Time to wave goodbye to pat leave. Feels v weird going back after two months.

🎵 Trees are good, trees are good… 🎵

Children at an Edinburgh hospital painted pebbles for the penguins at Edinburgh Zoo and will be able to watch them choose and present them to their mates via livestream. #SundayMorning

As a writer, I know the importance of a strong opening paragraph. This one is the kind of thing I dream of 😀 #RelentlesslyTrousers

Died on this day in 1964, (alas): the always wonderful Peter Lorre. In 2014 I wrote about him for the Telegraph (this is reposted on my blog, so no paywall required).

roll the clip

You should buy my books. Why? I'll tell you why. Funny adventures, innit. There's The Darkwood Trilogy, suitable for older kids, teens & adults A load of witches from various folk tales are forced to live as outcasts in the woods! They form a gang! farragobooks.com/book/darkwood/

When you’re sitting in the away end with only a Twix for consolation

Happy days. Not seeing Sam Kerr slotting another goal against us after this season is something to look forward to. She’s been such a persistent pain in United’s arse.

Happy World Down Syndrome Day from all of us at the Down's Syndrome Association! 💚🧦 We hope you have a great time celebrating, however you're spending your day! Make sure to wear your #LotsOfSocks and badges to show your support for #WDSD! #WDSD26 #TogetherAgainstLoneliness #WorldDownSyndromeDay

Hello! It doesn’t cost anything to repost but it helps me spread the word about my small business. My online shop is full of bold & colourful prints, homewares, T-shirts and cards. I’m also available for freelance design work and art licensing. gailmyerscough.co.uk

Hadn’t realised Mel had scored a last minute winner. I thought we’d failed to capitalise on Chelsea dropping points vs London City. Phew!

#UKSFFBookBargains City of Last Chances by @aptshadow.bsky.social is on the Daily Deals again for £1.49. Such a good book. NB, buying the kindle edition gets you a 70% discount on audible and it's a fine reading www.amazon.co.uk/City-Last-Ch... Not discounted on Kobo

A lovely sunny Saturday and there’s lunch with the equally lovely @thebeanbag.bsky.social and @calicorjowens.bsky.social to look forward to. Good times.

Aardman is 50 years young this year. We enjoyed a tremendous partnership with Aardman for more than three decades with our reading projects and festivals among others. They created this wonderful illustration for our The Day of the Triffids reading adventure in 2004. May they have many decades more.

Hey folks. If you liked my Quatermass book you’ll love this. A beautiful new presentation of a story vital to the brilliance of many of the show we know and love. And Bernard was a great guy and engaging raconteur.

Gary Larson and Ducks

A lovely boost of confidence for Realms Unknown to be mentioned in the Guardian’s roundup of some favorite pods! #RealmsUnknown #GuardianPick #AliceFraser #ComedyPodcast #PodcastRecommendation #SciFiCommunity #TrendingNow

Editorial from our student newspaper: "In its tireless support for AI, the University has essentially endorsed shortcuts and the outsourcing of academic thinking"

she’s here and she’s beautiful @artbutmakeitsports.bsky.social

MCM investigations are back! Or at least Brigit, Paul and Jimmy are - Phil has mysteriously disappeared. The bonds of friendship are tested like never before when the team are left with no choice but to steal Ireland’s greatest treasure to literally save their own necks. Strap in for a wild ride.

Me: It's a series of tractor races held all over the world. Call it Farmula 1 ESPN execs: Get out!

And now some actual good news

Shame šeško is back on the bench tonight and not starting.

It was always going to be a long shot that Octopus would be able to Ratatouille me through some speech therapy reports…

@tpneenan.bsky.social totally agree re: The Marvels.i had a good time with that.

honestly, no notes, perfect quote

Portland pothole artists are seriously my favorite people. If you know one or are one and would be willing to talk about your craft, please DM

Wow. A CAF appeals board have stripped Senegal of its Africa Cup of Nations final victory over Morocco and awarded Morocco a 3-0 win. This is incredible. Comes after Morocco, hugely influential in African football circles, appealed an original decision. www.cafonline.com/news/caf-app...

“Susan, can you make warships come on the Strait of Hormuz please? Thank you.”

That’s really shit for Nathalie Björn.

Casemiro, you chuffing beauty!

Great play from Malard to set that chance up 👏🏻

Le Tissier 🙌🏼

Alexandra Popp will join Borussia Dortmund at the start of next season.

Beware.

A first outing.

Let’s have a lovely United win double today please 🙏🏼

Venus is done.

@thehumanish.co.uk are you watching the League Cup final tomorrow? Despite our lousy record vs Chelsea I’m feeling surprisingly* confident. *foolishly?

Amad interview! LAST chance to get new RedNews tomorrow. 2nd and final game to grab a fanzine. Please support if you can with so few games left. Cash or card. Here are the two spots we will be selling at, from 1115 (not after). Top SMB Way, Salford Bridge, Hotel Football side.

This photo looks I’ve been snapped snuggling a dog who belongs to someone else. #dogsky #dogs 🐶

I simply refuse to believe this isn’t a Chris Morris sketch:

The 3 genders

Oh to be a little Tardigrade walking across a microscope slide. 🫧🐻🧪

@mattcherng.bsky.social played a bunch of Slay the Spire II today. Not tried multiplayer yet but really enjoying it. The play and the look of it I really like the necromsncer 😃

Growing up I had to be pretty good at persuading farm animals to be where they were not. Experience shows larger animals are easier to move. One road-bound cow easier than 6 chickens or 8 piglets (actual events). Therefore, a yak. Providing the shop has double door.

If you like the things I say on here, buy me a wine: ko-fi.com/i/IL4L2G7ZNQ