Tuesday 7 November 2017

Instagram Update November 07, 2017 at 11:07PM


via Instagram http://bit.ly/2AiwgVB Someone had turned my horror experience at the Edinburgh Dungeon into a meme #horrormeme

Thursday 26 October 2017

Wednesday 4 October 2017

Twitter Update - October 04, 2017 at 11:14AM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

October 04, 2017 at 11:14AM
via IFTTT

Thursday 21 September 2017

Twitter Update - September 21, 2017 at 01:05AM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

September 21, 2017 at 01:05AM
via IFTTT

Monday 18 September 2017

Friday 1 September 2017

Twitter Update - September 01, 2017 at 07:23AM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

September 01, 2017 at 07:23AM
via IFTTT

Tuesday 29 August 2017

Twitter Update - August 29, 2017 at 10:10PM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

August 29, 2017 at 10:10PM
via IFTTT

Twitter Update - August 29, 2017 at 06:53PM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

August 29, 2017 at 06:53PM
via IFTTT

Sunday 27 August 2017

Instagram Update August 27, 2017 at 07:18PM


via Instagram http://bit.ly/2wgkGK5 Just your average day on the north coast of Ireland. Portrush ahead. Donegal beyond.

Saturday 26 August 2017

Instagram Update August 26, 2017 at 05:10PM


via Instagram http://bit.ly/2iAU0Ay Time for dinner with the help of some Belfast Gin

Instagram Update August 26, 2017 at 03:24PM


via Instagram http://bit.ly/2xBBAly Dinner is marinading... Turmeric, ginger and garlic so far. Chillies, cumin, coriander and cardamom to come. I'm salivating!

Thursday 24 August 2017

Instagram Update August 24, 2017 at 05:22PM


via Instagram http://bit.ly/2vjtld7 Think I'm in love with this girl... I wanna keep her but alas, her heart belongs elsewhere

Tuesday 22 August 2017

Instagram Update August 22, 2017 at 11:05PM


via Instagram http://bit.ly/2w0XEX7 Beauty exists above street level. River Island, Donegall Place, Belfast. Why don't we embed this kind of art into new builds?

Twitter Update - August 22, 2017 at 09:04AM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

August 22, 2017 at 09:04AM
via IFTTT

Monday 21 August 2017

Twitter Update - August 21, 2017 at 08:28AM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

August 21, 2017 at 08:28AM
via IFTTT

Twitter Update - August 21, 2017 at 08:28AM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

August 21, 2017 at 08:28AM
via IFTTT

Instagram Update August 21, 2017 at 05:45AM


via Instagram http://bit.ly/2wuXDNs My name for the day. At least, my Starbucks name.

Sunday 13 August 2017

Twitter Update - August 13, 2017 at 09:18AM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

August 13, 2017 at 09:18AM
via IFTTT

Thursday 10 August 2017

My Plan B

Nobody reads this blog or this section of my website so I can write and say whatever I want here without fear.

Apparently.

With that in mind...

I often have discussions with friends, family and colleagues about careers and I always say that a Plan B is not necessarily a bad idea. But I'm very aware that I don't actually have a Plan B at all.

My Plan B is often verbalised as "dry-stone walling in the highlands of Scotland" which sounds rather energetic though the abandoning of technology is appealing at times.

Thinking about a Plan B a little more seriously results in silly ideas like:

  • becoming a "proper" author (maybe by writing up my memoirs in exaggerated form)
  • becoming a male escort (of the legitimate kind, of course)
  • winning the lottery or putting everything on the 2:15 at Kempton Park


The male escort idea is easily the more doable and more likely to generate revenue of the above ideas, but even that doesn't sound like a long term solution to any kind of notion of having a career change!

They say that "necessity is the mother of invention". I guess the reason my Plan B ideas are terrible is because necessity hasn't forced me to think seriously about it. But with nearly 30 years behind me doing this IT thing, I can't help thinking that maybe, just maybe, the time is coming to do something COMPLETELY different.

Ideas welcome - though nobody reads this so that is a note to self!

Thursday 3 August 2017

Instagram Update August 03, 2017 at 05:34PM


via Instagram http://bit.ly/2fbMVEU My hotel room... Complete with logo of the company I'm working for just now. How did they know.

Thursday 27 July 2017

Twitter Update - July 27, 2017 at 06:22PM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

July 27, 2017 at 06:22PM
via IFTTT

Thursday 6 July 2017

Twitter Update - July 06, 2017 at 09:27AM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

July 06, 2017 at 09:27AM
via IFTTT

Wednesday 21 June 2017

Twitter Update - June 21, 2017 at 08:41AM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

June 21, 2017 at 08:41AM
via IFTTT

Twitter Update - June 21, 2017 at 08:41AM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

June 21, 2017 at 08:41AM
via IFTTT

Tuesday 20 June 2017

Twitter Update - June 20, 2017 at 11:48AM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

June 20, 2017 at 11:48AM
via IFTTT

Tuesday 13 June 2017

Twitter Update - June 13, 2017 at 09:09PM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

June 13, 2017 at 09:09PM
via IFTTT

Tuesday 6 June 2017

How To Vote In Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland politics differs from the politics of the rest of the United Kingdom. The General Election this Thursday gives Northern Ireland votes the potential to demonstrate how passionately they believe in the things that really matter here. But it's not quite that simple and many of us who will wander to the polls may be confused as to how our vote should be cast. Here's a "how to guide" to the process:

1) If you like the idea of perpetuating the stagnation that we have enjoyed over the last few years, then of course vote for the exact same people as last time. What's the worst that can happen?

2) If you firmly believe that what's important is "keepin' themuns out" then of course you need to vote for your tribe regardless of policy. Helpfully, the parties tend to put a flag on their campaign posters to help you decide which tribe they belong to! 🇬🇧️🇮🇪️. NOTE: The Green Party, despite their greenness aren't green in the tribal sense!

3) If you like the idea of voting for a candidate who won't go to Westminster and stand-up for your rights, needs, wants and desires and you prefer your MP to have no voice whatsoever in the democratic process then you should vote for Sinn Fein. (I hear the arguments that suggest that while they don't take their seats, they do a lot of work in the background lobbying - but hey, I prefer my politicians to follow process!)

4) If you like the idea of voting for a party that puts their needs before yours and attaches importance to their religious beliefs above all else; if you like the idea that treating others with disrespect on account of their gender, sexuality, faith (or lack thereof); if you like your politicians to be corrupt despite their "holier than thou" Bible-Bashing rhetoric; if Red Sky, Nama and RHI made you feel proud rather than ashamed, then you should vote for the DUP.

5) If you think the time has come for our politicians to actually knuckle down and do some work and start focusing on Education, Health, Employment, Infrastructure, Equality For All, Human Rights, A Post-Brexit Plan and actually making Northern Ireland an even better place to live, then vote for the team that has put together a set of policies that match those requirements. Their manifestos are all available here:



6) If you think that your vote doesn't really count and that there is no point? Then think again. If all non-voters actually voted, the makeup of the political landscape here could be VERY different. Vote. Get your friends and family to vote. It only takes a few moments and you only need to be able to construct an X and put it in a box.

Remember, your vote is YOUR vote. Nobody else's. Nobody need ever know where you put your X. (Not that you should ever feel ashamed for voting for what you believe in.)

Saturday 3 June 2017

Instagram Update June 03, 2017 at 06:23PM


via Instagram http://bit.ly/2rQGQDb The heavens seem to be displaying a certain amount of displeasure on Northern Ireland's biggest fossil fuel power station. There were blue skies behind me btw

Wednesday 31 May 2017

Twitter Update - May 31, 2017 at 10:30PM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

May 31, 2017 at 10:30PM
via IFTTT

Monday 29 May 2017

Twitter Update - May 29, 2017 at 05:21PM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

May 29, 2017 at 05:21PM
via IFTTT

Sunday 23 April 2017

Twitter Update - April 23, 2017 at 12:16PM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

April 23, 2017 at 12:16PM
via IFTTT

Tuesday 18 April 2017

Twitter Update - April 18, 2017 at 09:25PM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

April 18, 2017 at 09:25PM
via IFTTT

Twitter Update - April 18, 2017 at 09:35AM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

April 18, 2017 at 09:35AM
via IFTTT

Wednesday 5 April 2017

Twitter Update - April 05, 2017 at 08:06AM


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

April 05, 2017 at 08:06AM
via IFTTT

Tuesday 4 April 2017

It's almost 30 years since I left school and I'm still sitting exams! IBM Security Identity Governance certification has been nailed though!


from Twitter https://twitter.com/stephenjswann

April 04, 2017 at 12:48PM
via IFTTT

Socrates - My name for the day


via Instagram http://bit.ly/2oT6gKV