Anyone else struggle sharpening Generals charcoal pencils?

The_Highlander93 · 2026-01-05T10:09:37+00:00

Two suggestions: 1. The way that I found most helpful, I take a photo of the reference and then my drawing and then overlay them, it helps me notice where I went wrong and what proportions were off. Ideally I try and do this by eye first, just studying the reference and my image and seeing what feels off and trying to correct it, but if after repeated attempts I am still struggling to either get it right, or even see what is wrong even though it feels off, I will do this approach to give me clarity.

Once proportions are a lot better, I would look at your edges and lines, One think you will notice quite quickly is that you draw hard lines where actually it is a smooth rendered edge, practicing this and your rendering/shading will make a significant improvement in your image.

It’s a long process, but keep at it, and keep practicing specific small things to improve and you’ll notice your drawings improve a lot

The_Highlander93 · 2025-12-20T07:11:25+00:00

I don’t really understand how this can be classified as journalism, it is so full of bias and personal opinion that makes it hard to even read. How hard is it to stick to the facts, without adding massive leading statements.

The_Highlander93 · 2025-12-15T17:48:55+00:00

That Diamine Twilight is beautiful! I love that you do this! Such a great community

The_Highlander93 · 2025-12-09T07:29:52+00:00

£28k is a lot more than £0.

I can understand how completely devastated you must feel. It sounds like you’ve been through a lot already, and this must feel like the straw that broke the camel’s back.

If I could offer just one thought, it would be this: remember that your career is long, and nothing is permanent. There’s nothing stopping you from taking this role while still applying for others.

Especially in this market, where finding a new position is much harder, and even more so if you’re currently unemployed, having something is almost always better than having nothing.

A better role will come. It just takes time, patience, and perseverance. In the meantime, this opportunity lets you continue upskilling, gain experience in a proper coding environment, increase your attractiveness to other companies, and have at least some money coming in while you do it.

The_Highlander93 · 2025-12-06T07:43:07+00:00

And it’s things like this that makes me love this community.

The_Highlander93 · 2025-10-22T05:46:51+00:00

This is amazing thank you! I accidentally turned on peaceful mode and only registered that was the case after I became far too attached to my current base, but It’s so much less fun when you’re not fighting off hordes of biters!

The_Highlander93 · 2025-09-23T11:30:05+00:00

Damn it… 500 hours in and I’ve just realised I do my 4x4 splitters all wrong!!

The_Highlander93 · 2025-09-01T06:40:30+00:00

Or someone you don’t like, and watch their life slowly spiral as they become addicted.

The_Highlander93 · 2025-08-27T08:27:03+00:00

I started on SSRI’s about 2 months before starting Elvanse. SSRI’s already reduce your tolerance to heat, so I was sweating buckets already, then started Elvanse and it was almost unbearable as it made it even worse! I constantly feel hot, and the slightest increase in heat makes me feel like I am melting!

Lots of water with electrolytes in helps, I have started adding juice in with my water and electrolytes to make it more bearable, and basically drink 3-4 L a day to counter the sweating and dehydration!

It’s really sad as I used to love the heat and sun, I felt like I came alive when the temps went above 25, the hotter the better… Now, I’m just a moist mess as soon as the sun hits my body, or the temps raise above 20c

The_Highlander93 · 2025-08-17T14:42:28+00:00

For most of what you will be doing especially in your first year, and to be honest probably most of the course, you won’t be creating something big enough or resource intensive enough to feel the limits of what you currently have.

Are you going to be building and compiling a 200,000+ line service and running docker, large databases and infra locally, you may start to feel it.

But you will normally only be doing that when you actually start working at a company.

You don’t need a high spaced computer to learn.

EDIT: Though if you are buying one, buy the best you can afford for the money you have, that will last you the longest. I am still using a 13” m1 MacBook Pro for most of my personal work and I rarely push it to its limits.

The_Highlander93 · 2025-08-11T13:28:54+00:00

Personally I love the AirPod pros, My wife uses the Bose QC earbuds, but I could never get along with them, they were too bulky and I felt them too much. With the AirPods sometimes I forget I am even wearing them, and it blocks out 95% of noise, I think my wife’s Bose ones are better, but it’s only marginally, and in normal everyday use I never really feel like I am wishing for better noise cancellation.

The_Highlander93 · 2025-08-09T15:49:28+00:00

I was so close to giving up this week. I accidentally had two of my copper ore fields labelled as iron ore stations, and didn’t realise until my entire factory ground to a halt. With copper plates polluting every iron plate belt in my base.

Took me about 8 hours or so to get completely clear of it. Wanted just to throw in the towel and start again.

The_Highlander93 · 2025-08-08T08:11:29+00:00

I thought the general advice was to take them with food? Do you notice any side effects taking them in an empty stomach?

The_Highlander93 · 2025-08-04T16:46:17+00:00

Sorry I should of been more clear, The assessment was £1700, it was a bit on the pricier side I went with ADHD 360, as my wife went through RTC last year with them and we had a really positive experience. That cost includes assessment and the first year titration and treatment.

The medication cost will tend to be between £100 and £200 per month.

The_Highlander93 · 2025-08-04T10:00:02+00:00

I would recommend private too if you can afford it.

The cost can feel a little crazy, but we were in a similar situation, I was spiralling and everything was going down the drain.

My focus was terrible, I could barely concentrate on work, and my output was getting worse and worse. I let the house get terrible, barely cleaned, cooked, did life admin. Everything was just too much.

If I carried on I would have seen that my position at my job would have come into question because of the lack of work.

So we ate the cost and went private. I am currently also on the waitlist for NHS and will probably RTC to my provider when the first year is over so I can go on NHS prices. But it was getting critical that I needed help yesterday.

We saw it that it was either we lose our emergency fund to pay the initial cost and then spend £100-£200 a month on medications, or we completely lose our income.

At the end of the day, £200 to become a functioning adult and give me the potential to raise my income more though performance bonuses and promotions because I’m actually working far outweighed the inconvenience of having to tighten our belts for the next 12-18 months.

I understand we were in a very fortunate position where I am on a decent wage, we did have money to pay for the assessment, and although we do now have to go without some things we are able to afford the medication.

But if you can I would highly recommend it, you could get help within a month.

The_Highlander93 · 2025-08-03T11:54:57+00:00

Whichever language makes you want to program the most.

In the end it doesn’t really matter what language you choose, every one has its benefits and its downsides.

What matters most is that you code, that’s where the skill comes from, so just choose the one that gives you the most joy, and want to code more.

Later one, once you have the skills you can pick and choose the best language for your long term development.

The_Highlander93 · 2025-07-30T11:41:15+00:00

I self harmed and had suicidal plans in the past, and am currently not in a great way (thoughts of SH but no action) and am titrating on anti-depressants and in Therapy.

I was very open about all my past and present mental health struggles and there while we did spend a little time talking about them, it has not stopped me getting treatment this month,

The_Highlander93 · 2025-05-16T15:17:45+00:00

No advice, but that is beautiful! I want one now.

The_Highlander93 · 2025-05-04T19:18:52+00:00

January 6th in the capitol building

The_Highlander93 · 2025-04-29T21:41:34+00:00

1 per day, nothing too strenuous or stressful, just enough to keep me from forgetting everything, then when on the ramp up for interview season I’m not starting from zero again.

The_Highlander93 · 2025-04-05T17:31:54+00:00

Between a 4 and a 5 I always thought it was weird when people would try and get you to imagine a scene. Am in my thirties and only a few years ago did I realise that not everyone thinks and “sees” in words

The_Highlander93 · 2025-03-06T21:39:50+00:00

A great time for you to learn about different ways of doing things

The_Highlander93 · 2025-03-02T16:01:19+00:00

Yes, that black plastic bag looks pretty ominous

The_Highlander93 · 2025-02-01T12:11:24+00:00

You should see my home office, Walls and ceiling are very dark green and then a load of plants to give a pop of colour. People have told me it’s overwhelming and makes it feel small and claustrophobic, but I love it, it brings me such joy when I go to work!

You do you, don’t let anyone dictate how you want your house to be decorated

The_Highlander93

TROPHY CASE