Sorry for wrong link in previous post (now deleted). This is my downstairs neighbour’s solo project. I love it (sound up) Paper Dolls youtu.be/iiLb4CLwqfg?si… via @YouTube

@stigjones.bsky.social Any ideas on this guitar? Played tonight at the Link and Pin blues session (Woy Woy NSW) @darkdoorstep.bsky.social suggested I ask you

Watching Only Connect from last night. Nomination for Best Team Captain Quote of the series goes Crunchers’ captain for: ‘I love a bit of calculus’

For anyone confused by multiple red herrings being thrown into the debate on assisted dying this interview is certainly worth a listen. Kim Leadbeater addresses the issues head on with eloquence and logic.

There are few issues on which I profoundly disagree with Gordon Brown. The basic human right to ‘Assisted Dying’ in cases of terminal illness is one of them.

letter to the FT

I know some folks don’t consider listening to an audio book as ‘reading’ it. It’s not a distinction that is important to me. I recently listened (again) to Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies on long car journeys. The hours and miles flew by. If asked whether I’ve read them I will probably say yes.

As Rishi Sunak moves us on from 30 years of political failure by appointing David Cameron as Foreign Secretary, surely there must be governmental roles for Nick Clegg and George Osborne. 🤔🙄

On a day out in Poitiers I came across this. Wouldn’t it be great if the world adopted some of Foucault’s thinking just now?

On my walk by the banks of the Charente today. Four of them 😊

@jacko19.bsky.social Hi Jacko. Great to see you here. I’m still wandering around bumping into things but let’s see how it goes 😊

@tismenic70.bsky.social Hi Nic, you are so welcome here. Let’s see how things go outside Xitter 🤗

Came across a ‘park’ football match in my little wobble about on my bike this evening. Referee, linesmen, goal nets, a crowd of around 25 some screaming abuse/advice. The standard of play here in the Charente was just as awful as it was in my heyday in Co. Durham 50 yrs ago. I loved it! 😊

Just saying - what a fabulous voice Rita Coolidge has #BBC4

After yesterday’s indolence, today I: 1. Had a bike ride 2. Cut the grass 3. Did some shopping 4. Did some washing 5. Painted a piece of wall 6. Wrote my quiz for Xitter* #PaddyFaddlesQuiz at 8:00pm BST if anyone is interested and still visits there

Are the nuts complimentary or complementary? That’s Sylvain behind the bar btw.

Today I had a day when: I could have gone for a bike ride I could have gone for a walk I could have gone shopping I could have done some housework I could have done some gardening I could have written something interesting I could have read a book I did none of those things and I feel like a slob 😢

Puts me in mind of a young John Nettles

@noodlecraft.bsky.social Jooooooood!!!!! 🤩🤗😀

@chuntycops.bsky.social Hi Ewan, pleased you could make it over the wall 🤩🤗

Back to France tomorrow then booked to return to Scotland a week later, then back to France again. Living the Ryanair equivalent of a jet-set lifestyle. ‘Random seat allocation’ did they invent that phrase?

Sitting alone in an airport hotel restaurant (Premier Inn Edinburgh). Two men at the next table in deep discussion. Snippet overheard: “yours has a much more interesting aesthetic“ So far I have no idea what they are talking about - what do you think?

@zeddeee.bsky.social is here 😀😀😀😀

Overheard in the passport queue at Edinburgh airport just now: ‘we’ll have to have a good glass of French vino after this’ 🙄

Guardian headline: ‘Lula backpedals on suggestion Putin could attend G20 without fear of arrest’ I wonder if anyone else initially read this as Lulu and was, for a moment at least, somewhat bemused. 🤔

Proudly purchased a new wall clock and new lamps and light fittings for my kitchen. Lovely daughters WhatsApp messages:

Gotcha! @ladyk.bsky.social 😊

@pippisell.bsky.social is here! 👏🤩🤗

Isn’t it great that so much live sport is on free to view channels? Rugby World Cup, England football international, Rowing World Championships and Tour of Britain are all today.

@littlebirdy1.bsky.social Hi Birdy, welcome. I’m still at the paddling stage here 🤗

Who thought these might be chocolate? Moi 😊 Are they chocolate? Non 😢 They are spongy worry balls

Ready!

Morning ride through the Charentais forest. Just the birds, the deer and me. I know there are wild pigs but they didn’t pop out to say hello.

My Home+ feed is now showing as empty. It used to have some interesting stuff. I didn’t change any of my settings. Advice anyone?

Hello anyone/everyone. For those who like a morning memory work-out, here are the written questions from last night’s #PaddyFaddlesQuiz

We have rice, potatoes and pasta. So why, oh why couscous? * *I do know it’s a sort of semolina-based pasta

Just peeked through the bedroom curtains, I see that rose-fingered early dawn has arrived. Morning anyone/everyone 🌅

A friend just joined me for coffee. At home in Scotland I’d be affronted. Here in my favourite little French bar, I’m not. C’est la vie 😊

Listening to the ever-cheerful Will Self on BBC Radio 4 on ‘why he’s not a fan of the bucket list’. Having been up close throughout the remorseless progress of a terminal illness, I agree. Witnessing daffodils blooming, children playing or reading a good book are examples of the real joys of life.

Woollies not required 🙄

Knock-out strong and fabulous 😊

Really conflicted on news of BAE Systems establishing in Ukraine. On one hand the arms trade is based on inflicting human misery, on the other what else can be done in the face of Putin’s aggression?

Apparently the French wine industry is going through a difficult time with production outstripping demand. This is bad news for producers, but 4€ a bottle for decent reds and whites is good news for those of us who like a glass or two.

Just for a change, an evening wobble about arriving at the usual watering hole. Pictures are of the Penalty bar, the Marie and the beautiful bridge over the Charente here in Mansle. Only a 3 mile ride home from here so time for a quick beer

Morning bike ride in the Charente forest. Weather is now perfect after the recent heat-wave.

I’m new here. Swimming pool metaphor: I’m flapping around, gulping for air and hoping either my feet will touch the bottom, my flailing arms will make contact with the side, or some kind person(s) will throw me a lifeline. 🌊