Three bathrooms this week across Colchester. Each one completely different. That's the beauty of this trade.

Rook Rizzo called me a muppet and I couldn't stop laughing Right, so I stumbled onto this between jobs, blocked drain in the morning, bit of downtime after lunch, and I just opened it in the browser on my phone, no download, no faff, straight in as a guest. That alone had me impressed because usually these things want your email, your mum's maiden name, the lot. The actual chess is casual and quick, not serious grandmaster stuff, which suits me fine, I'm no Magnus. The real pull is the Lingo pane, the trash-talk chat that runs alongside the board. Rook Rizzo was giving me grief from move three, and Grandma Gambit is somehow even worse, absolute cheek from a pensioner bot. Sal "The Fork" Marino had me grinning like an idiot on the bus. It's that kind of relentless banter that reminded me a bit of how the Berlin Defence feels as a cultural thing, all personality and provocation. You've also got Luna Zugzwang, The Bishop, and BLITZ-9000 waiting, each with their own voice. Multiplayer's there too if you want to drag a mate in. The Blitz League leaderboard is live, which gives it a bit of competitive spine. Some bits feel rough, the global rankings ladder looks like it's still being welded together, but for something that's free, runs in a browser, and lets you earn rank at the board rather than buying it, I'll give it a solid 7. Coins stay virtual, no cash nonsense, which is the right call. Worth a go: chessingo.com/webplay. 👍 Instant browser play with zero sign-up friction · Bot trash-talk (Lingo) is genuinely funny, not just window dressing · Fair model, rank earned at the board, coins stay virtual 👎 Global rankings still feels incomplete · Could do with more bot variety down the line ⭐ 7/10 🎮 Chessingo (HyperSonic Games Studio (published by Tyga Games), 2026)

Clears better than a blocked drain on a Monday morning Right, so I'm not really a gamer as such — I spend most of my days down manholes with a CCTV camera — but my lad got me onto this and I've been picking it up on my phone between jobs. It's a match-3, same sort of idea as the ones you've seen before, but the 8x8 board feels a bit meatier than most and when you set off one of the big combos — the NULLING or a CIRCUIT STORM — the whole screen goes off like you've hit a pressure washer at full bore. Very satisfying. The special tiles (Stripe, Antigrav, Zap) give you something to actually think about rather than just swiping mindlessly, and that Bay system where you bank three power-ups and fire them when you want is a decent touch. The single-player levels across the four worlds are short enough to knock out on a lunch break. Art-wise it's all very green and glossy — chunky candy buttons, aurora backdrop, little alien dancing about — not my usual thing but it works. The live 1v1 duels and clan stuff are in there and genuinely function, voice chat included, though the ceremony around the duels still feels a bit half-built if I'm honest, like the pipes are laid but the finishing isn't done yet. No pay-to-win nonsense either, which I appreciate — the leaderboard's earned, not bought. 👍 Big combo detonations are genuinely satisfying · No pay-to-win — pure skill on the ladder 👎 Duel ceremony / podium still feels unfinished ⭐ 7/10 🎮 Cropsicles (TYGA.GAMES, 2026)

Another new build estate going up near Colchester. Keeps us busy — can't complain.

Saturday emergency call-out in Colchester. Burst pipe flooding the kitchen. Sorted in 40 minutes.

The commuter belt keeps a plumber in work. People want their homes right if they're paying South East prices.

Pro tip: don't pour cooking fat down the sink. Unblocking drains in Colchester caused by grease is nobody's idea of fun.

Apprentice did their first solo task today in Colchester. Proper proud moment. We need more young people in trades.

Underfloor heating install complete in Colchester. Warm feet all winter, no radiators cluttering the walls.

Bit of copper pipe art to finish the day. Sometimes the old ways are the best. #ColchesterPlumber