Currently playing chez nous: The Pretenders- The Isle of View A live, acoustic record. Beautiful playing, beautiful singing. Takes me back a long way to seeing the original line up. I’m pretty sure it was in Manchester.

That Dr Lecter was always so nice and polite. We always shared a bottle or two of Chianti with him at Christmas. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The bloke at the OBR answering questions on today’s farce should work for the Office For Fudge It Responsibility. I’ll get me coat.

The bloke at the OBR answering questions on today’s farce should work for the Office For Fudge It Responsibility. I’ll get me coat.

I remember very well being subjected to antisemitic abuse by one particular individual at school when I was 11. He was a nasty little shit. You don’t forget it so don’t listen to nonsense about kids not being able to recall it.

I remember very well being subjected to antisemitic abuse by one particular individual at school when I was 11. He was a nasty little shit. You don’t forget it so don’t listen to nonsense about kids not being able to recall it.

Monday:Piers Morgan on Newsnight. Tuesday: Karaoke?

Meanwhile over on the site formerly known as social media, appeasers are the seasonal vegetables of choice.

Meanwhile over on the site formerly known as social media, appeasers are the seasonal vegetables of choice.

Every govt should employ a person who is identifiably responsible for the future “what if” of a pandemic and to be in charge if/when it happens. Their day to day job should be monitoring and preparing. And no I’m not an expert so I can’t say how to do it. But doing nothing is not an option.

Every govt should employ a person who is identifiably responsible for the future “what if” of a pandemic and to be in charge if/when it happens. Their day to day job should be monitoring and preparing. And no I’m not an expert so I can’t say how to do it. But doing nothing is not an option.

Watching Newsnight. Wishing I hadn’t.

Just seen the Pope receiving film star guests. Very disappointing that The Exorcist isn’t his favourite movie.

Just seen the Pope receiving film star guests. Very disappointing that The Exorcist isn’t his favourite movie.

Will they rename it Four Party?

Hearty broth for a wet and wild night.

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a London weather forecast that predicts it is virtually certain to be raining heavily continuously for 24 hours.

At the moment it feels as though the more humans evolve and the more technology expands the more stupid we get.

At the moment it feels as though the more humans evolve and the more technology expands the more stupid we get.

Finished.

Trying to ensure we eat as little processed food as possible in our place. I know people are very busy but something like this is so tasty, cheap and so simple to make.

Recovering from another demanding week.

Went to see ENO do Carmen at the London Coliseum last night. Singing was great, version and staging was flat. English libretto poor. See it in French.

Current vibe: Rhapsody In Blue- the Bernstein 1959 recording. My favourite version. Yours?

The anticipation of the empty stage before the show

I want to live in a country where peoples’ freedoms are restricted as little as possible. Last night, security at the Alexandra Palace firework display used metal detectors for all entrants. Whatever the reason for the train attack perhaps it’s time to introduce checks for trains.

Fireworks going off. Cat listening to Classic FM

Actually it was quite rude.

The Reeves story is a total non story. Just stop.

I think the next version of Claudia’s game should be Royal Traitors.

Home made ramen. A few different techniques, boiling eggs, hydrating and flash frying mushrooms, frying Pak Choi etc so takes some time but yum.

Home made ramen. A few different techniques, boiling eggs, hydrating and flash frying mushrooms, frying Pak Choi etc so takes some time but yum.

Making ramen using porcini mushrooms because I had some dried ones and no one is here to say I can’t.

Does anyone else think that Elton John was wrong and that Racist seems to be the hardest word?

Does anyone else think that Elton John was wrong and that Racist seems to be the hardest word?

Watching Newsnight. Possibly for the last time. It’s now acartoon.

The media loves nothing more than talking up the death of the big parties. You’d have to be a proper klutz to think that tonight will be anything like the forever future of any of the political parties, whatever the result.

I’ve said it often but so what if I say it again, there is nothing like live music to stir human emotions, certainly for me anyway. It’s in my blood. Tonight, the night of a landmark birthday, I saw & heard beautiful music played by superb musicians. Life enhancing.

I’ve said it often but so what if I say it again, there is nothing like live music to stir human emotions, certainly for me anyway. It’s in my blood. Tonight, the night of a landmark birthday, I saw & heard beautiful music played by superb musicians. Life enhancing.

I love an empty stage before a gig.

Breakfast at Dishoom. Strongly recommend.

I’m not sure I ever thought I would reach this age so happy birthday to me.

We are astonished.

Sometimes you just have to grill a massive ribeye steak.

When are they going to decide that we are in such danger that they need to put us in “camps”? Does it come before or after the window breaking?

When are they going to decide that we are in such danger that they need to put us in “camps”? Does it come before or after the window breaking?

All I can say about Traitors is you’d best hope that if you’re ever on trial none of these people are on the jury.

Today is a start I hope. For everyone.

Having spent most of today working- yeah it’s dead easy outside private practice- currently playing vinyl re-recorded version of this classic. She’s gigging in UK next year. Do yourself a favour and get a ticket…if you can.

Last week