crowdfunding – 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.

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.

15 June 202623 June 2026

Weekly Wrap 837: Feeding an ibis, Your Majesty!

A pair of white birds with black markings and long curved black beaks are standing on the lawn at the side of a suburban street. The younger of the two is squeaking and slapping its wings, trying to attract its parent's attention.

I observed quite a few ibises during my week of week of Monday 8 to Sunday 14 June 2026, including a parent feeding its offspring. I also managed to schedule a few new things. Overall, not as productive as I’d hoped, but then it was a short working week after the King’s Birthday holiday.

07 June 202613 June 2026

Weekly Wrap 836: Old wine, but two big disappointments

A black steel gate with spikes and locks and warning signs, behind which is a paved pathway along Cooks River.

My week of Monday 1 to Sunday 7 June 2026 did see me post a podcast and get some client work done, but there were also two big disappointments.

31 May 202604 June 2026

Weekly Wrap 835: A grey building during a grey week

A view along a suburban street on a grey rainy day. On the other side of the rod, behind a line of cars waiting for the loghts to change is a big grey windowless concrete box, three storeys high. At the centre of the upper level is a big sign reading “BIG W” in blue on white. On the far left is signage reading “Campsie Centre”, “Tong Li Supermarket” and the same in Chinese, “Australia Post”, “Big W” again, and a blank red rectangle.

May has come to an end! My week of Monday 25 to Sunday 31 May 2026 was another one disrupted by illness, although I did manage to produce a podcast and get some client work done. But it was a grey week and I was in a grey mood.