Uses

Computer

I have two laptops, one of which has a dual-boot with Artix Linux and Windows, and is my more powerful one (though still not that powerful) that I use for gaming with friends on a Monday or Friday. It has an Intel Core i7-9750H (6-core, 2.6GHz, max. 4.50GHz on a single core), 8GB DDR4 RAM, an Nvidia GTX 1650 GPU and a 256 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD. It does the job but is getting a bit old and the partitions are messy, I need to replace it sometime. I almost never use the Linux partition and only use the Windows partition for the weekly gaming.

The second laptop is an old Thinkpad that I bought from eBay for about £95, and which runs Arch Linux. I use it for most things I need a computer for except the gaming.

Smartphone

I have a Oneplus Nord N10 running LineageOS, which does the job.

Earphones

I use Tin HiFi T2 and KZ ZSN chi-fi earphones. They KZ ZSN I prefer the audio and are easier to wear - the connectors on the Tin T2 don't hold the cable in well enough, so it often comes loose.

Camera

I use a Nikon D3300 with the default 18-55mm lens.

Exercise

I go to Gym Group for my gym. I also cycle on the bike (details below!) and walk a fair bit using my legs.

Instruments

I have a Fender guitar, a Primavera violin, a Sultan BL100 oud, a Hora tenor mandola, a Kentucky KM-140 mandolin, and a bowl-back mandolin made by 落合忠男 (Ochiai Tadao).

I use very few of them except the Kentucky mandolin, the Hora tenor mandola, and the bowl-back mandolin.

You can see a very low quality video of me playing the bowl-back here and me playing the Hora mandola here.

Writing

I use fountain pens, usually either the TWSBI Eco or the Pelikan M200 both in extrafine.

I usually write using an Iroshizuku ink like Yama-budo (my favourite!) or Ku-jaku.

I do not have any particular preference for paper and tend to write with on spare notepads we have about. I have purchased Hobonichi journals and Leuchtturm notepads in the past and enjoy them both.

Transport

To get about I either cycle or take the train usually.

For cycling I use my Giant Escape 3 (V-Brake). I believe they no longer sell the V-Brake version. I've had the bike since 2021, and enjoy it, though I'm not the best at maintaining it. Still, it does the job.

I also have a Tern Link D7i but do not like this bike much. Since my brother often uses my bikes I keep it around so he can use it in case I require my main bike. However at some point I will sell it as it is not very enjoyable to ride.

Programming

I use whatever takes my fancy. This was Python when I was younger, then C#, then C++, then Rust, then Odin, then Zig, and the latest language I have used is Ruby for writing the website code.

E-mail

I use Proton for my e-mail as well as some file hosting etc., and I find they serve the purpose largely very well, although their software is not always great.

Software

Wayland with river, foot terminal (occasionally alacritty), zsh, neovim, Brave browser.

On the phone: Brave browser again, VLC for music, WhatsApp for messaging (sadly the default here in the UK), Proton Mail for e-mails, ...