Hello. I’m Ian. I’m a technical architect, occasional writer, reluctant leader, enthusiastic father, Wordle obsessive, and recovering Scrum sceptic.

I’ve been building enterprise software systems for over 25 years — mostly in C# and Java, and frequently thinking about event-driven architecture, domain modelling, and how not to end up on the front page of the Daily Mail.

These days, I’m working on national health infrastructure — designing service layers and messaging patterns that (hopefully) keep the lights on without setting fire to anyone’s patient data. I like diagrams. I like distributed systems. I like it when the tests pass on the first go, but I’ve made peace with the fact they usually don’t.

This blog is where I put the thoughts that won’t fit in Jira tickets. You’ll find:

  • Notes on software architecture and dev team dynamics.
  • Observations from the coalface of NHS-scale delivery.
  • Opinions about books, often literary, sometimes technical.
  • Rankings of Wordle scores from my extended family, with statistical overanalysis.
  • Reflections on parenting, middle age, and why my dog Sadie is the most emotionally intelligent member of our household.

I live in North Yorkshire with my brilliant wife Jocelyn and three teenagers. We have loud dinners, strong opinions, and a miniature schnauzer with delusions of grandeur. When I’m not building systems, I’m reading novels, trimming hedges, playing board games, or walking through Skipwith Common pretending I’m in a philosophical essay.

I journal daily, which is probably why I blog only occasionally.

I’m not looking to be an influencer. I just want to leave behind some traceable thoughts that might help the next person along — or give them a reason to smile and nod in bitter recognition.


Want to get in touch?

Or just shout into the wind — I’m probably out walking the dog.