I’ve tried writing weeknotes a few time over the years and they have been pretty sporadic. So, let’s give it another go… this should probably be weeknote 28 (or something like that) but it seems last year I named them after the week number in the year… so let’s try that again.

Because I haven’t done this for a while, let’s add some bonus notes for last week too…

Last week:

• This Make Work Better article struck a chord with me as it highlighted how an organisation’s approach to remote and flexible working impacts diversity.
• My long suspected but never tested theory was confirmed: most of the Authenticator apps that generate a second/multi-factor authentication (2FA/MFA) code for logging on to services are basically the same. So I consolidated Google Authenticator and LastPass Authenticator into Microsoft Authenticator. The corresponding thread on Twitter has some interesting responses.
• I found some time for learning and started studying for Microsoft Azure Data Platform Fundamentals (DP-900) but still have one learning path to complete before I can book the exam…
• I got so annoyed with people calling themselves (IT) Architects that I wrote something to look at what IT architecture is (and is not).
• Mrs W and I brightened up the garden with a few new pots, flowers and ornaments.
• And I had my first experience with the rapid COVID tests.

This week:

• I published my long-form blog post on developing IT architecture skills, spun out from conversations with Matt Ballantine (@ballantine70) but also part of the work I’m doing to develop my team at risual.
• My technical training was interrupted to complete the Microsoft Catalyst pre-sales training. It started off as what I may have described as a “buzzword-filled gamified virtual learning experience”. Then, I started to learn some consulting skills as Rudy Dillenseger brought Design-Led Thinking (aka Design Thinking) to life.
• It was interesting to see Microsoft recommending the use of Klaxoon with Teams when facilitating remote workshops, which made me speculate about the future of Microsoft Whiteboard.
• Was a week of virtual calls – even in the evenings. I had Zoom calls with British Cycling and for some financial advice but also a really pleasurable couple of hours on Signal chatting with an old mate I haven’t seen or spoken to in a while, who now lives overseas. It was definitely one of those moments when I appreciated a good friendship and it made me think “we should do this more often”.
• Just when I thought I’d handed off some project management duties to a real PM, they bounced back at me like a boomerang…
• The UK Government’s comments on returning to work (ahem, we have been working, just not in the office) reminded me of a post I wrote at the start of the year. Hybrid working is the future folks – we ain’t going back to 2019…

The last couple of weeks’ photos