In the Severn Beach chapter of Final Destination, @nigetassell.bsky.social introduces Sid, an elderly, retired train driver. Within the space of just *two* pages, Nige leaves Sid on the platform to go about his day. I’m in floods of tears. Such beautiful writing, such sharp observation on life.

RIP Gilson Lavis. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn0R...

Ending the year with a flourish. Three fantastic books spanning seven decades in popular music. To paraphrase SPM, the pleasure, the privilege has been all mine. I hope you enjoy them x

Best dog's name on this morning's walk? Moose.

And lo, this evening, the first 500 words of the book after next made themselves known.

Watch this. Chances are you'll have a new favourite Smith by the end. youtu.be/1xBfVkWFKDI?...

Watch this. Chances are you'll have a new favourite Smith by the end. youtu.be/1xBfVkWFKDI?...

I have two - TWO - of these gorgeous original A4 meadow hare linoprints by my mum, Jo, to give away to a couple of lucky people here on Bluesky today. Rules are simple: to be in with a chance to win, you just have to repost this piece I wrote about Jo and her art: www.tom-cox.com/the-magic-ro...

So close to my maiden hole-in-one. Wordle 1,600 2/6 🟩🟩⬜🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Just re-read it again because it's so good and because it places you right in the dark, snowy nights of Massachusetts in January.

Here's the ideal item for all those writers currently struggling to find a book idea to excite their publisher. www.amazon.co.uk/Monkey-Tenni...

Those who enjoyed Whatever Happened to the C86 Kids? should be advised about new material from the Mackenzies. open.spotify.com/track/001MH7...

Someone in a Teams meeting just said “It’s the old chicken and the egg question isn’t it? Why did they cross the road?” then realised what they’d said and turned their camera off.

As misnamed (as 'Close Encounter') by a fellow passenger in my train book Final Destination. www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...

Funny old game, football 🤯

I'd have said the subtitle My Life As An Undertaker better fitted the photo.

What a great cup tie...

"We've got a cup tie on our hands!" cliche klaxon.

Not a bad month of Thursdays.

Last chance to turn it off. On Monday, November 3rd, Microsoft will start using your LinkedIn data for AI training. And remember, you're opted in by default. To toggle it off 👉 Account - Settings & Privacy > Data privacy > Data for Generative AI Improvement.

Next Friday (7th) we’re showing GAME at Cinecity, the Brighton Film Festival, with a Q&A afterwards. Tickets: www.picturehouses.com/movie-detail...

First review's in for GAME: ‘A gripping, darkly funny watch’ ★★★★ Rolling Stone UK Buy tickets for our Screening/Q&A tour here: linktr.ee/InvadaFilmsG...

Have always loved this Cathal Coughlan line: "And one night in Swansea I held you / You were frisky from all that MDMA."

If you're a member of the National Trust remember to vote for council members by midnight tonight. Use the Quick Vote option. Entryist pressure group Reform Trust is trying to seize control. Stop them Voting is quick and easy if your membership card is at hand secure.cesvotes.com/V3-3-0/nt25/...

This is a lovely piece of writing: longreads.com/2023/10/03/d...

As a certain award-bothering book* revealed, a future member of Dexys was one half of the musical turn on Rainbow before Rod, Jane and Freddie were recruited. * Searching for Dexys Midnight Runners, out now in paperback.

What a poster. And even older than me.

Among the more than 450 items featured in the sale are the EMS Synthi AKS suitcase synth from Kraftwerk's Autobahn era, and the bicycle Schneider rode in the video for 'Tour de France' Auction of #Kraftwerk Memorabilia Formerly Belonging to Florian Schneider buff.ly/e7V2Eg0

One happy passenger.

Here's the proof. This was the music in my head when Dave and I patrolled the early-morning banks of the Thames at Rainham Marshes for the C86 book. thewolfhounds.bandcamp.com/track/goatma...

Great, great record.

🌳 As a #NationalTrust member I’ve just voted for the recommended slate to keep out the bogus, right-wing entryists of “Restore Trust”. Anything this creep wants is bad for Britain and bad for our heritage. 🌳 If you’re a member, vote Recommended Slate now: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...

If she were still alive, my maternal grandmother – the fabulously named Olive Thunder – would be 110 tomorrow. Happy birthday Gran, you amazing free spirit.

Morning Folks, Rainy day in Helmsdale , shit, bollocks & bloody Hell, to boot-Edwyn

I know nothing about Dr Who, but, for Londoners, the phrase "Going For Dinner With Billie Piper" is the absolute best way to remember the order of the vertical streets running east to west in Soho (Greek, Frith, Dean, Wardour, Berwick, Poland) and has saved many a late night out

Happy birthday to Stephen Morris

Kylie, Frances Bacon, Joan Didion, Roland Rat, Eugene Terre'Blanche, Truman Capote, Norman Collier, Paul Daniels, Thomas Pynchon... All of these and more* make cameos in my next book, due to be announced next month (and out in February). * There's also a whole chapter on Bryan Robson.

Advance warning: this is a splendid book.

That's one seriously busy day for the best new imprint around.

Am in book-editing mode today. Just added a one-word comment to the author: 'Penis?'

A month today. Nov 14th, 6pm, @ Aye Write. Fab. www.glasgowlife.org.uk/event/1/ring...

Dutch libraries have invented an AI chatbot that can recommend books to you You know what else can recommend books to you ~a fucking librarian~

Was just reading about the history of BST, clocks changing etc, and discovered that the dude who campaigned for it in the early 20th century, a builder called William Willett, is the great-great grandfather of Chris Martin from Coldplay, which is what the song “Clocks” should be about, but isn’t

Essex University Students' Union - pint of Trent Bitter, 68p; Kronenbourg, 76p. What? It's not 1988 any more?

cc @mscaitlinmoran.bsky.social

And here's Leeds yesterday, specifically the Corn Exchange, which is one of my favourite British buildings. And it had a record fair yesterday (and today). And the book/card/magazine shop on the balcony had about four music books, one of which was one of mine. So that's another tick too.

And, about the Leeds part... I was there yesterday and I agree.

Yay. Priceless. The right column at the right time. And a gleefully English two fingers to the haters.

Re @benjaminmyers76.bsky.social's new one, Jesus Christ Kinski. How can a brain come up with something so profoundly original and imaginative? Idea, structure, language... My own noggin is deeply envious.

The run is over, btw. Saturday morning in a hotel room. Different mugs, different teabags.