Drafting into the key No. 3 position someone who has never made a first class hundred and has played the grand sum of 3 f/c matches this calendar year? Well, of course...

NP. My dad was in the Ilford Operatic Society and I have a memory as a child of seeing him after a performance of The Mikado in his costume and greasepaint. This is my only G&S and I play it annually...

Boom! It took me less than 10 seconds...now what do I do for the rest of the day? Wordle 1,648 2/6 🟨⬜🟩⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

With nothing drastically urgent that needs doing, I'm wandering around the British Newspaper Archive, and came across this piece about a temperance meeting in Ilford for juveniles. I'm now intrigued by a...poem?..called "Farewell, broken chairs and tables".

Ahem.

Morning walk in Valentine's Park and now playing this rather fine album. Ironing later and candlelit carol service at church.

The Institute of Classical Studies is nationally funded to develop researchers and to promote and facilitate research in classical studies and related disciplines throughout the UK and abroad. View our PhD course: sas.ac.uk/phd-ics

In a bit of a Shorty Rogers mood this afternoon - this I first heard as Blues Express back in the early 80s and borrowed from Gants Hill Library. Wonderful 50s big band jazz with one of my favourites Art Pepper on alto.

Watching the highlights of Day 2 I'm shocked, shocked that bowling at the stumps seems to get results ! Do you think England might want to try that for a change?

This is really sad news - loved his early albums and the later Letter To Laredo.

And you can wander round off the beaten track for hours without seeing another soul (like I did with the Garden Houses years ago).

Join us in 2026 for our new @ihr.bsky.social Discovery Courses! - Historic Maps: Interpreting Stories of Place - Townscape & Architecture in History - Archaeology for (Local) History Each 2 days + optional free extra day of guided research @ihrlibrary.bsky.social. www.history.ac.uk/study-traini...

Just printed my ticket for tonight's Stereolab gig. I could do without multiple emails from Ticketmaster urging me to download it to my non-existent phone...and telling me "Your phone is your ticket".

Watching the Keaton silent Our Hospitality with about 4 other people all dotted around NFT1 more than 40 years ago. And being the only one watching The Shawshank Redemption at a late showing...and then finding someone sitting behind me at the end - possibly the projectionist..

That good man Dave Rempis at Aerophonic sent me a replacement copy of his latest with Jason Adasiewicz and Chris Corsano; because the one originally received arrived like this...😢

Sorting through stuff I found a load of old gig programmes...as far as I know Bobby Previte hasn't been back in the UK since which is sad as I loved that Joan Miró gig The George Russell was the 80th Birthday Concert and one of the best gigs I've ever been to.

Nothing says that I don't wite many letters than going and looking in the Manikin cigar tin which has been where stamps have been kept for many decades...and finding last year's Christmas stamps.

The Redbridge article is one of mine and covers part of the area where I grew up. Over the years my Redbridge lost its identity once the new London Borough was formed in 1965. Part 2 of this will follow...sometime.

The new alternative soundtrack to Christmas is HERE! brawlrecords.bandcamp.com/album/bright...

And Steve Smith finishes it with a six. Boom! 23 off 9...don't hang about Steve...

Blimey, I could hear the snick on that from here! Not sure how that was given not out. 4 down and still 56 behind.

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Buy our 2025 releases this Bandcamp Friday! - Anthony Braxton QUARTET (ENGLAND) 1985 - Ava Mendoza/gabby fluke-mogul/Carolina Pérez MAMA KILLA - Cecil Taylor/Tony Oxley FLASHING SPIRITS - Ivo Perelman/Nate Wooley POLARITY 4 - Diego Caicedo EIDOS DAEMONIUM burningambulancemusic.bandcamp.com/music

In Memoriam: Professor Roger Ling (1930s–2025), Distinguished Scholar of Roman Art www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/i...

Oh Ben! No need for taking risky runs like that. What a throw though...

The Wire 503-4 is out now! Featuring the Top 50 new and archive releases, critical analysis and reflections, plus Hilary Woods, Makaya McCraven, Anna Högberg, Tristan Perich, Derek Bailey’s Company, Ikonika’s Jukebox, and much more. Pick up your copy here: thewire.co.uk/shop/

My album is # 24 in @thequietus.com's 100 albums of 2025. Thank you so much to all tQ writers who chose it! Do go and peruse the whole 100: as usual, the list highlights so many under-sung and brilliant records: thequietus.com/tq-charts/al...

A proper treat for you! 🎛️ New mini #BBCRadio3 series, every night this week 9.45pm #Electronicwomen From Daphne Oram to Laurie Anderson… only 15mins each night, before NightTracks kicks in HP x

Learn more about the School of Advanced Study and studying here. (and look out for our brilliant librarians Paul Jackson and Rosario Rovira Guardiola who make a cameo!)

Who can resist an album with song titles like 'Ah silly soul' and 'Why do I use my paper, ink and pen'?

A lovely Autumn morning here so a walk in Valentines Park was in order for the morning.

Two great and varied nights from @musicwedliketohear.bsky.social from the technical brilliance of violinist Maya Bennardo, through the stunning assault on the senses of Jessie Marino's 'Shinbone', to the hour long delicacy of the 13 piece Skogen and Magnus Granberg's 'Trouble, had it all my days'.

Talking Pictures doing what the BBC and C4 have not been doing for some considerable time - showing foreign language films.

Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you've seen Muddy Waters Art Ensemble of Chicago Miles Davis Brian Wilson (Smile) Patti Smith

OUT NOW - Goddesses of Icelore - EP by Laura Cannell from 'A Year of Lore - Series 2' Read the latest from Brawl Records, listen to the new EP, subscribe and more... mailchi.mp/298116e0320c...

Went to Milton Court this evening to hear a rather fine performance by the Ligeti Quartet. And next up are two evenings of Music We'd Like To Hear!

Hello Friends, Here is my new collection of words & photos - A NEW DAWN OVER THE DARK SEA: Unwritten Songs are Poems - Collection II by Laura Cannell brawlrecords.bandcamp.com/merch/a-new-dawn-over-the-dark-sea-unwritten-songs-are-poems-by-laura-cannell-words-photos-16-page-booklet-signed-numbered

No, I know this isn't Ilford...but it's still a wonderful way of cruising round late 18th century London courtesy of Richard Horwood's map of 1892-9. www.romanticlondon.org/explore-horw...

Had been putting off doing my tax return as it had got more complicated this year due to pensions (not mine yet) & capital gains. But I've just completed it...and they owe me £975! Result! Now, how many CDs or vinyls does that amount to I wonder...

Chedworth Roman Villa in Gloucestershire has mainly 4th century mosaics. In 1864 the walls and mosaics were uncovered, in 2010 a mosaic floor running the length of the West Range and in 2014 a new mosaic floor in a reception hall were discovered. #MosaicMonday

Well Steely Dan's Can't Buy A Thrill is a definite as it was bought in probably early 73 and I still love it but this might well be in there. And no it isn't really 'jazz-rock' or 'fusion'...just a very good jazz album. #5debutalbums7074

Got back in from shopping...wait...it's finished? Travis Head's 123 off 83 is an astonishing innings given everything else that had gone on.

From the email from ASPROM, I read the sad news of the passing of Professor Roger Ling, Emeritus Professor of Classical Art and Archaeology at University of Manchester. Anyone engaging with the archaeology of Pompeii should read his two volume work on The Insula of the Menander - a superb study.

A thread about the 'sponge on a stick'. The only ancient sources appear to be from Seneca and Martial (well he would mention it wouldn't he?) Note that word xylospongium in that article I posted up yesterday - doesn't exist. Not in either source, not in Lewis & Short or the PHI Latin Texts. 1/

A thread about the 'sponge on a stick'. The only ancient sources appear to be from Seneca and Martial (well he would mention it wouldn't he?) Note that word xylospongium in that article I posted up yesterday - doesn't exist. Not in either source, not in Lewis & Short or the PHI Latin Texts. 1/

Stokes doing what Stokes does! 17 wickets on the first day of The Ashes?

Listening to the English Baroque Soloists Bach Cantatas vol 15 and the ending of BWV 57...wait...isn't that Praise to the Lord, the Almighty? Why, yes, yes it is...

Ah damn it! One of those ones with so many choices... Wordle 1,614 X/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨 ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩

Magnificent? Of course... Wordle 1,613 2/6 🟨🟨🟩⬜🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

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