Lots to be down about in the world right now, but it just feels much easier when the sun's out doesn't it?

Reds, am I right in thinking that we'll be at home second leg in the quarters too?

Only saw the second half, but it was easily one of the best halves we've had this season. When we're good, we can still be very good.

Home from Spanish just in time to see Mo put in an absolute beauty 🤩🔴

Looks like I might need to delete Instagram for a couple of weeks, because there's no way I'm getting spoilers for the whole Lux tour show before I see it in person.

Need a vent, that this week I've been getting mad all over again at the EBU for their shitty decisions. This is the time it should be getting exciting: listening, ranking, partying. But while I have been listening, I'm back to square one with struggling with what it means to engage any further.

It's just been pointed out to me that Liverpool's next home game, against Fulham, is scheduled to kick off just minutes after the last race of the Grand National. Which feels like a *choice*. Town that day is gonna be quite something.

Martin Green has been banging on that Eurovision "shows the world as it could be". But here, ORF won't "avoid showing what is happening, because our task is to show things as they are." So which is it? Has their institutional support for That Country started to meet the reality? If so - good.

That second half was absolutely awful. No sense of shape or a plan. Honestly, just dire again. I really don't know where it goes from here.

The Bride! was delightfully bonkers. Bit of a rocky start but once it settles in it's loads of fun, and says what it wants without punching you in the face with it.

I've now been to the cinema 4 times this year, which I'm pretty sure it more than I went in 2025 and 24 combined.

I'm off work this week, and one of my favourite things is having a full clear hour to play piano every day. Winter makes me quite lazy about practice - though you'd think it'd be an activity for cozy evenings. But I definitely do more in the lighter months, and this is a great way to dive back in.

With what Felicia said, I think she's in a pretty unique position to speak out. Because it's unlikely that EBU really act against SVT, when 🇸🇪 are one of their jewels in the crown. Also unlikely is SVT doing anything to disrupt support for the Melfest winner, too much home support to lose there.

I've started trying to learn to crochet. All I can say is, how the heck do so many people find this relaxing this is the most stressful thing I've ever tried. Restarted about 7 times in a week. Lace is so much easier 🫠

My entire timeline is at Melfest or watching Melfest. Except me, who is at a very good mate's birthday party booking ticket to see Sunn O))).

Tidal doesn't recognise that Altin Gün and Altın Gün are the same band. It's giving me flashbacks to early 00s Limewire. Anyway, found their new album on there in the end. Rather good. tidal.com/album/474939...

Tonight I have been to see Echo And The Bunnymen. Would not recommend 😐 I say this as a fan of their musical output. That was not a good show.

Main thing that makes me nervous with Eins, Zwei, Drei 🇬🇧 is that the staging HAS to be good, and I don't trust the BBC on this. The song has the potential to go very wrong live if they go for their usual standard of "this'll do".

After a few listens, this hits the nail on the head. I was excited by the artist, and it's stylistically my favourite thing we've done in years. Pushes the edges of what we do - BUT. There's something missing, & I think that it's an desire to stay in the lines of what a Eurovision song "is".

FFS Liverpool. Dire that.

It's not often I think of myself as old but I've just realised that the first time I saw Björk was at the Brits 30 years ago! 30! That's a lot!!

Also this morning, I've finally become the last Eurofan to hear Sal da Vinci's song 🇮🇹. In a turbulent year, this might be a balm that unites us all behind 'classic song done well' - who could argue against that?

Sunday morning #Melfest catch-up over coffee - will miss this! Best heat I think? Definitely better than last week. Did not expect to enjoy Delulu as much as I did! And Sanna was great too. Not at all sure I'm down with the two qualifiers from Second Chance - not bad, but just offer nothing.

Just finished UMK too. Best song won, not gonna say Finland are nailed on winners, but it's looking good. Now I feel weird because 2 MFs in one night is the most Eurovision I've taken in this season in one go and it's so fun but...........the elephant remains.

OK Jonas Lovv as the winner of MGP is definitely the best choice. This has personality! It's not winning Eurovision but it'll bring a lot of fun along the way.

Watched MGP...kept up with UMK...keeping an eye on Germany. The one Saturday I'm in to watch and it's chaos.

Erika has so much charisma, I don't think this is her best song but she sells it!

This week I've either been working late or ill, so unable to follow Sanremo. But I'm unexpectedly free to watch UMK and then the 🇮🇹 final, and ready for this to be my most engaged evening of the year!

Best way to sum up that game is that we scored 5, but I kept my earplugs in because the toxic moaners around me had enough to carry on their usual form.

Been off social media for a couple of days. Lovely to come back on this lunchtime and see my timelines filled with hope and positivity about Hannah Spencer's win 💚 Only the beginning of what needs doing, but seeing the strategy of leaning into division fail so decisively is great.

On the 4th anniversary of Russia invading Ukraine, I'm thinking about the man who gave me this keyring. It was in 2018, when Liverpool got to the Champions League final in Kyiv. We didn't win but had an amazing time anyway. Went for pints in Independence Square & got talking to a man. (/1)

Been on a Scott Walker kick recently. This song has (for obvious reasons) been in my head & ears a lot lately but just gets more perfect the more I play it. tidal.com/track/205162...

Spotted when heading into the gym at 6.55: actual blue sky! Winter is ending 😊

Spotted when heading into the gym at 6.55: actual blue sky! Winter is ending 😊

Obsessed with how clearly none of the athletes walking around during this French anthem want to be on this stage.

Turned on the closing ceremony just as Gabry Ponte came on and WHY didn't he play Tutta L'Italia???

We were absolutely dire. But that feels like a big win. Ridiculous circumstances in the end to add to the absurdity 🔴

😂😂😂😂 🔴

Another morning #Melfest catch-up: what a boring heat. 3 songs that didn't engage me at all, one that wasn't as good as last year's, and then the qualifiers. Cimberly's thing was fine, but wish she'd been less static. Smash Into Pieces also fine, but metal doesn't have to mean you can't enunciate.

Ah, that was such a hard interview with the curling team. Clearly so gutted.

The one Saturday this month I'm in and could watch Melfest live...but sorry Swedes, it's all about the curling in our house now! 🥌

Two people have told me that my Insta stories about the film have stopped them from going to see it, so I think I've done my good deed for the week.

Look Mum No Computer: a UK actually I've actually heard of!! This guy has a YouTube channel and a museum in Margate where he takes old music tech and mixes it up, it's really fun. Highlights include the Furby Organ and the pipe organ somebody had in his house that he bought and rebuilt.

I went in to see Wuthering Heights with an open mind, but JFC it is very, very bad. I'm almost in awe of how widely Emerald Fennell misses the mark.

#BenidormFest was great, wasn't it? Great production and a good range of entertaining songs. I hope that whether they're in the Contest next year or not they keep building on this, and I'd love to go in 2027 🇪🇸.

Next is to catch up with BenidormFest, but don't think I have the heart to touch base with any more I missed last night. The deeper we get into NF season the weirder it's all feeling for me. The contrast between the fun and the contest being what it is is weird.

Today's #melfest catch-up has been an evening business. Medina a lot of fun as expected. Wanted more from Patrick Jean, not surprised that Saga went through instead but will definitely be an also-ran in Stockholm. Shaping up to be a fun final though.

I've been avoiding Wuthering Heights discourse because I want to make my own opinion on it when I see it. But have made the mistake of listening to Charli XCX's soundtrack in advance and...yeah, I have preconceptions now.

Very here for Het Groote getting a swift dig in. Must be so satisfying to watch the level of FAFO from the EBU.

Oh well...👀