I love everything about this story, not least the care and interest shown by the lorry driver.

For a few minutes I stood by trees in thin sunshine and listened to birds calling and saw snowdrops open and - it is on the way, people, the world is turning. Good riddance January. On we go.

I see that I Know Where I’m Going! is on BBC2 at 11.05am tomorrow morning and I’m adding my name to the chorus of voices saying that it’s wonderful, do watch it. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...

and no I haven't put the Mandelson-Epstein-Reinaldo scoop on twitter we journalists *can* make Bluesky the place to break news

‘Winter Skein’ Other work of the Ladybird artists, (1983) Artist Ronald Lampitt

South Bank, yesterday

Boo. I went on this when it was only about 65 years old and it was an amazing relic then. A wooden rollercoaster.

I still say there's a very good case to be made that this is the greatest album cover of all time.

Wild London is lovely. David Attenborough enjoying hedgehogs perhaps loveliest www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

🎶New @cravenfaults.bsky.social album day today🎶

THE UKRAINE CRICKET JERSEY IS HERE! Ambition Sport will donate £5 from each shirt to our friends @fierce-calm.bsky.social, who provide therapies to Ukrainian soldiers 🇺🇦 Designed by our book's author @jonathancampion.com, and worn at last year's Euro T20 Cup! www.ambitionsport.com/product-cate...

The EFFORT of spring

@bbcspringwatch.bsky.social Two goldcrests checking out a tree right outside my window in early Feb last year. I think the agitated one saw a reflection -?

If you’d like to stop thinking about awful people for a bit, #Winterwatch is back in a few minutes on BBC2. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

nor one single star can revolve, but by some invisible power

oh my

Do yourself a huge favour: To honour Cary Grant's birthday today, stream him, Jean Arthur and Ronald Colman in ‘The Talk of the Town’, a deliciously funny cross between a top-notch rom-com and a portrait of democracy under threat so startlingly prescient you can't quite believe it dates from 1942.

The sound of snow

16th January 2026 08.33

One of the reasons that trees are the longest-lived organisms is their remarkable ability to rebuild after stress or injury. This bur oak, growing in a woodland pasture, was struck by lightning more than 50 years ago. It has built a new crown and is growing with vigor.

Quiet Sunday afternoon on the sofa with the dog and a pint. Anyone want to #AskAnAstronomer anything?

swans, Suffolk

‘At the edge of the mere’ Artist: CF Tunnicliffe (What to Look for in Winter, 1959)

Oh, this is worth looking at. (It’s probably not what you’re expecting. Even after reading that sublime headline.) Well done.

1st January 2026 08.43

This evening the management recommends:

2025 was more rubbish than not-rubbish. But I saw a kingfisher🩵 earlier today and so I have since done some optimistic things. Hope over existential crisis, AGAIN. On we go

🎆🎇🎆2025 HEADLINE OF THE YEAR🎆🎇🎆 🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆GRAND FINAL🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆 After a seeding round and three rounds of voting, we have our finalists: Top seed Pretty Obvious will be facing off against 3rd seed Police Are Scrambling. A reminder of how we got here:

🎆🎆Welcome to the edge-of-your-seat Semifinals for the 2025 Headline of the Year contest! 🎆🎆 The top 4 seeds have survived to the semis, with the #2 seed surviving two tough battles so far. Will Pretty Obvious hold off Leaked Memo? Will Resolved and Unresolved send the Police Scrambling? The draw:

Welcome to the thrilling Quarterfinal round of the 2025 Headline of the Year contest! (🎆🎆) Mostly proceeded according to seeds, but second seed Resolved and Unresolved had a close scare with the Drunk Raccoon. Let's review the results so far:

🎆Welcome to the Round of 16 of the 2025 Headline of the Year Contest!🎆 Voting will be open in 4 locations for each round for about a day. 16 headlines. Only 1 winner. A reminder of the nominees: bsky.app/profile/paul...

And here is the very best “of the year” competition you’re going to get, so do join in.

The FT has listed the stories its journalists wish they had published this year. And their article of 2025? This extraordinary @londoncentric.media piece. It is worth reading. (So is a subscription) www.londoncentric.media/p/terry-ball...

If you are shopping for loved ones this week, please consider adding a present for mothers and children who will spend Christmas in a refuge. @refugecharity.bsky.social Thank you. refuge.org.uk/christmas2025/

I don’t have much time for podcasts and so I’m late to this, but @alexpodyssey.bsky.social is marvellous. Each ep is a Greek myth told well, historical roots / cultural refs clearly explained, and a link to life now. About to start ep3 (Midas) and expect a certain NY property developer will feature.

The light didn’t get all the way into the chamber at Newgrange but it was still quite something to watch. Thousands of these have happened now. Try again next year.

A great start to the weekend of the winter solstice! What a morning at Newgrange today. The livestream link now available - be sure tune in on the morning of 21 December at 8:40am. 🔗 gov.ie/solstice 👈save it, share it, join in! #ShareTheSolstice #NewgrangeSolstice #WinterSolstice 📸 OPW Guides

PSA 1: Getting up and going for a walk is a Good Thing more often than not. Sometimes it’s really good.

The #WinterSolstice livestream link is now available Join us on 21 Dec @ 8:40 am to witness the solstice sunrise live from inside the #Newgrange chamber, weather permitting. Save the link now and be part of this extraordinary moment. 🔗www.gov.ie/solstice#WinterSolstice#Newgrange#ShareTheSolstice

Every now and then I get flashbacks to a very early career interview I did where I agreed (I know, I know but I was young) to let the subject read the piece before I published. He sent it back, having amended it with flourishes like: “…he added, with a wry smile.” 😂😭🤢

This really is Orion taken by my phone camera (and the brightness turned down). Good amount of stars visible tonight.

Sun came out for it

If you are shopping for loved ones this weekend, please consider adding a present for mothers and children who will spend Christmas in a refuge. @refugecharity.bsky.social Thank you. donate.refuge.org.uk/page/180196/...

Planted some Paperwhites indoors about a month ago when I was thinking about planting bulbs being a hopeful thing. And here they are

This is a ridonculous bargain, go for it

That perfect silver cup from Simon Luttichuys. Today is for him & his brother Isaack.

This morning.

Currently reading My Friends by Hisham Matar. It’s so quietly, beautifully written. The understatement makes it all the more tender and moving. This from the narrator, on whom a life mostly alone in exile was forced: