Category: Miscellany 2025

Counting From the Start

Count from when love began—not when papers were signed

A collage showing portions of two anniversary cards side by side. The left card has a mustard yellow background with white text reading "Happy Anniversary" and a decorative heart pattern border. The right card has a dark purple background with pink flowers, white hearts, text reading "To a special couple on your Anniversary", and an illustration of two champagne glasses with raspberries and bubbles.
Two anniversary cards demonstrating the greeting card industry’s unwavering commitment to hearts, flowers, and champagne!

Yesterday, I uploaded a picture of my anniversary dinner to Blipfoto. It was lovely, and looking back, I often have recorded the date on one of my sites. I think a post at twelve years might have been the first time it’s mentioned here.

But when do you start counting? PY and I go right back to the beginning, because when we met, there was no possibility of marriage. We still get lovely anniversary cards celebrating a different date (albeit yesterday) because that’s when we had a partnership.

The option of marriage came many years later, and by then, we were already counting, so we weren’t going to go backwards. But given the amount of time people live together before marriage these days, even those who have always been able to have a ceremony, I wondered if there was any data on the trend. So I had a quick look to see where Google may point me.

The Office for National Statistics suggests that over the past 30 years, British couples have waited increasingly longer before marrying. In the early 1990s, many couples wed within a couple of years of meeting, often without living together first; only about 60% cohabited before marriage in 1994. Today, over 90% of couples cohabit before marrying, and surveys show the average relationship lasts around 4.9 years before the wedding.

According to some analysis of ‘partnership cohorts’ that I read, in the 1980s, over half of cohabiting couples married within five years, compared with just one-third in the 2000s. Same-sex couples, who gained marriage rights in 2014, often had especially long pre-marriage relationships, with 43% together 4–7 years and 34% together 1–3 years before marrying.

I found an article on brides.com which summed up the very modern problem of which date, “Deciding which anniversaries to celebrate as the years go on is very partner/marriage specific”.

So, the trend is rising marriage ages and the normalisation of long-term cohabitation. In that case, the date of any ‘anniversary’ that may be celebrated is likely to change to reflect better how long people have been together. In the end, I guess an anniversary should be what the couple define it to be – a personal milestone worthy of a big celebration or a quiet meal in Soho. Perhaps, PY and I are right. It’s when you met, not when you signed the paper.

A New Identity

UK’s digital ID revival rekindles old doubts about trust, privacy, and control.

A close-up photograph of a worn card showing the UK Passport Service logo in red with an arrow, text reading "An Executive Agency of the Home Office", a gold EMV chip, and the words "Demonstration Card" and "Reference Number:" printed below
A relic from the UK’s 2004 biometric identity card trial – an official demonstration card complete with chip that served no purpose beyond showing what the future might have looked like, had it ever arrived.

Back in 2003, I wavered. The government wanted us to carry ID cards; I wasn’t convinced, but I wasn’t completely against them either. My main worries were privacy and the lack of proper debate. It felt like something too important to be slipped through quietly. I did take part in a 2004 Passport Service trial of biometrics, which I imagine paved the way for the biometric border controls we have today. But, they did give you a little identity card: it couldn’t be used for anything, but it might have been the start of something.

Now, more than twenty years later, here we go again — but this time it’s not a plastic card in your wallet, it’s a digital identity on your phone. The sales pitch is familiar: security, fraud prevention, migration control, efficiency. The packaging has changed — “digital wallet,” “verification services,” even the cheerfully tabloid nickname “BritCard” — but the underlying tension is the same. How much do we give the state in return for the promise of convenience and safety?

I can’t help but notice the parallels. In 2006, the Identity Cards Act reached Royal Assent, yet the scheme collapsed under its own weight: too expensive, too intrusive, too unloved. Today’s plan is billed as leaner and smarter: no centralised biometric database (at least not yet), a free app instead of a paid-for card, targeted use cases like “Right to Work” checks rather than a universal compulsion. Progress, of sorts.

But the old worries remain. Function creep is the classic risk: once the technology is there, the temptation to expand it will be irresistible. And for those excluded — the people without smartphones, the ones who struggle with digital bureaucracy — “alternatives” often mean long queues and clunky paper processes.

That temptation to expand is not theoretical. We’ve seen how governments argue for back doors into encrypted messaging or demand that companies like Apple weaken their security “for national security reasons.” If a digital identity scheme exists, the same logic applies: today it’s Right to Work checks, tomorrow it could be banking, housing, or even access to encrypted communications themselves. The concern isn’t just about convenience or cost; it’s about whether a tool created in the name of efficiency slowly becomes a lever of control.

We don’t even need to speculate to see how this plays out. In Spain, where the FNMT digital certificate has become the de facto way of dealing with the state, the risks are clear enough. Citizens have been tricked by phishing emails promising their certificate was “ready” — only to deliver a Trojan instead. Trust has also been shaken when FNMT itself let key certificates expire, triggering browser warnings on its own official pages. A system sold as frictionless, in practice, adds its own layers of risk and dependency — and once embedded, it’s very hard to opt out.

So, two decades on, has my thinking shifted? Maybe only slightly. The technology is better, and in theory the safeguards stronger, but my scepticism hasn’t gone away. If anything, the experience of the last twenty years — hacks, leaks, surveillance scandals — makes me more cautious. A shiny app doesn’t change the fundamental question: do we trust the state with the keys to our identity? Or are we just being asked to trade the old plastic for a sleeker way of showing our papers at the digital border?

Still, at least if it all goes wrong, we won’t have to cut up a plastic card — we’ll just delete an app and hope the database forgets us too.

Weeknotes #140: from deadlines to finish lines

Festive anticipation, teamwork, laughter, family meals, and rewarding volunteering moments.

Week commencing Monday, 22 September 2025

Collection of Vitality 10,000 finisher medals with red and black lanyards displaying '2025' and event branding, arranged in a radiating pattern on the fence awaiting distribution to race participants
Finisher medals await their well-earned recipients at the 2025 Vitality 10,000 in London.

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 6/7; Exercise 2/7 and Move 6/7. (66%). Morning walks: 0/3 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 2/5. Total steps: 43,109

Life

  • Back to work was hard on Monday, but I managed to get through it and am back to making progress with some big initiatives.
  • Related, I am counting down to Christmas. It’s the fun 100 days.
  • Good news: British Airways have already confirmed they are paying out for both the lost baggage and the flight. I wrote-up the second-week of the holiday. It was probably all in last week’s notes, so you might not need to go and read the new words.
  • Thursday: “Fancy a quick drink after work?” turned into a mini product team evening—and maybe one too many. A good night after all.
  • Friday dinner in Woking with family was from the nearby Lebanese restaurant. What appeared not to be enough food turned out to be too much.
  • Caterina’s birthday drinks were in The Crosse Keys in the City. The cavernous ex-banking hall turned Wetherspoons was a very impressive space. Lots of prosecco made for a lovely afternoon.
  • Sunday, we were volunteering at the Vitality London 10,000 run. We gave finishers their medals. A lot of ribbon and metal needed unpacking from boxes, separating and stacking even before the first runners commenced. Some of those who had opted out of medals were not happy when they couldn’t receive one, but they can apply afterwards—and there were spares. Much fun congratulating people who’d finished.

Media

Weeknotes #139: missed views, found falls

Adventures, airports, waterfalls, and re-entry — travel tales beautifully grounded.

Week commencing Monday, 15 September 2025

Tour boat full of tourists wearing orange life jackets approaches the base of Iguazu Falls, with massive waterfalls cascading over tiered basalt cliffs surrounded by lush green vegetation and mist rising from the churning water below
Tourists aboard a boat excursion approach the thundering cascades of Iguazu Falls on the Argentina-Brazil border, where getting soaked is not just likely—it’s the entire point.

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 6/7; Exercise 4/7 and Move 6/7. (76 %). Total steps: 77,891

Life

  • The week started back in a Patagonian national park with a hike up for a view that was lost in the clouds. The other English speaker on the bus didn’t seem that interested in the tour.
  • In the evening, I ate my steak while one of the local strays laid his head on my lap for as long as the steak was on my plate. As soon as it was gone, he lost interest. Nobody seemed concerned. Can you imagine the health-and-safety implications in the UK?
  • Tuesday was a fly day: fly back to Buenos Aires but don’t leave the airport before taking off again bound for Iguazú. The views from El Calafate Airport were great. In Buenos Aires the lounge was packed, and it was dark by the time we landed in the north.
  • PY’s ‘bucket list’ used to include a trip to see the Iguazú Falls. It’s not on the list anymore as we crossed it off on Wednesday.
  • So much to say about the majesty of the falls: panoramics from Brazil, close-up encounters in Argentina. The boat ride, or ‘Grand Adventure’, was stunning, and you really appreciate the power of the cascades.
  • My diary entry for Thursday’s return to Buenos Aires is entitled Three countries, two beers, one perfect pizza. The Tripoint is very impressive, the restaurant with the river views was a find I wish we’d made a day earlier, and the pizza experience at Pizzería Güerrín on Corrientes Avenue seemed authentic.
  • Friday was a return flight. Iberia seats were more exposed to the aisle so I didn’t sleep well. Or maybe it was the hours of turbulence that kept me awake. I was very ready for the landing.
  • Related, on Saturday morning we were almost first in the lounge and first in the shower queue. I had a little bottle of plane wine on the last leg of the holiday back to London, even though it was only 10 a.m. It felt like yesterday.
  • Sunday brought a gentle re-entry to London life. In a bid to keep busy, we decided to visit the This is Oxford Street event, where the street was closed to traffic and given over to music, food, fashion pop-ups, and other entertainment — a glimpse of what full pedestrianisation might mean.
  • Related, if this is what it means, it’ll be a bonanza for the retailers: the place was packed.

Media

  • I finished The Janson Directive and can confirm that it was meaty enough that the other books were unnecessary baggage.

Weeknotes #138: nothing lost but my heart

Lost luggage, perfect steaks, tango nights, glaciers, and joyful discovery.

Week commencing Monday, 8 September 2025

Large living sculpture spelling 'BA' covered in dense green vegetation and plants, with person - the author - standing between letters in Buenos Aires city centre, buildings and blue sky in the background.
Proof that Buenos Aires is literally growing on you.

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 6/7 and Move 7/7. (96%). Holiday time. Total steps: 105,183

Life

  • We’d done twilight check-in. We woke at 3 am. All was on plan until the email explained our first flight (to Madrid) was cancelled and everything had to be changed. We opted not to go back home, but spending an entire day at Heathrow was harder than I expected, even with lounge access.
  • Related, I imagine if I were in corporate espionage, I’d sit in the BA lounge listening to all the calls.
  • The flight stopped in Rio, where most of the passengers disembarked, while only a few continued. Somebody had left duty-free items in the overhead locker above me, and they had to be removed before we could depart.
  • At baggage collection, it soon became clear that I wasn’t going to get a suitcase. I was remarkably calm. They were remarkably good at getting it to me.
  • Day one: after clothes shopping, dinner was Parrilla Don Julio, a steak restaurant ranked number 10 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2024. It’s obvious why. This will not be a meat-free holiday.
  • On day two, even though we’d just arrived, we crossed the Río de la Plata to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay. Easy to travel. Beautiful old town.
  • Thursday: a tourist bus ticket took us to La Boca, specifically El Caminito, the little street that has become one of Buenos Aires’s most distinctive sights. The corrugated-iron houses, splashed in bright reds, yellows and blues, felt like they had been painted to lift the mood of anyone passing by.
  • Dinner was a tango show at La Ventana — powerful, elegant dancers paired with live musicians, singers and even bursts of Argentine folk. We were surprised by the Don’t Cry for Me Argentina portions, having been told the country didn’t really take Andrew Lloyd Webber’s interpretation of its history to heart.
  • Birthday Friday was a lot of great things, but the chef’s counter at Fogón Asado — a twist on Argentina’s traditional barbecue, with about ten guests seated around the open fire as each cut of meat is prepared in front of us — was a real highlight treat. It’s very up close and personal with the chef and the sommelier. Luckily, they were both lovely.
  • Saturday: a flight south where my luggage kept pace with me. It wasn’t beef here; it was lamb.
  • The week ended with Los Glaciares National Park in Argentinian Patagonia. Stunning.
  • If travel teaches anything, it’s that a lost suitcase is just the first chapter of a much better tale. Argentina might have stolen my heart.

Media

  • After boarding, before sleeping, I watched The Salt Path and The Amateur. They passed a few hours of the flight to Buenos Aires.
  • I am not reading as much on this holiday as I had assumed. On the 14-hour flight I read nothing. At least I’ve started The Janson Directive, and it’s a meaty enough book that it might last the trip and mean the other books were unnecessary baggage.

Buenos Aires: Four Days, Four Stories

What began in chaos turned into a celebration of Argentina’s food, warmth and effortless charm — proof that even the most delayed journeys can lead to perfect adventures.

It’s always been a goal of mine to visit South America, but I’ve never managed it until now. Somehow, we acquired enough Avios points for a return flight to Argentina and so booked a trip that would allow us to explore the country — from the vast, bustling capital city, south to the glaciers and north to the hot, humid waterfalls.

This week we started the journey, and I kept a diary: my own anthology of travel tales. Unfortunately, the collection opened with delayed flights and missing luggage, but it quickly morphed into steak and fine wine. Buenos Aires, it turns out, rewards patience with Malbec and charm in roughly equal measure.

Day One: Lost Luggage, Found Malbec

Waterfront view of Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires, showing modern high-rise apartment buildings along the yacht-filled docklands, with a pedestrian promenade in the foreground under clear blue skies
Buenos Aires’ transformed docklands meet modern luxury.

The journey began with more drama than you really want when flying. British Airways cancelled, rebooked, and generally conspired to keep us in Heathrow longer than any sane traveller should be. By the time we reached Buenos Aires, my bags had apparently decided to see the world on their own schedule. But a bottle (or two) of Argentine red at, officially, one of the world’s best restaurants did wonders for morale. I’m not saying wine solved everything, but it certainly softened the edges. Somewhere between The Salt Path on the in-flight entertainment and late-night Buenos Aires jet lag, I started to think this trip was worth the chaos.

Read more about the day on my Blipfoto diary.

Day Two: Ferry Nice Day Out!

Cobblestone street in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, with colonial-era buildings, a white lighthouse visible in the distance, bare winter trees, and parked motorcycles under clear blue skies
Lighthouse photobombs a perfectly good street scene.

As the second proper day dawned, we headed for the Río de la Plata and a day trip across to Uruguay. The Buquebus terminal was far slicker than the internet had led us to believe, and passport control was remarkably more efficient than the tales you can read elsewhere. Colonia del Sacramento turned out to be all cobbles, calm and colonial charm — the sort of place that exists to make Instagram jealous (but I was so taken with the place I didn’t post a picture). We paid for the hotel pick-up, only to discover later it would have been fine (and cheaper) to walk. Consider this information a small donation to your travel guide. In the evening, we discovered the vibrant energy of Avenida Corrientes and Buenos Aires’ theatre district. And no, we didn’t queue for tickets for a midnight performance, but next time we just might.

The diary chronicles our day trip to Uruguay.

Day Three: Buses, Bonhomie and Buenos Aires’ Brightest Streets

Colourful buildings in El Caminito, Buenos Aires, featuring vibrant blue, yellow, red, and green corrugated metal facades, with life-sized tango dancer figures on balconies, outdoor café seating with red chairs, and tourists exploring the famous street
Corrugated iron never looked this fabulous.

We gave our feet a break and let the tourist bus do the work — an unexpectedly efficient way to see a city that sprawls as confidently as Buenos Aires. From the leafy calm of Palermo to the bright murals of La Boca, we ticked off the postcard highlights without ever breaking a sweat. Every stop offered something different: the solemn beauty of Recoleta Cemetery, the grandeur of the Teatro Colón, and the kind of boulevards that make you wonder if Paris might have borrowed a few ideas from here rather than the other way around. It was the perfect combination of adventure and sightseeing, capped off with a tango show that had enough energy to power Greater Buenos Aires’ ten million people.

The diary has more about the visit to El Caminito, Recoleta Cemetery, the Colón Theatre and La Ventana.

Day Four: The Fire, the Feast and the Fifteenth Course

Chef slicing perfectly cooked medium-rare steak on a wooden board at Fogón Asado's chef's counter in Buenos Aires, with plated portions of grilled meat and vibrant yellow sauce arranged on white plates in the foreground
Front-row seats to carnivore’s dream show.

The finale of this leg of the trip came, appropriately, with fire. My birthday dinner turned into a culinary marathon that blurred the line between “meal” and “endurance event”. Fifteen courses later, I concluded that Argentine chefs possess brilliance, an ability to withstand the heat of a volcano, and a slight disregard for the human capacity to eat perfectly cooked meat. Earlier, there was time for a little history: the grandeur of the El Ateneo bookshop, the stories of Plaza de Mayo, and a reminder that Argentina’s beauty is matched only by its complexity.

The diary for the fourth day of our adventure is on Blipfoto.

We ended the first leg of this trip full — of food, of stories, and of gratitude for every minor inconvenience that somehow made the whole thing better. Because if travel teaches anything, it’s that a lost suitcase is just the first chapter of a much better tale.

Tomorrow we’re heading south. There’s so much more to explore in Buenos Aires. We’ll be back, briefly, next week.

Weeknotes #137: From tiebreakers to take-offs

Lively week of quizzes, theatre, good company and smooth travel

Week commencing Monday, 1 September 2025

A view across Heathrow Airport's car park at dusk, with rows of parked vehicles in the foreground and aircraft visible on the tarmac beyond the perimeter fence. The sky displays soft pink and blue hues as evening approaches, whilst planes and airport infrastructure create a silhouette against the horizon.
The airport winds down for the evening as viewed from the Thistle Hotel

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 6/7 and Move 6/7. (90%). Morning walks: 0/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/5. Total steps: 69,528

Life

  • Once again, the week started with a quiz. And again, we ended up in the ninth-place tiebreaker (as a reminder, that’s good). The lady who answered ‘Tainted Love’ was too quick off the mark for Ben. Always fun!
  • I had a Christmas planning session with my brother. It’s only just September.
  • Unusually, I had an office day on Wednesday. The journey to the Barbican that followed should have been straightforward. As it was, I ran into the auditorium just in time for the house lights to go out.
  • Related, Sean Hayes is very good in Good Night, Oscar. Lots of discussion afterwards about whether it was based on a true story (yes) and whether he really could play the piano (also yes).
  • Thursday was one of those office days where I said what I really felt and then apologised for it. I don’t think I should have done. But all good.
  • Related, as a consequence, the work social in the pub could have been messy but ended up being very restrained.
  • I finished Friday on time, which must be a first before a holiday. We went to visit a new pub, The Leather Bottle, and it was nice.
  • Related, on the way home, we picked up a ‘hot honey’ pizza and then noticed ‘hot honey’ is everywhere. Is it a trend I am missing?
  • Saturday: is it unusual to admit I find my dentist funny and enjoy going?
  • A lovely lady in NatWest helped me with a banking problem 25 years in the making. All will be resolved.
  • On Sunday afternoon, the Heathrow T5 pods marked the start of the holiday. In the restaurant, it was busier than on previous visits. The planes were taking off in the other direction.

Media

Weeknotes #136: to and from the Island

Busy travel week ends with sunshine, laughter, and shared Sunday lunch.

Week commencing Monday, 25 August 2025

Families and beachgoers relax on Ryde beach on a sunny bank holiday Monday, with colourful windbreaks, beach tents, and people scattered across the golden sand. Bicycles are parked along the promenade in the foreground, whilst the calm blue waters of the Solent stretch towards Portsmouth's distant skyline under clear skies.
Visitors make the most of the glorious sunshine on Ryde beach

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 6/7; Move 6/7 (90%). Morning walks: 0/3 (days in the office don’t count). Office days: 1/4. Total steps: 42,163

Life

  • Bank Holiday Monday brought beautiful weather. I’ve never seen the Ryde beaches so busy.
  • T and guests arrived by 11:30, and the women were in the sea before 12:30. We went for a quick snack at lunch. They were fine in the flat all week.
  • On Monday afternoon, we left them in the flat and headed towards London. The 2:45 pm FastCat crossing was a bit bumpy, but it didn’t stop the scramble for the sundeck. We had too many bags, so we enjoyed the front indoor window seats instead.
  • The return to the Island on Friday evening faced more travel delays. Not trains this time — Wight Ryder I was taken out of service just as we were about to board, and Wight Ryder II was brought in to replace it 20 minutes later.
  • Trains weren’t going to let the ferry take this week’s delay crown. On Monday, split tickets saved us money on the return journey, but then we missed our connection, and I wished we hadn’t tried to save a few pounds. Early on Sunday morning, my Avanti service left Euston 20 minutes late when it should have been rushing me towards Shrewsbury, and later in the day my London Northwestern service was cancelled due to staff shortages. I log these now so that one day I’ll be able to say, “it got better”.
  • Sunday lunch was excellent in Shrewsbury, and later we had coffee outside a hotel bar that we all thought used to be a fitness club.

Media

Weeknotes #135: jabs, Grease and a sunny beach

Vaccinations, scooters, cinema and sunshine — chaos turns into calm joy.

Week commencing Monday, 18 August 2025

A large cruise ship passes through the Solent waterway with Portsmouth's skyline visible in the background, including the distinctive Spinnaker Tower. The view is captured from Ryde beach at low tide, with wet sand in the foreground and calm blue waters separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland.
Cruise ship passes through the Solent with Portsmouth’s skyline in the background

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 4/7 and Move 5/7. (76%). Morning walks: 0/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/5. Total steps: 61,979

Life

  • We left it late for travel vaccinations. After finding and completing a form buried on the NHS website, the surgery called, and I got an appointment within 48 hours, receiving the vaccines on Wednesday morning. Still needed to source some privately: Superdrug does travel clinics. Who knew?
  • Then, when attending the clinic on Thursday — chaos: Superdrug had no Yellow Fever jabs and hadn’t contacted me. After a scramble across London, I finally got vaccinated in Earlsfield.
  • Monday brought an interesting call with the insurance company. It was helpful but neither clarified nor reassured me.
  • Tuesday, went to the Grease-themed Secret Cinema in Battersea Park. Clever mix of film and live performance, complete with fairground, Rydell High sets and a live band — easily one of the best immersive events I’ve done.
  • Related, I dressed (almost) appropriately in a white T-shirt and bomber jacket, ate chicken burgers to a ’50s soundtrack and ended the night dancing and singing along to the big numbers in the outdoor finale.
  • Wednesday evening, I opened the fridge door to see what fresh ingredients needed using up. I spoke the list into my phone with one of the AI chatbots open and within seconds had a recipe that turned out to be delicious and stopped food waste. We really are living in the future. Hey Siri, where are my jet-boots?
  • Related, leftovers went into the freezer. I still can’t get labels to stick to the plastic boxes used. Perhaps we’re not so much in the future after all.
  • Thursday, back-to-back meetings all day, including a repeat run-through of an incident fix and a ham sandwich eaten off-camera in yet another planning session.
  • Later, we were lucky to find the Portsmouth train on the platform before it was announced, which meant we grabbed a table seat and tucked into meal-deal dinners en route. By the time of the 21:45 crossing it was dark, but the sea was calm and the sailing pleasant.
  • Up to 10,000 scooterists on The Island for what’s reportedly the world’s biggest scooter rally. We went to The Star for an evening of appropriately themed music.
  • We returned on Saturday night for a different musical vibe, having spent the day walking by the sea.
  • We went back again on Sunday lunchtime for even more chilled-out music. Then, to RT Cafe Grill for lunch, where the spiced tempura lobster and prawn burger was delicious — but at those prices, I shouldn’t have to ask twice for mayonnaise.

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Grease Immersive Cinema Experience

Step inside Grease: live songs, fairground rides and unexpected dancing

Large sign reading "Be Cool, No Phones in School" above the Fairground Bar, styled as Rydell High school rules with bunting overhead
Exterior view of the Rydell High building entrance with crowds of visitors gathered outside under bunting decorations
Performers portraying Danny and Sandy stand together at a colourful fairground attraction with vintage carnival decorations and neon lighting

We left the house just before six this evening and made our way over to Battersea Park for Secret Cinema’s latest immersive extravaganza, which this year is themed around Grease; you know, the one with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John that might have a different take on the story if it were made today.

I had been expecting something that looked like the set of an American high school – Rydell High banners, bleachers and a lot of quiffs – and that’s pretty much what we walked into.

The weather app promised warmth, although by the time I reached Chelsea Bridge, the sky remained cloudy. Still, it’s partly outdoors and I’d opted for a white T-shirt (seemed fitting for the ’50s theme) and a black bomber jacket I own. It’s not quite a leather jacket, but it more or less worked. I don’t own jeans, so that was the one part of the outfit I compromised on. As I went through the Chelsea Bridge gate at Battersea Park, it was apparent that the unofficial dress code for men was white T-shirts and for women anything pink. So, I fitted in OK. Plenty of people had made a full-on effort, but I didn’t feel out of place in my ‘try to make it work from my existing wardrobe’ look.

Entry was smooth and straight away we found ourselves in a little fairground set – Ferris wheel, fun house, hook-a-duck, Shake Shack (complete with the wobble machine they actually use in the film). We grabbed a drink and a chicken burger and, unable to find a free seat, stood eating while dancing along to the ’50s soundtrack.

At about 7.30pm, the Rydell High principal appeared on the tannoy and called us all in for the first day of school. They played the opening beach scene from the film on the big screen and, after that, brought us inside. This whole thing is exceptionally well done. Unlike the older Secret Cinema events, you’re not just watching the film – it’s cut up so that parts of it are projected and then the big scenes are suddenly acted out in front of you, complete with live singing. Rydell High itself is a collection of mini sets – soda shop, cafeteria, dance hall, auto shop, bleachers and so on – and you move between them as different moments unfold.

Seats are limited if you’re not VIP, which, at first, feels slightly annoying, but you quickly realise that wandering from scene to scene is much more enjoyable. If you’re sitting in the VIP area at the back of the drive-in, you’d miss quite a lot – although, granted, your feet might be less tired by the end.

We spent most of the evening near the auto shop, which meant we had The T-Birds practically in front of us for Greased Lightning and a bunch of other scenes. Occasionally, a crew member gently nudges you into a slightly different position so a scene can play out nearby; they also encourage you to dance, which most of us did without any hesitation – if you can call my shuffle a dance.

It’s difficult to explain why the switching between film and live action works so well, but it does. I assume the little pauses are as much for cast changes as they are for us to queue up for another drink. The food and drink, incidentally, are not cheap – over £8 for a fairly small alcoholic can – but it didn’t take anything away from the evening.

The finale happens back outside in the fairground, where the closing scenes from the film are played out live and on screen. The cast were brilliant – it must be an exhausting performance, particularly given that some of it is almost lip-synced to the soundtrack. I loved that the cast entirely performed the big songs (there’s a live band as well), rather than just lip-syncing over the film.

We stayed for about half an hour afterwards. The funfair stays open and you can still get a beer or a glass of wine. It’s the first Secret Cinema event I’ve been to where I could imagine it being turned into something more permanent – a bit like the ABBA Voyage experience. They’re not doing that here, but the location feels good enough and the music lends itself to a proper party atmosphere. Everyone happily sang along to the big numbers.

A brilliant night out – definitely one of my favourite Secret Cinema experiences.

Weeknotes #134: regular walking resumed, new places visited

Family, friends, culture, and celebration enriched a lively, fulfilling week.

Week commencing Monday, 11 August 2025

Panoramic view of London's skyline from Hampstead Heath showing the City of London's modern skyscrapers including the Shard and Gherkin rising above a dense canopy of green trees, with residential areas and lower buildings in the foreground under an overcast sky.
London’s financial district towers above the treeline in this classic view from Hampstead Heath

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 6/7 and Move 6/7. (90%). Morning walks: 3/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days: 1/5. Total steps: 67,665

Life

  • The past weekend really felt like an extension of our Spanish holidays, which made it hard to get back into work mode.
  • There wasn’t as much work to catch up on as I’d imagined, although I did let it drag into Tuesday before finishing reviewing all my messages.
  • I managed to get out for my morning walk on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday — the last one amongst the trees on Cannon Hill Common. It really is a better way to start the day.
  • Another pub quiz to start the week with B&A joining us again. B was our nominee for the ninth-place tie-breaker. Sadly, we didn’t identify the song, but it was a remarkable recovery considering how poor our first round was. I made more contributions to the music round than usual: Three Degrees, Hues Corporation and Jimmy Ruffin.
  • Later in the week, we learned A-level results were in and B&A both got what they needed for university. Congratulations.
  • I did my Tai Chi class without leaving the house.
  • Thursday to the bar in the Young Vic to meet friends. Another great evening, although we should all learn to leave before closing.
  • Saturday, with P&W to visit Kenwood House, an English Heritage neoclassical mansion on Hampstead Heath that we’d not visited before. It houses a small art collection that includes a Turner and a Rembrandt self-portrait. And, wonderfully, it’s free to visit.
  • Later, dinner was at Kitty Hawk, on top of the Page 8 Hotel, with views over Trafalgar Square. It seems uncertain whether it should be a restaurant or a bar. The terraces were full of drinkers, the music was loud and, unfortunately for us, service was poor. They were having an off-evening.
  • Sunday, lunch with M&R. I forgot my hat, and the walk there was in the sun. I should remember. Food and company, as always, were great. When the conversation moved onto funerals, we knew we ought to call it a night.

Media

  • Finished Christopher Fowler’s On the Loose; number 7 in the Bryant & May series and the one I have read out of sequence. Now I understand more about book 8.
  • Our new favourite Sunday night thing plays underplayed and almost completely forgotten hits of the 80s: Forgotten 80s on Absolute 80s. This week’s show featured Bow Wow Wow’s C30 C60 C90 Go!, which I have definitely not heard since the 80s.

Weeknotes #133: Achievement unlocked and other Spanish adventures

Exploring Basque culture, art, coastlines, and football—memorable Spanish adventures.

Week commencing Monday, 4 August 2025

The distinctive titanium-clad exterior of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao designed by Frank Gehry, with tourists walking along the riverside promenade and the red La Salve Bridge visible in the background
Eduardo Chillida's steel sculpture Peine del Viento installed on rocky coastal cliffs overlooking the Cantabrian Sea in San Sebastián, with waves crashing against the rocks and a small sailing boat visible on the horizon
he suspended gondola of the historic Vizcaya Bridge (Puente Colgante) crossing high above the Nervión River, with colourful residential buildings and hills of Bilbao visible in the background under an overcast sky
Rocky coastal islet of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe with its distinctive stone bridge connecting to the mainland, historic hermitage buildings on the summit, and dramatic natural rock arches carved by the sea
Magnificent stained glass ceiling in the Assembly House of Guernica depicting the sacred Tree of Guernica (Gernikako Arbola) with intricate green and gold foliage against a geometric grid pattern, symbolising Basque freedoms and democratic traditions
Interior view of San Mamés Stadium showing the distinctive oval roof opening, modern architecture with white steel framework, and red seating arranged in tiers

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand /7; Exercise /7 and Move /7 (%). Morning walks: 0/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days: 1/5. Total steps: 125,093

Life

  • We spent Monday acclimatising to Bilbao; it’s a lovely city. Although a chunk of the day was spent trying to acquire tickets for a trip out on Tuesday. We found the bus station, saw the queues, and were directed straight to a window where nobody was waiting. It was our lucky day.
  • Achievement unlocked: I’ve always wanted to visit Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum. It’s the reason I suggested adding this bit to our trip. It’s renowned for its revolutionary titanium-clad architecture designed by Frank Gehry that has become an iconic symbol of the city’s urban regeneration. It did not disappoint.
  • More surprisingly, the exhibitions were every bit as impressive. I usually get quite impatient in galleries, but I could have stayed longer.
  • The exhibition featuring works by the renowned American conceptual artist Barbara Kruger, known for her provocative text-based art, was pretty impressive.
  • Tuesday, we took the bus to the beautiful seaside resort of San Sebastián. A leisurely stroll along La Concha Bay culminated at “El Peine del Viento” (The Comb of the Wind), Eduardo Chillida’s iconic trio of nine-tonne steel sculptures anchored into the rocks. A beautiful walk in the sun.
  • On the return walk, a tinto de verano on the terrace of a tennis club bar called Wimbledon was very welcome in the heat. Before the return bus trip, we tried a Gilda, a classic Basque pintxo of a green olive, a salted anchovy fillet, and one or two pickled chilli peppers, on bread. I looked up the name: it’s named after the 1946 film Gilda, starring Rita Hayworth. The pintxo is said to embody similar characteristics—green (guindilla), salty (anchovy), and a little spicy—just like the film character.
  • On Wednesday, PY and I did a half-day tour: Bizkaia Bridge (the historic transporter bridge spanning the Nervión River), Gaztelugatxe (views of an island linked to dry land by a two-arch bridge known as Dragonstone in Game of Thrones), Bermeo (authentic Basque fishing village), and Gernika (home to the sacred tree where Basque assemblies have met for centuries and Picasso’s Guernica commemorating the 1937 bombing).
  • The famous Tree of Guernica is depicted in the stained-glass ceiling in the Assembly House (Casa de las Juntas). It’s one of the most impressive stained-glass works I’ve seen, and you have to look up.
  • When we returned to Bilbao, we took the Artxanda Funicular to the summit of Artxanda Mountain for the views over the city.
  • On our last morning, Pete, Mark, and I went on a tour of Athletic Club Bilbao’s stadium and museum. The tour is a behind-the-scenes look at its impressive architecture, history, and the pride the city takes in its team, with the highlight being the dramatic moment of stepping out onto the pitch, where the sweeping stands rise around you and you get a player’s-eye view of the arena. It must be pretty intimidating for visiting teams.
  • When we returned to the UK, the weather matched what we’d experienced on holiday, so we spent three days walking and relaxing.

Media

  • Still managing to stay mostly off social media, except for a couple of Instagram posts; no television in Spain (although a little when we got back). I completed Richard Osman’s The Last Devil to Die, which is another lovely book—if you can ignore the murder—in the Thursday Murder Club series.
  • I also completed Off the Rails, number eight in the Peculiar Crimes Unit books. When I started it, I realised I’d missed number seven, so that was ordered while I was away, and I’m now reading the origin of the Mr Fox story.

Weeknotes #132: discovering Spain

Joyful travels through Spain with friends, food, wine, and discovery.

Week commencing Monday, 28 July 2025

The Gothic Cathedral of León in Spain on a bright sunny day, featuring twin spires, an ornate rose window, pointed arches, and intricate stone tracery, standing majestically in the main square surrounded by historic buildings and visitors
Interior view of Abadía Retuerta's wine cellar showing rows of wooden wine barrels stacked on metal racks extending into the distance, with dramatic lighting creating a cathedral-like atmosphere in the storage facility
Interior view of La Sastrería cocktail bar showing a well-stocked bar with illuminated shelving displaying premium spirits and bottles, hanging wine glasses, a modern point-of-sale system, and professional bar equipment with blue LED lighting
Night view of Plaza Mayor in Valladolid, Spain, showing the illuminated town hall with blue lighting and clock tower, surrounded by traditional red-brick buildings with warm golden lighting, ornate street lamps, and people strolling across the spacious cobblestone square
A wooden serving board displaying six gourmet tapas on toasted bread slices, featuring various toppings including sliced meat with strawberries and blackberries, prawns with melted cheese, and other colourful Mediterranean ingredients

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 4/7 and Move 7/7. (86%). Morning walks: 0/2 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/2. Total steps: 89,762

Life

  • Tuesday was my last day before a week in Spain. I was in the office for a workshop on a big new project. I won’t be involved very much, but I did have some input into the planning. I suspect this will progress quickly while I am away.
  • Home to pack and head to the airport. PY had some work to do before we left, which meant we arrived later than I’d imagined. We stayed at the Thistle hotel near the autonomous pods ahead of an early flight.
  • R&M were also staying nearby. Around 9pm they joined us for dinner in the restaurant with (almost) a view of the runway.
  • Next morning, the flight was at 7:50am, arriving in Madrid just before lunch. E’s suitcase didn’t appear on the carousel at arrivals, but thanks to AirTags, we knew it was in the airport. Very little help from the airport staff, but it appeared as soon as the next flight was loaded onto the luggage belt.
  • Thankfully, we’d factored in a long time between arrival and the train, so – when we got to the station – there was time for a refreshing Spanish beer.
  • The train to ‘Valladolid – Campo Grande’ was fast and smooth. The hotel turned out to be a very short walk from the station.
  • The rest of the day was spent exploring. The canapés (tapas) we had at Jero Catedral are highly recommended.
  • We walked 8 miles around Valladolid on Thursday: the riverside walk was wonderful, there’s even a small manmade beach on the riverbank, and every food stop along the way was delicious. The squid ink risotto at Hasta la Peineta taberna was very tasty.
  • In the late afternoon, we were the only six people on the hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus. We didn’t hop off.
  • It was Pete’s birthday. The meat at Vinotinto for his birthday dinner was perfectly prepared. The octopus dish was excellent.
  • E took us to a cocktail bar to end the evening. La Sastrería is sewing-themed. It’s an amazing place in a hidden arcade. Look out for it if you are ever in town.
  • Friday was Pete’s gift day. Abadía Retuerta is a stunning vineyard with the most beautiful hotel and spa on site. Sadly, we only did the tour and wine tasting, but if you take the virtual tour you will see how stunning the monastery’s conversion into a hotel has been. I raved about the Tempranillo and decided to splurge on a bottle. It may be the most expensive wine I’ve ever bought.
  • Saturday, to León. The flaming chorizo tapas were a food highlight, the bus tour was a welcome break from walking through the tourist crowds, and the Convento de San Marcos (Parador de León) was another very impressive convent-to-hotel conversion. The city had a very touristy feel.
  • Sunday, time to pack and move to Bilbao, which feels like a much bigger city than either Valladolid or León.

Media

  • I’m avoiding social media and television while on this holiday. I have finished reading The Wrong Hands, a crime thriller that had me hooked. I haven’t read the first in the series, but I am thinking of getting it.

Weeknotes #131: music and sunsets

Busy week of work, music, travel, friends, and sunshine moments.

Week commencing Monday, 21 July 2025

A golden sunset viewed through the salt-stained windscreen of a ferry, with the sun creating dramatic lens flares and highlighting water droplets on the glass. The ferry's white deck furniture and safety railings are visible in the foreground, while the calm waters of the Solent stretch towards the horizon under a gradient sky transitioning from warm orange near the sun to pale blue-grey above.
The Portsmouth to Isle of Wight FastCat proves that even the most routine ferry crossing can serve up a golden hour spectacular

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 3/7; Exercise 4/7 and Move 6/7. (62%). Morning walks: 0/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/5. Total steps: 51,553

Life

  • It’s been tough going at work this week. There are a lot of projects on the go, and they’re spread out and moving slowly.
  • Wednesday, to see The Hidden Cameras at The Social. There’s some new material including a Vince Clarke remix of the latest single. The gig mixed old and new; very glad I got to see it live.
  • Friday, the carpenter didn’t turn up to fix the cupboard. PY wasn’t very happy.
  • Also Friday evening, to the ferry for the Isle of Wight. I noticed the app had a departure platform, but the station’s screens did not. Took a gamble and managed to avoid the rush for the front carriage. This time, we were on time for the ferry. Fish and chips when I arrived.
  • Saturday, T and his Ukrainian tenants came across for a visit. It started raining, I didn’t take my hat, and so I burned when the sun came out.
  • Breakfast was at Wetherspoons, which was packed at 9:30 in the morning. But, a nice day in the sun. They managed to secure an earlier hovercraft back.
  • We returned early Sunday morning.

Weeknotes #130: vegan bites and gold medals

Quizzes, feedback, Tai Chi, food, athletics, and celebratory medals.

Week commencing Monday, 14 July 2025

A group of male runners compete in the 800m race at the London Stadium during the Novuna London Athletics Meet. The athletes are running along the curved section of the red running track, with runners spread across multiple lanes wearing various team colours including red, white, and other kit designs. The stadium is packed with spectators in the background stands, and the bright green infield is visible alongside. Electronic timing displays and event branding are positioned around the track perimeter
The men’s 800m field spreads across the track during Saturday’s Novuna London Athletics Meet.

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 4/7; Exercise 6/7 and Move 6/7. (76%). Morning walks: 0/3 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 2/5. Total steps: 60,489

Life

  • Pub quiz with an extended group as B & A joined us. We did quite well, but not in either of the winning groups.
  • I had to write some performance reviews. I find this one of the most challenging work-related tasks, and I am only ever asked to do it as a colleague. I don’t know how managers do it at scale. It’s difficult to provide constructive feedback.
  • Relatedly, I asked ChatGPT to review my words and give me constructive feedback on what I’d written. When I was told that I “stay in my lane”, I thought the AI and I might have crossed a line I was unprepared for.
  • I’ve been struggling to get to my Wednesday night Tai Chi class. So, for this term, I’ve switched to the online Tuesday evening class. It’s not as good, but at least I can make it.
  • On Thursday, I went to Club Mexicana, a 100% plant-based restaurant in Kingly Court, Soho. I hadn’t known about it before we went. I had the sticky glazed ‘ribs’ bowl, which came with BBQ sauce, pink onions, pickled cabbage, garlic mayo, salsa verde, pickled jalapeños, and rice, along with extra beans and guacamole. It was delicious in an “I want to come back tomorrow” way. It’s a quick-bite place, not a long-dinner place, but with that in mind, I recommend it.
  • Later, I found a few scathing reviews which did not match my experience in any way. However, one review stated that the place “decided to imitate various meats instead of using plant-derived proteins … [it’s] cultural whitewashing to ignore a potent pre-existing vegan-friendly culinary tradition in favour of contorting plants to resemble the flesh that you’re rejecting”. I’ve always disliked the way some plant-based meals try to recreate the meat element, but it’s a trend that is here to stay and, in this case, it was particularly delicious. So go, eat, ignore the reviews, but understand I didn’t try the tacos.
  • On Saturday, I went to the 2025 Novuna London Athletics Meet at The London Stadium. The rain was terrible for the opening races, but gradually improved through the day. There were seven personal bests recorded in one race alone (women’s 5000m), but a predicted world record attempt in the men’s 800m didn’t materialise.
  • The event also featured a moment where Britain’s men’s 4x400m relay team from the 1997 World Athletics Championships finally received their gold medals. Seb Coe presented the medals in a ceremony recognising the team’s elevation from silver following the disqualification of the USA team. Getting a gold medal after 27 years is quite a thing.
  • Later, drinks around the Olympic Park, ending in the bar at the Everyman cinema, where, bizarrely, they don’t serve crisps.