I write these notes to help me reflect, remember, network, get feedback and be accountable. Read more on why I write week notes here.
It’s half term. I took half off (the big half), but worked Wednesday and Thursday.
Work, work, work
I presented the BFI Player deep dive report to our Finance Committee, with backup in case of any tricky questions. It went across well and prompted great questions which we tag-teamed effectively to answer. Governors quickly put their finger on a need we recognise, to ensure there’s more of a “one BFI” join-up to propel BFI Player to be the very best it can be. A helpful nudge. Next stop: presenting the same thing to the full board meeting.
Other than that, I did some prep for a meeting next week that is firmly in the ‘overhead’ category of the LNO framework so I didn’t go to town on it. But failed to prep at all for a neutral task that’s quite important actually, oops.
It’s not all work work work
🗿 We made a pilgrimage to the amazing stone circle around the village of Avebury, inspired by our recent watch of Children of the Stones. Managed to get some photos without any National Trust members in the background. Amazing that you can go right up to these stones and touch them. It shits on Stonehenge in this and other ways.
✉ On Sunday we did the Taskmaster Live Experience (Melon Buffet variant). We were apprehensive, and moments beforehand were tempted to cut and run, but we stuck with it and enjoyed it, for the most part. Some spoiler-free things to know if you’re going:
- All participants do all the tasks, simultaneously.
- There’s no element of being watched (as there is with the Crystal Maze, for example)
- Some tasks require you to pair up (you might want to take an even-numbered party on that basis)
- There are 5 tasks including the final task, plus any tie-breaks
- There isn’t much challenge – which is good (not intimidating) and bad (it could be more fun, and doesn’t feel like good value for the ticket price)
- The theming is well done, with videos of Greg and Alex guiding you through the event
- It takes about an hour to get through
It’s right by Canada Water tube, in the former Decathlon building. Mine and Joy’s old stomping ground, having lived in Rotherhithe and Surrey Quays in our pre-parenting years, so it was a nostalgia trip for us too.
🧆 Speaking of escape rooms, earlier in the week the kids and I went to the Croydon IKEA on a recce for redoing both their bedrooms. I don’t know what you’re all on about, those meatballs taste of nothing.
🎃 This was my first year in about 15 years where I didn’t have to go trick or treating, or worry where my kids are. Joel decided he’s beyond it, and wanted to dish out the sweets at our door instead. Result.
📱 I upgraded my phone to a Pixel 9 Pro. Delighted with it.
🔎 Found, interesting 🧐
Brighter Eyes – Doug from my team on the new 4K restoration of Watership Down. 🐇🌞🩸
A complete guide to Luddite horror films – tech is today’s ghost/vampire/zombie.
Toxic technology – I think I saw this before but it’s been resurfaced by several folks, and I’m re-reading.
Two posts calling for content design to be foregrounded by the new government digital centre: this one from Content Design London and this from Anna Hepburn
I just spotted Jeremy shared a few thoughts on the digital centre here.
dxw’s Clare Young on 5 things the public sector must do to bridge the digital skills gap (by outsourcing more effectively) which you can read alongside Paul Maltby’s thoughts on why public sector procurement needs a serious rethink for AI and tech
What can magic teach us about AI?
Napkin looks like some useful AI magic though
Listening, watching, playing, reading
🎬 The Conjuring. This was our Halloween watch with the kids. I’d forgotten most of it so it was fun to revisit.
🎬 The Omen. A bonus Halloween family film night on Saturday. It was released in 1976, much like myself – and here’s me looking very Damien-like aged five:
📺 We capitulated and started Slow Horses. You’re right it’s fab. Binged all of S1 in 2 nights.
🕹️ Still loving every minute of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.
🎧 New Underworld album has some good tracks on it. Prompted a re-listen to dubnobasswithmyheadman which remains divine.
🎧 New Cure album. I kinda love it, although the bashy distorted bass is overused. A much more accessible (in a good way) late-career grief-tinged album than the recent Nick Cave output.
🎧 New Kelly Lee Owens album is also excellent.
🎧 Dylan has introduced us to post-rock artists Swans and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Good stuff.
🎧 Stewart Lee’s short podcast about The Children of the Stones
That’s all this time! Thanks for stopping by.
