• Video games I loved recently…

    I’ve been on a real gaming tear this year. Back in January I wrote about Dave the Diver and Unpacking, and I thought I’d mention a few more Nintendo Switch games that I’ve been playing lately and really enjoyed:

    • Yoku’s Island Express – Rodd found this one recommended on Reddit for people who like no-stress platformers. You play a little bug postman who pushes a ball around an island, and it’s like a platformer crossed with pinball, two things I LOVE. The artwork and world building is really cool too.
    • Steamworld Dig 2 – Another fun platformer where you play a little robot exploring a (mostly) underground world, digging minerals and trying to solve a mystery. There were one or two places were I got stuck and had to look up how to solve something, but I managed to defeat the end boss today all on my own. Good times!
    • Palia – Anybody else playing this? I literally just rolled a character tonight. I’ve heard good things about it…

    We also spent some time playing Breath of the Wild (a friend lent it to me) and I can see why it won so many awards. It just wasn’t for me, though. I struggled with all the different mechanics, and every time I picked it up I had to relearn how to do everything. There was just too much. I like something a bit more casual and low stress. If you’ve got recommendations, please share them!


  • Photo Post

    “What in the world,” I wondered as I perused the pub menu, “is an IRISH SPICE BAG?!” Of course I had to order it. Chicken strips, fries, fried onions and capsicum, curry sauce, and chili. LOTS OF CHILI. By the end of it, I think I was hallucinating. “Pretty sure YOU’RE the Irish Spice Bag now!” he laughed. 😂😅🌶️

    “What in the world,” I wondered as I perused the pub menu, “is an IRISH SPICE BAG?!” Of course I had to order it. Chicken strips, fries, fried onions and capsicum, curry sauce, and chili. LOTS OF CHILI. By the end of it, I think I was hallucinating. “Pretty sure YOU’RE the Irish Spice Bag now!” he laughed. 😂😅🌶️

    “What in the world,” I wondered as I perused the pub menu, “is an IRISH SPICE BAG?!” Of course I had to order it. Chicken strips, fries, fried onions and capsicum, curry sauce, and chili. LOTS OF CHILI. By the end of it, I think I was hallucinating. “Pretty sure YOU’RE the Irish Spice Bag now!” he laughed. 😂😅🌶️


  • Photo Post

    Things bringing me joy today: Tim Walz and everything I learn about him 🇺🇸 , and our new Oodies. (Mine has the Ep 4 crawl on the back; Rodd is disappointed his didn’t come with Homer’s reaching broom. 😂 )

    Things bringing me joy today: Tim Walz and everything I learn about him 🇺🇸 , and our new Oodies. (Mine has the Ep 4 crawl on the back; Rodd is disappointed his didn’t come with Homer’s reaching broom. 😂 )

    Things bringing me joy today: Tim Walz and everything I learn about him 🇺🇸 , and our new Oodies. (Mine has the Ep 4 crawl on the back; Rodd is disappointed his didn’t come with Homer’s reaching broom. 😂 )


  • Photo Post

    Going to Europe next month = another Covid booster! After all, Oktoberfest is where we caught it back in 2022. 😷🍻 (Note to fellow NSW residents: official guidance is 1 shot per year, but overseas travel counts as a reason to get one sooner.)

    Going to Europe next month = another Covid booster! After all, Oktoberfest is where we caught it back in 2022. 😷🍻 (Note to fellow NSW residents: official guidance is 1 shot per year, but overseas travel counts as a reason to get one sooner.)


  • Photo Post

    We cashed in some free movie tickets to see Deadpool and Wolverine. Ehhh, it was okay. 🍿

    We cashed in some free movie tickets to see Deadpool and Wolverine. Ehhh, it was okay. 🍿


  • Photo Post

    Two #renovation victories today: the TV is officially on the wall! And the bathtub is long enough for me (a tall person) to stretch out my legs! 😍

    Two #renovation victories today: the TV is officially on the wall! And the bathtub is long enough for me (a tall person) to stretch out my legs! 😍

    Two #renovation victories today: the TV is officially on the wall! And the bathtub is long enough for me (a tall person) to stretch out my legs! 😍


  • Photo Post

    Thrilled to report that the stupid giant thin TV is the first thing moving back to the house, and by actual professionals this time! By end of the day it should be hanging on the wall. 😳

    Thrilled to report that the stupid giant thin TV is the first thing moving back to the house, and by actual professionals this time! By end of the day it should be hanging on the wall. 😳


  • Photo Post

    Hearty Beef and Barley Soup, made by me!

    Hearty Beef and Barley Soup, made by me!


  • Photo Post

    Sitting in Sydney, eating a Munich weisswurst brunch, and watching my old AWS DevRel team presenting a live event in Bangkok. ❤️ Great job @donnieprakoso @cathycrimson @shafrazr @seligmanadam #awscommunity

    Sitting in Sydney, eating a Munich weisswurst brunch, and watching my old AWS DevRel team presenting a live event in Bangkok. ❤️ Great job @donnieprakoso @cathycrimson @shafrazr @seligmanadam #awscommunity

    Sitting in Sydney, eating a Munich weisswurst brunch, and watching my old AWS DevRel team presenting a live event in Bangkok. ❤️ Great job @donnieprakoso @cathycrimson @shafrazr @seligmanadam #awscommunity

    Sitting in Sydney, eating a Munich weisswurst brunch, and watching my old AWS DevRel team presenting a live event in Bangkok. ❤️ Great job @donnieprakoso @cathycrimson @shafrazr @seligmanadam #awscommunity


  • Nightly Puzzling

    For the past month, I’ve been establishing a new nightly routine. First, at 10pm I have an automatic reminder to write a journal entry. I’ve been using the iOS Journal app for this, which allows me to easily incorporate photos and maps from the day. I haven’t been using any of their prompts, but rather just jotting down what I did. I like being able to look back at everything I’ve done.

    And then come the puzzles! Nothing like a little brain exercise to close out the day.

    • Both Rodd and I do the NYT Connections. Maybe this is a humblebrag, but I’m always surprised when I see people complain that it’s hard! We’ve actually been challenging each other to find the purple category earlier rather than leave it to last.
    • We also both do the five different daily puzzles over at Word Nerd. I’ve only managed to get all 23 Words like twice, and most days I struggle to hit 10. Rodd’s much better than me at that one! Maybe I’d have better luck earlier in the day with some caffeine in me. We also compete to see who can do the shortest Word Chain.
    • I do the Daily Waffle and Waffle Royale (and every now and then the Deluxe Weekly Waffle). These are Scrabble-style letter tile switching games, with a fun mechanism that highlights when letters are correct or jumbled up.
    • Rodd likes the OEC’s Pick 5 and Tradle games. These are where you have to identify which countries export certain goods. He’s really good at them both, but he thinks the Pick 5 is more fun.

    Have you got any fun puzzle recommendations for us?



ABOUT

My name is Kris. I’ve been blogging since the 90’s. I live in Sydney, Australia, and I spent most of my career in the tech industry.

No AI used in writing this blog, ever. 100% human-generated.


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Special thanks to Matt Hinrichs for the site logo!