Stilgherrian – Stilgherrian

13 July 202613 July 2026

Weekly Wrap 841: Enjoying Wollongong, but heaps late

Looking out over the Pacific Ocean. On the right-hand side of the photo, riding the mackerel blue waters, are two big black bulk carrier ships, their red hulls high out of the water, their bows pointing to the right. On the far left, closer to us, is a small fishing boat. In the immediate foreground, waves break on the shore. Above are lumpy clouds, and in the in distance there is rain.

I had another couple of days off this week, Monday 6 to Sunday 12 July 2026, visiting Wollongong after a gap of 21 years. Very enjoyable. But when combined with my lovely time in Newcastle last week, it means I’m now well behind where I wanted to be this month.

06 July 202613 July 2026

Weekly Wrap 840: Darting up to Newcastle to see a darter

A bird stands on the rough river wall of the Port of Newcastle, its wings outstretched to warm and dry in the sun, the green estuary water behind. it. He’s black, for yes he is a male of the species, apart from a white streak down the side of its head and neck, and a long snake-like neck.

What a week! From Monday 29 June 2026 to Tuesday I was suffering quite a bit of back pain, for which I received treatment on Tuesday. But from Friday afternoon through to Sunday 5 July I was in Newcastle, where I did a lot of walking and caught up with a couple of friends. There was wine. At various times during the week I finished producing one podcast, recorded another, and even got some client work done. Very happy-making.

02 July 202603 July 2026

The 9pm Not Quite All of the Trains with David Feng

A Chinese man in short-sleeved shirt stands on a railways station platform on a bright sunny day. Behind him stands a very shiny modern train in white, blue, red, and grey livery, with a legend in Lao script. — *David Feng stands in front of a high-speed train of the *Laos*–*China Railway* in 2023.* (Photo: Supplied)

I like trains. Do you like trains? I hope so, because today we’re talking about trains. There’s a strong focus on China and on high-speed trains, and our guest on the internet from Beijing is Chinese-Swiss international rail visionary, it says on his YouTube channel, David Feng.

29 June 202601 July 2026

Weekly Wrap 839: Podcasts and pain, what a week!

It’s a bright sunny day on a suburban street. We’re looking at what has obviously been a corner shop for a century or more, a two-storey building which has been re-rendered in buff-coloured plaster or concrete or something. On the righthand end there’s an open door, above which a blue awning reads “1 STOP SUPERMARKET” with various square photos of food and groceries. The centre part of the wall has two big panels with similar photos. On the left-hand end is a roller door-closed. The upper floor has windows of various shapes, the larger ones with roller shutters. At the right-hand end what was once a balcony is now enclosed. In front of it all is parked a small silver sedan — a car, not a chair.

I ended my week of Monday 22 to Sunday 28 June 2026 with back pain from a rather nasty series of spasms, which kicked in on Saturday and are kinda still with me as I write this on Monday. I’d recorded two podcasts, but didn’t have the energy to edit them. I haven’t taken many photos lately, which is why there’s a random local shop at the top of the page.

22 June 202627 June 2026

Weekly Wrap 838: The key to handling stress is avoiding it

Looking across a suburban street to a three-storey red brick pub. The ground floor’s walls are tiled in yellow. The first floor has arched windows, while the second floor has square. Late afternoon sunlight strikes the left-hand side of the building. On the corner facing us, in the shade, is an illuminated sign reading “Oasis on Beamish”. The awning over the footpath is blue, its underside studded with glowing lightbulbs.

I ended my week of Monday 15 to Sunday 21 June 2026 by losing my keys. Possibly at the pub — not the one on the photo but another local — or possibly in the street. Very annoying. Maybe I’ll find them again? Either way, that topped off a somewhat stressful week, although I still got quite a bit done. Anti-stress procedures have been activated.

17 June 202617 June 2026

The 9pm Hometown Visit to Gawler

Looking across the street at two classic Victorian-era civic buildings. On the left is a two-storey stone building, three windows wide, with a portico at the front finished in white plaster. Across the top it reads INSTITUTE and on the facade there’s the text “In Memoriam 1914 - 1918”. On the right is a shorter but similar building, with a terrace on top of its portico, and a row of four flagpoles. The flags are limp because there’s no wind, and they can’t be recognised. On the top of the facade is a set of arms (featuring a hawk, wheat, and lion, but drawn incorrectly), and the words TOWN HALL. In between them is a hint of modern architecture, namely the glass entry to a new building behind these two. The sky is bright blue with a few fluffy clouds. — *The Gawler Institute building (1871) and the Gawler Town Hall (1878), photographed on 29 June 2025. On the town hall the arms are drawn incorrectly (PDF).* (Photo: Stilgherrian)

Today’s episode is a bit different. It’s more personal. I, Stilgherrian, was born in Gawler, South Australia, and lived there from ages 11 to about 17. Last year I visited the town with my good friend Snarky Platypus, and he asked me some pertinent questions.