What I'm doing right now

19 July 2026

👋👋🏽👋🏿 Hello hello!

Like everyone else, I’ve been slowly baking in the heat of the summer. Excitingly, I’ve been doing that from my new home: a little flat I can call my own in Brockley. If you know anywhere good to explore, eat, or otherwise hang out, please do let me know.

I’m about a month in now. The move has eaten my energy for the last three or four months. It’s not decorated yet, but I’ve finished my smart home install and everything is finally out of the boxes. If I ever see another cardboard box, I might cry.

I’ve just been promoted at work. People keep asking me if that’s exciting. I’m mostly nervous. I’m going to be the new Lead Delivery Manager on the GOV.UK App, and I start in August.

I’m looking forward to it. I’m rubbish at taking my own advice, but if this were someone else, I’d say something like ‘you can only learn if you’re feeling uncomfortable and this is a good thing.’

I’m devastated to be leaving GOV.UK Pay. It’s been 5 years. I’ve made lifelong friends, done some excellent work, and I’m really proud of the state I’m leaving the team in. They’re going to do some incredible work this year on Open Banking and I can’t wait to see it.

Decorating

I promise not to go on and on about this, but I’ve set up a smart home and I’m very excited about it. It helps with my arthritis. It can detect if I have a fall, and it automates the lights at night: which is great for when I’m in pain and using my walking stick to get around. I’ve also managed to spend a week making the place nice. Pictures are up, the sofa’s been delivered. Success!

Exploring

I’m new to London, so I’ve started exploring. The standout so far is Telegraph Hill Park. If the Victorians had one redeeming quality, it was their ability to make a lovely park. The local cafe even runs a dating night just for people under 6 foot - nice to see people have a sense of humour, ha.

Playing

I’m only ten years behind the crowd, but I’ve become deeply obsessed with ‘Stardew Valley’. I started playing it co-op with a friend and it brought out my ‘I must optimise this’ tendencies. Which I love, but maybe aren’t great for cooperative play, ha! We’ll need to find something else to potter about on. Perhaps ‘RV There Yet?’, while I keep resetting days until each one is perfect.

Working

I’m wrapping up my time on GOV.UK Pay. We’ve just finished our PCI assessment, with about 75% fewer requests for evidence from the assessor than last years assessment. That was down to the hard work of the people being interviewed, though I’ll take some credit for the complete redesign of our assessment prep process this year.

I’ll try to write more on this blog about becoming a lead and what I learn along the way. If you want to know more about my experience, you can read my CV.

Arthritis

I had a week of pain in July, but that was the first in a few months. It’s over now, so it’s back to trying to lose weight, get fitter and look after myself.

Oh, and I’m 9 months sober. I thought it would be harder in the sunshine, but I’m doing well.