Week two since I left TPX has been pretty good for a mix of reasons though on the face of it I haven’t really done very much.

The two big things were I had an interview for a contracting position and was successful plus I had an appointment with my diabetes nurse to discuss my recent blood tests and for the first time since March left an appointment with a smile on my face.

There is a lot of paperwork to do before I can really say much about the job but it is a Lead Product Manager role in Central Government with an organisation that people often think I’ve worked for before. Hopefully I’ll start in a couple of weeks – I’m excited by the role and to get the chance to be working closer with delivery teams again and honestly I feel ridiculously lucky and privileged to land something so close to what I was looking for so quickly.

The interview and the nurse appointment were the same day so that was a winner – though I was so thrilled with the good news from the nurse (basically I’m very close to hitting my targets for getting things under control and way ahead of schedule even considering all the meds) I forgot to raise that I am having problems with the latest brand of Metformin I am taking (again) but I’m going to have a chat with the Pharmacist to see if they can help with that I think.

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Bristol responded to the right-wing wanker-fest in a very Bristol manner (even more so on Wednesday) and I took a few pics of the aftermath and posted them on Bluesky. 600+ reposts and 3000+ likes later I felt like a very minor Bluesky celeb with lots of new followers who will inevitably be disappointed with my usual nonsense.

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In fact, almost to demonstrate that disconnect I published a list of ‘Internet of Public Service’ folk for people to follow which I suspect will entirely befuddle the folks who came thinking I was an Antifa activist or something. I’m looking to do the same with a journos list as well I think – it is noticeable how little realtime or breaking news is finding its way to me on the platform but the nature of it is I need to be more proactive and find those sources.

Oh and I finally deactivated my X account this week fully. It has been pretty dormant for months but the role that platform had in the riots coupled with Muskrat continuing to be a prick was the final straw. 

I don’t think Bluesky will ever replace Twitter at its best – and honestly I’m not sure it even has legs in the medium term let alone long term – but it is a cosy, comfortable spot to share and chat with digital public service folks and a few others and that is enough for now.

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It was the 10 year anniversary of Wikimania London where as well as giving a talk about a project at ONS to improve statistical information on Wikipedia we did with Wikimedia UK I was also invited to attend the opening night sponsors event to represent ONS.

I did not read the invite correctly and entirely misjudged the evening. I rocked up in a Batman t-shirt, jeans and trainers when everyone else was suited and booted. Several wines in I was informed I was expected to give a small speech ~ following the CEO of Creative Commons and a Director General of DCMS (who both had prepared remarks). I had to wing it. Then I got lost in the Barbican as I made a swift exit. Was quite the experience!

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Went to see Twisters. I really enjoyed it while I was watching it – it is quite thrilling – but I have to be honest I could remember hardly anything about it by the time I got the bus home. Definitely got swept away from it in the moment though (one thing I do remember is how weirdly chaste it is – the central couple never as much as brush lips.)

Started reading ‘The Mercy of Gods’ – the first book in a new series from the writer(s)* of The Expanse series. It has immediately got its hooks in me.

*did you know James S.A.Corey was the pen name for a partnership? I often wonder how that works.

I read a LOT of comics for the first time in a while – 

The new Tom King Wonder Woman is fantastic. As is his Penguin book.

Juni Ba’s The Boy Wonder is brilliant fun with lovely kinetic art. I’m also a sucker for a good Hal Jordan Green Lantern story and Jeremy Adams is delivering.

Over at Marvel Zeb Wells’ Amazing Spiderman and Saladin Ahmed’s Daredevil are some of the most compelling takes on those characters in a while..