Blog – Page 8 – Stilgherrian

17 November 202520 November 2025

Weekly Wrap 807: All the podcasts, all the trains

Looking along a railway station platform shortly before sunset. A Sydney Trains V-Set stands on the right, stretching along the platform towards left, where its distant nose is just short of a signal glowing red over red. The forward part of its shiny fluted steel sides glisten in under the platformâ€™s illumination, although the car nearest us is mostly in the shadows, its two levels of windows glowing yellow and highlighting the purple upholstery within, The only person to be seen is the driver walking up to the front of the train, a tiny figure in the distance.

It was very busy, my week of Monday 10 to Sunday 16 November 2025, despite sleeping all day on Tuesday due to a suspected mild virus. Lots of podcast work, some client work catch-ups, and a very busy weekend. Many trains were involved, so I’ve decided to post a photo of a soon-to-be scrapped V-Set. I will not miss them.

09 November 202512 November 2025

Weekly Wrap 806: The Kookaburra of Consideration

Sitting on a slender lichen-riddled branch, with a background of sunlit trees and bushes, is a laughing kookaburra, its right side toward us and looking down to the right. Itâ€™s a chunky medium-sized bird with off-white head and underparts, and brown wings with a pale blue flash, and on its head are brown streaks back from the eyes and along the middle of the crown. Its tail is lighter brown with black bands. It leans forward, its big beak prominent, concentrating on what might appear on the ground below. Yes, itâ€™s about to pounce!

My week of Monday 3 to Sunday 9 November 2025 saw me invent a new podcast sub-project, and then manage not to post the two full podcasts I’d planned. For various reasons. Oh well. The rest of it was reasonably productive, so I’m happy with that.

02 November 202509 November 2025

Weekly Wrap 805: Cruising through spring in the Sydney suburb of Campsie

A suburban street in Sydneyâ€™s inner south-west. A two-storey red-brick building is labelled â€œ1912â€ and â€Fire Stationâ€ in early 20th century typography in maroon on cream. Two big garage doors hide a modern fire engine and an empty garage respectively. A sign on the lower left reads: â€œSmoke alarms save lives. Spring is here. Emergency 000.â€ On the right, a young man wearing lack strides into the frame. Overhead, rainclouds loom.

I am happy with my week of Monday 27 October to Sunday 2 November 2025. While I didn’t push out the podcasts I’d intended, Certain Things were sorted out. And here’s a photo of a fire station from last century.

26 October 202531 October 2025

Weekly Wrap 804: Endeavouring to plan podcasts (not sorry)

A NSW TrainLink Endeavour railcar at Blacktown station. Itâ€™s a diesel multiple unit (DMU) although we can only see the first of two cars, facing to the left. Itâ€™s made of fluted silver metal sides with a black band running along the windows. The front end is painted dark blue with a bright yellow band below the driverâ€™s window, and it has bright yellow doors. The underparts and black, and the entire train is filthy and in need of a good wash. Its number is 2854.

Despite being down with a random virus on Wednesday, my week of Monday 20 to Sunday 26 October 2025 was remarkably productive. I produced one podcast, planned four others, and continued to assist with the property hunting. I also took photos of trains, one of which is included with this post.

19 October 202523 October 2025

Weekly Wrap 803: Craning to escape plane trees (not sorry)

A clear blue sky over the tops of brightly-lit London plane trees, and sticking up in the middle of the scene is the arm of a massive crane at an unseen building site. Circling overhear in the distance, barely visible at the top of the frame, are three seagulls.

The second of my two weeks in Sydney, Monday 13 to Sunday 19 October 2025, was another pollen-rid distraction, although I did get a podcast recorded.

12 October 202519 October 2025

Weekly Wrap 802: All the plane trees, all the hay fever

A quiet little street in inner Sydneyâ€™s Surry Hills. Itâ€™s lined on both sides with parked cars. On the right is a row of two-storey terrace houses, many of them still with old-fashioned iron railings, some with dormer windows added. Covering the street are the branches of London plane trees, fully leaved and towering to twice or maybe three times the height of the houses. The street itself and the sidewalks are littered with crushed and dried leaves, and the powdery remnants of seed pods.

My week of Monday 6 to Sunday 12 October 2025 was sore aggrieved by a scourge of platani down in Sydney, although I did manage to finish a podcast. I can be stubborn about these things.