Obviously the big agenda item for 2026 is the new job. I start as the new Head of Products and Services for the National Data Library at GDS at the start of January. Returning to the Civil Service proper – itself a surprise – for the kind of high profile initiative that I maybe thought was behind me.
I’m excited to get stuck in – and a little nervous to be honest. Probably the right mix. I’m going to be much more office based than I have been in a few years as well – which I am happy with as I am talking to myself too much for comfort these days!
My diet discipline has slipped during the back end of 2025 so I need to reboot that. Get back to that low-carb life and lower the alcohol intake again. It seems my hopes of lessening my reliance on medication for my diabetes is probably not on the cards and my cholesterol is fine at best so I can definitely still do better with taking care of myself.
I’ve decided to stop lying to myself about exercise – I simply never follow through! I’m just going to get my daily steps back up to a reasonable number (helped by the return to an office and a daily-ish commute) and just try to be a bit more active.
I’m heading to Japan for a Spring Break. Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto for two weeks. This has been on my to-do list for YEARS and I always lose my nerve but I’ve dived in and booked it up…albeit with really generic international business hotels.
In less adventurous plans I also want to go to Lisbon at some point this year. It has an amazing reputation for street art and I recently discovered it gives good Christmas so maybe I’ll end my year there in 2026.
I also want to be a bit more out and about generally – try and avoid becoming a total hermit. I did a few lunches with friends at the start of 2025 that were really lovely but they petered out after the summer. I want to try that again and also attend a few more meet-ups (not just when I am speaking!). I’m hoping the fact I’ll be in the Bristol (and maybe Manchester) office a lot will encourage me to just hang around in town and pop along to things.
I’m attending Govcamp in Birmingham (which will be interesting as it moves out of London for the first time) and Camp Digital in May (as a stress free attendee) and am looking for a couple of other events. If anyone has suggestions for anything that leans more into data with a public service spin (that isn’t just AI boosterism) I am up for suggestions.
I think Debbie, Steve and I will continue to try and do Product for the People meet-ups. We owe something in the North East but beyond that I haven’t given it much thought yet.
2026 is going to be the final year of my jobs newsletter – I need to send 50 editions to hit 500 and then that’ll be that. End of a LONG era. I might do something to make the occasion but am not sure what yet.
I am intending to blog more again and maybe do week/fortnight/month notes – but it does depend on whether I can make it work with the new gig. It is all a bit stealth at the moment so I need to find a way to balance that with my own open inclinations. People are definitely interested in the goings on of the NDK so hopefully at some point I’ll be able to share a little.
This goes for public speaking as well. I remain retired but the caveat was always that I might need to dust off my stage persona for work and if that happens I will get back on the horse I guess.
Oh and stop buying business, tech or politics books that I never read – just find articles about the books and read them. Save the money and the shelf space!
That is about it – a new big job, a big holiday, continue to incrementally improve my health and a few side quests. That’ll do.
Digital by Default 