Sinead. www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiEc...

The world's just a really confusing place the now. But music, music www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4it...

Another fire in a building in Glasgow City Centre. Looks bad. It’s becoming a very common occurrence. Hope everyone is okay

Perry Bamonte, guitarist and keyboardist for the Cure, dies aged 65

Hope you've all had a happy, peaceful couple of days. www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7T6...

The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future have left the building.

Wouldn't be one of my shuffle blasts without Elbow. I love them for many reasons but the fact Guy looks like my late, oh so beloved Mr Ricketts is one. Also, they did requests during lockdown and I asked for this. Stay till the end. My name is there. 💚 www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTKm...

'The screen door slams, Mary's dress sways Like a vision, she dances across the porch as the radio plays Roy Orbison singing for the lonely Hey, that's me, and I want you only Don't turn me home again I just can't face myself alone again' This is why he's The Boss www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDID...

Now this is dancing. www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKkj...

David Byrne ' I wanna dance with somebody' Always www.youtube.com/watch?v=izx8...

The Go Betweens. 💚 www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM8z...

This is so so beautiful. 'Red Rain'. Peter Gabriel, Michael Stipe and the magnificent Nathalie Merchant. www.youtube.com/watch?v=awh7...

elbow. had to be. one of my all time favourite bands. saw them twice at this year's Kelvingrove bandstand. www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MsK...

The Civil Wars in Glasgow. I was there. Incredible crowd. They split up just after this. Sadly. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxhQ...

Just finished some work for tonight so scrolling you tube for some beloved tracks. Have this first. Stipe in a white suit. Dancing with joy. Bonus Eddie V. And the rest of the band. www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgPF...

A total and utter hero

Crace nails the nobody man as a nobody with nothing to say

Been laid up sick for the past couple of weeks so been listening to a ton of my favourite music. Have this gem. Happy weekend. X www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMQk...

Rather significant deficit re dotted-Is-and-crossed-Ts in a peace agreement when the primary aggressor doesn’t agree to the terms. www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

This afternoon, I end the War on Biscuits.

SAG-AFTRA has released a statement on Tilly Norwood, the AI "performer," saying: “To be clear, 'Tilly Norwood' is not an actor, it’s a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers — without permission or compensation."

Yup. This includes us academics too. Sign up for the ALCS, you could get a nice little payout you didn’t expect.

🖋️ Langside Library Poetry Project The exterior of Langside Library is to be transformed into a spectacular display of poetry. Submission prompts: The Battle of Langside Knowledge and Learning Community Access Mary, Queen of Scots Refuge / Haven opportunities.creativescotland.com/opportunity/...

This is my second event of the week. I'll be at the Byres Rd Book Festival with my friend and collaborator, Aisling Walsh. This one is sold out too but there's a waiting list you can join. Eventbrite events often sell out then folk don't always turn up on the night, so it's definitely worth doing

Forgive the self promotion but a couple of events coming up that I'm taking part in. On Thursday 25th I'm on a panel with Neil Forsyth (Guilt, The Gold) Really looking forward to this....I think it might be full but you might be able to register for the online version if you fancy it.

Aisling Walsh and I will be at the Byres Road Book Festival on Sept 28th. Tickets are selling fast now, it's free but you have to sign up on Eventbrite to book a space.

Hold The Front Page

It's an anomaly, rather than protocol, to have a second state visit for a US President. When that President is currently demolishing human rights, violating international law, invading his own cities and linked to a prolific sex offender it makes it even more disgusting the state visit is still on.

We're being governed by a Confederacy Of Dunces. If any of my left leaning pals want to defend Starmer and the Labour Party, I'll happily listen, but it's going to take a fuck of a lot to persuade me he's acting with any moral clarity. Netanyahu is out of control. What is Starmer thinking?

The director, Aisling Walsh and I will be in conversation at the Byres Road Book Festival on Sept 28th. We'll be talking all things Austen and discussing our creative collaborations and process. It's free but you have to book. Hope to see you there. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/miss-auste...

Episode One of our show 'Mayflies' is now on the BBCIPlayer and for the rest of August. Starring Martin Compston, Tony Curran and Ashley Jensen. Episode Two should be available shortly. @SynchronicityF

The Bear series 4 brought me back here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap8x...

Just verified that I'm an adult. (Moot point, I know) They weren't convinced my face was a real person's face for quite a few goes though...

An inspiring event at the Garden Cinema yesterday, where we heard from three leading screenwriters + WGGB activists, Olivia Hetreed, @gibbzer.bsky.social + @linelangebek.bsky.social They spoke about the art of ‘spinning plates’ - professionally, personally + in the sphere of activism + mentoring

Nominations for the WFTV awards close today at 6pm. Anyone can nominate. I've just done all of mine. There are so many brilliant women pushing barriers, making waves and doing exceptional work in this highly challenging industry. We should acknowledge them. form.typeform.com/to/kr5Irmai?...

Back in the Miss Austen saddle. deadline.com/2025/06/miss...

"This was the thing that nearly had us mastered; Don't yet rejoice in his defeat, you men! Although the world stood up and stopped the bastard, The bitch that bore him is in heat again.” ― Bertolt Brecht, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui 2/2

“If we could learn to look instead of gawking, We'd see the horror in the heart of farce, If only we could act instead of talking, We wouldn't always end up on our arse.'' More Brecht 1/2

“We attacked a foreign people and treated them like rebels. As you know, it's all right to treat barbarians barbarically. It's the desire to be barbaric that makes governments call their enemies barbarians.” ― Bertolt Brecht

London pals, I'm doing this on June 26th with screenwriters Olivia Hetreed and Line Langebek. We'll be talking about surviving as screenwriters, being part of a union and supporting other writers. Please come along and chat with us. Be lovely to see you. www.thegardencinema.co.uk/film/spinnin...

Glorious Bathers gig st Glasgow Uni on Friday night. They were on top form and the audience rose to the occasion. Very special.

Seeing as you were so brilliant the last time I posted a painting I was trying to find information about, here's another one! Still Life. 1958. Initialed on the back. Any ideas?

‘Miss Austen’ star Keeley Hawes on her first Regency romance and being married to Matthew Macfadyen IRL: “I do bask in the reflected glory of his Mr. Darcy”

Every time I have a cup of tea I leave a tiny bit at the bottom which goes into the next cup of tea. In this way I have been drinking an unbroken line of tea going all the way back to 1997.

Not a good day for Labour really at all. Standing for all the wrong shit.

No matter what you do, the far right will always want the next cruelty, and their torch-bearers in the press will attack you for not delivering it. All while priming voters to conceive of far right concerns as newly moderate. Again, this has happened in every single place this has ever been tried.

3 months ago, I wrote this about centrist parties aping the far right, and how it's not just immoral, but suicidal. This is not secret knowledge. It's the most reliable effect in world politics. It's watching 40 guys getting killed by the same gorilla, one by one, and stepping up to take your turn.

Taking immigration off the political agenda with as little fuss as possible would satisfy anti-voters because it no longer would be seen as a problem/out-of-control and satisfy pro-voters because British politics would be focused on issues they care about more.

Not much to be said that hasn't already, but Labour's immigration policy/strategy is the wrong way around. Better to quietly deliver a fair/controlled system (to later point to numbers that were falling anyway) and lowered temperature/salience of the issue - so have a strong rebuttal at next GE.