Geek 🗞️ Slow News Day #75

Hey,

I wrote last week that, among other things, I’m rediscovering some old hobbies and interests. They are—by and large—pretty geeky, uncool things that occupied my early teenage years before my interest girlfriends, house parties, and underage drinking took over.

So, frankly, I’ve been playing Football Manager 2024 and loving it. I used to be so involved (2007 was my peak) that, as a 13 year old, I spent my evenings moderating the second-largest forum for the game with a bunch of adults from across Europe. I used to design some genuinely decent signatures for users, free of charge, and often regret that I didn’t keep up that interest in graphic design.

Geeky, as promised.

There’s another that I’m stalling on, though.

I have such strong memories of painting Warhammer Fantasy Battle miniatures. I’d sit at the wooden desk in my tiny room, small wooden shelves nailed to the wall above me with finished orcs and goblins looking down. I’d put albums into my five-disc CD changer (a great Christmas present) and play them through and through and through for hours as I’d paint. Bayside’s 'Acoustic' album got so many hours of airtime whilst my delicate brushstrokes adorned the tiny beasts. It was joyous, flow-y stuff; to lose myself in fantasy and precision and sound and creativity.

But… I’ve not yet taken the plunge and picked back up the brush. Not totally sure why I’m holding off. It seems a bit more daunting than buying FM24 on Steam and just spamming a few hours (okay, dozens) into it over Christmas. This might be… a bit rubbish? I might be overestimating my abilities—or focus. I’m also not sure what army I want to start with. I might try painting some Fyreslayers (dwarves) or Sylvaneth (woodland elf-y types) this time around, but I was always an orc kid. Loved ‘em and their destructive, chaotic vibes. I never played the game and I’m not sure I’m interested in that side of it… but the painting. It was great.

In a period where I’ve felt not so in control, not so able to access myself fully and presently, it feels so good to get back in touch with parts of me that feel a little more innocent. Untouched by the tides of adult stress and late-blooming anxiety.

I’m going to have to bite the bullet, aren’t I?

To be honest, I definitely carry a bit of shame when it comes to 'admitting' this stuff. I imagine you think I'm a loser. I would so appreciate any replies that reassure me in my geeky ways. Football Manager, Warhammer, anything else… share your geekiest self with me, free from shame.

Slow down guide

Need a little help moving slower?

Ease your way out of Friday afternoon with this newsletter, a nice cup of something, and a little background music. Steal my setup if you aren't sure where to start.

After I press send, I’m going to enjoy an oat flat white from Mango’s—next door to Generator Hub, where I’ve been working this week. The coffee is good, quayside is lovely, the disembodied voice of the writer expresses contentment.

And what else could I suggest this week, given my admission above, but a track from Bayside’s ‘Acoustic’—Devotion and Desire, to be precise. This was probably my favourite of theirs from their amplified albums (Montauk and Masterpiece run it close), as well as being excellent acoustically. The thing with this whole album is… they really shouldn’t have made it. This is a melodic, punky, emo band. They don’t naturally suit an unplugged vibe, but the album came about following a serious accident on tour in which their drummer and bassist were killed and seriously injured, respectively. Published in memoriam, they did one hell of a job with it.

Take it easy,