johnsy.com
Pete Johns
Human being; just like you. He writes from Melbourne about software leadership, reliable systems, and building things that last, and he would rather publish here than chase engagement on social feeds. parkrun (volunteer, runner, ambassador) gets him outside; expect candour, craft, and the occasional grumble when the tech stack misbehaves. Moreover he doesn't like talking about himself in the third-person.
August 2026
September 2026
Top Words
- parkrun
- event
- conquer
- cancer
- hour
All posts (31)
One of the things I have been really enjoying during my career break is learning to tackle cryptic crosswords. I am still not very good at them, but I can solve clues today that were dark to me a year ago, and that’s pleasing progress. I was delighted to see that the authors of the Minute Cryptic book I mentioned on...
It’s been a very parkrunny week, which involved me presenting at a Volunteering Australia webinar about Community-Led Volunteering and my parkrun experiences. Some people have said nice things about the presentation and the recording will be available soon. I didn’t have time to run or walk at parkrun (or more...
K recently joked that were I to appear on Mastermind, my specialist subject would be Iron Maiden. She may be right. They’re certainly the band I have paid the most attention to over the years. Throughout the 90s they were the band I listened to the most, and this led to me discovering more bands. As a teenager my...
As you know, this month I am taking part in a World Record attempt, as part of Conquer Cancer Australia. These legends have been moving a baton around Princes Park since Saturday, with runners, joggers and walkers taking one-hour shifts. Some are even doing multiple hours back-to-back. They are supported by an...
This morning I was one of the 283 finishers at Coburg parkrun event #517, and K was one of the 14 volunteers. From last weekend’s post and the previous weekend’s post, it may seem that I only go to parkrun to participate in challenges, but one of the biggest influences as to where I’ll parkrun is where my friends...
One of the things I was told before I got my first Mac was that Apple’s user interfaces were the most intuitive. Back in the early 2000s, I think that was probably true (compared, for instance, to Microsoft Windows, where you’d tap the “Start” button to shut it down). This morning when I was sending an email and...
I’m proud to be part of a Guinness World Records attempt, running in a non-stop four-week relay around Princes Park to help conquer cancer. It also happens that my little brother ran into the record books this weekend. Every dollar I raise will support Camp Quality’s programs for kids facing cancer and fund vital...
One of the aspects of being a parkrun ambassador that I really enjoy is jumping in the car or on the bike on a Saturday morning and heading to a parkrun event. I have blogged before about using my NENDY to decide where I should go, which is all well and good, but it’s not the only way I choose. Each event can only...
It astounds me that I have never blogged about my love of Radio Paradise. You know how much I love music and radio in particular, especially if you read my Desert Island Discs post. One of my oldest friends introduced me to this internet radio station when K and I were expecting our first child. As each song came...
This post was brought to you, unintentionally, by the number eleven. It has been seven years since I wrote about chasing my parkrun Nearest Event Not Done Yet (NENDY) and yet it is still something that I really enjoy about experiencing parkrun. It’s great to hop in the car, stick on a podcast, and drive to a suburb...
This is an experiment in rewarding people who subscribe to open web feeds, Inspired by Dave Rupert’s RSS Club. If you are reading this, thank you for choosing RSS or Atom (inspired by The Internet’s Own Boy) over proprietary social platforms. If I’ve done this right, this post is only available to feed subscribers....
This post is about post I’m so meta (but not “Meta”)! Some context I grew up in the UK, where, by and large, post was delivered through a slot in the front door called a letterbox. When we moved to Melbourne in 2006, we took on a Post Office Box (PO Box), following a recommendation from a friend whose mail had gone...
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