diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/AccountUI.cs b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/AccountUI.cs
index bf8cb65..6f7fac0 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/AccountUI.cs
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/AccountUI.cs
@@ -78,22 +78,11 @@ public class AccountUI : MonoBehaviour
     /// </summary>
     private Button _usernameUpdateButton;
 
-    private void Awake()
-    {
-        GameManager.Instance.Backend.RegisterOnSignInCallback(OnSignInCallback);
-    }
-
-    public void Start()
-    {
-        if (state == State.UnassociatedState) throw new Exception("unreachable state");
-
-        // GameManager.Instance.Backend.RegisterOnSignInCallback(OnSignInCallback);
-    }
-
     /// <summary>
-    ///     function to subscribe button events to their respective functions
+    ///     function called when the object is enabled,
+    ///     subscribes button events to their respective functions
     /// </summary>
-    public void OnEnable()
+    private void OnEnable()
     {
         var ui = GetComponent<UIDocument>().rootVisualElement;
 
@@ -121,17 +110,18 @@ public void OnEnable()
         _secondaryActionButton.clicked += OnSecondaryActionButtonClick;
 
         TransitionStateTo(State.NotSignedIn);
-    }
-
-    private void OnSignInCallback(FirebaseUser user)
-    {
-        Debug.Log("sign in account ui callback");
-
-        var username = GameManager.Instance.Backend.GetUsername();
-        _usernameField.value = username;
-        _emailField.value = GameManager.Instance.Backend.GetUser().Email;
-        _passwordField.value = "";
-        _header.text = $"Signed in as {username}";
+        
+        if (state == State.UnassociatedState) throw new Exception("unreachable state");
+        GameManager.Instance.Backend.RegisterOnSignInCallback(_ =>
+        {
+            Debug.Log("post-authentication callback, updating AccountView fields");
+            var username = GameManager.Instance.Backend.GetUsername();
+            _header.text = $"Signed in as {username}";
+            _passwordField.value = "";
+            _usernameField.value = username;
+            _emailField.value = GameManager.Instance.Backend.GetUser().Email;
+        });
+        GameManager.Instance.RegisterOnLocalPlayerDataChangeCallback(PopulateFields);
     }
 
     private void TransitionStateTo(State newState, bool keepAccompanyingText = false)
@@ -618,6 +608,18 @@ private void OnSecondaryActionButtonClick()
                 throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException();
         }
     }
+    
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     populate the fields with the given username and email,
+    ///     used as a callback to when local player data is changed
+    /// </summary>
+    public void PopulateFields(LocalPlayerData data)
+    {
+        Debug.Log(
+            $"populating AccountView fields with lkUsername={data.LastKnownUsername} and lkEmail={data.LastKnownEmail}");
+        _usernameField.value = data.LastKnownUsername;
+        _emailField.value = data.LastKnownEmail;
+    }
 
     /// <summary>
     ///     state of the account view
diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/AccountUI.cs.meta b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/AccountUI.cs.meta
index ac9fded..db998f3 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/AccountUI.cs.meta
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/AccountUI.cs.meta
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ MonoImporter:
   externalObjects: {}
   serializedVersion: 2
   defaultReferences: []
-  executionOrder: 0
+  executionOrder: -10
   icon: {instanceID: 0}
   userData: 
   assetBundleName: 
diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/Backend.cs b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/Backend.cs
index da7166e..12fc26c 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/Backend.cs
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/Backend.cs
@@ -60,12 +60,18 @@ public enum UserAccountDetailTargetEnum
     /// <summary>
     ///     callback functions to be invoked when the user signs in
     /// </summary>
-    private readonly List<Action<FirebaseUser>> _onSignInCallback = new();
+    private readonly List<Action<FirebaseUser>> _onSignInCallbacks = new();
 
     /// <summary>
     ///     callback functions to be invoked when the user signs out
     /// </summary>
-    private readonly List<Action> _onSignOutCallback = new();
+    private readonly List<Action> _onSignOutCallbacks = new();
+    
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     callback functions to be invoked when the user signs in
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <returns></returns>
+    private readonly List<Action<FirebaseConnectionStatus>> _onConnectionStatusChangedCallbacks = new ();
 
     /// <summary>
     ///     the firebase authentication object
@@ -100,9 +106,9 @@ public enum UserAccountDetailTargetEnum
     /// <summary>
     ///     variable initialisation function
     /// </summary>
-    public void Initialise()
+    public void Initialise(Action<FirebaseConnectionStatus> callback)
     {
-        FirebaseApp.CheckAndFixDependenciesAsync().ContinueWith(task =>
+        FirebaseApp.CheckAndFixDependenciesAsync().ContinueWithOnMainThread(task =>
         {
             // cher is this robust enough
             switch (task.Result)
@@ -112,6 +118,7 @@ public void Initialise()
                     _auth.StateChanged += AuthStateChanged;
                     _db = FirebaseDatabase.DefaultInstance.RootReference;
                     Status = FirebaseConnectionStatus.Connected;
+                    callback(Status);
                     break;
 
                 case DependencyStatus.UnavailableDisabled:
@@ -119,21 +126,25 @@ public void Initialise()
                 case DependencyStatus.UnavilableMissing:
                 case DependencyStatus.UnavailablePermission:
                     Status = FirebaseConnectionStatus.ExternalError;
+                    callback(Status);
                     break;
 
                 case DependencyStatus.UnavailableUpdating:
                     Status = FirebaseConnectionStatus.Updating;
-                    RetryInitialiseAfterDelay();
+                    callback(Status);
+                    RetryInitialiseAfterDelay(callback);
                     break;
 
                 case DependencyStatus.UnavailableUpdaterequired:
                     Status = FirebaseConnectionStatus.UpdateRequired;
+                    callback(Status);
                     break;
 
                 case DependencyStatus.UnavailableOther:
                 default:
                     Status = FirebaseConnectionStatus.InternalError;
                     Debug.LogError("firebase ??? blew up or something," + task.Result);
+                    callback(Status);
                     break;
             }
 
@@ -146,8 +157,8 @@ public void Initialise()
     /// </summary>
     private void FireOnSignInCallbacks()
     {
-        Debug.Log($"firing on sign in callbacks ({_onSignInCallback.Count})");
-        foreach (var callback in _onSignInCallback)
+        Debug.Log($"firing OnSignInCallbacks ({_onSignInCallbacks.Count})");
+        foreach (var callback in _onSignInCallbacks)
         {
             try
             {
@@ -155,18 +166,18 @@ private void FireOnSignInCallbacks()
             }
             catch (Exception e)
             {
-                Debug.LogError(e);
+                Debug.LogError($"error invoking OnSignInCallback: {e.Message}");
             }
         }
     }
     
     /// <summary>
-    ///     function to fire all on sign out callbacks
+    ///     function to fire all on sign-out callbacks
     /// </summary>
     private void FireOnSignOutCallbacks()
     {
-        Debug.Log($"firing on sign out callbacks ({_onSignOutCallback.Count})");
-        foreach (var callback in _onSignOutCallback)
+        Debug.Log($"firing OnSignOutCallbacks ({_onSignOutCallbacks.Count})");
+        foreach (var callback in _onSignOutCallbacks)
         {
             try
             {
@@ -174,7 +185,7 @@ private void FireOnSignOutCallbacks()
             }
             catch (Exception e)
             {
-                Debug.LogError(e);
+                Debug.LogError($"error invoking OnSignOutCallback: {e.Message}");
             }
         }
     }
@@ -182,10 +193,10 @@ private void FireOnSignOutCallbacks()
     /// <summary>
     ///     async function to retry initialisation after a delay
     /// </summary>
-    private async void RetryInitialiseAfterDelay()
+    private async void RetryInitialiseAfterDelay(Action<FirebaseConnectionStatus> callback)
     {
         await Task.Delay(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10));
-        Initialise();
+        Initialise(callback);
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -235,25 +246,24 @@ private void AuthStateChanged(object sender, EventArgs eventArgs)
     /// <param name="callback">callback function that takes in a <c>FirebaseUser</c> object</param>
     public void RegisterOnSignInCallback(Action<FirebaseUser> callback)
     {
-        Debug.Log("registering on sign in callback");
-        _onSignInCallback.Add(callback);
+        _onSignInCallbacks.Add(callback);
     }
 
-    // /// <summary>
-    // ///     function to register a callback for when the user signs out
-    // /// </summary>
-    // /// <param name="callback">callback function</param>
-    // public void RegisterOnSignOutCallback(Action callback)
-    // {
-    //     _onSignOutCallback.Add(callback);
-    // }
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     function to register a callback for when the user signs out
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="callback">callback function</param>
+    public void RegisterOnSignOutCallback(Action callback)
+    {
+        _onSignOutCallbacks.Add(callback);
+    }
 
     /// <summary>
     ///     abstraction function to authenticate the user
     /// </summary>
     /// <param name="email">email string</param>
     /// <param name="password">user raw password string</param>
-    /// <param name="callback">callback function that takes in an AuthenticationResult argument</param>
+    /// <param name="callback">callback function that takes in an <c>AuthenticationResult</c> enum</param>
     /// <param name="registerUser">whether to treat authentication as registration</param>
     /// <param name="registeringUsername">username string if registering</param>
     public void AuthenticateUser(
@@ -472,8 +482,7 @@ public void ForgotPassword(string email, Action<bool> callback)
     ///     abstraction function to get the user's recent scores from the database
     /// </summary>
     /// <param name="callback">
-    ///     callback function that takes in a DatabaseTransactionResult and List of LocalPlayerData.Score
-    ///     argument
+    ///     callback function that takes in a <c>DatabaseTransactionResult</c> enum and a <c>List&lt;LocalPlayerData.Score&gt;</c>
     /// </param>
     public void GetRecentScores(Action<DatabaseTransactionResult, List<LocalPlayerData.Score>> callback)
     {
@@ -485,7 +494,7 @@ public void GetRecentScores(Action<DatabaseTransactionResult, List<LocalPlayerDa
     ///     abstraction function to submit a score to the database
     /// </summary>
     /// <param name="score">score</param>
-    /// <param name="callback">callback function that takes in one DatabaseTransactionResult argument</param>
+    /// <param name="callback">callback function that takes in a <c>DatabaseTransactionResult</c> enum </param>
     public void SubmitScore(
         LocalPlayerData.Score score,
         Action<DatabaseTransactionResult> callback)
@@ -497,7 +506,7 @@ public void GetRecentScores(Action<DatabaseTransactionResult, List<LocalPlayerDa
     ///     abstraction function to get and calculate the user's rating from the database
     ///     calculation is done locally, call UpdateUserRating to update the user's rating in the database
     /// </summary>
-    /// <param name="callback">callback function that takes in a DatabaseTransactionResult and float (user rating) argument</param>
+    /// <param name="callback">callback function that takes in a <c>DatabaseTransactionResult</c> enum and a user rating <c>float</c></param>
     public void CalculateUserRating(
         Action<DatabaseTransactionResult, float> callback)
     {
@@ -508,7 +517,7 @@ public void GetRecentScores(Action<DatabaseTransactionResult, List<LocalPlayerDa
     ///     abstraction function to update the user's rating in the database
     /// </summary>
     /// <param name="newRating">new user rating value as a float</param>
-    /// <param name="callback">callback function that takes in one DatabaseTransactionResult argument</param>
+    /// <param name="callback">callback function that takes in a <c>DatabaseTransactionResult</c> enum </param>
     public void UpdateUserRating(
         float newRating,
         Action<DatabaseTransactionResult> callback)
@@ -520,7 +529,7 @@ public void GetRecentScores(Action<DatabaseTransactionResult, List<LocalPlayerDa
     ///     abstraction function to get the leaderboard from the database
     /// </summary>
     /// <param name="callback">
-    ///     callback function that takes in a DatabaseTransactionResult and LeaderboardEntry[] argument
+    ///     callback function that takes in a <c>DatabaseTransactionResult</c> enum and a <c>List&lt;LeaderboardEntry&gt;</c>
     /// </param>
     public void GetLeaderboard(
         Action<DatabaseTransactionResult, LeaderboardEntry[]> callback)
@@ -533,7 +542,7 @@ public void GetRecentScores(Action<DatabaseTransactionResult, List<LocalPlayerDa
     /// </summary>
     /// <param name="target">the target account detail to update</param>
     /// <param name="newValue">the new value for the target account detail</param>
-    /// <param name="callback">callback function that takes in one DatabaseTransactionResult argument</param>
+    /// <param name="callback">callback function that takes in a <c>DatabaseTransactionResult</c> enum</param>
     /// <exception cref="ArgumentOutOfRangeException">thrown when the target is not a valid UserAccountDetailTargetEnum</exception>
     public void UpdateUserAccountDetail(
         UserAccountDetailTargetEnum target,
diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/GameManager.cs b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/GameManager.cs
index ec2b3a3..44e2a6a 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/GameManager.cs
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/GameManager.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
 using UnityEngine;
 using UnityEngine.UIElements;
 
@@ -20,7 +21,17 @@ public class GameManager : MonoBehaviour
     /// <summary>
     ///     the local player data object for storing player data
     /// </summary>
-    private LocalPlayerData _localPlayerData;
+    private LocalPlayerData _data;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     read-only property for accessing the local player data outside of this class
+    /// </summary>
+    public LocalPlayerData Data => _data;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     list of callbacks to call when the local player data changes
+    /// </summary>
+    private readonly List<Action<LocalPlayerData>> _onLocalPlayerDataChangeCallbacks = new List<Action<LocalPlayerData>>();
 
     /// <summary>
     ///     backend object for handling communication with the firebase backend
@@ -47,40 +58,55 @@ private void Awake()
         }
     }
 
-    private void Start()
-    {
-        // load the local player data and refresh the ui
-        _localPlayerData = new LocalPlayerData();
-        _localPlayerData.LoadFromTheWorld();
-        PopulateFields();
-        try
-        {
-            RenderFromPlayerData();
-        }
-        catch (Exception)
-        {
-            // TODO: remove this once the bug is fixed
-            Debug.LogWarning("handling known exception, remove this once the bug is fixed");
-        }
-
-        // register a callback to refresh the ui when the player signs in
-        Backend.RegisterOnSignInCallback(_ =>
-        {
-            Debug.Log("sign in callback, refreshing GameManager-controlled SideView UI");
-            _localPlayerData.LoadFromTheWorld();
-            PopulateFields();
-            RenderFromPlayerData();
-        });
-    }
-
     /// <summary>
     ///     called when the game object is enabled, initialises variables
     /// </summary>
     private void OnEnable()
     {
-        Backend = new Backend();
-        Backend.Initialise();
         ui = UIManager.Instance;
+        
+        // load the local player data and refresh the ui
+        _data = new LocalPlayerData();
+
+        Backend = new Backend();
+        Backend.Initialise(status =>
+        {
+            Debug.Log("initialised backend, setting connection status text");
+
+            ui.UI.Q<Label>("ConnectionStatusText").text = status switch
+            {
+                Backend.FirebaseConnectionStatus.Connected => "Status: Connected",
+                Backend.FirebaseConnectionStatus.Updating => "Status: Updating... (Retrying in a bit!)",
+                Backend.FirebaseConnectionStatus.NotConnected => "Status: Disconnected",
+                Backend.FirebaseConnectionStatus.UpdateRequired =>
+                    "Status: Disconnected (Device Component Update Required)",
+                Backend.FirebaseConnectionStatus.ExternalError => "Status: Disconnected (External/Device Error)",
+                Backend.FirebaseConnectionStatus.InternalError => "Status: Disconnected (Internal Error)",
+                _ => "Status: Disconnected (unknown fcs state, this is unreachable and a bug)"
+            };
+
+            if (status == Backend.FirebaseConnectionStatus.Connected) return;
+
+            // if we're not connected, hide any online 'features'
+            ui.UI.Q<Button>("LeaderboardButton").style.display = DisplayStyle.None;
+            ui.UI.Q<Button>("AccountButton").style.display = DisplayStyle.None;
+        });
+        
+        // register a callback to refresh the ui when the player signs in
+        Backend.RegisterOnSignInCallback(_ =>
+        {
+            Debug.Log("sign in callback, refreshing GameManager-controlled SideView UI");
+            _data.LoadFromTheWorld(FireLocalPlayerDataChangeCallbacks);
+        });
+    }
+    
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     load in stuff
+    /// </summary>
+    private void Start()
+    {
+        Debug.Log("GameManager starts here");
+        _data.LoadFromTheWorld(FireLocalPlayerDataChangeCallbacks);
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -90,76 +116,35 @@ private void OnApplicationQuit()
     {
         Debug.Log("running deferred cleanup/save functions");
         Backend.Cleanup();
-        _localPlayerData.SaveToTheWorld();
+        _data.SaveToTheWorld();
+    }
+    
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     function to register a callback to be called when the local player data changes
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="callback">callback function that takes a <c>LocalPlayerData</c> object</param>
+    public void RegisterOnLocalPlayerDataChangeCallback(Action<LocalPlayerData> callback)
+    {
+        _onLocalPlayerDataChangeCallbacks.Add(callback);
+        Debug.Log($"registering LocalPlayerDataChangeCallback ({_onLocalPlayerDataChangeCallbacks.Count})");
     }
 
     /// <summary>
-    ///     populate the fields with the given username and email, used by GameManager after local player data is loaded
+    ///     function to fire all local player data change callbacks
     /// </summary>
-    public void PopulateFields()
+    private void FireLocalPlayerDataChangeCallbacks(LocalPlayerData data)
     {
-        Debug.Log(
-            $"populating AccountView fields with lkUsername={_localPlayerData.LastKnownUsername} and lkEmail={_localPlayerData.LastKnownEmail}");
-        ui.UI.Q<TextField>("UsernameField").value = _localPlayerData.LastKnownUsername;
-        ui.UI.Q<TextField>("EmailField").value = _localPlayerData.LastKnownEmail;
-    }
-
-    /// <summary>
-    ///     function to update the ui with the latest data
-    /// </summary>
-    private void RenderFromPlayerData()
-    {
-        // calculate averages from both recent local scores and online scores
-        var totalLightnessAcc = 0f;
-        var totalChromaAcc = 0f;
-        var totalHueAcc = 0f;
-        var totalRounds = 0;
-
-        // average out all the scores we have to get a stable-ish average
-
-        foreach (var localScore in _localPlayerData.RecentLocalScores)
+        Debug.Log($"firing LocalPlayerDataChangeCallbacks ({_onLocalPlayerDataChangeCallbacks.Count})");
+        foreach (var callback in _onLocalPlayerDataChangeCallbacks)
         {
-            totalLightnessAcc += localScore.AvgLightnessAccuracy;
-            totalChromaAcc += localScore.AvgChromaAccuracy;
-            totalHueAcc += localScore.AvgHueAccuracy;
-            totalRounds += localScore.NoOfRounds;
+            try
+            {
+                callback.Invoke(data);
+            }
+            catch (Exception e)
+            {
+                Debug.LogError($"error invoking LocalPlayerDataChangeCallback: {e.Message}");
+            }
         }
-
-        foreach (var onlineScore in _localPlayerData.RecentOnlineScores)
-        {
-            totalLightnessAcc += onlineScore.AvgLightnessAccuracy;
-            totalChromaAcc += onlineScore.AvgChromaAccuracy;
-            totalHueAcc += onlineScore.AvgHueAccuracy;
-            totalRounds += onlineScore.NoOfRounds;
-        }
-
-        foreach (var onlineScore in _localPlayerData.BestOnlineScores)
-        {
-            totalLightnessAcc += onlineScore.AvgLightnessAccuracy;
-            totalChromaAcc += onlineScore.AvgChromaAccuracy;
-            totalHueAcc += onlineScore.AvgHueAccuracy;
-            totalRounds += onlineScore.NoOfRounds;
-        }
-
-        Debug.Log($"tL={totalLightnessAcc} tC={totalChromaAcc} tH={totalHueAcc} tR={totalRounds}");
-        if (totalRounds == 0) totalRounds = 1;
-        var lightnessAcc = totalLightnessAcc / totalRounds;
-        var chromaAcc = totalChromaAcc / totalRounds;
-        var hueAcc = totalHueAcc / totalRounds;
-        var playerText = Backend.IsSignedIn ? _localPlayerData.LastKnownUsername : $"{_localPlayerData.LastKnownUsername} (Not Signed In)";
-
-        // finally, set the labels
-        ui.UI.Q<Label>("PlayerText").text = playerText;
-        ui.UI.Q<Label>("LightnessAccuracyText").text = $"{lightnessAcc:F}";
-        ui.UI.Q<Label>("ChromaAccuracyText").text = $"{chromaAcc:F}";
-        ui.UI.Q<Label>("HueAccuracyText").text = $"{hueAcc:F}";
-
-        // and set the player rating, but after we get it from the backend
-        // (god I LOVE async (I am LYING out of my teeth))
-        Backend.CalculateUserRating((dtr, rating) =>
-        {
-            if (dtr != Backend.DatabaseTransactionResult.Ok) return;
-            ui.UI.Q<Label>("RatingText").text = $"{rating:F}";
-        });
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/GameManager.cs.meta b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/GameManager.cs.meta
index 04fbdcd..bb910f6 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/GameManager.cs.meta
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/GameManager.cs.meta
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ MonoImporter:
   externalObjects: {}
   serializedVersion: 2
   defaultReferences: []
-  executionOrder: -10
+  executionOrder: -50
   icon: {instanceID: 0}
   userData: 
   assetBundleName: 
diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/LocalPlayerData.cs b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/LocalPlayerData.cs
index f0ca908..996e984 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/LocalPlayerData.cs
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/LocalPlayerData.cs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ public class LocalPlayerData
     /// <summary>
     ///     loads player data from player prefs and database
     /// </summary>
-    public void LoadFromTheWorld()
+    public void LoadFromTheWorld(Action<LocalPlayerData> callback)
     {
         // load user data, possibly from the backend
         var possibleUser = GameManager.Instance.Backend.GetUser();
@@ -91,7 +91,8 @@ public void LoadFromTheWorld()
             }
 
             Debug.Log(
-                $"loaded lpdata from the world ({LastKnownUsername} <{LastKnownEmail}> with RLS.Count={RecentLocalScores.Count}), ROS.Count={RecentOnlineScores.Count}");
+                $"loaded lpdata from the world ({LastKnownUsername} <{LastKnownEmail}> with RLS.Count={RecentLocalScores.Count}, ROS.Count={RecentOnlineScores.Count}");
+            callback(this);
         });
     }
 
diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/SideViewUI.cs b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/SideViewUI.cs
index e7acec1..a52063c 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/SideViewUI.cs
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/SideViewUI.cs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using System;
 using UnityEngine;
 using UnityEngine.UIElements;
 
@@ -21,6 +22,36 @@ public class SideViewUI : MonoBehaviour
     /// </summary>
     private Button _playButton;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     connection status label for showing the connection status
+    /// </summary>
+    private Label _connectionStatusLabel;
+    
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     text label for showing the player's known name
+    /// </summary>
+    private Label _playerText;
+    
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     text label for showing the player's rating
+    /// </summary>
+    private Label _ratingText;
+    
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     text label for showing the player's stable-ish lightness accuracy
+    /// </summary>
+    private Label _lightnessAccuracyText;
+    
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     text label for showing the player's stable-ish chroma accuracy
+    /// </summary>
+    private Label _chromaAccuracyText;
+    
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     text label for showing the player's stable-ish hue accuracy
+    /// </summary>
+    private Label _hueAccuracyText;
+
     /// <summary>
     ///     function to subscribe button events to their respective functions
     /// </summary>
@@ -36,6 +67,21 @@ private void OnEnable()
 
         _accountButton = ui.Q<Button>("AccountButton");
         _accountButton.clicked += OnAccountButtonClicked;
+        
+        _connectionStatusLabel = ui.Q<Label>("ConnectionStatusLabel");
+        
+        _playerText = ui.Q<Label>("PlayerText");
+        _ratingText = ui.Q<Label>("RatingText");
+ 
+        _lightnessAccuracyText = ui.Q<Label>("LightnessAccuracyText");
+        _chromaAccuracyText = ui.Q<Label>("ChromaAccuracyText");
+        _hueAccuracyText = ui.Q<Label>("HueAccuracyText");
+
+        GameManager.Instance.Backend.RegisterOnSignOutCallback(() =>
+        {
+            RenderFromPlayerData(GameManager.Instance.Data);
+        });
+        GameManager.Instance.RegisterOnLocalPlayerDataChangeCallback(RenderFromPlayerData);
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -61,4 +107,65 @@ private static void OnAccountButtonClicked()
     {
         GameManager.Instance.ui.SetDisplayState(UIManager.DisplayState.AccountView);
     }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     function to update the ui with the latest data
+    /// </summary>
+    private void RenderFromPlayerData(LocalPlayerData data)
+    {
+        // calculate averages from both recent local scores and online scores
+        var totalLightnessAcc = 0f;
+        var totalChromaAcc = 0f;
+        var totalHueAcc = 0f;
+        var totalRounds = 0;
+
+        // average out all the scores we have to get a stable-ish average
+
+        foreach (var localScore in data.RecentLocalScores)
+        {
+            totalLightnessAcc += localScore.AvgLightnessAccuracy;
+            totalChromaAcc += localScore.AvgChromaAccuracy;
+            totalHueAcc += localScore.AvgHueAccuracy;
+            totalRounds += localScore.NoOfRounds;
+        }
+
+        foreach (var onlineScore in data.RecentOnlineScores)
+        {
+            totalLightnessAcc += onlineScore.AvgLightnessAccuracy;
+            totalChromaAcc += onlineScore.AvgChromaAccuracy;
+            totalHueAcc += onlineScore.AvgHueAccuracy;
+            totalRounds += onlineScore.NoOfRounds;
+        }
+
+        foreach (var onlineScore in data.BestOnlineScores)
+        {
+            totalLightnessAcc += onlineScore.AvgLightnessAccuracy;
+            totalChromaAcc += onlineScore.AvgChromaAccuracy;
+            totalHueAcc += onlineScore.AvgHueAccuracy;
+            totalRounds += onlineScore.NoOfRounds;
+        }
+
+        Debug.Log($"tL={totalLightnessAcc} tC={totalChromaAcc} tH={totalHueAcc} tR={totalRounds}");
+        if (totalRounds == 0) totalRounds = 1;
+        var lightnessAcc = totalLightnessAcc / totalRounds;
+        var chromaAcc = totalChromaAcc / totalRounds;
+        var hueAcc = totalHueAcc / totalRounds;
+        var playerText = GameManager.Instance.Backend.IsSignedIn
+            ? data.LastKnownUsername
+            : $"{data.LastKnownUsername} (Not Signed In)";
+
+        // finally, set the labels
+        _playerText.text = playerText;
+        _lightnessAccuracyText.text = $"{lightnessAcc:F}";
+        _chromaAccuracyText.text = $"{chromaAcc:F}";
+        _hueAccuracyText.text = $"{hueAcc:F}";
+
+        // and set the player rating, but after we get it from the backend
+        // (god I LOVE async (I am LYING out of my teeth))
+        GameManager.Instance.Backend.CalculateUserRating((dtr, rating) =>
+        {
+            if (dtr != Backend.DatabaseTransactionResult.Ok) return;
+            _ratingText.text = $"{rating:F}";
+        });
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/SideViewUI.cs.meta b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/SideViewUI.cs.meta
index a2ba3e2..b62355a 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/SideViewUI.cs.meta
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/SideViewUI.cs.meta
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ MonoImporter:
   externalObjects: {}
   serializedVersion: 2
   defaultReferences: []
-  executionOrder: 0
+  executionOrder: -20
   icon: {instanceID: 0}
   userData: 
   assetBundleName: 
diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/UIManager.cs.meta b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/UIManager.cs.meta
index b9d6172..9943428 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/UIManager.cs.meta
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/UIManager.cs.meta
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ MonoImporter:
   externalObjects: {}
   serializedVersion: 2
   defaultReferences: []
-  executionOrder: -15
+  executionOrder: -60
   icon: {instanceID: 0}
   userData: 
   assetBundleName: