Author: martinjamesphd
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Experience the Magic of My Neighbour Totoro in London
I’m no great fan of Japanese anime, but I am a fan of stepping out of my comfort zone—especially when it leads to something that reconnects you with the magical world you once craved as a child. My Neighbour Totoro, currently playing in London’s West End, offers exactly that: a few precious hours of escapism,…
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Daring to be different: space costs money!
I’ve lived a long life and accumulated a wardrobe that’s as extensive as my shoe collection. I’m determined to avoid having a large portion of it tucked away and inaccessible in storage—as has so often been the case in years gone by. Dead space costs just as much as used space, so I decided it…
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Mastering Shoe Storage: My Personal Journey
I love my shoe room, although it’s been in a fairly dysfunctional state for a while. Some shoes are on display, some boxes have pictures, but around 80 pairs are boxed without any indication of what’s inside. Many of the shoes aren’t in their original boxes, which makes it practically impossible to find a large…
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From Grime to Shine: Revamping My Bathroom
No disrespect to the previous owners, but the top-floor bathroom was left in a bit of a state. It wasn’t exactly a horror show, but it ticked all the usual boxes: mold in the grouting, a tired-looking shower hose that clearly needed replacing, limescale caked over every bit of chrome—you get the picture. I assumed…
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Home Makeover Journey: From Chaos to Comfort
Boy, have I been busy lately! The past few weeks have been hot, hot, hot — ever since I returned from Chile in May, it’s felt like an early summer: warm, dry, and relentless. And, true to form, I’ve had far too much going on to properly relax under the seasonal sun. After buying my…
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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…
Dr Martin James 