Author: martinjamesphd
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Mastering Life Organization: A Guide to Freedom
No offence intended, but I believe many adults are still amateurs at life. For many, life is a visible hot mess—chaotic, disorganised, and constantly in flux. And to be fair, there are good reasons for this. Work consumes our time and often feels like an abusive relationship. We’re pulled in all directions by partners, family,…
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Garden Springing Up
It’s not a huge space but it’s my space, and I’m slowly turning it into a haven for me, local cats and the many bees who visit. I inherited a slightly wild flower garden and I’m running with it. Like everything else on ad around the property TLC is needed. I’m a busy man so…
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Space is EXPENSIVE in the UK
The title speaks for itself — I work in the City, in the heart of London — which means I have to be within commuting distance. As a consequence, I have to live in one of the most expensive places in the world per square meter. As you can see below, central London is more…
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New skills and practicing what I preach: a growth mindset
In one of the modules I led this year, a key topic was growth mindset, which is the opposite of a fixed mindset. The latter involves the assumption that “I am what I am… I can’t [insert your limiting belief—drive, fix things, speak in public, etc.].” It’s not about denying the significance of talent; it’s…
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New Bedroom!
As with much that I have got going on, this was months in development. I bought the bed at a great sale price just after Christmas, when I guess new beds aren’t typically a priority. It was project management 101 – chicken, fox, grain – I had to get the radiator fixed and lighting changed…
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Experience London’s West End: ‘Manhunt’ and ‘The Great Gatsby’
I had the pleasure of seeing two West End shows over the Mayday bank holiday, 2025. The first was called “Manhunt” – a gripping new play written and directed by Robert Icke, currently running at the Royal Court Theatre in London until May 3, 2025. The production delves into the harrowing true story of Raoul…
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Exploring Santiago and Lima: My Journey at the ILPC
I was lucky enough to visit Chile and Peru whilst attending the International Labour Process Conference in Santiago. There was a lot of work, it was no holiday but it felt like one nonetheless. The closest I came to a true break was during a day off in Lima, where I got to walk alongside…
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My London Season
Since the end of January, I’ve been working in London three or four days per week. It’s been a mix of everything: great moments, stress, sensory overload, barely contained chaos, and above all, getting the job done—no matter what. A typical London day involved getting up at 05:15, leaving at 06:00, biking to the train…
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Best of Amsterdam
It’s hard to top if you want an incongruous balance of fast paced relaxation. Sadly, it’s become expensive to stay but it’s quick, cheap and easy to get to, making it work for a re-charging one or two night stay. Here’s a few pics from recent trips.
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Home Improvements, Minor but Meaningful Progress
The house has been very much on the backburner since January. I’ve taken little opportunities to progress, getting things in place for months to come. The vision for the garden is coming into view for example, as is the artistic vision for the house.
Dr Martin James 