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.

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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.

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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.

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