Portfolio of Work

Scroll to explore a selection of my writing from previous roles to ongoing creative pursuits.

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D365 Life Without Code

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Past Pieces and Fictional Shorts

Scroll to explore a selection of my writing from previous roles to ongoing personal short fictions.

Fiction • 23rd February 2023

Ariadne of Crete

His feet leave their mark on the soft sand as I wait, frozen still. Every move is a dangerous dance of the unknown, and I can’t seem to bring myself to move a toe in the wake of his arrival. My eyes stare, rapt with attention, as a dull ache begins to blossom behind my brow.

It should be impossible but there he walks through the surf I thought sure he’d forgotten. My lungs feel close to collapse as I try to make sense of the sight of Theseus, returning to my side.

For days I’ve wept and yelled

Fiction • 10th January 2023

Coffee at One

D365 Life Without Code • 23rd February 2022

Microsoft Word Vs Google Docs

Users now have more options when it comes to selecting an application for their word processing needs. Both Microsoft and Google are recognised, well established brands in the tech field. So, which should you choose?

The answer largely depends on how you would use the applications. In this blog, we’ll be going through some of the key similarities and differences to help you decide which program is right for you!

Fiction • 10th January 2023

One Afternoon in May

Do you remember that time when we were walking down that grey-stone street in Huntingdon one afternoon in May, some seventeen years ago now? You’d let me choose my outfit that day. I was wearing my glittery pink trainers, fuzzy lavender bodywarmer, and tulle skirt over striped tights.

D365 Life Without Code • 22nd October 2021

What is Microsoft Bookings?

Could Microsoft Bookings be helping you save time?

Microsoft Bookings is a web-based, “public” calendar that is part of the family of products created by Microsoft Office. In essence, it is a piece of scheduling software.

Released in 2017, the system allows customers of small businesses to book in appointments and time with a company. Bookings can be fully integrated with your Microsoft 365 or Office 365 calendar. This helps your customers to instantly identify your availability, taking away the back-

D365 Life Without Code • 24th December 2021

The Tools for Advent

Over the last three and a half weeks of Advent, we have brought you over 10,864 words, 17 festive blogs, and even some fun, holiday-themed jokes for the weekends!

We’ve each shared shared some of our tips from us to you every day of Advent but I thought I’d end this Christmas series by sharing how I created some of the content.

D365 Life Without Code • 20th October 2021

Microsoft Bookings Vs Calendly

Want to know how you can take control of your time? Do you ever feel as though you could do with some extra help organising how you spend your time?

If so, then this might be the blog for you. Calendly and Microsoft Bookings are two of the most popular calendar apps, so, naturally it can be difficult deciding which is best. In this post, we'll take a look at the key points and benefits that each scheduling system has so you can see which is right for you!

D365 Life Without Code • 6th October 2021

Paper Vs Planner

How I use Microsoft Planner to manage my time

When I first started my position at D365 Life Without Code, there were a lot of tasks coming my way. So used to my multitude of notepads and pens, I quickly began to realise that I would need a better method of taking notes and keeping track of my work.

Fiction • 16th August 2021

Mayday

Her eyes are unfocused as she stirs her cup of tea. The hand not holding onto the small, silver teaspoon clutches the pendant at her throat like a lifeline — a tether to the reality she knows.

The chain is golden and sturdy, with small fastenings that interlink to form a sweeping arc around her throat with an emerald at the front. Her birthstone. I bought it for her two years ago. My May Day love.

A moment passes and another goes by. A minute more and she's still frozen in the simple motion. T

D365 Life Without Code • 11th January 2022

The Blogs of Advent

Every day during the run up to Christmas, we shared a new festive blog post with a different tip. Take a look back through our Advent posts by browsing this page!

You can see the Advent calendar on the Micro Office Advent page!

D365 Life Without Code • 28th May 2021

From Stables to Software

For thirty years before joining the D365 ranks, our Office Administrator Clare worked not with computers, but with animals. Before starting her current role, Clare hadn’t used much technology at all.

Following the pandemic, Clare began to help Claire (with an I) with the admin side of the growing business. Though she was nervous at first, Clare learnt that there was an easy method to how things can be completed.

Fiction • 16th August 2021

The Fall

One step, one glance, one word. That's all it took for me to fall.

The cracks reverberate beneath my feet, spreading outwards and reaching for him before I can stop them. Like a deadly kaleidoscope, they surround me, bigger cracks interweaving with the smaller that branch from them. Small buds of water occasionally spill from the gaps that puddle where I step and I find myself dodging more and more as I go.

D365 Life Without Code • 21st May 2021

Evolution of Technology

They say that millennials and generations younger seem to understand technology on an innate level. Whilst I’m unsure whether this is true for myself, there’s something spooky about the way my nephew, at six, was able to navigate my mobile phone as well as I could. Sebastian, the Director’s step-son, has been testing Dynamics since he was six! At the age of nine, he was building Views and Charts for our company’s Dynamics environments.

Competition Winners

Vocal+ regularly hosts creative writing competitions with individual prompts. In February 2023 I was fortunate to have had two of my stories come as 1 of 10 runners-up. Please click to read directly on the website where all my pieces are published under the pseudonym C. R. Drinkwater.