John Pollard
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bravelocation.com
John Pollard
@bravelocation.com
Software developer and world-class armchair sports fan. Developer of some iOS apps you've never heard of. Also make music as Black Country Music | He/him
Surprisingly nice evening in #Hexham (if you can avoid the midges 🪰)
September 30, 2026 at 4:57 PM
A scene from “The Last of Us” or around the back of old Robbs of Hexham?
September 28, 2026 at 9:07 AM
Needing fresh content to test the cross-posting app I’m working on

So here’s a sleepy pie from yesterday 😴🥧
September 26, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Very bright moon on the way home tonight

And despite my best efforts, I can see the weeds are back in abundance down the side of our house again

#LifeFindsAWay
September 23, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Been trialling having a herb garden in our front yard this summer

Mixed results to be fair, as it’s been maybe too hot this (every?) summer, but against all expectations the chillis came out pretty well 🌶️🌶️🌶️
September 20, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Really happy with switching to the new Siri Modular face on my Apple Watch

Having the Smart Stack as the main complication is very nice, especially as it seems to be doing a good job of surfacing relevant widgets most of the time
September 20, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Made some big improvements to my Pixagogo TV app - should be live in the next day or so

Looks loads nicer now, and has much improved the logic for loading images when not locally cached (so improves the rotation of which pics are shown)

More about the app here: https://bravelocation.com/pixagogo-…
September 17, 2026 at 12:02 PM
Staycation day in Newcastle today

Coffee in One Up on Dean Street, then delicious Spicy Tofu Loaded Fries at Bao Down in Grainger Market

Then finally got to see The Odyssey at The Gate, enjoyed it a lot despite the length
September 16, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Went to Northumberlandia for the first time in about 15 years. Somehow kinda less impressive now the grass has grown

Then had a delicious brunch at Gran Caffe Lollo in Morpeth, and a walk along the river on an unseasonably sunny day 😎
September 14, 2026 at 5:26 PM
What the image says 🤓
September 14, 2026 at 8:23 AM
Glorious weather for the #GreatNorthRun today

We headed to the other side of the Tyne to Whitley Bay, and the lowest tide I’ve ever seen there

Also coffee and cake at Dil & The Bear inside the #WhitleyBay Metro station
September 13, 2026 at 1:36 PM
So I’m working on an app (probably just for myself!) that makes it easy to share Mastodon posts on BlueSky and other places

So if you are seeing this on BlueSky and it’s all gone badly wrong that’s the reason!
September 12, 2026 at 2:18 PM
If you are having trouble with the fixtures in the iOS Yeltzland app, try updating it in the App Store

Had to fix some issues semi-related to the spam issues the website has been having recently

I _think_ the Android version is fine (let me know if it isn't)
September 10, 2026 at 8:46 AM
Staycation day 4 (day 3 was a day of rest!)

A brief trip to Edinburgh, and visiting a few Outlander filming locations on the way up (Midhope Castle aka Lallybroch and Blackness Castle aka Fort William)

Then a rare chance to get some food via Uber Eats (don’t get such modern things in Hexham!)
September 7, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Staycation day 2 - early kickoff match day at SJP

Looking out for Adrian today, who was dressed for all weathers!

Mixed performance, just about deserved the draw despite an awful referee, and great to catch up with friends over a few beers in the toon after the game
September 5, 2026 at 7:13 PM
First day of our staycation, and a very blustery drive across the moors to the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle 💨💨💨

Went to the Vivienne Westwood exhibition to get some ideas for my winter wardrobe
September 4, 2026 at 1:24 PM
More Peter Rabbit spotting in Newcastle, this time in Ouseburn and along The Tyne

Some spectacular skies today
August 31, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Some snaps from yesterday’s day trip to Dumfries
August 23, 2026 at 7:22 AM
Never seen the River Severn so low in Bewdley

At least they’ve finally finished the flood defences!

#Bewdley #Drought
August 16, 2026 at 2:46 PM
🎶 It’s got a Spoons and an Asda… 🎶

Planet Halesowen looking resplendent tonight
August 15, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Always enjoy being at Wetherby Services on match day seeing all the fans of different teams wearing their tops on their way to a game

I’m on the way South to see the mighty Yeltz in their first home game of the season 🤞
August 15, 2026 at 8:39 AM
The leaves are already starting to fall off the trees in Tyne Green in Hexham

The weather is less autumnal though!
August 8, 2026 at 5:57 PM
More Peter Rabbits from around the toon
July 25, 2026 at 6:36 PM
A glorious (if blustery) day for a walk down The Tyne from Tynemouth down to the North Shields Fish Quay and back
July 19, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Testing out how well the new Apple Intelligence in iOS 27 works in my Sideboard app in making summaries

Not really sure if it’s just being funny - or is terrible - but I enjoyed the description of the game tonight
July 15, 2026 at 6:31 PM