Steph Gray
@lesteph.com
Digital, woodworking and eco dad living (repair cafe, EV, solar, heat pump) in south London. Work-wise now: celebrating 200 years of rail, commemorating VE Day and troubleshooting tech/supplier/team issues. https://stephgray.com/now
This on public holidays around the world is fun - I learned that Nepal has over 30 public holiday days/year, and presumably very little gets done in Sep/Oct there...
www.not-ship.com/when-do-most...
/via @puntofisso.bsky.social's newsletter (worth subscribing to even if you're not a 'data' person)
www.not-ship.com/when-do-most...
/via @puntofisso.bsky.social's newsletter (worth subscribing to even if you're not a 'data' person)
When do most people have the day off?
It's not the day you think.
www.not-ship.com
December 29, 2025 at 12:39 PM
This on public holidays around the world is fun - I learned that Nepal has over 30 public holiday days/year, and presumably very little gets done in Sep/Oct there...
www.not-ship.com/when-do-most...
/via @puntofisso.bsky.social's newsletter (worth subscribing to even if you're not a 'data' person)
www.not-ship.com/when-do-most...
/via @puntofisso.bsky.social's newsletter (worth subscribing to even if you're not a 'data' person)
Reposted by Steph Gray
Unbelievably, #DuvetKnowItsChristmas generates such good will on social media that over the years we've raised somewhere approaching a quarter of a million quid for homeless charities. If you can spare a bob or two, sling some to Centrepoint, and here's the link: www.gofundme.com/f/duvet-know...
Donate to Duvet Know It's Christmas, 2025, organized by Rhodri Marsden
Unbelievably, it's the 15th year of this thing.
What is it?
Improbably, the nig… Rhodri Marsden needs your support for Duvet Know It's Christmas, 2025
www.gofundme.com
December 24, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Unbelievably, #DuvetKnowItsChristmas generates such good will on social media that over the years we've raised somewhere approaching a quarter of a million quid for homeless charities. If you can spare a bob or two, sling some to Centrepoint, and here's the link: www.gofundme.com/f/duvet-know...
It’s starting… #duvetknowitschristmas
December 20, 2025 at 5:24 PM
It’s starting… #duvetknowitschristmas
As we get all reflective and #wrapped at this point in December, here's my little technique for looking back over year - my first (and so far only) TikTok:
www.tiktok.com/@lestephg/vi...
www.tiktok.com/@lestephg/vi...
How to get things in perspective by making a timeline of your year and looking back at the journey you’ve been on #reflection #mentalhealth #2025goals #coaching
TikTok video by Steph
www.tiktok.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:41 PM
As we get all reflective and #wrapped at this point in December, here's my little technique for looking back over year - my first (and so far only) TikTok:
www.tiktok.com/@lestephg/vi...
www.tiktok.com/@lestephg/vi...
Reposted by Steph Gray
A thread of how to say “nobody asked you” from around the world, starting with this one…
A Lithuanian way of telling someone to mind their own business is ne tavo kiaulės, ne tavo pupos. It means “not your pigs, not your beans.”
A Lithuanian way of telling someone to mind their own business is ne tavo kiaulės, ne tavo pupos. It means “not your pigs, not your beans.”
December 17, 2025 at 1:11 PM
A thread of how to say “nobody asked you” from around the world, starting with this one…
A Lithuanian way of telling someone to mind their own business is ne tavo kiaulės, ne tavo pupos. It means “not your pigs, not your beans.”
A Lithuanian way of telling someone to mind their own business is ne tavo kiaulės, ne tavo pupos. It means “not your pigs, not your beans.”
Installing solar panels won't automatically mean you get paid for surplus you export to the grid - you need to set up your export tariff. Just been sorting out my mother-in-law's tariff and export admin - though she's missed two summers-worth of export revenue. Installers should be on top of this.
December 12, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Installing solar panels won't automatically mean you get paid for surplus you export to the grid - you need to set up your export tariff. Just been sorting out my mother-in-law's tariff and export admin - though she's missed two summers-worth of export revenue. Installers should be on top of this.
Reposted by Steph Gray
The Top 10 (non job links) from my newsletter this year -
About the GOV Reuse Library
reuselibrary-dev.apps.cloud-platform.service.justice.gov.uk/about.html
...was top by a country mile.
About the GOV Reuse Library
reuselibrary-dev.apps.cloud-platform.service.justice.gov.uk/about.html
...was top by a country mile.
About the Reuse Library
reuselibrary-dev.apps.cloud-platform.service.justice.gov.uk
December 11, 2025 at 12:01 PM
The Top 10 (non job links) from my newsletter this year -
About the GOV Reuse Library
reuselibrary-dev.apps.cloud-platform.service.justice.gov.uk/about.html
...was top by a country mile.
About the GOV Reuse Library
reuselibrary-dev.apps.cloud-platform.service.justice.gov.uk/about.html
...was top by a country mile.
5G routers have come down in price a bit: today I’ve upgraded the shed internet from a 4G external router (8mbps) to a sub-£250 Cudy P5 plus a Maswell 4x4 MIMO antenna, and now see 100+mbps on my little hill in south London…
December 2, 2025 at 4:39 PM
5G routers have come down in price a bit: today I’ve upgraded the shed internet from a 4G external router (8mbps) to a sub-£250 Cudy P5 plus a Maswell 4x4 MIMO antenna, and now see 100+mbps on my little hill in south London…
Reposted by Steph Gray
I don’t think there is any read across - at all - from the OBR’s ability post a document to its website at the right time and the OBR’s ability to produce fiscal and economic forecasts.
December 1, 2025 at 6:25 PM
I don’t think there is any read across - at all - from the OBR’s ability post a document to its website at the right time and the OBR’s ability to produce fiscal and economic forecasts.
While we're all sneering at WordPress, I'm not sure this is really a story about CMS failings or technical incompetence. Lots of orgs do what - apparently - OBR did and the world keeps turning, it's just that the stakes were higher in this case than people had considered and resourced for.
December 1, 2025 at 4:00 PM
While we're all sneering at WordPress, I'm not sure this is really a story about CMS failings or technical incompetence. Lots of orgs do what - apparently - OBR did and the world keeps turning, it's just that the stakes were higher in this case than people had considered and resourced for.
Best thing about sharing your house with builders for 6 months is the daily reminder via FixFM of just how many classic 1980s hits I'd forgotten about #GoChesney
November 24, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Best thing about sharing your house with builders for 6 months is the daily reminder via FixFM of just how many classic 1980s hits I'd forgotten about #GoChesney
Enjoy 5 minutes listening to The Man In Seat 61 (aka Mark Smith) talking about adventures in train travel and how the Caledonian Sleeper is his favourite route: railway200.co.uk/podcast/mark...
Mark Smith – The Man in Seat 61
Inspired by a school trips by train to the then Lenningrad and todays Moscow Mark’s passion for rail travel has taken all over the globe.
railway200.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Enjoy 5 minutes listening to The Man In Seat 61 (aka Mark Smith) talking about adventures in train travel and how the Caledonian Sleeper is his favourite route: railway200.co.uk/podcast/mark...
Despite riding the social media wave pretty well over the first 10-15 years, I'm confused by what works and what doesn't now.
This is a thoughtful take on what effective social media strategy looks like in a world of FYPs vs followers:
www.milkkarten.net/p/social-med...
This is a thoughtful take on what effective social media strategy looks like in a world of FYPs vs followers:
www.milkkarten.net/p/social-med...
Post-social media
It's time to rethink what the feed is for.
www.milkkarten.net
November 19, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Despite riding the social media wave pretty well over the first 10-15 years, I'm confused by what works and what doesn't now.
This is a thoughtful take on what effective social media strategy looks like in a world of FYPs vs followers:
www.milkkarten.net/p/social-med...
This is a thoughtful take on what effective social media strategy looks like in a world of FYPs vs followers:
www.milkkarten.net/p/social-med...
I can’t help myself. My children are 17 and 14.
November 18, 2025 at 7:33 AM
I can’t help myself. My children are 17 and 14.
"This out-of-whack/back-in-whack cycle is not a source of motivation. It is motivation. Annoyance is the only truly renewable resource known to man."
Lots of quotable bits, which you may enjoy if you're having a frustrating day: www.experimental-history.com/p/thank-you-...
Lots of quotable bits, which you may enjoy if you're having a frustrating day: www.experimental-history.com/p/thank-you-...
Thank you for being annoying
OR: whack 'em if you got 'em
www.experimental-history.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:28 AM
"This out-of-whack/back-in-whack cycle is not a source of motivation. It is motivation. Annoyance is the only truly renewable resource known to man."
Lots of quotable bits, which you may enjoy if you're having a frustrating day: www.experimental-history.com/p/thank-you-...
Lots of quotable bits, which you may enjoy if you're having a frustrating day: www.experimental-history.com/p/thank-you-...
I’m part of this group coaching/support network of mid-career, mid-life men - someone described the sessions today as “nourishing” which is spot on. New people are joining soon, so if you’re interested (some £ involved) check out and contact Ben for a chat: www.leanmindway.com
LeanMind | Achieve Clarity Now
LeanMind: a private network to stop the drift and reclaim agency, impact and joy. Join the community for guidance and support today.
www.leanmindway.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I’m part of this group coaching/support network of mid-career, mid-life men - someone described the sessions today as “nourishing” which is spot on. New people are joining soon, so if you’re interested (some £ involved) check out and contact Ben for a chat: www.leanmindway.com
Reposted by Steph Gray
A bit long term, but my favourite version of "how poor the past was" is in this chart.
Working hours go up (peaking at a 66 hour week), real wages go right.
Working hours go up (peaking at a 66 hour week), real wages go right.
November 10, 2025 at 2:40 PM
A bit long term, but my favourite version of "how poor the past was" is in this chart.
Working hours go up (peaking at a 66 hour week), real wages go right.
Working hours go up (peaking at a 66 hour week), real wages go right.
GSA lawyers have sent a takedown request for my little archive of the 18F site. Sadly will probably take it down, but remarkable they care that much about defunct agency content online 🤷🏻♂️
November 6, 2025 at 7:29 PM
GSA lawyers have sent a takedown request for my little archive of the 18F site. Sadly will probably take it down, but remarkable they care that much about defunct agency content online 🤷🏻♂️
I like the idea of 'sailing a building', via the Scope of Work newsletter: architects, builders and tradespeople can construct it but contented living in a building takes another set of skills and aptitudes.
www.scopeofwork.net/how-to-sail-...
www.scopeofwork.net/how-to-sail-...
How to Sail a Building
Domestic calm is what I'm after, come hell or high water.
www.scopeofwork.net
November 4, 2025 at 2:26 PM
I like the idea of 'sailing a building', via the Scope of Work newsletter: architects, builders and tradespeople can construct it but contented living in a building takes another set of skills and aptitudes.
www.scopeofwork.net/how-to-sail-...
www.scopeofwork.net/how-to-sail-...
Introduced to this delightful post-Beeching ditty by Flanders and Swann via @gidcoe.bsky.social on Sunday:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6OH...
#railway200
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6OH...
#railway200
Flanders and Swann - The Slow Train
YouTube video by Alan Moores
www.youtube.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Introduced to this delightful post-Beeching ditty by Flanders and Swann via @gidcoe.bsky.social on Sunday:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6OH...
#railway200
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6OH...
#railway200
Considering just commenting 'Congratulations on your well-earned retirement' on every LinkedIn post from now on to see what happens.
October 29, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Considering just commenting 'Congratulations on your well-earned retirement' on every LinkedIn post from now on to see what happens.
Reposted by Steph Gray
I blogged - about problems, answers, plans and the illusion of control
open.substack.com/pub/harrymet...
open.substack.com/pub/harrymet...
The Answer and The Plan
Problems, answers, planning, and the illusion of control
open.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 5:10 PM
I blogged - about problems, answers, plans and the illusion of control
open.substack.com/pub/harrymet...
open.substack.com/pub/harrymet...
Reposted by Steph Gray
There's a cool new clock at London Bridge called Rail Clock! I've made an online version of it: railclock.matteason.co.uk
Code here: github.com/matteason/ra...
Code here: github.com/matteason/ra...
Rail Clock
A reproduction of the Great British Railways clock
railclock.matteason.co.uk
October 16, 2025 at 11:09 PM
There's a cool new clock at London Bridge called Rail Clock! I've made an online version of it: railclock.matteason.co.uk
Code here: github.com/matteason/ra...
Code here: github.com/matteason/ra...
via @whatleydude.com, this documentary on company car drivers of the early 1990s is a proper time machine, both in terms of cars and culture. The whole thing is excellent but spare a thought for the chump who got the Maestro:
youtu.be/niA9fFdvp8E?...
youtu.be/niA9fFdvp8E?...
From A to B Tales of Modern Motoring - Over The Moon With The Cavalier (1993)
YouTube video by ROVR
youtu.be
October 7, 2025 at 9:10 AM
via @whatleydude.com, this documentary on company car drivers of the early 1990s is a proper time machine, both in terms of cars and culture. The whole thing is excellent but spare a thought for the chump who got the Maestro:
youtu.be/niA9fFdvp8E?...
youtu.be/niA9fFdvp8E?...
Deserves more cultural appreciation and celebration in the UK than he gets, I think. A favourite with cleaning pros (and repairers) and for good reason.
🥳 Happy birthday Hal.
🥳 Happy birthday Hal.
October 2, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Deserves more cultural appreciation and celebration in the UK than he gets, I think. A favourite with cleaning pros (and repairers) and for good reason.
🥳 Happy birthday Hal.
🥳 Happy birthday Hal.