Monthly Archives: May 2026

May ’26

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In May I had to get to work at the company run. I tried something new, a personal pacer! I ran with Alex for almost half the distance and running together motivated me to go just a bit faster.

For my game it was an important month! Big changes! Its now called MycoSweep and it’s still available on iOS, but now also on Android!

It was a month with some odd events. A tree almost fell on Ana while she was on her way to pick up Alan from school. As it came down, the tree took a streetlight with it, and that pole crashed onto the ground right next to her. Just a few days later we even had a little earthquake.

Spring cleaning

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Cleaning! Spring is for cleaning, we all know it, but this spring I focussed my cleaning efforts on the digital world. First, my blog. My domain and hosting have all moved to IONOS; basically from a Dutch provider to a Spanish one. The result is a much cheaper and much newer server, with some extras like HTTPS (more secure) and new email addresses (info@leiden365.nl).

I installed a VPN for safe browsing, and I stopped using a single email address for everything, and started to use a few different ones. All your eggs in one basket is a risk, so now I have a few baskets with each contain a couple of eggs. Much safer.

Then there’s my game. A huge rebranding with a new name: MycoSweep. It has become more professional with its own website (mycosweep.com) and its own email (info@mycosweep.com).

And what about the typical spring cleaning? Well, with all the work I’ve done in the digital world, the ‘real’ cleaning has been postponed for a bit although I’m quite sure that a delay won’t become a cancellation.

Install MycoSweep

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Install MycoSweep!

Scan the QR code with the device on which you want to install MycoSweep, and that’s it. You’ll be taken straight to the correct page in the App Store or Play Store, where you can start the installation.

MycoSweep 1.6

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MycoSweep!MycoSweep is a cozy logic puzzle set deep in a quiet, enchanted forest. Every tap uncovers a clue, every number whispers a hint, and every decision brings you closer to revealing the hidden mushrooms beneath the mossy floor. It’s a calm but clever challenge: observe, deduce, and trust your instincts as the woodland slowly reveals its secrets.

The name reflects the heart of the game. Myco refers to mycology, the study of mushrooms. Sweep nods to the classic roots of the puzzle genre and the satisfying act of clearing the board. Together they form a name that tells you exactly what awaits: a thoughtful, logical puzzle adventure in a world full of mushrooms.

Big changes: the app has a new name! MycoSweep! The game has grown into something that deserved a different name. And so MycoSweep was born.

And the second big change… MycoSweep is now also available on Android devices!

There are more smaller changes. A new name deserves a fresh foundation, so I’ve been working hard to clean up the technical base of the app. The previous update simplified the app, and the game suddenly became much easier to understand because I removed several confusing options. Behind the scenes, however, things were less tidy, and I wanted the code to be clean as well, so I tackled that at the same time.

One more thing.. we all hate to lose, but now, when you lose a game, you can review it and see if, and where, you made a mistake.

You can download the new version, still completely free, right here.

Get MycoSweep for iOS!   Get MycoSweep for Android!

Businessrun

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We had another company run coming up, and I’ve signed up again, which for me means a 10 kilometer run. Naturally, I’m hoping for a good time. My ambition was to finish well under an hour, and that will probably work out for me, possibly thanks to my adrenaline training.

Two years ago (in 2024) I ran the 10k in a nice three quarters of an hour. A year later (in 2025) it already took me a bit longer, namely 49 minutes. This year, who knows. I hope I’ve found my old form again, but it could just as easily go the other way.

Due to a small misunderstanding, I received two numbers this year. Instead of simply throwing one away, I came up with a clever way to give myself some extra motivation during the race. The route is 10 km, but it actually consists of two laps of 5 km. After about 1.5 km I pass my house, and again after 6.5 km. That gave me the following idea:

  • Preparation: Starting in May I go for practice runs with Alex every weekend.
  • Match
    • I run from the start.
    • Alex gets the second number.
    • During the second lap, around 6.5 km, Alex waits near our house. As soon as he sees me, he starts running with me.
    • He is of course still completely fresh, and 3.5 km is easy for him. This way he acts as my personal pacer and helps me keep up the pace.
    • The result: I run the full 10 km but with an extra motivation during the toughest part.

My time/result: 0:50:31
Alex’ time/result: 0:49:54 (faster thanks to his final sprint)

0.0 Results

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I’ve started having a cup of coffee a day again. Instead of four or five, I now limit myself to just one. After my 0.0 month, the effect of a single cup of coffee is now very noticeable. After just a few minutes it kicks in: my senses become a bit sharper. I see better, I hear better, my thoughts are clearer. It lasts for a couple of hours, during which I slowly return to normal again. This will probably only last a few days, and then I’ll be used to the caffeine boost again. Still, I’m going to try to stick to one cup a day.

The other part of my 0.0 adventure was alcohol, and I actually didn’t notice anything there. Since I don’t drink during the week anyway, and only have drinks on weekends when we’re with friends, I’m going back to my habits before I started the test. A few beers on the weekend, and that’s it.

Conclusion: The only clearly noticeable thing was reducing my coffee intake. The adjustment regarding alcohol was quite easy. I did enjoy the experiment, so I might do another April 0.0 next year.

Coco orchid v2

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Coco orchid trio!I am getting better and better at creating beautiful coconuts with orchids.

First step, prepare the coconut: Saw off the top, sand the edges, and lightly sand the whole shell. At the end, I rub a bit of oil onto the outside of the nut to give it a slightly darker, shiny finish.

Then I make the base. I cut a piece from a plastic bottle and wrap it with brown wool until the plastic is no longer visible.

Next step, look for a good piece of tree bark. Usually I simply visit a forest with a few trees that have thick, cork-like bark and collected a few pieces that are usually scattered around on the ground. At home, I brake the bark into small pieces with pliers.

Finally the orchid. A local shop was selling cheap mini orchids for Mother’s Day. They were a bit smaller than the normal small orchids, but I suspected they would look really good in a coconut, so I bought three for only 8 euros each. I took the plant out of the pot and gently loosened the roots. They were usually pressed into a pot shaped coconut fibre mass; I loosened this a bit so the roots could grow more freely. I also removed the sticks that kept the flower upright.

Coco orchid!Now assemble everything. First place some bark in the coconut, then place the orchid inside, and fill the sides with pieces of bark so the plant stand firmly. Then place the coconut on the base and turn it so the flower stand nicely upright.

I added a little moisture, and found a spot with plenty of light but no direct sunlight. That was it, quite a bit of work but totally worth it because I get a great feeling of contentment, and a job well done, whenever I see the orchid.