Blog
Articles on programming, architecture and the tools I build.
From Handwritten Notes to AI: Forty Years Researching the Chedgzoy Name
Forty years researching the Chedgzoy and Chedzoy surname, from 1980s handwritten notes, graveyards and microfiche to AI-assisted research today, and why I share it all for free.
The Brothers of Chedzoy
A Roots-style historical novella: two brothers of a Somerset Levels family, the Chedzoys of Stoke St Gregory, named long ago for the village of Chedzoy, join the 1685 Monmouth Rebellion, and only one survives Sedgemoor, the Bloody Assizes and transportation to Jamaica. Based on the real Edward Chedsey.
eBay Seller Fees Explained (UK 2026): What You Actually Keep
What you really keep when you sell on eBay UK in 2026: the final value fee, the fixed per-order fee, how Top Rated status and a Shop change things, and why your profit is lower than the sale price.
QR Codes With a Logo: How to Make One That Still Scans
Adding a logo to a QR code can stop it scanning if you do it wrong. How error correction works, how big the logo can safely be, and how to make a branded QR code that reads every time.
WiFi QR Codes: Let Guests Join Without Sharing the Password
A WiFi QR code lets guests join your network by scanning, with no password typing. How they work, what goes in one, where they are useful, and how to make one in a minute.
WebP vs AVIF vs JPEG: Which Image Format Should You Use?
AVIF, WebP and JPEG explained without the jargon: which image format is smallest, which has the widest support, and a simple rule for which to use on a website in 2026.
What's a Good Colour Contrast Ratio? WCAG AA and AAA in Plain English
What WCAG colour contrast ratios mean in plain English: the difference between AA and AAA, the 4.5:1 and 3:1 thresholds, and how to check whether your text is readable for everyone.
JSON-LD Schema for Beginners: What It Is and Why Google Cares
Structured data explained for beginners: what JSON-LD is, why Google uses it for rich results, what you can mark up, and how to add it to a page without writing it by hand.
How Many Items Fit on a Print Sheet? A Simple Imposition Guide
Imposition explained simply: how to work out how many copies of a print job fit on a sheet, why orientation and bleed matter, and how to get the most prints from the least paper.
Building a Colour Palette: Complementary, Triadic and Analogous
How to build a colour palette that works: complementary, analogous and triadic harmonies explained simply, the 60-30-10 rule, and how to keep your colours readable as well as good-looking.
Sam Chedgzoy: The Footballer Who Changed the Corner-Kick Rule
Sam Chedgzoy, the Everton and England winger who exploited a loophole in the 1924 corner-kick law and forced the rules of football to be rewritten. A short history of the man behind the rule.
eBay Sales Velocity: How to Tell If Something Actually Sells
A high sold price means nothing if the item only sells once a year. How to read sales velocity and sell-through from eBay's sold history, and use them to decide what is actually worth stocking.
What's It Worth? Researching eBay Prices Before You Buy or Sell
A practical way to work out what something really sells for on eBay, using sold prices instead of hopeful asking prices: how to compare like-for-like, find the realistic range, and factor in fees before you list.
How to See an eBay Item's Sold & Price History (2026)
How to find any eBay item's sold history and the prices it really sold for, after eBay removed the public link in 2023. Two quick methods, how to find an item number, and how to read best-offer sales. Free, no sign-up.