Peter
@gatesheadgeek.bsky.social
Yorkshire-raised, Smoggie-born engineer with a penchant for photography, LEGO, travel, food & wine. Based in Tyneside since 2007, but once lived & worked in New Zealand. Servant to Hild the cat & occasionally to her brother Bede. Blood donor.🏳️🌈 he/him/his
Pretty intense day of data crunching today which seemed to be well received by the client. Pretty unsustainable workload at the moment though, with multiple projects (and sub-projects) requiring my focus. Another project opportunity landed this week too, with my inputs likely also required on that 🤯
November 11, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Pretty intense day of data crunching today which seemed to be well received by the client. Pretty unsustainable workload at the moment though, with multiple projects (and sub-projects) requiring my focus. Another project opportunity landed this week too, with my inputs likely also required on that 🤯
Currently watching Murder Before Evensong, based on Rev Richard Coles’s book. Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom from Potter films) plays Canon Clement really well. It’s an enjoyable whodunnit
November 11, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Currently watching Murder Before Evensong, based on Rev Richard Coles’s book. Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom from Potter films) plays Canon Clement really well. It’s an enjoyable whodunnit
I miss having Wilko in town and city centres. It filled a useful gap for miscellaneous DIY products, electrical spares and hardware that avoided a trip to B&Q etc. Yes you can order things online but sometimes it’s good to be able to browse and compare in-store.
November 9, 2025 at 1:53 PM
I miss having Wilko in town and city centres. It filled a useful gap for miscellaneous DIY products, electrical spares and hardware that avoided a trip to B&Q etc. Yes you can order things online but sometimes it’s good to be able to browse and compare in-store.
My Brick Borrow journey continues. This set is about 2/3 complete - just the street setting to finish. They’ve now added the Lego Titanic to sets that can be borrowed, but I think that’ll be in high demand and also have a slow turnover due its size and complexity.
November 8, 2025 at 5:25 PM
My Brick Borrow journey continues. This set is about 2/3 complete - just the street setting to finish. They’ve now added the Lego Titanic to sets that can be borrowed, but I think that’ll be in high demand and also have a slow turnover due its size and complexity.
Having donated blood platelets last week, I’ve been told that my donation has gone to the local Freeman Hospital here in Newcastle. It’s great to hear they’re being used wherever they go, but particularly so when it goes to a local facility.
November 7, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Having donated blood platelets last week, I’ve been told that my donation has gone to the local Freeman Hospital here in Newcastle. It’s great to hear they’re being used wherever they go, but particularly so when it goes to a local facility.
Crappy day at work. Trying to juggle too many pressing tasks and projects and not focusing enough on any
November 3, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Crappy day at work. Trying to juggle too many pressing tasks and projects and not focusing enough on any
Hmm. The choice seems to be between posting into the void here on BlueSky or the AI bots, rage posting and facebook-esque horror of Threads. Some choice that is!
November 1, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Hmm. The choice seems to be between posting into the void here on BlueSky or the AI bots, rage posting and facebook-esque horror of Threads. Some choice that is!
Staying at my mum’s this weekend. She’s deaf and has her Echo Dot playing music in her bedroom next door. Might need to put my AirPods in …
November 1, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Staying at my mum’s this weekend. She’s deaf and has her Echo Dot playing music in her bedroom next door. Might need to put my AirPods in …
Just got messaged by a guy on Grindr who was apparently in Denver. Played along for a few minutes and then got bored and blocked.
November 1, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Just got messaged by a guy on Grindr who was apparently in Denver. Played along for a few minutes and then got bored and blocked.
Almost exactly 21 years ago (oof!) this was my view of Auckland harbour from my new New Zealand employer’s apartment. I stayed here for 2 weeks while finding a place to rent. Made quite a change from suburban Birmingham!
November 1, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Almost exactly 21 years ago (oof!) this was my view of Auckland harbour from my new New Zealand employer’s apartment. I stayed here for 2 weeks while finding a place to rent. Made quite a change from suburban Birmingham!
Famous last words, but it looks like Reeves has survived the latest attempted political assassination. Feels like all prospective cabinet ministers need to have party tax specialists look at all their financial affairs. If it already happens, they’re not looking hard enough. Too much naivety about
October 30, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Famous last words, but it looks like Reeves has survived the latest attempted political assassination. Feels like all prospective cabinet ministers need to have party tax specialists look at all their financial affairs. If it already happens, they’re not looking hard enough. Too much naivety about
This is a beautifully observed puece about Scales’s talents. Its sad tgat sges died but by apl accoubts the dementia had been cruel to her and her husband Timothy West died a year ago. RIP www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
Fawlty Towers actor Prunella Scales dies aged 93
Actor portrayed Sybil Fawlty and later charmed viewers with her canal boat journeys alongside husband Timothy West
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:18 PM
This is a beautifully observed puece about Scales’s talents. Its sad tgat sges died but by apl accoubts the dementia had been cruel to her and her husband Timothy West died a year ago. RIP www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
Resisting the temptation to post about the early dark evening …oh wait….
October 26, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Resisting the temptation to post about the early dark evening …oh wait….
My kitchen and hallway floor is Amtico and after 15 years probably needs stripping and retreating, but for now it’s had two cleans with the maintainer/cleaner today and is looking a lot better. Not surprising given the colour of the water after the first floorwash!
October 26, 2025 at 12:10 PM
My kitchen and hallway floor is Amtico and after 15 years probably needs stripping and retreating, but for now it’s had two cleans with the maintainer/cleaner today and is looking a lot better. Not surprising given the colour of the water after the first floorwash!
Re-watching Schitts Creek from the start. It’s still as good, especially Catherine O’Hara obviously.
October 25, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Re-watching Schitts Creek from the start. It’s still as good, especially Catherine O’Hara obviously.
Having shared a photo of my morning walk along the Tyne, here’s the evening view looking west. The Metro bridge is in foreground, with the King Edward rail and Redheugh road bridges behind.
October 22, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Having shared a photo of my morning walk along the Tyne, here’s the evening view looking west. The Metro bridge is in foreground, with the King Edward rail and Redheugh road bridges behind.
The view makes up for walking to work in the dark.
October 21, 2025 at 6:12 AM
The view makes up for walking to work in the dark.
Enjoyable last hour of work with Google Earth and railmaponline checking out rail opportunities in the north east ahead of a meeting tomorrow.
October 20, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Enjoyable last hour of work with Google Earth and railmaponline checking out rail opportunities in the north east ahead of a meeting tomorrow.
I know Boots & Poundland are very different stores but I bought a bottle of Diet Coke at the latter for 1/2 the cost at the former. I’ve thought that prices of drinks at stores doing meal deals is inflated & this does little to dispel my suspicion. Especially when Boots offer 2 @ £2.60 & 1 for £1.99
October 18, 2025 at 5:27 PM
I know Boots & Poundland are very different stores but I bought a bottle of Diet Coke at the latter for 1/2 the cost at the former. I’ve thought that prices of drinks at stores doing meal deals is inflated & this does little to dispel my suspicion. Especially when Boots offer 2 @ £2.60 & 1 for £1.99
I have the joys of a 3 hour teams meeting starting shortly. I suggested to the organiser that 120 slides of content might not be feasible in 3 hours, given that there are bound to be questions given the design coordination subject matter. 🤷🏻♂️
October 16, 2025 at 7:36 AM
I have the joys of a 3 hour teams meeting starting shortly. I suggested to the organiser that 120 slides of content might not be feasible in 3 hours, given that there are bound to be questions given the design coordination subject matter. 🤷🏻♂️
BMW have set aside £200m to deal with FCA’s car finance mis-selling judgement. BMW told me I wasn’t a victim of the discretionary commission arrangement that originally sparked things, I’m hoping something may be due with BMW seemingly being the sole financier @martinlewis.moneysavingexpert.com
October 12, 2025 at 6:59 PM
BMW have set aside £200m to deal with FCA’s car finance mis-selling judgement. BMW told me I wasn’t a victim of the discretionary commission arrangement that originally sparked things, I’m hoping something may be due with BMW seemingly being the sole financier @martinlewis.moneysavingexpert.com
Listened to Gyles Bandreth’s Rosebud podcast with Ben Elton on the way home from Yorkshire to cheer me up after an annoying day with family. Really enjoyed the gentle humour. There e been some great guests & Gyles B is always entertaining
October 12, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Listened to Gyles Bandreth’s Rosebud podcast with Ben Elton on the way home from Yorkshire to cheer me up after an annoying day with family. Really enjoyed the gentle humour. There e been some great guests & Gyles B is always entertaining
A friend bought me a www.brickborrow.com subscription for my birthday. I’m running out of space for more Lego so this is the next best thing! Use this referral code - 87CF55A - and you’ll get free shipping on an order if you sign up.
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October 11, 2025 at 7:56 PM
A friend bought me a www.brickborrow.com subscription for my birthday. I’m running out of space for more Lego so this is the next best thing! Use this referral code - 87CF55A - and you’ll get free shipping on an order if you sign up.
Oh no! Diane Keaton has died. Hadn’t realised she was the same age as my mum.
October 11, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Oh no! Diane Keaton has died. Hadn’t realised she was the same age as my mum.
Interesting to see that the FCA has outlined its proposed compensation for those buying cars with PCPs etc. I initially complained regarding my two Mini PCP deals but was told there was no discretionary commission arrangement. I doubt they’ll be part of the other two categories either, but let’s see
October 9, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Interesting to see that the FCA has outlined its proposed compensation for those buying cars with PCPs etc. I initially complained regarding my two Mini PCP deals but was told there was no discretionary commission arrangement. I doubt they’ll be part of the other two categories either, but let’s see