The town where I live, Stockport UK , was once the global epicentre of the felt hat industry. It produced millions of hats annually throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, my wife and I took a guided tour of the Hat Works museum, a once-functional factory full of the old machinery, steeped in historical millinery. We learnt a lot. For example, the links to the slave trade and Frederick Douglass, and Abraham Lincoln’s letter to the workers here. The industry-fuelled mass extinction of beavers in the UK, which saw them being shipped over from Canada (before a more sustainable solution saw 150,000 dead rabbits every week instead). The punishing poisonous process of hat-making itself, that led to countless deaths. And the money made, that was manipulated in an underhand fashion to prevent the GDP of Stockport eclipsing that of London and likely rewriting geographical history. Then there was the Gallery of Hats, with over 400 historical examples of hat styles from around the world, from the functional to the fashionable to the fantastical and everything in between. After lunch at the charity-ran cafe and art installation, we exited through the gift shop… where we both bought a hat! My wife went for a purple Winter Cloche Wool hat, which frames her face wonderfully and shows off her excellent hair. After much deliberation, I went for a black Pork Pie Wool hat, partly because I like the semi-formal nature of it but mostly because it gives off Heisenberg vibes. Both hats are Dentons, a company that is still local to me and very well regarded. If you’re in the neighbourhood and at a loose end, I can highly recommend the museum and the guided tour. And the hats? They’re pretty decent too.

There’s a special kind of quality family time that comes from standing side by side on the range, sharing laughs, friendly competition, and a commitment to safe firearms training. Days like this are about more than ringing steel targets—they’re about building memories, passing on skills, and enjoying each other’s company away from the distractions of everyday life. The sound of steel, the smell of gunpowder, and the camaraderie of family make for an unforgettable afternoon. Time spent together is always valuable, but time spent making memories on the range is hard to beat.

Baseball! Another tournament this weekend. My son’s 13U team is playing up in a 14U tournament again. We won the first game and are readying to start the second. Warm day at the park, so I’ve got my linen on (and my Eazy Shade should count as part of my outfit!).

Got a lot done yesterday and the positivity from that is carrying over into today. Complex project deliverables from yesterday and ready to be tackled today. Nothing gets me geeked out more than needing to solve complex problems, especially when my input can have a large impact on my client getting a billion dollar product approved. Mostly an office day today, so no need for a formal suit. • Blazer — DOJ-010 (Ralph Lauren): A classic navy wool blazer with rope shoulders and polished brass buttons, combining Italian-American tailoring DNA. The full polyester lining and small notched lapels keep it versatile across business formal and smart casual contexts—ideal for a video-conference day that spans P3 internal discussions to vendor meetings. • Shirt — DS-033 (Brisk): A mid-blue Pima cotton twill dress shirt with a 5" spread collar and barrel cuffs. The light but sufficient drape and single chest pocket make it a clean, professional canvas. The twill weave adds subtle texture that reads well on camera without visual noise. • Undershirt — US-002 (Ralph Lauren Polo): A dependable white cotton crew-neck undershirt that disappears under the mid-blue shirt. No show-through risk and comfortable for all-day wear during back-to-back video calls. • Tie — NT-031 (Kirby Allison): A navy silk tie with white and black basket weave pattern from Kirby Allison—3-fold construction with self-tipping and 3.5" width. The subtle geometric pattern adds visual interest on camera while maintaining boardroom-level formality. • Pocket Square — PS-004 (Charles Tyrwhitt): A silk and wool medallion pocket square in light blue, navy, brown, and white. The brown and navy tones tie together the blazer and slacks while the light blue echoes the dress shirt—harmonizing the entire upper body for the camera frame. • Slacks — SL-006 (JW Nordstrom): Dark brown wool slacks with a slight sheen and classic no-pleat construction. The low rise and regular cuff provide a traditional business silhouette. The dark brown grounds the navy blazer beautifully and creates the perfect odd-jacket combination.