Updates
░ Website Updates
A New Home for the Photo Archive
Slow page loading was becoming increasingly frustrating, especially for a website intended to display large, detailed photographs. What began as a quick regrouping became an unexpected lesson in static websites, object storage, domains and invisible html index files requiring rewrite rules.
The result is a dramatically faster and more independent home for my growing photography archive. There were considerably more moving parts than anticipated, but the difficult setup is now mostly complete.
⋆✨ A static website is created in advance as a collection of finished files rather than being assembled whenever somebody visits. The human edits everything locally through a content management system, then synchronises the completed pages and photographs with inexpensive object storage.
⋆✨ This approach requires more initial tinkering than an all-in-one hosted service, but offers faster loading, local ownership and an affordable way to maintain a growing high-resolution archive. The human requested a quicker photo album and accidentally constructed cloud infrastructure.
A Most Curious Annotation System
At some point during the website rebuild, small annotations began appearing between my carefully written texts. Their source has not been conclusively identified.
⋆✨ The human has noticed me. It appears pleased by my presence and has therefore decided not to investigate further. A sensible arrangement.
░ Personal Updates
Knee problems changed how the world is experienced. Freedom was once found in longboarding and hiking. Now, the world feels smaller, limited to short walks in local woodlands or the city. Yet photography allows for an appreciation of the beauty that remains — through intuitive observation, remarkable moments can still be found in everyday scenes.
- ✈️ 04.) After an extended stay in Ireland helping with a family health issue—which thankfully had a good outcome—I returned to Germany to tackle a much-needed overhaul of my living space that took far longer than anticipated! I'm still navigating those same chronic knee issues, which means focusing mostly on nearby photo subjects for now.
- 🦵 03.) A return to the private orthopaedic consultant brought a different perspective. The hospital’s view that reconstruction and microfracture would “no longer be effective” was contested. In his assessment, ligament reconstruction was still considered potentially viable for restoring stability and slowing further deterioration. Although microfracture remained uncertain because of the advanced cartilage damage, it was considered worth evaluating rather than dismissing outright.
The next step was to assess whether ACL reconstruction remained viable and whether any additional procedures could improve function or delay the need for knee replacement. - 🦵 02.) A consultation with a local hospital orthopaedic specialist confirmed the ACL rupture and severe chondromalacia. While procedures like ligament reconstruction and microfracture had been suggested by the private consultant, the hospital doctor took the position that such steps would no longer be effective, as the damage was deemed too advanced. A knee replacement was cited as the only remaining surgical alternative, though it was advised against at age 52 due to limited joint longevity (10–15 years) and the complexity of revision surgery. The subsequent step was a return to the private consultant, with follow-up care shifting toward conservative measures—monitoring, pain management, physiotherapy, and supportive orthotics.
- 🦵 01.) Significant knee issues: severe chondromalacia¹ and an ACL rupture². The next step had been to visit a specialist clinic for an evaluative arthroscopy³ to determine or perform the best course of action/potential treatment. (This step, however, proved too difficult due to logistical problems, including the significant distance requiring lengthy train travel with a challenging knee condition and the expectation of limited mobility post-treatment.)
- ⋆✨ Chondromalacia Grades III & IV:
Refers to the degeneration of the cartilage beneath the kneecap. In severe cases (grade III–IV), this condition can involve significant thinning, with grade IV representing complete cartilage loss (i.e., a hole in the cartilage) and exposure of the underlying bone. This results in pain and reduced mobility. Specific treatment is usually determined based on arthroscopic findings. - ⋆✨ ACL Rupture:
Indicates a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament, a critical stabilizer of the knee. ACL reconstruction* is commonly performed to restore knee stability and function.
*ACL Reconstruction is a surgical procedure that replaces the torn anterior cruciate ligament with a tissue graft, usually taken from another tendon. Its main purpose is to restore stability and reduce the knee giving way. - ⋆✨ Arthroscopy:
A minimally invasive keyhole procedure in which a small camera is inserted into the knee. It allows the surgeon to assess cartilage, ligaments and other structures, and certain repairs or treatments may be performed during the same procedure.
░ Earlier Updates
- 04.) Engagement on social media gradually resumed, though a backlog of photos still awaited culling and post‑processing.
- 03.) The rebuilt system performed excellently and was expected to support creative work for years to come.
- 02.) A major computer failure once halted photo processing and uploads.
Repairs turned out to be more extensive than first expected, requiring new hardware components and a clean OS install to meet the demands of modern editing software. - 01.) When knee problems first began to surface, little was known of how much they would grow to shape daily life. Mobility narrowed, focus shifted toward home-based projects and much shorter walks.