iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 09/08/2026

We don't watch soap operas. And with the antics of the pigeons in our garden, we don't need to... There's romance, drama and frequent misjudgements of the load bearing capacity of thin branches.

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 09/08/2026

What I've always loved about old cars and motorcycles are the small details, the odd little quirks and the design features from the pen of someone working on a drawing board in an office.

Close up shot of a Lucas battery case on a vintage motorcycle

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 29/07/2026

Still wondering if @lizrandell.bsky.social was enjoying the sea, or just dreaming of escaping me at the weekend...

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 28/07/2026

After watching various Youtubers doing up run-down properties, we checked out one potential DIY project at the weekend...

Castle Rising in Norfolk. Sadly out of budget...

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 13/07/2026

Just about recovered from watching My Chemical Romance at Wembley on Saturday. An amazing show, a wonderful chance to take my son to his first stadium concert, and a great crowd and atmosphere all day.

My Chemical Romance, Wembley July 11th, 2026

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 31/03/2026

This tree was definitely unimpressed by my portrait photography... At least I was happier, having a nice walk in the sunshine with one of my favourite people.

A tree looking quite ambivalent about having a photo taken

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 26/03/2026

Some people relax with meditation. I do it by racing a small French hatchback around a virtual circuit against people from around the world...

Dan in a blue and orange Renault Clio Cup car trying not to crash into anyone...

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 10/03/2026

Hospital appointment followed by a walk around the local park. Nothing like seeing the red kites put on an aerial display, and finally being able to spot a Little Egret I thought I'd seen lurking a while ago...

A bad photo of a Little Egret taken with a potato phone...

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 21/11/2025

Still working on my photography, and discovering more local residents...

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 18/11/2025

Is it weird to want to model my home office on the interior of a nuclear bunker decomissioned in 1992?

A desk in the communications section of Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 11/11/2025

I'm not sure it's where most people would choose to take a trip for their birthday, but it was perfect for me...

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 23/10/2025

Sure, you can prompt AI to generate an image from your desk, but I'm loving having a DLSR camera and learning how to take decent photographs - and how it benefits me in ways that gen AI never will... danthornton.net/2025/10/why-...

A very average photo of some squirrels chasing each other around a tree. I missed them about 4 out of 5 attempts as they ran around it...

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 16/10/2025

Kenickie - At The Club. A debut with no dull moments, the soundtrack to 1997, and they disbanded about 18 months later after their second album... And if that's too popular, Hull's Kingmaker, who were supported by Radiohead and Suede in their early years.

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 15/09/2025

Nipped out at the weekend with my son to pick up some snacks from a local shop. And accidentally chatted and kept on driving for long enough to end up on the Lincolnshire coast, discovering a bench in the middle of nowhere and enjoying the tranquil scenery...

A pillbox near the coast in Lincolnshire

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 12/09/2025

Had a great time at the @dpipboro.bsky.social games-themed meetup last night. It was weird to share my sim racing hobby rather than a marketing talk, but hopefully how it blends real and virtual was interesting for those not interested in motorsport Pic Credit: Umar Ijaz

Dan Thornton presenting on how sim racing blends virtual and real motorsport at DPiP September 2025

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 09/09/2025

Wrote a quick blog post about Typepad shutting down at the end of the month, which turned into a bit of a eulogy for the good bits of Web 2.0... danthornton.net/2025/09/and-...

Screenshot of Typepad, which is shutting down in September 2025

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 08/09/2025

Doing a bit of a marketing/website test in my spare time - what difference does it make to an old site if I only fix the tech problems highlighted by a couple of popular SEO tools? No new content, no new links etc. Only just started, so no noticeable traffic increase yet, as I'd expect.

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 18/08/2025

Tired and happy after making slime seemed pretty popular at the @angliaruskin.bsky.social Family Day, promoting @pborostemfest.bsky.social and going through 100s of pots and bags with Andy, @lizrandell.bsky.social and Stanley... Peterborough STEM Festival is on Oct 18, 2025 at ARU Peterborough...

Dan and Andy making slime to promote Peterborough STEM Festival 2025 on October 18 at ARU

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 05/08/2025

Good to see you on the right side of the river...

Colourised edited photo of Cockham Wood fort on the shore of the River Medway in Kent

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 03/07/2025

Met a new friend on my walk today - in the middle of a hectic (busy but overall pretty good) week, it's incredibly relaxing to spend some time just watching common wildlife going about their business a few metres away. And if you're one of the few quiet visitors, they're pretty nonchalant about you

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 03/07/2025

Peterborough - much maligned until people head out into the countryside. Do it before the council inevitably stick houses on it...

A view from a bridge at Ferry Meadows, Peterborough

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 24/06/2025

I was never a huge user of music-based social networking/dating site Tastebuds fm, but seeing 10+ year old sites close feels different in the AI era... danthornton.net/2025/06/tast...

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 17/06/2025

Some other locals decided they wanted to use the same bridleway - friendly enough, but a little moo-dy at times...

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 16/06/2025

Went for a nice walk with my son at the weekend, and discovered a potential new home if the rent goes up... It's funny how amazed he is by the fact I spent my childhood and teenage years playing in pillboxes around the Kent coast or hanging out with friends drinking etc...

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 26/05/2025

Been on some nice long walks over the weekend, and refuelled with possible the best pork pie I've ever eaten from Moor Farm, and a brilliant vegan Mexican brunch at Tacos and FlipFlops... Can recommend both if you're in or around #Peterborough...

River Welland towards Peakirk, near Peterborough

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 23/05/2025

It's been a challenging couple of weeks, but it's starting to feel like I'm finally coming out the other side with a new found appreciation for taking the time to get outdoors, exercise and look after my mental wellbeing...

Byways sign with a cuddly toy strapped to it.

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 09/05/2025

Made some new friends on my walk yesterday, but only one was bothered to pose for the camera...

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 08/05/2025

Had a little time between work and family commitments to grab a walk in a local country park, and the difference it made to my mood and stress levels was much appreciated... Also had a close-up view of a heron, along with some very noisy reed warblers...

Water through the trees at Hinchingbrooke Country Park

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 04/04/2025

Did my first talk at @dpipboro.bsky.social for quite a while, and it seemed to go well. Aimed for 40 minutes, ended up over an hour with lots of interesting questions at the end... And it's such a great opportunity if you're at all nervous about presenting - everyone is always kind and welcoming.

Dan Thornton presenting on SEO at the April 2025 DPiP Meetup

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 02/04/2025

Uh-oh... They'll let anyone speak these days...

Flyer advertising some old bloke with an out of date photo who will be whittering on about SEO for a bit...

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 14/03/2025

On one hand, I'm quite excited about the new F1 film with Brad Pitt. On the other, I'm slightly confused how Sonny Hayes would have tested in the 1990 Lotus 102 (Camel sponsorship ended that year). It puts his character in his early 50s. The oldest real driver in F1 history was Louis Chiron at 55.

F1 film with Sonny Hayes testing the Lotus 102

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 07/03/2025

Had a great time at @dpipboro.bsky.social last night. It was good to catch up with @optimisey.com, who kindly presented a really useful guide to Google Search Console with handy tips for beginners and more advanced users alike... If you're in or around #Peterborough it's free to attend: mydpip.com

Optimisey speaking at the March 2025 Digital People in Peterborough Meetup

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 22/02/2025

12 hours. 300+ laps. 4 drivers working together across Europe and America, and we made it to the end...

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 21/02/2025

I remember how advanced Toca 2 and Gran Turismo felt at the time... And now I'm getting ready to run the Bathurst 12 Hours with my sim racing team on iRacing tomorrow, hoping it doesn't rain during my stint with about 40 other human drivers piloting GT3s around Mount Panorama

Pair of Team ORD Audi RS3 LMS cars in iRacing

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 12/02/2025

Some more highlights... A couple of other sim racing shots, and then me on my own beloved Japanese import 20 years ago, and the one bike I wish I still owned, my Honda RVF400RR

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 11/02/2025

I can understand why you have some handsome doggos to guard it - looks great in that dark blue. The only reasonably quick saloons I get to drive regularly are virtual ones, after getting into sim racing and forming my own team - but I haven't given up on my dream car and bike garage yet...

Team ORD sim racing in VW Jettas on iRacing

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 10/02/2025

A terrible photo of our first attempt at chicken fried steak... The reason for taking it wasn't to have a momento of the meal, but a reminder of the fun we had cooking it as a family, after a day of working together to fix a broken PC. (With substantial and invaluable help from @edisonthefox.dev )

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 07/02/2025

Made it along to the first @dpipboro.bsky.social meetup of 2025 at Bewiched Fletton , and picked up some great tips from speakers Liam O'Connor and Andy Bundock, met some great new people, and enjoyed a delicious piece of millionaire's shortbread. And totally free to attend, too!

Digital People in Peterborough February 2025 meetup with Liam O'Connor presenting...

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 23/01/2025

The photo mode is good fun, too...

Screenshout taken from SnowRunner of an International Scout at the top of a mountain

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 20/12/2024

Yeah, those chunky tyres should cope pretty well - I'm jealous, as I haven't been trail riding in ages... I'm rubbish off-road compared to all the people I know that started at a much younger age.

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 18/12/2024

It's not unusual to bump into well-known and professional racing drivers on iRacing. But I did slip a little into fanboy mode when I noticed World Supersport racer Tom Booth Amos in my practice lobby.

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 13/12/2024

I've been told it might have been Disney's Snow White and the 7 Dwarves, because I didn't want her to leave them for the prince (I knew I was never going to be a tall adult)... But the first one I remember seeing is...

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 17/11/2024

My actual original ZX Spectrum 48k, along with the Binatone that used to belong to my uncle. The NES came a lot later as my retro collection grew, but the only computer or console that I don't still own was my Spectrum +2

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 16/11/2024

And here's what they actually look like

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 05/11/2024

Imposter syndrome can be really weird and annoying sometimes, especially when it tries to undermine decades of experience and accomplishments... Don't let it hold you back. danthornton.net/2024/11/impo...

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 01/11/2024

After being poorly for a short while, it's taken me absolutely ages to crawl out from the email avalanche that built up. But as I cleared out my inboxes to a manageable level, it's made me think about information overload, creativity and AI... danthornton.net/2024/11/craw...

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 30/10/2024

A slightly belated celebration of the return of Peterborough STEM Festival in 2024 danthornton.net/2024/10/the-...

A slightly belated celebration of the return of Peterborough STEM Festival in 2024
https://danthornton.net/2024/10/the-glorious-return-of-peterborough-stem-festival-2024/

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 16/09/2024

Went for a much-needed walk during the September sunshine at the weekend. It's amazing how much some fresh air and nature makes everything feel better

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Dan Thornton @danthornton.net · 30/07/2024

Nipped down to Kent for a long overdue visit to my parents. This isn't one of them - it's a horse named Bumbles who they see quite often on local walks.

A horse. Which I think is called Bumbles

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