@gwr.com Hi, I have noticed that your trains from Yeovil Pen Mill to Castle Cary will often arrive after a recent train to Paddington from CLC, meaning it is not possible to use Castle Cary for connections to London unless you get significantly earlier trains and wait around.

Turns out Bismarck was wrong. Politics isn't the art of the possible.

Gosford Park (2001) Gosford World (2015) Gosford World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

Reports of a third attempted arson attack on Jewish targets in North London this week. It's getting really scary and more people need to start taking it seriously.

Tremendously depressing read. Also: proper reporting. open.substack.com/pub/londonce...

Green Party council candidate in Lambeth. In a normal world, it would not be sustainable for a Party which claims to be "anti-racist" to ignore this, or to try and punt it away by telling everyone that everything is ok because Zack Polanski is Jewish

Columnists in late August, 1588.

A short thread about King John. When John died in October 1216, contemporary chroniclers were not kind. ‘He was a very bad man’, said one, ‘more cruel than all others. He lusted after beautiful women and because of this he shamed the high men of the land, for which reason he was greatly hated.' 1/

Happy birthday to the Peak District National Park, designated #otd 13 April 1951. Originally 555 square miles of moor and valley, the 'great north roof of England.' It would never have happened but for one woman... 1/4

Morally completely indefensible. Farage should sack Richard Tice immediately.

A lot has bothered me about the reporting of the Kanye West banned. Firstly how it has been framed as all about it the Jewish community - but we should all be against Nazism! This country fought Nazis. Songs called Heil Hitler should not just be for the Jewish community to object to. And secondly…

MPs must be given the chance to hold the Government to account and prevent the UK from being complicit in war crimes and breaches of international law. Air base access must also be withdrawn now.

This is a grave and era-defining moment for the world. Donald Trump is making wilder and increasingly concerning threats by the hour. If Trump follows through with this, Keir Starmer must immediately recall Parliament.

Ye gods, employee national insurance is such a stupid tax. Just fold it into income tax. Why oh why can't we have a sensible discussion about tax efficiency etc etc.

To be fair the policy of not chasing the polls has been a complete success

Trump did not announce a U.S. policy then walk it back. That is not what happened, and media presenting it that way does a disservice. Trump said words he thought might appeal to his audience in the moment, with no connection to actual policy, then did that again with a different question/asker.

Happy International Women’s Day! The world has truly been blessed by the legacy of Queen Christie and the formidable women of Agatha Christie’s Poirot ❤️

I have just come off the phone with the Government, who confirmed that they will award the New Medium Helicopter contract to Leonardo in Yeovil. ⬇️

Bananas (with the exception of banana bread).

I mean, it is only 'one meal out of every four that includes meat, now doesn't', it is firmly within the limits of what a good public information campaign ought to be able to achieve.

Toasted sourdough looks pretty but has no place on a full English breakfast. You nearly break your teeth on that crust. Standard white sliced or farmhouse wins every time.

If you haven't yet responded to the BBC Charter review you've got about 3 weeks left. As well as our recent review (see thread above) you might find it useful to draw upon these briefings from the BBC itself about its impact on areas from news to children's education www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...

These two look very much like a 1990s comedy sketch series

Downton Abbey 3, but perhaps that is my own fault.

Wishing all those observing this holy month in the UK and around the world a healthy and blessed Ramadan.

Recently discovered Alberic Magnard and currently playing him on my show. He's fantastic, but not especially well-known outside of France. A really beautiful energy to his Ouverture. You can listen here: gws-radio.org.uk

Oh, for the Louvre of God. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I love this piece so much. So much energy and verve. I genuinely think the symphony as a whole is a masterpiece.

Spot on from @libdemdaisy.bsky.social here 🇪🇺🇬🇧

This is why there's a whole chapter in my book about the damage the grid has done to policy making.

By the way the Met Office has updated their app and rendered it useless and I am seething

Perhaps worth remembering that polls about US intervention in Venezuela conducted before today are no longer informative. Expect public opinion to polarise very quickly (dampening any effect on Americans’ views of Trump):

There is, to my mind, no justification for the continued use by the UK Government of X as a platform for official comms. There hasn't been for some time, in fact, but if the latest developments around AI-generated image abuse and CSAM don't change the policy I really don't know what will.

Rushing to finish making a cup of tea I started twenty minutes previously and forgot about.

If the British government, and indeed other governments, can’t muster a fast and strong response to Twitter adding a facility enabling users to create and share AI child sexual abuse material then not sure what Musk could ever do that would actually provoke a response.

"What was your favourite game of 2025?" Keir Starmer - *sincere answer about spending his limited time with his kids playing Mario Kart, delivered as if he just googled it* Ed Davey - "I still love a bit of Wii Sports" Kemi Badenoch - "My best friend was killed by a Sega Mega Drive"

My aunt had a phone number very similar to Cambridge station, and when people called to ask about train times she would answer them from the copy of the timetable she kept by the phone.

The Good Life - Silly But It's Fun (26th December 1977). "The ooh-ah bird is so called because it lays square eggs".

This is such a lovely Christmas listen:

Your usual reminder that the UCKG is an extraordinarily shady outfit. It is not clear what the money they collect is for or where it goes. They are collecting all over London today. Avoid.

As Hannukkah begins, I wish Jewish communities across Glastonbury and Somerton and the rest of the UK a joyous and peaceful festival of lights. Chanukah Sameach! #GlastonburyandSomerton

Here is a list of reasons why some of my hearings and trials this year have been delayed and kicked off into the long grass, stuck in our record court backlog. Serious allegations which will now be tried *years* after the event. 🧵👇

open.spotify.com/album/3mCPac... This album is so incredible, the music so well-constructed and beautifully played, that I am starting off my show, Classical Connections, with a movement. Always great to play more Chineke! on the show, and I am hoping listeners will forgive a bit of jazz. ☺️

@profanity.accountant Hello.

Either the Vaughan Williams biopic I have in my head, or a series of films like the new Beatles quartet, but it's about the Big Three leaders during the Versailles Peace Conference.

This was madness when the SNP tried to do it in Scotland. It would be double madness for Labour to try it in England and Wales.

The South West must be heard in this Budget. That's why we South West @libdems.org.uk MPs went to the Treasury yesterday to outline what we want to see in this Budget to support our region. The Government cannot ignore the serious issues we’re raising - it’s time they listen and deliver.

SAVE THE DATE, MES AMIS! You’re invited to join us on Saturday 6th December at 19:00 GMT for a night of festive fun, puns and quizzing. To take part, have your pens and paper at the ready and simply click this link at the date and time listed: linktr.ee/labourshercule

Another day of listening to people who are disappointed with Labour- on the cost of living and pandering to Reform.