putting out music. I suppose I should listen to it at some point, but there's no point in giving a dead person any more money for it.
published: 2020-04-22T18:15:00+02:00
tag: music
tag: morrissey

outside
type: Note
content: In light of current guidance about not going outside, I have added a very important tracker to my website.. (/where)
published: 2020-04-07T14:40:00+02:00
tag: coronavirus
tag: hacking
tag: sloph
tag: life

peak
type: Note
content: Today I heard of "scrumban" in a meeting and I think this means we have reached peak agile.
published: 2020-04-08T17:15:00+02:00
tag: work
tag: ods

photos-balcony
type: Add
content: Photos from the balcony from a week at home..
published: 2020-04-04T21:09:34+02:00
summary: Amy added 6 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-bananacon
type: Add
content: I found this recipe for 'bacon' made from banana peel and just had to know. I made marinade from soy sauce, red pepper paste and paprika. The first time - alongside tofu scramble and mushrooms - was a hit, although a bit on the salty side. I reused the marinade, diluting it a bit with water and orange juice, and adding paprika. It went great in BLTs, and on top of tomato rice too. Since I get through plenty of bananas, and it's no trouble to make, this is going to become a staple! It works best when the banana peel is pretty brown, and the oil is already hot so it fries fast and bubbles a bit. It spits a lot when first dropped in the pan though.
published: 2020-04-19T21:14:29+02:00
summary: Amy added 21 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-crochet-beaches
type: Add
content: Another week of lockdown, sitting on the beach in front of the building, and crocheting a lot.
published: 2020-04-26T19:40:37+02:00
summary: Amy added 31 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-food
type: Add
content: Another week of increasingly experimental cooking and baking. Pizza! Many times fried potatoes in various shapes Peanut butter cookies Fried rice Curry potato pastries with greens and mushroom gravy Weird semolina orange cake with yeast that fermented overnight and tastes a bit beer-y Spectacular homemade bean burgers with homemade bread Sprouts! Chickpeas and flaxseeds successful, sunflower seeds doing their best
published: 2020-04-12T21:15:24+02:00
summary: Amy added 53 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-food-2
type: Add
content: Having procured a giant bottle of soy sauce, it was an exciting week in isolation kitchen. Various soy sauce-y stir fries, including with peanut sauce and sesame seeds. Various cookies Bananabread with coconut and dark chocolate chunks Tacos with homemade corn tortillas and bean chilli. Shredded cabbage and carrot salad with soy sauce and sesame. Various hearty soups and pastas. And bananapeel bacon of course.
published: 2020-04-19T22:36:04+02:00
summary: Amy added 20 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-food-3
type: Add
content: This week's food adventures; I found myself with an abundance of spinach, most of which got eaten with pasta and was not interesting enough to photograph. Spur of the moment microwave chocolate pudding and chocolate custard, just like Mum used to make. Banana peanutbutter cake with caramel and coconut. Pizza (with spinach). Saag aloo (and dahl). Amazing lemon pie with a shortbread crust. The filling was just lemon zest, soy milk and cornflour (turmeric for colour). Cauliflower 'wings'. Maybe not as crispy as they should have been, but still tasted good. With cabbage salad and quinoa. Bean burgers, not as good as last time. I used courgette instead of carrot and they were too wet so I had to add lots of flour. Banana pancakes with leftover homemade caramel. Light and fluffy. Fancy savoury oats with turmeric and salad.
published: 2020-04-26T09:47:29+02:00
summary: Amy added 54 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-isolation-2
type: Add
content: Another week of cooking and baking delicious things. Bean chilli with roasted chard; Oat and flax cookies; Vegetable lasagne (with mushrooms, chard, tomatoes, aubergine and carrot); Classic comfort food, tinned tomatoes on toast; Cornish pasties... shortcrust pastry is an ordeal, ain't it? Purple (beet) risotto; Coffee and hazelnut cake.. WIRED Curried cabbage and dahl, Malaysian street food style; Sprouts! Flaxseeds and chickpeas making progress.
published: 2020-04-05T21:53:55+02:00
summary: Amy added 39 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-sunsets
type: Add
content: Sunsets and crochet progress from another week of lockdown.
published: 2020-04-18T23:16:03+02:00
summary: Amy added 19 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-tofu
type: Add
content: There's a distinct lack of any vegan specialty stuff in Sarande, including just plain tofu. I can get sugar free soy milk though, if I trek across town to the big supermarket, which I did. Then it's a case of curdling it with lemon, and pressing it with a cheesecloth (or... a pillowcase). It was very soft and a bit crumbly. I might think of it as cream cheese rather than tofu next time, and be happier. I immediately mushed it up with turmeric and spices to make scramble.
published: 2020-04-14T15:24:23+02:00
summary: Amy added 8 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

productive
type: Note
content: Well it's not been a very productive day so far, so I'm taking a break to make bananabread. If all else fails, at least there's cake.
published: 2020-04-16T17:34:00+02:00
tag: mbaking
tag: life
tag: cake
tag: vegan
tag: food

psql
type: Note
content: I use psql and/or interact somehow with a postgres database about once every six months, so because of how my brain (fails to) store information it's a brand new and exciting experience every time. This time also involved a docker-compose network, for added spice.
published: 2020-04-02T16:16:16+02:00
tag: ods
tag: docker
tag: postgres
tag: work
tag: hacking

tfw-docs
type: Note
content: TFW you want to check the docs to make sure you understand something properly but the reason you need to understand it is because you are writing the docs and there are no other docs.
published: 2020-04-29T09:19:00+02:00
tag: work
tag: hacking
tag: documentation

todays
type: Note
content: For today's performance, I will be making scrambled eggs (from soy milk and lemon) and bacon (from banana peels).
published: 2020-04-14T12:01:00+02:00
tag: food
tag: vegan

week-in-review
type: Article
content: Albanian government introduced a system of asking for a permit by SMS 24 hours in advance of going outside, only for important reasons. Curfew still 5am to 1pm. I didn't leave the flat at all. Worked on memorious crawlers for UK politician declarations of interest. And some DID spec stuff. And some of my own website stuff! Finished the poncho, so cosy. Cooked and baked loads of good stuff. Finished rewatching Avatar: the last airbender, and started Stargate SG1. Read on the balcony (True Names and Old Music & the Slave Woman).
name: Week in review: 30 March - 5 April
published: 2020-04-05T23:59:59+02:00
tag: dids
tag: vegan
tag: hacking
tag: life
tag: week+in+review
tag: albania
tag: ods
tag: memorious
tag: food
tag: mbaking

week-in-review-2
type: Article
content: Watched lots of Stargate SG1 and some random movies (Wandering Earth, The Platform) Spent lots of time looking at crochet patterns for jumpers but didn't actually start anything until Sunday evening. So much baking and cooking. My sunflower seeds finally sprouted. Made successful bread! Started reading an Albanian political thriller called The Successor that I found in the flat. (A paper book! Worked on a scraper for London politicians interest declarations but spent too long trying to fix it for edgecases. Had lots of coop meetings. No curfew updates.
name: Week in review: 6 - 12 April
published: 2020-04-12T23:59:59+02:00
tag: ods
tag: vegan
tag: life
tag: week+in+review
tag: food
tag: coronavirus
tag: hacking

week-in-review-3
type: Article
content: Watched lots of Stargate SG1. Had a migraine at varying intensities for almost the entire week. Not much productivity, work-wise. Started crocheting a jumper, completely changed every part of the entire pattern, and learnt some new stitches. Made bananapeel bacon and tofu from scratch and many other things. Curfew hours extended, from 5am to 5.30pm, with 1 and a half hours allowed outside. SMS permission system stands. I tried it once and got no response. Sent an email to some authorities and had a visa extension approved until after travel restrictions are lifted.
name: Week in review: 13 - 19 April
published: 2020-04-19T23:59:59+02:00
tag: coronavirus
tag: vegan
tag: covid19
tag: week+in+review
tag: crochet
tag: food

week-in-review-4
type: Article
content: Successfully got SMS permission to go outside, and bought groceries (permission was unnecessary). Finished the body of my crochet jumper; just needs sleeves. Crocheted a useless facemask.. Did some OCDS docs work. Watched more SG1, and Knives Out. Went for small forays to the beach in front of the building. Witnessed much drama from the balcony around someone locking the gate that joins my building's carpark with the building next door. It's a useful shortcut, I am annoyed along with the rest of the neighbourhood. I call it gategate. Got SSL working on my digital ocean droplet with the nginx reverse proxy docker setup. After putting it off for literally 3 years! Made lots of tasty food again. Some of the movement restrictions are being lifted next week. Certain regions without any infections are allowed movement within (but not between).
name: Week in review: 20 - 26 April
published: 2020-04-26T23:59:59+02:00
tag: hacking
tag: mbaking
tag: crochet
tag: week+in+review
tag: food
tag: vegan

albanian-riviera
type: Article
content: It is early in the tourist season anyway, and everything has been stunted by lockdown. A roadtrip along the Albanian Riviera revealed many quiet places - in some cases altogether deserted - along with grateful guesthouse and restaurant owners. The Riviera stretches between Sarandë and Vlorë and is characterised by glorious beaches and charming villages situated in the mountainsides overlooking the sea. The road is in good condition and winds along with amazing views and some breathtaking cliffedges and sharp turns. I didn't manage to check out every single beach, but I saw plenty. There are lots of castles too, and places of historical interest. I didn't get as far as Vlorë, but did stop in Orikum, the seaside town just to the south. There's a really long beach with (mostly closed) restaurants and bars all along. I can imagine it would be a bit of a party scene during normal times in the summer. It was pretty desolate though. Photos of Orikum are here. The Llogora Pass is a steep switchback road towards the north end of the Riviera, with Palasë beach at the bottom and Llogora national park at the top. The national park is a different world, with pine forests and cool mountain air. There are plenty of well marked hiking trails, as well as Cesar's Pass, where Julius Cesar's army marched. I stayed in a friendly guesthouse in the woods. The owners run a restaurant with delicious homemade pasta, and kept bringing free dessert. I hiked to the top of Maja Thanassit (GPS trace, photos) and to Cesar's Pass (GPS trace, photos). Visibility was not good. Palasë beach is renowned for being gorgeous but seemed to subject to a large construction project and not very accessible. The next one down is Drymades. Not a lot there, but nice sand. The next town over is Dhërmi, which is absolutely charming; white houses and cute windows set into the mountainside. Vuna a bit further down is also picturesque, a smaller version of Dhërmi. I'd spend more time there in future. Gjipe beach is ne…
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Along the Albanian Riviera
published: 2020-05-22T20:58:13+01:00
tag: tourism
tag: castle
tag: hiking
tag: albania
tag: travel

lockdown
type: Note
content: That thing of reading about other peoples' lockdown experiences and realising that it's not very different to my regular life, that many introverts are having lately.. but more specifically I'm discovering that meeting friends regularly in-person is a huge part of life for most people - and I guess was common for me too at one point - but that I completely went without since I started travelling and just got used to my friends and family being almost entirely online (aka in my pocket) for years now. I don't really know where I'm going with this. Just that it's interesting seeing people adjusting to it (or failing to) and I don't even remember having much of a period of adjustment, it was quite natural for me. Maybe I'm just an antisocial asshole. I love all my friends and family, really I do, even in pixel form. Maybe this is why I spent so much time in my teens and twenties, eventually seeping into my academic work, fighting the idea that online is 'not real life', etc.
published: 2020-05-04T14:43:00+02:00
tag: covid19
tag: coronavirus
tag: life
tag: introvert
tag: lockdown

photos-benje
type: Add
content: A hike across the top of the canyon at the Benje, which none of my photos capture the epicness of. Once away from the main pools, there are no people at all. After a couple of hours (GPS trace) is a serene spot with small waterfalls and naturally forming pools (though these are cold). Back at the thermal pools, but further into the canyon - where most people can't be bothered to venture - can be found smaller thermal pools. Stayed here, had a picnic and a soak, until almost sunset, before returning to Permet for dinner at Antigonea. Finally fasule! And some delicious mountain herb byrek. The waiter, with all good intentions, tried to bring a fish on the house.. People are so friendly.. it's the thought that counts :)

photos-blue-eye
type: Add
content: Just 20 minutes drive outside of Sarande is the Blue Eye, Syri i Kalter. It's a natural spring over 50m deep - divers haven't yet found the bottom. It's incredibly clear and blue and cold. There are distinctive beautiful blue dragonflies there.
published: 2020-05-23T12:30:02+02:00
summary: Amy added 27 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-borsh
type: Add
content: Borsh beach is the longest one on the Albanian Riviera at about 7km. It has lots of hotels and restaurants along it, but nonetheless feels quite calm. Perhaps it was because the season, delayed by pandemic lockdown, hasn't really started yet. There are also bunkers and caves. Borsh village is divided into three parts: the upper (Hori), middle (Vanja) and coast (Shkalle). Apparently they don't like each other.
published: 2020-05-22T14:30:21+02:00
summary: Amy added 18 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-borsh-castle
type: Add
content: High above the Borsh coastline is a castle! It's ruined and free to enter, after climbing a surprisingly well-kept winding path. The views over the coast and mountains are incredible. Definitely one of my favourite castles. Along the main road, in middle Borsh, is a restaurant set over a series of small waterfalls, Ujvara Veranda. It's loud but very cool, and a great place to stop for a coffee (freddo espresso!), which I did. Finally, back to Sarande for a night in my own bed.
published: 2020-05-22T21:00:00+02:00
summary: Amy added 64 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-crochet
type: Add
content: Spent the week off working on the v-stitch sweater which was super satisfying to work up, then finally seamed the two parts together. I really like it. Started on some shorts to learn a version of the pineapple stitch. My yarn and hook were wrong so they're too big, and obviously so lacy as to be only beach-appropriate, but it was a good exercise.
published: 2020-05-31T16:29:13+02:00
summary: Amy added 11 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-crochet-bag
type: Add
content: I made a bag that is way too big and stretchy, but surprisingly robust. I really enjoyed the star stitch.
published: 2020-05-06T18:16:31+02:00
summary: Amy added 22 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-drymades
type: Add
content: Post-hike trip down to the nearest beach.. Back down the intense mountain side switchback of Llogora Pass, and back up again, popped my ears and gave me searing pain later that evening. It passed eventually, though a week later my hearing still isn't properly back. The beach at the bottom of the pass is Palase, but it was lined with a construction site and wasn't very accessible. The next one along is Drymades/Drimadhe. Very little there but probably busy in a non-pandemic summer season. Overcast but cool enough to swim.
published: 2020-05-19T21:51:24+02:00
summary: Amy added 12 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-food
type: Add
content: I discovered the Greek margarine in the supermarket is secretly vegan, which opens up a whole new world of baking possibilities. Two kinds of bread, one with a seedy packet mix and one with two kinds of cornflour. Both good. Flapjack! Curries, chilli, the usual. Sprouts! Green lentils sprout great too. Fruity salad with wheat berries. Pasta with avocado sauce.
published: 2020-05-03T15:45:06+02:00
summary: Amy added 25 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-food-2
type: Add
content: This week's cooking a mixed bag.. A disappointingly dense orange, almond, ginger and cardamom cake.. I call it pudding cake I guess and pretend it was supposed to be like that. Passable falafel, after a shaky start. A good pile of gooey choc chip biscuits. Curries and fried potatoes.. Lots of things with somun (simite). Penne dishes.. an attempt at 'cheesey' sauce with carrots and potatoes; expensive truffle mushroom sauce from a jar. A small batch of homemade seedy bread. An extravagent lemon pie with blueberries (expensive) and dark chocolate. An excellent pizza with fluffy dough that rose all day (and sweet potato fries).
published: 2020-05-10T21:40:45+02:00
summary: Amy added 35 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-food-3
type: Add
content: Some burgers failed to hold together so I called it sloppy joe and proceeded (with homemade bread). After the mix had chilled the next day, with a bit more flour, I turned it into burgers. A highlight was french toast with batter made from semolina, cinnamon and rice milk. With homemade syrup. Made a really good chocolate cake. I wanted peanut butter frosting, but ran out of vegan butter. It goes really well with fresh cherries though.
published: 2020-05-17T20:27:06+02:00
summary: Amy added 17 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-food-4
type: Add
content: After a week off, I missed my oven. Well, maybe I missed the cake it produces. I immediately made a peanut-butter-and-jam cake with cherries from the mountain roads near Gjirokaster, and local jam from Permet. An experimental spinach and mushroom quiche with semolina batter worked really well. Vegan quiches are always with tofu, which I can't get here so this is a good alternative. Banana cream pie, which didn't set at all, hence only photos of it in the dish. Really good sag aloo.. and usual comfort foods.. fried potatoes, mashed potatoes, bananapeel bacon sandwiches.. Peanut butter cookies with cherry jam in the middle.
published: 2020-05-31T20:41:10+02:00
summary: Amy added 26 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-gjipe
type: Add
content: A detour for a walk to Gjipe beach, which is accessible by boat, along a narrow winding canyon path, or a long winded but gently sloping coastal path (I took the latter - GPS trace). It's a beautiful small beach, which I could have spent longer at, but night was drawing near. Onwards to Himare, where I met some cute small doggos, fellow stranded travellers, and a mediocre pizza. Himare is a seaside town, perhaps the heart of the Riviera for tourists, and very Greek. People speak Greek in the streets, and fly the Greek flag all over. There are three beaches and a lovely boulevard. It's backed by mountains, and there are excellent hiking trails around.
published: 2020-05-20T20:05:59+02:00
summary: Amy added 46 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-gjirokaster
type: Add
content: Last stop: Gjirokaster. An historical mountain town about an hour away from Sarande, with a massive castle (400 Lek, plus 200 more for 3 museums inside), a beautiful twisty old town, and a totally different vibe from the coast. Lunch at Taverna Traditionale, which was amazingly friendly and delicious, fresh from the oven, and included vegetarian kofte! And a specially made byrek with spinach and no cheese on the house, and some free fresh fruit for dessert as well.

photos-jale
type: Add
content: Hike from Himare to Jale beach via Livadh (GPS trace). Spent a lazy morning in the hostel due to heavy rain, chatting to the volunteers (also stranded travellers) and the wee doggos. The sky cleared with enough time left in the day for the hike to Jale beach around the coast. It's a nice trail. A long stretch is across Livadh beach, in the next bay around. Got to Jale just in time for the rain to come down again, and hid away in the only beach bar open to wait it out. It didn't stop, so in the end I just had to get soaked returning to Himare, where I was greeted by a finally clear sky and warm sunset.
published: 2020-05-21T21:43:05+02:00
summary: Amy added 73 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-jumper
type: Add
content: I finally finished my first ever crochet jumper! The holdup was being indecisive about putting sleeves on, but eventually I put half length ones (because typically I roll sleeves up to my elbows anyway). I started with this DROPS Design pattern, but started messing with it at once: I changed the hook size, yarn weight, sized the smallest size down a bit because I wanted a tight fit, changed the flower motif for dragonflies (which took an hour of crochet maths and pattern sketching on paper), changed the main body stitch from a loose double crochet with gaps to the trinity stitch because I like the tension, look, and it's a fun stitch to do a lot of. On the bottom edge I did some little puff stitch 'flowers' too. My sized down version only took about 170g of yarn :o which is less than 2 balls. It fits well, is perfect for temperate summer evenings, or keeping warm in my very heat-proof apartment, but a bit too cosy for wearing out in the sun (even without the sleeves - which is what made me decide it needed sleeves in the end).
published: 2020-05-08T18:02:59+02:00
summary: Amy added 8 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-llogora
type: Add
content: A hike through Llogora national park. Climbed Maja Thanasit, from where you can see Italy on a clear day. It was not a clear day. Could barely see the sea. The mountains are beautiful though, and the air was fresh and cool. The trail was well marked, for the most part, and terrain was easy to moderate. Loop on RunKeeper.
published: 2020-05-19T15:37:24+02:00
summary: Amy added 51 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-llogora-2
type: Add
content: Waking up in the mountains again, surrounded by cloud. A short hike to Caesar's Pass, where Julius Caeser marched his armies in pursuit of Pompey (GPS trace); views intermittent.
published: 2020-05-20T11:00:01+02:00
summary: Amy added 29 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-orikum
type: Add
content: North to Orikum, through the valley village of Dukat. The beach at Orikum is long and white and empty. The bulk of the town is inland, so it's quite peaceful on the coast; a bit desolate in fact. Then south again, back down the Llogora Pass for the last time.
published: 2020-05-20T15:00:06+02:00
summary: Amy added 20 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-permet
type: Add
content: Permet is a small town, two hours inland from Sarande. They have "everything besides the sea", they say, and it's true. A clear blue river runs through the center, with rocky beaches on each side. There's a big rock, which you can climb for fantastic views of the town. It's cooler than the coast, surrounded by mountains. The town center is full of cute cafes, nice restaurants line the river, and it all comes alive at night.
published: 2020-05-23T16:33:57+02:00
summary: Amy added 49 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-permet-2
type: Add
content: A short drive or a 3 hour hike up the mountain from Permet, you find the thermal pools of Benje. They're not hot, but they're not cold, so very nice to sit in for a while. There are 6 pools, artificially made around the natural springs where you can soak up different healing minerals (apparently) and enjoy the mountain views and air. After an evening visit to the pools, I returned to the town for dinner at Trifilia, which featured many 'wild' 'mountain' things (cabbage, herbs..)
published: 2020-05-23T21:00:52+02:00
summary: Amy added 26 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-porto-palermo
type: Add
content: A few minutes drive around the coast from Himare is Porto Palermo, a quiet bay with a castle on a little island. For 200 Lek I got to explore it, plus a rapid and hard to follow, but enthusiastic, description of the castle's entire history and use by Ali Pasha Tepelena from the guy selling tickets. There are a few signs inside, and pictures. There is also a nice little-used beach nearby.
published: 2020-05-22T11:47:47+02:00
summary: Amy added 47 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-sarande
type: Add
content: Lockdown restrictions loosened a little bit and I went for a longer walk, into town then back the 'scenic route' which took longer than expected and gave me sunburn.
published: 2020-05-01T20:53:21+02:00
summary: Amy added 10 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-sarande-2
type: Add
content: Just the usual sea and crochet.
published: 2020-05-10T17:37:29+02:00
summary: Amy added 16 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-sarande-3
type: Add
content: The sea the sea the sea and crochet. Temperatures went right up, I swam every day.
published: 2020-05-17T19:19:21+02:00
summary: Amy added 18 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-sarande-4
type: Add
content: A week at 'home'. Some nice sunsets on the beach near my building, plus some good storms. Met some extremely smol kittens nearby.
published: 2020-05-30T18:32:52+02:00
summary: Amy added 19 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-transit
type: Add
content: Travel restrictions lifted a bit, so.. small roadtrip up the coast, to the mountains. Driving through the towns along the Albanian Riviera presented lots of places to stop on the way back. The roads is windy but mostly well maintained, except for occasional sudden cobbled bits or abrupt narrowings. Many cute villages built into vertical hillsides. Amazing views.
published: 2020-05-18T22:22:22+02:00
summary: Amy added 38 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

pizzabase
type: Note
content: Yesterday I left my pizza dough to rise pretty much all day and it turned out soooo good. I also think I may have used more yeast than I normally do, and I didn't oil the tray I baked it on because that usually makes it soggy - and it didn't stick anyway. Normally it doesn't rise much in the oven, and is either very slightly over- or under-cooked, or sometimes both... still functional as a pizza base and if you were eating it and weren't a pizza base connoisseur you wouldn't think there was anything wrong with it, but I know it's not perfect. Anyway, last night's was perfect and I hope to always repeat this in future.
published: 2020-05-11T09:27:00+02:00
tag: pizza
tag: vegan
tag: food
tag: fedikitchen

trip-permet
type: Article
content: Përmet is a small town, two hours inland from Sarande. They have "everything besides the sea", they say, and it's true. A clear blue river runs through the center, with rocky beaches on each side. It's possible to scramble down. It's icy cold, but shallow edges mean it's nice to paddle when the sun is out. Down there were local youths lounging in an intimidating group, but friendly to say hello and ask 'where from?' and offer weed.. In the town center there's a big rock, which you can climb for fantastic views of the town. It's cooler than the coast, surrounded by mountains. The town center is full of cute cafes, nice restaurants line the river, and it all comes alive at night, even immediately post-lockdown, with lots of children and elderly people in the streets and outside restaurants. There are no hostels. I stayed in Hotel Ramis which was pretty much empty, in a small room with a nice balcony overlooking the river. The owners didn't speak English and were surly-friendly. Breakfast was salad and bread and local jams. Përmet is known for 'slow food', even hosting an organisation to promote and regulate it, whose sign you'll see on several restaurants. Two slow-food restaurants I tried were Trifilia and Antigonea. Trifilia has an outdoor terrace, and friendly staff who understand vegan. The highlight there was wild mountain cabbage salad. In Antigonea, by the river, I was delighted to find fasule, dolma, and byrek with wild mountain herbs. The waitress offered complimentary fish (this poor fool only ordering salads and side dishes?!) and raki too which I politely declined. I went twice to the famous bënjë - thermal mineral baths. They're a short drive or medium-length hike up the nearby mountain, into the canyon. The first evening, there were quite a few people there. The water was not so much hot, but it wasn't cold so it was comfortable to climb right in whatever the weather. There are several pools each supposedly with different healing properties. The two main…
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: A trip to Përmet
published: 2020-05-26T18:47:14+01:00
tag: albania
tag: vegan
tag: food
tag: travel

week-in-review
type: Article
type: Activity
content: Lockdown restrictions loosened up a bit in my area, but not in a way that impacted my life noticeably. I went out for a longer walk and got sunburned. Crocheted one sleeve of my sweater and one handle of my bag. Will I finish either? Anyone's guess. Watched a lot of Stargate. Finished season 2 of The Durrell's. Cooked a lot. This week's cake was flapjack. Utterly failed to make English-style pancakes. They need more work to veganise than American ones. ODSCo-op substituted our in-person meeting (which we call CoGM for co-working plus OGM) with an online one ('NoGM') and it was fun. Had lots of meetings and internal Co-op work, but did some OCDS stuff too. Really not been up for engaging my brain much. Everything is exhausting. Anything that isn't immediately achievable I lose focus on quickly. I haven't even been reading books. I'm so frustrated with myself that I've done no writing since lockdown started either.
name: Week in review: 27th April to 3rd May
published: 2020-05-03T23:59:59+02:00
tag: ods
tag: travel
tag: week+in+review
tag: vegan
tag: food
tag: mbaking
tag: cooplife

week-in-review-2
type: Article
content: Watched lots of Stargate SG1. Finished The Successor. Finished the bag and the jumper! Worked on scraping data from politicians interest declarations. Worked on DID Spec editorial stuff and thinking about how the registries should work.. Sat on the beach in front of the building. Learned some new crochet stuff from patterns from 1944. Made an extravagant lemon pie with blueberries and dark chocolate, among other things. Started crocheting a summer top, half from pattern, half from my head. Learnt the spider stitch which is tricky and takes 3x as long as a single crochet, but has a nice texture and fun once you get the hang of it. Pondered future travel... Albania announced opening borders on the 18th of May, which gives me 10 days to leave the country before my visa is up, but not sure where else will let me in yet.
name: Week in review: 4 - 10 May
published: 2020-05-10T23:59:59+02:00
tag: scrapers
tag: vegan
tag: food
tag: crochet
tag: week+in+review
tag: ods

week-in-review-3
type: Article
content: Rediscovered the elegant simple beauty of a single crochet (made a tshirt) Curfew lifted for most of the country; started planning adventures while simultaneously being anxious about going out and making decisions again. Swam in the sea EVERY DAY. Wrote some scrapers for UK MP and counciller registers of interests. Did some DID editorial and registries stuff. Actually worked quite a lot this week, but also spent at least an hour per day anxiously checking local news sites for Albania and surrounding countries to try to figure out wtf I might be able to do at the end of the month. Results: inconclusive. Watched a lot of Stargate.. Went out for ice cream!! (sorbet) Made a really good chocolate cake, and other things. More people seem to be moving into the building. Getting loud around here.
name: Week in review: 11 - 17 May
published: 2020-05-17T23:59:59+02:00
tag: travel
tag: crochet
tag: week+in+review
tag: albania

week-in-review-4
type: Article
content: Adventure week! The travel restrictions lifted for some plague-free areas of Albania, so I took the week off work and went on a trip. To Llogora national park, for hiking in the mountains. Along the Albanian Riviera, visiting empty beaches and coves: Drymades, Orikum, Gjipe, Himare and Jale, Porto Palermo, Borsh (and Borsh castle). To the Blue Eye near Sarande. Inland to Permet, with thermal pools and epic canyons. To Gjirokaster for the castle. I did do a bit of DID stuff at the beginning of the week though. It was good to get out of Sarande, but also very nice to be back 'home'.. I forgot how tiring travelling is..
name: Week in review: 18 - 24 May
published: 2020-05-24T23:59:59+02:00
tag: hiking
tag: albania
tag: week+in+review
tag: travel

week-in-review-5
type: Article
content: Recovered after last week's adventure. Watched Stargate SG1 and Atlantis. Finally finished season 3 of the Durrells. Read at the beach in front of my buildling. Enjoyed some good sudden onset storms in Sarande. Tried and failed to make ongoing travel plans. Did a bunch of stuff for the DID Spec and Registries. Wrote some more Register of Interest scrapers. Baked some stuff.. Finished a jumper, started and finished shorts with pineapple stitch, and started on some socks.
name: Week in review: 25 - 31 May
published: 2020-05-31T23:59:59+02:00
tag: crochet
tag: vegan
tag: food
tag: mbaking
tag: week+in+review
tag: hacking
tag: dids
tag: ods

https://rhiaro.co.uk/2020/06/5ee31014af3e2
type: Note
content: I worked way too much this week, and got up at 0630 to finish some stuff before today's Co-op meetings, so to enforce taking the rest of the afternoon off... my building's wifi went out. Then the water.. and then the power. I have started a new crochet project. And went to the beach.
published: 2020-06-12T18:29:00+02:00
tag: hacking
tag: life
tag: cooplife
tag: albania

border
type: Note
content: Went from being offered a ride to Greece the day after tomorrow and having to come to terms with suddenly leaving Sarande, to finding out the Albania-Greece land border is staying closed until July 1st actually, within the space of an hour. Rollercoaster. I'm exhausted. And on top of that, nobody can give me a straight answer on whether I count as an EU citizen for the purposes of mid-pandemic border crossings.
published: 2020-06-15T17:55:00+02:00
tag: covid19
tag: travel
tag: life
tag: coronavirus

border-2
type: Note
content: On Friday the Greek Deputy Minister of Civil Defense said the Kakavia land border with Albania will not open. Today a "spokesperson for the Greek government" said the Kakavia land border with Albania is on list of border crossings that will open. I still feel like it's sort of a complete 50-50 chance if I'll be leaving Albania this week. Makes it hard to adequately buy groceries. And plan my work schedule. And.. maintain my sanity. I did waste like 3 hours this morning researching alternatives. Or maybe it won't be wasted! Who knows at this point.
published: 2020-06-29T19:35:00+02:00
tag: coronavirus
tag: albania
tag: travel
tag: covid19
tag: greece
tag: life

brain
type: Note
content: I honestly don't have the brain space for github to be looking different just now
published: 2020-06-24T10:08:00+02:00
tag: hacking
tag: life

crochet
type: Note
content: Either I've got a lot better at crochet since I last tried this, or a chainless foundation row is not as difficult as I remember it being..
published: 2020-06-24T14:29:00+02:00
tag: crochet
tag: mbaking

doughnuts
type: Add
content: Did you know you can just make doughnuts?! I mean, I knew it, and I can't believe I never actually did before. Just... 2 cups of flour, a couple of tablespoons of sugar, half a cup of plant milk and some yeast; knead, and rise for 2 hours, then shape and fry in an inch of oil for a minute or two on each side. Actually incredible. I coated the first batch with brown sugar (although it doesn't stick well, even when fresh out of the oil), and the second batch with cinnamon and brown sugar. One I ate smeared with cherry jam, and another with melted dark chocolate on top. Holy cow. Also had a good pizza and chips, and some great curries.
published: 2020-06-28T19:55:50+02:00
summary: Amy added 20 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

dreamt
type: Note
content: I dreamt standup again, as if I don't have enough meetings when I'm awake.
published: 2020-06-09T08:38:00+02:00
tag: work
tag: life
tag: ods

javascript
type: Note
content: Modern javascript is the most alien shit I swear, I can't read any of this
published: 2020-06-22T16:08:00+02:00
tag: hacking
tag: javascript

photos-food
type: Add
content: A great carrot cake with lemon cream frosting started the week, and lasted all week! A good pizza. I tried to make 'omelette' type things with semolina, but they turned pink (no idea why) and were more like burgers instead, so I made bread rolls and rolllllled with it. Flatbread and beans for burritos.
published: 2020-06-07T12:16:14+02:00
summary: Amy added 13 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-food-2
type: Add
content: Fruit loaf without a recipe (just generic no-measure bread with some raisins and nuts); turned out pretty well, if a bit crumbly Some British things... dumplings with a bean and mushroom stew; homemade baked beans (pretty close!); chip shop style curry sauce Fancy pasta with cream sweet potato tahini sauce Sesame cookies
published: 2020-06-13T19:37:53+02:00
summary: Amy added 19 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-food-3
type: Add
content: Ran out of sugar so I made sugar free banana chocolate cake, just like the old days. And at the end of the week, a courgette choc chip cake, which did have brown sugar in. Other highlights.. a shepherd's pie, mushroom risotto with hazelnuts, stuffed aubergine Albanian style, and vegetable tempura.
published: 2020-06-21T20:06:32+02:00
summary: Amy added 13 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-sarande
type: Add
content: Getting out of the house a bit more, because the Watch Fixing Man kept telling me to "come back tomorrow". Found and swam at some new small beaches. Located new yarn supply! Sampled freddo espressi in several coffee shops. Freddo espresso is best espresso. Crocheted socks.
published: 2020-06-07T18:15:42+02:00
summary: Amy added 35 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-sarande-2
type: Add
content: A new crochet project, labelled 'intermediate', alternating rows of Y-stitch and shells which is interesting, and I love my new 3.5 crochet hook... but it's coming up way too small so I'm going to have to abandon it. A couple of trips into town for byrek and freddo espresso. Swimming from the rocky beach near home, and the nearby pier of Santa Quaranta. Normally at this time of year the pier would be packed; lined with cars down the middle, and packed on both sides with sunbeds and umbrellas. But the hotel resort is barely open, the sunbeds aren't even out, and just one or two people come to sunbathe on the pier.
published: 2020-06-14T10:01:13+02:00
summary: Amy added 24 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-sarande-3
type: Add
content: Crochet projects this week (that were actually finished): a 'peace sign patch' and a wave stitch headpand. I also started a yellow summer top but for some reason haven't taken any photos of that yet. I met Banksy the dog and had the first hummus I've had in WEEKS at Salad Farm across the road. Went to the beach, for sitting around and swimming, and out for early morning byrek and cafe working when the internet went out on a work day. Aaaaand paddleboard yoga! At 7:30 in the morning. I didn't even fall in, and it was a beautiful day so I rented the board for an extra hour to pootle around the bay some more.
published: 2020-06-20T18:58:40+02:00
summary: Amy added 18 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

week-in-review
type: Article
content: Thought about going to Montenegro instead of Greece, but their entry restrictions currently require you have a residency permit from one of the countries on their okay-list, even if you haven't been anywhere near your country of residency/citizenship, so long story short I can't. Worked on some of the more tricky aspects of storing and presenting data that's been scraped over and over again and might be duplicative. Had lots of meetings. Kept going into town because the watch-fixing-man told me every day to come back tomorrow.. which gave me the opportunity to drink lots of freddo espressi at the cafes that are open now. Found more yarn! Far away, but, panic over. Crocheted socks. I think I've finally figured out how to do a neat join when going in rows and turning. Watched lots of Stargate. Read the terrible Merlin book.
name: Week in review: 1 - 7 June
published: 2020-06-07T23:59:59+02:00
tag: hacking
tag: memorious
tag: food
tag: life
tag: week+in+review
tag: crochet
tag: ods
tag: travel

week-in-review-2
type: Article
content: Worked a bit too much, on the rather enjoyable Open Register of Interests aka. "declared." project. Got better at postgres. Learnt alternating rows of Y stitch and shell stitch to make a nice crochet pattern. Two days later realised the thing was coming up way too small, so I'm going to have to abandon it and start again. I'm using the wrong yarn - but it's a bit mysterious because if anything it should have come up too big. I guess doing it with crochet thread would make it looser and therefore bigger? Not sure how to salvage. I might apply the same stitch to a more simple pattern. Watched Birdbox and All Is Lost. Swam a bit. Made some food. Started to make plans related to :o not being in Albania.
name: Week in review: 8 - 14 June
published: 2020-06-14T23:59:59+02:00
tag: travel
tag: postgres
tag: hacking
tag: week+in+review
tag: ods
tag: crochet

week-in-review-3
type: Article
content: Got offered a ride to Greece a couple of days after the border opened, started prepping to leave, then the border didn't open; prepped to stay another 2 weeks. Coronavirus cases are rising in Albania, SURPRISING NO-ONE exactly two weeks after they lifted many of the restrictions. Against my basic instincts, I did go out a lot this week because everyone is acting like everything is back to normal and it's easy to get swept up in. Probably should stop that. Some of the going out was to work from cafes because my internet went out though. I'm back on nodejs stuff again.. Also did a bit of editorial work on the DID spec, and hacked on sloph apps (it's been a while). Watched Fargo and Jaws (and Stargate Atlantis). Swam in the sea and sat on the beach. Crocheted some things. Went to a paddleboard yoga class! I didn't even fall off. It was early in the morning and the sea was so calm, but still ridiculously warm. Fighting an ongoing war with local mosquito population, which is managing to move in droves into my flat even though I keep all the bug nets on the doors and windows closed all the time. I'm very good at catching them in a wee glass and putting them outside, but they thank me by whining around my head at night and eating me. Got a haircut!!! Communicated with "bzzzz?" and hand gesture. Then the lady was spontaneously inspired to plait the hair that was left and it looked really cool. Made food..
name: Week in review: 15 - 21 June
published: 2020-06-21T23:59:59+02:00
tag: ods
tag: nodejs
tag: food
tag: vegan
tag: albania
tag: travel
tag: week+in+review
tag: life
tag: hacking

week-in-review-4
type: Article
content: An up and down week of not knowing whether or not the Greek border will open for Albania. Getting frustrated at nodejs. Tinkered a bit with sloph posting apps. Crocheted a lot. I can do a chainless foundation row now! Easily? I couldn't do this before. Did it with a half double crochet. Realised I can just make doughnuts. Made them twice. So good. Can't believe I never did this before. Watched/rewatched Man From Earth, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Moneyball... Stargate. Swam in the sea. It got really really hot. ... i dunno, i lose track. my brain is fried.
name: Week in review: 22 - 28 June
published: 2020-06-28T23:59:59+02:00
tag: ods
tag: nodejs
tag: hacking
tag: travel
tag: albania

why
type: Activity
type: Note
content: Why doesn't crocheting furiously while staring at my text editor cause code to be written???
published: 2020-06-24T14:44:00+02:00
tag: hacking
tag: crochet
tag: mbaking

yarn
type: Note
content: My local supermarket has arbitrarily and suddenly stopped stocking yarn. I had so many crochet plans, dreams about the colours I knew they had, and am feeling quite devastated. I do know this is not the worst thing happening in the world right now. But crochet has been going far towards keeping my head in a good place these past months. Hopefully I can find a new supply, but I'm going to have to walk a lot further for it. But I'm not getting my hopes up because this is a small town and the supermarkets probably all seasonally rotate their stock at the same time.
published: 2020-06-01T20:37:00+02:00
tag: crochet
tag: life

back-lincolnshire
type: Note
content: Back in Lincolnshire, I'm already confused again about what time of the day 'dinner' occurs.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-07-30T13:48:13+01:00
tag: travel
tag: life
tag: language

border
type: Note
content: It's not looking good. Albania dropped from the EU's official 'safe' list, and a minister saying Kakavia land border is not ready due to incomplete disinfectant tunnels..
in reply to: border-2
published: 2020-07-01T07:33:00+02:00
tag: albania
tag: travel
tag: greece

border-2
type: Note
content: I don't want to jinx it but ~ there's a rumour ~ that they're letting people across the border anyway today so apparently we're gonna try?!
in reply to: border
published: 2020-07-01T10:37:00+02:00
tag: travel
tag: albania
tag: greece

border-3
type: Note
content: Still in Albania. All the border guards were very nice. The Albanian side let us go double check with the Greeks if they'd let us across before they stamped us out which was good of them. The Greeks said they'd love to let us through but Angela Merkel says they can't. They were just letting Greek citizens over at the moment, not even EU. It's very frustrating that with an EU passport I could fly to Athens from Albania, but not cross the land border. I'm not sure what to do next. Going to take a break from thinking about it for a few days.
in reply to: border-2
published: 2020-07-02T12:00:00+02:00
tag: coronavirus
tag: travel
tag: albania
tag: greece

crochet
type: Add
content: I finally got around to taking a photo of (almost) everything I crocheted during lockdown. Just in time to leave most of it behind. I played with some new combination stitches, and really like an openwork lace one that looks like spiders or palm trees. Decided to combine it with the alternating shell and Y-stitch rows to adapt a cardigan pattern; that's the green in-progress one. Picked up more soft yellow yarn to finish a summer top, which actually fits properly and is really nice. I'm keeping this one.
published: 2020-07-01T20:03:34+02:00
summary: Amy added 20 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

discovered
type: Note
content: I have discovered the JavaScript spread/rest syntax, and reluctantly admit, it is quiiiiiiite cool. (I still hate javascript tho)
published: 2020-07-09T15:11:01+02:00
tag: nodejs
tag: javascript
tag: hacking
tag: opendataservices.coop

feel-like-crochet
type: Note
content: I feel like my crochet skills have improved because I can now crochet and watch films/tv with subtitles at the same time.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-07-17T17:36:18+02:00
tag: life
tag: crochet

flat
type: Note
content: Found out I can stay in my flat for another month cos the next people aren't coming, which is a weight off cos trying to move this week would be stressful. On the other hand, as someone used to moving approx every one month, really starting to feel the 'how can people live in the same apartment/house all the time' feeling. For years? Seriously. It's weird. I mean, I understand it, I don't need anyone to explain to benefits or appeals, it's just if I try to imagine committing to any one space for a long period of time... shudder.
published: 2020-07-08T10:34:01+02:00
tag: travel
tag: life

food
type: Add
content: Gradually improving my burgers. Red beans make everything better. I think I stop them falling apart when they cook by chilling the mixture, coating in cornflour before cooking, and frying as hot as possible in not too much oil. But it's still a bit hit and miss. The contents are mashed beans, plus whatever diced sauteed vegetables I have to hand, typically. This week's special treat was nachos with a great bean chilli. Also I made bananapeel bacon a few times, more doughnuts, pancakes and an excellent lemon poppyseed drizzle.
published: 2020-07-13T10:36:02+02:00
summary: Amy added 28 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
tag: food
target: madefood

ill-advisedly
type: Note
content: I ill-advisedly bought a jar of agar-agar today. It was expensive, and I do not have much time to use it up in. Neither do I have much experience with agar-agar. The plan is just to jellify a new liquid or combination of liquids every day for the forseeable future. So please, bombard me with recipes and tips. (It was the shock of finding agar-agar in Albania that made me buy it tbh. Just to see if it was real. I also got silken tofu at the same time. I don't want silken tofu, I'm desperate for firm tofu, but you take what you can get.)
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-07-17T14:12:43+02:00
tag: vegan
tag: food

intermission
type: Article
content: Breaking news: I'm back in the UK. I flew back from Tirana, because travelling overland would have been next to impossible, not to mention rather foolish. The flight was early evening, and through a beautifully clear sky. We followed the Adriatic coast, which I know well from having spent literally weeks of my life bussing up and down it. Over the Alps, which were grandiose and snow-capped. France was quite flat and boring, but still very clear. The Channel had lots of boats on it. And then we approached a wall of grey, obscuring all beneath it. Aha, this must be England. We descended, and dark churning clouds on the horizon, backed by a red sunset, was a burning apocalyptic vision. Outside the airport the sky haphazardly threw handfuls of cold water at anyone unfortunate enough to be standing under it. I put on a jacket for the first time in months. And felt... welcomed. Lots of people have said they're happy I'm back (maybe they're just being nice), but I'm quite sad about it. I'm back for specific and worthwhile reasons, but as I posted the last of my Albania photos this afternoon, while looking out at a mostly grim, overcast sky, I wondered if I have made a terrible mistake. I haven't. I'm not back, it's just an intermission. I'm confident that the nomadic life across continental Europe I love will resume sometime next year, albeit limited by the pandemic and brexit. The next few months are uncertain in new ways. I don't really know where I'll be for the bulk of my time here yet. But in the meantime, I will be spending precisely the last two weeks of my twenties in government-mandated isolation in rural Lincolnshire. Gorging on vegan cheese.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Intermission
published: 2020-07-28T18:12:37+01:00
tag: travel
tag: life
tag: coronavirus
tag: covid19
tag: flight
tag: uk

overstaying
type: Article
content: I've been to Albania a couple of times in 2019 for short visits, or on my way to somewhere else. I was looking forward to spending time on the coast, so finally in March 2020 I managed to head out for a month-long stay. Or so I thought. Not long after I arrived, the coronavirus lockdown began. As 3 months approached, I emailed local authorities and quickly obtained a visa extension 'until travel restrictions are lifted'. After a while commercial flights from the capital to some other countries started to run, and I wasn't sure how long I could push my overstay (usually, the fine for overstaying is €500 per day!). But lots of expats kept telling me it would be fine. Around the 4 month mark I was stopped by police in town and asked for ID, and fortunately had my printed visa extension email on me, which was enough for them, so then I was less worried. In the end I needed to head back to the UK for other reasons, and stayed in Sarandë for five months in total. For the first few months of lockdown, everything was closed and there was no public transport, so I wasn't able to see much of the country. Later when inter-city travel restrictions lifted I took a couple of cautious road trips. In any case, there were definitely worse places I could have been stuck. Where? I spent most time this year in Sarandë. It is a smallish seaside town, quiet in the off season, and a little smelly and loud in the town center from an excess of construction and road traffic. After a week in the center I snapped from this, and managed to move south to the outskirts. It's also smelly in the more rural outskirts from locals burning trash. But at least it wasn't so loud. My new place was right in front of the sea, close enough to hear the crash of the waves from the balcony, and a short scrabble from a little rocky beach that was mostly empty until July. There was no disadvantage in my opinion to being a 30-40 minute walk from the town center. When running, the local buses stop nearby. There's a…
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Overstaying in Albania
published: 2020-07-31T15:01:48+01:00
tag: travel
tag: albania
tag: sarande
tag: lockdown
tag: coronavirus
tag: covid19
tag: tourism
tag: castle
tag: beach

photos-crochet
type: Add
content: Finally finished a cardigan I started ages ago. I made up the overall pattern, just putting together some stiches I like that look like butterflies and spiders/palm trees. I made liberal use of half double crochet which is my favourite basic stitch, and had just enough yarn for sleeves that reach almost to my elbows.
published: 2020-07-27T09:12:56+02:00
summary: Amy added 12 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-fly
type: Add
content: Drive from Sarande to Tirana airport, then flight along the beautiful Adriatic coast, over the alps, across France and the Channel...
published: 2020-07-27T23:03:17+01:00
summary: Amy added 20 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-food
type: Add
content: Having acquired agar agar, I now have a mission to jellify all things. So far: Sour cherry juice Coldbrew coffee; cubed, dropped into almond milk. I also added it to bread pudding, but ate it too fast to wait for it to set. Also fancied up some doughnuts with cherry and lemon frosting. Dumped silken tofu on top of tomato rice under some roasted veggies. A good pizza, and nice simple chilli tomato spaghetti.
published: 2020-07-19T20:24:31+02:00
summary: Amy added 18 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-food-2
type: Add
content: Lots of baking and dough of various kinds this week. Fresh doughnut holes shaken with cinnamon and sugar in a brown paper bag to take on an evening picnic. Rich chocolate hazelnut cake with fudgy frosting. Herby pastry filled with mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes and silken tofu (with chips). Standard banana pancakes. Vegan biscuits and gravy. They were light and fluffy and buttery and so fast to make, definitely a good quick bread roll alternative.
published: 2020-07-26T19:06:48+02:00
summary: Amy added 33 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-jelly
type: Add
content: As promised, I jellified various things using agar agar. I mixed it with almond milk to make delicious creamy puddings. They are topped with watered down apricot jam, also mixed with agar to make jelly. I made a three layer loaf-jelly with cherry, lemon and apple juice, and suspended apple pieces. It tasted good, but the layers didn't stick together well, and the cherry and lemon layers merged a bit. But the most exciting thing was attempting to make blue dye from red cabbage. The first stage is to boil the cabbage to make a purple syrup. Adding bicarbonate of soda - just a tiny pinch - makes it fizz up and change colour to blue. But too much, and it goes green. I added too much because the potion like fizzing was so exciting. A drip of lemon juice takes it back in the other direction, with just as much exciting fizzing. Eventually I got the balance more or less right to create this teal-blue which lightened as it set (no photos). It's not the vivid blue you'd get with artificial dyes, but it definitely looks unnatural which is what I was going for.. I added the dye and agar to sugar water to make a pretty boring-tasting jelly.
published: 2020-07-26T22:58:54+02:00
summary: Amy added 33 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-ksamil
type: Add
content: Got up really early and took the local bus to Ksamil. It's about a 15 minute ride, and the bus wasn't full, but nobody understands how to wear masks properly. It's 100lek (0.80eur). Walked over the hill for a view of the lake, before heading back into town for coffee by the sea. Even by 8-9am it was pretty busy. Shoved through some crowded beaches to find a quieter spot, without loungers and umbrellas, then swam from the shore to one of the furthest out islands. Swam for about half an hour. Sat on a small empty beach that was only accessible by sea, and with the main beaches out of sight, could have imagined there was nobody else in the world. Swam back, then went for pizza. Puzzled for a while over where the cafe would cook the pizza - figured their kitchen must be just out of sight. Half an hour later a pizza guy on a scooter turned up. It was a decent pizza though. Took the bus back after lunch.
published: 2020-07-07T14:57:19+02:00
summary: Amy added 30 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-sarande
type: Add
content: Making the most of Sarande (still). Some lovely tranquil swims, finding new secluded beaches, weekly paddleboard yoga, and some visits to Salad Farm across the road.
published: 2020-07-19T20:39:26+02:00
summary: Amy added 69 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-sarande-2
type: Add
content: Just some more hot AF days in Sarande, balcony-working when the breeze allowed, sitting in the sea the rest of the time, and snacks at Salad Farm and Te Beqoa.
published: 2020-07-23T13:35:05+02:00
summary: Amy added 27 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-sarande-3
type: Add
content: Some Sarande expats drove out into the countryside at Finiq to look for the comet. We didn't see it, but we had a nice picnic under the stars.
published: 2020-07-23T23:41:10+02:00
summary: Amy added 21 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-sarande-4
type: Add
content: Salad Farm roasted cauliflower is amazing, by the way. (But needs to be modified to be vegan.) Also in true American style, the lemonade is bottomless.
published: 2020-07-26T13:45:18+02:00
summary: Amy added 12 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-sarande-5
type: Add
content: An evening hike up to the Monastery of the 40 Saints, which Sarande was named after. It's 200lek to look around, if there's somebody there to take your money, and mostly just ruins but the views over the city and the sea, and towards Ksamil to the south are lovely. GPS trace here.
published: 2020-07-26T20:48:14+02:00
summary: Amy added 69 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202003-al/
target: 202003-al

photos-uk
type: Add
content: A gloomy arrival into Luton, and some sunny days in the Lincolnshire countryside, attempting to recreate Sarande with inflatables... and some crochet.</p.
published: 2020-07-31T07:40:17+01:00
summary: Amy added 18 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202007-uk/
target: 202007-uk

storm
type: Note
content: Storm!! Thunder, lightning, rain! Big waves! Actual breeze! Long overdue after the last stifling, still, sweltering couple of weeks. Opening balcony doors all the way to welcome it in. I feel better already.
published: 2020-07-05T10:49:00+02:00
tag: albania
tag: weather
tag: travel
tag: life

week-in-review
type: Article
content: Packed up and cleaned my flat. Roadtripped to the Greek border.. and back again. Unpacked. Had a little jaunt with Albanian police thanks to walking past the buses with my backpack. Came to nothing. Not a very productive week; a bit of nodejs. Attended most of the DID WG remote face-to-face. Swam in the sea.. Still a heatwave. Did paddleboard yoga. Enjoyed a storm at last. Made more doughnuts. A bit of hacking on sloph apps. Watched Shanghai Fortress and Big Fish.. and Stargate.
name: Week in review: 29 June - 5 July
published: 2020-07-05T23:59:59+02:00
tag: hacking
tag: albania
tag: yoga
tag: life
tag: week+in+review
tag: travel

week-in-review-2
type: Article
content: Finished the terrible merlin book. Didn't have to move flats at the end of the week; small stress removed. Started S3 of Dark. Went to Ksamil for a morning on the beach. Got my APish food posting client working again. Did nodejs stuff, sadface. Made more doughnuts, burgers, a lemon drizzle, other things... Did paddleboard yoga.
name: Week in review: 6 - 12 July
published: 2020-07-12T23:59:59+02:00
tag: albania
tag: hacking
tag: travel
tag: week+in+review
tag: sloph
tag: food
tag: vegan

week-review-13--
type: Article
content: Swam a bunch. Generally trying to make the most of Sarande. Did paddleboard yoga. Went a few times to Salad Farm, especially when home internet went out. Worked from balcony, on OpenActive nodejs stuff. Got some of my ActivityPubish posting clients back up. Refactored a lot of shared functionality into a library (ERH). Made tasty food, including agar agar adventures. Watched lots of Stargate and a whooole bunch of movies.. Almost finished my crochet cardigan. Made plans to leave Albania..
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 13 - 19 July
published: 2020-07-19T23:59:59+02:00
tag: travel
tag: life
tag: hacking
tag: food
tag: week+in+review
tag: ods
tag: albania
tag: nodejs

week-review-20--
type: Article
content: Worked way too much on Open Active. Ups and downs with nodejs. On schedule if nothing explodes in my face, but things keep exploding in my face. Swam a lot, it was really hot again. Ate in Salad Farm a bunch. Jellified a ton of stuff with agar agar. Went into the hills to try to see the comet (didn't though). Baked some good stuff. Improved what my /eats and /stuff pages look like. Finally finished all of Stargate Atlantis. So I watched all of all Stargate during lockdown. Except the movies. Will it never end. I like it but I can't believe the sheer volume. Also finished attaching sleeves to my crochet cardigan. Hiked up to the Monastery of the 40 Saints for wonderful Sarande views. Started on a page that lists all my blog articles by title, which really is just highlighting how I've only been communicating by week-in-review and photo posts for a while now. Need to step my article writing game back up.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 20 - 26 July
published: 2020-07-26T23:59:45+02:00
tag: albania
tag: sarande
tag: open+active
tag: crochet
tag: ods
tag: week+in+review
tag: vegan
tag: food
tag: hacking
tag: travel

20s-review
type: Article
content: I left home aged 18 to study for a BSc in Web Technology at the University of Lincoln (UK) because that was what I liked to do for fun. I didn't have much of a plan or a goal, and haven't ever since. I spent my twenties with one thing leading to another, not trying to steer myself in any particular direction. I don't think I ever had an image of what life would be like when I reached 30. I am privileged and fortunate to be where I am. When I turned 20 (2010), I was at work in London, doing a 3 month Google internship. I chaired a team meeting for the first time ever. It was a small group, some of whom were on video in Zurich and Vienna. (They didn't know it was my birthday.) When I turned 21 (2011), I woke up before dawn and took a hot air balloon flight over the Nile in Egypt with my sister. We were on a 3 week overland trucking trip through the Middle East. When I turned 22 (2012), I was sick and stayed in bed at home in Edinburgh with Kit, a bit sad at not being on a coach to Birmingham with the kids doing the Young Rewired State hackathon whom I'd been mentoring all week. When I turned 23 (2013), I was in Birmingham, helping out at the finale hackathon weekend of the Young Rewired State kids programming week. When I turned 24 (2014), I was in London. I spent the summer there working on Semantic Web Stuff with industry leaders at the BBC. When I turned 25 (2015), I was visiting my Mum in Lincolnshire on the way home to Edinburgh, having attended my highschoolbestfriend Polly's wedding a couple of days prior. When I turned 26 (2016), I hung out in Boston (US) cafes by myself, and in the evening ate blueberry pie in Veggie Galaxy with my friend Ned (who didn't know it was my birthday). When I turned 27 (2017), I was at work as a software developer for OCCRP in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Nobody knew it was my birthday until I found out two of my colleagues had their birthday on the same day, so we all went out for drinks in the evening. When I turned 28 (2018), I was alone i…
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: 20s in Review
published: 2020-08-10T21:17:44+01:00
tag: quantified+self
tag: logs
tag: week+in+review
tag: life
tag: travel

estonian-digital
type: Note
content: The Estonian Digital Nomad visa is cool and all but the income requirement of €3.5k per month means it's only for one kind of digital nomad. I've met many digital nomads who teach English (or other languages) online who would be excluded. Even in tech, those who work for nonprofits or other public-good type organisations, and for companies in regions with lower market rates, part-time workers and freelancers with variable income are all not going to make the cut. Pretty disappointing.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-08-01T08:11:45+01:00
tag: travel
tag: life
tag: digital+nomad
tag: estonia
tag: tech
tag: visa

feeling-when
type: Note
content: That feeling when you're in a non-hierarchical co-op and you've been given a mandate to do something that potentially affects everyone and there's no-one to sign off or approve it. No-one to defer to. You just have to decide how you're doing it and get on with it. It's good but also scary.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-08-18T15:13:30+01:00
tag: cooplife
tag: ods

found-really-nice
type: Note
content: I found a really nice flat to rent in Scotland and called to arrange a viewing and it was already taken over the weekend. Then I looked at a tenancy application form which has many questions about address history I can't answer helpfully and remembered about utilities and internet and stuff and now I'm lowkey stressed out about the whole concept of renting in the UK and yeah, moving once a month between hostels and short term lets in the Balkans is vastly preferable.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-08-24T11:51:44+01:00
tag: digital+nomad
tag: life
tag: renting
tag: uk

hmmmmm-find-most
type: Note
content: Hmmmmm find the most efficient and least complicated way to recursively walk a large nested javascript object and change certain keys in certain cases orrrrrr change the whole thing into a JSON string and do a find-and-replace?!? I think I have my answer here.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-08-02T08:10:59+01:00
tag: hacking
tag: javascript

lockdown-balcony
type: Article
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: All the photos I took from my balcony during lockdown
published: 2020-08-03T21:54:01+01:00
tag: travel
tag: life
tag: lockdown
tag: coronavirus
tag: covid19
tag: albania

love-wearing
type: Note
content: I love wearing a facemask. Keeps my nose cosy and warm (important in Scotland), and nobody can recognise me! Bonus: went running by the canal the other day and didn't swallow a single midge.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-08-20T18:15:40+01:00
tag: life
tag: coronavirus
tag: covid19
tag: uk
tag: scotland
tag: running

photos-coast
type: Add
content: Walked along the coast from Prestonpans to Seton Sands on an uncharacteristically beautiful day. GPS trace.
published: 2020-08-22T20:24:52+01:00
summary: Amy added 57 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202008-edi/
target: 202008-edi

photos-crochet
type: Add
content: An improv headband, because I found a tiny ball of nice aqua yarn with gold an silver flex that I really wanted to do something with. And a 'mandala' cardigan in mermaid colours, big enough for a very small person..
published: 2020-08-09T20:57:42+01:00
summary: Amy added 10 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202007-uk/
target: 202007-uk

photos-crochet-2
type: Add
content: I made some tiny mermaid themed shoes, and delivered them and the mandala shawl to their intended recipient, who giggled at them, kicked the shoes off at once, sucked on the shawl's picots, and everything fit perfectly :D
published: 2020-08-19T21:55:14+01:00
summary: Amy added 7 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202008-edi/
target: 202008-edi

photos-crochet-3
type: Add
content: Crochet cafetiere cosy from two different squares from thelavenderchair.com. They were super fun to make, I learnt new stitches like drop hdc/dc/tr and ways to combine basic stitches that are really pretty, and I got better at corners. I slip stitched them together along one edge, and then all the way around, and attached tiny poppers (clumsily, sewing is not my strong suite) to hold it in place around the handle. It keeps the coffee warm!
published: 2020-08-21T10:58:07+01:00
summary: Amy added 20 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202008-edi/
target: 202008-edi

photos-crochet-4
type: Add
content: I made more mandala squares and slip stitched them together in two pairs. Then went back and forth lengthways to make them into hand warmers, with shells on the ends. All improv, but worked pretty well! They're kind of chunky, so good for winter. A present for J.
published: 2020-08-30T20:17:05+01:00
summary: Amy added 14 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202008-edi/
target: 202008-edi

photos-edi
type: Add
content: Arrived in Edinburgh! The sun graced me briefly with its presence. Haggis and tattie scone roll from Snax, doughnuts from ConsiderIt, pizza from Sora Lella. A warm but grey run across the Meadows to Holyrood and back.
published: 2020-08-14T17:56:51+01:00
summary: Amy added 27 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202008-edi/
target: 202008-edi

photos-edi-2
type: Add
content: ConsiderIt doughnuts and chips powered a 5.5 mile walk along the coast, from Portobello to Prestonpans. Curry from Noor in the evening, followed by spontaneous knitting/crochet circle..
published: 2020-08-16T22:03:35+01:00
summary: Amy added 45 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202008-edi/
target: 202008-edi

photos-edi-misc
type: Add
content: Misc Edinburgh from just over two weeks in Bruntsfield and Newington. This place still takes my breath away, in all weathers. Featuring Holyrood Park, the Meadows, the Union Canal, random bits around town. Food from Seeds for the Soul, many ConsiderIt doughnuts, Biff's Jack Shack, Holy Cow, Black Rabbit, Sora Lella, Noor, Beetroot Sauvage (that vegan fried egg!!)..
published: 2020-08-30T12:08:45+01:00
summary: Amy added 65 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202008-edi/
target: 202008-edi

photos-food
type: Add
content: Homemade chips and curry sauce with not-homemade not-sausages and mushy peas. Lemon pie. Doughnuts (not pictured).
published: 2020-08-01T20:07:21+01:00
summary: Amy added 13 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-food-2
type: Add
content: I made Chocolate Covered Katie's zucchini muffins with courgette from Mum's garden, replacing her apple sauce with almond milk, using normal white flour, and caster sugar. Mine look completely different. They could have done with 5 more minutes in the oven. Delicious and gooey though. Found a packet of ramen at the back of a cupboard and enjoyed my first ramen in months (with Fry's polonly not-sausage (!! <3), tomatoes from H's garden, peppers, edamame, garlic and chillis from Mum's garden, peanut sauce. And tried to bring a bit of Albania home with stuffed aubergine and pepper...
published: 2020-08-09T18:33:54+01:00
summary: Amy added 5 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-garden
type: Add
content: Took some pictures of pretty things in my Mum's garden.
published: 2020-08-09T18:42:33+01:00
summary: Amy added 27 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202007-uk/
target: 202007-uk

photos-gullane
type: Add
content: Seven and a half mile walk along the best part of the East Lothian coast (GPS trace, from Seton Sands to Gullane Point. Very windy, but no rain. The beaches are epic. (Then pizza from Sora Lella.)
published: 2020-08-29T22:11:41+01:00
summary: Amy added 71 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202008-edi/
target: 202008-edi

photos-holyrood
type: Add
content: A walk around Holyrood Park during the alotted two hours of sunshine.
published: 2020-08-23T19:31:51+01:00
summary: Amy added 8 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202008-edi/
target: 202008-edi

photos-notts
type: Add
content: A day in hospital, dinner at Annie's Burger Shack, then the train to Edinburgh..
published: 2020-08-13T17:33:32+01:00
summary: Amy added 15 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202007-uk/
target: 202007-uk

there-one-hot-day
type: Note
content: There was one hot day last week and now it's freezing, the UK can't legally call this summer.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-08-04T12:57:03+01:00
tag: life
tag: weather
tag: uk

two-kidneys
type: Article
content: I was born in a hospital, but since then I've spent almost no time in one. Until Wednesday this week, when I achieved lots of exciting medical firsts. Don't worry, I'm healthy! Which is exactly why I'm finding out if I'm eligible as a kidney donor. I had blood taken for the very first time.. and then the second, third, fourth and fifth times. In between I was injected with something radioactive (GFR tests, to measure kidney function). I had a chest x-ray, an ultrasound (confirmed: I have two kidneys! Good to get that one checked before they bother with the rest), an ECG (when they stick little pads with wires attached all over you, and the output is a printed chart with squiggles on), gave them a urine sample, and tons of blood work. Besides finding out immediately that I had the right amount of kidneys, I'll get the results in a couple of weeks. In between blood tests I read a book in the sun in the hospital garden, which was very pleasant. For the first blood test, I was helpfully distracted after they found out it was my first ever time having blood taken. Later on I found it more helpful to look at the needle than look away, so when it stung or ached I could see why (in one case, because she was wiggling it around a lot). It was also interesting to see the different ways different people took the blood. I have no idea why this is. One time, the person wiggled the needle a lot and pumped the uh.. the thing where the blood goes, and it took quite a while. The next time, a different person stuck the needle in a slightly different place and it spurted out really fast and was done in a couple of seconds. Two days later, my right arm which had two needles in is bruised around the vein and a bit tender, and my left arm which had 4 needles is much less bruised. Not sure what variable causes that. The sort of scariest part of this is that I might find out I have some condition or internal fault that I had no idea about til now. The process is coordinated by someone with …
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: I have two kidneys
published: 2020-08-14T17:55:53+01:00
tag: kidney+donation
tag: life
tag: medical

vegan-albania
type: Article
content: During five consecutive months in Albania this year, plus shorter trips last year, I have done a lot of eating in Albania. Mostly I cooked for myself, because a large chunk of that was during the coronavirus lockdown. But when things started to open up again, I did eat at restaurants a few times. I'll round up some of these experiences here. Skip to: Eating out Groceries Tirana Shkoder Sarandë Përmet The Riviera Gjirokastër It's worth noting that 'vegan' is unlikely to be a well-understood word (though some places do know it) but 'vegetarian' is fine. Don't assume that because you start ordering a bunch of vegan dishes, and asking to remove cheese from some things, they'll get the gist of your requirements - be specific about everything. I never had a problem modifying dishes in restaurants, and waiters in touristy places spoke good English. Personally in the Balkans I don't ask too many questions about butter, and like to imagine that since oil is cheaper it is probably used for cooking most of the time. I also look for traditional recipes online for local dishes to get the impression if they're probably vegan before I go somewhere to try them, so I don't have to have too detailed a conversation about it in a restaurant. But that's because I'm conflict-averse and socially awkward. I drank the tap water in Sarandë and experienced no ill effects. You might hear otherwise from other people. Lots of locals and expats alike buy 8L bottles of water for home (which are very cheap). A better option to both of these, if you have the opportunity to drive into the mountains, is to fill containers up with fresh mountain water from a roadside spring. They're easy to spot and well-used. Eating out Traditional Albanian food is limited for vegans, but what options there are typically consistently delicious. Vegetables are fresh, local and seasonal, and Albanians have a habit of baking things for hours using lots of fresh herbs. One thing I quickly learnt the hard way in Shkoder wa…
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Vegan in Albania
published: 2020-08-04T12:57:20+01:00
tag: shkoder
tag: permet
tag: gjirokaster
tag: tirana
tag: sarande
tag: albania
tag: vegan
tag: food
tag: travel

week-review-10--
type: Article
content: Turned 30. A couple of days around Nottingham: one in hospital for tests of my eligibility as a kidney donor, dinner at Annie's and then the train to Edinburgh. Took most of the week off work, but did some internal Co-op stuff. Edinburgh! Ate lots of good things and saw friends. Hiked along the coast from Portobello to Prestonpans. Crocheted a lot, including a full crochet-in-bed day at the weekend, which was pretty excellent.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 10 - 16 August
published: 2020-08-16T23:59:59+01:00
tag: travel
tag: life
tag: food
tag: vegan
tag: week+in+review
tag: crochet

week-review-17--
type: Article
content: Enjoyed having a house to myself. Did some work on the OCDS Data Review Tool. Read A Thousand Splendid Suns. Propped up the Edinburgh vegan takeaway scene to the best of my ability. Ate amazing food from Seeds for the Soul, Biff's Jack Shack, Black Rabbit, ConsiderIt, Holy Cow. Visited a baby (and grownup friends) in Falkirk and took offerings of crochet. Ran a couple of times and ached a lot. Crocheted some cool patterns to make into a french press cosy. Walked from Prestonpans to almost Longniddry. Walked around Holyrood Park, and along the Union Canal. Saw a few people I haven't seen for a long time.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 17 - 23 August
published: 2020-08-23T23:59:59+01:00
tag: travel
tag: life
tag: food
tag: vegan
tag: week+in+review
tag: crochet
tag: friends
tag: uk
tag: edinburgh

week-review-24--
type: Article
content: Another week in Edinburgh, running or walking when the weather permitted, and eating loads of good vegan takeaway. Also crocheted. Worked on OCDS Data Review tool bugfixes, though not very efficiently. Went for another long coastal walk. Got results back to say my kidneys and other relevant body parts function as they should, and I'm the best blood type, so in principle I'm eligible as a kidney donor. Still more stages of tests to do though. Read Good Omens. Watched The Endless which was actually better than expected and has.. layers.. so I want to watch it again. Back on the train down to Lincolnshire, reunited with Dave and J!
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 24 - 30 August
published: 2020-08-30T23:59:59+01:00
tag: travel
tag: life
tag: food
tag: vegan
tag: week+in+review
tag: crochet
tag: edinburgh
tag: uk

week-review-27
type: Article
content: Drove to Tirana, then flew back to the UK :( Commenced the last two weeks of my twenties, in government-mandated isolation. Wrote up a post about the 5 months I spent in Albania. Worked on OpenActive Co-op stuff. Enjoyed Friday off as a the whole co-op was closed for a self-care day. Tried to re-engage with DID stuff I've been dropping the ball on lately. Made a nice list of articles by title on my site. Cooked for and hung out with my Mum. Enjoyed the one day of summer. Did some crochet.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 27 July - 2 August
published: 2020-08-02T22:24:54+01:00
tag: sloph
tag: albania
tag: uk
tag: covid19
tag: coronavirus
tag: crochet
tag: ods
tag: cooplife
tag: week+in+review
tag: vegan
tag: food
tag: life
tag: travel

week-review-3-9
type: Article
content: Ate lots of vegan junk food. Wrote about food in Albania and everything else I did in Albania. Did lots of OpenActive nodejs stuff.. and finally finished! The bulk of it, anyway. And then actually started to take some time to think about Co-op stuff again. I've been drafted into the Resilience Group rotation, which is the emergency subgroup who think about how to keep us all functioning during current crisis.. Made exciting plans for when I can come out of isolation next week... Crocheted two things. Enjoyed limited sunshine. Started reading A Close and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers (on actual paper). Watched all of season 2 of The Umbrella Academy. Made a silly toy for generating simple unicode charts..
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 3-9 August
published: 2020-08-09T21:15:15+01:00
tag: life
tag: hacking
tag: food
tag: vegan
tag: week+in+review
tag: ods
tag: crochet
tag: uk

call-bank-hsbc
type: Note
content: Had to call the bank (HSBC) yesterday. Did all the security clearances and stuff. Extra ones cos I don't call often and had forgotten most super secret codes. "Is it Miss or Mrs?" "Uh.. Dr." "Okay then. Next we just need to... can I call you Miss or Mrs?" "............ you can call me Amy?" The operative did proceed to call me Amy after that, but I'm even in the banks records as Dr (finally). Anyway can we just normalise gender neutral and not-marital-status-related honorifics please? Or just like, names. Which is what they're for.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-09-22T13:15:52+01:00
tag: life

feeling-having
type: Note
content: That feeling of not-having-a-migraine after a day of having a migraine is almost worth the migraine. Almost.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-09-07T14:10:58+01:00
tag: life
tag: health

grey-days
type: Note
content: The grey days in Scotland make the sunny blue ones sweeter. I wouldn't object to fewer grey days though, if that was, you know, an option.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-09-17T20:14:44+01:00
tag: life
tag: weather
tag: scotland
tag: uk

know-feeling-when
type: Note
content: You know that feeling when you're on top of everything and know exactly what needs to be done but when you open a text editor (or whatever the tool is you need to work) it all sort of dissipates?
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-09-03T13:11:53+01:00
tag: life
tag: hacking

one-thing-love
type: Note
content: One thing I love about travelling on a monthly cadence is that if I stay in a place that is unpleasant or uncomfortable or annoying in some way, it doesn't matter cos I'm not there for long. So I'm thrilled to find Scotland have encoded this in their tenancy laws! There's no minimum lease period now, you just pay one month's rent ahead and have to give 28 days notice. This is so empowering for tenants, and makes flat hunting a lot less stressful.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-09-16T23:32:53+01:00
tag: life
tag: scotland
tag: renting

photos-beach
type: Add
content: Chips on the beach at Sutton-on-Sea. My chips were from Alford, because both Sutton-on-Sea chippies cook in beef dripping and are aggressive about it when people express their unhappiness with this on TripAdvisor (partly because one also offers a lot of veg*n options but still cook them in beef dripping and don't seem to see a problem with this).
published: 2020-09-12T21:56:02+01:00
summary: Amy added 22 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-uk/
target: 2020-uk

photos-dino
type: Add
content: I spent as much time as possible in my dinosaur onesie, and J thinks this is kawaii. So I made her a tiny version of myself to take back to Japan. It's been a while - years - since I did amigurumi and then I only dabbled. The dino was quite complicated but I followed a fantastic video at ClubCrochet and it took about 2 hours (twice as long as the video).
published: 2020-09-12T22:12:16+01:00
summary: Amy added 14 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-uk/
target: 2020-uk

photos-edi
type: Add
content: Have I mentioned how beautiful Edinburgh is?! Of course the sun only came out on the days I had to stay inside and work, but I did manage to have lunch and go for a run around Holyrood. Breakfasts from bbl (who have an amazing vegan deli these days) and doughnuts from ConsiderIt.
published: 2020-09-18T18:36:11+01:00
summary: Amy added 26 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-uk/
target: 2020-uk

photos-food
type: Add
content: It has been amazing to have J cooking for us for a couple of weeks. We were treated to vegan Japanese feasts, night after night. Aubergine with miso sauce, inari, fried tofu in shiitake sauce, mapo tofu, Japanese curry, okonomiyaki, nikoman, yaki udon, and more. I chipped in a few times with doughnuts, apple cake, lemon drizzle cake, hummus, lasagne, pasta, curry.
published: 2020-09-11T21:03:52+01:00
summary: Amy added 22 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-food-2
type: Add
content: Made seitan from vital wheat gluten and gram flour. Krispie cakes with stale cocopops (these are vegan now apparently), choc chip muffins (not pictured), miso soup, inari, maki..
published: 2020-09-21T18:55:54+01:00
summary: Amy added 11 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-kirkcaldy
type: Add
content: A couple of days looking around flats in Kirkcaldy. The beaches are gorgeous. The high street is a bit tragic. But overall a really nice town.
published: 2020-09-16T22:55:25+01:00
summary: Amy added 48 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-uk/
target: 2020-uk

photos-lake
type: Add
content: Brunch at Cakes by the Lake in Southwell.
published: 2020-09-19T17:16:32+01:00
summary: Amy added 5 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-uk/
target: 2020-uk

photos-lincs
type: Add
content: I went on some nice evening flat Lincolnshire runs. I taught J chain and single crochet, and by the next day she was churning out masterpieces. I made the cat butt coaster, for my brother.
published: 2020-09-10T21:51:24+01:00
summary: Amy added 16 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-uk/
target: 2020-uk

sun-just-came-out
type: Note
content: The sun just came out, pointed itself right at my face. I can't see my computer screen any more, so this is a win all round. I'll just be basking until it goes away again.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-09-08T08:47:14+01:00
tag: life
tag: weather

we-must-send-much
type: Note
content: We must send so much information to the letting agency, enough to steal our identities! And it's so complicated to get it all together. Oh and money too. More money! And it's urgent!! Send it right now!!! And they will send the tenancy agreement "shortly" (hours ago, still waiting). The electrical and gas safety certificates are "to follow" (days ago, still waiting). Oh and by the way they don't work on Fridays or at the weekend, or after 5pm.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-09-21T16:40:52+01:00
tag: life
tag: uk
tag: renting

week-review-14th-
type: Article
content: Went to Edinburgh. Looked for a place to live in the vicinity. Found one. Enjoyed the beach in Kirkcaldy. Some gorgeous sunny days in the city. Enjoyed brief time with friends. Watched the rest of season 6 of Bojack Horseman. Unexpectedly, my spare-kidney services are no longer required! For the best reasons. So off the hook for that. Did lots of internal Co-op planning and resilience stuff, and took part in the NoGM (remove co-working) for two days. Came back down south. Started the weekend slowly in Southwell, before heading back to Mum's. Started and finished Moving Target. Started Engaging the Enemy.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 14th - 20th Sept
published: 2020-09-20T23:59:29+01:00
tag: travel
tag: life
tag: week+in+review
tag: cooplife

week-review-21st-
type: Article
content: Did loads of admin. Did some work on OCDS Kingfisher Views. Cooked some things. Finished Engaging the Enemy, started and finished Command Decision. Did I go for a run? I can't remember.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 21st - 27th Sept
published: 2020-09-27T23:59:56+01:00
tag: life
tag: week+in+review
tag: ocds

weeks-review-31st
type: Article
content: Ate many good things thanks to J. Ran a couple of times. Did lots of internal Co-op work but not really enough OCDS work. Read Trading in Danger and The Girl With All The Gifts. Enjoyed both. Surprised by the former, as it so starkly contrasts with all of the Becky Chambers stuff. Family chips on beach. Made a tiny crochet dinosaur. Dyed my hair green. J went back to Japan :(
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Weeks in review: 31st Aug - 13th Sept
published: 2020-09-13T23:59:59+01:00
tag: life
tag: food
tag: vegan
tag: week+in+review
tag: cooplife
tag: crochet

absolutely
type: Note
content: I am absolutely floored by the Ethical Web and Consentful Communications panels at TPAC. I hope the recordings are easily available cos there are so many people I want to share these with. Visions of hope for a better Web!
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-29T22:08:49+00:00
tag: life
tag: hacking
tag: tpac
tag: w3c
tag: event
tag: conference
tag: ethics
tag: decentralization
tag: feminism
tag: diversity
tag: web

apconf-2020
type: Article
content: I'm gonna be in and out of APConf today and tomorrow, starting in a couple of hours. While the live video bits are full, the talks are all prerecorded and available to anyone, and there's chat on SocialHub that everyone can join in with as well. I'm extremely multitasking so won't be 100% available but do feel free to ping me or loop me into any conversations you think I might be interested in and I'll do my best to keep on top of things. (PS. I'm in the keynote panel :D)
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: #apconf 2020
published: 2020-10-02T13:32:41+01:00
tag: apconf
tag: activitypub
tag: conference
tag: event
tag: cv
tag: resume
tag: keynote
tag: socialwg
tag: decentralisation
tag: federated+social+web
tag: social+web

big-essentials
type: Note
content: A big essentials shop at a local zero-waste store costs more than twice as much as the same at my nearest big supermarket. I am happy pay to try to break the cycle of plastic, and to support a small local business instead of massive chains, but it's still infuriating. And I'm grateful to have a local zero-waste store in the first place. But ugh. Fix it, world.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-06T11:15:47+01:00
tag: life
tag: zero+waste
tag: environment

borrowed
type: Note
content: I borrowed a chromecast, but it turns out these days you need a mobile app to set it up, and the app can't proceed without allowing google access to your location. (Last time I used one - many years ago - you just used a browser addon and the same wifi network..) So uh.. An HDMI cable will do just fine then I guess.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-17T19:50:06+01:00
tag: life
tag: surveillence
tag: google

brother-keeps
type: Note
content: My brother keeps complaining that I won't let him have cling film, but doesn't seem keen on the compromise I offered: he can use cling film, but when he's done with it instead of throwing it away he has to keep it all in his room forever.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-19T15:19:18+01:00
tag: life
tag: zero+waste
tag: environment
tag: plastic

brother-says-cant
type: Note
content: My brother says he can't tell the difference between when I'm "off work" and when I'm "working" which I suppose means I have my life-work balance about right. (I think it's come as a surprise to him quite how much I actually procrastinate.)
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-19T15:20:37+01:00
tag: life
tag: cooplife

dear-wish-mine
type: Note
content: A dear wish of mine is for Grain & Sustain to stock BBL vegan deli 'meats' and to get a peanut grinder so I don't have to go all the way to New Leaf in Edinburgh for peanut butter. Then my new life in Fife will be complete.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-23T20:26:42+01:00
tag: life
tag: food
tag: vegan
tag: grain+and+sustain
tag: new+leaf
tag: bbl
tag: edinburgh
tag: fife
tag: scotland

google-jamboard
type: Note
content: "if a google jamboard is not a sampler of various preserves I request our Gsuite money refunded" - mrshll
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-29T09:17:40+00:00
tag: cooplife
tag: google
tag: https://mrshll.uk/

got-letter-from
type: Note
content: I got a letter from my electricity provider addressed to "Ms". The letting agent had passed on my details to them, and I had only ever given the letting agent "Dr". I wonder where in the chain it got mixed up. I wonder what it'd be like if I had a more gender-neutral first name?
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-03T14:10:26+01:00
tag: life

im-psyching
type: Note
content: I'm psyching myself up for nanowrimo by reading the nanowrimo tag on my site. I'm planning to write something altogether new this year. Some proper scifi. The frustrating thing is I did a bunch of character and setting brainstorming a few months ago I'm sure on paper and I can't find a trace of it. I usually photograph or type up things from notebooks before I throw them away and I've looked everywhere. Guess I'm starting that over.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-22T18:41:13+01:00
tag: nanowrimo
tag: writing

many-rfcs-little
type: Note
content: So many RFCs, so little time.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-19T13:59:13+01:00
tag: hacking
tag: ietf
tag: standards
tag: w3c

missed-first
type: Note
content: I missed the first shitscape of a UK lockdown this year. My brother just told me how he traded rice for toilet paper at one point. Exciting!
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-31T10:09:10+00:00
tag: life
tag: lockdown
tag: coronavirus
tag: covid19
tag: uk

moved-back
type: Note
content: I have moved back to Scotland, and on the first night someone was playing bagpipes in a garden across the road. So that was nice.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-01T10:58:33+01:00
tag: life
tag: scotland

mum-big-slow
type: Note
content: My Mum is a big slow-cooker user, but it's something I never picked up. I've got one at the moment, so I'm trying it out. But I love the hands-on-ness of cooking, so I keep wanting to check on my stew, poke it with a spoon, etc..
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-18T15:50:26+01:00
tag: life
tag: food
tag: cooking

oh-good-mapsme
type: Note
content: oh good, maps.me now requires Android 5+ (which I don't have) ye olde maps open app recommendations anyone? (Android 4.2.2)
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-07T10:12:34+01:00
tag: technology
tag: map
tag: phone
tag: android
tag: life

ostensibly-local
type: Note
content: My ostensibly local and quite expensive fruit and veg box arrived, along with a loooot of plastic. Disappointing. I can't seem to find a greengrocer anywhere near me in Kirkcaldy. Might be going to Burntisland for veg at this rate..
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-10T11:15:18+01:00
tag: life
tag: scotland
tag: fife
tag: zero+waste
tag: plastic

photos-bday-food
type: Add
content: Homemade lasagne sheets with beetroot from the garden (made by Mum, not me) and compiled into a delicious vegan lasagne with beans and salad also from the garden, and homemade foccacia too.
published: 2020-08-10T20:13:28+01:00
summary: Amy added 6 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-dysart
type: Add
content: A trek to Dysart to buy furniture, enjoying the glorious Ravens Craig beaches on the way. Only got caught in one or two torrential downpours, in between the sunshine, and soaked through. Lunch at Koku Shi. (Also featuring a trip to Edinburgh the day before for doughnuts, bbl vegan deli, and my wee brother.)
published: 2020-10-05T21:24:42+01:00
summary: Amy added 29 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-east-lomond
type: Add
content: A nice Freegler offered me some things I need, but was in Glenrothes. Glenrothes is only one stop on the train, and right next to the Lomond Hills, so I thought I'd make a day of it and go for a hike before picking up the stuff. But also it turns out Glenrothes doesn't have a central station, but is in between two that are quite far from town. Dave and I started the hike at Markinch station; one hour to the Pitcairn Center which was the 'real' start of the hike. We walked through woods and fields and ascended East Lomond (aka Falkland Hill). It was perfect hiking weather; overcast and not to warm and not too cold, and all the beautiful autumn colours are out. There were some people dressed as knights filming swordfights in the carpark near the base of East Lomond, and a few small families out for a hike as well. We descended the steep way, and made a loop back to the Pitcairn Center, with only a slight detour off the trail through some bushes. This took three and a half hours, which was longer than I expected. Then we marched south for another hour, around Glenrothes town center, to pick up our Freegle items (and met a nice doggo called Duncan). Fortunately nothing heavy. After that it was just 45 minutes back along a cycle path to Markinch for the train home. The hike itself was perfect, but the extras at the beginning and end totally wore us out; 17 miles in total. GPS trace here.
published: 2020-10-15T20:58:42+01:00
summary: Amy added 62 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-east-lomond-2
type: Add
content: Dave's photos from the hike up East Lomond and around Glenrothes.

photos-edi
type: Add
content: Brief trip to Edinburgh to meet some geese, see friends, and get hauls from New Leaf, Starlight, and the bbl vegan deli. On the way I stopped at Burntisland for more things from Grain and Sustain.
published: 2020-10-12T19:08:37+01:00
summary: Amy added 3 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-uk/
target: 2020-uk

photos-food
type: Add
content: Misc homemade food from the last month. Bosnian grah and somun (not quite right but pretty close); Japanese curries; slowcooker stew; comfort foods... pizza, seitan doner kebab, mac 'n' cheese, chips, pancakes; chickpea flour omelette; bean burgers and homemade bread..
published: 2020-10-25T19:01:54+00:00
summary: Amy added 28 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-handwarmers
type: Add
content: I made myself some handwarmers, which Dave promptly borrowed and stretched. So I made Dave some handwarmers. He wanted fingers on his too which is quite fiddly. Good use of small scraps of yarn.
published: 2020-10-17T12:09:25+01:00
summary: Amy added 9 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-kinghorn
type: Add
content: Woke up at sunrise cos the clocks went back. In the afternoon I ran from Kirkcaldy to Pettycur Bay with a pause to look at the pretty town of Kinghorn (GPS trace). Rain threatened ominously, but actually held off. Some brisk wind and some warm sun. Really nice trail.
published: 2020-10-25T19:14:07+00:00
summary: Amy added 42 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-kirkcaldy
type: Add
content: Sunset beach stroll in Kirkcaldy.
published: 2020-10-10T19:30:45+01:00
summary: Amy added 36 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-kirkcaldy-2
type: Add
content: Misc Kirkcaldy photos; settling in.. Beach and Beveridge park.
published: 2020-10-21T20:12:56+00:00
summary: Amy added 16 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-kirkcaldy-3
type: Add
content: A walk from Kirkcaldy to Dysart through Ravenscraig, followed by some lounging on the vast damp expanse of Kirkcaldy beach, and lunch and a Nice Sit Down in a good chair at Anderson's cafe.
published: 2020-10-20T17:18:31+00:00
summary: Amy added 26 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-kirkcaldy-4
type: Add
content: Back to Dysart because I freakin' love it; still nice in the rain. Later, a sunset stroll in the Seafields direction to catch some vibrant skies.
published: 2020-10-23T18:28:26+00:00
summary: Amy added 36 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-ravenscraig
type: Add
content: A walk to and around Ravenscraig Castle, exploring the walls and towers on the beaches.
published: 2020-10-07T18:50:45+01:00
summary: Amy added 51 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-ravenscraig-2
type: Add
content: Ravenscraig, from Dave's perspective.
published: 2020-10-07T21:20:27+01:00
summary: Amy added 64 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-seafields
type: Add
content: In the afternoon I took my office to the beach for a W3C call. Meanwhile my brother explored Seafields and he took most of these amazing photos.
published: 2020-10-06T21:27:10+01:00
summary: Amy added 57 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-seafields-2
type: Add
content: Dave and I took our laptops to the rocks at Seafields for a bit. It was nice for a while but not long before we were rained off. We could see the cloud looming from a way off so we managed to pack up before we got wet. It rained on us on the walk home, then was sunny again by the time we got back. Obviously. Later we tested our local chippy and found it excellent.
published: 2020-10-08T19:49:01+01:00
summary: Amy added 40 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-to-fife
type: Add
content: Moved to Fife. Settling in with some sunny days and rainy days by the sea. Nice beach walks, Enjoyed the Friday market and zero-waste store Grain & Sustain.
published: 2020-10-03T18:16:38+01:00
summary: Amy added 33 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-uk/
target: 2020-uk

photos-wemyss-2
type: Add
content: Photos of the walk to Wemyss Caves by Dave. (See also my photos, notes, GPS etc.)

toasted-sandwich
type: Note
content: Toasted sandwich presses are my favourite kitchen appliance that I could absolutely never justify buying (because basically the same effect can be achieved with some combination of one or more of toaster, microwave, grill which I usually have access to), though I have chosen short-term accommodation purely based on presence of a sandwich press. Anyway some kind Freegle soul gave me one today. My life is complete, I need nothing more.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-27T10:16:50+00:00
tag: life
tag: food
tag: freegle

tonights
type: Note
content: For tonight's entertainment my brother shaved the back and sides of my head with his beard trimmers. Seems pretty much fine. Only I made the rookie error of not covering my clothes. I have tried to vacuum the hair out of my trousers but it is impossible.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-22T20:29:00+01:00
tag: life
tag: hair

tpac-breakout
type: Note
content: It's TPAC breakout week! I'm sad we can't do TPAC in person, but excited that I can join some sessions and some random IRC watercooler channels and imagine I'm seeing everyone around.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-26T14:05:23+00:00
tag: w3c
tag: tpac
tag: event
tag: conference
tag: web+standards

uuuuggghhh-three
type: Note
content: Uuuuggghhh three balls of yarn are tangled up with my headphones cable, that's how I know bringing crochet to work has gone too far.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-14T13:09:03+01:00
tag: life
tag: crochet

very-often
type: Note
content: It's not very often I have a cooking disaster so complete as to render something inedible, but today I reached into my cupboard of unlabelled jars of white powder and tried to thicken my creamy mushroom and not-bacon sauce with bicarbonate of soda instead of cornflour, and let me tell you folks, not recommended.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-13T19:45:21+01:00
tag: life
tag: cooking

weather-fife-good
type: Note
content: Weather in Fife is good when the sky is multiple shades of grey instead of just one.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-10-04T11:10:46+01:00
tag: travel
tag: life
tag: weather
tag: scotland

week-review-12th-
type: Article
content: Started learning about IATI. Brief trip to Edinburgh for errands and friends. Finished Into the Fire, started Dune. Did a 17 mile hike around Glenrothes and up East Lomond with Dave and got some Freegle stuff. Made handwarmers for Dave and started a hat. Watched lots of movies, and new Discovery.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 12th - 18th Oct
published: 2020-10-18T23:59:59+01:00
tag: travel
tag: life
tag: week+in+review
tag: ods
tag: crochet
tag: iati
tag: hiking

week-review-19th-
type: Article
content: omg nanowrimo is soon.. Did more thinking about IATI stuff. A bunch of mostly editorial work on the DID spec. Made my first ever submission of an IETF draft... (an update to RFC 6838 about media types with multiple suffixes, riveting stuff) Went to Dysart twice. Thought about buying a flat there, but thought too hard and missed the window. Not like I need that hassle in my life anyway. Bought a bike off gumtree and tested it around Beveridge Park. Gas got disconnected because Eon have not given any way for me to give them money yet. Made a nest. Cooked things to warm up. Ran to Kinghorn along the Fife Coastal path and back.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 19th - 25th October
published: 2020-10-25T23:59:53+00:00
tag: travel
tag: life
tag: food
tag: vegan
tag: week+in+review
tag: iati
tag: decentralized+identifiers
tag: ietf
tag: w3c

week-review-28th
type: Article
content: Started and finished Victory Conditions; started Cold Welcome. Went to Edinburgh with two backpacks of stuff. Picked up some more household donations/lendings from K&M and moved into a flat by the sea in Kirkcaldy. Settled in, got a hammock from ebay and kitchen stuff from local charity shops. Really enjoyed the local zero-waste shop. Took part in #apconf; did a live Q&A after the prerecorded keynote panel about the history of ActivityPub which was fun, as well as listened/joined in with some of the ad-hoc sessions. Went to Edinburgh to pick up vegan deli not-meants from bbl, more house stuff from K&M, and my wee brother from the train station. Not a very productive week work-wise; had a migraine and lots of life admin and new-flat stuff.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 28th Sept - 4th Oct
published: 2020-10-04T23:59:16+01:00
tag: life
tag: week+in+review
tag: travel
tag: apconf

week-review-5th--
type: Article
content: Another week of ridiculously good weather. Went out to enjoy the sun and various beaches (laptop beach working). It is nice to be so close to beaches for a quick stroll by the sea. Walked to Dysart through Ravenscraig to buy furniture. Slight furniture moving accident requiring bandages for my thumb. Thankful to tolerant bus drivers who let us on with a desk and a bedside cabinet. Then a walk to the other side of Kirkcaldy to pick up a Freegle desk, which it turned out we also could not carry home; more bus driver gratitude necessary. Still more moving house admin to do, somehow. New lockdown restrictions in place in Scotland, but the more severe ones don't apply to Fife. Not got a lot of work done (blaming house moving). Spent waaaay too much money, on secondhand furniture (just the bare minimum really) and grocery stocking up. At least I came in under budget for the past few months so I have some leeway. Made handwarmers, which Dave promptly borrowed and stretched. Finished Cold Welcome, started Into the Fire. Ended the week by hiking from Kirkcaldy to the Wemyss Caves and back (16 miles), enjoying the beautiful coastline, cute fishing villages and Pictish rock carvings (Dave's photos).
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 5th - 11th Oct
published: 2020-10-11T23:59:59+01:00
tag: travel
tag: life
tag: week+in+review
tag: hiking
tag: scotland
tag: castle
tag: caves
tag: freegle

why-fizzing
type: Note
content: Why is it fizzing?? I puzzled over the pan for faaar too long before realising what I had done.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
in reply to: very-often
published: 2020-10-13T19:47:10+01:00
tag: cooking
tag: life

ah-favourite-part
type: Note
content: Ah, my favourite part of living in the UK, the constant supply of free kindling from the TV license threatening letters people.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-11-02T12:44:08+00:00
tag: life
tag: uk

been-one-place
type: Note
content: Been in one place for almost two months and getting that itchy feet thing.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-11-20T15:27:00+00:00
tag: travel
tag: life

brother-genius
type: Note
content: My brother has a genius habit of putting coconut cream in tomato-based pasta sauces. You don't know it's there, but it absolutely levels up the sauce.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-11-25T19:20:10+00:00
tag: life
tag: food
tag: vegan

brother-walked
type: Note
content: My brother walked in on me draining some chickpeas I'd left to soak so I took the opportunity to explain to him the various exciting properties of aquafaba and he nodded and smiled and backed away saying "...I'll just leave you to your alchemy."
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-11-06T16:01:51+00:00
tag: food
tag: life

dear-companies
type: Note
content: Dear companies*, if I email you do not try to respond by calling me. * This applies to people too, but isn't usually a problem because don't usually have my number..
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-11-17T18:35:07+00:00
tag: life
tag: phone

down-2009-w3c
type: Note
content: Down a 2009 W3C mailing list archive rabbithole, for no discernable reason.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-11-11T19:59:49+00:00
tag: w3c
tag: procrastination

family-computer
type: Note
content: As the family 'computer person' I just spent 2 hours trying to help someone with a mail merge and JFC it's so hard?! Even with purely google tools. I can't believe things haven't moved on since I last knew how to do this, in the early 00s.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-11-18T11:52:47+00:00
tag: technology
tag: computers
tag: life

hmrc-do-need-help
type: Note
content: HMRC "do you need help with your tax return" emails are so passive aggressive. Okay okay okay I'm getting around to it, jeez
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-11-24T10:51:25+00:00
tag: life

just-found-chat
type: Note
content: I just found this chat from 13 Feb 2011.. two thousand and eleven. Oh sweet summer child.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-11-12T21:04:28+00:00
tag: life
tag: burnout
tag: stress

like-run-sunset
type: Note
content: I like to run at sunset, but that's now so early I'm still full from lunch. Winter's timing is appalling.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-11-25T14:09:21+00:00
tag: life
tag: running
tag: scotland

only-8000-words
type: Note
content: Only 8000 words behind, this is fine.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-11-06T13:48:50+00:00
tag: life
tag: nanowrimo
tag: writing
tag: dumping+sky

opening-fixing
type: Note
content: Opening, fixing, and closing (with comment) github issues on my own projects does feel a lot like talking to myself.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-11-12T09:22:57+00:00
tag: life
tag: hacking
tag: github

photos-burntisland
type: Add
content: Walked to Burntisland from Kirkcaldy (GPS trace) the back way. I was scoping it out as a cycle route, but the last third is completely inaccessible to a bike (at least with my level of ability) even when the paths aren't completely flooded (which they were). Stopped for a nice lunch at The Fix, and wrote for a bit, then picked up groceries from Grain & Sustain. Train home with a full backpack.
published: 2020-11-12T18:19:16+00:00
summary: Amy added 28 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-coastal-path
type: Add
content: Walked to Burntisland today along the coastal path to pick up supplies from Grain & Sustain. Rain swept along the coast at one point, but timed it (totally on purpose of course) so that it was going in the opposite direction to us and we just passed through it for a few minutes. Almost got wet feet on the tramp across Burntisland's enormous beach. Then, because it's Sunday and the train schedule is silly, also walked back. Glad to have Dave along to carry the groceries. A lovely sunset and bright moon. GPS trace, 12 miles total.
published: 2020-11-22T20:09:47+00:00
summary: Amy added 30 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-food
type: Add
content: Between us, Dave and I have made various tasty pasta, noodle and rice dishes over the past few weeks. Dave is also getting into making 'omelettes' with chickpea flour. I made a keto-friendly cauliflower rice dish with tofu and almond sauce. We both made bread, and Dave's was way better than mine even though it was the first time he ever made it and had to sub in some wholemeal flour cos we ran out of white. We used the bread for burgers, sandwiches, and with soup. I made a chocolate cake with blackberry coconut frosting. Just enough rice leftover for a sushi roll yesterday lunchtime (and a Gregg's not-sausage roll, the two best rolls).
published: 2020-11-21T13:05:37+00:00
summary: Amy added 32 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-food-2
type: Add
content: Homemade gyoza (mushroom and tvp filling). Homemade seitan. Coconut, white chocolate and raspberry cake with matcha coconut cream frosting.
published: 2020-11-29T18:11:58+00:00
summary: Amy added 12 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-kirkcaldy
type: Add
content: The caravan behind my flat got set on fire at midnight. Photos show the plume of smoke shortly after 6 firepeople put it out. I was too slow to capture the tower of flame. Drizzly walk to Dysart.
published: 2020-11-14T22:10:14+00:00
summary: Amy added 11 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-kirkcaldy-2
type: Add
content: Misc sunrises from my window. This week has had bright clear mornings and rainy grim rest-of-days. Except for Thursday, which was clear all day, though freezing, and in the evening the sky and sea were vivid, almost glowing. I've never seen it so intense.
published: 2020-11-21T12:47:23+00:00
summary: Amy added 27 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-kirkcaldy-3
type: Add
content: Weather was extremely indecisive, but I managed to make it out to the beach at Seafields during a gap in the rain in the evening. Pretty windy though.
published: 2020-11-21T20:05:22+00:00
summary: Amy added 31 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-kirkcaldy-4
type: Add
content: An afternoon sitting on the rocks at Seafields with my notebook for nanowrimo. Saw and heard lots of birds, and very few humans. Stayed until I was too cold to write. A walk through the woods in Beveridge Park, and out to Raith Lake, where again I sat and scribbled until my fingers froze. Continually impressed by and grateful for the presence of the sun here, even if it's only for a few hours a day.
published: 2020-11-29T14:42:38+00:00
summary: Amy added 42 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-largo
type: Add
content: Hike along the beach from Leven to Upper Largo, then inland, up Largo Law which was a slippery muddy vertical lurch. Said hi to sheeps on top. The sun came out at the perfect time, then disappeared for good. Lundin Links and the Largos are really cute. Nice beaches, cute holiday cottages. Lots of golf courses. GPS trace.

photos-largo-2
type: Add
content: Dave's photos from the Leven to Largo Law hike.

photos-seafields
type: Add
content: A run to Seafields (GPS trace) and some time sitting on the nearby beaches when the sun was out. Becoming convinced Fife has its own microclimate, although you've gotta take the opportunities when the clouds part cos they most certainly do not last.
published: 2020-11-04T17:15:17+00:00
summary: Amy added 24 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-wemyss
type: Add
content: Dave and I hiked from Kirkcaldy to the Wemyss Caves and back. It was a gorgeous day. Dysart and West Wemyss are seriously cute. We saw lots of seals basking in the sun, and met a nice cat. There are gorgeous smooth sand and craggy rock beaches, as well as multiple castles en route. In the Wemyss Caves are 1500 year old Pictish rock carvings. We found one, but will need the guided tour for the rest. We got ice cream and chips in East Wemyss and limped home, after 16 miles in total (GPS).

photos-wemyss-2
type: Add
content: Another hike from Kirkcaldy to the Wemyss Caves, this time with an extra leg to Buckhaven. We did a guided tour of the Caves by a member of the Save Wemyss Caves Society which was super interesting in terms of ancient and local history. Learnt both about the Picts, and the local gangs.. 10 miles in total - see GPS trace. Also some pictures from the night before - an evening walk to the Seafields Tower, and takeaway from Koku Shi.
published: 2020-11-01T21:13:15+00:00
summary: Amy added 28 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

reading-about
type: Note
content: Reading about the Bosnian elections is inexplicably making me homesick for the Balkans. It's all the random pictures of Sarajevo and little mountain towns I guess. It's nice that something positive in politics might be happening somewhere in the world, anyway, for a change.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-11-16T11:18:55+00:00
tag: travel
tag: life
tag: politics
tag: bosnia

really-enjoyed
type: Note
content: I have really enjoyed the DID WG not-face-to-face meetings this week. I still feel pretty lost in most of this, but looking back to almost two years ago when this started, I have learnt so much about so many topics I wasn't expecting to ever know anything about because of this work. I appreciate everyone in this group. Unending gratitude to manu and others at Digital Bazaar for supporting me - financially, educationally and emotionally - to work in this stuff in the first place. (It's been challenging at times, but not as emotionally fraught or generally stressful as the Social Web WG was. Maybe most of that is because I've grown since then, though, and also because it hasn't consumed my entire life like SWWG did..)
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-11-05T20:39:01+00:00
tag: life
tag: w3c
tag: tpac
tag: meetings
tag: didwg
tag: decentralisation
tag: socialwg
tag: decentralised+identifiers

recent-weeks-im
type: Note
content: In recent weeks I'm getting slightly more interested in... stuff... tech stuff. And feeling more able to take things on than I have in long time. I think this means I might actually be recovering from the Great Burnout of 2017? But hard to test, because I'm also taking a bunch of holiday from my day job this month, and I haven't had to think about travelling/travel planning since August, so maybe that has freed up some areas of my brain that were busier than I realised before.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-11-11T13:41:24+00:00
tag: travel
tag: life
tag: cooplife
tag: ods
tag: standards

tag-statement
type: Article
content: I have been nominated to stand in the 2020 election to the W3C TAG. If you're a W3C AC representative, you can vote here. Please consider ranking me favourably! I grew up alongside the Web, and have never known the world without it. Early tinkering with HTML and CSS shaped the course of my life and became a formative part of how I interacted with the world. It is deeply important to me to see the Web move forward as a positive force, and to push back against the surveillance, manipulation, and abuse that are routine across many parts of the Web today. I hold a PhD in Informatics from the University of Edinburgh, with a visiting year at MIT. My thesis builds on my personal experiences with online communities; I researched self-expression on the Web and how interconnected social and technical systems support or impede online interactions. At the same time, I helped shape the future of the social Web through co-editing and implementing several specifications of the W3C Social Web Working Group. I also spent a year and a half as the Working Group's Team Contact, which familiarised me with W3C processes and politics. I spent the years since developing software to support openness and transparency for public good. I have worked with investigative journalists and open data activists, facilitating the efforts of civil society groups, governments, and the private sector internationally. I continue this work as a Director of Open Data Services Co-operative, building and maintaining tools that use the Web to promote civic use of data and fight corruption worldwide. I also work with Digital Bazaar on Web standards related to decentralisation, with the goal of enabling a foundational layer of technologies to support individual agency on the Web. These experiences at the intersection of civic work and cutting edge standards development give me a unique perspective to bring to the TAG. There is no need for trade-offs between participation and privacy, or between community and auto…
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: TAG nominee statement
published: 2020-12-08T09:15:00+00:00
tag: web+standards
tag: decentralisation
tag: tag
tag: w3c
updated: 2020-12-10T18:10:00+00:00

there-something
type: Note
content: There is something extremely cursed about an ice cream van going past blaring its creepy music at 8pm in November.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-11-22T20:26:41+00:00
tag: life

week-review-16th-
type: Article
content: Weather was all over the place this week, so no long walks but a few nearby beach wanderings. Less brain fog than I've felt in a long time. Persuaded Dave to make bread for the first time ever and it was better than any bread I have ever made. I made a cake. Wrote more javascript than is probably healthy: to fix bugs and add features to Credentials CG minutes publishing infrastructure; to help a friend send multiple hundreds of emails under a set of bizarre constraints for her job, using google appscript; to fix/update some DID spec respec plugins. Some DID spec editorial work. Thinking about policies and mitigations about redundancy, for the Co-op (the idea is to get this sorted before we need it, rather than suddenly having to deal with it in a time of crisis). Irretrievably behind on nanowrimo, but had some nice short writing sessions, including on the beach. Started crocheting a new wallet. Walked to Burntisland and back, fairly spur of the moment. Watched some good movies, including Sorry to Bother you and The Handmaiden.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 16th - 22nd November
published: 2020-11-22T20:25:25+00:00
tag: life
tag: hacking
tag: week+in+review
tag: cooplife
tag: hiking
tag: scotland
tag: nanowrimo
tag: javascript
tag: didwg
tag: ccg

week-review-23--
type: Article
content: Made it past 9k for nanowrimo, but not on track to hit 10k before the month ends. Lots of admin. Co-op staff welfare stuff. Walks around Seafields and Beveridge Park, Raith Lake. Made gyoza and seitan. Finished Dune Messiah, started Children of Dune Binged all of Dear White People.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 23 - 29 November
published: 2020-11-29T23:59:59+00:00
tag: life
tag: week+in+review
tag: cooplife
tag: nanowrimo

week-review-26th
type: Article
content: Finished Dune. Managed to get the heating back on. Finished crocheting a hat just in time. Went to W3C TPAC breakout week sessions, which were amazing. Attended some Co-ops UK HR training, which was less than thrilling. Hiked from Kirkcaldy to the Wemyss Caves for a tour. NaNoWriMo begins. Not off to a great start, but eh.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 26th Oct - 1st Nov
published: 2020-11-01T23:59:59+00:00
tag: travel
tag: life
tag: week+in+review
tag: cooplife
tag: crochet
tag: nanowrimo
tag: writing
tag: hiking
tag: w3c
tag: tpac
tag: events
tag: conference

week-review-2nd--
type: Article
content: Ran to Seafields. Attended the DID Working Group not-face-to-face meetings (a good time!). Fell ever further behind on nanowrimo, but kept plugging away. Invested in a bike helmet and lock... ...went cycling! With some random friendly locals, during a torrential downpour (not really random, it was a Greener Kirkcaldy community bike ride, but I was the only one who showed up). Attended a Social Web Incubator CG meeting and got some stuff done for a vocab collaboration with the DID WG.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 2nd - 8th Nov
published: 2020-11-08T23:59:59+00:00
tag: life
tag: week+in+review
tag: socialwg
tag: decentralisation
tag: didwg
tag: w3c
tag: event
tag: meeting
tag: nanowrimo
tag: cycling

week-review-9th--
type: Article
content: Hiked from Leven to Upper Largo, up Largo Law, and back (Dave's photos). Hiked from Kirkcaldy to Burntisland along a new route (got groceries and took the train back) Walked to Dysart and back, twice, once at night which turned out to be clear and mild and was lovely. Made two potentially lifechanging decisions, but either could fall through at this point so I'm not telling you what yet. Spent a lot of time and energy on things mentioned in previous bullet point. Focussed on internal Co-op work. Poked around with sloph a bit. Watched all of Queen's Gambit, that was great. Slowly watching To The Lake. Started Dune Messiah. NaNoWriMo progresses slowly, too far behind to catch up now, but aiming to write more than 0 words per day. Did a bit of plotting, too. Some things on my street were set on fire. Cool. (Not. Not cool.)
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 9th - 15th November
published: 2020-11-15T23:59:59+00:00
tag: life
tag: hacking
tag: week+in+review
tag: cooplife
tag: hiking
tag: scotland
tag: sloph
tag: nanowrimo

when-im-irl-w3c
type: Note
content: When I'm at IRL W3C face-to-face meetings my dreams are full of the participants every night for like a week, and it took longer to get started but turns out online ones are the same.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-11-05T09:55:23+00:00
tag: w3c
tag: meetings
tag: tpac
tag: didwg
tag: life

written
type: Note
content: I have written an uncharacteristic amount of javascript this week.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-11-21T10:56:55+00:00
tag: life
tag: hacking
tag: javascript

brother-came
type: Note
content: My brother came in to announce that all of Google is down, and asks "have you and your comrades finally succeeded?"
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-12-14T12:12:48+00:00
tag: life
tag: tech
tag: decentralisation
tag: google

brother-lived
type: Note
content: My brother and I have now lived together long enough that our brains have completely synchronised and we have started saying the same thing at the same time regularly.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-12-22T18:56:35+00:00
tag: life
tag: family

easy-tempting
type: Note
content: It's easy, tempting even, for us decentralisation / free software nerds to say ha! Serves you right. But most people who depend on bigtech never had any meaningful choice in the matter. A great many people are working to change that. If you're inspired today to look for alternatives to google services, check out ethical.net.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-12-14T12:29:13+00:00
tag: life
tag: tech
tag: decentralisation
tag: google
tag: fuckgoogle

hope-many-people
type: Note
content: I hope that many people are learning an important lesson about relying on centralised services just now. The tragedy is the people, real humans, who depend on this shit for their livelihoods. People who are paid by the row for data entry into a google spreadsheet, who need every cent from each youtube view, people who miss crucial email queries to their small business. No tech company should be so ingrained, have that much power.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
published: 2020-12-14T12:16:53+00:00
tag: google
tag: decentralisation
tag: tech
tag: life

photos-balwearie
type: Add
content: Hiked to Balwearie Castle, just outside of Kirkcaldy. GPS trace.
published: 2020-12-15T17:17:34+00:00
summary: Amy added 21 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-burntisland
type: Add
content: I helped out with a beach clean in Burntisland this morning, and got one heavy bag of rubbish after 2 hours. The Burntisland beach is immense and gorgeous, so it was a good opportunity to explore it more while the tide was out. I got out to the Black Rock for the first time. Got very wet feet, and there are lots of sinkholes. It was beautiful day. I met strange tiny sand aliens, who were waving their little arms, waiting for the sea to come back for them.. Dave caught up with me later. We had lunch at The Fix, picked up groceries from Grain & Sustain, then walked around the port a bit while we waited for the train back.

photos-crochet
type: Add
content: Multipurpose crochet scarf/band thingie in colours of both the trans pride flag and the winter evening sky in Fife.
published: 2020-12-05T19:30:16+00:00
summary: Amy added 7 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-crumpets
type: Add
content: Homemade crumpets! Finally. Flour, water, salt, yeast, bicarbonate of soda; a strong beating of the batter, and 15 minute rise. They tasted great, but aren't as bubbly as I'd like. I might try skipping the yeast and adding a little vinegar to react with the bicarb - because my banana pancakes have bicarb and lemon juice in and they always bubble a lot. I was surprised at how easily they came out of the ring once cooked mostly through.
published: 2020-12-13T16:20:11+00:00
summary: Amy added 12 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-dalgety
type: Add
content: Along the Fife Coastal Path from Inverkeithing to Burntisland. A beautiful coastline, incredible views, and ending with a truly spectacular sunset. Who said December in Scotland had to be grim? GPS trace.

photos-dalgety-2
type: Add
content: Dave's photos from the Dalgety Bay hike.

photos-edi
type: Add
content: Last minute trip to Edinburgh, to help out friends. Felt busy and big.
published: 2020-12-16T17:27:25+00:00
summary: Amy added 5 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-uk/
target: 2020-uk

photos-food
type: Add
content: Dave and I collaborated on bread this week: he did the kneading, I did the rest. Turned out well. Also made burgers from my homemade seitan, and fried it for spicy tacos. Also pictured: roasted veggies with peanut sauce and rice; tantan pho (no questions please, I didn't have ramen) with miso soup and spring rolls.
published: 2020-12-06T18:14:48+00:00
summary: Amy added 12 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-food-2
type: Add
content: Stuffed portobello mushrooms with mac'n'not-cheese, then later with Japanese rice, topped with smoked tofu and stir fry veggies. A hearty barley, lentil and vegetable stew. Chocolate fudge cake with cherries.
published: 2020-12-13T16:15:54+00:00
summary: Amy added 11 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-food-3
type: Add
content: Portabello pies, taco bar, udon, homemade bean and seitan burgers, broccoli and snap pea soup, mince pies (Mum's homemade mincemeat, my homemade pastry; an approximation of custard without any of the right ingredients), a roast with gravy and bbl not-meats, a fryup also with bbl not-meats, dahl, Earthy baked camembert..
published: 2020-12-31T14:34:03+00:00
summary: Amy added 18 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-grogu
type: Add
content: Crochet Grogu (baby yoda).
published: 2020-12-25T12:33:09+00:00
summary: Amy added 14 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madestuff/
target: madestuff

photos-kirkcaldy
type: Add
content: Miscellaneous beautiful days in Kirkcaldy.
published: 2020-12-04T18:27:40+00:00
summary: Amy added 35 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-kirkcaldy-2
type: Add
content: Misc Kirkcaldy skies..
published: 2020-12-20T17:08:57+00:00
summary: Amy added 18 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-kirkcaldy-3
type: Add
content: Greener Kirkcaldy community bike ride along the promenade, was a nice breath of fresh air. (It's hard to make myself go out on my bike, so making myself go to things like this is good.)
published: 2020-12-20T12:43:58+00:00
summary: Amy added 10 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-kirkcaldy-4
type: Add
content: Walk to Dysart and back on a crisp day.
published: 2020-12-23T19:22:10+00:00
summary: Amy added 19 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-kirkcaldy-5
type: Add
content: Beach walk as snowclouds loom.
published: 2020-12-30T19:08:01+00:00
summary: Amy added 9 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-kirkcaldy-bikes
type: Add
content: Photos by Dave of the Greener Kirkcaldy community bike ride. And some others around Ravenscraig later in the day.
published: 2020-12-20T18:57:36+00:00
summary: Amy added 65 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

photos-lowenna
type: Add
content: Puppy-sat Lowenna. She is a demon, purest evil incarnate. Also adorable. She's quite well behaved, except when she wants to rip me limb from limb. She also wakes up in the night for pee and needs cuddling back to sleep. Nice for a while, but glad I don't do this full time.
published: 2020-12-19T17:40:07+00:00
summary: Amy added 23 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-uk/
target: 2020-uk

photos-pie
type: Add
content: Dave requested a pie this evening so I made one with a cat on it. Look I never claimed to be a pastry artist. It has red onions, garlic, mushrooms, enoki, brown lentils and tvp inside. We ate it with chips and gravy. Pie prep time vs pie eating time is grossly out of balance.
published: 2020-12-06T19:56:42+00:00
summary: Amy added 7 photos to https://i.amy.gy/madefood/
target: madefood

photos-seafields
type: Add
content: An evening of an imminent storm that never came, with gorgeous vibrant skies reflecting on the beach at Seafields.
published: 2020-12-05T19:17:26+00:00
summary: Amy added 33 photos to https://i.amy.gy/2020-fife/
target: 2020-fife

week-review-14th-
type: Article
content: Went to meetings.. did some maintenance work. Discovered a great source of yarn, in the Rejects department store across town. Hiked to Balwearie Castle and back. Made a little unplanned trip to Edinburgh, which felt like a scary big city compared to Fife. I'm feeling very attached to Kirkcaldy at the moment, which is a strange feeling I have not had in a long long while. Looked after K&M's demon puppy, Lowenna, on two occasions. Finished The Mandalorian. Finished Shingeki no Kyojin up to the start of season 4... (omg i love it) Started crocheting Grogu. Joined a Greener Kirkcaldy community bike ride. Started getting packages through the post! Having an actual functioning address is novel and exciting.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 14th - 20th December
published: 2020-12-20T23:57:17+00:00
tag: scotland
tag: hiking
tag: crochet
tag: week+in+review
tag: life
tag: travel

week-review-21st-
type: Article
content: Finished crochet Grogu. Started Fullmetal Alchemist and The Witcher and the new Expanse. Finished Ratched. Walked to Dysart and back, through town. Hiked from Inverkeithing to Burntisland. Made mince pies because Mum posted me homemade mincemeat, which really forced my hand. Did some DID spec and Registries editorial work. My bro got sick (not covid) so looked after him a bit.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 21st - 27th Dec
published: 2020-12-27T23:59:59+00:00
tag: life
tag: week+in+review
tag: crochet

week-review-30th
type: Article
content: Indeed did not reach 10k for nanowrimo. Oh well. It was still fun.. and I have improved on some vague ideas I'd had. Thought about BODS as RDF. Started (finally) The Mandolorian. Crocheted a thing. Got woken up by thundersnow. Went out pretty much every day, including one run! And Friday to the market even though it was chucking it down and I got soaked. Sunday beach clean in Burntisland. Made foods.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 30th Nov - 6th Dec
published: 2020-12-06T20:18:15+00:00
tag: life
tag: food
tag: vegan
tag: week+in+review
tag: crochet
tag: bods
tag: linked+data

week-review-7th--
type: Article
content: A thoroughly grey and rainy week. Didn't go out, except to Friday market. The W3C TAG election voting opened and I am a candidate. Finished Children of Dune. Started God Emporer of Dune. Blazed through Shingeki no Kyojin and started Ratched. Ate lots of portabello mushrooms and made homemade crumpets. Went to meetings.. did some maintenance work. Fixed minor sloph bugs.
generator: no-ceremonies-are-necessary
name: Week in review: 7th - 13th December
published: 2020-12-13T23:59:59+00:00
tag: life
tag: hacking
tag: week+in+review
tag: w3c
tag: tag
tag: decentralisation
tag: web+standards

https://rhiaro.co.uk/2020
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