iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Running myself into the ground in May, resulting in shingles. Remembering but ignoring the reasons I got shingles, in July. Signing up for a 10K race, for September, in August.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

I got shingles 2 weeks ago because I never do things by half and I'm wondering if I should write about it?

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Went to Tame Impala on Monday in Glasgow. Ran a conference yesterday in Newcastle. Flying to a hen party tomorrow in Wexford.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Set a deadlift PB of 97.5kg on Monday. Just ran 7km with 89m elevation into a 27km/h headwind today. Not a bad week so far.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

I finally finished writing a blog about how telling people they're "high functioning" neurodivergents is bollocks. It took me 6 months and the irony is not lost one me. open.substack.com/pub/speckysc...

open.substack.com

This took six months to write

The irony's not lost on me

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

I don't know about youse but I have what Daire & I refer to as my council. These are people I text while contemplating a purchase I don't need but do want. The configuration of the council depends on the object of my desire. One member is an enabler. One is logical. One unpredictable.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

I couldn't remember what I agreed with my tattoo artist to get on my forearm to finish my sleeve. I just asked two autistic people in my life & both of them remembered. I messaged my tattoo artist to ask her & she confirmed what they said. Who needs memory when you have autistics in your life?

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

I finished contracting on 10th December and the wheels *immediately* fell off and now my "routine" is completely absent. And you know what? It's freeing. Not a single part of me wants to do the same thing at the same time everyday.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

Wrote a poem yesterday in about 5 minutes. Hadn't written for all of 2025. Probably won't write again in 2026. Such is life.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

I'm back on here after locking myself out. Again.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

Finally gave in and switched clothes around from summer to winter. Why fool myself any longer?

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

Watched The Crow (2024) last night. Even fucking worse than I expected. Absolutely diabolical from the first time we saw Shelly. Watched Frankenstein (2025) just now. Absolutely unbelievable. The production design. The cinematography. Everything.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

I got a new phone and did the thing where you can just transfer everything from one Android to another but I feel like I've definitely forgot something and I reckon it's probably something that will be discovered at a very inconvenient time.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

I am absolutely bereft now. I have no focus. I'm between passions. I am so bored my Garmin stress level is soaring. What do now? How do I find something that grips me? What is life.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Putting this here to test the waters. We're doing @accessgiven.bsky.social again! But we're looking for: 1. Sponsors: cash, skill-swap and specific things (catering, Pay-it-Forward tickets, sensory room) 2. Volunteers who might help us out on the day in exchange for a ticket. Any leads??

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Someone just reminded me that I OWN a house with a FRONT GARDEN and Halloween is coming. Let the decoration shopping commence.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Was in an all-day workshop from 9:30-4:30 and left with a headache because of the overhead lighting and lack of windows. Who'd have thought that office environments aren't easy for neurodivergents????? Not meeeeeee. Although proud of me for not sniffing the Sharpies.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

In classic ADHD style I've forgotten the password to the @accessgiven.bsky.social account but thank you to everyone who came and I will find the password when I am less overwhelmed!

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Craig Abbott @craigabbott.co.uk · 18/08/2025

Do you believe automated accessibility tools will ever reach the levels of accuracy they claim? And, do you think AI will change the game? I’m speaking about this topic next month at @accessgiven.bsky.social conference. If you’re interested tickets are £119: accessgiven.co.uk #accessibility #a11y

accessgiven.co.uk

Access:Given | Digital Accessibility Conference in Newcastle Upon Tyne

Join us on 10th September 2025 for Access:Given, a one day digital accessibility conference in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

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Reposted by Michelle O'Connor

Sarah Winters @escmum.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

The UK Government will send a test alert to mobile phones on Sunday. This is how to switch it off: www.gov.uk/alerts/optin... Before anyone types before thinking: domestic abuse survivors may need this. If you don’t, just scroll on.

gov.uk

Opting out of emergency alerts

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

I have put out so many fires this week I am exhausted. They were all extinguished by 12noon on a Wednesday. Surely the remaining days will be calm?

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

It's begun. Going into central Edinburgh knowing you'll be offline for the duration. We'll have to bring back "meet me under the clock at this time" from now until September.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

First day in "new house" when there's been rain and Bran has been miserable

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Access:Given @accessgiven.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Our co-founder Ellen Kate Boyle took a trip to Newcastle Helix today to visit our sensory room, which will be sponsored by Content Design London. @ellenkateboyle.bsky.social @contentdesign.london

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

Top tip from me. Don't do the following in a 28 day period: - complete on a house - start a new contract - rewire house - strip 1980s wallpaper - replaster the walls - go to Dublin and Cork - buy and build furniture - pack entire possessions - move entire possessions - do end of tenancy clean

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Went to Lismore, Waterford today. Absolutely blistering sun. Can't wait for Edinburgh to destroy me on Friday.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

I am in Cork and it's my second time being here in absolute peak weather. Good for me.

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Content Design London @contentdesign.london · 13/06/2025

We're delighted to be the Sensory Room sponsor at the inaugural Access:Given (A:G) conference this September! We're excited to support a room for escape and respite which welcomes all attendees. Find out more and book your ticket for the 1 day digital accessibility conference:

buff.ly

Access:Given | Digital Accessibility Conference in Newcastle Upon Tyne

Join us on 10th September 2025 for Access:Given, a one day digital accessibility conference in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Happy Goth Day to all my fellow goths.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

I've never felt more old than I did while going for a run... past the rave that's happening in Murrayfield Ice Rink that's been on all day. All the weans in their little outfits, getting sunstroke. While I was off for a run at 7pm thinking "I bet I won't sleep tonight now after this". 👵🏻👵🏻👵🏻

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

I've read absolutely amazing books so far this year and Ocean Vuong's new novel arrived today so I'm hoping this will also be enjoyed by my brain.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

Bran, my 15 month old dog, is so famous in my local area that no matter when or where Daire and I go, we are constantly bombarded by people saying OMG IS THAT BRAN? Yesterday, I tried to sit and read in the park, with Bran. We were out for 90mins and I read one page because everyone had to say hi

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Granta Books @grantabooks.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

We're giving away this VANISHING WORLD goodie bag to a lucky winner on both Bluesky and Instagram 🍎 To be in with a chance of winning all you need to do is: - Follow @grantabooks.bsky.social - Repost - Leave a comment tagging a friend (more tags = more entries) - Enter by 2 May See below for T+Cs.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Watched the London Marathon allllll morning, under a blanket with Bran on my lap, marvelling at the elites. I then went for a "fast" 30min run and solidified my thinking that I would never make it through a marathon. I didn't enjoy training for a half; I wouldn't enjoy training for a full.

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Content Design London @contentdesign.london · 07/04/2025

We're excited to announce that @rachelanne.bsky.social is speaking at @accessgiven.bsky.social inaugural event on 10 September in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Other speakers include @ettiebaileyking.bsky.social and @craigabbott.bsky.social. You can find out more here: accessgiven.co.uk/tickets/

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

I wrote a poem about investments today. That's right up there with the oddest things I've done and been paid for.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

I spent almost two days watching no one finish the Barkley Marathons. Today, I ran up the hill from the beach to Silverknowes Road. That was my Barkley.

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Access:Given @accessgiven.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Our second speaker is @craigabbott.bsky.social! Craig is the former Head of Accessibility at the Department for Work and Pensions and the creator of the DWP Accessibility Manual. He is a design lead and accessibility specialist, and his focus is user-centred design. 10 September - Newcastle Helix

Image is a photo of Craig with a border in Access:Given branding. The branding is a dark purple, with yellow circles, white squares, a medium purple triangle and a light purple hexagon. The text reads speaker announcement Craig Abbott. Craig is a white man with brown beard.

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Access:Given @accessgiven.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

After months of planning, countless days of admin and a lot of behind-the-scenes work, we are absolutely delighted to announce: Tickets are now on sale! A ticket costs £119, plus booking fee. Buy tickets here: accessgiven.co.uk

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Access:Given @accessgiven.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

We're so excited to have @ettiebaileyking.bsky.social as our keynote speaker! We've both admired Ettie's work for many years, so having her on board is really a dream come true.

Ettie is a white woman with brown hair. She is wearing a blazer and jumper and smiling outside in front of a wall and buildings.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Am off to Bucharest tomorrow to annoy @ellenkateboyle.bsky.social for 4 days, go on all the slides in Thermé and survive on coffee.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

I'm still here. I feel a bit like I'm shouting into a void. How do I break through from being a bluesky lurker to a bluesky poster?

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Ellen Kate Boyle @ellenkateboyle.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

This week's newsletter is inspired by @blindboyboatclub.bsky.social and explores how cringe is stopping many of us from pursuing creative projects, and it's forcing false narratives in our head. ellenforster.substack.com/p/thats-cringe

ellenforster.substack.com

That's cringe

How I overcome the cringe of sending this newsletter

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

I've been working a contracted job since the middle of March and on Thursday, I finished up - FOR A MONTH. I negotiated paid and unpaid leave for a month off, and a change to my working pattern come January and it feels nice. But now I'm overwhelmed with choice for things to do.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Bran is the most sociable being who lives in this flat. He loves people. He loves being out & about. Daire & I have finite energy for outside things, and people, who aren't each other. But I think Bran has picked up on that because he is exhausted since going to the office yesterday.

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Michelle O'Connor @mocogam.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Yesterday, I had a really bad customer service experience in which a service provider didn't read the *mandatory* pre-service questionnaire. It was for a spa treatment. Booked in advance. Filled in the form in advance. Travelled to the salon/spa and was refused service...

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