Shaun @sconner.net · 25/09/2026That would have been three crates of lager a few years ago. How times have changed. 020
Shaun @sconner.net · 25/09/2026Super stressful week, so I did what was necessary and ordered myself 3kg of sweets. 131
Shaun @sconner.net · 04/09/2026Real life has been unbelievably heavy lately, and I haven’t been doing so well. Getting older sucks. The people around you become unwell and you just need to…deal with it. I’ve been trying keeping myself busy by learning some magic tricks. Pretty happy with this one. It’s a great hobby. 070
Shaun @sconner.net · 20/08/2026My daughter has one of her dancing friends round. She's been here for about half an hour, and they've barely said a word to each other. My wife is trying to break the ice, to no avail. I'm autistic, and even I'm feeling awkward. What do we do? 🤣 100
Shaun @sconner.net · 14/08/2026My kid is obsessed with 'squishies' at the minute. I told her she'd get 50p for every reading plus she did, thinking it'd put her off. Nope. In two days, she's earned the 13 quid required to get the squishy she wants, and reading plus won't let her do any more reading 😂 020
Shaun @sconner.net · 11/08/2026Thank you! He lives in a place called Ibi, which is about a forty-minute drive from Alicante. There isn't much light pollution, so the night sky is breathtaking to the naked eye. 110
Shaun @sconner.net · 11/08/2026Just got back from visiting my best friend in Spain. He told me to bring my camera for the night sky. The stars aligned over the mountain outside his house, and I captured the galactic core of the Milky Way. Absolutely wild! It was my very first time trying astrophotography, and I'm super happy! 3379
Shaun @sconner.net · 05/08/2026They need to pass a law to stop people eating boiled eggs on the train. Straight to jail, do not pass go. 010
Shaun @sconner.net · 01/08/2026He feels like an actual teddy bear. He’s super soft. He’s got the nicest nature as well. Not a pick of bother! 110
Shaun @sconner.net · 01/08/2026I'm babysitting my brother's dog, Rupert. He might be the most photogenic animal ever. Couldn't resist taking my camera out on our walk today, and he was more than happy to pose for me. 290
Shaun @sconner.net · 23/07/2026You mean to say you’re not inspired by what someone learned about agile during their recent bereavement? But aye. It’s an absolute AI bin fire that needs launched into the sun. 030
Shaun @sconner.net · 22/07/2026I think he might be crossed with a much larger dog. I’m quite a large human, and he makes me look quite small here! 😂 020
Shaun @sconner.net · 22/07/2026I’m babysitting this big lovable space invader this week. He’s the biggest, cuddliest spaniel I’ve ever seen. He nearly falls over when he wags his tail, such a happy boy. Meet Barney! 1110
Shaun @sconner.net · 16/07/2026Three whole years! There was a time I couldn’t go a few days without drinking. It was just too hard. I never thought I’d get this far. It’s the hardest most rewarding thing I ever did, and worth every second of suffering in the early days. I’m unbelievably proud of myself. What an achievement! 3140
Shaun @sconner.net · 10/07/2026So aye, if you're shit at maths like I am, do not try to figure out someone's age in your head, or you'll end up becoming a laughing stock for years to come. 000
Shaun @sconner.net · 10/07/2026All I could do was apologise, and to this day I still get random messages reminding me of it. I'll never live this one down! 🤣 100
Shaun @sconner.net · 10/07/2026I am not an easily embarrassed person, but in that moment, I wanted a missile to drop on me and to be never seen again. She didn't make a fuss, but let someone know after all the commotion that she wasn't 60 until next year, and she felt guilty about the vacuum we'd all chipped in for. 100
Shaun @sconner.net · 10/07/2026If you want to get an idea of the elite line manager I am, I was reminded today of my time at HMRC when I threw a quiz, raised loads of money for an amazing gift and generally made loads of fuss for one of my team's 60th birthdays. I was super proud of myself, until she told me it wasn't her 60th 🤣 150
Shaun @sconner.net · 08/07/2026We shouldn’t worry though because our new strategy of signing “wonder kids” to replace them is definitely going to pay off, right? 000
Shaun @sconner.net · 08/07/2026Wild how we can allow the sales of ALL of our elite players. Absolutely zero ambition by the Saudis. You have to ask how many of them might have stayed had Howe gone at the end of last season. The 2030 project is a massive lie. 230
Shaun @sconner.net · 01/07/2026It's tomorrow at 11:330am until 1pm! Open to all UK public sector workers :) 000
Shaun @sconner.net · 01/07/2026Join our Services Week talk about how we're scaling UCD impact on GOV.UK One Login. It's an hour-and-a-half session with mini talks, including our work on accessibility, passkeys, triage service patterns, Open Banking, and understanding users at risk of exclusion www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/services-w...eventbrite.co.ukServices Week 2026: Scaling UCD impact on GOV.UK One LoginIn this session of talks, we'll cover some of the brilliant work we're doing on to scale our UCD impact on GOV.UK One Login at GDS. 100
Shaun @sconner.net · 26/06/2026We had an outstanding recruitment, though. SO many amazing candidates and some very difficult decisions to make. There is so much work that goes into hiring people, so I'm happy it was worth the colossal effort required to get here! 030
Shaun @sconner.net · 26/06/2026Just finished 14 interviews over 2 weeks, which, alongside regular meetings, have meant I've spent pretty much all of my time for 2 straight weeks in back-to-back meetings. Then throw in the heat. It's a lot. I will be doing zero this weekend to hopefully avoid burnout. Social capacity is near zero. 140
Shaun @sconner.net · 24/06/2026The images didn't load in an email I opened. They all had similarly useless alt text. Yay for AI... 060
Shaun @sconner.net · 22/06/2026Wait, what are they supplying on a hypothetical basis? "We think we can make it work, next we'll build it badly and sell it" 010
Shaun @sconner.net · 19/06/2026Being on the precipice of 40 myself, I can totally empathise with his situation. 230
Shaun @sconner.net · 19/06/2026Oh, he’s not five in 33 days. He completely made that part up. Or genuinely forgot due to his old age. That would also make sense 😂🤷♂️ 150
Shaun @sconner.net · 19/06/2026Four year old to my wife: Mam, I forgot all my moves at martial arts last night. My wife: (genuinely concerned) oh no, how come?! Four year old: Well, I’ll be five in 33 days. I’m getting old now, so I’m starting to forget everything. Hilarious some of the things that go through their minds 190
Shaun @sconner.net · 11/06/2026The Dutch are living in the future. Double decker trains! How cool?! 320
Shaun @sconner.net · 09/06/2026Yes! It was very warm. This is in the context of work and it includes other things but my half is about scaling. I could make a version of it, definitely. 110
Shaun @sconner.net · 08/06/2026I didn’t even realise Apple pie was a thing here. My mam called earlier and said I need to try this place. Noticed on the way back that there were loads of places selling it. 010
Shaun @sconner.net · 08/06/2026Are you even in Amsterdam if you don’t eat an apple pie the size of your head? 3150
Shaun @sconner.net · 02/06/2026Currently sifting through a lot of applications. Lots of AI-written stuff. One person even left the AI prompt in. Don't do that. 110
Shaun @sconner.net · 28/05/2026Although it's a lot of money, it's not in the context of top 6, if that what the aim is. Big list of players I'd like to see gone as well! 110
Shaun @sconner.net · 27/05/2026One thing I need to get better at is accepting compliments. I really struggle with it. I feel like every compliment is someone putting me on a pedestal I don’t deserve to be on. I just find it easy to tell it how it is. Nothing special, and definitely standing on the shoulders of giants. 020
Shaun @sconner.net · 27/05/2026Then I remembered they’re just people, and I was pretty qualified to have an opinion. After all, I do this every day! 120
Shaun @sconner.net · 27/05/2026Working for GDS definitely helps. There’s definitely a sense of prestige that comes with working here. I’ve observed it for other professions as well. I’ll take it though. Almost talked myself out of going today. Imposter syndrome firing on all cylinders. Why am I on a panel with THESE senior people 110
Shaun @sconner.net · 27/05/2026We’re talking director general and CTO level. Pretty cool, and reminded me that the things I have to say can carry weight. Although it doesn’t always feel like it! Often feels like I’m shouting into the abyss. I think sometimes people just need to hear that it’s doable and has been done. 140
Shaun @sconner.net · 27/05/2026I was on a senior leaders panel today at the Document Accessibility in the Public Sector conference. Had a pretty surreal moment when I was talking about mandatory training. Two other panel members who are much more senior than me walked away from the panel verbally committing to doing the same. 180
Shaun @sconner.net · 27/05/2026Aye mate! Even when I was drinking myself I’d not do that. You travelling for business or pleasure? 100
Shaun @sconner.net · 27/05/2026I’m up so early for my train that people are still out drinking in Newcastle city centre. Don’t miss those days! 150
