James Ots
@jamesots.com
Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Nephew, Uncle, Brother-in-law, Computerer, Guitarist, Christian, Home Renovator, Gardener, Scouter, Runner, Cyclist, Etcetera
For over a month a pair of pheasants has been visiting our garden. The female now roosts in one of our plum trees every night, and we think the male may be roosting in a conifer. He also likes to peck at his reflection in a mirror. The fox has been round occasionally, but hasn't bothered them yet.
December 3, 2025 at 6:17 PM
For over a month a pair of pheasants has been visiting our garden. The female now roosts in one of our plum trees every night, and we think the male may be roosting in a conifer. He also likes to peck at his reflection in a mirror. The fox has been round occasionally, but hasn't bothered them yet.
Selling my guitar amp (Line 6 Flextone II). I upgraded to a Helix a few years ago so never use it these days. Had a play just now and remembered how surprisingly good it is — I'll feel a little sad to see it go.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/23646509...
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/23646509...
November 15, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Selling my guitar amp (Line 6 Flextone II). I upgraded to a Helix a few years ago so never use it these days. Had a play just now and remembered how surprisingly good it is — I'll feel a little sad to see it go.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/23646509...
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/23646509...
Not much has changed around Tintern Abbey.
November 10, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Not much has changed around Tintern Abbey.
It's again my favourite time of year for walking to and from church.
October 26, 2025 at 3:25 PM
It's again my favourite time of year for walking to and from church.
I had some filo pastry that needed using up and a bunch of windfall apples, so I made some things.
August 16, 2025 at 9:10 AM
I had some filo pastry that needed using up and a bunch of windfall apples, so I made some things.
A robin has got stuck in our greenhouse five times over the last week, after flying in and then getting so engrossed in something that it didn't notice that the automatic window was very slowly closing.
July 10, 2025 at 5:07 PM
A robin has got stuck in our greenhouse five times over the last week, after flying in and then getting so engrossed in something that it didn't notice that the automatic window was very slowly closing.
If you see this, post an image you saved because it made you laugh.
June 21, 2025 at 11:48 PM
If you see this, post an image you saved because it made you laugh.
It's been dry and warm-ish for long enough that I was able to get the first mow of the year in today at lunchtime. Only took 40 minutes, but it was on the highest setting.
March 5, 2025 at 10:20 PM
It's been dry and warm-ish for long enough that I was able to get the first mow of the year in today at lunchtime. Only took 40 minutes, but it was on the highest setting.
I wrote a Z80 emulator in Borland Delphi for my A-Level Computer Science project. I don't think my teacher was too happy having 10k lines of code to mark.
March 4, 2025 at 2:54 PM
I wrote a Z80 emulator in Borland Delphi for my A-Level Computer Science project. I don't think my teacher was too happy having 10k lines of code to mark.
We're getting a nice big patch of snowdrops in our garden now, and the first daffodils have just started to open.
March 2, 2025 at 5:33 PM
We're getting a nice big patch of snowdrops in our garden now, and the first daffodils have just started to open.
Yes, mine is brand new, so not as cool as an old one, but still almost the same as they were a hundred years ago. It's the same company - they trade as ACME Whistles now, and are still on Barr Street.
February 28, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Yes, mine is brand new, so not as cool as an old one, but still almost the same as they were a hundred years ago. It's the same company - they trade as ACME Whistles now, and are still on Barr Street.
My favourite thing about these whistles is they're still made at the same place, which I discovered when I recently bought my Scout Master whistle. (Which I almost never use - I just like the history and quality of it).
February 28, 2025 at 4:06 PM
My favourite thing about these whistles is they're still made at the same place, which I discovered when I recently bought my Scout Master whistle. (Which I almost never use - I just like the history and quality of it).
Quote with your first computer.
Not sure which one to go with, so... First computer I used (at school): BBC Micro. First computer we had at home: Amstrad PCW. First computer I owned: RM 380Z (five or six of them, when the college my dad worked at got rid of them).
Not sure which one to go with, so... First computer I used (at school): BBC Micro. First computer we had at home: Amstrad PCW. First computer I owned: RM 380Z (five or six of them, when the college my dad worked at got rid of them).
February 12, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Quote with your first computer.
Not sure which one to go with, so... First computer I used (at school): BBC Micro. First computer we had at home: Amstrad PCW. First computer I owned: RM 380Z (five or six of them, when the college my dad worked at got rid of them).
Not sure which one to go with, so... First computer I used (at school): BBC Micro. First computer we had at home: Amstrad PCW. First computer I owned: RM 380Z (five or six of them, when the college my dad worked at got rid of them).
YouGov isn't doing well with their questions today. The survey is on the internet, so the first question is pointless. The second question says "if any" but has no option for "none".
February 1, 2025 at 10:40 AM
YouGov isn't doing well with their questions today. The survey is on the internet, so the first question is pointless. The second question says "if any" but has no option for "none".
Lord Sugar says workers should get back to the office. But he makes an exception for me, and also says we should rejoin the EU, so I guess he's not so bad.
January 30, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Lord Sugar says workers should get back to the office. But he makes an exception for me, and also says we should rejoin the EU, so I guess he's not so bad.
The stairs to the churchyard in the fog.
January 16, 2025 at 11:57 AM
The stairs to the churchyard in the fog.
Our Beaver Scouts painted this by throwing paint at a canvas.
December 31, 2024 at 11:11 PM
Our Beaver Scouts painted this by throwing paint at a canvas.
It's always a bit of a gamble when you open a packet of Revels.
December 31, 2024 at 5:18 PM
It's always a bit of a gamble when you open a packet of Revels.
Things I enjoyed in 2024, #6: Finally getting to take two of my children to see Switchfoot.
December 30, 2024 at 4:18 PM
Things I enjoyed in 2024, #6: Finally getting to take two of my children to see Switchfoot.
Things I enjoyed in 2024, #5: My Scout Group.
December 30, 2024 at 1:36 PM
Things I enjoyed in 2024, #5: My Scout Group.
Things I enjoyed in 2024, #4: Days out with my family.
December 30, 2024 at 1:11 PM
Things I enjoyed in 2024, #4: Days out with my family.
Things I enjoyed in 2024, #3: Finally going to a Bryan Adams concert after decades of listening to his music.
December 30, 2024 at 12:54 PM
Things I enjoyed in 2024, #3: Finally going to a Bryan Adams concert after decades of listening to his music.
Things I enjoyed in 2024, #2: My garden, even if it does tend to flood a bit and requires far too much weeding.
December 30, 2024 at 12:51 PM
Things I enjoyed in 2024, #2: My garden, even if it does tend to flood a bit and requires far too much weeding.