Although this blog has become less 'editorial' in recent years, I still like to look back on my opinions from years (or decades! 😳) past to see how they hold up.

I'm the type of person who has no problem admitting when I've been wrong or mistaken with something I've said or done in the past. I believe it's a crucial part of how we can grow (both personally and professionally) to be better people.

After a recent hospital stay that was primarily caused by a salmonella infection, it became obvious that using my phone for entertainment in hospital was … Read more →

I have a fingerprint reader for my Windows desktop computer (a Kensington Verimark FIDO key) that easily allows me to log in with Windows Hello without typing a password.

For my work computer, I haven't had the same luxury. I use my work MacBook Pro exclusively in 'clamshell' (closed) mode when I'm at home, as I have two monitors and a separate keyboard and mouse.

This means that I can't use the 'Touch ID' fingerprint reader on the laptop's keyboard, and Apple doesn't support any third-party fingerprint readers. The only option for users in this situation … Read more →

There are very few devices that I'm an absolute fanboy of. However, one series of devices that I remain consistently satisfied with are the Synology NASs that I've owned. Over the past 12 years, I've only owned two of them: a DS211+ since 2011, and a DS418play since 2018.

The former was only retired when I needed bigger storage volumes and needed a 4 disk NAS. The latter continues to be an absolute mainstay of our home network for the better part of 5 years, without showing many signs of age.

Last year, when we needed more storage … Read more →

Today is my 40th birthday. Yay, I guess? 😆

When I started my 30s ten years ago, it was far from certain that I was going to make it to this milestone. So, two children, one new career, two jobs, three built computers, five mobile phones, and a replaced liver later, I'm glad to have made it.

The past decade has gone by quickly, but I'm also a much changed person from 10 years ago: like, literally; I don't even have all the same organs from then. It's been a ride. I've had some … Read more →

After a very ordinary 2010, I had hoped that 2011 would have been much much better. In looking back, 2011 was definitely much better health-wise, although I didn't exactly get the news that I had hoped for in 2010. Still, only one hospital stay-over for some routine-ish surgery was definitely much better than the previous years record.

We had hoped to have moved into a newly built house by now, but we're still in the middle of that process so here's hoping we won't be too far into 2012 for that to happen! That's also one of the main reasons … Read more →

It's been no secret that 2010 has been an incredibly difficult and trying year for me, probably the most trying of all my 28 years. Two hospital emergency admissions, three other sets of procedures done in hospital, and almost countless continuing scans, MRIs, and blood tests means that this year will largely be remembered as one in which my health took a decided turn for the worse.

The issues with my health have brought a lot of things into focus, and i know it's cliché, but have made me appreciate the things that really matter and make me happy, whilst … Read more →

So it's that time of year for my critical wrap. Here are the Best and Worst of what i saw and played in the year that was 2010.

Movies

Best Movie: How To Train Your Dragon

HTTYD was easily my stand-out movie for me this year. I loved the story, the 3D was spectacular (even rivalling Avatar in my opinion), the visuals were great, and the score was wonderful. Such a great movie, and the fact that it's the only movie this year i've seen multiple times cements its status as my favourite of the 2010.

Honourable mentions: Scott Pilgrim … Read more →

Christmas 2010 was a pretty standard affair in the end: Church followed by a whole day of visiting family's places. I guess the only big difference is that my parents being away for Christmas made it feel a bit different than normal.

After getting home yesterday evening, rather than vegging out as usual after the big day, i felt in the mood to get something done.

I was in the mood to do some coding/programming, and it usually happens about once a year (the last time being when i added comment notifications to this blog). I've been wanting to … Read more →

Summer has truly arrived in the past week, almost every day has seen 30-plus degree weather, and also more than a few storms for the past few days.

I can't say I really like it, but the nights haven't been bad enough to resort to the air-con, so I probably can't complain too much.

A big event over the past week was me going into hospital on Monday to get a liver biopsy done. It's a result of my confusing relapse and symptoms that have reappeared over the past few months.

It wasn't a fun procedure, as it required me … Read more →