Author: jon

Jon Curnow writes on curnow.org about things that interest him. The site has been around for many years in various forms and he always wants to write much more here than he does.

Weeknotes #128: hot, pride and a balcony scene

Hot week, great theatre, Pride celebrations, and connecting with friends.

Week commencing Monday, 30 June 2025

A scene from the revival of "Evita" at the London Palladium shows Rachel Zegler performing as Eva Perón, addressing the crowds from an ornate stone balcony in front of the theatre, to the public watching from below. She is wearing a white strapless gown with her blonde hair styled in a period-appropriate updo, surrounded by classical columns and architecture.
Rachel Zegler performing as Eva Perón

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 5/7; Exercise 6/7 and Move 6/7. (81%). Morning walks: 0/3 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 2/5. Total steps: 78,733

Life

  • Despite many things I have written about being – or not being – in the office for work, I did two days; my step count shows it.
  • It also helped, as the office is air-conditioned. This week has been very hot; the fan was needed in my home office, and lots of water was consumed.
  • We’ve had the government for a year. Has anybody noticed anything different? Where are the promised changes?
  • Robot update: the robot hoover ran on Monday, quite impressively mapped the room, and bumped into everything.
  • Tuesday, to Sohoplace to see The Fifth Step, a play about how people handle their demons in the context of alcoholism and recovery. It stars Martin Freeman and Jack Lowden. It’s good and thought-provoking. 3/5 stars from me.
  • Wednesday: divisional all-hands meetings. But drinks in the evening with Mark B. Very glad I was able to catch him while he was in the country.
  • Related: I was delighted that I kept an eye on the time and did not miss the last trains from Shepherd’s Bush.
  • Thursday was another office day. And more drinks in the evening with Andrew and Sarah. It was nice to sit outside. And now we know why A went to a Taylor Swift concert.
  • Friday to Central London. Dinner on Argyll Street was timed to finish just before Rachel Zegler appeared as Eva Perón on the balcony of The Palladium Theatre. Much more impressive than I thought. And they had to close the roads for the twenty minutes the crowd is there. It will be interesting to see it from inside the theatre next week.
  • Saturday, Pride. The Big Gay Brunch was fun, but too early for even non-alcoholic drinks. The breakfast buns were excellent.
  • Related: Phil found a route around the parade so we could get across to Piccadilly, avoiding crowds. It’s quite impressive how quiet London can be, even two streets back from a million people.
  • Dinner at Meson Don Felipe. Excellent food. We felt a bit ignored by the staff.
  • Sunday, Country on the Common. It rained on the way in, the bar staff managed to ignore me, and I was not feeling the vibe. Left and took a train to look at the river. Headliner Noah Reid had withdrawn from the event. I notice no refund was offered.

Media

Weeknotes #127: continued good weather and a robot

Post-festival routines, musical nostalgia, and robot hoover excitement

Week commencing Monday, 23 June 2025

A brightly lit neon sign reading "JUST FOR ONE DAY" in bold white letters with blue neon outlining, mounted on the ornate facade of the Shaftesbury Theatre in London. The sign advertises the musical "Just For One Day" - the story of Live Aid, with decorative lighting elements and the theatre's classical architectural details visible in the background.
Just For One Day

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 2/7; Exercise 3/7 and Move 5/7. (48%). Morning walks: 0/3 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/4. Total steps: 44,057

Life

  • The weather was still wonderful on Monday. We had our now-traditional post-festival brunch at The Dell Café. Delicious. Then we tried one of the new coffee shops on the Esplanade. Very busy with festival-goers en route back to the mainland.
  • Related, the Hovertravel queue was long, but the FastCat had plenty of room. The onward connection to London was delayed considerably. Another “delay repay” situation.
  • Wednesday’s 80s nostalgia: Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical. It’s a high-energy celebration of Live Aid’s iconic music, featuring amazing vocal performances and reinterpretations of 1980s music, avoiding look-alike impersonations. The storytelling might lack some nuance now so much time has passed, but that didn’t spoil it.
  • Thursday, drinks at The Ship Tavern near my old Holborn office. Bouldering and powerlifting were on the television screens in the pub. Neither strikes me as a big sporting event.
  • Friday, not much more the specialist thinks he can do about my cough. They did discover I have a slight allergy to dust mites. That was the excuse I’ve been looking for to order the robot hoover.
  • Barbecue at home. There was a lot of cleaning to do in the morning, which was a shame since the robot had not arrived yet.
  • It was delivered on Sunday, but remained in its box.

Media

  • Game Changers Radio: “52 per cent of Australians aged 10 and older say they listen to podcasts each month” – that seems like a high percentage to me, but apparently not.
  • Rylan: How to Be in Love: Stephen Fry: From 15 years of celibacy to finding love – fascinating episode. Stephen Fry describes his teenage experience of love as a “tempest of feeling”, later suggesting “cheerfulness” is a crucial, often overlooked virtue that significantly improves a relationship. We should all take that advice.
  • We have run out of episodes of Murderbot and need some more episodes to drop.
  • For some reason, I binged YouTube videos where Good Morning America were preparing to move from their Times Square studios. No idea why I watched so many … but that’s the algorithm for you.
  • I also discovered My Tiny Estate. There are a lot of those to keep me busy.

Weeknotes #126: Heatwave & the Isle of Wight Festival 2025

Festival joy, sunshine wins & lucky railcard timing

Week commencing Monday, 16 June 2025

A collage of images from the 2025 Isle of Wight Festival showing highlights of the vibrant atmosphere: crowds gathering at the main stage, a large Ferris wheel against a blue sky, a traditional helter-skelter surrounded by festivalgoers, a close-up of a whipped cream-topped drink, colourful flags fluttering in the breeze, and a performance by Mae Muller. The images capture the energy, colour, and fun of a summer music festival.
Isle of Wight Festival 2025

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 5/7; Exercise 4/7 and Move 5/7. (67%). Morning walks: 0/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/4. Total steps: 58,922

Life

  • Monday, a heatwave was predicted. Turned out to be a good sign for the week, and it explains the survey I got asking about how I cope in hot weather. I’m fine. The weather stayed hot.
  • Meanwhile, across the world, Britons in Israel were told to notify the Foreign Office to receive instructions on how to leave.
  • We have a bad mobile signal in London. But I am not sure we are being lied to, are we?
  • Related: I actually got a mobile signal on the train to Waterloo on Thursday, and it allowed me to buy a railcard when I discovered mine had expired minutes before I needed it.
  • Great description of AI from Little, Yellow, Different: “It’s like having a writing partner who’s read every book ever written but occasionally thinks your grocery list needs footnotes and a bibliography.”
  • Random wish of the week: I wish Apple Podcasts showed when I’d listened to a podcast.
  • Isle of Wight Festival. Highlights: Lottery Winners, Paul Heaton, Björn Again, Midge Ure, and the bit of Texas that I managed to hear from the back. Lots of other good stuff, though.
  • Related: we didn’t stay for the headliners on any day. PY was more disappointed that Sky Arts wasn’t showing Justin Timberlake than I was.
  • Relatedly related: Festival Diaries: Day One, Day Two and Day Three.

Media

  • Murderbot: I mentioned before that my childhood television upbringing has made me particularly fond of computers with human-like qualities. I think that’s what appeals about this show to me.
  • The Race Across The World reunion made me wish that there was a lot more of the series. I also really wish they’d do a behind-the-scenes show because it must be fascinating to be part of the camera crew embedded with the contestants.

Festival Diaries 2025: Day Three

A lively festival day featuring Björn Again, Ella Eyre’s surprise exit, Midge Ure’s powerful set, and more memorable performances.

Bjorn Again performs on stage at the 2025 Isle of Wight Festival, with two female performers in white outfits singing into microphones. The stage backdrop features colourful retro-style graphics and the Isle of Wight Festival branding with Sky sponsorship visible. In the foreground, audience members can be seen with their hands raised and mobile phones recording the performance. A photographer is positioned in the pit area capturing the show, whilst stage rigging and lighting equipment frame the scene. The vibrant stage design creates an energetic atmosphere typical of the ABBA tribute act's performances.
Bjorn Again
Texas performs on the main stage at the 2025 Isle of Wight Festival, with a large crowd of festival-goers gathered in front of the stage. The stage features the band's name "TEXAS" displayed prominently in white letters on a red background, with the Isle of Wight Festival branding and Sky sponsorship visible on the curved stage canopy above. Large video screens on either side of the stage show close-up footage of the performance, whilst professional lighting rigs illuminate the scene. The diverse audience, wearing a mix of summer clothing and festival attire, fills the field in front of the main stage under an overcast sky
Texas

Didn’t sleep well. The flat downstairs had music going in the early hours. Still, we were up reasonably early and on the bus back to the festival, where we managed to get our hands on a bacon roll and a coffee before things got going. The queue was moving, but the bacon wasn’t cooking quickly enough for demand. It’s my view that there are remarkably few bacon roll vendors for a festival.

First up on the Main Stage was Björn Again, doing a 40-minute ABBA tribute set: a total crowd-pleaser – big energy, lots of singalongs, and the kind of opening that sets the tone nicely for a Sunday. Then came Ella Eyre. I didn’t know her music beforehand, but the set was packed with great pop tunes. She kept saying the crowd would need to help her out, which, at first, I thought was just the usual festival banter – but part-way through, she ran off stage, leaving 15 minutes of her slot unplayed. She later posted an emotional apology on social media. I thought her vocals sounded great while she was on, so it came as a bit of a surprise to hear that her voice had gone.

Alison Moyet followed, opening with Nobody’s Diary – written when she was still a teenager with Yazoo. The rest of the set was a mix of lesser-known tracks, at least to me, but her voice was powerful throughout. Sadly, I think she lost the crowd a little bit with the less well-known tunes.

Like lots of people, we rushed across to The Big Top for Midge Ure. Scheduling him so close to Alison Moyet – but on a different stage – didn’t make a lot of sense. By the time we arrived, it was full, so we stood outside and watched the screen. Worth it, though. A brilliant set. Vienna was in there, obviously, but also Fade to Grey (which he co-wrote for Visage), which was a real highlight.

When we made it back to the Main Stage, Olly Murs was already well into his set, dedicating Dear Darlin’ to Caroline Flack. From our position at the back, the screens were essentially dots, but the energy still carried.

We stayed in the same spot for Texas, but the wind had picked up and the sound wasn’t really carrying. We were in a patch of crowd mostly made up of large seated groups, treating it more like a garden party with background music. That, and the wind, meant we couldn’t hear much of Sharleen Spiteri’s chat between songs – a shame, as I usually enjoy on-stage banter from the artists.

We looked at the rest of the line-up and decided nothing else was enough to keep us from the return trip, so we hopped on the bus back, picked up fish and chips, and watched Jess Glynne’s set on the telly. Much better sound, full picture, and no one setting up a picnic in front of us. Just a shame Sky Arts aren’t showing Justin Timberlake’s headline set – but still, can’t really complain.

Another festival all wrapped up.

Festival Diaries 2025: Day Two

Packed stages, and standout sets from Busted, Paul Heaton, and The Queenbees defined Day Two.

Mae Muller performs on stage at the 2025 Isle of Wight Festival, singing into a microphone while wearing a dark crop top and light-coloured shorts. Behind her, a guitarist in a grey shirt plays a mint green electric guitar. The stage backdrop features large silver lettering spelling "MAEMU" (part of the artist's name), and stage rigging and equipment are visible on the left side of the frame. The performance captures a dynamic moment during the live set at the festival.
The Queenbees perform on stage at the 2025 Isle of Wight Festival, featuring four female performers in matching black and yellow outfits. The stage backdrop displays a vibrant, psychedelic carnival-style design with swirling patterns, stars, and colourful artwork. The performers are positioned across the stage with microphones, backed by a full drum kit and Marshall amplifiers.
Paul Heaton performs on stage at the 2025 Isle of Wight Festival with his band. The stage backdrop features a bold red design with "WELCOME TO HEATONGRAD" displayed in large yellow letters, alongside a portrait of a man wearing glasses in a halftone print style. The full band setup includes drums, guitars, and brass instruments, with multiple musicians positioned across the stage.

Day Two started off with a bit of a curveball, finding ourselves at the Sky Lounge just as an unexpected light rain shower decided to make an appearance. We had a seat but no shelter. I had a beer, and PY did not have the cocktail he wanted from the bar menu.

Once it cleared, we made our way to the Main Stage for Mae Muller. This was her first festival in two years – she seemed very excited by that. She dedicated her new single to all the “overthinkers” in the audience, and of course, she wrapped up with her Eurovision hit.

Next up, we headed towards the River Stage, ready to catch The Deckchairs. There had been so many social media whispers about a special guest, and it turned out to be the man who organises the whole festival – a nice surprise, though maybe not as explosive as some of the rumours suggested!

From there, it was off to The Big Top to see Matilda Mann: genuinely good. After that, we tried our luck at the This Feeling tent for Masi Masi, but it was just a bit too indie-rock loud for PY. We attempted to navigate the crowds towards Razorlight, but it was absolutely packed, so we ended up finding a tree to shelter under for a bit, this time avoiding the sun.

Back to The Big Top for Arthur Hill, who I’d never heard of, but he sounded good. He already has a massive following. I think he’s big on TikTok, because he managed to fill that tent. We ducked out just before the end to grab a front-row spot for The Queenbees back at the River Stage. They were brilliant, doing new interpretations of classic covers with some really tight harmonies.

Then it was the familiar weaving through the masses to catch Busted on the Main Stage – a fun blast from the past with all their hits. As that crowd started to thin out, we pushed forward for Paul Heaton ft. Rianne Downey, who put on an excellent set, all classics. Paul even joked about “Welcome to Heatongrad”, probably not making the Sky Arts coverage, which got a laugh.

The crush walking away from the Main Stage after that was just horrendous. I still don’t understand why security doesn’t do more to stop people from just sitting down in the middle of the pathways – it makes it impossible to move.

We eventually decided we needed a break and grabbed some Greek food from one of the vans. By the time we’d finished eating, fatigue had set in, and the allure of our bus home was stronger than the walk back to the Main Stage. Same routine as yesterday: Sainsbury’s for tomorrow’s lunch supplies, and then straight back to the flat.

I’ve never been happier to take my shoes off.

Festival Diaries 2025: Day One

First day at Isle of Wight Festival: sunshine, standout sets, sock wrestling, paella, and a late-night tea wind-down.

A large Ferris wheel silhouetted against a golden sunset sky at the 2025 Isle of Wight Festival. The wheel's passenger gondolas are clearly visible around its circumference, with the sun positioned dramatically behind and to the right of the structure. Festival-goers can be seen gathered at the base of the ride, whilst trees and other festival infrastructure create a dark silhouette against the warm, orange-tinted evening sky. The atmospheric lighting captures the classic festival atmosphere during the golden hour.
A large crowd of festival-goers watches Amy McDonald perform on the main stage at the 2025 Isle of Wight Festival. The stage features vibrant pink and blue lighting effects with "ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL" prominently displayed across the top, along with Sky branding. The performer can be seen on stage with an acoustic guitar, backed by colourful visual displays. The audience, wearing a mix of caps, hats, and summer clothing, fills the foreground of the image, creating the typical atmosphere of a major music festival performance.
A performer in a red sequined outfit and sunglasses plays a keytar on stage at the 2025 Isle of Wight Festival. A red triangular banner reading "SOPHIE GREY - LIVE IN UNITED KINGDOM" is visible in the background, along with stage lighting, Marshall amplifiers, and drum kit. The artist is captured mid-performance in what appears to be an energetic live music moment at the festival.

Another year, another Isle of Wight Festival! Today—well, the early afternoon—kicked off with a familiar pilgrimage: a quick pit stop at Sainsbury’s for the obligatory meal deal (mainly for the chilled water, as it was already feeling quite warm outside). Then it was onto the shuttle heading towards Seaclose Park. All sorts of different people, costumes, and an inflatable jungle scene. That was the mood express to the Festival Bus Station.

As with last year, entry was a breeze; they’ve really got it cracked (at least, if you come by bus). Wristband secured, signifying the ability to roam all weekend, we got searched for alcohol, and then the trek began. The long walk towards the main stages, with the flags fluttering in the breeze, feels familiar and, therefore, welcoming. We took the walk and pretty much decided to stick to the Main Stage end of the park today.

First order of the day was a beer. Though the ‘snake queue’ system at the bar felt a bit much for that time of day, there was but a handful of us. While I was waiting, the barman spotted some blood on my thumb. No idea where I’d cut myself, but he was brilliant and went off to grab an antiseptic wipe and a plaster; not sure if some health and safety protocol was broken, but he was great. It throbbed a bit for half an hour—nothing too serious, thankfully.

It turns out that the real gem of the day was the first act we saw: The Lottery Winners—funny and energetic. They knew how to connect with the crowd, managing to be both emotional and utterly engaging. After their brilliance, we decided to wander and got caught in a few unexpected minutes of light rain. We ducked under cover for a short time before we ended up watching a round of ‘sock wrestling’ on one of the alternative stages. Do they have that at Glastonbury?

Then, a more sedate beer by the river before we caught Sophie Grey on the River Stage. She had this fantastic 80s electro sound that felt current. I thought, “She’d be brilliant at a party!”—really good fun, but maybe not the response she’d have been looking for.

Next, it was Amy Macdonald on the main stage. I thought I’d know more of her songs, but still, she put on a solid performance. Her earpieces were a nice touch, featuring the Scottish flag. Apparently, it’s been 18 years since she last graced the IOW stage, which she declared a “once in a generation” event! We opted to stay a bit further back from the main stage, standing in the sun, until The Corrs came on. They certainly got the crowd moving, and while their set was upbeat, it didn’t quite grab me until their very last piece of Irish music. General consensus over the weekend, however, was that they were brilliant. So, what do I know?

Dinner was calling, so we braved the growing crowd, weaving our way through the packed seating area to The Octopus’s Garden. Paella time! Chicken and chorizo for me, seafood for PY. It was exactly as you’d imagine from a big pan on a festival site.

Finally, Sting took to the stage. We were quite a way back by this point, and my feet were past fighting for a better view. He played a lot of his old hits, which was nice, but it wasn’t exactly a set of ‘party bangers’ to get everyone dancing wildly. So, we made the executive decision to head for the bus. My preferred walking pace was definitely slower than the one we ended up adopting! A quick wait and then the ride back to Ryde. A necessary stop back at Sainsbury’s on Union Street for tomorrow’s lunch supplies.

Now, it’s the best part: back at the flat, sprawled on the sofa with a cup of tea, watching Faithless close out day one of the festival on the telly. Much more comfortable than still being out there.

Let’s see what tomorrow brings!

Festival Déjà Vu: Packing Optimism and Leaving the Wellies Behind

Reflecting on last year’s sunny festival whilst contemplating this weekend’s adventures.

A cheerful cartoon-style illustration of the Isle of Wight Music Festival on a sunny day. A lively band performs on a colourful stage labelled "Isle of Wight Music Festival" while a large, enthusiastic crowd cheers with hands raised. The audience includes people in summer clothes and hats, all enjoying the bright, sunny atmosphere with a clear blue sky and playful details like a smiling sun and striped tent in the background. The image captures the joyful, communal spirit of a summer music festival without depicting any specific bands or individuals.
Cheerful crowds at the Isle of Wight Festival. Image created by ChatGPT.

Can you believe it’s almost time again? Last year’s festival was special. We lucked out with the temperature; all that careful planning for wet weather gear was wasted, thankfully. Am I tempting fate if I look out the window and think this heatwave might hang around for the weekend?

Last year, The Bootleg Beatles set the tone nicely at the start with lots of sing-alongs, and hindsight makes those long walks between stages — and battling the crowd to get out — feel more like an adventure than a chore. Will I say the same on Monday?

Looking back, it was a real lesson in festival strategy. Preserving energy is my takeaway: knowing when to retreat before the very end paid off, ensuring a smoother bus ride back to Ryde. Striking a balance: wanting to be right up close for some acts but accepting that hanging back and relying on the video screens is sometimes a better move, except perhaps when The Pet Shop Boys were on stage.

So here we are, a year on, and my internal buzz is building despite feeling a little unwell. I’m already thinking about the bus tickets and the first coffee runs, hoping we find that sweet spot near the main stage where you can soak it all in and, hopefully, not be too squashed. I suspect there will be another morning hunt for the festival’s best bacon bun.

Fingers crossed, the weather holds out as beautifully as it did last year – all those wet-weather clothes can definitely stay in Ryde again! There’s something exciting about getting back into that festival routine, the journey, the crowd, the long walk to the main stage, and just seeing what surprises the lineup holds this time around. I wonder if I’ll write another festival diary?

Weeknotes #125: launched by Apple, floored by life

PY’s book, Apple event, world tensions, and weekend podcasts

Week commencing Monday, 9 June 2025

A vintage black Motorola mobile phone with a physical keypad is securely strapped to the handrail inside a lift, serving as an emergency communication device. The phone, featuring the classic button layout and small monochrome display typical of early mobile phones, is mounted on the curved stainless steel handrail against the lift's modern interior. This improvised but practical solution provides a backup communication method for lift emergencies, creating an amusing juxtaposition between old-school mobile technology and contemporary lift design. The phone appears to be properly secured and positioned for easy access by lift users in case of emergency.
Emergency Hotline: When Your Lift Gets a Retro Upgrade

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 2/7; Exercise 2/7 and Move 2/7. (29%). Morning walks: 0/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/5. Total steps: 32,246

Life

  • PY published his book on Amazon. This is fantastic. Go read it. I think there will be a free offer next week! I am very proud of all his efforts. So exciting.
  • They’re all doing books now: Ari Paparo has written one detailing the transformation of digital advertising through ad exchanges, Google’s market dominance, and publishers’ countermeasures. But it’s not available at the moment. I pre-ordered. Niche audience, I imagine.
  • Apple held an event. Something about a new design language for Apple devices. Also, the iPad got better. It’s interesting how these launches have started to blend into one another, like déjà vu in product form. Sometimes I wonder if we’re moving forward or just refining the same ideas endlessly.
  • I went to the office on Tuesday and then stayed at home, a lot. I get that look when I start coughing. It’s nothing contagious, folks! You know, that look that silently says, “Stay back!” Honestly, I’m more frustrated by it than anything else.
  • Related, the emergency communication button is broken in one of the lifts. So, there’s a radio to contact somebody if help is needed. Never seen this, but a clever way to keep the lift in service.
  • I had to go to the Spanish consulate on Wednesday morning. I went through security to discover I was an hour early and had to sit in a cafe having a coffee until time ticked around.
  • There was a US military parade on Sunday, but it seems like America is more divided than ever. I wonder when ‘seeing it from the other side’ actually went out of fashion? Not good for the world. It’s sad to see how quickly empathy seems to have faded from public discourse. Maybe we’ve forgotten that understanding the other side doesn’t weaken us — it’s what holds us together.
  • Meanwhile, this is the week the war in the Middle East came a step closer: Israel says Iran has fired up to 100 missiles in retaliation for surprise assault while fresh explosions reported at airport in Tehran. It’s a bit scary, really.
  • I spent most of the weekend in bed listening to more podcasts.

Media

  • It was the end, but the episode started 1,200km from the finish line, Race Across The World. I loved everything about this series.
  • We started watching Murderbot. It’s not usually my kind of thing, but this is good. Binge-worthy.
  • We started season two of The White Lotus and it’s just as disturbing as the first series.
  • I have made it into 2025 for Melbourne Radio Wars, and I am nearly up to date. There’s great chemistry between Irene Hulme, Wade Kingsley and Craig Bruce, which is why it’s so engaging even from afar.

Weeknotes #124: from sea-lion noises to Korean feasts

Endured illness but engaged with new ideas and social moments

Week commencing Monday, 2 June 2025

A handmade 'BUGHOTEL' sign in bright orange letters on a turquoise background, marking a bee habitat constructed along The Beeline Way between New Malden and Raynes Park. The insect hotel, designed to provide nesting sites for carpenter and leafcutter bees, sits amongst lush garden vegetation with brick residential buildings visible in the background. A small decorative figure stands guard behind the colourful sign, whilst the surrounding area features typical urban garden elements, including stacked pallets and thriving plant life.
The Bughotel: Buzzing B&B on The Beeline Way

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 1/7; Exercise 1/7 and Move 1/7. (14%). Morning walks: 0/5, Office days 0/5. Total steps: 22,888

Life

  • I felt awful all week: a relentless cough combined with a lingering cold really knocked me about. There were moments when I wondered if I’d ever sound normal again. The combination of the cough and whatever cold-like illness I caught at the end of last week was very unpleasant. At times, the cough was continual, loud and distressing. I can’t imagine what the neighbours thought. My Quantified Self numbers (above) speak for themselves.
  • I avoided the office for fear of being sent home, but also because I didn’t want to be that person coughing through every meeting.
  • Related, it was disappointing to miss Tai Chi and a Breland concert I’d been looking forward to. I guess guilt and illness make for a heavy combination. I kept wondering if I was being overly cautious or simply sensible.
  • The online Volunteering Forum on Tuesday was well run and very engaging. I am glad there are some new ideas in the programme, even if everybody’s favourite part, the summer scheme, has been closed. I can listen while muted, and the cough disturbs nobody. And, unlike work calls, this was a camera-off event so nobody saw me go red every time I coughed.
  • Midweek, The New European rebranded as The New World: “We’re not rebranding because Brexit’s over – we’re rebranding because Brexit was just the beginning”.
  • Saturday was the first day I ventured out this week — lovely Korean meal with friends. I managed to get through the early evening dinner without excessive coughing.
  • Related, on the walk back along The Beeline Way between New Malden and Raynes Park, I noticed The Bug Hotel, designed to provide nesting sites for carpenter and leafcutter bees. Nice.
  • I walked to and from Wimbledon on Sunday, still sounding like a sea lion on occasion. The fresh air helped clear my head, even if my throat wasn’t quite ready to join the conversation.
  • Last week, I sent an application for something. No idea if it was the right move or just a hopeful stab in the dark. Sometimes you have to throw your hat in the ring and see what happens. Cryptic.

Media

Weeknotes #123: a dark comedy and a cough with company

Coughing through songs, feasting outside and sneaky sips

Week commencing Monday, 26 May 2025

Two freshly poured pints of lager sit side by side on a rustic wooden table at a traditional London pub near Carnaby Street. The beers feature perfectly formed creamy white foam heads that crown the amber-coloured liquid beneath. The wooden table shows natural grain patterns and appears well-worn from years of use, whilst a person's legs in dark trousers are partially visible in the background, creating an authentic pub atmosphere with warm, inviting lighting.
Pint-Sized Perfection

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 5/7; Exercise 5/7 and Move 5/7. (71%). Morning walks: 2/3 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/5. Total steps: 44,581

Life

  • Monday was a bank holiday. I took Mum and Dad to the station before heading home. It’s always sad when they go. Their train was very full, so I was relieved to hear they’d found a seat. Less impressed by the station security people who tried to move me on from waving them off.
  • In the evening, to the Odeon Cinema in Wimbledon to see Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme. I love his deadpan style, meticulously styled cinematography, and symmetrical compositions. Another great film that looked stunning.
  • The plot? It’s a dark comedy that follows wealthy businessman Zsa-zsa Korda, who appoints his only daughter, a nun, as sole heir to his estate. Later, they must fight off scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists, and assassins. So, just your everyday tale.
  • Thirsty Thursday happened this week, but instead of standing outside the same pub all night, we went for some food and sat outside a different pub! The food was delicious. It was good to break the pattern – a small change that made the evening feel different.
  • While I was doing that, PY was on The Island, finally resolving the electricity meter problem. Wonderful news.
  • I woke up on Friday with what I thought was a cold, which has the additional impact of making my cough worse. I was not very well.
  • But I managed to get out of the house to see The Crazy Coqs sing Celine Dion. And, as I was feeling a bit better and we got 20% off at The American Bar, we had a drink there before heading home.
    I was glad I made the effort – the singers were terrific, and it felt like reclaiming the tail end of the week.

Media

Weeknotes #122: scans, scissors, and second place

Tests, travel, music and cheese

Week commencing Monday, 19 May 2025

This vibrant concert photograph captures the Scissor Sisters performing at The O2 in London on 23rd May, featuring a spectacular stage design dominated by an enormous illuminated scissor prop that towers above the performers. The stage is bathed in dramatic red lighting with atmospheric smoke effects, creating a theatrical backdrop of concert lighting rigs and towering equipment. Band members are positioned across the stage beneath the glowing scissor sculpture, which serves as the centrepiece of their elaborate production design, perfectly embodying the band's signature blend of glam rock theatricality and pop spectacle.
Cut Above the Rest: Scissor Sisters Slice Through London

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 4/7 and Move 7/7. (86%). Morning walks: 1/5 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 0/5. Total steps: 56,823

Life

  • On Monday, I underwent a CT scan related to my cough. It was over quite quickly. I’m not sure how I felt about it. I think I was expecting it to feel like more of a moment, but instead it was just something that happened, and then it didn’t.
  • Relatedly, on Thursday, I had a lung function test. I had no idea I could breathe out for so long. It was their first appointment of the day, and the clinic was locked when I arrived. Eventually, I was let in, and it was all over quickly—if a fifteen-minute wait for a test dose of medication counts as fast. There’s something faintly ridiculous about being coached through deep breathing at 8:30 in the morning.
  • Monday evening was another of our monthly visits to the pub quiz. Ben joined us, so it was a team of five. Inexplicably, we came second, which means there’s a round of drinks next time we go!
  • Mum and Dad arrived on Thursday and visited the Chelsea Flower Show on Friday. I thought they’d be more impressed with the dig garden than they were. So, we took them to a garden centre on Sunday.
  • On Saturday, we took a bus to Wimbledon Village, tried empanadas at the shop on the high street, went for a walk to Wimbledon Common, stopped for a drink at Canizaro House, and bussed home.
  • The cheese came out again, and we had leftover Eurovision cheese fondue and raclette. It was delicious. We’re now in that post-Eurovision phase where leftover cheese becomes its own food group.
  • Friday night was Scissor Sisters at the O2 with PY and Mark. Before the show, the drinks in the O2 Blue Bar were nice, and we had excellent seats. Scissor Sisters were fantastic. I wish I had just a small portion of Jake Shears’s energy.
  • And, just before they are to be taken back into national ownership, SWR announced superfast onboard WiFi—but only as far as Basingstoke (which won’t help my south coast commutes)!
  • The New European: “Inexplicably, energy cooperation – which is essential to the UK’s future economic growth – has attracted barely a tenth of the column inches as has fishing, an industry which employs fewer full-time fishers than there are tattooists in the UK. But any long-term EU deal needed to explore these questions.”

Weeknotes #121: it’s eurovision time

Eurovision fun, successful chilli, sensor woes, and work thoughts.

Week commencing Monday, 12 May 2025

This image shows a festive Eurovision party buffet spread across a dining table covered with red and blue checkered tablecloths. The table is laden with various foods including cheese and charcuterie boards, salads, dips, bread, and Swiss-themed items (with small Swiss flags visible). There are also cupcakes on a tiered stand, wrapped presents, purple decorative elements, and party accessories scattered throughout. The abundant spread suggests a well-prepared celebration with both savoury and sweet options for guests.
Eurovision buffet

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 6/7 and Move 7/7. (95%). Morning walks: 4/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/5. Total steps: 64,365

Life

  • I pay for one of those insurance policies that sends somebody to fix plumbing or electrical issues. I’d booked someone to fix the sensor that turns on the bathroom light. It needed replacing. But now it turns off too quickly, and I don’t think I’m covered for another call-out.
  • Related: it’s not a setting on the sensor.
  • I went to see a consultant about my cough. More tests are booked. It’s getting (slightly) worse. It was a lovely walk up to the hospital.
  • Tuesday and Thursday evenings were Eurovision semi-finals. They were a lot more fun than I remembered and gave me a chance to see the songs before Saturday.
  • Saturday was the Eurovision party. The weather was nice, so people could sit outside if they weren’t that keen on watching. We rigged up multiple speakers.
  • Related: we retrieved the lockdown projector and projected the image onto the kitchen units for those at the end of the room.
  • My slow-cooker bean chilli with vegan cheese was a huge success and very easy to prep in advance.
  • We didn’t get the cocktails in a can out early enough, so most people didn’t know we had them.
  • The winner was Austria with the song Wasted Love, performed by JJ. The Austrian in the room was very happy.
  • Work-related: How can traditional British TV survive the US streaming giants?, and Microsoft is – again – killing an advertising product. I know what it’s like; if I can help anybody affected, contact me.

Media

  • The sixth episode of Doctor Who was watched on catch-up on Sunday. The Interstellar Song Contest featured the Doctor and Belinda attending a futuristic Eurovision-style song contest and a plot to kill trillions of people. Cameos by Rylan Clark and Graham Norton were quite good.

Weeknotes #120: Sunshine on The Island and a new Pope

Sunny long weekend with good food, travel, and relaxation.

Week commencing Monday, 5 May 2025

This image shows a coastal scene at Ryde on the Isle of Wight, featuring a sandy beach with calm blue waters under a partly cloudy sky. Two colourful kites - one teal and one with red, white and blue stripes - are flying above the water, suggesting kitesurfing activity. Several small sailing boats can be seen dotting the horizon, whilst the foreground shows the sandy shoreline. The scene captures a typical day of water sports and leisure activities along this popular stretch of the Solent.
Kites on the beach at Ryde

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 5/7; Exercise 2/7 and Move 4/7. (52%). Morning walks: 0/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/5. Total steps: 38,784

Life

  • A quiet week. White smoke was rising.
  • A lazy bank holiday. We walked into Wimbledon, picked up steaks, and not much else.
  • My local Co-op still has empty shelves after the cyberattack. It’s odd.
  • I skipped our Cinco de Mayo social and spent the evening on a train to Portsmouth Harbour. Glad it ran to time.
  • The ferry to the Island was busy, but fine.
  • We spent most of Saturday in the sunshine with drinks, watching the kite surfers. A proper sunny day.
  • Sunday breakfast at RT Café Grill was delicious. We sat outside and soaked up the weather.

Media

  • Conclave is a Vatican thriller directed by Edward Berger. Ralph Fiennes plays Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, overseeing a secretive 72-hour papal election. Timely, and very enjoyable.
  • The best transport for cities: trams?
  • Doctor Who: The Story and the Engine mixed African folklore with classic Who mythology. I really liked this one.
  • Still loving Race Across the World, this time from Sanya to Shangri-La. As always, beautifully shot.

Weeknotes #119: Draw Me Like One of Your French Musicals

Volunteering celebration, good company, and fun-filled musical weekend.

Week commencing Monday, 28 April 2025

Promotional sign for the musical Titanique at the Criterion Theatre in London's West End. The show, which combines the story of Titanic with Céline Dion's music, is currently running at the Criterion Theatre. The blue sparkly background displays "Enough hits to sink a ship!" in elegant script above "MY HEART WILL GO ON" in bold white lettering, advertising the comedic jukebox musical parody.
Near, Far, Wherever You Are… You Can Hear Céline

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 3/7; Exercise 4/7 and Move 4/7. (52%). Morning walks: 0/4. Office days 1/5. Total steps: 45,714

Life

  • It’s been almost two years since the King’s Coronation. PY and I spent part of the day volunteering as wayfinders for visitors on the South Bank. In January, we were delighted to learn that volunteers had been awarded a Coronation Medal—a longstanding tradition dating back to King Edward VI in 1547. We collected ours on Tuesday.
  • We had a ‘happy path’ discussion at work, aiming to understand the ideal workflow without failures and to facilitate early testing. It’s a concept that always amuses me, and thirty minutes was too short a time to reach a solution.
  • Drinks on Thursday night, where I was (almost) persuaded to apply for an old job, but I think that was just the combination of drinks and good friends.
  • Saturday, to Woking, for a family barbecue, where there was too much fantastic food. Nice to see everybody. Way too stuffed to eat in the evening, but we could catch up on Doctor Who.
  • Sunday, to see Titanique, a jukebox musical blending the story of the Titanic with the music of Céline Dion. It’s a comedic take on the film; Céline Dion is portrayed as having survived the sinking of the Titanic. Enjoyable and much funnier than I expected.

Media

  • In End of the Street Linda Melvern tells how Rupert Murdoch moved his newspapers from Fleet Street to a new, technologically advanced plant in Wapping, bypassing traditional union agreements, triggering a major industrial dispute marked by mass picketing and violent clashes. Ultimately, the move broke the power of the print unions and transformed the British newspaper industry. It’s a story of making a big business change and its brutal consequences.
  • Lucky Day is the fourth episode of the current Dr Who series in which The Doctor and Ruby fight an anti-UNIT conspiracy theory and a campaign of disinformation against them. Set in the current year, bits of it felt too real. The Little Mermaid’s Prince Eric was the villain.

Weeknotes #118: Culture, musicals and cheese

Culture, musicals, cheese and travel made for a joyful week.

Week commencing Monday, 21 April 2025

Several Italian cheeses were displayed at what appeared to be a delicatessen counter with handwritten price labels on small chalkboards. Artisanal Italian cheese display at Lina Stores delicatessen, featuring traditional varieties like Ubriaco, Fontina D.O.P., and Prosecco-aged cheeses with handwritten chalkboard price tags. Located at 18 Brewer Street in the heart of Soho, London, this beloved Italian delicatessen has been trading for 80 years since 1944.
Artisanal Italian cheese display at Lina Stores delicatessen

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 5/7; Exercise 5/7 and Move 5/7. (71%). Office days 1/4. Total steps: 56,504

Life

  • Lovely Monday morning in Shrewsbury, and a train home the long way around because of engineering works. The train from Moor Street was busy, but we secured a seat, and that’s all that is really needed.
  • A not-so-secret leaving drinks happened on Friday night. A colleague is going for the second time, so I didn’t want a big event—delightful time with nice people.
  • Friday, to a small theatre in Lower Marsh to see The Rise and Fall of Vinnie and Paul, a musical based on Paul Gauguin’s turbulent cohabitation with Vincent van Gogh in 1888. Van Gogh’s infamous breakdown and the severing of his ear ended the piece. A truly intimate, small show—really well done.
  • Our Saturday cheese adventure started at Fortnum and Mason and ended in Neal’s Yard. There was much delicious cheese and some fizz.
  • Another new musical on Saturday, Stiletto: set in 18th-century Italy, follows Marco, a castrato singer, and Gioia, a talented black woman, whose love story is challenged by a murder. I learned the non-show meaning of Stiletto as part of this experience. Also, brilliant and deserves wider recognition.
  • To the Actors Church in Covent Garden for Songs I’ll Never Sing, a charity concert featuring West End performers singing songs outside their typical range, in aid of Chicken Shed and The Brain Tumour Charity. Always great singers, but it does feel quite wrong drinking alcohol in a church pew.

Media

  • I started it at the weekend, and by Tuesday I’d finished Careless People, a memoir by Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former New Zealand diplomat who joined Facebook and was there while I was. The book reveals a very different view of the company’s culture than I experienced, but the more I hear about things that happened around that time, I am beginning to think I was very sheltered.