ViewTube

Hey friends! Good news: my PC tech issues have now been resolved and the system is back in the office.
The faulty component was a cable which connects the graphics card to the motherboard - since it's a watercooled system, the GPU doesn't slot into the motherboard like a fan-cooled unit would and it needs a connecting cable. 
This has been replaced with a higher quality cable and everything is running great - fortunately it's a relatively cheap component to fix!
The backup PC performed super well in the meantime, so if any hardware issues return in future, I should be able to continue using the backup system with minimal disruption. 
This has really lifted my spirits! 
Wishing you all a great weekend.
- Pix 

Hey folks! I won't have time to make a snapshot video this week, but we spent some time looking for a Trial Chamber (and eventually found a second in Creative Mode) so we could try out the new Mace. The hilarious results are documented in this new YouTube short. Enjoy! 

The first episode of a new SMP series! Minecraft SOS is about to premiere on my channel... Come hang out and watch the fun unfold :) 

Hey folks! Just a quick post to let you know I'm back in action. Thanks for sticking around while I recovered - having a fever and a sore throat is no fun when all you want to do is record Minecraft videos! 
Enjoy the Enderman farm and look forward to more videos this week! 

Hi friends! Survival Guide is back from hiatus. For those of you wondering where I've been - we had a family member visiting for a few weeks, and my office is basically the guest bedroom, so I wasn't able to record throughout the day like I usually do. 
Either way, I'm back to making regular YouTube videos, so expect a couple more this week as I continue this new build project! 

Hey folks! Happy new year! 
In 2024 I plan to listen to a lot more music. Lately I feel like I've fallen out of the habit of seeking out new music, and I want to explore how it pushes my creativity in new directions. 
So in the comments under this post, please share some of your favourite music from 2023! 
Here's to the year ahead.
- Pix 

Hi friends! The latest episode of Minecraft Survival Guide just posted - this will be the last video for about a week, since I'm headed up North to visit my family for Christmas. Streams and videos should be back just before New Year.
Happy holidays everyone!
- Pix 

Today's Minecraft Survival Guide episode has been postponed in solidarity with a global movement calling for a ceasefire and end to hostilities in Gaza. 
I've been watching the violence unfold through the lens of media here in the UK, and conversations with my partner and friends - and while I try to keep my online presence light and entertaining, I don't want to turn a blind eye to this situation and I encourage anyone with a conscience to do the same. 

To be absolutely clear, I condemn the violent actions of Hamas and the rise of antisemitic sentiment in the wake of these events. With the same voice I condemn the disproportionate and shocking mass violence the government and military of Israel has brought to the civilian population of Gaza in their retaliation, the restriction of aid from Gaza with its continued assault, and the rising wave of islamophobia in the West Bank and elsewhere. 

On December 8th the UN Security Council voted almost unanimously to demand a ceasefire in Gaza. Only two countries dissented - the UK, which abstained from the vote, and the USA, who blocked the call for a ceasefire with their power of veto. The last successful exchange of Israeli and Palestinian hostages came at the previous ceasefire, and with it came an opportunity for organizations to reach displaced Palestinian civilians with aid. Now any further ceasefire is looking increasingly unlikely, with humanitarian and aid organisations like Doctors Without Borders (MSF) calling this "a vote against humanity". 
 https://www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/msf-calls-us-veto-of-gaza-ceasefire-resolution-a-vote-against-humanity/ 

In recent weeks my partner and I have contacted our local member of the UK Parliament, who has been pushing for the UK to support a ceasefire and humanitarian aid access to Gaza. I encourage you to contact your elected representatives, and donate to aid organizations the UN World Food Programme ( https://www.wfp.org/) , MSF ( https://www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/) , and the Red Cross and Red Crescent ( https://www.ifrc.org/) , who are working to provide assistance to civilians on both sides of this conflict.

I recognize it's a huge shift from light-hearted family-friendly Minecraft videos to messages like this - but having seen the amount of families affected by this conflict, families who deserve a chance to raise their children in health and in peace, I wanted to share a message of compassion. I hope for a lasting and meaningful peace and will continue to support organizations which are working towards that goal.

Survival Guide will return on Wednesday.
Much love.
Pix 

If you ever get the chance to visit Lac-du-Bourget, in the French Alps, I highly recommend you take it. 📸 

Hi folks,
The PC is back from the workshop! In addition to replacing the faulty components and making sure it’s all working well, they’ve refreshed the watercooling loop with a new opaque fluid, and installed a new 2TB SSD I can use to store video files, keeping my system drive nice and clean. 

Look forward to new Survival Guide videos from Monday, and Minecraft Twitch streams will resume on Tuesday! 

(For anyone who’s interested, I’ll be streaming Elden Ring on Saturday, starting a new co-op run with my brother-in-law  @MrCasto  - but it’ll be an 18+ stream because of the game’s violence/horror content, and because Chris swears a bit 😅) 

It’s nice to be back in the office. See you all very soon! 
- Pix