Life updates, gym visit, travel, and media reflections shared.
Week commencing Monday, 7 October 2024
Cocktails
Quantified Self
This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 7/7 and Move 7/7. (100%). Morning walks: 0/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/5. Total steps: 69,521
Life
Warning. This is not a drill. There were mince pies in the shop. I didn’t buy them.
I went to the gym. On a Monday morning. That hasn’t happened for a long time. Don’t come back expecting that to happen again any time soon.
My fridge has turned into a freezer. The person sent to investigate opened the door and said, “It’s the thermostat” and closed the door. The pattern of ice was the giveaway. I am annoyed that somebody was sent to do that when I could have described the problem and, instead of waiting for a repair, they could have brought the parts and fixed it.
Related, apparently it’s a good refrigerator brand that keeps spares for older machines around for years. As I was told, ‘you’ll have no chance if that oven breaks in two years’.
Caught up with a colleague I haven’t worked with for more than 20 years. He’s doing interesting stuff for one of big tech that he can’t talk about. So, we talked about the systems we used to work on. It was way more fun.
Related, Cahoots makes a very spicy Bloody Mary.
I have an occasional visit for something that is simultaneously medically good for me and indulgent pampering. The professional and I have the same shoulder issue. On Friday, I discovered hers is healing faster than mine and I was too embarrassed to ask for the name of her physio.
Saturday, twilight bag drop at Gatwick Airport is a wonderful thing. Sunday, at a ridiculously early hour, I walked into an airport with a small bag and boarded a plane hoping my bags had been safely stored for the night. Spoiler, they had been.
I think Southern Vectis’ bus service on The Isle of Wight is fantastic given the island’s population is around 150,000. 22 new electric buses are on the way and that’s a good thing.
Media
To those who find this note. Brilliant: “I believe that the false columns are a mistake of the architect and that we would live to regret our accepting this detail of his design.” What will I leave for people to find in 30+ years?
Is blogging making a comeback? Did it ever go away? I am reading more and more in blogs (via the excellent NetNewsWire app) than I have done for a long time. Dave Winer’s Scripting News blog was 30 years old this week. And Dave knows exactly when, there was a countdown.
I attended a “lunch and learn” about Kanban. Far too much discussion of WIP. I shouldn’t have joined. See last week’s note. My fault I wasted an hour, not the host’s problem.
For information-based jobs, the working-at-home genie isn’t going back in the bottle. There may well be a temporary rebound as desperate executives try, and some employees do prefer it. I see it in leaders around me who can’t articulate the benefits outside of wavey-hand “better together”. The story of the woman who went back and died, unnoticed, at her desk is an awful indictment of the “collaboration” excuse.
In 1882, the world’s first coal-fired power station was fired up in the UK. On 30th September 2024, 142 years later, our last coal plant shut down.
British Seniors is a life insurance company. They advertise on TV, a lot. I don’t feel senior. It drives me mad.
Thursday, Coriolanus at The National Theatre is superb, but as with all Shakespeare, it takes me a while to get into the flow of the language. The stage text helped.
Dinner with friends on Friday, and also on Saturday, was lovely. The service at the Holborn Dining Room was fantastic.
The BBC has been committed to Local Radio since 1922 when it discovered what an excellent medium it was to celebrate local activities and bring neighbours in the community even closer together.
Last week, I was going through a box of paperwork and discovered a document from BBC Local Radio Publicity, providing some background to what BBC Local Radio was in January 1985. It’s an interesting take on Auntie’s view of its 31 local stations. I thought it might be worth preserving. Here’s the intro, but the full document can be found here.
BBC Local Radio Publicity – Letterhead, January 1985
BACKGROUND TO BBC LOCAL RADIO
The BBC has been committed to Local Radio since 1922 when it discovered what an excellent medium it was to celebrate local activities and bring neighbours in the community even closer together.
Before the war, there were not enough frequencies to go around. Local Radio had to give way to the national networks. But BBC experiments showed that with post-war technology, local radio was viable once more – and the BBC has been pressing for its development ever since.
The first station, BBC Radio Leicester, opened in 1967. Today there are 31 BBC Local Radio stations in England and the Channel Islands. There will be further editorial coverage in areas including Essex (opening in 1986), Suffolk, Warwickshire, Thames Valley, Surrey, Gloucestershire, Hereford and Worcester, Wiltshire, and Dorset.
THE STRENGTH OF BBC LOCAL RADIO
BBC Local Radio is in the front line of reporting. It broadcasts its own local stories, examines issues behind the headlines, and supplies news to BBC central newsrooms.
On an average day in January, BBC Local Radio provided 25 news stories for the BBC’s national networks. These were broadcast in 35 news summaries. In addition, 10 interviews were heard on the main news bulletins of Radio 2 and Radio 4.
The importance of BBC Local Radio news gathering has been re-emphasised during the miners’ strike when BBC Local Radio journalists fed national networks with live reports from the picket lines.
BBC Local Radio was at its best during the recent arctic conditions, said Sir Michael Barton, Controller of Local Radio. “Both television and national radio networks were advising people to tune to their BBC Local Radio stations for the latest news, which was being collated on special Snowline services.”
BBC Radio Kent, for example, broadcast information round-the-clock for several days, while BBC Radio Sussex put out a special plea for four-wheel-drive vehicles to help the WRVS reach the elderly.
BBC Radio Solent extended its broadcasting hours, while BBC Radio Devon extended its boundaries to cover West Dorset, and “split” its medium wave transmitter to give an exclusive information service to North Devon and South Devon people. BBC Radio Cornwall also extended its broadcasting hours and offered an information service.
BBC Radio WM (West Midlands) ‘Helpline Service’ for the elderly was hailed as a “lifesaver” by Birmingham’s Social Services Committee chairman Theresa Stewart: “It would be no exaggeration to say that without Radio WM’s service, some people would have died.”
In the Channel Islands, BBC Radio Guernsey and BBC Radio Jersey kept broadcasting all day as the islands’ only communication service.
WHY IS BBC LOCAL RADIO SPECIAL?
It is special because it gives listeners what they want – a speech-based information and entertainment service. BBC Local Radio is an integral part of community life – an adviser and job finder, and a lifeline in emergencies.
The document ends with a section about all the BBC “names” that had worked for BBC local radio. It’s a who’s who of its time.
BBC LOCAL RADIO – THE STARMAKERS
The chances are that when you see the television news, whether BBC or ITV, at least one of the newsreaders will have started their broadcasting career in BBC Local Radio. Many of the sports reporters on Radio 2, and Grandstand presenter Desmond Lynam, began covering the town sports.
Michael Barton said that BBC Local Radio was the vital High Street presence of the BBC around the country. And he added: “It is encouraging to see our staff moving on into other areas of the BBC where their Local Radio experience is proving so valuable to them.”
Michael Buerk and Kate Adie, two of BBC Television’s most travelled reporters, began their BBC careers in Local Radio, as did Jenni Murray, now a presenter on BBC-2’s Newsnight.
Libby Purves — the presenter of Midweek on Radio 4 — cut her radio teeth with BBC Radio Oxford when she was a university student. Her husband Paul Heiney — In at the Deep End and You and Yours — made his radio debut on BBC Radio Humberside.
In addition to Desmond Lynam, who started broadcasting with BBC Radio Brighton (now Sussex), John Motson was a Saturday football reporter with BBC Radio Sheffield, Mike Ingham (BBC Radio Derby), Gary Richardson and Tony Adamson (BBC Radio Oxford), Ian Darke (BBC Radio Leicester), Eddie Hemmings (BBC Radio Merseyside), while their boss, Pat Ewing — Head of Sport and Outside Broadcasts, Radio — began her career at Carlisle, now BBC Radio Cumbria.
Sandra Chalmers, Editor of Woman’s Hour, was manager of BBC Radio Stoke-on-Trent, and radio disc jockeys Janice Long (BBC Radio Merseyside), Bruno Brookes (BBC Radio Stoke-on-Trent), Peter Powell (BBC Radio Birmingham, now Radio WM), and Adrian Juste (BBC Radio Leicester) all started wowing the BBC Local Radio listeners before they earned their place on Radio 1.
Richard Skinner, Radio 1 DJ and a presenter of Whistle Test on BBC Television, was a station assistant at BBC Radio Solent. Nicholas Witchell, co-presenter of The Six O’Clock News on BBC Television, was a news trainee with BBC Radio Merseyside, and Philip Hayton, whose reports are seen from the farthest-flung parts of the world, was a producer with BBC Radio Leeds.
Many of the regional television presenters began their careers with BBC Local Radio stations, as did countless producers, on both radio and television in the BBC and commercial networks.
A productive week filled with events, reflections, and engaging media.
Week commencing Monday, 23 September 2024
Pub with a sea view
Quantified Self
This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 7/7 and Move 7/7. (100%). Morning walks: 0/3 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 2/5. Total steps: 66,251
Life
I could write about train delays and missed connections, but I won’t. Except to say it happened Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Although I also made the last train home on two of those days.
In the office for two days this week. Tuesday was a divisional ‘All Hands’, and there were sponsored drinks afterwards, which was nice. The later drinks started to border on discussions about agile development practices. I’ll admit I was part of it and shouldn’t have been (see below).
Thursday, there was a small team ‘All Hands’ followed by a leaving do. It was emotional at times.
Friday, a carpet was fitted. I saw it when I arrived in the evening. It’s very nice underfoot. We had more fish and chips.
Saturday involved a rail replacement service where we were the only ones on board, a nice walk, and lunch in a pub with a sea view.
Sunday was almost identical, but the pub and sea views were different, and the bus was the regular service bus (winter timetable starts today).
Originally recorded about the time of the election, Gus O’Donnell, the former Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, spoke to The Rest Is Politics. Worth a listen to understand the transfer of power is as much about moving furniture as politics.
Getting close to completing Celebrity Race Across the World, and at the end of the penultimate episode, it feels a bit set-up.
There’s a feature on my phone that tests to make sure I am using the most appropriate silicon tips for my ears. Turns out, I should be using a different-sized one in my right ear. I think the fit is better and the sound improved. Impressive technology.
Monday: Dinner with former – and current – colleagues. Everybody is doing well.
Open House volunteer party was a lovely event, and I met nice people. We had a Street Burger afterwards, which was better value than expected.
Some social drinks were cancelled, but I made up for it by staying at the post-work drinks longer than I planned. The first day I did not complete my exercise goals in over a month.
Related, after a long night out, a delicious kebab delivery arrived, satisfying my midnight cravings.
To Kingston and back in under an hour. The new watch is nice.
Left early to make the 7:20 pm ferry, but it was cancelled. Took the also delayed car ferry, which turned out to be nice.
The weekend company, location, and hot tub were lovely. The Fish & Chips with a sea view was wonderful. The BBQ was delicious. The sausages were spicier than suggested, and Sunday’s carvery contained a lot of food.
Media
The last episode set Dead Boy Detectives up for a series that isn’t coming. It wasn’t aimed at my demographic, but I enjoyed it and thought it was original.
Full Disclosure hired an actor to voice The Secret Barrister – it was an excellent episode.
I also heard the episode with the Labour MP for Rhondda, Chris Bryant, which is all worth a listen.
Enjoyed art, fitness, and reflections with positive experiences
Week commencing Monday, 9 September 2024
Superflat by Japanese contemporary artist, Takashi Murakami
Quantified Self
This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 7/7 and Move 7/7. (100%). Morning walks: 3/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/5. Plant diversity: 30. Total steps: 67,509
Life
We were fourth in the quiz this week. I was frustrated when “tin” correctly answered the question about periodic elements not containing letters in the word “mackerel,” and I only realised this after we had submitted our answers.
Tuesday promised an hour of free electricity for consumption above our average for the time of day. I plugged everything I could think of into a power source. I am not sure how to tell if anything was free.
Trying to work out if my over-ear headphones need refurbishment. I’ve been testing them. It’s an odd experience working in the house with music right in my ears rather than from a speaker behind me as I couldn’t hear anything else (including message alerts from my computer and the doorbell – I only knew somebody was at the door because my phone popped up a message from the bell).
Wednesday: the hotel refunded the money for the power cut night. Hoorah.
A miscount at my Tai Chi class suggested next week it’s 13 weeks to Christmas. A miscalculation (it’s 14). I am not sure either count is what we want to hear.
I credit my Apple Watch with motivation for exercise. Check out the last few weeks’ Quantified Self. So, I went all in for the new one that was announced on Monday. Did I fall for some Apple spin?
Roger French’s These closures need closure highlights recent issues with The Island Line. Without a regular service, passengers will surely move to buses and it would be sad to see this line close.
Birthday evening: Moco Museum London for some impressive modern art, and then Six By Nico for the Tokyo menu. The food was wonderful.
Eventful week with travel challenges, sports highlights, and impressive sights.
Week commencing Monday, 2 September 2024
Paralympics Paris 2024, Paris South Arena
Quantified Self
This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 7/7 and Move 7/7. 100%). Morning walks: 0/3 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/4. Total steps: 81,490
Life
I was going to put Mum & Dad on the train at Raynes Park. Glad I stayed with them as delays (into Clapham) and a removed stop (Vauxhall) necessitated agile planning. They had to cope with additional cancellations at Birmingham.
Then on Friday, my train had to run slowly to Guildford and, therefore, a missed connection. Really frustrating. What’s happening to our railways? A refund claim was submitted.
Monday night at the hotel. Total power blackout. We were shown to our room by the light of somebody’s phone. Not sure we should have checked in. The lights startled us when electricity was restored. And then the TV came on, seemingly at full blast, at 2am.
Tuesday, early Eurostar start for a day at Paris 2024 Paralympics: GB lost in the Boccia, France lost in the goalball, and Israel won, GB won (twice) in the table tennis. So much to see and so much existing sport.
Related, we saw the Paralympic flame in the balloon-cauldron from behind the barriers, in the rain, before they had raised it to the sky for the day. And it was still very impressive.
Relatedly, sometimes I felt there was too much “where did it go wrong” when we just won a silver medal.
Wednesday night, the pub had a branded lager. Thursday night, a different pub was noisy, so we sat outside in the rain. What did the table next to us really buy, if it wasn’t the rose they later gave us and we, in turn, passed along the tables?
Saturday, Galeón Andalucía was docked in Cowes. It’s very impressive close up, but we didn’t pay to see inside. Inspired sail past with the Pirates of the Caribbean theme.
Sunday it rained and thunder was predicted. When we got to the top of the Spinnaker Tower, the skies turned blue and we watched the boat traffic on The Solent while having a wonderful afternoon tea. Recommended.
Media
It was all Paralympic sport this week. I think I am going to miss watching sport on television. Who am I?
A week filled with summer moments and enjoyable experiences.
Week commencing Monday, 26 August 2024
Ryde Illuminated Carnival 2024
Quantified Self
This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 7/7 and Move 7/7. (100%). Morning walks: 1/3 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/3. Plant diversity: 42. Total steps: 70,180
Life
Hello, September. Let’s have a little more summer, please.
Last week I omitted the scooter rally from my weeknotes. It was impressive and a reminder of why modern engines are much better for air quality.
Bank holiday Monday by the beach was lovely. I observed that low tide was very low.
Former Met Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu: “So I like to call it bullying being the disease and the isms being the symptoms. And I noticed that whenever I’m in an audience, you know, women, black, brown, women, the disabled, the neurodiverse, LGBTQ+, anyone who’s in the audience who’s of difference will just be nodding furiously because our outcomes are all the same. Our journey is quite different, but our outcomes are the same.”
Wall-to-wall Paralympics coverage is a recent phenomenon, unheard of in many places until recently. Thank goodness we have Channel 4. I’m as addicted to this medal table as I was to the Olympics.
Tuesday, to the theatre for Why Am I So Single, the new musical from the creators of Six. In its current form, it’s too long. I bet this will be addressed before the official opening night.
Thursday, Holland Garden is a lovely, tranquil place for people to spend an afternoon.
Friday, picked up the train tickets for the weekend and realised I’d missed one railcard off the booking, so had overpaid. I get annoyed at myself for things like that.
Saturday, Ryde Illuminated Carnival was as wonderful as its Shanklin sibling. The classic buses from the museum a nice addition.
Related, of course, we ordered the Secreto Ibérico and Berenjenas Fritas, as they were our favourites from last time.
The café queue at Quarr Abbey moves slowly. But the place is another tranquil spot and perhaps the queue shouldn’t move all that quickly.
Wednesday, Paralympics opening ceremony: enjoyable, even if it didn’t feel as energy-packed as I would hope an opening ceremony would.
Thursday and Friday, Test Match Special: unexpectedly good company that I tuned into because Mum and Dad were at Lord’s for the first day. I gather England had quite a good day. Joe Root was the standout, scoring 143 runs. At least one reference to cake.
I finished Tracker, the Disney Plus series I mentioned last week. Wondering if the new season will be shown here.
This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 7/7 and Move 7/7. (100%). Morning walks: 4/5. Office days 0/5. Plant diversity: 53. Total steps: 80,235
Life
Monday, going to the theatre, I learned Operation Mincemeat was a successful British deception operation during World War II, aimed at misleading the Germans about the Allied invasion of Sicily. I only scored 3 out of 9 in the pre-show quiz because I knew none of this before.
Related, the story of the operation was adapted into the musical we saw, combining history and satire, and winning awards for its blend of comedy and drama. I thoroughly enjoyed (and recommend) it. There’s a ticket ballot getting you reasonably priced show if you look.
Tuesday, I restarted my morning walks (see quantified self, above) and I went to the gym. Why does it always seem they are rebuilding it? Bets on how long this will last?
Thursday, I expected the injection to be more painful; instead, it was more of an ache than a pain. It was not comfortable, but I was tense for more pain than came.
I wish there was audio for this. I let Siri read it to me instead. Ros Atkins, The UK TV Industry in 2024: Globalisation, digital advertising, and technological advancements are reshaping UK television while public service broadcasters face challenges maintaining their cultural relevance and visibility.
Media
Finished The Jetty. At one point, I thought the ending would be pretty unsatisfying, but while not where I imagined it going, it was very well done.
Engaged in social activities, theatre, and enjoyable media moments.
Week commencing Monday, 12 August 2024
The only surviving one mentioning Kingsway
Quantified Self
This week: Stand 6/7; Exercise 4/7 and Move 5/7. (71%). Morning walks: 0/5 (days in the office don’t count). Plant diversity: 45. Total steps: 57,194
Life
Excellent internal presentation on the history of software. Shame I can’t share any of it.
Wednesday, really? We all jump now that management ask questions when I have been asking for weeks? This is how it works. But it shouldn’t be.
Wednesday, I learned that there is an optimal temperature to give blood, meaning the current hot spell requires the blood service to rent large cooling units at my local donation centre.
Thursday morning, I fear I came across as annoyed in a meeting where the team didn’t appreciate I was trying to protect them.
Drinks with old friends on Thursday. Always the best.
Saturday night, Next to Normal is a rock musical that explores the struggles of a suburban family dealing with mental illness. Not the usual West End musical jolly, but sensitively done.
Pre-theatre dinner was at Mildreds: I was determined not to have anything faking something traditionally meat-based. That ruled out the burgers and anything with their “chick+n” in it. Grilled Roman artichoke & hemp Caesar salad was wonderful.
Sunday morning, up and out for a 10 am Hidden London tour of Holborn station, where two platforms from the former Strand (Aldwych) branch line are unused and hidden from day-to-day operations.
Finally, bye-bye London’s Kiss 100. Back when we did silly things, my work email inbox played the jingle “1 Kiss will make it better”. It drove people mad.
Media
Home alone for a couple of nights. I could have watched anything. So I watched Death In Paradise. I enjoyed it.
Holborn is the only London Underground station with two hidden closed platforms, unnoticed by passing travelers.
Branch line to Aldwych
In 2015, we embarked on our first ‘Hidden London’ tour, exploring the former Jubilee Line platforms at Charing Cross. It was fascinating to see these platforms, now hidden from public use, preserved in a time warp. It felt surreal to stand just beyond a ventilation grille, watching passengers and trains in the active station while feeling both like a spy and an archaeologist. The knowledgeable guides, who shared the rich history of London’s underground, made the experience even more engaging.
Since then, we’ve followed up with tours of other disused stations, such as Aldwych and Down Street, as well as behind-the-scenes visits to LU headquarters at 55 Broadway and unused parts of stations like Euston, Piccadilly Circus, Moorgate, Highgate, and Shepherd’s Bush. During the lockdown, we even took a virtual tour of the former tram tunnels under Kingsway.
During one of these tours, we learned that, at the end of the nineteenth century, London County Council initiated a redevelopment scheme in the Aldwych and Kingsway areas. This project aimed to clear slums, stimulate development, and create broad boulevards, which ultimately led to significant changes in the area. As part of this redevelopment, the Great Northern Railway management extended their planned railway to the Strand, naming it the Great Northern & Strand Railway. However, construction was delayed due to insufficient funds. When the plans finally materialised, Holborn station opened on 15 December 1906 on the Great Northern, Piccadilly, and Brompton Railway. The extension to the Strand came later and was eventually constructed as a branch line rather than a terminating station on what is now known as the Piccadilly Line.
Earlier this year, the London Transport Museum advertised a Hidden London tour of Holborn station, and I eagerly signed up. Today, we met a group of fellow enthusiasts around 10 am outside the station. It seemed everyone in our group had previously been on one of the ‘Hidden’ tours.
During the Aldwych tour, we learned that the branch line closed on 30 September 1994 due to the estimated £7 million upgrade costs, which would have supported just 450 trips a day. As the system was considered to be in managed decline, the expense couldn’t be justified. This closure left two platforms unused, and we had the opportunity to explore them.
Pre-war Wayfinding on the Piccadilly Line
One of the platforms remains recognisable, featuring the sole remaining ‘Holborn (Kingsway)’ roundel attached to the wall. Like other disused platforms we’ve visited, it occasionally serves as a mock-up for experimental equipment and signage. After its closure, it was also used as a filming location, notably for the music video of the 80s classic “New Song” by Howard Jones.
We also learned about an experiment involving water pipes to cool the underground and saw test signage showing a ‘St Paul’s’ platform edge sign above the familiar Holborn roundel. Pre-war Piccadilly Line wayfinding signs were also on display, and we peered down the still-lit line to Aldwych. Sadly, the station’s ‘bird’s nest’ control room, once used for early CCTV tests, is no longer there.
The rooms here were added when the platform closed
The other platform had closed much earlier, as the branch line was underused from the start. Through a flood defence door installed during the war, we saw the crossover lines where trains could be directed down one of two tunnels towards the Strand. Much of this platform had been filled in, and one of the tunnels was repurposed as wartime art storage and never returned to service. The filled-in track bed was used as accommodation and shelter during the Blitz but is now a concrete walkway. A corridor of rooms, once used as a cloakroom and later by a model railway group, remains empty and unused. It’s always fascinating to see how much under-utilised space lies beneath London.
As I wandered through these hidden spaces, I couldn’t help but wonder if a branch line from Strand might have gained popularity as tube usage surged in the current millennium. Could it have been viable with an extension beyond Strand to Waterloo and the south?
There are still unfunded plans for station improvements and a new entrance to ease congestion. Of course, the station has seen upgrades before. It was connected to the Central Line on 25 September 1933, the day after the British Museum station closed. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely there will be a Hidden London tour of that station, as the above-ground facilities have apparently been demolished.
A week of carnival culture, sport, and mindful Tai Chi practice.
Week commencing Monday, 5 August 2024
Songs, carnival and a hat parade
Quantified Self
This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 5/7 and Move 5/7. (81%). Morning walks: 0/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/5. Plant diversity: 40. Total steps: 52,988
I don’t think I’ve watched so much sport since 2012. The Olympics really is the tapas of sport. This week: sport climbing, kayak cross, and breaking.
There was more sanding and varnishing of doors. Unfortunately, some of the wood had rotted and required wood filler. It’ll take several coats to get the colours to match.
It was a warm Wednesday evening for Tai Chi, although we practised inside. The group was a bit smaller, probably due to the holidays, so we focused on ‘harmony’ as a single group—it was quite an interesting exercise and really focused my mind. When I go, I find it very relaxing.
To Ryde. Really nice to see the transport interchange work is complete. Not so great to read that the bus shelters are already due for replacement due to seating issues, and the bus station road has had to be resurfaced due to damage.
A nice discovery while we were there: the Tapas place is excellent.
Saturday night was Shanklin carnival: A fire engine led the parade into town, and then all sorts of groups contributed floats. There was a marching band and, towards the end, a fantastic group of drummers. A Chitty Chitty Bang Bang float seems to be Shanklin’s official 2024 carnival float. There was everything from an Olde Tea Shop to a smoke-breathing dragon, in front of which a group were dancing to a mix of music including songs from Steps followed by The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Enjoyed warm days, a local walk, and a barbecue with family.
Week commencing Monday, 29 July 2024
This week in pictures
Quantified Self
This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 5/7 and Move 6/7. (86%). Morning walks: 0/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/5. Plant diversity: 41. Total steps: 48,826
Life
It’s warm and muggy. Working from home means I can wear shorts. I do not approve of them as workwear.
Monday, a two-handed play at The Criterion: Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York. Dougal, a naive Brit, arrives in New York for his estranged father’s wedding and meets Robin, the busy, unenthusiastic sister of the bride. With songs! It was very well done but I thought Dougal was a bit bland.
Thursday, Bruce Willis is not bland in the not-really-a-Christmas-movie, Die Hard. I’d never seen it and the opportunity arose to see it at TT Cinema, which specialises in cocktails and cult classic cinema. When collecting our cocktail, other customers expressed shock that I hadn’t seen it. It holds up well.
Nice to be back on a local walk on Friday night. We decided a walk around the Cannon Hill Common would be good, just like we used to during the lockdown months. Lovely.
Family round for a barbecue on Saturday. A lovely afternoon with delicious barbecue food and plenty of drinks. Nothing burnt. The barbecue chicken kebabs turned out to need an oven and not a grill, which was surprising given the name.
We began sanding and varnishing the doors on the back of the house. We should have gotten out the varnish last year, as parts of the doors need significant attention. Nonetheless, we sanded one door and applied a couple of coats. In hindsight, it was a pretty quick process, and we should have done all the sanding at once.
Media
Lots of Olympics watching. I am continually watching the medal table.
The Jetty, a BBC drama one of PY’s colleagues recommended. For most of the episode, it was just OK, and I wondered why it was highly regarded. The twist at the end had us hooked, though it was too late to binge the remaining episodes.
This week: Stand 6/7; Exercise 6/7 and Move 6/7. (86%. Morning walks: 0/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/5. Plant diversity: 35. Total steps: 56,048
Life
The pub quiz is getting better. We were joint fifth, but with just two more points—if we’d been less gung-ho in the wipeout round—we’d have been second.
The Art of Banksy, a gallery on Charing Cross Road, is really good. We went when it was quiet, and you could spend plenty of time looking at the work. There’s a lot of social commentary in those pictures—what will people of the future think of us?
When we got home, PY randomly looked at Paris 2024 Paralympic tickets for a date in September. Now we have a Eurostar booked and a day off work.
On Friday, we went to the Love Motion festival at Crystal Palace to see Grace Jones, who was brilliant as always. There were delays getting in, and Róisín Murphy cancelled, so we mainly sat for four hours listening to DJs before the main act. Luckily, we were early into the venue and grabbed a seat for much of the waiting time.
Related, we didn’t get to see the Olympic opening ceremony. I thought we would catch up at some point. We haven’t so far.
I was up early on Saturday for a surprise trip for Dad’s birthday. Although the restaurant hadn’t recorded our booking, they made it work. A nice barbecue in the evening involved a croquet game with my niece. The 7-year-old beat me.
On the train home, I finished reading Politics On the Edge by Rory Stewart. I’d recommend it, but it’s a bit of an indictment of the British political machine..
A week of journeys, tech challenges, and interesting new discoveries.
Week commencing Monday, 15 July 2024
Hammersmith Bridge
Quantified Self
This week: Stand 6/7; Exercise 2/7 and Move 5/7. (62%). Morning walks: 0/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/5. Total steps: 44,085
Life
Bringing back a pungent Subway sandwich to Raynes Park on a table-less train wasn’t the most enjoyable experience!
On Saturday, we went to the Riverside Studios Bar & Kitchen for dinner before E’s birthday celebration at a nearby pub. The lack of the Underground to Hammersmith delayed us because we took the replacement bus service. We found a smarter route home.
On Sunday, we had a nice walk around Wimbledon and stopped at a health food shop for things I never knew existed.
The barbecue came out of the box for the summer. Lovely. When it’s just the two of us, we often decide to grill in the kitchen and eat outside. So, today, we agreed we’d do it properly and use the barbecue to grill some burgers that were the freezer.
The rest of the week wasn’t eventful except for my Wi-Fi, which was causing issues. I bought another range extender to create a better mesh, but I am convinced something else is happening because it’s intermittent. I did confirm that the speed to the router is good; the drop-off is frustrating.
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We’re back in Bridgerton mode this week. Although we’re on series two, we’re powering through them.
