The bramley in fine form at the moment.

A rare appearance of 'Being There' on iPlayer. Sellers' (remarkable) penultimate film, almost an anti-performance from the lead. Recommended.

I'm old enough to remember when botany degrees were a thing (I did one for a year myself), so very pleased to see this.

Happy Easter!

The University of Greenwich have seen fit to renew my visiting fellowship for an additional three years, so hoorah for that (and to them). There'll be an extra fish finger for dinner tonight.

A glorious depiction of Heathy Hill (Bryher, Isles of Scilly) by Hester Berry, waiting for someone at @theharbourgallery.bsky.social. Unfortunately I lack the wall space (and funds!) for it, but we can all enjoy it here.

Very pleased to have been invited to write a science and nature column in the parish mag. No page charges and sympathetic referees, what's not to like?

I had to have one of the cats euthanised yesterday. He became very poorly very quickly. Just a matter of hours. He was 3 years old. A quiet day in the garden today; at least the sun is out.

Delighted to receive this hand-bound edition of J O Morgan’s ‘Pupa’. It’s a lovely thing. Thanks to @davidcollard.bsky.social for the tip off.

I have a joke about Maxwell's demon, but it violates the second law of thermodynamics.

I have a John Cage joke, but

@bsbibotany.bsky.social Blackthorn for the white flower #wildflowerhour challenge this week. North Cornwall. (Very similar to cherry plum, but the sepals aren’t reflexed in blackthorn).

This is cool. The Government is set to allow plug-in solar, low cost solar panels that families can buy at supermarkets and put on their balconies or outdoor space. "In Germany over a million have been sold, helping households with energy costs and reducing dependence on fossil fuels."

CB editions February newsletter - it's been a bad month - as archived on the blog: sonofabook.blogspot.com/2026/02/cbe-...

Morning.

I arrive home, and the village is awash with the sound of lawnmowers. Madness. Anyway, here’s Izzy.

See that ginkgo? I prepared plastocyanin from it in 1994. ANYWAY. Great job opportunity for someone.

New Editorial: "Celebrating photosynthesis" rdcu.be/e6oTm Photosynthesis is both an elegantly simple and dazzlingly complex process. The year 2026 marks anniversaries of the discoveries of both of these layers.

“You don’t seriously suggest that they’re talking when they make that rattling noise?”

Good to see the c6 story developing. My PhD supervisor, Derek Bendall, always had a soft spot for this cytochrome.

Fauré's Requiem from the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir on R3 right now. There'll be no work done here while this is on.

JOB ALERT! We are excited to announce that we are recruiting three new academics at lecturer level! Click the link below for more info on how to apply, and don’t forget to explore our research themes too! We look forward to receiving your applications! www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de...

Some fascinating associations here. I wouldn't necessarily have expected Norwegian Progressive Intellectuals, the British Wildlife and Birding Community, Everton Football Club Supporters, & Queer Leftist Artists and Shitposters to group together, but doubtless the world is a better place for it.

I know you're all excited about the luge at the moment, but this is very good. Jurowski's Mahler 9 with the LPO - a live performance from 2022, but I don't hear any bronchial interruptions from the audience. The adagio canters along - under 23 minutes, but slow enough when it needs to be.

Afternoon ramble. It’s not raining!

Evening

Yes, many things are terrible, but here’s Mini with his dad.

He would like the weather changed, please.

Into enormous Prehistoric fungi? Who isn't? How about something even weirder?

Evening plans.

Aurora over Cornwall tonight

Proteins plucked from the pages of Renaissance recipes Analyses of German medical manuals from 1531 reveal what ingredients those who handled the books used

This old boy moved into my garden a couple of years ago. He was an entire tomcat, completely unsocialised and terrified of people. Well, we’re friends now. He had his first flea comb today.

A Bronx cheer for the producer who decided to play 'Wolf Soundscapes' on R3 Night Tracks tonight. Cats have scarpered.

Very happy to say that Ian McMillan, and his early strolls, have arrived on Bluesky.

Power is out in Cornwall, but the roof is still on, so that’s all good.

No train services (or RRBs) running in Cornwall after 1800h tonight. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Interested in extraterrestrial photosynthesis? Of course you are! The remote attendance registration deadline closes 1 May 2026. nexss.info/extraterrest...

An early flowering common dog-violet for the #NewYearPlantHunt today. Nothing else especially interesting around (plenty of red campion, snowdrops, primroses and the odd daffodil in bud). St Ervan, Cornwall. #wildflowerhour

Pinning down what PGR5 is actually doing has been a real head-scratcher since its discovery 20+ years ago, and I suspect we'll still be arguing about it in 20 years time.

I expect to see Yannick Nézet-Séguin crowdsurfing while conducting the Radetzky March next year.

2026 going tolerably well SO FAR.

Farewell then, 2025; happy new year, if that’s your thing. A rather middling sort of year for me. A couple of publications, a new roof, and a vet bill. (You can guess which cost more of the latter two, and you’d be right).

Coco, seeing the year out. Pervasive aroma of fermenting windfalls in the garden today.

Darwinism, but confectionery.

Snowdrops out in St Ervan, Cornwall for #wildflowerhour

The reliably magnificent Rupert Everett on R3 right now klaxon

Not a bad day at all, mind you. All’s well in the parish.

Boxing Day stroll. One of those feral rural churches that creeps up on you.

sitrep