Neil Hawkesford
@foolishneil.bsky.social
I write about life in #Cornwall on a small pension, and the good things that come when you share it with strangers
After a long day in front of a screen it’s good to reconnect with the real world. Paddling in the river Kennal and 23°C (73℉). An unusual October for Cornwall
October 5, 2026 at 2:39 PM
After a long day in front of a screen it’s good to reconnect with the real world. Paddling in the river Kennal and 23°C (73℉). An unusual October for Cornwall
Desk at 05:15, still going at 10:50. Not boasting, just showing how motivated I am about my new writing project. Full post tomorrow. Meanwhile I’m building a 3-month plan and trying Eden, an AI-powered knowledge and productivity system.
October 5, 2026 at 9:58 AM
Desk at 05:15, still going at 10:50. Not boasting, just showing how motivated I am about my new writing project. Full post tomorrow. Meanwhile I’m building a 3-month plan and trying Eden, an AI-powered knowledge and productivity system.
Sólmara Log 4th Oct 2026
Wind - Variable & light
Total Distance: 4.3 nm -
Time on the water: 3Hrs 15min
Average Speed 1.3 knots - Max 3.2 knots (under engine)
Engine Time: 0Hr 46 mins
Sailing Time: 2hr 29 min
Wind - Variable & light
Total Distance: 4.3 nm -
Time on the water: 3Hrs 15min
Average Speed 1.3 knots - Max 3.2 knots (under engine)
Engine Time: 0Hr 46 mins
Sailing Time: 2hr 29 min
October 4, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Sólmara Log 4th Oct 2026
Wind - Variable & light
Total Distance: 4.3 nm -
Time on the water: 3Hrs 15min
Average Speed 1.3 knots - Max 3.2 knots (under engine)
Engine Time: 0Hr 46 mins
Sailing Time: 2hr 29 min
Wind - Variable & light
Total Distance: 4.3 nm -
Time on the water: 3Hrs 15min
Average Speed 1.3 knots - Max 3.2 knots (under engine)
Engine Time: 0Hr 46 mins
Sailing Time: 2hr 29 min
Finally found some time, tide, and weather to get out on the water. Hardly any wind, so more of a drift than a sail, but a gorgeous day for October. Falmouth, The Carrick Roads and The Roseland all looking mighty fine 😎⛵️👍
October 4, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Finally found some time, tide, and weather to get out on the water. Hardly any wind, so more of a drift than a sail, but a gorgeous day for October. Falmouth, The Carrick Roads and The Roseland all looking mighty fine 😎⛵️👍
I’ve spent a lot of time today developing a plan for the coming months. AI helped me refine my ideas into a well structured document, which I’m now breaking down onto a Scapple board. It’s the easiest way I’ve found to turn dense text into something visual that works for me. SCAPPLE
October 3, 2026 at 4:46 PM
I’ve spent a lot of time today developing a plan for the coming months. AI helped me refine my ideas into a well structured document, which I’m now breaking down onto a Scapple board. It’s the easiest way I’ve found to turn dense text into something visual that works for me. SCAPPLE
More #enshitiffication in action. One of my favourite brews I'll not be drinking anymore.
October 3, 2026 at 1:30 PM
More #enshitiffication in action. One of my favourite brews I'll not be drinking anymore.
A mighty oak sits at the centre of my ‘Thinking’ walk. An oak teaches us many things about life. As its leaves start to fall, this is the one that came to mind this morning - “You don’t have to remain the same to remain yourself.”
October 3, 2026 at 7:31 AM
A mighty oak sits at the centre of my ‘Thinking’ walk. An oak teaches us many things about life. As its leaves start to fall, this is the one that came to mind this morning - “You don’t have to remain the same to remain yourself.”
05:15 - Washed, dressed and at my desk ready to focus. Yesterday’s thinking has become todays work.
October 3, 2026 at 4:23 AM
05:15 - Washed, dressed and at my desk ready to focus. Yesterday’s thinking has become todays work.
This is part of my ‘Thinking Path’. It circles a big field with woodland on one side and the river Kennall on the other and is 5 minutes from my front door. I did two ’laps’ today, I had a lot to think about.
October 2, 2026 at 2:28 PM
This is part of my ‘Thinking Path’. It circles a big field with woodland on one side and the river Kennall on the other and is 5 minutes from my front door. I did two ’laps’ today, I had a lot to think about.
Taking my Dad for an X-ray isn‘t an ideal way to spend a morning. The view from outside the main entrance of Falmouth hospital isn‘t bad though.
October 2, 2026 at 10:38 AM
Taking my Dad for an X-ray isn‘t an ideal way to spend a morning. The view from outside the main entrance of Falmouth hospital isn‘t bad though.
The best way to turn over a new leaf is with a new notebook……….right? 📕✍️👍
October 1, 2026 at 2:13 PM
The best way to turn over a new leaf is with a new notebook……….right? 📕✍️👍
This afternoon, by the River Kennall, I met a punk rock caterpillar: a Pale Tussock, lime-green with a pink mohawk, a red spike at the tail and a halo of wild white hair. Hop pickers in Kent knew it as the Hop Dog. Autumn’s best-dressed rebel was off to pupate. Good luck, mate.
October 1, 2026 at 1:50 PM
This afternoon, by the River Kennall, I met a punk rock caterpillar: a Pale Tussock, lime-green with a pink mohawk, a red spike at the tail and a halo of wild white hair. Hop pickers in Kent knew it as the Hop Dog. Autumn’s best-dressed rebel was off to pupate. Good luck, mate.
“It is what it is” - Something I’ve got used to saying over the years. Now though, ‘it’ is getting increasingly unacceptable. It’s time to take some control, time to pull my finger out and work towards changing ‘it’.
Time to adopt a new saying: “It is what it is, until it isn’t”.
Time to adopt a new saying: “It is what it is, until it isn’t”.
October 1, 2026 at 9:27 AM
“It is what it is” - Something I’ve got used to saying over the years. Now though, ‘it’ is getting increasingly unacceptable. It’s time to take some control, time to pull my finger out and work towards changing ‘it’.
Time to adopt a new saying: “It is what it is, until it isn’t”.
Time to adopt a new saying: “It is what it is, until it isn’t”.
Just one of the reasons it’s getting harder. This was Sainsbury’s supermarket this morning, one of the cheapest in the area.
September 30, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Just one of the reasons it’s getting harder. This was Sainsbury’s supermarket this morning, one of the cheapest in the area.
It’s getting harder and harder to justify the luxury of keeping Sólmara in Falmouth Marina. But every time I walk the pontoons, every time I see her, and every time I step aboard, the more I know I need to find a way to do it.
September 30, 2026 at 12:32 PM
It’s getting harder and harder to justify the luxury of keeping Sólmara in Falmouth Marina. But every time I walk the pontoons, every time I see her, and every time I step aboard, the more I know I need to find a way to do it.
It’s nearly October. It’s Cornwall. It’s dark. It’s windy. It’s raining. All perfectly normal. But……………..It’s 20°C (68℉). That my friends is far far from normal
September 29, 2026 at 7:03 PM
It’s nearly October. It’s Cornwall. It’s dark. It’s windy. It’s raining. All perfectly normal. But……………..It’s 20°C (68℉). That my friends is far far from normal
The unexploded bomb found Falmouth Docks on the 21st was detonated today. Great job by The Royal Navy. If the proposal to dredge the docks go ahead chances are they will be back again in the future!
September 29, 2026 at 5:53 PM
The unexploded bomb found Falmouth Docks on the 21st was detonated today. Great job by The Royal Navy. If the proposal to dredge the docks go ahead chances are they will be back again in the future!
It’s been what foresters call a mast year. That’s when mature beech trees produce an unusually large quantity of sees (Beech Mast) They were crunching underfoot on my afternoon walk. Apparently the nuts are edible. Might to toast a few in a pan and try them out.
September 29, 2026 at 2:57 PM
It’s been what foresters call a mast year. That’s when mature beech trees produce an unusually large quantity of sees (Beech Mast) They were crunching underfoot on my afternoon walk. Apparently the nuts are edible. Might to toast a few in a pan and try them out.
Lunchtime watch: Interview with Aldous Huxley from 1958 giving his thoughts on technology, society, and the future of humanity. One gem - “we mustn’t be caught by surprise by our own advancing technology.”. (AI anyone?). So much more of value here and well worth 30mins of your time.
September 29, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Lunchtime watch: Interview with Aldous Huxley from 1958 giving his thoughts on technology, society, and the future of humanity. One gem - “we mustn’t be caught by surprise by our own advancing technology.”. (AI anyone?). So much more of value here and well worth 30mins of your time.
As October and the last quarter of 2026 looms large I’m spending the day thinking, planning and preparing. The season changes regardless, any others are down to me.
September 29, 2026 at 9:11 AM
As October and the last quarter of 2026 looms large I’m spending the day thinking, planning and preparing. The season changes regardless, any others are down to me.