My 30 year old liberal daughter in London got this actual ad in her Instagram feed. She’s a honest woman. She says it was real. I mean really? This would not be the home decor I would have pegged for her. Or any of her friends. Or any of her family.

I really do think this is a thing. I go for a long walk with no one and nothing in my ears to sort out my thoughts. It’s bloody hard! — Ian McEwan: It’s harder to write now that phones have killed thinking www.thetimes.com/article/d1eb...

I’m halfway to my £5,000 goal. 🙏 •⁠ ⁠£200 subsidises a place for a pilgrim who is suffering but otherwise couldn’t afford it •⁠ ⁠£450 trains a new Grief Pilgrim Guide •⁠ ⁠£5,000 — my goal — creates a whole new three-day bereavement journey, including design givestar.io/gs/100-miles...

That Pitt Rivers. Must have been quite someone to share a house with.

I’ve reached Oxford! Alone. Just me, my backpack and a lovely hazel staff. Stage one of my Thames Pilgrim Way walk — source to Oxford, the first 55 miles — is done. I began last Thursday to raise funds for the British Pilgrimage Trust 🧵

This is Radcot Bridge, precisely where the eponymous battle occurred in 1387 between the supporters of King Richard II (boo) and an army led by Henry Bolingbroke, who later became King Henry IV.

From the last time we had to fight off the fascists… Second World War pillboxes along the River Thames between Lechlade and Newbridge… so if Farage makes it this far… They’re full of fag packets and beer cans now. givestar.io/gs/100-miles...

A glorious second day of my pilgrimage from the source of the river Thames to the sea to raise money for mental health programs at the British Pilgrimage Trust. 30 miles done. Only another 150 or so to go!! givestar.io/gs/100-miles...

Mamdani is delivering. Across parties. Khan is doing the same. Both in the face of horrible horrible racism and trolling. He got my vote here. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

#Legends on Netflix. A lot of TV sucks. This doesn’t. FWIW.

I'm packing light, but with a weighty and determined heart full of hope. I leave this week for my pilgrimage to support mental-health programmes w/ @pilgrimtrust.bsky.social. Those I love deeply struggle. This is now my post-career focus. Please support me. givestar.io/gs/100-miles...

Support me? It’s a good cause ❤️❤️ givestar.io/gs/100-miles...

Reform = Brexit. Simple as that.

Wonderful messages to #sirdavidattenborough on his 100th birthday made me tear up a bit. Been watching him on TV since I was a child. “Oh no. No sex life of a blowfly at the dinner table” my mother would shout from the kitchen as she was setting out dinner. We all absolutely loved him. (And her!)

This week’s “Intellect” is thoughtful. I’m increasingly struck by how my timeline is now pretty much 100% angry American anti-Trump politics. A bit of UK. But mostly USA. And a lot of dogs dying. Is this doing any good? I’m off for a walk. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Rage in the age of X

The azaleas in the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park are peak stunning. Don’t miss them!

A little inspiration for #MayDay. A look at ancient folkloric traditions and pilgrimage paths you could consider to breathe in the earthy, heady scent of summer arriving. Peace and #bringyourownbeliefs www.britishpilgrimage.org/stories/the-...

“All kinds of people say all kinds of things for all kinds of reasons. I actually think it’s very freeing to have a set of principles and stick to those principles,” A fascinating man. He will have an epic impact on the lives of all of us. Gift link. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

The choice of Pope Leo was a master stroke. His ability to question Trump and his Christian cult followers — in an American accent — is already beating fruit (Gift link.) giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Pope Leo XIV: the pontiff at war with the White House

I’m so confused. Offline for one day and I seriously don’t know if this is a ceasefire sort of day or a war sort of day. Strait open or closed. Oil up or down. How do businesses plan ahead for this sort of nonsense.

The second best part of this is the guys laughter. Epic beyond all.

The Thames at Richmond. My home. I’m walking from source to sea this summer to raise money for mental health programmes. Your support would be so welcome #charity. givestar.io/gs/100-miles...

Malus snowdrift crab apple tree in blossom in my garden. A glorious buzzing cloud of scented petals and bees.

Which country is the tyrannical theocracy now?

This is a grave and era-defining moment for the world. Donald Trump is making wilder and increasingly concerning threats by the hour. If Trump follows through with this, Keir Starmer must immediately recall Parliament.

Will this be heard? @labouruk.bsky.social it needs to be. We must not support and enable these war crimes.

After Trump's latest shocking threats, Keir Starmer faces a choice. Withdraw US access now to UK air bases, or risk letting British soil be used to commit war crimes.

The Bayeux Tapestry has survived our collective European history, miraculously dodging fires, the French Revolution, Napoleon, Nazis. Bletchley Park even makes a plot appearance. Read it. Fantastic. Gift 🗞️ giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... The political power struggle behind the Bayeux Tapestry

Are you tired of winning yet?

It’s finally here. Just in time for Easter. Malus Snowdrift crab apple tree in my garden. Planted in 2021 and now really coming into its own. It’s a thing of joy and beauty. #gardeningsky

When is a library not a library? When it’s the Trump Presidential Library with no books. Utterly horrible.

Left: Christian faith leaders praying with President Trump Right: Pope Leo on Palm Sunday, "Jesus does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, he rejects then, saying: Even though you make many prayers I will not listen, your hands are full of blood"

Loving all the scenes of #NoKings in the US. Just saw someone walking behind a CNN reporter from Minneapolis with a sign that said “no faux-king pedo.” Brill.

Trying to find out if there’s a #NoKings protest tomorrow in London. Hey America— we’re ALL affected by the mess Trump’s made. We want to protest too! It’s called #NoTryants here (fair). It says it is TBD. Someone should prob update the page. Is this happening? @50501movement.bsky.social

Last week Trump said he didn't need Britain's help because he'd already won this war. So we mustn't let him push the UK around now. Any decision on the deployment of our Armed Forces should be made in the UK's national interest and subject to a vote in Parliament.

I’ve lost count of the ways I disagree with Kemi Badenoch on Radio 4 Today. Any excuse to just disagree with government. We are defending our interests and our bases and sharing intelligence. To actively bomb Iran would be a massive escalation and a green light to more enemies.

This expert on the BBC was amazing and fascinating. Worth a listen. What a life of learning he’s had.

I’ll admit we’re feeling pretty despondent about the future blah blah. Will Trump press the button? So we’ve made a Spotify playlist that reflects “Cosmic Americana” with a more whimsical Presidential character. And we’re finishing our best whisky. Might as well. open.spotify.com/playlist/37i...

More thoughts: https://robertreich.substack.com/p/sunday-thought-the-mounting-costs

This

My massive support of PM Pedro Sanchez continues…

This is just lovely. Neil Sedaka with his grandson.

The good people at @goodlawproject.org make it so easy to send an email. Getting Palantir out of our MOD and NHS will be harder. But it would be remiss not to try. notopalantir.goodlawproject.org/email-to-tar...

It was one of those days when you can see the ghosts of all the other lovely days. You drink a bit and watch the ghosts.

An email today from the @borowitzreport.bsky.social shared this: open.substack.com/pub/borowitz... And if you want to watch the BBC documentary - aired before a visit to the UK in 2018 - link is below. (And the origin of "Quiet Piggy"? Def The Apprentice show.) www.reddit.com/r/Political_...

This was v grueling to watch. Russian “meat storms” send men to die. An est 1.2m killed or wounded since the war began. Commanders killing their own men. Soliders killing comrades to steal bank cards. Civilians imprisoned for reciting poetry. A #BBC current affairs doc. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

What first attracted a man accused of using a highly offensive racial slur aimed at black people & making a derogatory remark about Jewish women to a party led by Nigel Farage? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Our public services aren’t for a secretive profit-hungry US tech firm. Sign the petition to tell the Government to scrap all contracts with secretive US tech firm Palantir. you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/st...

Someone just described this cartoon to me in a meeting today. I felt it was worth sharing...

Our public services aren’t for a secretive profit-hungry US tech firm. Sign the petition to tell the Government to scrap all contracts with secretive US tech firm Palantir. you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/st...