Every article about Network Attached Storage (NAS) reminds readers that a NAS is not a backup system, even if it runs multiple drives in a mirrored RAID configuration. When I bought my QNAP NAS four years ago, I was well aware of this advice, but I chose to ignore it. I primarily used my NAS as a backup device, and occasionally to serve files. However, recent SMART scans on one of my hard drives started throwing health warnings. While this doesn’t mean immediate disk failure, it was a…

I’ve been a member of RHS Wisley Garden for over four years now, and no matter when I visit, I’m always struck by how much there is to see in bloom. Even in winter, when most plants are resting, you can still find pockets of colour inside the greenhouses.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of being an invited speaker the 3rd edition of the Conference on Recent Advances in Digital Humanities. The event was excellent, as expected, and my talk on LLMs and accessibility was warmly received. The real surprise, though, was discovering the city of Craiova and its Christmas market.

On 15 March 2025, I had the opportunity to present the EmpASR project at the CIOL Interpreters Day 2025 alongside my colleagues Sabine Braun and Diana Singureanu. The title of the presentation was Pros and Cons of AI and Technology in interpreting: A research-informed perspective from the University of Surrey. Despite the fact that we were able to present only…

This summer, I spent a few days of holiday in Kent, and one of the most intriguing attractions I came across was the Shell Grotto in Margate. I decided to explore it, and it turned out to be an unforgettable experience. The grotto is truly a hidden gem — a subterranean passageway adorned with a stunning mosaic of 4.6 million shells. What makes this place even more fascinating is the mystery surrounding its…