I'm dressed like the book I'm reading, part of my (Nobel worthy?) life's work to integrate the worlds of football and literature.

The Egil Selvig interview makes me think about how strange it is for footballers, all that moving about at short notice. Take Festy Ebosele, the Irish International. Went from Udinese in Italy to sunny Watford at short notice, then off to play/live in Istanbul at 24 hrs notice. He's only 23.

Catching up on my football programme reading – the Watford v Luton one from last season. I love the goofy innocence of football programme interviews. Maybe the interviewer thought he was going to carry all his gear himself in his goalkeeper gloved hands.

Wanted to know what it would be like to go on a wacky Japanese gameshow so I went for a piss on a moving National Express coach

Though I do grumble that the Guardian tends to write about men like we're farm animals, there is a lot of sense in this. I've learned a lot about being a friend from other friends who are good at making things happen. www.theguardian.com/wellness/202...

A previously unpublished poem by Seamus Heaney, along with an essay by Rosie Lavan, giving the context for the poem. I will be speaking to Rosie and Bernard O'Donoghue, co-editors of The Poems of Seamus Heaney, at The Source Arts Centre, Thurles, on Nov. 1st. www.irishtimes.com/life-style/p...

Radio: They've killed the golden goose. Me (for the millionth time, as my family groans): At least the goose that lays the golden eggs is ok.

Nescafe have a coffee that simulates being Henry Rollins.

After rereading Hell Screen for the first time in years, I was intrigued by this manga version of the great Akutagawa short story. Retold and illustrated by Mihiro.

Book post! A writer recommended to me by a couple of pals on here who thought it was in the same solar system as Ghost Mountain. Sombrero Fallout by Richard Brautigan.

Nobel Prize in Literature next week. In recent years it has alternated male/female (female last year). 2021 was the last Anglophone winner, and they tend not go too long without one. On that unreliable basis, maybe Murnane's year? Rushdie? A European - Krasznahorkai? Cartarescu? Gospodinov?

Have been absolutely wiped out by a virus all week. Two negative Covid tests but it feels and lingers like Covid. Presumably there are all sorts of strains in circulation. Had initially thought it was a public transport head cold but not so.

My new tree, planted only a week ago, fighting for its place in the world. I improvised by anchoring it with tied pedal bin liners (it's all I had) pending better ideas.

From Nocilla Lab by Augustin Fernandez Mallo, tr Thomas Bunstead, on writing amorally.

An extremely stoned and chatty Dylan in the back of a cab with Lennon. Inconsequential but fascinating. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvfS...

I often think of the Irish word for the environment – comhshaol, meaning "shared life," which I think captures the interconnectedness at the heart of environmental sustainability.

Next Friday 11th October from 6pm: CLAY BODY, a private view of new work by six early career female artists. At Pothole Studio in Muswell Hill.

"My name's Kitty. I could have married, I've given gallons of blood and I can't stomach whelks, so that's me for you." RIP Patricia Routledge.

RIP One of my mother's favorites kicks the bouquet.

Happy Birthday Steve Reich appy Birthday Steve Reich H ppy Birthday Steve Reich Ha py Birthday Steve Reich Hap y Birthday Steve Reich Happ Birthday Steve Reich Happy Birthday Steve Reich Happy irthday Steve Reich Happy B rthday Steve Reich Happy Bi thday Steve Reich Happy Bir

and was such a positive presence. He has left such a wonderful legacy to the country, but for me I will just miss his sporadic phone calls, emails and visits, all of which inevitably left me in a better place than before. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. Tomás Kenny

Especially pleased for @benpester.bsky.social and @cdrose.bsky.social here!

The Two-Headed Calf by Laura Gilpin crushes me every time.

For #nationalpoetryday a poem that I wrote for Hungry Paul in Leonard and Hungry Paul but which I edited out: My wind breaks Spicy Poo on the way

Saw this on FB: I just heard about recency bias and it's my new favourite thing.

Good afternoon. And here is the German cover reveal of: Panenka by @ronanhession.bsky.social Marvelous.

This week at work: ‘I started that book you recommended’ ‘Which one?’ ‘The Leonard one. I love it! So, so good.’ ‘Hurray! It’s brilliant. Am so happy you’re enjoying it.’ Then 5 mins saying everything we love about it. @ronanhession.bsky.social 💛 @ofmooseandmen.bsky.social 💙 #books #booksky

How I first heard the name Jane Goodall.

@bansheepress.bsky.social open for book submissions from 1-15 Oct 👇 (Pl read the sub guidelines.) bansheepress.org/read/banshee...

Draw probably a fair result and probably enough for Pezzolano for now. But enough causes for concern for him to remain in danger.

Oooh, Selvig on his near post.

2-1 up! Vata's goal like the Spurs goal last night. He has a goal and an assist since coming on. Vindication for the manager's early substitution. Can only assume Irankunda taken off for doing his own thing instead of following instructions.

The performance, vibe, everything off for Watford. A familiar sort of feeling inbwhat seems like the final days of the manager's stint. Only positive is that they've generally been better in the second half and only 1-0 down, so let's see.

Irankunda taken off only thirty minutes in? Looks furious, so I'm assuming he's not injured. Doesn't look good. Manager getting stressy.

In bed with a stubborn virus, and will be for the rest of the week. In good company revisiting the Nocilla Trilogy by Agustín Fernandez Mallo, translated by Thomas Bunstead. Its short sections of encyclopedic randomness suiting my foggy brain.

'Butter' oil on linen, 24 x 30cm, 2016 #butter #irishart #kerrygold #conorwalton

Publication day: Relearning to Read It's out! My fourth book, Relearning to Read: Adventures in Not-Knowing officially hits the shelves today. It's available worldwide in English and can be ordered through all the usual channels and bookshops, as well as directly through my publisher's website.…

There are a few of these floating around out there. Please be careful.

For balance, Vermeer's View of Delft will in future be exhibited alongside alternative, stupider views of Delft.

Here is an #InternationalTranslationDay #shelfie of most of the 200+ books I've translated (the top 4 shelves), plus some anthologies containing works I've translated, and then some magazines likewise containing works I've translated. 🥰🥰 #booksky #xl8

With heartfelt thanks to the team at Hachette Ireland, I can now share that my first book, At Least It Looks Good From Space, is coming out this October. I thought I was more emotionally prepared for this moment but it turns out I'm absolutely not. I hope you like it.

The theme for #ITD2025 highlights the importance of human trust in the art of translation. Translators carry the responsibility of ensuring trustworthy communication — a craft threatened by the rising use of AI-generated and machine translation.

I've just sent out several thousand emails with my October newsletter attached. Hundreds have bounced back as the file was too large. I sent a smaller file with the same results. So you can find a 'penny plain' version online here: davidjcollard.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-... Thinking cap on.

An #InternationalTranslationDay #shelfie

Seen on FB.

This is going to be a big week for Bluemoose. I'm going to use the 'J' word. What a journey in the last 20 years. Leonard and Hungry Paul by @ronanhession.bsky.social From Dublin via Hebden Bridge, Hollywood to your BBC screens! Magic. @booksaremybag.bsky.social @foylesforbooks.bsky.social

Míle buíochas to @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social and Donal Ryan for being the perfect interviewees today at Write by the Sea Festival - warm, chatty, and so interesting. And the sun is shining. Happy out! Thanks to @carolineheffo.bsky.social for the pic on stage.

Reading Guardian Blind Dates, when you get a sense of where it's going: What were you hoping for? To meet a new acquaintance. What did you talk about? Friends. Friendship. How it's not important to see friends often. Introduce him to yr friends? No. Meet again? Yes, As a friend I never see.

My wife brought me back some marzipan from Croatia. She was away with her friends where one of them picks a surprise destination. The marzipan makes up for her WhatsApp from the airport a few days ago saying "We're going to Split."

It's head cold season. I was on a packed train the other day – cold outside, sweaty and warm inside – and could practically see clouds of paisley shaped viruses flying through the air. Am tucked up in bed with light jazz and a good book.