As is annual tradition, here are my 2023 highlights. It's been a big year!

A new job, lots of time at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), Ella started at a new school, a trip to Canada, a roadtrip for Wookies in the Woods, and a whole lot of video work. Here's the full list in somewhat chronological order:

  • Built an AV rack for Drum recording gear
  • Gibson Custom Shop Silverburst Guitar acquired
  • Rebuilt Miter Saw station (so many drawers)
  • Caitlin and Dave visit Raleigh
  • Canes Hockey game at PNC with C&D in Red Hat box
  • Smoked a Brisket
  • Cars and Coffee with the R32
  • Sawstop Table Saw arrives! (Farewell trusty Ridgid)
  • Finally embrace the Festool ecosystem and it is glorious (sanders and dust collector)
  • Total Network Rebuild - I'm going 10 gig with Unifi and fiber!
  • Ella accepted into Montessori
  • Publish my first proper YouTube video - March 17th
  • Change jobs at Red Hat - Become a Cloud Success Architect (CSA) after 5 years as a TAM
  • Brent visits Raleigh!
  • Fully mic'd the drum kit with Brent
  • The 10 gig networking video
  • Wookies in the Woods!
  • Autocross in the R - my first motorsports event in the USA
  • NC Zoo with Ella
  • The Tailscale video
  • Signed up for a real track day at Virginia International Raceway which means car prep!
  • Brake upgrades! with issues (new pads and caliper issues rubbing on new two piece disc hats). Nightmare!
  • Kayaking on Falls Lake with Ella for my birthday
  • Quickjacks
  • VIR Memorial Day weekend with Tidewater - First time on track in USA - PB 2.27
  • Track day(s) blog post thread
  • NCCar Track Day
  • Dedicated track wheels and tyres arrive
  • VIR with PCA Carolina
  • Our neighbour removes almost all their trees :(
  • DIY Golf R Intercooler Upgrade - blog post
  • Self-Hosted Episode 100 💯 🥳
  • VIR with Chin - PB 2:18.09
  • Said farewell to our Golf Mk4 R32
  • Became mildly obsessed with Coffee and Chemex
  • Left Red Hat after nearly 6 years
  • Joined Tailscale as Developer Advocate
  • Chicago - DevOpsDays conference (mmm Deep Dish)
  • Ella's first day at Montessori
  • Took Ella to Butterfly House in Durham
  • 5 year anniversary of emigrating - where does the time go?
  • New Orleans with Tailscale (and Cat)
  • Canadian Rockies roadtrip with Mum and Brent
  • Factorio binge
  • Mum visits Raleigh
  • Promoted to Head of Dev Rel at Tailscale
  • AlleyCat first public recital
  • VIR with PCA FSR (signed off solo!) - PB 2:20.59
  • All Things Open
  • Caitlin visits Raleigh (Pumpkin patch!)
  • UK backup system total failure
  • Chicago - Kubecon
  • Bambu X1 Carbon
  • Peppa Pig live!
  • Bonus Room reshuffle
  • Organisation resolution - make places for everything and put things in them. If there's no place, it's gone. Gridfinity!
  • VIR with Tidewater - PB 2:16.01
  • UK backup system total rebuild (thanks Gary!)
  • Framework Ryzen laptop
  • Garage gets a mini-split!!
  • Dumped Plex
  • Going overboard with the picture wall