Tag: weeknotes

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.

Weeknotes #129: from the West End to Shropshire

Heat, theatre, travel, family, and music filled the week joyfully.

Week commencing Monday, 7 July 2025

Evening view of the London Palladium's exterior showing the illuminated Evita revival advertisement featuring Rachel Zegler, with the theatre's iconic signage and stage door visible in the atmospheric blue-tinted lighting.
Rachel Zegler Commands the West End

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 4/7; Exercise 2/7 and Move 2/7. (33%). Morning walks: 0/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/5. Total steps: 34,737

Life

  • Extreme heat this week. I’m getting used to 30º temperatures. At the end of the week, time in the garden was nice.
  • On Monday, we saw Jamie Lloyd’s Evita revival and, thus, the other side of the balcony scene we had seen last Saturday.
  • I thought it was a stunning performance, full of energy and excitement. Rachel Zegler and Diego Andrés Rodriguez were brilliant. It was different, without props or sets, and used very simple colours. I’ve never seen a standing ovation like this one.
  • Relatedly, on Tuesday I listened to a cast recording from an earlier revival. It lacked the energy of this latest version.
  • Trains: I received £2.54 in compensation for one of my delay repay claims, but the second came back with £18.36, so I think it was worth it.
  • More trains: I was delayed by over 90 minutes on a journey from Euston to Shropshire. Fortunately, my carriage had air-conditioning.
  • A weekend in Shrewsbury. Lovely tapas on Saturday night. Fixed Mum and Dad’s home phone after the EE engineer left them without a landline. Their garden is looking lovely, and it was good to be able to sit outside.
  • I don’t follow F1 as much as I used to, but this is a big story: Red Bull sack team principal Horner.
  • This week’s lesson from country music comes courtesy of Brandy Clark: “I hate stripes, and orange ain’t my colour, and if I squeeze that trigger tonight, I’ll be wearin’ one or the other, there’s no crime of passion worth a crime of fashion”.

Media

  • 7/7 Remembered: How London’s bus drivers got the city home on 7/7: “despite the fear and the images of one of their own vehicles ripped painfully apart, their city needed them, and they came”.
  • Game Changers Radio: Aircheck trauma. It’s real and it’s everywhere. As part of the conversation, the point that the creative process is subjective and provides the opportunity to learn was important.
  • The guest on Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s podcast Dinner’s on Me was Russell Tovey. A lovely conversation. The discussion about the shame of growing up gay in the 80s made me quite emotional.

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.

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.