Blog
In 2007, I started this website so I could share my MSc thesis easily. I started blogging random thoughts that were on my mind, mostly related to theology, culture, and humour. I moved part of this to Tumblr, and a dedicated culture review site in 2010 (it no longer exists), but when I joined Automattic in 2015, I revamped my blog. These days, it’s mostly a space where I share photography and thoughts on leadership and tech. The latter is what you’ll find on this page.
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2–3 minutes
Wacom tablet not responding
My Wacom Intuos M keeps glitching when I unplug it or when my laptop sleeps. I found a workaround by force-quitting Wacom processes. However, I finally used Claude to explain the “why?” to me. Maybe it can help you too.
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2–3 minutes
Chat to your mom, and to us
At Automattic, we prioritise respectful, customer-centred support, blending AI with human interactions. Unlike Zendesk’s approach, we aim to enhance, not eliminate, human connection. Our AI assistant, Odie, in some cases provides the best help, but it’s also learnt to identify when to straight away send a customer to a Happiness Engineer. Our ultimate focus is…
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1–2 minutes
Creating a local test environment has never been easier
I set up a local Woo environment with our Studio app and got help from Claude Code. I shared a GitHub repo, and Claude installed the dev setup for me. In no time, I had a dev environment running with sample data specifically to test our focus.
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1–2 minutes
Radical Speed Month at Automattic
At Automattic, we’re kicking off a month-long experiment where teams team up to tackle problems. I teamed up with Jon to fix the annoying issue of Woo emails landing in spam folders. We’ve got plans for better logging, alerts for unsent emails, and helping merchants choose reliable delivery services.
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2–3 minutes
Everyone in support will become a team lead
In the evolving landscape of support jobs, the emphasis is shifting towards leadership skills. As AI continues to advance, support professionals will not only use AI tools but lead them. The future will reward those who harness AI effectively, becoming team leaders who guide their agents towards successful outcomes. Embrace this exciting change!
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1–2 minutes
Identity in design
Belgium’s away shirts for major tournaments have creatively drawn inspiration from the country’s identity over the past decade. Designs included influences from road cycling, Tomorrowland, Tintin, and René Magritte. While some past designs have faltered, these shirts have fostered national pride amidst Belgium’s complex history.
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1–2 minutes
There’s no brand loyalty
So, a brand manager was puzzled by why folks mix and match brands while exercising. I’ve run my second marathon and realised comfort trumps brand loyalty. I wear what works best. Businesses should remember customers choose and stick with quality products, not brands.
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1–2 minutes
I made an app
So, even though I’m no developer, I was blown away by how AI tools can help. As a runner, I was tired of constantly checking shoe prices, so I used Claude to whip up an app to do it for me. It’s not perfect, but it’s been a blast creating it and tweaking along the…
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1–2 minutes
Museum connections
So, the CEO at Automattic suggested a museum visit, and I took my kids to the National Gallery in Cape Town. We tried a fun guessing game about each other’s favourite artworks, which helped make the art experience more relatable and personal. Even the youngest joined in by expressing his likes!
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1–2 minutes
Constructive rejections
In a large team, when vacancies arise, I respond to all applicants with constructive feedback. Instead of vague rejections, I focus on areas for improvement and emphasize growth opportunities. This approach encourages enthusiasm and career development, enabling applicants to better their skills with guidance from their leads for future success.
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4–5 minutes
2025 running recap
In 2025, after five years of running inspired by parenting, I achieved personal bests in both 5k and 10k races, breaking previous records. My daughter, Mila, also participated in running. I ran over 1,000 kilometers this year, despite the expensive shoe budget. Even after a canceled marathon, I found new opportunities for future races.
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4–6 minutes
You speak Flemish, right?
In South Africa, I’m often asked if I speak Flemish. Spoiler alert: I don’t. I speak Dutch, and I am Flemish. While I should probably say “yes”, the language nerd in me just can’t let it slide.
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2–4 minutes
New website design
Each year, I redesign my website to utilise new WordPress features. This year’s attempt focused on full-site editing and a bold graphic style, though AI tools fell short in originality. Key innovations included a unique duotone cover block, creative grid layouts using query offsets, and a custom blur effect from a custom plugin.
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1–2 minutes
Luca & the monster
Kim and I form a team for our kids’ birthdays. Kim bakes the most amazing tasting cakes, and I make something with fondant to decorate the cake. Luca has loved Tom Fletcher’s There’s a Monster in Your Book from when we first started reading it to him, so for his second birthday, I wanted to
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1–2 minutes
Near-perfect website performance
The mobile performance score for this website is 99, my desktop performance score is 100. Nearly perfect. So how did this happen? My website has always been quite smoothly running. A big part of that is the smoothness of the Twenty Twenty-Five theme and the block editor. There is not a single bit of custom
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1–2 minutes
WordPress.com is 20
In May 2007, I wanted to share my M.Sc. thesis. Last week, WordPress.com turned 20. I signed up in May 2007, when WordPress.com was about 1.5 years old, before I joined Facebook and Twitter later that year (I think). I signed up because I was looking for an easy way to share my M.Sc. thesis.
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5–7 minutes
Writing with AI as assistant
For many texts I write, the voice and ideas need to be clearly mine. Not just for the credibility aspect, but also because I want to convey my own ideas and thoughts. If I rely too heavily on AI for the actual writing, my voice would be flattened and the impact of my writing would
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1–2 minutes
Mila & Moana
Contrary to last year, where I had a free range to make a unicorn cake topper, this year the theme of her birthday party was “Moana”. This was by far the most complex topper I’ve ever made, but I’m glad with how it turned out. And so was Mila, which of course is the most
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2–3 minutes
Lessons about work from the movie Speed
In the action movie Speed — can we call it a cult classic? — Annie (Sandra Bullock) and Jack (Keanu Reeves) end up together after a rather thrilling bus ride. With prophetic words, Jack admonishes Annie: I have to warn you, I’ve heard relationships based on intense experiences never work. The movie clearly shows they
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3–4 minutes
Featured images with ChatGPT
For years, I’ve used photos from Unsplash and similar platforms to add as featured images to blog posts I’ve written. When sharing a link or when creating an archive page for my posts, I prefer having a visual element to work with. With stock images though, I find myself either spending too much time or