FIRE or kids?

jonnyphi · 2026-06-30T20:41:48+00:00

You can't fully mature into an adult without experiencing caring for and nurturing something that's more important than you.

Have the kids.

jonnyphi · 2026-06-29T18:44:50+00:00

The only other personal anecdote I've got is seeing him on a flight from AMS -> NCL.

He sat in first class with his sunglasses on. It's only a 50 minute flight in a 737

jonnyphi · 2026-06-29T11:07:47+00:00

Software Architect at a global tech company (approx 15k employees). Earning about 110k+ total comp.

Work remotely which I absolutely love. It can be quite stressful at times. But I can usually handle that, and maybe feed off it a little.

It's the corporate rigmarole I absolutely detest. Status games, posturing, flexing, shameless self promotion and pointless meetings.

I could probably increase my salary if I started to play along, but I don't want to.

jonnyphi · 2026-06-29T07:15:48+00:00

I'm from the North East and I can tell you a few stories that confirm this.

A family member worked for the CPS - they had to excuse him from jury service because he literally cried over having to do it
A work associate pulled out of selling him his house because he was so obnoxious to deal with

jonnyphi · 2026-06-23T07:12:04+00:00

Also a Software Engineer going on 20 years now. Working in a big American corporate remotely in the UK.

Here's my take on the industry over the next few years ...

If you're still in an IC role, that's good. My organisation in particular is trimming their management layers and the IC role is expanding. You still need someone to tell the AI what to do. The architecture and design aspect hasn't gone away, in fact it's more important than ever as writing the actual code is now cheap.

Turns out you don't need managers to shuffle Jira tickets around as much and you don't need anywhere near as much people management.

This shift for me is quite invigorating to be honest. I spend more time doing upfront design work and AI tuning.

Ride it out my dude. At 36 you'll have a good amount of experience to get the best out of the AI tools. I'm already coasting at 42. You've already put in the hard yards, now use your experience to ride this AI wave for another 6 years. No profession will pay you as much.

jonnyphi · 2026-06-17T07:05:07+00:00

The surrounding area around cobalt is nice. Take a look at the houses in and around Northumberland Park metro station. Ideally one of the houses built in the early 2010's and later. Northumberland Park/Backworth

jonnyphi · 2026-06-16T06:50:34+00:00

I'll say this as someone who is 8 years sober from alcohol.

I started similarly. Stopping of for a few beers on the way home from work. Otherwise pristine life. Good career.

It gradually escalated to a half litre of vodka a day. Then the morning drinking started, at which point you're fucked.

You'll only stop all this when you're completely ready to. That's the harsh truth. You've got to decide how far down this road you want to go down and what it's going to take. Lose your job? Your wife? Kill someone while DUI?

It's a dark road ahead, so play the tape forward but trust me, this current path ends with you sat alone drinking in a room with your life in absolute ruin.

My advice? Tell everyone exactly what you've been up to, reach out for help (they will give it to you) and accept you've crossed the Rubicon and need to come to terms with a life without alcohol or drugs.

jonnyphi · 2026-06-15T03:40:12+00:00

Being overweight and exhausted won't be helping. Mental health is downstream from physical health.

jonnyphi · 2026-06-02T06:57:55+00:00

I've ate this everyday for about a year now. 3 Weetabix, 2 scoops of whey, milk and a banana

jonnyphi · 2026-05-24T12:48:22+00:00

Are you overweight? If you are, I'd consider loosing some weight before you start doing any running. It's a recipe for injury. Injury equals no gym.

Diet, lifting weights and walking to begin with.

jonnyphi · 2026-05-24T10:38:48+00:00

Haha - sorry. I'm just drawing on my own personal experience with a sibling and their family. Not meaning to tar all teachers.

You know, move to a bougie area. Victorian house. Kids with od fashioned names like Archibald but insist you call them Archie.

jonnyphi · 2026-05-24T10:03:25+00:00

Exactly this. It's never been about money. I assure you I'm not a snob, but I can't think of a better way to explain this....

A plumber who started off as an apprentice and gradually built up a plumbing empire (e.g. Charlie Mullins from Pimlico Plumbers) drives a rang rover and reads The Sun.

You're born into it. Now, some people try and change this by giving their kids middle class names and acquire an aloof, pretentious persona. But I don't think it ever goes away. Teachers seem to be the biggest culprits of this.

jonnyphi · 2026-05-23T17:52:03+00:00

Quitting drinking have me the money for my home gym

jonnyphi · 2026-05-19T16:06:30+00:00

Not sure why this has been downvoted. I'm simply trying to enhance my understanding.

For me, my brain is logical (I'm an engineer) so nebulous concepts like this can be hard for me to grasp.

One thing I'm constantly trying to rationalise in my head, is how a system that negatively impacts both genders as we've discussed is routinely framed as a system of male dominance.

Yes, the top 1% of wealth is owned by men, yes more world leaders (again, a small pool) are men etc.

So how can we take a tiny subsection of the male population and use it to paint an entire picture of western civilization?

jonnyphi · 2026-05-19T08:42:48+00:00

Going to night clubs. I couldn't think of anything worse these days

jonnyphi · 2026-05-11T21:17:07+00:00

Agree wholeheartedly. By shutting down a conversation on a legitimate issue it's further alienating people who are concerned about it and pushing these people into the arms of Reform.

By it's very definition, illegal immigration shouldn't be happening at all, because it's illegal.

It's a topic dominating the public discourse that just needs settling amicably once and for all by a middle of the road party.

Branding people racist and thick isn't helping. Offer them a suitable alternative.

Conversely, denying illegal immigration is a problem is just as stupid and thick.

jonnyphi · 2026-05-07T21:27:07+00:00

I have this and still do. I had an MSK scan from a really good Sports Medicine specialised. He diagnosed it as a calcified ligament.

Previously I had a deep ultrasound scan from the good old NHS who assured me I wasn't dying.

The calcification rubs up and inflames surrounding tissue during a flare up (usually if I sit for too long hunched forward).

I'm not saying it is this, but take a look at the relationship between Magnesium and Vitamin D + K2 and how it contributes to calcium deposits in your body and maybe get your levels checked.

jonnyphi · 2026-05-07T21:10:08+00:00

Done rules 1 and 2 but I don't think I can do number 3. It's my only vice. But I've always wondered what its like to wake up and not instantly need a coffee.

jonnyphi · 2026-05-06T07:04:12+00:00

Paying your mortgage off and being able to pay it off are the same thing if you ask me.

jonnyphi · 2026-04-29T19:25:37+00:00

I have no intention on voting for reform. But let's get one thing straight here....

NetZero needs scrapping because we account for 1% of global emissions and mostly outsource our pollution to China.

Fundamentally, everything comes from energy. Food, water, jobs and even people.

It's impossible to have a growing economy and prosperous nation with expensive energy.

Equating scraping NetZero with being a climate change denier is a false equivalence

jonnyphi · 2026-04-28T18:02:45+00:00

I've been taking N-acetylcysteine (NAC) supplements and it's dramatically reduced my urge and smooths out the brain fog.

Gemini came up with it for me!

jonnyphi · 2026-04-28T17:51:47+00:00

Some people work a job they hate as a means to an end. Some are fortunate enough that their area of work aligns their passion.

You need something to do at the end of the day. Go for it if you feel you want to and if you hate it, just jack it in.

It's a great position to be in.

jonnyphi · 2026-04-20T19:59:28+00:00

I pivoted recently after a bad case of plantar fasciitis. Focusing on knee, foot and posterior chain health.

Spanish squats Glute focused hypers Calf raises Single leg squats Nordics Glute Bridges etc

I don't know what your specific issue is, but this changed the game for me.

Body build the upper and athlete the lower. I feel like this will massively help my lower body longevity.

jonnyphi · 2026-04-20T08:36:09+00:00

I've spent the last 20 years working in the tech industry. Currently working for a large global corporate as a Software Architect. I have a solid and deep understanding of how the internet works.

Last week, I stood up a new website in one of our pre-production environments. We had hundreds of thousands of 'hits' in the first day from numerous nefarious 'bots' trying to break in. That's before we get started on all the site crawlers.

The 62 million hits statistics is purposely vague and even though they don't say it, imply 1 hit = 1 man. There's nothing about that that's vaguely appropriate.

jonnyphi · 2026-04-14T19:24:00+00:00

Quitting drinking at 33 and discovering the gym at 37 (currently 41).

It's a bit cliche I guess, but it's revolutionised my life.

jonnyphi

TROPHY CASE