Another week of socially-distanced, furloughed fun: here are some of the highlights…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I took a break from exam study this week, partly because I had some internal meetings that made a big hole in the calendar and diverted my attention. Instead, I finally got my Azure Sphere<\/a> Starter Kit IoT device working, with both Microsoft samples and with some more practical advice from Brian Willess at Element 14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I’m blogging my progress (slightly behind the actual learning) but over the course of a few days, supported by Brian’s blog posts, I managed to get the sensor readings from my device working locally, with Azure IoT Hub<\/a> and Time Series Insights<\/a>, and then finally in Azure IoT Central<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s amazing how much fun turning some LEDs on\/off from #Azure<\/a> IoT Central can be #AzureSphere<\/a>! pic.twitter.com\/3YCETiOTZm<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Mark Wilson ???? (@markwilsonit) April 23, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The next stop is to try and write some code of my own rather than using other people’s – it’s been a while since I wrote any C\/C++!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I also wrote some blog posts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n I finished watching “Devs<\/a>“. No spoilers here, but the ending did leave me a little flat…<\/p>\n\n\n\n I didn’t spot any SpaceX Starlink satellites<\/a>, despite a few attempts and some very clear evenings. This website seemed particularly helpful<\/a>, although the developer (@modeless<\/a>) had to remove the Google Street View content when the site got popular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thursday meant my usual trip to the local market, followed by the supermarket, buying provisions for my family and others. Because product availability is a bit “hit and miss”, in the supermarket (and because I prioritise supporting local businesses over the big retailers, where I can), I bought some peppers (capsicums) from the market greengrocer. There was no price displayed but, as he bagged them, he said they were expensive… and he was not wrong: \u00a33\/lb, I think! But I was too embarrassed to say “no thanks at that price” so bought them anyway. Lesson learned…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today\u2019s life lesson: if the market trader doesn\u2019t put a price next to the product, it\u2018s because it is overpriced! Telling me they are expensive at the moment as you bag them is a bit late #TooEmbarrassedToSayNoThanks<\/a> #LostCustomer<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/2hDy0MXe3f<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Mark Wilson ???? (@markwilsonit) April 23, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n To add insult to injury, when I got to Sainsbury’s they had plenty, at a much more reasonable price… <\/p>\n\n\n\n The week wrapped up with sunshine, low wind and reasonably high temperatures (19\u00b0<\/strong>C is not bad for April in England!). After a decent bike ride with my son (permissible under the current social distancing advice<\/a>), I made the time to just relax a bit…<\/p>\n\n\n\n “On holiday”, in the garden… pic.twitter.com\/OlcsLmlZFd<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Mark Wilson ???? (@markwilsonit) April 26, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote> Blogging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Other geek stuff<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Being “too British”<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
“On holiday”, in the garden<\/h3>\n\n\n\n