Lot of updates on the blog!! I added an image component to my blog notes such that the layout can change across multiple vs single images.

My current workflow for uploading images was a bit cumbersome because I was exporting a few images from Figma, then compressing them using an online tool, and then using yet another online tool to convert them to WebP. So, I built a mini tool using Grokbot, which can take any image, compress it, and then convert it into WebP - all in one click. It’s amazing how, just with few commands, we can build a tool with a decent icon, all under 1hr. What times do we live in!!

Worked on the itinerary viewer of my trip notes and I’m pretty happy with the results. The idea was to have a tactile booklet format, which feels inviting to tap, and the booklet can open into the itinerary details view on the left side and a corresponding map view on the right.

Now for the map, it took few attempts with Claude to come up with a decent map view. I’m thinking probably I should build a mini map tool for myself where I can customise the maps and change the colour, styling, etc., on the go.

On the work front, it’s been decently hectic but I can’t complain. This is one of the biggest projects of the year that my team and I are working on, so fingers crossed. Hope the users resonate with it.

We also got the appraisal season going on so that’s another added task: to write documents and review the performances of all the reportees.

During one of these stressful days at office, when I had to complete the document before the meeting, I took my Blue Tokai iced coffee from the ground floor cafetaria and walked straight into the glass door. Needless to say, it was a mess. It almost felt as if a bird had crashed onto that glass pane. Throughout that entire meeting I smelled of Spanish latte. Now I don’t know whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing but thankfully no one else could smell it. I was wearing a jacket so was able to button it up & hide the coffee marks on the tee. The appraisal discussion went well, that was the only saving grace I guess.

On the personal front, hosted Anjali & Rishabh last weekend. It was a nice afternoon with coffee, followed by a game of UNO, and a heavy Nagarjuna meal. I struggled with the latte art… to be honest, latte art might be too big of a word here:P Getting the perfect texture with milk is such a tricky task, but I have got to keep trying.

Thanks to Rishabh, we used the PS5 a bit. This is probably the only purchase which I got out of FOMO and I’m yet to make use of it. I think I have played three times and I bought it almost 1.5 years back. Someday I shall play more of it.

I started making cold foam based coffees. I made one with Diet Coke + Coffee where the cold foam flavour mostly vanilla with a little bit of salt. It’s apparently called fridge cigarette and I’ve no idea why. But it tasted decent. I made another one with Orange juice & Coffee, or Mont Blanc as we call it. This one was pretty refreshing with the orange zest on top adding a nice aromatic touch but I think the consistency of the foam could have been a little thicker.

Made Aglio Olio for back-to-back 2 days. Loved it. It was so comforting. I was also craving the creamy Gordon Ramsey-style scrambled eggs, so made that Monday morning with sourdough toast. It was so good.

My passport got renewed and the police verification happened on the same day so that’s a huge huge relief. Excited for the Japan trip this year!! I’m hoping I should be ready for the trip by the 29th of October but let’s see. The timing might be a little tight.

Went on a trip to Pune for delivery partner research on 30th. That was one hectic trip, since I had to take the early 5:30 am flight and return on the 6pm flight. We did a few focus group discussions with delivery partners and got some pretty interesting insights. Even in the short span of time, managed to savour some of the best of Pune, starting with the Panama Geisha at 729 Grams Coffee Roasters, followed by the Mont Blanc at Grey Soul Coffee Roasters. During the lunch break, we ordered Vada Pav from Garden Vadapav & burgers from the legendary Burger King. Now, this Burger King happens to be a local burger joint which was established in Pune long before the global chain came along. Talking about the burgers, I think it was one of the heaviest burgers I have had. We divided it into four parts & it was still heavy, but man, the patty was so crispy. Coming to vada pav, nothing beats Maharashtra. The pav specifically is so soft, I don’t think you’d be able to get anything of that quality in Bangalore. This trip also gave me the opportunity to start reading the book Butter, in flight as well as at the airport waiting areas. All in all, tiring trip but well worth it.