Interesting to see what the Flipboard app suggests as articles under its ‘happiness and positive thinking’ theme

Tonight I got to be Santa at soul kitchen in Chester. Handing out presents to homeless and vulnerable people who’d just had a Christmas meal created entirely from gifts and volunteering. There are people who choose to be utterly wonderful

A few years ago my wife and I went to Madeira where all the ‘cool kids’ were doing instagram poses on their walks. I should probably stop…

As a mate said, tonight was an outstanding contender in a very strong field of @chesterscibar.bsky.social evenings.

Hidden in plain sight. I’ve just visited the rather beautiful and anachronistic city club in Chester.

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings in Manchester Apollo. Sounding rather splendid

The usual bit of virtue signalling. Now it’s time for my second dinner of the day

I can be rather naive sometimes, but I am amazed people still rail against 20mph speed limits

The Beta Band in Manchester were ace. Never heard a band start back into a song as the crowd refused to stop singing it before!

Danny Thompson.

Hurray for @chesterscibar.bsky.social bringing macabre science to the city centre of a Tuesday evening

Lovely (if damp) day out with Cafe 71 doing the Wirral suicide awareness bike ride #itsokaynottobeokay

Not the sleekest of set ups, but I cycled, I cooked, I camped and I got everything home. Nice to know I can cycle off with everything I need (and a few I don’t)

Off to Abergavenny on Friday by train to pick up my bike and cycle home to Chester over the weekend. Worried about carrying all my camping equipment!

Hurray for the teenage fan club, although these days we’re mainly in our 50s

Two graduations in two weeks - 2:1 twins. I’m a very proud father to two newly qualified scientists

Crossing the Severn Bridge on a five-day 300 mile trip from lands end to Abergavenny. A few hours later got overtaken by a lad who’d done the same route in 3 days

Up on Bodmin moor in sunshine with a very good mate and our bikes, despite the fact we’ve hit 50. Life’s good

First 70 miles done in the sunshine. Bedtime very soon!

And we’re off! I’m more about scenery and fun than challenge. So cycling Land’s End to Bristol with a mate. Next year will be Bristol to Chester, then on to John O’Groats. Mini-adventures sorted for the next 4 or 5 years!

C’MONWALES!

Sometimes you see a product you just don’t understand. Water marketed as ‘liquid death’ with a tagline ‘don’t be scared - it’s just water.’ I’m confused

It’s a beautiful world

Newly improved road surface! What a way to cheer up the commute

My mum and I walked from Arnside to Grange-over-sands at low-tide yesterday. A safe, guided walk a few hundred of us did, but a strange (wet) experience nonetheless

I used to work there. This too shall pass

Council cuts have hit to the extent that we’ve got a lone bin man emptying everyone’s food waste into a wheelie bin as he walks down the road

Listening to former MPs and ministers from the 90s I never agreed with, it’s striking how thoughtful and balanced they now sound. Is it me, them or the current politicians I compare them to who have changed? Or more relaxed, open, honest discourse out of power or out of current media spotlight?

Well, John Tothill has been my highlight of the ‘how the light gets in’ festival two years in a row

Festival discussion on whether woke us dead. In, effectively, a yurt

Accessible discussion of global economics - US approach is TACO economics. Trump always chickens out

At the ‘how the light gets in’ festival of philosophy. Or ‘how the queues get in’ as I’m calling it. Not sure why they won’t let people just sit in the venue to wait!

Every couple of Saturdays I do soul kitchen. It’s a really lovely place where anyone homeless or vulnerable can get a hot meal and a warm welcome. It’s good for my head and my heart

My wife going beyond imposter syndrome at storyhouse in Chester. Speaking to a couple of hundred people!

Beer, book and tostada at ‘death by tacos’ in Chester

NHS approved self-harm

New pub alert for Chester. Hurray for the station tap

Turning 50 shortly, and have long wanted to see a gig at the Royal Albert Hall. so got treated to Beck and the BBC Orchestra. Kinda wonderful

Stage 2 of the north wales pilgrims way was llanasa to tremeirchion. Lovely but damp. Left a bike at the end of the walk to cycle back to the car. Not ideal

Sunshine, art and nature

A blue sky for Bluesky. Spring is here and so I’m back to commuting by bike. Which beats a motorway and a queue

John Cale. The Phil dining rooms. Nice people. Yes please

The prettiest rubbish car park in Chester. Love the way Boughton turns pink each March

Started the North Wales Pilgrims Way. Lovely walk but we’re doing it in stages, which involve trying to finish on a bus route. In north wales. On a weekend. Still worth it

Hadn’t realised how much we’d the towpath to ourselves over winter, but there’s loads more people jogging, cycling and walking to work and enjoying some sun

Nice to see yet more work being done to spruce up Sandy Lane

The joys of working from home. Dough proves overnight and various loaves go in the oven between team meetings

Move gently and mend things. There’s a lovely phrase that I can sign up to.

Some powerful women in Liverpool

Reasons to be cheerful. And grateful for Paysan in Chester