Kind: Notes

As previously indicated, I'm not anticipating cosplaying anybody. But I think I could do Greg Universe.

Not young Greg Universe, the Star Child of 'Story for Steven'... which seems to be the only variety anybody's ever cosplayed as before if an image search is to be believed. No, I mean: overweight old balding Greg Universe. I could totally pull that look off.

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Composite image showing Greg Universe from Steven Universe, in both his 'young, rock star' version and the more-familiar 'old balding car wash owner who lives in his van' version.

Fake tan lines, white t-shirt (I'd probably make a 'guitar dad' one!), sweatpants, carrying a guitar. Easy.

Again, not that I'm planning to. Just saying that I could...

Still at MegaConLive. I've not done this kind of con before (and still wouldn't, were it not for my tweenager and her various obsessions). Not my jam, and that's fine.

But if there's one thing for which I can sing it's praises: everybody we've met is super friendly and nice. Sure, you can loudly telegraph your fandoms and identities via cosplay, accessories, masks, badges, bracelets or whatever... but it's also just a friendly community of folks to just talk to.

The fashion choices are, more than anything, just an excuse to engage: a way to say "hey, here's a conversation starter if you'd like to talk to me!"

Overheard a conversation between my kid and another of a similar age, and there was a heartwarming moment where the other kid said, "oh wow, I thought I was the only one!" Adorbs.

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Convention stage with MegaConLive branding.

I may have been dragged to MegaConLive London by my multi-fandom loving 12-year-old, but I at least managed to find somebody worth getting a selfie with.

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Dan Q with Eddie Bowley.

I think my "six seven"-obsessed younger child was in the kitchen with a biro earlier. How do I know, you ask?

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Close up of a bunch of bananas. The numbers 6 and 7 have been drawn on them in ball point pen.

Well my day, week, and year (which has been off to a slightly ropey start) got a whole heap better today when I received a postcard from August (@august@chaos.social) & Sappho (@kruemmelspalter@chaos.social), sent from 39c3 on a CCC postcard... with a CCC stamp (thanks, Deutsche Post)!

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Both sides of a postcard. The reverse shows a red-on-black illustration of the shape of a computer keyboard, superimposed upon the outline of a star, alongside, white text reading 'Chaos Computer Club'. On the front is the message: 'My girlfriend and I really love your blog, so when we saw that you accept postcards, we knew we had to send you one from this year's Chaos Communication Congress - 39c3! You're awesome, please keep doing what you're doing! August & Sappho @august@chaos.social (Mastodon) kruemmelspalter.org (Website)'.

Super cool, and exactly the mood boost I needed today.

Tonight I learned that when my electric car gets down to 5% battery, it sounds an alarm.
And that when it gets down to 4% battery, it sounds a louder alarm.
And that when it gets down to 3% battery, it engages 'limited performance' mode and shows a picture of a tortoise.
And that when it gets down to 2%, and you've already turned off the heating and the radio and you're wondering how much power the windscreen wipers are using... that's when it stops showing you it's estimated range.
Fortunately, I then only had half a mile left to go. But for a while there it felt a little bit hairy!

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Electronic car dashboard showing 3% battery, a 'limited performance' warning, and an icon of a turtle in a yellow circle.

Bitterly cold and starkly beautiful, this morning: West Oxfordshire is blanketed in an impenetrably thick freezing fog.

It's quite pretty, though I'm regretting not bringing my gloves out with me!

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Tree-flanked fields almost impossible to discern through a blanket of thick white fog.

Not kink-shaming anyone, but I'm not sure I want to go to the 'toilets viewing area'.

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Sign above a door saying 'toilets' and 'viewing area' on separate lines, but looking slightly like they might be a single sentence.

The younger kids' taekwondo school put on a free 'new years workout' class this morning. It was pretty awesome.

My watch says my heart rate averaged 146bpm, peaking at 169bpm. It's possible I'm not as fit as I used to be. 😅

But at least I don't feel like I might die, like I did during the 'dads go free' promotion last year. Progress?

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In a gym environment with punchbags visible in the background Dan, a white man wearing a black t-shirt, throws a right jab, alongside others who are doing the same.

As part of my efforts to reclaim the living room from the children, I'm building a new gaming PC for the playroom. She's called Bee, and - thanks to the absolute insanity that is The Tower 300 case from Thermaltake - she's one of the most bonkers PC cases I've ever worked in.

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On a desk cluttered with computer parts, a partially-built PC stands in an irregular-hexagonal prism shaped case with vented yellow sides and a three-pane angled glass front.

Tintern Abbey's looking especially beautiful in the fresh snow, this morning.

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A partially-ruined stone monastery juts out of a snowy plain in a wooded valley, under bright blue skies.

Our dog has decided that the perfect place to lie down at our holiday accommodation is... on a staircase whose carpet is the same colour as her!

I'm grateful for her very-visible blep... or I'd have tripped over this camouflaged pupper several times already!

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A champagne-coloured French Bulldog lies on a step of a staircase carpeted in the same colour as herself, u her tongue in medium-blep.

Back at the Rollright Stones fire New Year's Day, per family tradition. This year the younger child counted 74, the elder 59. The curse that prevents you counting the same number twice continues!

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A man with blue hair points at some standing stones.