It has been a while since I have written a personal blog post, and even longer since I have maintained a regular posting schedule. Like many things in life, blogging has taken a back seat to work commitments, family time, and the general chaos of daily life. However, I am committing to getting back into regular posting and making some improvements to the site to make this more sustainable.

Why Now?

I am now over four years into my role at Intercept, and the experience has been fantastic. Working as a Continuous Improvement Consultant has exposed me to a wide range of Azure services, production systems, and real-world problems. From Azure Kubernetes Service to Azure Functions, from policy management to DevOps pipelines, I have had the privilege of working on diverse challenges that have significantly expanded my knowledge.

With all this accumulated experience, I have realised I have fallen into the trap of not sharing what I have learned. Blogging is not just about contributing to the community; it is also about consolidating my own understanding and creating a reference for future me when I inevitably need to remember how I solved a particular problem.

What’s Changing?

Regular Posting Schedule

I am committing to more regular blog posts. Rather than setting an unrealistic target that I will inevitably miss, I am aiming for consistency over frequency. The goal is to write when I have something worth sharing, but to make the time to actually write it down rather than letting it slip away.

Updating Old Content

Looking back through the blog, there are several posts that could benefit from updates. Azure moves quickly, and what was accurate two years ago might not be the best practice today. To help readers identify which content is fresh, I am adding a lastmod field to updated posts. This will show when posts have been significantly revised, helping readers understand if they are looking at current information.

Streamlining Tags

Currently, the site’s tagging system has grown organically, which is a polite way of saying it has become a bit of a mess. Some posts are over-tagged, others under-tagged, and there is inconsistency in how tags are applied. I will be working through the existing content to streamline the tags, making it easier for readers to find related content and for me to maintain consistency going forward.

Site Improvements

Behind the scenes, I am looking at ways to make the site easier to maintain. This includes:

• Adding better formatting for post metadata, including the aforementioned lastmod field
• Reviewing the theme configuration to ensure it displays updated dates properly
• Potentially adding new features to make navigation easier
• Ensuring the site remains performant and accessible

Topics to Cover

There is no shortage of content ideas. Some areas I am planning to write about include:

• Azure Kubernetes Service: Best practices, policy management, and real-world gotchas
• DevOps Practices: Pipelines, approval gates, and deployment strategies
• Azure Functions: Containerisation, deployment patterns, and practical tips
• Azure Policy: Deep dives into specific policies and their practical application
• Certifications: Updates on exam experiences and study approaches

The Challenge Ahead

The hardest part of blogging is not the writing itself but making the time to do it. With work, family, and other commitments, it is easy to let writing slip to the bottom of the priority list. However, I have found that the posts I have written have been valuable not just to others but to myself as well. There have been multiple occasions where I have referred back to my own posts when solving similar problems.

Moving Forward

This post serves as both a declaration of intent and accountability. By putting this out there, I am committing to doing better. Not perfect, but better. More consistent, more thoughtful, and more engaged with the community that has given me so much over the years.

If you have been following along, thank you for your patience. If you are new here, welcome. Either way, I hope to make the content worth your time.

Here’s to getting back to blogging and making 2025 a year of consistent contribution.