Hi there, and thanks for visiting 'Confessions of a Failed Build'.
My name is Leah and I am your host. I was born on the 2nd of April 1980 in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. This was lucky for me as had I been born west of Peru I might have been an April fool. Although that was where my luck may have ended, as I was born into The Troubles, and so like many others became the archetypal Irish emigrant. Thus the site's black humour and occasional irreverence are 'par for the course' as they say... Although let's face it, we all deserve to have a laugh when the sheer stupidity of some of the industry's decision making is truly appreciated.
However as Oscar Wilde put it so well "Whenever a man does a thoroughly stupid thing, it is always from the noblest motives". We all have room for improvement. Hence the concept of the site - to learn from our collective mistakes but in a safe and welcoming space. It is accessible toeveryone and everyone is welcome.
Yet while the concept has existed since 2015, the site didn't get off the ground until February 2020. The official release date was Valentine's Day, a subtle (albeit slightly tongue-in-cheek) nod to its passion project nature. 'Confessions of a Failed Build' exists solely because I care deeply about the built environment, truly believing that great design, well constructed, can change the world.
I also can't stand waste, especially if it is public money. I have lived and worked in capitalist America and communist China, in the dreary UK and the paradise that is New Zealand but in each place I have witnessed this same travesty. Waste. Waste. Waste. I believe that society as a whole deserves more and that the people at the coalface of delivery deserve more.
Am I qualified to have an opinion on all or indeed any of this? Only you can answer that question for yourself, but here is a link to my Linkedin, our brave new world’s bastion of professional credibility. Although to give you some immediate reassurance, I am no stranger to gathering the dirt on projects and/or organisations for the sole purpose of repackaging in a sanitised and informative manner. No one has sued me or my confessors yet. Although I do move jurisdictions often...
But joking aside, I am passionate about improving both the efficiency and effectiveness of the construction industry everywhere. This site is my small contribution to support all others who feel the same way and are endeavouring towards same.
So thank you again and happy penning, ranting, or simply just reading.