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25articles
Trying to fit into a sports parents world
Feeling out of place on the sidelines? A reflective look at being a non‑sporty parent in a sports‑obsessed world, supporting kids to enjoy the game, build soft skills and find their own relationship with sport—without becoming a pushy “sports parent”.
Re-architecting Next Trains
One of the things I have learned from working in data and analytics is that continuous improvement never really ends. Even when something works, there is always another question worth asking: Can I do this better?
In the wings of graduation
A personal reflection on working behind the scenes at university graduations – floor managing ceremonies, data, and theatre to help others shine on stage.
Beyond Guardrails: Why Enterprise AI Needs a Semantic Control Plane
Enterprise AI needs more than guardrails. This article explores ontology, governance, and a semantic control plane for safer, context-aware agents.
What Ninja Tag taught me about technology strategy
How a kids’ obstacle game revealed a common failure in enterprise technology decision-making.
When Right Is Still Wrong
NASA learned the hard way: even “right” systems fail without shared meaning. Why your AI needs more than just data access to succeed.
Next Trains
You just want to know when the next train is. It should take three seconds. Instead it takes three apps, two page loads, and a mild existential crisis on a rain-soaked platform.
Return of the data centre
AI is driving a quiet shift back to hybrid architecture, with critical workloads and sensitive data moving on‑premise while the cloud remains the lab for experimentation, scale and convenience.
How Far Will Your AI‑Written CV Get You?
Every time you hit “submit,” you have to ask yourself — who am I really trying to please here? The recruiter reading my words, or the system scoring them?
Did cloud kill the mobile worker?
Cloud promised freedom for mobile workers, but spotty connectivity and AI dependency are turning the dream into a nightmare. Is offline-first the way back?
New year, same focus?
New Year resolutions fade, but lifelong curiosity endures. Reflections on Ri Christmas Lectures 2025, John McFall’s ESA clearance, and career pivots from Red Arrows dreams to data analytics and beyond. What’s your 2026 focus?
What if hiring worked like a chess clock?
The Pitch Switch is a fast, reciprocal hiring night: five‑minute candidate and employer pitches, visible countdowns, decision‑makers in the room, and “fast‑track” tokens to convert interest into scheduled interviews on the spot.
Is SAP HANA’s time up?
SAP HANA: past its prime or settling into its proper job? How SAP’s strategy matured—and where partners shine.
Whose Fault Is It, Really? A journey through fragmentation, blame, and performance
From UK railways to SaaS, fragmented responsibility leaves customers proving blame while providers cite labs and SLAs. This essay argues for shared observability, transparent hand‑offs, and performance targets users actually feel.
Can AI Tell What’s Funny? Teaching Humour to Machines
Can AI understand humour? A practical look at wordplay, absurdity, and how language models generate jokes—plus why human verification matters for writing and code. Clear takeaways for using generative AI to communicate better without losing judgement.
Don’t Train On Me—A Practical Way to Attach Permissions to Your Digital Content
Attach clear, portable permissions to your content—no LLM training, share rules, and version history—using standard web metadata plus a tiny blockchain anchor. Same solution, two explainers: a human‑friendly overview and a technical deep dive. Provenance without the crypto headache.
Kern Analytics, End-Dated: Why Closing the Company Isn’t Failure
Closing Kern Analytics wasn’t failure—it was the right end date. An honest look at contracting, detours behind the wheel, and staying passionate about data and analytics.
From Dogpile to Deepfakes of Truth: What Happens When GenAI Meets Your Messy Data
GenAI sounds authoritative—but clean data and solid MDM decide if it’s right. Why UK job specs skip “data cleansing,” and how that costs real decisions.
Decommissioning My Homelab: A Bittersweet Farewell
A personal journey through decommissioning a homelab, covering the migration of self-developed and open-source apps from on-prem hardware to a cloud-based setup. Discover lessons learned, technical hurdles, and why the spirit of homelabbing never really dies.
LaTeX: My latest go to for CVs and cover letters
There are many options available when creating your CV/resume. Here I explain why have opted to use LaTeX.
Decoy Data, Part 2
Encrypt real PII, display fake data for attackers. This clever, efficient security technique protects sensitive information
Decoy Data
Innovative strategy uses misdirection and encryption to protect sensitive data from breaches, offering an inventive approach to data security
Would a modular IT strategy bring added benefits?
Explore the benefits of a modular IT strategy that promotes flexibility, innovation, and tailored solutions for modern businesses
Can AI really help land a job?
Discover how AI can optimize your resume and improve job application success by understanding ATS systems and personalizing your professional journey