That new Megadeth album is pretty good. If it really is their last then they are really going out with a bang!

So. @spizzenergi.bsky.social on Radio 6 this afternoon? The second time in a few months that Spizz has been on the Craig Charles show I think? Should be fun anyway.

An hour spent listening to Heavy Horses while reading a Slow Horses book, is an hour well-spent. Certainly a good way to end the weekend.

Went to see our new grandchild today, who had the good sense to get born in a hospital in a town with a record shop or two... Came home with some vinyl goodies, mostly 1970s again, including some Italian prog.

West Ham need to stop scoring first. It has never ended well for us this season.

Listening to the excellent Needle Mythology release of the Finn brothers' album again. Worth it for the second disc of demos, including an early version of It's Only Natural that is miles better than the eventual finished product.

Crawley record fair was very busy this morning, but managed to elbow my way to the crates and came home with a bunch of 1970s vinyl.

New post on Skuds.org called "2025 - Everybody Laughs" Read it here: https://skuds.org/2026/01/2025-everybody-laughs/

Visit to the new adopted grandson today. Jayne a bit pissed off that, like the last grandson, he was drawn to me rather than her, despite me being, at best, indifferent to babies. Told her it was her fault for marrying a babe magnet.

New post on Skuds.org called "Last pet standing" Read it here: https://skuds.org/2026/01/last-pet-standing/

Bike MOT/service today so had to go 15 miles up the M23 in pissing rain. Mental note to replace it in the summer if/when I change bikes.

Care package from @burningshed.com arrived today! The Syn LP was an irresistible bargain at £6

So. Google are turning off POP3 access to other mail accounts, with minimal notice or notification. WHy do they keep dropping all the useful little features like that?

No expert in current affairs, but I still sometimes wish that I knew considerably less. I'm sure life would be all the happier for it, and less stressful.

Got a bit tempted in HMV today and bought some of the albums I have been enjoying in on Spotify in 2025. Cat for scale.

The Times keeping it real in 2026 www.thetimes.com/article/daff...

New post on Skuds.org called "December 2025" Read it here: https://skuds.org/2026/01/december-2025/

First record to be played in 2026!

That psychopath test could be replaced with a single question: "do you post motivational bollocks to LinkedIn between xmas and new year??"

I may have to turn off West Ham score notifications on my phone for the sake of my mental health. 3 points from 6 games really is fucking atrocious.

He's been! He's been! Father Binmas has been and I now have two empty wheelie bins.

The two lads from German band DAF lived in the same house as me in the 80s but I didn't even know until this century. Gutted.

One way Camden has changed though... You can walk up to the lock from the tune without worrying about getting run over, except by User Eats riders.

In London today for the 1st time in ages. Spent a lot of time looking at huge buildings and saying "where the fuck did that come from?" A lot changes in a decade or 2. Mind you, Camden is still the same tourist trap it ever was.

Can't say what the best xmas song is, because its all subjective, but can say what my top 3 favourites are: Mud, Mariah, the Waitresses. Probably in that order. With honourable mentions for Run the Jewels and the Futureheads.

A disappointing day today. All those empty roads, but so windy it would not have been fun going for a ride. Well. It might have been exciting but not in a good way. Stayed home clearing up cat vomit instead.

Received a cheese hamper today. (Thanks Auntie Joan!) By the time I get through this, and the fridge full of cheese we already have, I will be at least 90% dairy.

I never realised how much our cat farts until we lost the dogs. Always assumed it was the dogs all the time, but now the awful smelly truth is out!

Forgot about the revised bin schedules whereby my Monday collection was on Saturday. OK, so my bin was empty, but its the principle that makes me annoyed with myself.

I probably shouldn't feel like this and certainly shouldn't admit it, but three years after passing my motorbike test, and riding the thing still frightens the life out of me!

Took the newly-charged Honda along the A24 today. Came back with a couple of LPs and some 12" singles. It has been nearly 2 months since I bought any 2nd-hand vinyl so this was long overdue.

First time in ages it was not raining + daylight + not at work + not having somewhere to be, so uncovered the Honda, only to find it wouldn't start. Had to remove the battery and put it on charge, and now checking the weather forecast for tomorrow.

New post on Skuds.org called "Citizenship tests" Read it here: https://skuds.org/2025/12/citizenship-tests/

Watched a film tonight * that used this building as the location for a London hotel, without altering the frontage at all. Maybe Americans think that "Suffolk County Council" is the name of a hotel chain in Britain? *"One Ranger" on Netflix - one to avoid

One of my favourite bits of @planningshit.bsky.social It is subtle, but always makes me think about future disputes years hence, when one roof or the other needs repairing or replacing.

Having a bit of a 1970s double LP weekend. Listened to Elton's Blue Moves and Dylan at Budokan already and wondering where to go next. Live & Dangerous? Out of the Blue? Frampton?

New post on Skuds.org called "November 2025" Read it here: https://skuds.org/2025/12/november-2025/

Two entries for @warringtonruncorn.com in the top 5 albums! Surprising, because I have 4 of these albums on vinyl and certainly played the records too.

Immediate reaction was "fuck off" and then realised that its only 5 years out and I do listen to a lot of early 70's (favourite genre was 'Canterbury scene' apparently)

Happy to have a new PO open, with long hours, but why does it say that County Oak is 'near Crawley hospital'? Almost as if local papers dont have local knowledge any more but have all their stories written by a central bank of interns who cover the whole UK. www.sussexexpress.co.uk/business/bra...

Spizzenergi playing on @bbc6music.bsky.social Made my Monday!

Not bothered about whether Liverpool can turn it around, but desperately hoping that, if they do, they don't start it this week when they come to West Ham!

Only 99p for the next 4 hours! Got to be worth a punt. amzn.eu/d/7LOwXAb

As if the name octopus kebab wasnt bad enough, it looks like a Lovecraftian nightmare. If you locked me in a room with this i would starve to death. www.thetimes.com/article/6725...

Had a nostalgic spin of this recently-acquired vinyl today. Read the LP cover and saw the impressive list of musicians involved... Steve Gadd, Earl Slick, Lee Ritenour, Ray Parker Jr, Nigel Olsson, Leland Sklar, Jeff Porcaro and many more.

Fixed the tumble dryer today. Given that resetting the element fixes many tumble dryer problems why isn't the reset button behind a little hatch rather than requiring the removal of a back panel held on by 10 screws that are neither straight nor cross-head?

I like the idea of this, but at twice the price of a similar petrol bike and half the range, with 5 hours to give you another (maybe) 90 miles unless you find a fast charger I think I'll wait until battery technology improves. www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/...

Podcast feeds I subscribe to dropped 5.5 hours of new content today already. Should I do some pruning or just increase my listening speed from 1.2x?

Our 15-year old moggy just went out and saw off the evil Siamese cat from his garden. We are very proud.

Got the email about my bike insurance renewal today, and they are quoting me £139 for the year, down from £217 last year. Down. I am still in shock, but in a good way.