#nowplaying Sandie Shaw’s ‘Hello Angel’ her charming 80’s comeback with The Smiths

Cat’s gonna cat

I have taken the Red Cross’s advice by currently chilling some socks in the fridge. If it works in cooling me down, I shall be putting my entire sock drawer in fridge tomorrow and changing every 30 mins. #heatwave

The Beatles, The Smiths, New Order, Big Thief... with Richard Osman analysing Andy Burnham’s Baker’s Dozen on The Rest is Showbiz podcast, we thought you might like to revisit the choices of the likely next UK PM first hand #AndyBurnham’s Favourite Albums buff.ly/K0fZ7IN

Went to see this, this evening at the @livetheatre.bsky.social . Cracking performance. Off to listen to the song🤫

As a teenager in the 80’s, The Smiths were everything to me. For obvious reasons I’ve found it difficult to listen to them in recent years. Reading Michael Bracewell’s novella The Smiths, has me wishing I could go back and listen to the albums with innocent ears again and lounge in their wonderment.

Purchased a new rug today. Goes lovely with Margo Marmalade 😻

7 years ago today since Mam died. Planted one of her favourite roses, Blue Moon, in the yarden today by way of remembrance.

Spent a lovely few hours at Belsay Hall near Morpeth today. Seen deer flitting through the woods and the Rhododendron are quite stunning in their full #summer bloom. #nature

My Philadelphus is smelling divine

The volume I bought as a teenager 40 years ago and the updated volume I bought recently. He shaped a lot of my thinking in the intervening 40 years. Happy Birthday Bob.

Raising a glass to Mr Dylan on his birthday ( Aldi Rosorange if you’re wondering)

Relaxing in the sunshine with Margo Marmalade, the new @brookmyre.bsky.social and Can providing the soundtrack.

World #Goth Day and it’s a scorcher☀️ Remember, if you see a goth struggling in the heat this weekend, do not approach them. Simply leave a small bowl of cider and a picture of Robert Smith nearby, and they should revive quite quickly!

New brooch has arrived post….

A metaphor for the state of the country: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Weather is miserable today so spending the afternoon indoors with pots of fine tea and this marvellous delivery from @samreadbookseller.bsky.social

Now living in a North East town that has a Reform Council. There is only one thing for it........

Keep Britain Kind

Margo Marmalade and I settling down for an afternoon of #reading . #catsofblusky #booksky📚

Lovely quote from the great Mark E Smith on the Mumfords: "We were playing a festival in Dublin the other week. There was this other group like, warming up in the next sort of chalet, and they were terrible. I said ‘shut them cunts up’ and they were still warming up, so I threw a bottle at them."

For International Workers' Day. Paul Robeson sing Joe Hill to Welsh miners in 1949 And standing there as big as life and smiling with his eyes says Joe "What they could never kill went on to organize" youtu.be/B0bezsMVU7c?...

#nowlistening to 10000 Maniacs MTN Unplugged. Have always loved this, so pleased to get a copy on vinyl.

Went to see To Kill a Mocking Bird at Theatre Royal Newcastle, last night. A fantastic production. It was also frightening to discover that Bob Ewart's lines had all be taken off Brietbart forums by Aaron Sorkin.

Once again @beatdownncl.bsky.social fulfilled all my #recordstoreday desires. Off to have a nana nap now before listening to them #rsd26

Sitting outside my preferred record shop. Really getting too old for this!!!

Just finished reading this. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

A pleasant afternoon in progress. #Dylan #Beatles #nowplaying

Margo Marmalade is enraptured by the new Attenborough programme.

Went to see RSC Hamlet last night at Theatre Royal, Newcastle. A somewhat uninspiring production. Did love what they did with the ‘players’ scene though and the BSL interpreter was an absolute star.

Spent the afternoon finishing #reading @bowiegod.bsky.social recent book on Bowie. Not sure what I was expecting but very much enjoyed it and definitely a must read for Bowie fans.

Easter pressie to myself just arrived. Been after a reasonably priced copy for a very long time. #beatles #photography

It’s R. S.’s birthday tomorrow. From ‘Evening’: “Let us stand, then, in the interval of our wounding, till the silence turn golden and love is a moment eternally overflowing.” 📸 Jane Bown (1966)

The Albert Hall gig got me all Nostalgic. So spending afternoon leafing through old fanzines from back int’ day. Bit weird reading stuff you wrote nigh on 30 years ago.

Enjoying the Manics at Albert Hall from comfort of settee, in PJs with cat.

Got my ticket. Attending a Manics gig from my settee, wearing my PJs, snacks at hand will be new, and frankly very Nicky!!

Got stuck in a traffic queue due to roads works on the Ullswater road last week. Probably the only time I have been quite happy in such a situation. Perfect view. #nature

From a musical wizard, to wizards of another kind. About to dive into @rachelmorriswriter.bsky.social The Years of the Wizard. A magical weekend or #reading ahead🧙‍♂️

Really enjoyed #reading @alexlarman.bsky.social book Lazarus. A fabulous insight into late era Bowie.

A Waterfall of thanks to @sarahg1705.bsky.social for my vintage #Beatles birthday gift😍

Delicious Italian hot chocolate at my fave cafe @faerylandgrasmere.bsky.social

Lovely birthday haul from @samreadbookseller.bsky.social Many thanks for the 24hr order turn around for the Dylan book❤️

Petrol companies are not just profiteering. They are doing it whilst waving wads of £100 notes and baring their arses to drivers as the pull onto the forecourt. Cheapest place near me has gone up 6p litre unleaded since Friday night🤬

My Mam’s very first #mothersday gift was me, as I was born on the day itself. Miss her every day❤️

Highway of Diamonds: Black America Sings Bob Dylan arrived in post today. It’s ace!! #nowlistening

I’m all in favour on animals on #banknotes due to the slang opportunities it opens up. You could borrow a ‘badger’, lend an ‘owl’, donate a ‘squirrel’….

Reverend Jesse Jackson called on each of us to be heralds of change, to be messengers of hope; to step forward and say “Send me” wherever we have a chance to make an impact. How fortunate we were that Jesse Jackson answered that call. What a great debt we owe to him.

It’s all go round mine this morning.

Watched the Ch4 news whilst putting a sideboard together. Margo Marmalade just giving it the final quality check.

Can’t say I’ve ever looked forward to the Channel 4 news, so much…