We've not had much snow here in Liverpool, but there's enough frost and ice outside that I aborted a walk round to the shop. I've already had two hip surgeries, I don't want another.

I reckon I've found the next Roy Jay to upend the Tiktok generation. In fairness, if I didnt know it was real I'd be looking in the background for the Slender Man too.

In this house, on New Year’s Eve, we play Mario Kart.

I shared a pic of some Turnstones the other day… so today let’s have something a bit more exotic, such as this show-off Grey Crowned Crane. Another #bird for @vicmmic.bsky.social

Oh no, Zammo from Grange Hill is DEAD

Tradition now to have Mr Ben Baker with us on Xmas mornings via Noisebox. Switch on, tune in, Xmas up.

Just watched the 1945 Christmas In Connecticut* in which Barbara Stanwyck has to pretend to be married whilst also being an absolute HORNDOG for a sailor. *not the 1992 television remake directed by - wait for it - Arnold Schwarzenegger.

New ‘What if?’ video up now. This week, in an alternative 1982, David Bowie tires of his new soul-pop direction, and decides to get the old band back together! #bowie #musicsky 🎸 youtu.be/WB2efswkPmU?...

Been listening to an Okeh Western Swing compilation. It’s about as far from Christmas music as you can get, but somehow it really suits the season and Christmas Eve. May make this a tradition.

The ham is in its bath, repeat, the ham is in its bath* *slow cooker, but also a euphemism as I, a ham, am about to get into the bath

SEASON’S GREETINGS! We’re rounding off the epic series 4 of BBSO:BSSO with a look at the 1960s number one hits unique to Disc magazine. Robots! Mice! Stomping! Neddy! Thanks for your support this year. See you in 2026. plinkhq.com/i/1531129636...

After watching the Derek Griffiths thing I watched the title theme of Dark Towers and I could feel 40-odd years drop off my age instantly. A formative voice and definitely amongst the reasons I ended up a musician.

Who wants more information than they expected about the source material and other adaptations of what Spike Lee used for this year's Highest 2 Lowest? Everyone? GOOD. (This is, of course, actually a brief thread compared to what research I could have stuffed in there)

Before (and during for a bit) @bigsort.bsky.social I spent my time podcasting about the author Ed McBain and his 87th Precinct novels with @morganlbrown.bsky.social and our pal Stevo. Well, after a three and a half year accidental gap… we’re back!

That’s two weeks and two Christmas quizzes at work written by Chat G P T that have been either (a) bizarre or (b) completely wrong. And both times the presenter told us they were by AI and so they might be wrong. And both times they hadn’t read them in advance to check.

From ten years ago: I did a drawing of my crismis outfit. #crismis #outfit #idiot #bunpods?

Big fan of how this package (to me in Liverpool), got from Inverness to Warrington okay (Tracked 48), then went for a little holiday to Atherstone - a small town outside Coventry - and has now headed back to Warrington.

There is no reason anyone, anywhere should have guns or access to guns. I hate waking up to these news headlines over and over again.

Two years today since my hip-replacement revision surgery. They were changing metal for ceramic to stop the joint poisoning my blood. I assume that my blood just goes back to normal eventually? I don’t know how blood works.

sild

Busy on the bird feeder this morning - the blue-tits and sparrows are together in a gang, whilst the great-tits sometimes join in and the robin, loudest of the lot of them, patiently waits his turn to get into the food.

I look forward to explaining this next time I’m going through immigration at JFK.

I look forward to explaining this next time I’m going through immigration at JFK.

I look forward to explaining this next time I’m going through immigration at JFK.

I look forward to explaining this next time I’m going through immigration at JFK.

I look forward to explaining this next time I’m going through immigration at JFK.

Until I was researching this I forgot that we had a weird family connection to the car park in Get Carter. I mean, I’d say that’s reason enough to listen!

Paul here… I recently stretched my hosting muscles when talking to Tim about 90s compilations of 60s/70s “lounge” music (and associated library music bits and bobs). Dig into this episode of @looksunfamiliar.bsky.social and find out what my family connection to Get Carter is!

My hero of 2025

I'm so excited by my WISE and POWERFUL decision to buy a piece of @mkupperman.bsky.social art, that I'm going to let you all look at a piece of my own original art. (Ink on Sticky Note. 2017)

I love Michael Kupperman's work so much - I BOUGHT SOME! Even the insane UK postage rate wasn't enough to stop. I was ready, the time was now and there ain't nobody gonna stop me. Wheeeeee. Yahoooo.

I believe that Microsoft Word is getting worse and worse and weirder and weirder. Shocking, I know. What's going on with the spell-checking here? (This is OCR text pasted in). Why some words highlighted and not others?

Piss control failure

I love Sooty, Sweep and Sue, but I ABHOR LONG SOOTY, AN ABOMINATION IN THE EYES OF MAN AND GOD.

If you want a top smart, not in the shops unique Christmas gift for the telly obsessive in your life, why not consider one of my books in print or digital? linktr.ee/BenBakerBooks

I put my Tim Hat on and transport us to both the Mid-90s and the late 60s, via the magic of The Sound Spectrum… I’m guest-hosting @looksunfamiliar.bsky.social !

My name is Roscoe Piglimbs and I'm a stool-pigeon. A real grunter for the mob.

Which is worse, war-crimes or the feel crêpe paper?

Is GDT’s Frankenstein supposed to be good, because I think it might be one of the worst things I’ve ever seen.

I loved that police show that was set in the North East… you know, the one with Martin Shaw, where he played, what was his name again? Oh yes, Inspector…

GAMS ALERT, @alfsplaining.bsky.social

This is your reminder to pull the bed out from the wall and vacuum behind it because, eeeeeeeeee dust

I’ve had one of those days where I feel awful - sick, a bit mentally off and tired - very tired… but have also heard some great news from and about friends and that really means so much.

Something/one to believe in.

Steve Cropper was an amazing guitarist. He knew when to play, when to groove. Much more of a lasting influence on me (and I'm sure many, many folk) than early obsessions with Hendrix, Clapton and the like. I've done a mix highlighting his guitar on Johnnie Taylor's Who's Making Love (right channel)

Let's have a photo of Cropper with a few other musicians hanging around... (LOOK AT THE GLOVES ON RINGO!)

Well this is shit news.

I apologise for having a three day beard growth that looks simply disgusting.