iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 06/03/2026

And massive shout out to @jenitennison.com @emilyjmacaulay.bsky.social @gavinfreeguard.com and all the @connectedbydata.org team for running such an engaging and thought-provoking event. Plus a bonus lanyard that turns into seeds 🌱

A postcard that says ‘Innovation needs representation’ beside a lanyard with my name (Hugh) on it.

120 2

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 06/03/2026

Powerful, provocative keynote on AI from @elmosmoe.bsky.social at today’s ‘Power and participation in public tech’ conference in Manchester. So good to have the ‘this is inevitable’ narrative challenged with many pertinent examples.

Steph Wright in full flow presenting in front of a screen and colourful stained glass

131 3

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 17/09/2025

“If I'm so empowered, why am I such a coward?” Still completely awestruck by last night’s Self Esteem gig in Edinburgh, honestly one of the best shows I’ve ever been to. Standing (screaming) ovation at the end fully justified.

Rebecca Lucy Taylor on stage at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh, with a large crowd in front of her.

050 5

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 02/09/2025

Love this New York Times visualisation of tennis courts turning into pickleball courts. Such a simple way of communicating behaviour change on a pretty massive scale. 🎾🎾🎾 [sidenote: where's the pickleball emoji?] www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Screenshot from New York Times showing lots of tennis courts being converted into pickleball courts, as seen from above.

010 1

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 13/08/2025

Took the opportunity to pop into a fab #edbookfest event with a panel made up of @edinburghminute.bsky.social @greatergovanhill.com and @neiltosh.bsky.social - some excellent discussion of online advertising, facing up to the threat of AI, and how to fund + make local news cut through.

Spiegeltent at the Edinburgh International Book Festival

131 3

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 02/07/2025

Fab to have made it to Manchester for #CampDigital tomorrow, here’s the venue looking windswept and interesting. Hope to catch some @bsky.app folk in there.

The exterior of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester

070 7

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 27/04/2025

Counting down to the Hidden Glen 10k in the blissful Scottish weather (aka it’s pretty much pissing down)

Loch Doine surrounded by mountains and clouds

140 4

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 10/04/2025

After several failed attempts, made it to Tarlair, a restoration project in the NE of Scotland where they’re bringing this wonderful art deco pavilion and swimming pool back to life friendsoftarlair.co.uk

Exterior of Tarlair outdoor pool pavilion, beside Macduff in the NE of Scotland

View from the top of Tarlair outdoor pool pavilion

The shallow pool at Tarlair, with the pavilion in the background

The shallow pool at Tarlair, with pavilion in the background

060 6

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 02/04/2025

Beautiful Glasgow day - crossed over the Clyde to present at an invigorating Data & AI event hosted by @sulsa.bsky.social and The Data Lab. Great crowd, great questions.

View of the river Clyde from the squinty bridge

111 1

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 28/03/2025

It’s amazing how much the low/no alcohol beer market has changed since I (mostly) gave up drinking three years ago. So much selection, so many colourz. Particularly chuffed to find an IPA called ‘write a to do list’

A selection of low and zero alcohol beer cans

1120 12

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 25/03/2025

🚨 Exciting news 🚨 If you’re in/around service delivery in the Scottish public or third sector, GovCamp Scotland is returning after more than a decade, taking place at Edinburgh Futures Institute on 19 June. Tix available from 31 March. See you there? www.govcamp.scot

Photograph of the Edinburgh Futures Institute on a sunny day.

047 7

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 07/03/2025

Lovely couple of hours at the rebooted #EdCM this morning. For all Edinburgh (and beyond) digital peeps who fancy a coffee & chat about, well, anything really it’s 8am every Friday. Full flavour in this post: www.linkedin.com/posts/jimwol...

The frontage of Contini restaurant/cafe, 103 George St, Edinburgh

230 3

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 21/12/2024

Few things rile me more than Meta lobbying the EU about AI on ‘economic’ or ‘innovation’ grounds. Here’s Nick Clegg on Threads yesterday pretending their stance isn’t about naked self interest.

A screenshot from Nick Clegg’s Threads account saying: “In @lemondefr today, l've written about why the EU's needless regulatory complexity and delay around Al rules cuts to the heart of its competitiveness challenge. Al has incredible potential to boost the European economy - but EU regulators are still moving too slowly.
As President Macron said, Europe is
"over-regulating and under-investing" itself out of the Al market. Political leaders across Europe recognise this - we need Europe's regulators to follow suit.”

260 6

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 21/12/2024

It’s nice to have something so breathtakingly beautiful back on my phone. Great piece on the creative process behind Monument Valley 3 here: www.itsnicethat.com/features/ust...

A screenshot from Monument Valley 3, showing Noor sailing a boat around an island made of blocks.

050 5

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 13/12/2024

A fine catch-up + caffeine boost with @sallyld.bsky.social and @johnfitzg.bsky.social this morning, to talk all things digital in the buzzing surrounds of Tills & Co. Any other Portobello dwellers fancy joining us in the new year?

Coffee cup, water glass and laptop sitting on a table in Tills & Company bookshop, Portobello, Edinburgh

120 2

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 04/12/2024

Still my most shameful moment

230 3

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 04/12/2024

Hooray, it’s Slightly Inferior Apple Version Of Spotify Wrapped Day! The stats don’t lie.

My most-listened to songs of 2024:
1. Way Over Your Head by James
2. Good Luck, Babe! by Chappell Roan
3. The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived by Taylor Swift
4. Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me by Taylor Swift
5. Disease by Lady Gaga

Top artists:
1. Taylor Swift
2. Pet Shop Boys
3. Hamish Hawk

Top albums:
1. A Firmer Hand by Hamish Hawk
2. Yummy by James
3. The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift

110 1

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 17/11/2024

When gigs go wrong. But also right. The PA system failed at the King Creosote gig at Usher Hall last night, so we were treated to impromptu acoustic songs perched on the edge of the stage, and the band wandering through the aisles.

Kenny Anderson / King Creosote playing guitar on the edge of the Usher Hall stage.

1121 12

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 11/11/2024

No idea what sort of content the people who’ve followed me in the last 24 hours are into, so here’s Edinburgh looking pretty in the November sunshine this afternoon. Lots of blue sky, Bluesky

The shore at Leith, Edinburgh with blue sky, boats and buildings reflected in the water

1130 13

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 10/11/2024

Since I posted a couple of weeks ago I feel like I’m being trolled by Meta and Ray-Ban, who seem to have bought up most of the outdoor media space in the city. Expensive gimmick = expensive ad campaign

An electronic billboard ad for Ray-Ban / Meta glasses.

000 0

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 23/10/2024

First day in our new office: the delightful Edinburgh Futures Institute, on the site of the former Royal Infirmary. Time mostly spent getting lost, hunting for toilets, and being surprised at how long it takes for the smell of a hospital to fade

The front of the Edinburgh Futures Institute building.

290 9

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 15/10/2024

When I read, and was very much gripped by, Small Things Like These, I have to say I wasn’t really picturing coal dust smudged on Cillian’s beautiful cheekbones.

Poster for the film Small Things Like These, starring Cillian Murphy

000 0

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 22/09/2024

Very happy to discover one of our favourite campsites - Comrie Croft - now has a sauna, complete with ornate bath filled with stream water to plunge into. Definitely took the edge off the lack of sleep.

Bath filled with stream water in front of a small sauna in a horse box

340 4

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 15/09/2024

Spent a meandering couple of hours looking at art/exploring people’s houses at this year’s Art Walk Porty. V nourishing. www.artwalkporty.co.uk

A picture on a stand with the words Bird Art This Way Hooray, with an arrow pointing left on it.

040 4

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 06/09/2024

A day of prepping *many* presentations. Still my favourite slide by quite some margin.

An illustrated robot with a speech bubble that reads "fix your broken UI before you build your shiny AI"

071 7

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 06/09/2024

I love it. Smiling coffee cup has been my newsletter/blog icon since I started it last year.

010 1

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 25/08/2024

Last day of the Edinburgh Book Festival 😢 S’been a nice hangout over the last three weeks

Pic of the grounds outside the Edinburgh Futures Institute, home of this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival.

020 2

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 10/08/2024

Blue skies, good vibes and stirring speeches at Scottish Parliament #hopenothate

A crowd of anti-racism protesters outside the Scottish Parliament building.

000 0

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 25/07/2024

Went to see To The End and can’t recommend enough. Lots to say about friendship, creativity, and getting older. And brilliant music obvs youtu.be/IxdLU_tXjEk?...

000 0

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 16/06/2024

Happy Father’s Day FFS

Card saying: I love you Dad but please do not swe(a)r!

150 5

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 13/06/2024

Getting directions to my hotel last night. Last minute price felt a bit spendy

Map showing Premier Inn Hampstead with a £736 overnight price

000 0

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 22/04/2024

This was on a window at a wedding I attended a few years ago. The birds are planning their takeover.

A sign on a window that reads: “please ensure windows are closed pigeons are coming in”

130 3

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 06/04/2024

First day of kittens being allowed outside. Tensions are high.

130 3

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 31/03/2024

Easter breakfast of champions

A bowl with a half chocolate egg filled with milk and cereal

030 3

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 30/03/2024

Volunteered rather than ran the local Parkrun today, surprisingly joyful. I like the fact my kids look like they’re on a protest.

Children with signs, directing runners out on a Parkrun.

281 8

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 11/02/2024

Gave myself an early birthday present today and went to a @writershq.bsky.social retreat at Tribe Porty. Even though I’m just a wannabe blogger it was delightful to be around authors and people who write for a living.

230 3

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 10/02/2024

Finally made it to The Boy and the Heron (third attempt). Sumptuous to look at, but the plot wanders off a lot and it doesn’t feel as fully formed as previous Ghibli films. Still lovely though.

010 1

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 28/01/2024

Nice afternoon visit to my previous place of work - National Museum of Scotland. Not sure the kids have read many labels, but they’ve sure touched a lot of screens.

Image of the science and technology gallery at the National Museum of Scotland. Various planes can be seen hanging from the roof

Two boys playing a touchscreen game in the Ancient Egypt gallery

020 2

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 20/01/2024

This caught my eye today - a great wee poster for Good Time Running Club in Edinburgh. More info on Insta: www.instagram.com/goodtimerunn...

000 0

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 18/01/2024

Actual sunshine on Leith. At ScotGov for a thought-provoking session run by @gordonguthrie.bsky.social - go see him at @ukgovcamp.bsky.social this Saturday if you’re attending.

Scottish Government offices at Victoria Quay, Edinburgh

030 3

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 11/01/2024

Condensation Superhighway. Despite the freezing temperatures, had a very pleasant cycle to work this morning. Going through the Innocent Tunnel, directly under Holyrood Park, is always a highlight. There’s a great thread about its origins here: threadinburgh.scot/2023/09/21/t...

Photograph of the Innocent Tunnel cycle path, Edinburgh

030 3

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 06/01/2024

There’s also this from @buttondown.email - a service I’ve found to be lovely so far

110 1

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 04/01/2024

And now looking to claim the moral high ground while taking no responsibility for his own content policies or lack of guardrails on Substack Notes.

Screenshot of Hamish McKenzie’s post about how the discourse on Substack is becoming problematic without acknowledging he might have anything to do with it.

100 1

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 28/12/2023

Scotland: still mostly underwater

000 0

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 27/12/2023

I realise it’s my own specific soap box, but if the moral bankruptcy of the last few weeks wasn’t enough, I’m finding posts from the Substack leadership particularly hard to stomach. Smugly undermining the ‘old model’ of publishing, without the slightest hint of where their own funding comes from.

200 2

Hugh Wallace @tumshie.me · 23/12/2023

A wee box of this landed on our doorstep this evening, their brand new IPA. Loads more alc-free options to choose from this year 🍻

110 1