Life Update July 2026
- Jul 16
- 4 min read
This blog is a bit of a failed experiment. It’s hard to get any traction when updates are so infrequent. However, it is useful when I want to post something long-form, and it’s ideal for a post like this. Having said that, the domain and web site come up for renewal soon. I’ll be using the free Wix platform after that.
I’m still looking for work, but I completed a course last month: the National Progression Award in Cyber Security (SCQF Level 6). It’s not the level of course that would get you a job, but I found it very interesting and the lecturers and course content were great. It was an introduction to the subject. There were three modules: Data Security, Digital Forensics, and Ethical Hacking.
I think I enjoyed Ethical Hacking the most because it involved hands-on hacking in a controlled environment.
The course has made me think even more about the risks of being online, particularly with social media. Having previously left Twitter/X, I’ve now left Instagram and Threads. I still have Facebook and Reddit, but I don’t have those apps on my phone. I still have Bluesky and LinkedIn on my phone. This has been a very positive experience; doomscrolling on these apps wastes an incredible amount of time.
I’ve applied for another couple of courses - a Summer introductory course in Python, and Pro Cyber Resilience (SCQF Level 7). The Cyber Resilience course is part-time for twelve weeks, but attending it will depend on whether or not I find a job before the course starts.
This has also sparked my interest in security as it relates to software development. Microsoft have a book coming out in October covering Threat-Driven Software Development, although it is quite expensive. It is on my wish list.
Health wise, things have been going well.
As I’ve said before, I had a cataract operation on my right eye last year, which included fitting an implant. This has worked really well, and I’m really happy with the result.
When I was in my twenties, I had a cataract removed from my left eye. Because of my youth, the surgeon didn’t fit an implant to that eye, leaving me very long sighted in that eye (and very short sighted in the other eye). I already wore rigid gas permeable contact lenses, so that was seen as the solution going forward. Now that I’ve had one eye operated on, there was an opportunity to revisit my left eye and see if it was viable to operate on it again.
I spoke to a consultant on Monday this week, and we discussed the various possibilities. He specialises in a technique that involves opening the eye up and clipping a lens to the retina.
On examining my eye, he said that it looks like the capsule was still intact, so he could in theory open the eye, clear the jelly out of the capsule to clean it up, and insert a lens into it. However, it could be that he opens the eye and the situation is different. For each of the possible procedures, there are risks. As it turns out, my sight with a contact lens is very good, and wouldn’t be improved with an implant. Due to that, we agreed that we would not proceed with surgery. The only real advantage is that I wouldn’t have to pay Optical Express for a new contact lens every year, and I wouldn’t have to buy contact lens solution every month. The associated risks far outweigh that inconvenience.
In other health news, I currently take medication for type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. I also take a statin every night for high cholesterol.
Today, I had my annual Chronic Disease Review at the doctor’s surgery. It’s the usual kind of thing - height and weight recorded, blood and urine samples taken, blood pressure measured, and feet examined (for complications due to diabetes).
I’ll have to wait until Tuesday for the results, but my blood pressure is at a good level and I have lost weight. Last year I weighed 117 Kg, and I’ve got it down to 93 Kg, a loss of 24 Kg (or almost 53 lbs in old money).
I’m delighted with the weight loss, although it wasn’t a surprise to me. There’s no secret to how I achieved this - it was just calorie counting and exercising. Most of the exercise was cardio using Zwift, but I included some walking and resistance training. Very old fashioned, but it works. Being out of work has helped, because I have plenty of time to jump on the bike and burn some calories.
The weight loss journey continues, but I’ve made good progress.
Most of my health issues are related to obesity, so I’m hopeful that I’ll get good news on Tuesday and we can perhaps reduce my medication, with the aim of eventually being off the medication altogether.
I’ll post here again once I have the results. Remember, there's a link here to allow you to buy me a coffee. I promise it won't be a dessert in a cup.
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