Latest effort from @brandonsanderson.com. The Cosmere beckons once more and I genuinely cannot wait.

The pub's EPOS system has an AI element which has recommended Liquid Mistress be categorised as "Erotic Foods & Edibles".

@sirencraftbrew.bsky.social Liquid Mistress on keg. I haven’t had this in years. An absolute time warp of a beer - a perfect blend of hops and malt. Bitter and sticky. Gave up my next selection for another of this.

Child at the podium: “A woo woo woo.” Mamdani: That’s how I felt when we came up with this plan. Together, we will expand the idea of what is possible in our city—and what sounds and noises we can make at a press conference.

Games night. Wingspan!

A couple of years behind but I finally watched Shogun (Haven’t read the book) and it’s cracking telly. Drags a bit in parts and I took a while to warm to Cosmo Jarvis’s performance but otherwise can’t fault it. A great balance of serenity and tension.

I’m seeing little printed publications being referred to as “zines”? Is this just a passive shift or is it because the previous 4 letters are the same as a current US political movement and using them would focus the algorithm unwantedly?

No Other Choice is definitely a cinema nerd’s film, foreign language notwithstanding. It’s a weird story told slightly oddly and the humour is _dry_. It’s got loads of praise but is absolutely the kind of film that the wider public will think cinema’s vanishing up it’s own backside.

I’m heading to Scotland in March and Bluesky has given me 2 things to do just this morning - try some pochle (see below) and try @pilotbeer.co.uk’s Vessel restaurant in Edinburgh.

I’d love a small per-article rate for reading stuff online. I don’t read some things because I have to sign up for a payment plan for one article and so decide not to but absolutely get (and support) that good journalism should be paid for.

1st of 2 days off after 9 days on. Bit of Powerwash Simulator 2, spot of pub (free beer because the keg kicked halfway through), online games night later. Maybe Deep Rock Galactic.

Outrageously good 2 days at Damnation Festival. First festival by myself and just lost myself in it. Drank less, got down the front for more bands, took no photos. Oh, bought merch. Tired now.

Sparkled cask Boddie’s at the local. Sublime.

Bit of a sumo catch-up last night in preparation for the exhibition at the Royal Albert Hall next Friday. Just can’t wait and hoping that Hoshoryu will be there.

Sat planning the logistics for the beer lineup for a friend's handfasting whilst listing to the 1990's National Theatre Oklahoma! soundtrack and drinking a TIPA. Feeling very much at peace.

Great day at Abyssal Festival. Under and Mastiff not to my tastes but everything else just grand. Bands of the day were Margarita Witch Cult & @hundredyearoldman.bsky.social so bought albums from both of them.

Off out to a local metal festival. Southampton often gets missed for metal gigs, sandwiched between Brighton, Bristol & London so this is a great turn up for the books! 🤘

An absolute barnstormer from @elusivebrewing.com. A classic black IPA. Roasty malt and wonderful dank hoppy bitterness. The recipe’s been improved but generally why change what works.

MANCHESTER! I’m in town for Damnation Festival in a few weeks at the BEC, staying in the city centre. Any good breakfast/brunch places in the city centre or on the way to the BEC?

Pint of Lost Pier Better Best Bitter, cheese & onion [regional round bread name of choice].

NOTHING will prepare you for this 45-second story arc. From "I'm just doing this because I love the flag, it's totally grassroots, and I'm not part of anything political"... to who actually gave him the flags the night before. Anyone who believes it is an innocent movement needs to see this.

Missed aikido training tonight due to work so just catching up on new Damnation Festival announcements and prepping for sonic annihilation in November. 🤘

Walked from Ventnor (sea level) to St. Boniface Down (241 metres), the highest point on the Isle of Wight. It was _steep_. But worth it at the end.

Patient, sobbing: But Doctor, I AM Pagliacci! ChatGPT: Apologies. I didn't realise when recommending Pagliacci's epic show to cure your depression that you were the genius himself. I'm impressed! With regards to your initial question, I can recommend seeing the Great Clown Pagliacci.

For me there is joy in the work I do. If someone is looking for a program to do their work for them then that says to me that they take little joy in their work and should find something else, like the politicians who think that the best way to help is for them to do as little as possible.

Monday night aikido training done. Pint in a local whilst I peruse the newest Damnation announcements. November may destroy my soul.

Top 3 trending topics on Bluesky: "Pope Francis" "WrestleMania" "Pete Hegseth" That's conjuring quite the mental image...

Good news, NASA have discovered your boyfriend’s homebrew lager.

Really nice time at The Butcher’s Hook for an @elusivebrewing.com event this weekend. Excellent beers (Double Sunset Oregon Trail!) and bonus hug from @tabamatu.bsky.social.

Weather changing like US trade policy at the moment…

An hour between trains at Wolverhampton. Pint of cask & a ham cob at The Great Western. 👍

Visiting friends in Scotland and we walked along the water from Edinburgh to Leith so naturally popped into the Newbarns taproom. Absolutely great place. So cosy. Peaceful atmosphere lots of old beer tat on the walls and great beers. 👍

As someone who used to make regular beer trips to London but now less so this newsletter is a great way of still getting some idea as to what’s going on in the big city. Already marked the new Bohem place on a map.

Southampton to Lenzie (Glasgow) by train today. Incident meant I missed my connecting train from London but folks from South Western Railways & @avantiwestcoast.bsky.social were super helpful and got everything sorted again. 👍

2nd training session after a silver medal at the British Aikido Association national championships. Competition is great - you meet new people who test your techniques in all kinds of ways. Lots to work on.

Anyone for a Rutland Butland? Today we are heading to The Rutland Arms to see what makes it such a special pub. (No, we don't dare touch the jukebox either) www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/2/...

I’m George Takei and I approve of this message.

Because I can’t find a Simpsons gif with the whole exchange: “Oh, come on, leave town!” “No.” “I’ll be your friend!” “No.” “Aw, you’re mean.” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...

Does anyone know any good pubs around Aldgate station in London? I’m there for a conference in April and somewhere to de-corporate the night before and after would be nice.

NEW Can a government choose which court orders to comply with? A recent UK Supreme Court judgment provides an emphatic answer to this now topical question By me at @prospectmagazine.co.uk www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...

Finally saw Conclave. Absolute belter of a film. Fiennes and Tucci own every scene they’re in, great supporting cast, excellent tension. Just superb.

The Belgian King Leopold model for the Congo.

Brewers! Put your hops on your (D)IPAs. Without them it's really hard to tell why I (don't) like them. Drinking one now that I'm not a fan of and, without knowing why ingredient-wise, the temptation is to just avoid the brewery altogether.

A weekend off so binged series 4 of Demon Slayer yesterday and promptly went out to buy everything I needed to make miso-brushed onigiri today.

Over on Instagram I’ve been informed by ex-employees of Magic Rock (In Good Company) that they were let go prior to their acquisition by Keystone, and are unable to claim statutory redundancy from the government until MR is place in administration.

Nice lambic night at The Butcher’s Hook in Southampton. Kegs of 3 Fonteinen, beer boxes of Oud Beersel. Belgian niceness all round. Naturally got chips for the artisanal vinegar.

French cask beer. Have you seen it? Travel with @anahlcq.bsky.social to Brittany, where Coreff amber ale is the drink of choice, thanks to some VIP brewers from back in the day. Beer lovers, drinkers, and historians, you're gonna love this one. www.pelliclemag.com/home/2024/1/...

This post is great. To see all the pubs that mean so many things to so many people.

Got a new board game! Iki: Be a lord in old Nihonbashi, put workers into shops and let other players trade with them… whilst naturally advancing yourself of course.

Is it just me or is discussing politics loudly in the pub awfully boorish? For the record I broadly agree with the views being expressed so it’s not a “These people are saying a thing I don’t like!” matter.