Once upon a time I’d feel really pissed off about this. I just don’t care anymore. We’re so bad. #SaintsFC

Feel so sorry for #SWFC fans but they shouldn’t view their punishment as a 12-point deduction. They’re playing #SaintsFC soon which means it’s basically only a 9-point deduction.

🤯 Just read that in 1954 Woodie Guthrie wrote notes and lyrics about how his landlord made money by stirring up racial hatred and using discriminatory rental policies. His landlord was Fred Trump, father of Donald, who must have taught his son a thing or two about profiting from racism…

Shoutout to the parents of the Strictly Come Dancing Camera Supervisor:

Great to be back in my own bed last night after operation and sleepless night in hospital in Winchester. The NHS is one of this country’s greatest triumphs. The staff and the nurses - a diverse range of people from all over the world - were utterly amazing. Wonderful humans. They are superheroes.

Sane people: ‘We’re horrified by all these videos of the masked and armed wannabe-Gestapo ICE thugs terrorising, assaulting, killing, and disappearing their fellow human beings in America.’ The Tories: ‘Yes! ICE! ICE is exactly what we need to make Britain great again!’ God give me strength…

Bravo.

I bet corporations are loving the fact that everyone is so distracted by ‘the immigrants’ because they can just get away with ripping us off. We should be angry about their huge profits but nobody is bothered because ‘blame the immigrants’. I want my country back from the profiteering extortionists.

Phew!!! Heroes, every single one of them!

National hero.

Another legend gone. There’ll be a hell of a party going on somewhere right now…

I’m currently reading Wuthering Heights. This Heathcliff chap is a real piece of work.

Feel like I’ve aged a few years this evening. Bloody well done, England… Phew! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Tonight’s braai.

Waiting outside the library Eager for the doors to open Because we got here early A bag of stories to be returned Others yet undiscovered Waiting for us on the shelves.

Currently holding a letter written by Frederick, Prince of Wales…🤯

Back with the newspapers today, looking at mentions of the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1738. Of course, there's more there than just Frederick and Augusta. The papers yield unexpected gems like this one, from 29 September. A reminder that humans have always, always been messy and ridiculous:

Finished reading Steinbeck’s cracking Cannery Row this morning. Published in 1945, as true then as it is now.

Sam Matterface and Lee Dixon are the biggest bores in football. All the derisive, condescending, and sneering comments about the Latvians are so unnecessary.

From shovelling shit this morning to watching it this afternoon.

Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President Zelenskyy. We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.

On 24 June 2023 Prigozhin was 200km from Moscow. Now Putin’s in the Oval. Russian history has always been wild.

Sometimes people spell my name wrong in emails. The most common misspelling is Russel. Occasionally I get a Rusell or a Russle. Today I had a new one. ‘Hi Russia.’ Russia. Somebody called me Russia. Never have I been so insulted! 😂

WE HAVE DONE AN ACTUAL PREMIER LEAGUE WIN!!! 🫨 #SaintsFC

Finally got round to making a personal Bluesky account. Hurrah. Been here doing @historicalsoton.bsky.social for a while now and it’s such a breath of fresh air compared to President Musk’s hellhole fascist cesspit. There were blue skies on our walk this morning. One of the swans bit my finger.