Dave Walker

Picture of iPad on table on which is written ‘drawing a diagram’. There’s a labelled cup of coffee. Though the window a group of people is vaguely visible, with text saying ‘foraging group’. There’s also an annotated bicycle.

This morning at The Cafe.

Pictures of Southend with hand-written labels 1. Pier with shelter in foreground 2. Container ship with man doing boat things in foreground 3. Cafe view 4. Seafront view

Diagram Club #059. It’s my Substack newsletter, containing, this week: Annotated photos (below), bicycle cartoon, Cafe news, Household Problems (season two), and all the usual features. open.substack.com/pub/diagramc...

Picture of cafe with notebook and mug. Text says ‘hoping to be back with diagrams before too long’.

Four pictures - Hedgerow with sloes - feather - scene with distant skyscrapers - man

Walking this afternoon. Langdon Hills, Essex.

#057 From China, part two: Taiyuan Making movies / The book event

Part 2 of my visit to China. Welcomed incredibly warmly, amazing book launch event, filming the TEDx talk that couldn’t happen, finding my second-favourite cafe in the world (etc). open.substack.com/pub/diagramc...

Thank you. I was worried photos were too small and newsletter too long, so this is very good to hear. Hotpot: like all the food I had there it was wonderful.

Thank you Chris. I’m very fortunate to have had the opportunity.

Thank you Graeme - really appreciate this.

These are lovely notices - thank you. Ideally to open the door you’d be a trustee in the choir with particular responsibility for the gas meter, I guess.

Scenes: podium on stage, man in front of camera, two men with a book, man with bicycle in background

For anyone waiting for
my newsletter- lots to write about, but wanted to focus on being here in China while I still could. So planning to send it in a day or two when I’m home.

English text from a translation app: ‘i have an unusual request - I need to take the picture out of this frame as the frame is too big to take on the plane tomorrow. but i need a screwdriver to undo it. do you have any idea how I could find one?’ Then same in Chinese

This sums up my experience of China. Young man on the hotel reception desk read this, took me out of the hotel to a corner shop, bought me a screwdriver, and said ‘ this is my gift to you’.

Hmmm - suspicious indeed. (Not that I quite understand it…)

I think it’s just Safari, but will check a few different apps later.

Thanks Ross - away from the iPad now, but yes, will try later. Will tell me if the app is the problem at least.

Afraid not, unfortunately.

Screenshot showing keyboard on an iPad.

Could do with some tech help from anyone who knows about iPads. Does anyone know how I can disable this tiny floating keyboard and force the iPad to use the full-sized one? Google says I can pinch it to the large one - that’s incorrect unfortunately. It would make a big difference to me whilst away.

Group of people on bikes

Man drawing on iPad

Poster advertising cycling event in Chinese

Man stands by poster in Chinese advertising cycling event

Had the best day cycling in and exploring Taiyuan, China, with a brilliant bunch of people from an environmental organisation. A few photos. The posters are advertising an event for the launch of the Chinese translation of my book, The Cycling Cartoonist, on Wednesday.

#056 From China, part one: Chengdu Most things went according to plan, but not everything

Newsletter from China: open.substack.com/pub/diagramc...

Thank you. Still hoping that might be possible at some future point - precise plan b still to be established.

This wasn’t when was planned for yesterday, but can’t complain as far as replacement activities go: Visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

…and the little team who are looking after me are doing a brilliant job. So I’m OK. More updates soon / newsletter (open.substack.com/pub/diagramc... ) when I can.

(2/3) It’s disappointing, as a huge amount of work had gone in to it, and I’ve travelled a long way to be here. But some positives: I am still having an amazing time here, there’s still a week to go, the events in Taiyuan are still happening…

Man standing in front of bicycle picture and TEDx Chengdu sign

(1/3) Hello all. A little update, as I know some of you are following my progress in China / cheering me on. The photo above was taken at last night’s rehearsal for the TEDx talk. However: sadly the actual TEDx event today had to be cancelled, for reasons that I’m not going to elaborate on here.

No, I’m upping the level tomorrow. Favourite boots that I’ve lugged half way around the world, plus trousers and shirt that have even been ironed

It will, yes

Man standing in front of big screen; on which there’s a cartoon of a house and a cafe. Sign says TEDx Chengdu

Rehearsal for tomorrow.

The Greenway itself goes over and under everything as far as I know, so no junctions, and there are traffic-free paths that go off it. As for other infrastructure: plenty of places with none, but dedicated paths in some places. Too early for any comment on how much of each there is.

Book ‘The Cycling Cartoonist’ (Chinese edition), with window with extensive view behind

First time seeing a physical copy of this today.

Thank you Grace! It really is - I’m so fortunate.

Man wearing cycle helmet stands in front of impressive cycling bridge

Been cycling today. This is the Greenway, a kind of cycling M25 that circumnavigates Chengdu, China. Opinion: this is what cycling infrastructure should look like.