Happy birthday to Bob Dylan. I’ve met him many times, but he's a notorious prankster and always pretends to be someone else, like a postman, a priest, or a doctor’s receptionist. No matter how doggedly I insist “I know it’s you, Bob!" he never breaks character. Often the police are called. Legend.

I genuinely believe the decision to cancel the pensioners winter fuel payment early in government fuelled the collapse in support for Labour. While there may be other issues in the minds of voters, this one decision caused so much hostility and helped to feed populist narratives against Labour.

Which, unsurprisingly, is an opera about obsession.

Little reminder of where to send all those Reform leaflets back to:

Don’t forget to send reform leaflets back. It costs them £2.50 a pop.

what’s the matter, you’ve barely touched your easter potato

so what you’re saying is that immigrants haves failed to respect a nation’s laws & don’t integrate into the culture

Which, unsurprisingly, is an opera about obsession.

'Inner south-east London’s only professional football club...' Well that's bollocks, isn't it? #cafc

It's been six long years, but we're finally back in Tokyo and our favourite hotel.

Which, unsurprisingly, is an opera about obsession.

The Labour government have confirmed that those seeking asylum from war, torture and persecution will be able to keep their wedding rings, some of their clothes and most of their internal organs.

My husband @mjowen174.bsky.social is very down. He’s struggling to find any work at the moment. He’s a brilliant writer and has written for Dangermouse, Private Eye and many more… If you need a writer have a look at his website and please repost. www.mathew-owen.co.uk Thank you

Which, unsurprisingly, is an opera about obsession.

If you could please do us a favour and RT (or whatever it is on here) my writing CV I would be extremely grateful. I am a very capable writer of words, mainly “humorous”’ and if you have some PROPER paid work for me, please DM me. Thank you for your time www.mathew-owen.co.uk

Yes, yes I know I keep banging on about my fucking book! However, if you want one repost this and I’ll do a random winner pick thing by the end of the week because I’m great like that. ♥️📚 #amindofmyown

I have to find a new home in the next month, does anyone have any leads? Looking for a double room SE London c. £800+bills if that's still possible in this economy.

@sandraandderrick.bsky.social In Dresden yesterday, I thought about you, for some unfathomable reason.

From this week’s Beano.

Which, unsurprisingly, is an opera about obsession.

The genius that was Brian Wilson is no more. www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y3J...

Oooh, you mean it's OK to leave, realise it's a mistake, then rejoin? 😉

Which, unsurprisingly, is an opera about obsession.

Maybe his pants caught alight. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

While the government inevitably tries to out Reform the Reform party, how about focussing on the fact that more and more kids are becoming homeless on your watch? www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

Today, at Hampton Hill Theatre, we will see our fourteenth production of @officialmelbrooks.bsky.social magnificent The Producers.

To people I met: "The last time I was here was for Ken Dodd". Their reply: "This'll be shorter than Ken Dodd". @mssjones.bsky.social @frescoleraye.bsky.social

Liechtensteiners often have trouble with check-in staff, immigration officials and others not knowing where the country is. Now, on the first page of new passports issued by Liechtenstein, there is a map of Europe and a big arrow pointing to where it is.

Wow! John Lewis is really slashing prices.

In #Florida for my mother-in-law's funeral. A cultural desert where opera's only role is to be played at high volume by convenience stores to deter the congregation of youth.

Jack Benny by Clarence Sinclair Bull, 1936 Today would have been Benny's 39th birthday 🎂💓

Following his renaming of the Gulf of Mexico, Trump has now signed an executive order to replace the national anthem with this. www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXeW...

Once again our home insurance for 2025 has increased dramatically, this time by 32.5%, over 10 times inflation for 2023-2024. Once again, I called and chose the "Thinking of cancelling option". And, once again, it has been drastically reduced to a rise of 4.3%.

Tonight, at the Menier Chocolate Factory, we will see our thirteenth production of Mel Brooks's magnificent The Producers.

We are in a hotel room in Berlin watching supermarket-trolley curling.

If you find yourself in Berlin, you should see Chicago at the Schiller Theatre. It's worth the ticket price just for the opening number; All That Jazz. It's one singer, 12 dancers with pink feather fans and a backdrop of about 4000 lights. It is absolutely stunning.

We have snow in SE7. #snow

Which, unsurprisingly, is an opera about obsession.

Tickets bought for The Producers at the Menier Chocolate Factory. This will be the 13th production we've seen, from Argentina to the Czech Republic, from Broadway to Frome et al.

I highly recommend The Decade in Tory by Russell Jones - a caustic celebration of corruption, cronyism and chaos. And, it's extremely funny too.

Yet another Trump supporter has crawled out of the sunflower field.

The first song I ever heard by Françiose Hardy. www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlMw...

Fifty years ago today, in The Black Cap in Camden Town, I asked @mudlarklives.bsky.social "Are Americans really called Chuck?" "They are", he replied, "and some are called Clay". We have been together ever since.

We are in a hotel room in Dresden watching darts!

Wishing all of my readers a joyous general-election year.

@gayrath.bsky.social Happy life, the universe and everything day, from me and @mudlarklives.bsky.social.

A happy Christmas to all my readers - both of you.