Another eventful week (personally), but we still plod on.
In the fortnight since my last update, I’ve done nothing but moan about hay fever (remember, this is weeknotes not worknotes).
Aside from that, life has been moving - I’ve never walked so much in the past two weeks with the kids, whether it’s raining or watch-out-bald-patches sunshine we move anyway. Where I live is rural, so every walk is different - some might say I get lost easily, others might label me an adventurer. My wife labels me lost.

What did I enjoy?
The house is being rebuilt, one room at a time and it’s taking shape I am really happy with the decisions and painting skills of Emma, who has decided that I am not allowed a paintbrush, or to decide on colours or to decide on what sofa to sit on - which im more than happy with, as I just cannot visualise anything when it comes to real-life design.

Work has been busy, but also it’s a reminder that UI isnt as easy as many think. Making things look good is the easy part (I guess) and something I actually do not tend to spend a lot of time on, but making it work better than it looks is the harder part, but to get the time to work on the UX, means you have to open to the doors via good UI which I understand and actually agree with.
I’ve started now to plan a structure, a welcomed structure with the team too, they are open to ideas - they want results, and are happy to iterate, think, sketch, talk and just provide feedback, which is amazing for product progression. One thing before I run off into the hills and start curving corners and discussing grey is to start sketching out user flows, a thing I’ve missed out on and just something to have to hand when I start to think around situational design (the what ifs, the whens and the hows).

What am I looking forward to?
I am looking forward to giving the team design structure, something or somewhere to see and provide feedback to design - it’s key that we give this a team effort. We do not have time for User Research for some decisions, which, is real life and if we are all honest, is really how most projects are built (unless it’s over-done UR which is even worse), but.. we iterate - so it’s a win.

I’m looking for new places to eat all the time - so lob over any recommendations, so far one of my favourites more recently was Sibu, a random find, but I love me some spicy little dishes, but I’ve been trying a new place every week nearly, and it’s been a great adventure (picking places that won’t break the bank).

England winning the Euros?

Watch of the week
It’s been England, yes it’s been pretty hard watching - but reaching the semi-finals will do me. It’s not been pretty, it’s not even been fun, but who cares - we’ve done the semi-final.

Listen of the week
I used to be heavily into podcasts, but in the last year or so I’ve found them harder to listen to, annoyed by cramming in endless adverts that seem randomly placed and turning into an uneducated “there have been studies..” but no mention of who they are, but one podcast (out of a couple) has stayed consistent, and that’s True Crime Obsessed. It’s hilarious, serious when it needs to be and incredibly well put together, it’s a podcast about documentaries, murder, cults etc - you can guess the rest. Give it a spin, it’s a solid A*.