Our updates lately have been… suspiciously absent. Mostly because it's my turn to write the updates this month. But, you know, also because last week it was Clearleft's annual Hack Farm, and the week before that I was at [Build(http://2013.buildconf.com).

I attended the full week of Build, while Jeremy popped over for the pre-party and conference. It was, sadly, the final Build, though that made it no less enjoyable. Andy McMillan had it running like a well-oiled machine. A pleasant mixture of faces old and new, and an inspiring event. Jeremy penned a few words about the conference.

Back at Clearleft HQ, the end of the week of the week brought a veritable juxtaposition of events: Happiness, as we celebrated Jon's birthday, and sadness that we said goodbye to long-time Lefty, Paul Robert Lloyd.

No time for mourning as the following day it was Hack Farm! We were up at the crack of dawn on the Saturday (okay, more like 8) to collect at the office, pack the cars and drive up to the lovely country house, Skendleby Hall, in Lincolnshire. There, Andy Budd revealed his master plan for organising projects and teams and amidst good food–which we all took part in cooking each night–, good company, and plenty of drink, we split into various teams and worked on several projects over the course of the week. A couple of those projects shipped; others were well prototyped and may see the light of day yet. Who knows?

Kate, rather sadly, could not make it to Hack Farm due to tonsillitis. Jess, who joined some of the teams, also kept us well stocked up for food and drink throughout the week and lent a hand wherever it was needed. Tessa and Sophie kept the office in good order while we were away.