John Leach

Programmer, sysadmin, guitarist, singer, cyclist. haproxy fan boy. Co-founder Brightbox.

#socialism #feminist #antiracist #lgbtqrights #transrights

He/Him.

Website: https://johnleach.co.uk
Home: Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Work: https://www.brightbox.com
Best Friend: [@louisa_](https://mastodon.social/@louisa_ )

Last Notes

2026-03-22 20:28:39 UTC

Spotted my first tiny balancing sheep in the wilds of Wales!
#tinybalancingsheep #wales
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/274/700/938/935/064/original/0ac514f5f355ced3.jpg

2026-03-22 19:52:12 UTC

- reply

if a government freely chooses a fiscal stance that causes a problem then why don't you consider that the cause of the problem?

2026-02-14 11:15:49 UTC

Hickory Shagbark posing in the sunshine and snow at the top of our drive this morning #caturday #blackcat #catsofMastodon
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/068/679/944/697/777/original/e050632c031bc74a.jpg

2025-09-20 18:37:56 UTC

What we should have done is produced St. George's flags with water-soluble red ink and sold them very cheaply on ebay. After all this rain, our streets would just be lined with white flags of surrender.
#flags #flagshaggers

2025-07-31 16:08:53 UTC

Need to change my password again I guess
#dogsofmastodon #opsec
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/948/701/667/848/052/original/71f6c54afb345bd6.jpg

2025-07-16 21:40:20 UTC

I thought the only way to preserve tomatoes was to cook them down into a sauce, but last year we just froze a load of fresh cherry tomatoes from the garden and it's worked out perfectly. We just washed, dried and bagged them.
They don't defrost back to fresh state obviously but are great for cooking with.
I just grab a handful from a bag, microwave for a minute and chuck them in a pasta or a curry or whatever.
#preserving #gardening

2025-05-26 16:26:02 UTC

Went for a walk in some woods in Oughtibridge, Sheffield yesterday and came across this structure.
I've played enough Myst and Riven to know I can click on something here to start playing a video of a slightly lower encoding quality than the static view.
#myst #riven
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/575/040/589/059/917/original/8c6babe56e05a1c5.jpg

2025-03-03 22:24:30 UTC

Three more apple trees arrived for planting out: Laxton's Superb, Baker's Delicious and Chivers Delight. The pear trees from 2023 didn't do very well so I have given up on them for now (though it was mostly sheep and bugs!)
It's quite complicated keeping track of all the different varieties we have, which are compatible pollinators, what time of year they fruit etc. Yes I have a spreadsheet.
#appletrees #gardening

2025-01-25 20:02:58 UTC

Hickory Shagbark on the windowsill in the downstairs loo. No privacy in this house. #caturday #blackcats #CatsOfMastodon
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/890/768/320/218/305/original/88a933190a7330b3.jpg

2024-11-03 23:46:03 UTC

- reply

aww poor boy. I can't think how to simulate something loud like that in varying volumes without using real fireworks and various distances, but that'll then scare other nearby dogs and cats!
Wonder if playing on a loud hifi would be enough. Have you tried anything like that?

2024-11-03 21:32:01 UTC

Training a puppy during fireworks season turns out to be ideal! I can take Rosey Bean out any evening to hear some and she is completely unfazed! Though admittedly nobody has set any off super close by - we'll go out this week to get closer. #puppytraining

2024-09-15 22:19:27 UTC

I understand many people like a predictable outgoing direct debit to their energy supplier, but I just want them to take payment for our bill in full every damn month. I don't feel the need to extend a line of credit to them.
Anyone know if this can be arranged? We're with Octopus if it matters.

2024-06-26 14:22:16 UTC

New hair goals.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/683/362/155/267/428/original/1c55d9b252039462.png

2024-05-10 23:38:27 UTC

We happen to have travelled out to very dark rural Wales for a weekend in the van just as the amazing aurora borealis light show is on. Easily visible to the naked eye. Pretty much the whole sky. First time seeing it in my life and can't have asked for a better setup! Saved us a trip to Iceland too! ;)

2024-05-10 20:43:34 UTC

- reply

we're away in the van. Got a whopping 310Wh from our panel today. We used it to run the tiny fridge. The rest I might send up to the grid from the battery when we get home.

2024-04-28 21:28:51 UTC

Trying to do a jigsaw puzzle but can't figure out where this big black hairy piece goes. #blackcat #CatsOfMastodon #cats
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/350/962/823/240/932/original/9c0ae204f0f33bb1.jpg

2024-03-25 19:11:25 UTC

Occam's razor is attributed to 14th century English philosopher William of Ockham and I was really hoping he would have a beard but here he is, with the cleanest of shaves. Disappointing.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/157/901/199/802/394/original/7b1e332844fd7b11.png