I've taken the paywall off this eulogy I wrote for my magical, mysterious ex-stray cat George - who died last year - in case anybody would like a read. It was very, very hard to write but I think it might be my favourite thing I’ve ever written about cats. www.tom-cox.com/lots-of-peop...

Birkenhead Priory.

Meols beach on a very cold morning.

A cartoon by Charlie Hankin. #NewYorkerCartoons See more from this week’s issue: https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/WM55fQ

Best birthday ever!

I don’t mention this in the new INVENTORY but the Clientele’s version of an obscure Shack/Mick Head song called Closer is one of their most sublime, mysterious and magical recordings. You’re welcome. @backlisted.bsky.social theclientele.bandcamp.com/album/closer

Also my Dick Gaughan piece has had LOADS of traction on the Guardian website. Thanks so much to all of you who shared it. xxx www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...

“What the HELL are you listening to?”

The sound you hear is of cricketers all over the world laughing forever.

Meanwhile, I think it was worth sacrificing book space for this:

From the many lovely cards that @mariephillips.bsky.social and I received on our wedding day it was difficult to pick a fav… oh, what am I saying?! Look at this marvel!

Sometimes I build Time Machines.…

The best day ever. It’s official. Also, our celebrant was Count Indigo. Isn’t that amazing?

This was the most joyful occasion I can remember in a long, long time. Yesterday in London, I saw happiness and its name is Marie and Andrew. xx @mariephillips.bsky.social @andrewmale.bsky.social

Some lovely stuff here. Definite Christmas shopping opportunity, that will give you a warm thrill by supporting a lovely Indy seller.

The cult grows. @mariephillips.bsky.social

Shapes of Things To Come. Windows in The Museum of Liverpool Life.

The cats would like me to think about what I have done

Rewatching this on iPlayer (even though I own it on BluRay - shut up) and it is always funnier, darker and more abstract and ambitious than I remember. It’s not perfect but it’s partly the imperfections that make it beautiful and unique.

Go on, let it grab your soul away.

Well, my dad did meet the Krays once. In a pub in Islington in the 50s when he was waiting for my mum before they were married. They had the best suits he'd ever seen, he told me.

Sunset reflected onto Liverpool.

I wrote about this house and a memory evoked by Patti Smith’s Birdland at the Lond Palladium. You can read it in the current edition of Science & Magic. Available here along with my previous 9 Magnetic North musings: www.violetterecords.com/science-and-...

Got a spare two million euros lying around? This gorgeous Brussels Art Nouveau masterpiece is for sale.

Sitges (2025) photograph by Anne Billson

I knew nothing about Diane Keaton’s photography career. This is fascinating. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

Spotted a Packard One-Twenty.

I mean, it would be ridiculous if Elston Gunn or Blind Boy Grunt turned up as a last-minute guest wouldn’t it. But he’s done more ridiculous and unexpected things, so who knows?

For those who remember STB listening to John Coltrane, I bring you: Hildy listening to Stan Getz

I wasn’t sure about I Know Where I’m Going the first time I watched it. Now I am. It is perfect. boxd.it/bkJTol

I’m in this new @mojomagazine.bsky.social interviewing the great Brigitte Fontaine, telling you How To Buy Electric Miles Davis (in short: buy it all) and reviewing the wonderful new Steve Gunn LP plus multi-disc reissues by William Basinski and The Dream Syndicate.

We watched the new(ish) Mission Impossible. Brave choice to have absolutely nothing happen in the first hour but the rest was okay. And the biplane chase was great, but not as good as this. youtu.be/fQEGMNLTYPs?...

Ah, happy 88th anniversary of the day Oswald Mosley tried to sell fascism to Liverpudlians – and someone concussed him with a brick

In autumn light. #Hildy

I'm entering my 60s and the one constant throughout my life has been the nasty, divisive influence of the Daily Mail on society. I think it has been a debilitating malady infecting our nation and should be dismantled.

Be grateful. Express that gratitude in tangible ways. Forget about those who promised to help but never really did. They may have meant well. Hug the ones who showed up. Remember their names.

More Noakes insanity. Top fact (literally): when he was doing his naval training, @andrewmale.bsky.social and @kmale.bsky.social’s dad was the Button Boy.

A new instalment of INVENTORY is available now via the @backlisted.bsky.social Patreon. Sign up as a Locklistener today, read about this magical record/these magical records, support the podcast. This week: June Christy, Something Cool www.patreon.com/backlisted

Six weeks ago, I picked up a year-old tawny owl with a broken leg off the main road near our home and dropped him off at our nearest vet. After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵

"Age yourself with a movie you saw in theatres as a kid"

75 years ago today, The first Peanuts comic strip was published. Peppermint Patty was such a brilliant character, and this is my favourite strip featuring her, from 28th December 1984.

Goodbye to her.

Thanks to selectmagazinescans I have spent part of the evening reading articles I wrote for Select magazine nearly thirty (30!!!) years ago. Including this one, that we had to issue a formal apology for. To Morrissey. The reasons will be come obvious.

US photographer Margaret Bourke-White on top of the Chrysler Building, New York, 1931 #womensart

UPS your package will be delivered between 9.45/1.45 today. Next update “Sorry we missed you” Timed at 9.10. Some strange time warp possibly.

Ominous sky over New Brighton.

When Saturday Comes.