Week note — week commencing Monday 31 August 2026 (sort of)
What is this?
Every week I (try to) look back at the previous seven-or-so days – and forwards to the next week. Running and health, culture, home improvements, work and adjacent things. You can read none, some or all. Sharing in case it helps someone else out there.
My last public week note was in April – and I've not done many private week notes either. And not doing them has been a hinderance. New school year, new start, and all that, let's go.
tldr
Bank holiday weekend over in Cleethorpes; finding my great grandparents' graves at Scartho; three Town games in eight days (and three 2-2 draws); two match reports written; Bristol for Product for the People, and a lightning talk; Nate delivered to Leamington Spa; just about making the Frank and Walters; a new chair; hip still not right, so barely any running.
Health and running
I’ve spent the last seven-to-eight weeks nursing a tensor fasciae latae problem, which means I haven’t done any running really because of the sharp pain on the left side of my hip whenever I run. It's a "running activated" injury.
I’ve had physio activities to help (basically laying on my bed and doing some stretches that target the area) and last week I did two trial runs between 4-5km. They seemed to go OK. Try again this week and see what the physio says on Wednesday. Hopefully I can lift things a bit more. It’s been frustrating as my running helps with A Lot, but anyway…
Meanwhile my weight is up to 89kg, so… something to focus on…
Out and about
Let’s include the bank holiday weekend - seeping into early in the week - having my first pre-match sups at the excellent Message in a Bottle, an erratic Grimsby performance against Fleetwood at Blundell Park, tea/dinner at Ocean Fish Bar, lamenting the state of the arcades on Clee seafront (not enough classic games and a distinct lack of skeeball) while watching Kristin boss Galaga and Ms Pacman, and living it up like royalty for our first stay over at the Kingsway. A little less driving about on a Saturday and a bit more just trying to chill.
Sunday morning we visited Scartho/Saffa cemetery to look for the graves of my great grandma and grandad (aka nana and pop Stone). It took some working out from the various clues across various “find the plot” websites and two maps of the cemetery but we found it after about two hours. South reserved border, area 505, grave A329. Amazing! On the way home popped by St James school on Bargate (one of my many schools), into the Grimsby Fishing Heritage Museum and a walk through top town, showing Kristin all the delights.
Tuesday evening, a trip over the top from Saltaire to Accrington for another erratic performance from Town. Did a report for Cod Almighty as no one from the crew went. Back home before midnight.
Wednesday evening: train down to Bristol in a Cross Country sweatbox, arriving late, managed a late night stroll around the city centre, popping into the Barley Mow and the Cornubia for a delicious pint/night cap at each).
Started Thursday with a wander around Bristol city centre, so many churches, the waterside, lots of lovely older buildings, some fine coffee shops, and art. (Some pics on Instagram.)
Headed over to Product for the People. Talks from Coco Chan (Head of Product, Homes for Ukraine, MHCLG), Miranda Savage (Chief Digital Officer for Trade and Regulatory Services at DBT) and a late call up for Steve Messer. A good day out amongst friends and peers. Did a lightning talk about infrastructure that I’ll write into a post when I get an hour this week. Spent lunch on my laptop watching the second half of Fremantle's disappointing playoff game. Survived the sweatbox home, back late.
Saturday: up early to take Nate back to his new digs in Leamington Spa (and lamenting how little I have seen him this summer), then an hour down to Cheltenham for the Grimsby game. What a wobbly game. And, my god, Steve Cotterill is a massive bellend. But anyway, a point saved in the end. Enjoyed writing the match report on Tuesday so had a go at another. Tony’s done one for CA, so I’ve stuck mine here. And another away ground off the list, at last.
Got back to Leeds to catch the last 2.5 tunes of the Frank and Walters at Hyde Park Book Club. Drove back home through Headingley, after a Leeds Rhinos game. Slow work but gave us time to take in how Headingley has changed in the last 20 years since me and Kristin worked at Brahm up there.
Eased out out of the weekend with The Mandalorian and Grogu. It’s Alright. And the obligatory Sunday catch up of the others teams: Texas Rangers are just about hanging on for a shout of the MLB playoffs with 18 games to go; soccer club FC Dallas are just about hanging on too, in the Western Conference with 11 games left; Athletic Club got their first win under new manager Edin Terzić.
House, home, maintenance
New chair for the living room arrived Sunday morning. Something to sit in and read in. Moved the older reading chair upstairs. Another reading location option!
Mentally been preparing for the restart of DIY now summer seems to be over. The list so long.
So many tomato plants but fruiting seems to be way behind this year.
Coming up
Continue easing back into running with three or four light 4-5km runs. Two gym trips. Physio on Wednesday.
Train down to London after work on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday, working from London.
Friday lunch: watching Freo's evening (Australia time) playoff game somewhere in London at lunchtime (BST).
Friday evening: Saint Etienne at Shepherd's Bush Empire. Then Saturday, up to Birmingham for Saint Etienne, again, at the O2 Institute. Gotta squeeze in as much of this tour as I can. Missing Town’s home game against Bristol Rovers on Saturday, hopefully can convince a pub in Birmingham to torment their lunchtime clientele with it.
Sunday: train back up to Saltaire mid-afternoon.
Get some reading in. Got enough in the backlog
Maybe pick up one of the TV shows I am in the middle of, Daredevil or Andor or Silo or The Studio or something. It's nice to get closure.
This weeknote brought to you by: Tranz, Gorillaz