Launch, learn, iterate. I lived by this creed - professionally - for over twenty years. But it wasn’t always so.
In 1997, I began working alongside software engineers, and it was through them that I came to appreciate the discipline of constant refinement—a method central to their practice. The logic is simple: release something that’s good enough, gather real-world feedback, and then either scrap or improve based on what you learn.
Earlier this year, I settled on a target area for this blog which I called the Barnes Triangle. This was an attempt to put boundaries around one element of the blog’s ambition:
How do I live my best life in the world’s greatest city during this climate emergency?
This was never going to be about the whole of London. This was a blog based in and about Barnes and the surrounding area.
Testing the Triangle
In the weeks since I have tested this idea. Some aspects worked well. The focus provided structure for the blog. The porous boundary allowed me to focus on the area within, and to explore adjacent topics without losing direction.
But then I ran into difficulties.
I began exploring the eastern point of the Triangle by bicycle—a part of the area stretching between Barnes Common and Putney Bridge, within Wandsworth Borough.
I didn’t ‘get it’.
It was unfamiliar territory, and despite multiple visits, I found myself unengaged. My curiosity felt forced. Attempts to analyse the area—demographics, governance, local economy—felt more like a school assignment than genuine interest.
Return to first principles
It became clear I needed a more grounded geographic focus—one that included, but was not limited to, Barnes. The area needed to encompass at least two bridges, one of which must be Hammersmith Bridge, and include a major arterial road.
Revisiting local maps led me to a better fit: the official ward boundaries defined by Richmond Council. By removing Putney from the equation, I arrived at a more coherent and personally resonant territory—two council wards: Barnes, and Mortlake & Barnes Common.
The OS map below shows the ward boundary in particular where it sits in East Sheen.
With this redefinition comes a new name: Barnes and Mortlake. I will revise earlier posts accordingly. The previous name never fully captured the area; the new one brings clarity and focus.
This then is my patch, Barnes ward to the north and Mortlake & Barnes Common ward to the south.
As before, my work will not be limited to this area. Rather, it serves as a focal point. This blog remains an ongoing attempt to answer one question:
How do I love my best life in Barnes and Mortlake during this climate emergency?