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Table of Contents

Updated

Updated July 11, 2026, from my parents’ home.

What’s the latest?

I got my PPL!

On Sunday 5th of July, I sat and passed my PPL flight test. A few days later my PPL arrived in the letter box.

Analoging

On my shelf is Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. It’s made me think about using technology to best serve me. As an offshoot, I’ve picked up some new quirks.

New Mobile Phone

To promote less scrolling but still have a useful smartphone, I got a Jelly Star from Unihertz.

The idea is that the small formfactor makes it unappealing to scroll the web, but its still a full functioning smartphone, where I can make calls, browse the web, and use maps.

Everyday Carry Notebook

Because I now have a small phone, it’s annoying to take notes on this thing, so I now carry around a small journal to take notes or keep track of ideas on the go. I’m even experimenting with leaving my phone at home and taking my journal with me to capture ideas while I’m out and about

I have this in addition to my main journal.

Learning Penmanship

On top of this, I want to improve my penmanship. I have a fountain pen but I want to use it to it’s full extent. I’ve started learning Spencerial script.

Publishing Content

I have made a small challenge to myself to share a learning (usually programming) once a week in a form of a video and blog post. The sharing doesn’t have to be amazing nor perfect but whatever I find interesting and wish to share to the world. Writing and making videos on this has been lots of fun.

Zig

I’ve started learning zig, starting on ziglings More on this soon…

Learning Spanish… again

Maybe a year ago, I was learning Spanish through the Paul Noble method. I’m starting this again while I walk Bruno in the mornings.

I like Latin dance and I’ve always wanted to learn another language. So there you go.

Animations

I purchased access to Josh Comeau’s Whimsical Animations course. I haven’t looked into this that much as I have a lot on my plate (maybe too much!).

What am I reading?

Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
- Started: 2026-06-12
Code by Charles Petzold
- Started: ???
The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
- Started: ???
Effective Typescript by Dan Vanderkam
- Started ???

Where am I?

I am currently in my hometown of Te Papaioea Palmerston North, Aotearoa New Zealand with my parents and have been doing so since the end of 2022 after moving back.

What am I doing?

I am working in a job I love, which is software development for a global contact lens manufacturer. This is the perfect intersection of my previous occupation, optometrist and my current one. I started this job in March 2023.

What are my other focuses?

Fitness

I am training for longevity and health. After years of weightlifting at the gym and pushing myself to be the strongest I can be, I want to find fun ways to stay fit and healthy.

Brazilian Jit-Jitsu (BJJ) 🥋

I started BJJ at the start of 2023. Recently, I got my blue belt. I do one gi and one no-gi class a week.

Latin Dance 🕺

I started Latin Dance (Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba) in mid 2023 (focusing on Salsa and Bachata). I also started Zouk at the start of 2024. I dance Salsa + Bachata once a week, and do Zouk once a fortnight.

Pole Dance 🤸‍♂️

I wanted to do something different and well outside my comfort zone with Pole Dance, which I started in mid-2023. At the moment, this is good training for flexibility and core - often what is missed in the gym. I attend 4 classes a week - 2 pole skills and 2 flex classes.

Weightlifting 🏋️

I still go to the gym after years of Weightlifting, starting this sport in 2013/2014. I don’t do Snatch and Clean and Jerk specifically, but I do squats and pulls. I have an online coach who comes up with a dynamic programme. I gym twice a week.

Creativity

I also want to keep my mind working:

📝 writing, that’s the purpose of this blog;
taking more 📷 photographs to inspire my creativity;
I want to be inspired by 🎬 film (trying to avoid “junk” media);
I want to 📚 read better books.

Alcohol Free

In 2024, I also made the decision to stop drinking alcohol.