~/now

This is a now page, inspired by Derek Sivers. It’s a snapshot of what I’m focused on at this point in my life.

Time with my family

This is an enduring entry on my ~/now page. I always prioritise time spent with my family and especially with my children as they enter their teens. I practice answering with a resounding, “yes” when they want to do something together, when they want to talk, whatever. Yes. These are precious moments together.

Volunteering

• Clothed in Love: I’m the Board Chair of a little and mighty charitable organisation which collects high quality donations of children’s clothing and distributes these items to children in need, for free as a gift. This is an amazing opportunity to give back, and I am deeply respectful of the two co founders and all the volunteeers / donors who make this organisation so effective…
• School Foundation Board: I serve as a Trustee. I was asked to join so as to bring a new perspective with a view to instigate new approaches that ultimately lead to better educational and experiential outcomes. Learning a lot and giving my time / effort / experience. Early days. Great mix of people.
• ATP Coaching Practice: I’m coaching my coach. Ahem. We have a great reciprocal initiative going, where I coach / mentor my friend Lee to help define and develop his ongoing business strategy. In return, he coaches / mentors me on my return to rock climbing. We also hang as friends.

Technology Focus

• Deep dive into AI: I’m still at a shallow level, and learning about AI so that I can:
  • Advise and guide my kids (and others) as they grow and learn in an age where people are handing over opportunities of cognitive challenge and development
  • Improve my ability as a technologist, applying evolving skills to product development and in my consulting work.
  • As a part of my effort, I built this site using Astro with the help of Claude Code especially with CSS. I barely know how to spell CEssEss.
  • Next up, I’m going to complete a previous hobby project called 3pillars. This is an app I created to support a reductive / less is more mindset.
• Waitaha Canterbury Museum: This is a fractional advisory role, with numerous focus areas: resilient and performant systems, system integration, data architecture, cybersecurity, growing a high performing technology team, automation | workflow | efficiency & efficacy, product mindset & development, new/emerging technologies … all in service of the long term evolution of the Museum and the New Visitor Experience programme of work.

Adventures

• Rock Climbing: Beginning again. Really hard, and very very much fun. I’m really enjoying the journey to return to something that I loved with a deep passion. I’m finding my broader life experience to be invaluable as I climb now with a different mindset and needs. I’m getting stronger, and have some fun goals ahead.

Reading & Learning

• Siddhartha by Herman Hesse
• The Rock Warrior’s Way by Arno Ilgner
• World Without End by Christophe Blain and Jean-Marc Jancovici
• Belonging by Owen Eastwood
• Many things on the Waking Up app.

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Last updated: 20250623