Really smoky smell in the air in #Catford tonight (and not the usual ganja) which I guess is coming from the #Beckenham fire

Sad news poets.org/poem/long-di...

Not that it seems to matter these days, but I imagine the BritCard™️ wasn't in the manifesto?

Top 10 TV Comedies for @cairdiul.bsky.social Top Cat Bewitched Spaced Fawlty Towers Frasier (up to s7) Porridge The Simpsons (up to s10) Ghosts The Office (remember when Gervais wasn't a monster?) [empty slot for the one I've inevitably forgotten]

'Neatly trimmed and shaved, Robert Redford was just outrageously handsome, incandescently handsome, he was handsomeness on legs. His photograph was in the dictionary next to “handsome”.' www.theguardian.com/film/filmblo...

It used to be football club owners who would express full confidence in the manager on Wednesday and sack them on Thursday.

Just re-read this (iykyk). Still an absolute blast.

Last five concerts: Musica Antica Rotherhithe Fiona Monbet Héloise Werner (et amies) Page Blanche Elana Sasson

I've spent too long today wondering if the throwaway reference to a hugely successful Irish novelist (p 151) is significant. #TonyInterruptor

First time I've seen this in a book ... not sure if has any legal force, though.

In a dream last night I coined the proverb "the closer the dog gets to the fire, the more the apprentice eats". Now having fun asking AI what it could mean. What do you think?

I've just re-read Pride & Prejudice for the first time in many years. I think we take it somewhat for granted because of all the adaptations but fuck me it's brilliant (as Elizabeth Bennet would say).

In case you've been looking for a photo of Cleo Laine and Dusty Springfield playing cricket in Los Angeles ... (from www.theguardian.com/music/galler...)

And here's Jim Davidson to spoil it all. I once spoke to a theatre critic who said the only show he ever walked out of was Sinderella. Not offensive, just total rubbish. (He had to, poor thing, wait in the pub across the road, in case there was some incident at the theatre he have to report.)

Charlie Drake night on BBC4 is awaking mixed memories. He was such a big star in my childhood, and his panto at the Palladium was almost certainly the first time I went to any theatre. But not a great role model for a short ginge like me, really.

I thought that "throwing shade" was a recent expression, but here it is, in Mansfield Park (1814): "With such warm feelings and lively spirits it must be difficult to do justice to her affection for Mrs. Crawford, without throwing a shade on the Admiral."

Was talking to a youngish person last night who genuinely didn't know that Cilla Black had ever been a singer. Fair enough, really.

Happy birthday (88) to Tony Harrison poets.org/poem/long-di...

Hey, LibDems, I'd quite like to ban the word "iconic".

Hurrah for St George!

A takeaway Chinese menu drops onto my doormat. Did they have a grand meeting back in the 70s where they all agreed they'd all offer the same dishes and never change a thing?

Ah, this was meant to be a reply to @kirkdalebooks.bsky.social not a repost

I can understand that they'd never talk about it, but I bloody hope European governments are VERY cautious about sharing intelligence with USA these days.

Well, hello spring!

Just wondering ... why do we say "a meteoric rise" when that's exactly what meteors don't do.

For any French-readers who may not have known, the works of Colette slipped into public domain this year, and there's a huge selection at Wikisource. fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Auteur:...

Happy birthday 🎂 to @christinamartin.bsky.social , one of the best people on here!

So sad about Tony Slattery, but a good time to re-read this superb interview from 5 years ago. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

This line from The Dead by James Joyce still applies: "I have found out that you write for The Daily Express. Now, aren't you ashamed of yourself?"

Happy Perihelion ☀️ for those who celebrate it!

Happy new year! I've accidentally just learned that the German for "Best Boy" is "Best Boy". Something to do with film-making, not entirely sure what.

Hello, friends! Just wondering ... if I said "one in a taxi, one in a car" would you know what I'm going on about?

A vicar getting into trouble for telling children that someone they believe in doesn't actually exist ... www.theguardian.com/education/20...

I've been watching repeats of Bewitched and I'd never before noticed that Samantha and Darrin had a copy of this picture prominently in the hallway of their house. When someone shows you who they are ...

10am on Saturday's an odd time to be watching a classic film noir, but here I am. #Laura

@jimmyseed.bsky.social @marioncafc.bsky.social Hello you two, welcome to bluesy!

Somehow, I've just been stung by a bee. Ow! And also Wow!

You won't see this on Twitter! Blackheath this evening.