We are all social, in the end

3, Feb 2025
Interview with Scout leader and Youtuber @Bigmaninthewoods

In 2023, I began writing what would become It’s Only an Hour a Week. Initially, I saw it as a fun collection of amusing Scouting stories. However, as I wrote, the focus shifted, it became a book about why I volunteer and the vital role adult volunteers play in Scouting.…

30, Jan 2025
Baked Camembert in a Sourdough loaf (served with a *cheeky steak)

*Cheeky steak recipe explained separately At Scouts we love to cook, so this is the first of a few recipes that we use on scout camp. We cook this for the adults – it is cooked predominantly as bribery for adult volunteers to either come on camp in the first…

9, Jan 2025
WIP – A technological, social commentary, political thriller

In the latest upcoming political thriller-meets-tech-dystopia, I will be serving up a cocktail of suspense, biting humour, and a sobering look at how Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been co-opted by the very people it promised to dethrone. Imagine a world where AI could have been humanity’s great equalizer, where algorithms…

17, Sep 2024
It’s only an hour a week – released on 19th September

In January 2023 I mentioned a work in progress about Scouting – It has taken a while, but it is finally being released this week. My Fifth book, has been written with the sole intention of encouraging more volunteers to join The Scout Association, and give existing volunteers a good…

14, Nov 2023
Tales from the Halfdeck released TODAY

It has been over a year since my dad and I started the journey of transcribing his old log book into digital form and now, after 62 years it is out in paperback and on kindle for the enjoyment of all. 62 years ago today Philip Wood spent his 17th…

31, Oct 2023
New book releases soon!

It has been a long year with a shoulder injury and procrastination delaying the completion of the new book that I’ve written in collaboration with my father. But we are now in the final two weeks before launch and it is actually more stressful it seems than all of the…

18, Aug 2023
Back working on the book

It’s been a few months with an injured shoulder, procrastination and a summer holiday, but I’ve come back refreshed and with much more motivation. I’ve been working on a book with my dad for the last year, but the last time I had done anything on it was January and…

Midshipmans log
30, Jun 2023
3 months of no writing and I cannot blame procrastination for a change

Just a few days after my birthday in February this year I had an unexpected turn when Parsonage-Turner Syndrome (PTS), a nerve disorder, stopped me in my tracks. In this blog post, I will share my personal experience of how PTS has disrupted my ability to lift things, site or…

weights
28, Jun 2023
Pegging hell that hurts… Parsonage-Turner Syndrome

Have you ever experienced sudden, intense shoulder pain that seemingly appeared out of nowhere? If not, count yourself lucky – I did, at the end of February and bloody hell did it hurt like anything. It turned out that I had a condition called Parsonage-Turner Syndrome (PTS). Although it is…

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5, Feb 2023
Procrastination and how not to deal with it

Procrastination is like that annoying relative who shows up uninvited and convinces you to put off your work for “just a few minutes.” Before you know it, that time turns into six hours and you’re left feeling guilty and unproductive. This week, like most, I have work, two “work in…