Hey, I'm Rick!
After a rewarding global career as a chartered engineer, I have finally settled down on the beautiful island of Jersey in the Channel Islands as I approach retirement. While my professional life was spent building and problem-solving around the world, my personal life has always been anchored by a voracious appetite for reading. I naturally gravitate toward the sciences—with a particular fascination for astrophysics—but I also have a deep obsession with productivity books, alongside a love for escaping into detective mysteries and fantasy realms.
Recently, I decided to turn my lifelong love of reading on its head by stepping into the shoes of a creator. I am currently writing a science fiction adventure novel titled Ashfall Protocol. Never one to sit still, I am also teaching myself to code using SwiftUI and Xcode, with the ultimate goal of building a dedicated app for my favourite productivity method: the Time Sector System.
Whether I am exploring the stars through a book, drafting my own universe, or building new tools, I am always looking for the next great adventure.
News
SwiftUI Coding Journey Update
15 July - 2026
When I first decided to learn SwiftUI to build my Time Sector app, I knew I needed a structured, practical way to learn. That is when I discovered the website Hacking with Swift by Paul Hudson, and it has been an absolute game-changer.
Paul is an exceptional teacher who has a real talent for breaking down complex coding concepts into bite-sized, understandable lessons. I am currently working my way through his famous "100 Days of SwiftUI" course, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
The highlight of the course for me so far has been building the "Moonshot" app. It was incredibly satisfying to see a fully functional, beautiful app come together on my screen, and it gave me a real confidence boost. If you are looking to get into iOS development, Hacking with Swift is the perfect place to start.
Current Learning Resources
Website: Hacking with Swift (by Paul Hudson)
Course: 100 Days of SwiftUI
Favourite Project: Moonshot
Write just a little bit every day.
26 May - 2026
One of the most valuable lessons I have learned on my journey to writing Ashfall Protocol is the immense power of consistency. When you are trying to write a novel alongside a busy life, waiting for large blocks of free time is a recipe for never starting at all. That is why I have embraced the philosophy of writing just a little bit every day.
Whether it is a single paragraph, a quick scene, or even just a few sentences, daily writing keeps the momentum alive. It bridges the gap between your everyday life and the world you are building, so you never have to waste time trying to remember where you left off. More importantly, it turns writing from a daunting task into a natural, daily habit.
A novel is not written in a single, heroic weekend; it is built one word at a time. By showing up every day, even for just fifteen minutes, the pages slowly but surely begin to pile up.
Daily Writing Tips
Start Small: Aim for just 200 words or 15 minutes a day.
The Two-Minute Rule: If you really don't want to write, tell yourself you only have to do it for two minutes. Usually, you will keep going.
Protect the Time: Treat your daily writing slot as a non-negotiable appointment with yourself.
Revisiting the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
30 March - 2026
I have just finished reading Lord Foul's Bane by Stephen Donaldson, and it was a deeply nostalgic yet entirely fresh experience. I originally read this book when it first came out back in 1977, and it left a lasting impression on me as a younger reader. When it recently popped up on Kindle Unlimited, I decided it was the perfect time to revisit the trilogy and see how it held up after all these years.
Rereading this classic as an adult has been a completely different journey. The years have brought a whole new level of understanding and appreciation to the story. Themes that I missed or glossed over in my youth now stand out with striking clarity, and the complexities of the characters resonate in ways they simply couldn't back then. It is a rare and beautiful thing when a book from your past grows with you, offering new insights upon your return. If you haven't revisited your old favourites in a while, I highly recommend it.
Recent Reading
Lord Foul's Bane by Stephen Donaldson
Thoughts: A fantastic return to a classic fantasy world that holds up even better upon a second reading decades later.
Carrd is awesome
26 February - 2026
f you are thinking about starting your own website, I highly recommend checking out Carrd.co.
When I decided to build this site, I wanted something clean, simple, and fast. I didn't want to spend weeks wrestling with complicated website builders or bloated code. I just wanted a space to share my thoughts on reading, writing, and coding.
Carrd turned out to be the perfect solution. It is incredibly easy to use, beautifully minimalist, and allows you to build responsive, single-page sites in a matter of minutes. Whether you need a personal landing page, a portfolio, or a simple blog like this one, Carrd makes the process effortless.
If you want to get your own ideas out onto the web without the usual headaches, give Carrd a try.
Why I Use Carrd
Simplicity: A clean, intuitive interface that gets out of your way.
Speed: You can go from a blank canvas to a live site in minutes.
Design: Beautiful, responsive templates that look great on any device.
Hello world! 👋🏻
26 January - 2026
Welcome to my new website. If you are here, you likely share one of my three great passions: reading, writing, or coding.
This site is designed to be a digital reflection of my mind. It is a place where I explore the vastness of the universe through astrophysics, optimize my daily life through productivity, and escape into the worlds of fiction. It is also the home of my journey from a lifelong reader to a creator—whether that is drafting my debut sci-fi novel, Ashfall Protocol, or learning SwiftUI to build my own productivity app from scratch.
Take a look around, explore the different sections, and feel free to join me on this journey of constant learning and creating. There is plenty more to come!
Quick Links
Reading — Exploring astrophysics, productivity, and fiction.
Writing — The home of Ashfall Protocol.
Coding — Building a Time Sector app in SwiftUI.
Reading
Astrophysics │ Productivity│ Fiction
I am a voracious reader with a deep passion for exploring new worlds and ideas through the written word. My reading naturally gravitates toward the sciences, with a particular fascination for the mysteries of astrophysics. When I'm not looking up at the stars, you can often find me diving into books on productivity, always eager to learn new ways to grow and optimize my life. I also love escaping into a great story, whether it's unraveling a gripping detective mystery or exploring the magical realms of fantasy.
Writing
Ashfall Protocol
After a lifetime of devouring books and exploring the far reaches of the universe through the eyes of others, I've decided to turn my love of reading on its head. I am currently channeling my passion for science and storytelling into writing my very own science fiction adventure novel, titled Ashfall Protocol. It has been an incredible journey to step from the role of the reader into the shoes of the creator, and I cannot wait to share this new adventure with you.
Coding
Learning how to build awesome SwiftUI Apps
Driven by my obsession with productivity and a desire to bring my own ideas to life, I am currently teaching myself how to code using SwiftUI and Xcode. My ultimate goal is to design and build a dedicated app for my absolute favourite productivity method: the Time Sector System. It has been an incredibly rewarding challenge to dive into the world of app development, and I am excited to see this project evolve from a simple concept into a fully functional tool.
Reading
Astrophysics │ Productivity│ Fiction
Welcome to the reading corner of my website. This space is dedicated to the written word and the profound impact it has on my life. Reading is more than just a hobby for me; it is a fundamental part of how I navigate the world, expand my horizons, and maintain my sanity in a busy life. Through the pages of a book, I can travel to the farthest reaches of the cosmos, learn the secrets of peak performance, and lose myself in the thrilling worlds of the imagination.
My reading habits are divided into three distinct pillars, each serving a unique purpose in my personal and professional development. The first pillar is astrophysics. I have always been fascinated by the night sky and the fundamental questions of our existence. Where did we come from? What is the universe made of? How does it all work? To answer these questions, I regularly dive into books on astrophysics and cosmology. These works challenge my understanding of reality and push the boundaries of my knowledge. They remind me of the vastness of the universe and our tiny, yet significant, place within it. Whether it is exploring the life cycle of stars, the mysteries of black holes, or the mind-bending concepts of quantum mechanics, astrophysics keeps my curiosity alive and my mind sharp.
The second pillar of my reading life is productivity. In today's fast-paced world, fitting everything into a busy schedule can be a daunting task. I am constantly seeking ways to optimize my time, streamline my workflows, and ensure that I am focusing on what truly matters. By reading articles and books on productivity, time management, and personal effectiveness, I learn the strategies and tools necessary to make the most of my days. These readings provide practical advice on how to set goals, overcome procrastination, and build habits that stick. They allow me to balance my professional responsibilities with my personal passions, ensuring that I have the time and energy to pursue everything I want to do.
The final pillar is fiction. After a long day of work, study, and daily responsibilities, I need a way to clear my mind and unwind. Fiction provides the perfect escape. Each night, before I go to sleep, I immerse myself in a different world. I am particularly drawn to detective stories, fantasy, and science fiction. Detective novels engage my analytical mind as I try to solve the mystery alongside the protagonist. Fantasy novels transport me to magical realms filled with wonder and adventure. Science fiction allows me to explore the future and the endless possibilities of technology and human evolution. This nightly ritual helps me disconnect from the stresses of the day and prepares my mind for a restful sleep.
Below, you will find a list of the books I have read recently, as well as those I plan to read in the future. I hope that by sharing my reading journey, I can inspire you to pick up a book and explore new worlds of your own.
Recently Read
📘 Lord Foul's Bane by Stephen Donaldson - I read this book when it first came out back in 1977 and when it popped up on Kindle Unlimited I decided to revisit the trilogy. Rereading the book as an adult brought a whole new understanding of this classic.
📕Cosmos by Carl Sagan - This again is an old book that has been sat on my bookshelf for a long time, I have a first edition, but I never took the time to read it properly.
📗 Take Me to Your Leader by Neil deGrasse Tyson - A brand new book that takes a somewhat irreverent look at encountering aliens. This has some bad reviews on Amazon but I think those are from people who don't understand Neil's humour.
Future Reading List
📙 A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking - Although this book has similar content to Cosmos I'm planning to read a few books like this to reinforce the information and help it sink in.
📓 The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson - The final book in the Mistborn trilogy. I Read the first 2 earlier this year.
📔 The Importance of Being Interested by Robin Ince - I have enjoyed The Infinite Monkey Cage for years and have read a lot of books by Brain Cox. Came across this is a special offer and decided to put it on my list.
Writing
Ashfall Protocol
Welcome to the writing section of my website. For as long as I can remember, I have been a passionate reader. I have explored the depths of the cosmos through astrophysics, optimized my life through productivity, and escaped into countless worlds of fantasy, science fiction, and mystery. But there comes a time in every reader's life when the urge to simply consume stories transforms into a burning desire to create one. This space is dedicated to that new chapter in my life: my journey from a lifelong reader to a writer.
The transition from reading to writing is both exhilarating and terrifying. It is one thing to admire the architecture of a great novel from the outside, but it is another entirely to lay the bricks yourself. For years, ideas have been quietly taking shape in the back of my mind, waiting for the right moment to emerge. Now, I am finally putting pen to paper—or rather, fingers to keyboard—to bring my own universe to life.
My debut project is a science fiction novel titled Ashfall Protocol. The story is set on the distant planet of Tal'vendra, a world of untamed beauty and hidden dangers. The protagonist, Marcus Stone, is the head of security at Vex'tara, a remote research station operated by the powerful Kyrenion Ventures. The station exists to exploit the planet's resources, but their relentless drilling soon sparks a terrifying chain reaction of volcanic activity.
As the ground trembles and the first casualties are claimed, the indigenous population of Tal'vendra offers a stark warning: the planet is fighting back, and the drilling must stop. But Kyrenion Ventures, blinded by greed and hubris, refuses to heed the warnings. The drilling continues, triggering a catastrophic volcanic eruption that threatens to obliterate both the research station and the nearby indigenous town of Ash'tali.
When a desperate plan to halt the magma flow fails, the station is ordered to evacuate. However, Kyrenion's corporate protocols do not extend to the local population. They are deemed expendable. Faced with an impossible choice, Marcus Stone decides to stay behind. He chooses to defend the town of Ash'tali from the encroaching inferno, knowing full well that this decision will cost him his only chance to return home to his own family.
Ashfall Protocol is a story about duty, sacrifice, and the moral complexities of corporate colonization. It explores what happens when the unstoppable force of nature meets the immovable object of human greed, and the ordinary people caught in the crossfire.
This novel is a true labour of love. I am writing it in the spaces between a busy life, fitting it in alongside my reading, my work, and my daily responsibilities. I cannot say exactly when it will be finished. It may take months, or it may take years. But it will be available eventually—and, if I am lucky, perhaps even before George R.R. Martin releases The Winds of Winter.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. I will be sharing updates, snippets, and thoughts on the writing process here, and I look forward to the day I can finally share Marcus Stone's story with you.
Works in Progress
Ashfall Protocol (Science Fiction)
Status: Drafting
Synopsis: A security chief on a distant planet must choose between his corporate masters and the indigenous population when a catastrophic volcanic eruption threatens them all.
Coding
Learning how to build awesome SwiftUI Apps
Welcome to the coding section of my website. If you have explored my reading and writing pages, you already know that I am deeply fascinated by productivity and the art of making the most of my time. For years, I have consumed countless books and articles on how to optimize my workflow, manage my tasks, and balance a busy life. But there is a distinct difference between understanding productivity in theory and applying it in practice. This space is dedicated to my latest, and perhaps most ambitious, endeavour: taking my favourite productivity method and turning it into a fully functional app.
The method in question is the Time Sector System, created by productivity expert Carl Pullein. Unlike traditional to-do lists that focus on due dates and endless, overwhelming backlogs, the Time Sector System organizes tasks by when you intend to do them. It divides your work into manageable sectors—This Week, Next Week, This Month, and Next Month. It is a beautifully simple, yet profoundly effective way to manage a heavy workload without the stress of constant reshuffling. I have used this system for years, and it has completely transformed how I approach my daily life.
However, while there are many great task managers out there, I have always felt that none of them are perfectly tailored to the Time Sector philosophy. So, rather than waiting for someone else to build the perfect app, I have decided to build it myself.
This brings me to the second part of this journey: learning to code. I have dabbled in programming over the years, picking up bits and pieces of different languages, but I have never fully committed to building a complete application. Now, as a dedicated user of the Apple ecosystem, I am diving headfirst into the world of Swift and SwiftUI. Using Xcode on my MacBook, my goal is to create a seamless, native experience for both macOS and iOS.
Learning SwiftUI is a fascinating challenge. It is Apple's modern framework for building user interfaces, and it allows you to see your app come to life in real-time as you write the code. My approach is to learn by doing. Instead of spending months on theoretical tutorials before writing a single line of my own project, I am building the app as I go along. Each new feature I want to add becomes a new lesson to learn. If I need a way to store tasks, I learn about data persistence. If I need a way to navigate between different sectors, I learn about SwiftUI navigation stacks.
This section of the website will serve as a public log of my coding journey. I will be sharing the hurdles I face, the breakthroughs I achieve, and the lessons I learn along the way. It is going to be a slow process, built in the margins of my days, but the ultimate goal is to have a tool that is perfectly tailored to my life—and perhaps, eventually, to the lives of others who use the Time Sector System. Thank you for following along as I turn my productivity reading into a reality.
Current Projects
Time Sector App (iOS / macOS)
Framework: SwiftUI
Status: Learning & Prototyping
Goal: A dedicated task manager built around Carl Pullein's Time Sector System.
Contact
Send Message
I usually respond within 24 hours.