This is fantastic: the Droids, French Synth group, playing their classic Do You Have The Force on RAI TV in 1978. We included this track on the Caroline True Do You Have The Force comp www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiYf...

First dusting of snow for the 5am Dog ablutions. Cue extended garden sniffs exploration for any wildlife that may have trespassed his territory.

Never imagined I’d stay up late to watch MoTD, rubbing my hands at the thrilling prospect of a 0-0 draw

New Year's Eve aftermath, Grand Central Station, NYC, 1969 by Leonard Freed

Well now, maybe this could be my year after all..

Finally watching The Holdovers before old-boy Granit smashes at least one 30-yard rocket past Donnaruma later. Hopefully 🤞

Ominous sky over the stud farm next door earlier.

Tinker Tailor time..

Up late once more and nothing to report from last night. Blessed to have a crack at another 365 days, here’s to us all filling them with the people and things we love. Happy new year!

The Last Last Leg has kept me awake way past my bedtime, gutted it didn’t run on til midnight. Proper inappropriate entertainment 👌

Wishing a truly miserable new year, in its entirety, to one and all who steadfastly refuse to go for the option of silent fireworks and selfishly terrorise beautiful animals everywhere while setting fire to their money. A plague on all your houses!

Someone gifted me a bottle of Sloe Gin a couple of years back, hated it short, so into the cupboard it went. Just tried it with both tonic and fiery ginger ale, separately of course - I’m not a savage, and it’s rather agreeable. Which may or may not be why I’ve had a moment at Gerwig’s Little Women.

So tonight we’re gonna *party like it’s 1969.. *stay in and probably be in bed by half nine

Sir Idris knows..

48'—⚽️ (Gabriel) 52'—⚽️ (Zubimendi) 69'—⚽️ (Trossard) 78'—⚽️ (Jesus) Too early for a celebratory Bovril?

Don’t have Sky, so just settling down to listen instead to, pretty likely, Arsenal 1-2 Villa, with us giving way to their late winner, yet again. Looks like I picked the wrong day to give up *smoking/drinking/crack cocaine. *select own poison of choice.

The Dog’s had his tea, Ove got two large Croque Fromage and Rear Window on the idiot box. Ahh.. Feet up 🐾👣

No phone or watch, just hat, coat, scarf and gloves and a 3-village romp with my 4-legged best mate. Bliss. Plus it’s 4:15 and only just threatening dusk. Brighter days ahead.

Deb Grant, as with the lovely Bill Nighy yesterday, has kept me far too relaxed on the sofa. One of my 6music favourites. Up and out we go then for a big ole Dog-walk blast around the set-asides.

Today’s late, late breakfast (surely must be brunch at this time?) is slabs of French-Italian toast with remains of the Pandoro and some lovely, rich Kenyan coffee. The Dog loves me being off for the extra mid-morning feast, he’s had scrambled eggs with Sardines. Windows open, lads..

Please quote this with stories of your minor interactions with non-celebrities, e.g. “I once accidentally bumped into a man in the Wellingborough branch of Holland & Barrett”

John Perry once patiently explained and meticulously demonstrated the solo to Another Girl Another Planet to me backstage at a Methodist Church Youth Club where we’d booked them to play. I had a bad cough and Peter Perret said I looked terrible and asked what *drugs I’d taken. *none, just poorly.

I once passed the magician, Paul Daniels, on his hands and knees outside the steps of Peterborough Police Station, very pissed and talking and swearing to himself. It was not clear whether he was about to enter or had recently exited. Debbie McGee was not present.

Puts hammer down and reaches for first aid kit

Enjoyed The Night Manager again a great deal, then noticed that this is still on iPlayer, so in I go again. This was the first thing I’d seen both Alexander Skarsgård and Florence Pugh, who is terrific here, in anything. Some great period detail too, well worth a watch. youtu.be/9GZZ0oXsuQQ?...

Corky.. I’d forgotten how good Tom Hollander was in The Night Manager. Thought I’d do a quick catch up before series 2 starts, but I’m already 3 episodes deep. Great stuff.

Quarter to 7, just been up and switched the electric blanket on, now full length on the sofa, toasty beneath the heated throw. Christmas gifts to yourself are the best

Important..

Seville orange glazed gammon joint, Wagyu dripping roasties, big Yorkshires and all the veg’, Guinness original to wash it down and all soundtracked by some cracking Blues and Soul tunes from Mr Bill Nighy, sitting in for Iggy. And best of all, no Sunday dreads as no work for another 7 days.

Past my bedtime but on iPlayer tonight, followed by Priscilla 👌 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

We were just talking of New Year’s resolutions..

Reading all the discourse about Bardot, the separation of art from artist. etc, and it’s still a sad mystery to me how, as some people get older, their views can become more conservative and bigoted, bordering on the extreme. It’s a big enough planet for everyone to live and let live in peace.

Shazam, but for what you went upstairs for but can’t remember when you got there..

Oblique strategy of the day.. I feel seen

The elephant in the room for me when we’re doing well this time of year is always when will the choke begin.. I can’t even get anxious about it anymore.

A bit of festive Fanny.. 🧵

Late, late breakfast. Crunchy peanut butter, caramelised apple spread and cinnamon on hot, thick sourdough and a big mug of freshly ground Peruvian nectar. Already thinking about lunch.

The Dog has risen from his slumber, crawled up the bed and is tapping me gently with his little paw. Now having a game of one-potato, two-potato until he stops and looks in the direction of what he’s decided he wants, which I fear will be getting up out bed..

It’s a Christmas miracle!

A piece i made last night. Untitled, mixed media on paper, 9x12inches #painting #art #mixedmediaart

Morning.

For some of you it’s heat and traffic. For some it’s rain tapping your window. For some it’s a café, a corner store, a borrowed quiet. Different places. Same pause. Wherever you’re standing— hope the day loosens its grip for a sec.

I want a cup of tea & I want my breakfast.

12YO girl signed up to do “stand up comedy” at the talent show. 13YO boy decided to heckle her. Teacher started to tell the boy to leave her alone, but the 12YO comedian said “no, no, let him go, this is the closest he’s ever going to get to having a conversation with a girl.”

How I’m walking out of 2025..

Thinking of all my friends in shop-floor retail as Depeche Mode chirp out of my radio.. The grabbing hands, Grab all they can 🎶 Try not yo kill anyone today, lads

Just saw someone use the word merryneum and, oh..

Good morning.

Day 3 of decent lie-ins. Back to bed with a cuppa and the Dog, listening to Rad (not Mac Today) on the wireless. This could be my life now.. what if I just never went back to work?

Unwanted Xmas gift..