An excellent trip yesterday on Rasender Roland, a narrow-gauge steam train dating back to 1895 on the German island of Rügen. Literally translates as “Raging Roland” though I’m not sure why, a very sedate and pleasant journey through beautiful countryside and forests! 😊

Wiedersehen Hamburg, what a superb city, despite the Schmuddelwetter (excellent word for grey, rainy, windy weather 😊). Will definitely return 👍 Here’s a final pic of the Millerntor Stadium and St Pauli bunker, see previous posts for more info 😊

The St Pauli Bunker is incredible. A massive concrete flak tower built with forced labour in the Nazi era, it is now a monument, apartments, gardens, cafe, bar and even a hotel. And amazing views of the city, well worth climbing the 300+ steps! A Hamburg must-do 🙏

Couple of photos of FC St Pauli’s Millerntor stadium taken from the incredible repurposed flak bunker nearby (more about that later). No football for fascists ⚽️👍

Views of Hamburg harbour and the river Elbe at dusk from the impressive Elbphilharmonie building. Plenty of #CranePorn here 🏗️

A beautiful and atmospheric old bar, La Fleur en Papier Doré (the Gilded Paper Flower), chock-full of interesting things! Read all about it here like I did in this great piece from @tempestinatankard.bsky.social 🍻🙏 tempestinatankard.com/2025/09/17/l...

The magic of Eurostar - now having a Lambic Blanche a La Mort Subite, Brussels🍺

Nightcap. I bloomin’ love Tayto crisps, though they had run out of pickled onion. And Glenfiddich 12yo 🥃😊

Just arrived London Waterloo, first pub 2 minutes walk away, The Hole In The Wall, pint of Five Points Best, absolutely delicious!😋 Happy Friday everyone, have the best time 😊🍻 #BskyBeer

Superb work from England Women! Keep that momentum going for Sunday, we can beat those Aussies! 😊🤞🏏

England have already made one World Cup semifinal this summer! Listen to tonight’s action in the Women’s 🏏 T20 World Cup here👇 A place in the final awaits on Sunday against a formidable Australia. Come on England! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...

I’m still doing this so I don’t see why you shouldn’t too 😊

#NowPlaying Antony Szmierek “Service Station at the End of the Universe”, poetry and bangers combo that I first heard at @rockawaybeach.bsky.social in January, superb. He is touring soon, don’t miss him! youtu.be/NSbdyFT2x1Y?...

Sunday afternoon in the sunshine with a beer or two at Crossed Anchors brewery tap in Exeter, first up a refreshing glass of Anchor Pilsner, just on - delicious! Have a great day everyone, cheers 🍻😊

Plans are afoot to site an AI Data Centre & Battery Storage Facility up the road from me in the North Devon countryside, there's a gazillion reasons why this is not welcome, and you all know what they are already. So if you'd like to help support our objections please sign (and share) the petition:

Tomorrow - exclusive vinyl drop ✨ Limited signed blue vinyl + exclusive never heard before tracks + Field Notes zine documenting findings from the mission so far 📡 Exclusively on bandcamp, limited to 100. Subscribers automatically get tracks and zine sent to them 🩵

The Fore Street Flea is celebrating 10 years. Join them on Sunday 19 July and explore one of Exeter’s favourite independent markets, packed with local makers, vintage finds, creative businesses and plenty of hidden gems. More: news.exeter.gov.uk/fore-street-...

it’s time for a sale! for one day only (25th June) you’ll be able to get Awakened on kindle for less than… well, basically anything else you need to buy these days, so go go go summer horror fans! @angryrobotbooks.bsky.social UK: amzn.eu/d/0bvnPgb3 US: a.co/d/0dngAfYo

Pippin’s cooling down with an ice pack. Meanwhile I’m going for the Steptoe look.

Postie’s been and I can’t wait to get into this from @simonreynolds.bsky.social - a truly exciting time, and we were so lucky to have Simon writing in Melody Maker about music and bands we loved, and those we were going to love ❤️ PS many thanks @biggreenbooks.bsky.social 🙏

Anyone else singing “we’re the Bank of America, woa-oh” every time they show that pitch-side ad?

Well I just saw 4 foxes on Whipton Barton Road in Exeter, so I don’t doubt it 🦊

More cricket 🏏 today, @somersetccc.bsky.social Women v Warwickshire at Exmouth in the One-Day Cup. Warwickshire looking dangerous at 151 for 2 but after an incredible spell in the field from Somerset they are all out for 160! We are between innings.

At The Rec in Newton Abbot for Lewis Gregory’s testimonial, South Devon v Somerset T20. Lovely setting. I’m reasonably certain Somerset aren’t trying too hard 🏏🙏

There’s a map for that. Did you know we have a tool on the Everywhere At Once website that shows grassroots music venues across the UK? This June, they all come alive at once. Go find your nearest grassroots venue at: everywherefest.com/find-an-event/ #EverywhereAtOnce #BecauseOfYou

A visit to the excellent Thelma Hulbert Gallery in Honiton today - two exhibitions currently, the main one “All This Useless Beauty” by Mellony Taper, a collection and photographs of found domestic objects that have impacted women’s lives. Eerie and unsettling.

Why are archives important? So many reasons - & lots begin with E! For evidence. For education. For exploration. For enjoyment. For emotions. For everyone. This year we're also celebrating a vital reason beginning with J: For justice. #InternationalArchivesDay #IAD #IAD2026 #ArchivesForJustice

What a joy to see John Hegley today at Exeter Comedy Festival! Funny, witty and skilful, with some great audience participation too 😊 Here he is after the show having fun with the kids, a lovely man 😊🙏

*Cheery Fri post klaxon* Almost one year since my role was made redundant and I’m still searching for the right opportunity. The job market feels broken. Is it the rise of AI, is it because I’m ‘old’? Who knows, but if you’re searching for an experienced and creative marketing specialist, hmu.

I doubt that two more disparate bands have played at the Cavern in Exeter or anywhere else, but I enjoyed both very much particularly The Stamps all the way from Perth Australia 🇦🇺 absolutely gorgeous harmonies, go see them if you can 🙏🎶❤️ and Marigold were great too #LoveLiveMusic

I am lucky in that I haven’t needed to visit my doctor in decades. Today I went to my medical practice to see the MSK physio, really excellent, she was attentive, patient and knowledgeable. What a great institution the NHS is ❤️

Listening to Test Match Special 🏏 and, during the rain breaks, reading Wodehouse. Feels like about 1964 to be honest 🤷

Well this looks like it will be a hoot! Many thanks for the heads-up @emory-f8.bsky.social 😊🙏 youtu.be/nIRsEH9OAUk?...

Just finished “Children of Radium” by Joe Dunthorne, a riveting page-turner that happens to be a true story set in the grimmest of times. Fascinating, and funny too - quite a feat to pull off. Very highly recommended ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #BookSky

Exeter Comedy Festival kicks off today with the Gala. Still tickets available. Loads of great acts on throughout ECF. The big names have sold out but there are some real gems with seats available. We're so lucky to have this going on, don't miss it! www.exetercornexchange.co.uk/book-tickets...

Woo-hoo, brilliant! Excellent batting from Alice Capsey and Heather Knight, so good going into the World Cup with this confidence 😊

Made it to Taunton for the deciding T20 between England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 and India 🇮🇳🏏 😊 Some great pre-match music, good food and I finally got to meet Brian the legendary Somerset cat! ❤️🐈

Very much enjoying Hellebore magazine that I picked up at Here gallery and bookshop, Bristol. My first issue, but will definitely be delving into the back catalog - great work @helleborezine.bsky.social 👍

Precise, as you would expect 🤖🎹🎶

PUBLISHED THIS MONTH! You can order a SIGNED copy of Simon Reynold's new book "Still in a Dream", the definitive story of the slackers and shoegazers who reinvented rock. PRE-ORDER HERE. biggreenbookshop.com/signed-copie...

At the Wiper & True taproom, Old Market, Bristol. Sundance IPA, they’re not wrong, it is beautiful beer - cheers all! 😊 🍻

Now in the Draper’s Arms, Bristol, a superb micropub at the far end of Gloucester Road. Food menu includes (well, consists entirely of) “chicken and chips”, a pickled egg in a bag of crisps 😋

What do I know, superb bowling and fielding from England! 😊👏🏏

India’s target 169, probably knock that off in 12 overs 🙁🏏

Fabulous atmosphere in Bristol for England v India! Great turnout for the women 🏏 It’s a must-win game for Eng, currently 1-0 down in the 3 match series 🤞

Bristol cranes in the dusk 🏗️❤️

🎭 Exeter Comedy Festival is back from 3–7 June! With shows popping up across the city centre and tickets still available for lots of great acts, now’s the perfect time to try something new. More: news.exeter.gov.uk/tickets-for-...

Fine day at the cricket in Taunton (Somerset’s highest ever T20 score to beat Yorkshire). Now in Tap One which is new to me, the second taproom of the Fat Head Brewery in Weston, nice place, drinking Speyside IPA, v tasty 🍺 #BskyBeer

At the County Ground, Taunton for Somerset Women v Yorkshire in the T20 Blast, Bex Odgers and Sophie Luff flying along in the sunshine! 🌞🏏 Going to be plenty of hydration breaks 💦

The Triffids, one of my 2 favourite Australian bands, nailing it in 1989: “Too Hot To Move, Too Hot To Think”. From their 5th and final album “The Black Swan”. God I loved that band 😢 youtu.be/25IIcR0eZgw?...