We are all social, in the end

Project Radiant - Book
19, Nov 2025
Project Radiant in BETA

The book I have been writing for the last year under the working title AI.gov has a new name, Project Radiant and it now into the Beta-Reading Trenches. It’s been a minute since I last surfaced here, January, to be precise, which in writer time is roughly twelve existential crises…

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17, Nov 2025
Writing Through Life’s General Nonsense

Life does not politely step aside to let you write. It barges in with laundry, work stress, sudden illnesses, broken appliances, and family members asking, “Are you still writing that book?” Writing during chaos requires flexibility and humour. This weekend I was running the Scout BBQ at a local village…

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cup of tea
10, Nov 2025
Tea as a Writing Tool: A Very Scientific Study

Every writer has a ritual. Some burn candles. Some listen to whale noises. Some summon the dark spirits of productivity. I, being a person of refinement and strong British constitution, rely on tea, a staple, a comfort, a crutch, and occasionally the sole reason I remain upright during revisions. Tea…

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blank document
22, Oct 2025
The Terrifying Blank Page (And Why It Isn’t Actually Out to Get You)

There is nothing quite as menacing as the blank page. Not spiders, not tax letters, not even an unexpected knock on the door when you’re wearing pyjamas at 2 p.m. A blank page has a particular smugness to it, as if it’s daring you to try something, anything, and reminding…

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image of text
2, Oct 2025
Imposter Syndrome: The Uninvited Flatmate Who Never Does the Washing Up

If you’re a new writer, imposter syndrome has likely moved into your home, unpacked its emotional baggage, and made itself comfortable on your sofa. It doesn’t pay rent, it eats your snacks, and it whispers unhelpful commentary like “You’re not a real writer” and “Everyone else knows what they’re doing.”…

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…