I’m Aphie (rhymes with taffy, not that I've ever eaten taffy). I’m 26, I live with my partner and our puppy, and I ran away from my coastal hometown of Portsmouth in favour of the coastal city of Brighton an hour and a half’s drive away.

I spent 5 years learning how to do social research and, in a shocking turn of events, am now working as a social researcher. I see research as a creative practice and love novel takes on the research process. I’m early in my career but so far I’ve been particularly drawn to ideas around:

• ‘outdated’ and emerging technologies
• digital culture
• masculinity
• subcultures and deviancy
• social / systems change
• methods (especially ethnography)

Like a lot of people, I’ve lost interest in traditional social media platforms and have found myself missing early internet forums. I also really like the idea of creating a space that is primarily for me, with the added bonus of people being able to take a look and engage if they want. I’m sure the way I use it will evolve as I get into the swing of it, but I imagine it to be a collection of writings, images, scans, links, and whatever else I find interesting; a mix of ideas/musings and a personal archive.

A bit more about me – here’s what I’m currently:

• Watching: Pluribus; The Chair Company; YouTube internet horror video essays.
• Reading: (Re-reading) House of Leaves; Tom’s Crossing is next; also reading a copy of Nostradamus my pal Dee got me for my birthday; also reading The Troop, another birthday gift from my mate Molly who said I would like “the worms”.
• Listening to: the Young Ones soundtrack; Jeffrey Lewis; Attic Abasement; whatever’s on at karaoke night.
• Making: I’m teaching my partner to knit, and together we’re making a big knitted blanket; I’m also being brave and knitting something other than a square for the first time by making a crucifix; this website; scrap wax candles; scrapbook/collage.
• Collecting: beach finds (seashells, hagstones, mermaids’ pouches, potentially pieces of ambergris but more likely something much grosser and less valuable, bits of driftwood); thrifted art; antique furniture we can find for cheap (or free – God bless Brighton & Hove street furniture); rugs and tapestries; interesting glass bottles; knick knacks for the mantelpiece.

That’s all for now, I’ll leave you with this image of Ramona the dog.