Reading Ian Nairn's Outrage and I can't believe there's anyone else who has been that talented yet that grumpy at the age of 24.

No surprise with Bexley, but things are going to get bleak!

New Joshua Ray Walker track is excellent. One of the great songwriters and great voices that we have. youtu.be/nC8b0vApg9k?...

Popped in the pub and Cuddly Toy by Roachford started playing, so I think things are looking up.

It is grotesque that the UK is joining in with far-right aggressors to extend war in the Middle East and ignore all international law. We are in a very bad place, with a totally immoral and incapable government.

Today would be a good day for Labour MPs to discover some principles.

Pub Thoughts #6 waituntilnextyear.com/2026/02/27/p...

Labour brains trust sitting down this morning and working out how this result means they have to be more racist and funnel more money to their funders.

Finally a small scrap of hope, eh?

[in a report] ‘The visitor complained to a host on the way in about the number of warnings about touching the exhibit, saying they felt unnecessarily patronised. Around two minutes later the visitor reemerged with oil dripping from their hand as a result of touching the exhibit.’

One of my favourite quirks of the English language is that a "polite reminder" is anything but.

I loved this. I've often done something similar when away with work, or just when I've needed to decompress somewhat. A good public house is a public home.

In these bleak times it is cheering seeing two of the worst people in the country face some consequences for their actions.

Thinking of standard 70s sitcom tropes you just don't see anymore - nobody invites their boss over for dinner these days, do they?

Starting running again a few weeks ago. Definitely find it a lot easier when I keep stopping to take photos.

The working river.

Pub Thoughts #5 waituntilnextyear.com/2026/02/20/p...

Popped in the florists today and they were telling me they've had several people bringing in cheap and nasty flowers from elsewhere and asking them to arrange them and make them look more fancy.

Majestic Erith.

Pub Thoughts #4 waituntilnextyear.com/2026/02/13/p...

I'm old enough to remember Labour shenanigans from the New Labour era in Erith and Thamesmead. Well respected MP retires. They tried to parachute in someone from outside in a very iffy process. Eventually blocked thankfully and an excellent Labour MP was elected. The party is very dodgy.

“Writers are on the whole the most repulsive people, I told Gambetti.” 🖤 — Bernhard, Extinction (from Cahier de l’Herne: Bernhard)

Old fella in Spoons, on his own taking up a massive table, shouting down his phone, has been here at least an hour and hasn't bought anything. Incredible work.

Pub Thoughts #3 (Not just about pubs this time!) waituntilnextyear.com/2026/02/06/p...

Charming Valentine's display outside the local pub.

Pub Thoughts #2 waituntilnextyear.com/2026/01/31/p...

Getting loads of blog traffic, reassuring that the AI bots are feeding on my drivel.

A really lovely piece of writing. www.ft.com/content/6c05...

If anything, I don't think January has been long enough this year.

Big fan of anonymous job surveys where the first two questions are what team do you work in and what is your job title.

Merry Christmas!

GOOD MORNING! Here's our regular round up of good writing about beer and pubs, which starts with 'retail groups' and ends with cask ale in New York. 🍺🍻 boakandbailey.com/2026/01/news...

A very satisfying end to Traitors and I suspect Stephen will be making far more than his prize money in future.

A whole video on a passive-aggressive British Rail pamphlet? Jago Hazzard, you've done it again.

Pub Thoughts #1 waituntilnextyear.com/2026/01/22/p...

Annoying Journalists Talk Through Getting Barred From Pubs is a great feature idea, to be fair.

Incredible piece of Search Engine Optimisation

Noticing the local Tory council who have no money have suddenly found the cash for a load of major work in areas they might lose to Reform in the May elections.

I feel like a lot of analysis on the Death of Pubs overlooks or downplays the impact of the attacks on the finances of the working classes. There are much broader economic factors at play than taxes etc.

Merry Christmas you lovely lot. I hope you all can have a good day.

Playing all the Christmas bangers tonight open.spotify.com/track/4cdkeh...

I thought it was the star of Bethlehem but turned out to be Sainsbury's in Charlton.

Merry Christmas with this old favourite! Who’s off to the Erith Borough Council Christmas staff dinner & dance? The Borough Treasurer is prepared to receive conscience money, but don’t be wasting the Borough Surveyor’s time on building licence chat at the bar...

Incredible piece of old pub footage - struggling with energy bills is nothing new and nothing on what this pub had to deal with! youtu.be/N_t9pSh-4bo?...

Living the dream

Proper pub signage

If anyone is looking for some cool last minute gifts there are some amazing band-themed earrings here... www.etsy.com/shop/madewit...

Been to a pub and had a lovely chat with one of the people running it about how important it is to be welcoming to trans people. I think more pubs could learn that being a community asset involves welcoming everyone, not just your mates.

Local pub posting on Facebook "Why don't you come and join us today?" and accompanying it with multiple photos of the place decked out in Loyalist flags. I think I'll give it a miss, thanks.

Big fan of Carlisle United managing to score their winning goal before their own equaliser today