☎️ Important news for all UK landline telephone customers. The UK’s analogue landline telephone system will be switched off and replaced by a digital network. Find out why the change is happening, what customers have to do and what support is available as we speak with BT.

It's annoying not knowing what's in the image, right? ☹️ Add alt text so that blind and partially sighted people can enjoy your festive pictures too. It's super easy to add: head Advanced Settings > Accessibility > Write alt text” and click done!

For the start of the next few themes, #Day16 of #DavidsMonthOfMusic brings ‘a song from 2003’ - I was just finishing my MSc at the time, really liked #BlackEyedPeas “Shut Up” & “Where Is The Love?” from mid-2003. I also got #Dido & “White Flag” and #OutKast’s “Hey Ya!” too, always an eclectic taste!

Onto days #Day16 to #Day20 this week for #DavidsMonthOfMusic, and these are the challenges this time…

We’re almost halfway through #DavidsMonthOfMusic at #Day15, with theme of ‘a song that never fails to make you happy’. Possibly trickier this one!! But at this time of year, I pick #ChrisRea’s absolute classic “Driving’ Home For Christmas” (1986) which I have happily sung along to on many occasions!

Really important - if you don’t already have the setting on BlueSky enabled for automatic #alternateText for photos and pictures not accesssible to partially-sighted or blind viewers, then *please* turn it on and help ensure the pictures are meaningful to all!! It’s not hard to do.

Very sad to hear this news, seemingly also his wife has passed away too. Great creativity in his life. #RIP #RobReiner

I am excited to be joining this! I am really looking forward to allocated the time to sit down & think through this space intentionally rather than in the act of "getting something done". Someone as experienced/thoughtful as @thepete.net as the facilitator means it will be a high value use of time!

So, I think you could say that I’m #gripped by the new podcast from excellent Mark Watson @watsoncomedian.bsky.social - a tale about a murder & the detective activities is unfolding nicely… can recommend “Murder Of A Famous Bastard”… weekly episodes, third released today bsky.app/profile/murd...

I know ‘a song with a type of weather in the title’ for #Day14 of #DavidsMonthOfMusic - for this one, I choose “Stormy Weather” (the wonderful jazz standard), but by whom this time? One of my fave versions, from LA band #RoyalCrownRevue, and the track comes from their 1998 album ‘The Contender’.

If you love science and comedy and @robinince.bsky.social, now is a great time to discover @cosmicshambles.com and everything they have to offer. And if you're in the vicinity of London, UK, check out their amazing holiday event, "Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People"

A bizarre Christmas dinner invitation, some mysterious carol singers and even a spot of charades. Can you solve all 12 of our unique festive riddles?

Oh my!! #GeorgeClarke and those hips in a #samba with #Alexis!! That was a very exciting routine to an old song there!! #StrictlyComeDancing…

Getting to watch #StrictlyConeDancing from its start is a novelty, but I’ve *really* enjoyed the first few dances, especially #Amber and #Nikita and their #tango…. But #Kaz and #Carlos and their waltz were gorgeous!!

#DavidsMonthOfMusic #Day13 and the theme this time is ‘another favourite song’ - this time ai’m going to choose the brilliant #HughLaurie’s version of a great song “Didn’t It Rain” from his second album, which I loved…

Rather shocked to read this, & understand why he took the decision - and I shall miss @robinince.bsky.social on it loads….. have managed to listen to all 34 series of #TheInfiniteMonkeyCage & valued it especially during COVID lockdown.

Spending lunchtime in sports club, watching the #Nativity episode of one series of #SomeMothersDoAveEm (1973, 1975, or 1978) with the amazing #MichaelCrawford & #MicheleDotrice. His comic timing! My memories flood back, & what a talented star! (He later became the #PhantomOfTheOpera in London)

Tough theme: ‘a song you would describe as beautiful’. Thought of #Falco’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” (1985, a Bob Dylan number!); #LavaySmith&HerRedHotSkilletLickers and song “One Hour Mama” from 1996… but I think my top choice is #Sting & “Fragile” from 1986 #DavidsMonthOfMusic #Day12

'AI is coming' I tell the museum stakeholders as I proudly cut the ribbon of our new Artificial Insemination exhibition

So safe to hear he has finally passed #RIP magical #StanleyBaxter … a very long life (almost 100) but he leaves much work to bring us all #laughter too!

Oh my word!!! Loving the start of this already!! Get in there and start listening to the episodes for this murder tale… @watsoncomedian.bsky.social is so #creative! Join in via bsky.app/profile/murd... Other places apparently also available… Should be a fun experience!!

I've been fortunate enough to gain some new followers recently. Welcome, and also, maybe you would like this, if you like listening to things. There are some great comedians in it. It's a long-running story. But it's only up to episode 3 (this weekend).

#Day11 of #DavidsMonthOfMusic & various songs to choose from on theme ‘a song where the title is a question’. On the pop side, I went for fave band #TheEurythmics & “Would I Lie To You?” (1985). For any swing-jazz fans, I love “What’s Cooking, Toots?” (live, 1993) by #KingPleasureAndTheBiscuitBoys

#DavidsMonthOfMusic has the following themes for days 11 to 15 (see ALT text on screenshot for exact details)

Theme of #Day10 of #DavidsMonthOfMusic (yesterday) was ‘a song with a colour in the title’ so which colour did I pick? I have many options with ‘blue’ in there, probably the most common one. For a jazzy choice, wonderful #NinaSimone and “Mood Indigo” (from 1930 and #DukeEllington actually) #indigo

Time is flying this week, a bit late in the day but… #Day9 of #DavidsMonthOfMusic has theme ‘the first song you’d put on a mixtape to a crush’… I have gone for #TheHotSardines & their live version of “T’ain’t Nobody’s Business” (2013) - shows off talented musicians, not modern but radiating quality!

I do love #postboxToppers - this was not very far away from our house, maybe 2 miles, but thought it really brightened up the dark mornings and evenings… but so well-made! Much admiration for those who create them!

🎶God rest ye merry, gentlemen Be careful what you hears, Remember that the Mary Rose Sailed for thirty-four years Correct them when you hear it And help end these awful smears Don’t you dare say it was her Maiden Voyage, Mai-ay-den Voyage Don’t you dare say it was her Maiden Voyage🎶

+++ Rest In Power. Today we remember John Lennon, who was sadly murdered on this day, 45 years ago, the 8th of December 1980. +++ #johnlennon #beatles #imagine #thedakota #newyorkcity #otd

Early for me!! #DavidsMonthOfMusic #Day8 theme is ‘a song with you, me or us in the title’ - first long-time reaction came from teenage years and the boys of then social circle do a dancefloor line dance to “You To Me Are Everything” (1976) by #TheRealThing. The boys rarely danced to anything else!

Belatedly, I admit, but #Day7 of #DavidsMonthOfMusic has theme ‘a song from 2013’ - fortunately, I found a long-time fave!! #DaftPunk, #PharrellWilliams and the fab #NileRodgers with hit “Get Lucky” - first heard at bro-in-law’s wedding, great to dance to!

Am not familiar with ‘The Greatest Showman’, but Balvinder & Julian danced their #VienneseWaltz very beautifully, it just didn’t set me on fire this evening…. Maybe the uptempo numbers preceding them on tonight’s #Strictly overshadowed their energies on it.

Go #KarenCarney and #CarlosGu with that #samba!! Way to excite that #Strictly audience, so much energy, so much fun, what a routine!! Cracking #good!

Wow!! Just tuned into #Strictly and seen George ‘The Phantom’ Clarke and Alexis dance an Argentine Tango and that was #spectacular…. He has really come into his own in the past weeks… very good!

Trying to keep up posting on the days now…. #Day6 of #DavidsMonthOfMusic brings theme ‘another favourite song’ so this brings a massive choice to make!! I pick ‘Ziggy Stardust’ (1982) by #Bauhaus, which was their cover of #DavidBowie’s original. I must be feeling slightly more #goth this morning!

Next set of daily music challenges for #DavidsMonthOfMusic (days 6 to 10) as follows…

Friday, #Day5 of #DavidsMonthOfMusic, and to the theme ‘A song with a number in the title’ - instant reaction: ‘99 Luftballons’ or ‘99 Red Balloons’ (1983) by German star #Nena. Could also have chosen ‘Nine Million Bicycles in Beijing’ (2005) by #KatieMelua. Some numbers more plentiful than others!

Today I learned that NASA has a collection of free ebooks that can be downloaded as pdfs or ebub format. The science books even include a children’s section with fun activites and coloring books! science.nasa.gov/multimedia/s...

Torn between two songs for #Day4 of #DavidsMonthOfMusic - the theme is ‘a song with four words in the title’ today - could be #SineadO’Connor’s track “Black Boys on Mopeds” (1990) from her first album, or the upbeat “Can’t Stand Losing You” from #ThePolice (1978). Wish I’d seen both in concert…

#Day3 for challenge #DavidsMonthOfMusic - theme is ‘a cover version’ - reminds me of my godson aged 10ish telling me he really loved Steps singing “Tragedy” (1998). I had to tell him that the reason I (much older!) also knew how to sing it was because it was originally by The BeeGees in 1979!

#DavidsDayOfMusic #Day2 has dawned and this one’s a bit tricky, I’m just not very good at keeping up with new music as much as I used to be 20-30 years ago…. ‘a song from this year’ - I went by official copyright year & picked ‘Gold’ by #MylesSmith, which I liked. There’s probably loads more…

Starting point, Day 1 of #DavidsMonthOfMusic for December 2025, ‘a favourite song’ … tricky enough, I’d choose many!! Have gone for #DireStraits & #Sting live in concert in 1985 with “Money For Nothing”. An excellent collaboration, and super performance live, musicians playing their best!

Yay!! Start of another month’s music challenges…

ARLT Latin Reading Competition and CPD Day for Teachers www.theclassicslibrary.com/arlt-latin-r...

Oh wow!!! Wishing I still lived in London and could go for this marathon of seriously-good #WongKarWai movies…

Monday's RHLSTP with Osman and Baynton is nearly sold out. BOOK NOW www.leicestersquaretheatre.com/show/richard...

Managed to catch up with 3 episodes of my fave long-standing comedy show from #BBC #Radio4, very ably-hosted by #JackDee, that is #I’mSorryIHaven’tAClue… @rachelparris.bsky.social & @marcusbrig.bsky.social both in fine singing voice, as was @adrianedmondson.bsky.social & #MilesJupp too! More!!

This was absolutely wonderful show on #BBCSounds #Radio4 podcast: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... Really always enjoy #AlfieMoore and his series discussing with much humour a wide range of policing situations, you learn a lot!!

Oh! It's not just Fibbonacci Day but also Doctor Who Day; it first aired OTD in 1963! Allons-y!

📣A new book display on Level E has reached its destination. Take a journey through Africa's transport history, from an amazing story about an ancient canoe 🛶 an East African road rally, the first female military pilot in Africa 🛫 and how African transport has been represented in popular culture 🚋🛵