meg 🌸
@cactusflamingo.bsky.social
software engineer, previously principal QA engineer. pedals and runs. honorary yorkshire lass. collector of ancient code scrolls 🧠🌶️
words: https://cactus-flamingo.ghost.io/
words: https://cactus-flamingo.ghost.io/
There’s a really big, old, crusty ginger cat that hangs around my neighbourhood and I hadn’t seen him all through the winter months. Given how dishevelled he looked, I feared the worst, but I saw him again today. Tentatively, I approached him and gave him some strokes & he let out the biggest meow ❤️
February 11, 2026 at 2:01 PM
There’s a really big, old, crusty ginger cat that hangs around my neighbourhood and I hadn’t seen him all through the winter months. Given how dishevelled he looked, I feared the worst, but I saw him again today. Tentatively, I approached him and gave him some strokes & he let out the biggest meow ❤️
I quite like that my company offers holiday buy - so I can buy an extra week of annual leave on top of my normal allowance. This week I’m going to just enjoy not being at work, with no pressure to travel anywhere or do a proper holiday. Just a nice rest from the madness.
February 9, 2026 at 9:04 AM
I quite like that my company offers holiday buy - so I can buy an extra week of annual leave on top of my normal allowance. This week I’m going to just enjoy not being at work, with no pressure to travel anywhere or do a proper holiday. Just a nice rest from the madness.
Really need to stop telling myself I’m struggling because I’m bad at my job when it’s actually due to organisational dysfunction. That doesn’t mean I won’t acknowledge when I’m at fault, but I do need to stop always blaming myself. Especially when my struggles are internal & don’t affect my output.
February 7, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Really need to stop telling myself I’m struggling because I’m bad at my job when it’s actually due to organisational dysfunction. That doesn’t mean I won’t acknowledge when I’m at fault, but I do need to stop always blaming myself. Especially when my struggles are internal & don’t affect my output.
Poll:
You’re working on a Jira task and have been providing updates. It’s 95% done, it’s fully tested & you’re waiting for a final review before you merge it. A team leader from an adjacent team pulls your task off your board & puts it in their backlog with no communication.
Is this weird?
You’re working on a Jira task and have been providing updates. It’s 95% done, it’s fully tested & you’re waiting for a final review before you merge it. A team leader from an adjacent team pulls your task off your board & puts it in their backlog with no communication.
Is this weird?
January 29, 2026 at 8:37 AM
Poll:
You’re working on a Jira task and have been providing updates. It’s 95% done, it’s fully tested & you’re waiting for a final review before you merge it. A team leader from an adjacent team pulls your task off your board & puts it in their backlog with no communication.
Is this weird?
You’re working on a Jira task and have been providing updates. It’s 95% done, it’s fully tested & you’re waiting for a final review before you merge it. A team leader from an adjacent team pulls your task off your board & puts it in their backlog with no communication.
Is this weird?
Old habits die hard - I created a quality guild at work. Now I’ve got to run the thing. Why do I do this to myself? 😂
January 27, 2026 at 9:05 AM
Old habits die hard - I created a quality guild at work. Now I’ve got to run the thing. Why do I do this to myself? 😂
My doctor has told me to give up all tea, even decaf, even herbal.
As a Brit, I’m finding this unfathomable.
As a Brit, I’m finding this unfathomable.
January 15, 2026 at 4:31 PM
My doctor has told me to give up all tea, even decaf, even herbal.
As a Brit, I’m finding this unfathomable.
As a Brit, I’m finding this unfathomable.
Buckling in to watch the new episode of Industry. Been looking forward to this.
January 12, 2026 at 8:22 PM
Buckling in to watch the new episode of Industry. Been looking forward to this.
Anyone got any tips for becoming more impervious to organisational dysfunction? There’s a habit at my workplace for higher ups to panic publicly and the stress seems to spread around everyone, leading to some really suboptimal behaviour. I’m desperately trying to not be disheartened by it.
January 10, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Anyone got any tips for becoming more impervious to organisational dysfunction? There’s a habit at my workplace for higher ups to panic publicly and the stress seems to spread around everyone, leading to some really suboptimal behaviour. I’m desperately trying to not be disheartened by it.
Finding out that the org is letting all the QA staff go has certainly put a dampener on my morning. It’s bringing back all the memories of my last QA role, where I was told I was integral to the business then a week later they said my role was no longer needed because everyone else could do it.
January 5, 2026 at 10:59 AM
Finding out that the org is letting all the QA staff go has certainly put a dampener on my morning. It’s bringing back all the memories of my last QA role, where I was told I was integral to the business then a week later they said my role was no longer needed because everyone else could do it.
Back at work today! I’m feeling fresh and rested for the first time in months. Let’s see how long that feeling lasts.
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Back at work today! I’m feeling fresh and rested for the first time in months. Let’s see how long that feeling lasts.
Just passed my driving theory test last night, which means I can officially book a practical test. That’s a whole challenge in itself - between the bots and scalpers and massive backlog, it’ll be at least April/May before I can do it. Not that I’m anywhere near ready - lots more practice needed.
December 18, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Just passed my driving theory test last night, which means I can officially book a practical test. That’s a whole challenge in itself - between the bots and scalpers and massive backlog, it’ll be at least April/May before I can do it. Not that I’m anywhere near ready - lots more practice needed.
It’s always a struggle to think for the rest of the day after a driving lesson. It seems to totally exhaust my brain. Hoping that it becomes easier soon - I’ve been learning since April and I still find it quite overwhelming. Guess I must be a slow learner!
December 9, 2025 at 3:33 PM
It’s always a struggle to think for the rest of the day after a driving lesson. It seems to totally exhaust my brain. Hoping that it becomes easier soon - I’ve been learning since April and I still find it quite overwhelming. Guess I must be a slow learner!
My partner is having a bit of a time with folks on his team expecting him to pick up all of the Christmas slack because we don’t have kids. As if our family and friends and other responsibilities don’t count at all. It’s gross.
December 5, 2025 at 9:42 AM
My partner is having a bit of a time with folks on his team expecting him to pick up all of the Christmas slack because we don’t have kids. As if our family and friends and other responsibilities don’t count at all. It’s gross.
I feel somewhat bereft now that my massage course has concluded. Even though I know I need the rest, I really want a new learning adventure.
December 1, 2025 at 9:45 AM
I feel somewhat bereft now that my massage course has concluded. Even though I know I need the rest, I really want a new learning adventure.
Reposted by meg 🌸
Stay awhile and listen. 🔊🎶
(Matt Uelmen - Tristram Village)
(Matt Uelmen - Tristram Village)
May 6, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Stay awhile and listen. 🔊🎶
(Matt Uelmen - Tristram Village)
(Matt Uelmen - Tristram Village)
Things are gonna get interesting in 2026. Saw a job advert for my place for a principal eng role, mentions a large scale Java/Kotlin migration away from C#. We currently use C#, but just got a new VP from a Java/Kotlin house. They mentioned “big changes” coming in passing. Oh the joy.
November 29, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Things are gonna get interesting in 2026. Saw a job advert for my place for a principal eng role, mentions a large scale Java/Kotlin migration away from C#. We currently use C#, but just got a new VP from a Java/Kotlin house. They mentioned “big changes” coming in passing. Oh the joy.
Today I got the news that I passed my exams for my massage therapy course 😁 It’s taken a lot of hard work over the last 6 months and I am so glad it’s paid off. With how stressful it was, I feel like I need many massages to recover 😂
November 26, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Today I got the news that I passed my exams for my massage therapy course 😁 It’s taken a lot of hard work over the last 6 months and I am so glad it’s paid off. With how stressful it was, I feel like I need many massages to recover 😂
Time for a cosy Sunday afternoon read. Brain is still feeling super slow but hopefully I can handle this.
November 2, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Time for a cosy Sunday afternoon read. Brain is still feeling super slow but hopefully I can handle this.
Driving in Leeds be like…
(glad it’s not me who has to do it)
(glad it’s not me who has to do it)
November 1, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Driving in Leeds be like…
(glad it’s not me who has to do it)
(glad it’s not me who has to do it)
Burnout is a crafty fucker - it let me think I had just about scraped through all of the big obligations I had, and then loudly announced itself by sitting me on my arse after a stomach bug and not letting me get up again. Even yoga feels too strenuous right now. Guess I’ve gotta take it easy.
November 1, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Burnout is a crafty fucker - it let me think I had just about scraped through all of the big obligations I had, and then loudly announced itself by sitting me on my arse after a stomach bug and not letting me get up again. Even yoga feels too strenuous right now. Guess I’ve gotta take it easy.
Looking at gaudy Rightmove listings whilst listening to the build music from The Sims is becoming a new favourite pastime.
October 24, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Looking at gaudy Rightmove listings whilst listening to the build music from The Sims is becoming a new favourite pastime.
The agony of finding a song which I want to play on loop all afternoon but it loops terribly 😭
October 17, 2025 at 12:29 PM
The agony of finding a song which I want to play on loop all afternoon but it loops terribly 😭
Japan Railway Journal is just so delightful. Thanks NHK World for making this available to me 😂 I love being able to do deep dives on various Japanese trains for no reason.
October 11, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Japan Railway Journal is just so delightful. Thanks NHK World for making this available to me 😂 I love being able to do deep dives on various Japanese trains for no reason.
So you can ask Slack “What does {name}do?” and it comes up with some AI generated summary based on your posts… it says that I’m a QA engineer who provides technical support, referencing a blog I wrote and on-call activities I did. I guess my past careers shape my present approach?
October 6, 2025 at 10:06 AM
So you can ask Slack “What does {name}do?” and it comes up with some AI generated summary based on your posts… it says that I’m a QA engineer who provides technical support, referencing a blog I wrote and on-call activities I did. I guess my past careers shape my present approach?
Now that the wedding is all done and dusted, I can actually focus on other things, like trying to meet new people in this city of mine. Or… I could get a motorbike license and drive many miles down the road to my old city and my long term friends. The license feels more doable 😅
October 5, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Now that the wedding is all done and dusted, I can actually focus on other things, like trying to meet new people in this city of mine. Or… I could get a motorbike license and drive many miles down the road to my old city and my long term friends. The license feels more doable 😅