Waving from the UK

[shanaqui]

NAME, PRONOUNS, AGE, LOCATION:

Nicky, they/them/their, 32, UK.

INTERESTS, HOBBIES AND PRETENDING I'M AN ADULT:

I'm a self-employed contractor, and provide my user support skills to Postcrossing and Beeminder (I might as well say it, because I got these jobs through my online identity, so there's little separation for me anymore). I'm also a moderator (volunteer) on Habitica, though I used to help out in their inbox as well.

I'm also currently studying for an MSc in infectious diseases, and I used to study English lit, mostly medieval; yep, I know, hell of a career switch. I still haven't decided what to do when I grow up, and the chances that I'll switch gears again when I'm done with the MSc are high.

I have quite severe anxiety at times. I talk about this fairly frequently at the moment, but I try to put anything that could be distressing behind a content warning and cut tag. I'm asexual, genderqueer/non-binary, and have been partnered with the same person since I was 15, married to them since I was 26. Ish. My wife is also genderqueer.

As for my hobbies, I read a lot, and read all kinds of genres: I grew up on mostly SF and fantasy, but now also read romance, crime/mystery, comics, and lots of non-fiction. I play a lot of Final Fantasy XIV; that's currently my main jam, but I play a bunch of other games too (Stardew Valley, Two Point Hospital, most of the rest of the Final Fantasy series, Persona). I crochet and cross-stitch, when I have crafting time. I follow the fortunes of the Welsh rugby team and the regional teams that feed into it.

I don't do a lot of fandom stuff anymore, because the urge strikes me extremely randomly. If I do, at the moment it's mainly FFVIII and Good Omens.

LOOKING FOR:

People who generally post life updates rather than solely fannish content (though fannishness is part of life and I happily read that too -- I'm just not so keen on following journals that mostly post fic), especially anyone who shares my interests.

ANYTHING ELSE?:

My entries are all access locked, partly so I can have a tiny slice of the internet for my private and unprofessional thoughts about my work and (especially) my studies, and partly because it puts a small barrier in the way of nosy family members. I'm okay to add most people back, but tell me a little about what we have in common/what sparked your interest first, please!

I usually post every day or two, and try to comment on a handful of posts on my dwircle every day. Note at the moment that my profile/about me posts are kind of old; it's been a long time since I added many people at once or really put myself out there for new people.

Comments

[alefy]

I think I would like to read your stuff regularly; so I am adding you.

I am from Australia, work as a data modeller; and I post about anything or everything that catches my fancy at the moment.

[shanaqui]

Access granted! Data modelling sounds cool and like something I would be very bad at. XD

[alefy]

... and the same (access granted, that is).

I doubt you will be bad at data modelling; from the sound of things- you do a lot of cool nerdy stuff as well.

Looking forward to reading them as we go.

[spiffikins]

waves!

Hi - I'm always interested in friending other techie people - I'm a software/database/IT person and post about daily life, work venting and artsy/crafty things that I attempt.

Are you open to random people who pop up in your comments?

[alefy]

Absolutely! I’ll add you now :)

[spiffikins]

yay! added you back!

[jenett]

Hello! Former Medieval/Renaissance studies major (among other things) here, these days, a librarian and author who shares a lot of your reading interests (and writes historical fantasy romance), and fascinated by a bunch of history of medicine topics, among many other things.

My posts are a mix of life stuff (often somewhat work related - there's an overlap to some of your past work - so most of my journal is locked) and writing (separate filter, glad to add people who are interested, but reliably more 'me talking about the process of writing' than sharing the text of what I'm working on'

(Added you so you can see what that's like in context. Sticky post at the top of my journal with a summary that makes sense of a chunk of it.)

[shanaqui]

Added back! Historical fantasy romance, ooooh.

[theradicalchild]

Hello, I'm a gamer and reader myself, and would like to be friends if you're willing.

[shanaqui]

Sure, adding! :)

[theradicalchild]

Thanks!

[prettyarbitrary]

My god that's a fascinating bundle of interests. I'm in my 40s and I'm also still figuring out what to do for a career, but I can afford my mortgage so maybe careers are overrated. :D

[shanaqui]

I figure my accidental career will do for now, and then if another one comes along and bats its eyelashes at me, I can think about it then. XD

[beach_baby]

I feel like we'd get along. I only post day to day life jazz - And i'm a homo and married as well.

We also have extremely similar reading interests.

[shanaqui]

Sounds good! I've given you access/subscribed.

[ex_flameandsong751]

Hi! We have some mutuals and I'm trans [he/him], queer, over 40, I have mental health issues [including anxiety] and I'm trying to post more life stuff. Do you mind if I add you?

[shanaqui]

Heh, I'd seen your post and thought I'd comment there today, and then here you are on mine. :D So yes!

[spiffikins]

hello!

I can totally appreciate the concept of not knowing what you want to be when you grow up :D
I'm a huge reader as well - SF/fantasy/romance as well :D I use my journal to post snippets of daily life, vent about work (I'm a techie at a software company and do a lot of tech support) and post anything crafty/artsy that I might get up to - I've done cross stitch, blackwork, embroidery - but currently am working on acrylic painting :D

Shall we be friends and see how it goes?

[shanaqui]

Sounds good to me, I'll add you now! And ahaha, sounds like our work venting might be... similar.

[gwendraith]

You sound interesting! I live not far from you (from Derbyshire originally but recently moved here from Cambridgeshire). I love books although I read slowly (usually before sleep) so it takes me ages to get through them. My genres of choice are crime, historical, vampirey stuff and social history. Your MSc in infectious diseases would be right up my street if I were brainy!
I'd like to add you if that's okay?

[shanaqui]

Ahh, cool -- adding you!

[mybeautifulwars]

I'm a gamer addict as well -- Elder Scrolls to be exact. I also like to read when I get chance. My education/degree is in sleep medicine however instead I run a full time business making soap... go figure! I'm up for an add if you are :)

[shanaqui]

Sounds good, I've added you!

[mybeautifulwars]

Great!

[queenhera]

Hello, you sound great! I'm a private kind of person too, and enjoy posting life updates with a little bit of fannish content (but more on the "what I'm reading/watching" side than actual fanfic). I'm also queer. Wondering if you'd like to be friends on here?

[shanaqui]

Sounds good to me! I've added you. :)

[vintagewitch]

Hi hi! I'm also looking for people who post more life-related stuff as well as fannish things. My journal is half friends-locked for privacy reasons and half public. I'm going to be moving across the country in the next year or so so I wanted a way to be a little more in-depth keeping in touch with people than facebook or Instagram tends to be. But also ... privacy from family members, etc. I haven't figured out the line.

ANYWAY always love to add other readers and get recommendations, and also solidarity for other trans folks!

[shanaqui]

Sounds good! I've added you back.

[althea_valara]

OH HI!!! I know you from lassarina's What Are You Playing posts. As you probably know, I also play FFXIV. I see you crochet as well! I'm pretty big into fiber arts myself (currently procrastinating from crocheting a blanket for my niece, oops).

I'd like to add you! Not only do we share interests, but I also have strong anxiety. I have not worked in many years because of it, though I'm working on getting an income stream again this year.

My journal is a mix of video game blather and real life stuff. Real Life is often about living with my aging parents (I'm in my late 40s, so they are Up There in age). I post a few times a week and read my reading list multiple times a day. One of my goals this year is to try to comment more on others' posts, which I definitely still need to work on but I am improving!

[shanaqui]

Hi, added!

I've got the same goal about commenting more on others' posts; I'd missed the connection when I felt too bleh to really talk much.