So let’s get started…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In tech: at work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
I’m busy, busy as always at work, with more organisational changes to keep me on my toes. One thing I’ve tended to avoid in recent years is working on bids. This is partly because I find there’s invariably a slow start and a mad rush to complete before the deadline, and partly because I prefer to work on a consulting-led sell where I have helped to shape the solution. In a competitive tender scenario someone else has influenced the client, so you’re already on the back foot, second-guessing what the client needs cf. what the invitation to tender says they want. In this case, one of my colleagues asked me to help out, and we have a few weeks to create our solution. It’s also a really interesting project so I’m enjoying pulling this solution together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, the ransomware service is also moving forwards, though not as fast as I would like (or, more to the point, as fast as my boss would like). All being well, I’ll have something to shout about in next month’s retrospective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In tech: at home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
I’m still playing around with Meshtastic<\/a>, with one node travelling mobile with me and another soon to be set up at home. Here’s the thread with the progress:<\/p>\n\n\n\n New toys from China arrived in today\u2019s post\u2026 (x2). Hoping to have some fun with these (one static node at home and one mobile in the car) In addition to the excellent Meshtastic website, Andy Kirby’s YouTube channel<\/a> has tons of information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other home projects include researching which CCTV cameras to put up (almost certainly from Reolink) and how to get an Ethernet cable to them…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some bits and pieces:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Very interesting to see this\u2026 it\u2019s become clear to me in recent weeks that the prompts provided are a huge factor in getting good results from LLMs\u2026 and, for balance, here\u2019s the OpenAI guidance https:\/\/t.co\/pgsQckMg4O<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/0PFsDThF7R<\/a><\/p>— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) March 11, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Oops. And here we have a very real world issue with QR codes\u2026 Last year, whilst working to define a client's IT policies, I found this guidance from @NCSC<\/a> really useful. This morning I needed to dig it out again so sharing for the benefit of others. It's mostly common sense, but some of it still disregarded too often https:\/\/t.co\/MRfzfg5P7n<\/a><\/p>— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) March 12, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cI work in chaos and layers. You\u2019ve got to have a bit of a mess!\u201d ? For #IWD2024<\/a> we met with Margaret Calvert to learn about the genius behind the UK's iconic road signs and encourage the next generation of designers: https:\/\/t.co\/PjUVfDImMG<\/a> #WomeninDesign<\/a> #LifeInDesign<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/HyAAzsy8Ky<\/a><\/p>— Design Council (@designcouncil) March 8, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n March saw me getting out to a few tech events in the evenings<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m at #MKGN<\/a> again tonight and the first talk has Johan Haroon talking about how technology is distracting us, and how we can recapture and hold onto our focus pic.twitter.com\/Y9iaLOYMzO<\/a><\/p>— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) March 14, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n When I was about 8 or 9, I read a book at school. I couldn’t remember much about it, except that it was about some children travelling across Europe, it was set in WW2, Warsaw was a part of it, and I really enjoyed it. I asked a group of friends if they remembered something like this and one asked ChatGPT. ChatGPT thought it might be The Silver Sword, by Ian Serraillier. I read the synopsis and that was it! Why I never thought to ask an AI, I have no idea, but it worked. I then had a very enjoyable few hours in the car listening to the audio book…<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the subject of books, some more reading has arrived:<\/p>\n\n\n\n New reading material from @Coffee_Fueled<\/a> just arrived https:\/\/t.co\/DAzxrubY7s<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/mVkABYefgL<\/a><\/p>— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) March 28, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n This month’s TV has been about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n None are new, but they had been on the list for a while. The jury is still out on Shetland without Douglas Henshall in the main character role though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I’ve also decided that I need to get out to some gigs. My wife’s not into the electronic music that I enjoy so much and I was thinking about heading down to Greenwich with my youngest son for a Day with Chicane. Unfortunately the gig is 18+ and he will be 3 months short of adulthood, so maybe that will wait a while longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The month started with a trip to Tallinn, Estonia. Nikki and I were celebrating 21 years of marriage and we had a fantastic weekend exploring a new city. As a country that’s been in and out of Soviet control several times in modern history we were not sure what to expect. What we found was a beautiful medieval city, food that seemed more Scandinavian than Eastern European, and public transport that was cheap and plentiful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our hotel<\/a> was only just outside the old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/a>, so we didn’t actually need to use the transport much (the city is compact enough to walk). Even so, \u20ac2 each way for a bus to\/from the airport seemed amazing value. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, we ate and drank well at remarkably good prices compared with the UK – whether that was hot chocolate in Pierre Chocolaterie<\/a>, hot wine in Ill Draakon<\/a> (a medieval-themed bar), or one of the modern Estonian restaurants that we dined in. (For future reference, they were: Kaerajaan<\/a>, Rataskaevu 16<\/a> and Pegasus<\/a>). I came home thinking that, for the most part, the UK is a very dull and overpriced culinary destination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Other highlights were a visit to the top of the tower at the Niguliste Museum<\/a> for views across the city. We also enjoyed a walk along the old town walls. Outside the old town, we took a short walk to Telliskivi and visited the photography exhibitions at Fotografiska<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re inspired by this and you fancy a trip to Tallinn (highly recommended), we flew with Wizz Air from London Luton and the Visit Tallinn website<\/a> has a mine of information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh yes, and linking back to tech for a moment, I forgot that the delivery robots I see in Milton Keynes and Northampton have Estonian cousins…<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may have seen me tweet out the delivery robots in Milton Keynes, Northampton and elsewhere\u2026 well, today I found some of their Estonian cousins\u2026 ? pic.twitter.com\/3l1JXgbfJu<\/a><\/p>— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) March 3, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n …and was amused to see people out and about experiencing virtual reality headsets in the centre of Tallinn…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Digital Estonia ?? pic.twitter.com\/0uJKrYQUef<\/a><\/p>— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) March 3, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n I may have been born in Northampton, but I identify as Welsh. And certainly when it comes to international Rugby Union, my team plays in red. I wasn’t going to say “no” though when I got the opportunity to watch England host Ireland at Twickenham. What a game! The final drop kick was at the other end of the pitch to me, but it was a brilliant match to be at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Brilliant afternoon at Twickenham, even as a Wales supporter ?. What a game ? #ENGvIRL<\/a> #GuinnessSixNations<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/fUfrmYLZNe<\/a><\/p>— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) March 9, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n As ever, my sons are a huge part of what I get up to outside work. With Matt away in Spain, I was able to get to watch Ben play Hockey a bit more, including the Eastern Counties U17 tournament. Now Matt’s returned and he’s racing as much as he can, trying to get his Category 1 (and maybe Elite, if he can get enough points) road race licence. That needs my support sometimes (passing bottles, driving on the longer trips). At the other end of the scale, it was exciting to be able to watch him pick up a win at our local race: <\/p>\n\n\n\n And #VeloMatt<\/a> took the win so I\u2019m a very #ProudDad<\/a> #RideRevolution<\/a> ????? pic.twitter.com\/WaSyHcjtVG<\/a><\/p>— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) March 16, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>
Better case and antenna should be here soon too\u2026#LoRa<\/a> #Meshtastic<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/1vsAyWWGGk<\/a><\/p>— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) March 4, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nIn tech: some of the things I stumbled across this month<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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(They are useful for some things, but ludicrous in some other scenarios, and a security risk in some more) https:\/\/t.co\/im7sAVW9pe<\/a><\/p>— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) March 11, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n
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In events<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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In entertainment<\/h2>\n\n\n
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In life: a trip to Tallinn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In life: a Welshman in Twickenham<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In life: sporty teens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n