Is it really a miracle that someone aged 60 has a mind and something worth saying? Crikey, guys, get real. Are we meant to spend the last thirty years of our lives apologising for cluttering up the earth with our useless selves?

Quickly puts the book back on the bookshop’s shelf

Happy Saturday all those suffering whatever from whoever and however - please enjoy a chin up song

Happy #caturday from me and my beloved stripy one

I am painting every London Tube Station. Today is the turn of Barbican. Barbican Underground Station, London. Postcard painting. Watercolour. darrenhaymanart.com

Sparkling coconut water! Weird but weirdly nice. Would be better with a bit of rum in it.

Ladies & gentlemen, we are floating in space

Time for a British English Wordle says I!

Yesterday’s doodle illuminates my deepest thoughts

Poor old Ann

Grief seems to have brought on a weird Bee Gees listening bout which must bemuse the Albanian builders upstairs.

Will ring my mum for a pep-talk was a thought I just had. But oh. Will think about my mum and imagine the pep-talk. #grief

Ah the familiar mechanic whirr and thrum of the busy tradesmen

Slobmaxxing going v well for me today

Ffs major literary prize I signed up to emails from you to hear about books & authors & not to be sold supplements via third party advertisers.

A, nei!!!

Ugh this heat man

There’s nothing I can say

In this little privileged enclave of south london - the 100 peroxide shades of blonde, the pearly whites - there’s a whole functioning shadow world of tradesmen, making hay while the world burns. The sound of drills accompanies my morning tea.

I love this woman’s words & works & this is such excellent news www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...

love/hate how my phone autocorrects publishers to punishers

Oh Norman, I think I could be on a desert island with all you & all your choices too. Much hearted love.

Fly the angel sleeves of your hostess dress at half mast, dim the standard lamps of all suburbia and please be seated at the telephone table to make the gossipiest call you can from a landline in memoriam💙

Boo!

This was once the beating heart of Newcastle’s local print news media

Leazes Park in a heatwave, oh my (despite being OMW to the UCC at the RVI)

A joyous read www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...

(Straw) hats off to this wonderful indie bookshop in the US. Passion for books is like air, needs to be breathed in deep: www.niemanlab.org/2026/06/book...

How much cocaine has Farage had for breakfast?

Sitting on the floor of the first class lounge like it’s 1995 again

Regardless of whatever else is going on, if I were Prime Minister I would resign on Monday simply because it’s going to be too hot next week

Happy Father’s Day to all the other amazing single mums today relying on their own wits, being their own wise counsel. It’s a tough road but brings so much treasure.

oh hello old friend

I wore my dress over my trousers like it was 1995 today and never have I felt more summer-ready.

I hate heat waves man

Where’s Andy Burnham going?

Love hearing about the Scottish fans in the US

Go on Andy

I wish I wish I wish I could take NSAIDs I wish I could

I'm all for awards celebrating debut novelists but how about a Writers Who Have Been Plugging Away At This Shit For Donkeys' Years And Honing Their Craft Awards?

This is so sad. She was excellent as basically a child bride in Big Love. I feel so sad for her partner. www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ju...

My god what did i just read www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Chapter 35 of Careless People is one eye-opening & horrifying explanation of trump’s Facebook advertising campaign in 2016 & just how/why he won so bigly

National Theatre earlier, chasing shadow

Early morning, Tyneside, 1952, photo by Harry Morrison.

I’d be more interested in social media policy for over 16 year olds. I think that’s as much the problem.

I know it’s practically blasphemy to say so, but society should not require everyone to work. Some people can’t. Some people shouldn’t. Some people contribute more by *not* working than they would by working. Work isn’t that important.

Having a music-off with builders upstairs. Albanian folk vrs The Beatles. It won’t get messy.

I hover between atheist and agnostic but was comforted so much in a church yesterday. We need more third spaces for crying, that’s what I say.

I mean, they could at least make prescriptions cheaper for 18-24 year olds not in education. That would be a start.