Intended rustling-up a Full English Breakfast this morning, but then decided I wanted something lighter. So ... Poached Eggs and Smashed Avocado (Avocado, Fried Garlic, Fried Chillis, Salt, Pepper, Lime Juice, Olive Oil) on Buttered, Lightly-toasted Seeded Sourdough Bread.

When I was about 7, my mother told me that frail, elderly relatives Jack and Freda sent their laundry away for laundering because they had neither the energy nor the appliances to do it themselves. Last night I dreamed about it. That tiny detail had sat in my brain, unrecalled, for 60 years.

I'd love to live in the land of recipe-writers, where "two egg yolks" can suddenly appear out of nowhere 🤔

Made a quick calculation in my head of the health benefit of going for my usual brisk walk, compared with the health benefit of not being out in the 2°C brisk easterly wind. I'll put the kettle on again, then.

My TV snacks for this evening: Buttered Ritz Crackers with Brunswick Ham, Cheddar Cheese, Dijon Mustard, Thousand Island Dressing, Mango Chutney, King Prawns, Vittoria Cherry Vine Tomatoes, Black Olives and a glass of Neck Oil Session IPA.

Throwback Thursday #TBT. Opening of the David Oluwale footbridge in #Leeds on January 26th 2023. @leedstours.bsky.social

Throwback Thursday #TBT. Catherine, Princess of Wales, visits Kirkgate Market, #Leeds, on 31st January 2023. @leedstours.bsky.social

My lunch: home-made Chicken Stroganoff with home-made Lemon Rice.

A cold, misty start to the day in #Leeds

My Burns Night breakfast. Sadly there's no neeps or tatties. And the haggis is actually beefburgers that I found at the back of the freezer. Ah well - happy Burns Night!

Called into a department store this afternoon for a sensible suit - for no other reason than I haven't got a sensible suit. While I was there I thought I'd get a nice cashmere jumper to go with it. But - ye gods - all I need now is a pipe and I'll be my own grandad!

Home-cooked Cottage Pie for lunch 😋

Nom de plume! Very happy with the way my 2 batches of Cottage Pie have turned out 😋

Rowan Atkinson famously has a problem saying "Bob", and I find the word "retrograde" a bit of a challenge for some reason. But - ye gods - hearing news commentators trying to say "retaliatory" this morning ...

Snack preparation ahead of tonight's televisual feast ... Jacob's Cream Crackers Lurpak Salted Butter Prosciutto Crudo Napoli Salami Milano Salami Vittoria Cherry Vine Tomatoes Saint Agur Blue Veined Full Fat Soft Cheese Celery Sticks Caramelised Onion Chutney Basil Pesto

Starting this morning with a (very) messy breakfast butty. I may need a shower after this ... or possibly sand-blasting.

Looking forward to the Grand Depart next year. I didn't get many photos from the 2014 event in #Leeds, though I was happy with this one of the gendarmerie on their way down Woodhouse Lane towards the city centre. #TourdeFrance

Anyone know what the #searchlights in #Leeds this evening are for? I noticed them in the wee small hours of this morning too.

Called in to Bridge End Social, #Leeds, for a quick lunch 😋

My evening meal: Summer In Winter Chicken, served with boiled Pasta, fresh Baby Plum Tomatoes and a sprinkle of Parmesan.

Getting my evening meal ready ahead of tonight's Night Manager. Home-made Chicken Curry with home-made Pilau Rice, served with Geeta's Mango Chutney and a couple of Flatbreads, and sprinkled with fresh Coriander and fresh Spring Onions.

Called in to Habitum, #Leeds, on my way home, for a vanilla latte and a white choc and pistachio dome cookie. Superb!

Making a pan of "Orange Soup" 😊 Sweet Potatoes Shallots Red Lentils Carrots Fresh Basil Fromage Frais Bird Eye Chillis Dried Oregano Dried Rosemary Olive Oil

Throwback Thursday #TBT. Rachel Reeves MP unveils a plaque to Alice Bacon MP at #Leeds Corn Exchange in January 2019.

My late lunch / early dinner: Oven-baked Salmon Fillets with Dill Sauce, Oven-baked Asparagus & Broccoli and Sweet Potato Mash. 😋

Decided to go retro for my tea this evening with a Prawn Cocktail. I'd forgotten how nice it was! King Prawns Iceberg Lettuce Baby Plum Tomatoes Hellman's Thousand Island Dressing A slice of lemon

Dishing-up my home-cooked evening meal: Honey Mustard Chicken with Parsnips, served with broccoli and sweetcorn.

Moonrise over Quarry House, #Leeds, a few minutes ago. I know it's cold, but it's great that the sky is so clear!

An extraordinarily bright #moon over #Leeds this morning.

A cold, sunny start to the last day of 2025 in #Leeds. Wishing everybody a great 2026!

Cooking-up a pan of fabulous Pilau Rice to go with my fabulous home-made Chicken Curry later. Basmati rice Butter Onion Cinnamon Sticks Cumin Seeds Cardamom Pods Whole Cloves Dried Bay Leaves Turmeric Water Salt

I see there UK health authorities have issued an Amber "stay at home, drink coffee and eat discounted mince pies" cold weather warning.

Roasted some vegetables to have with my evening meal. And like a proper celebrity chef, I didn't just roast them ... I roasted them off!

On This Day #OTD. A frozen-over Clarence Dock, #Leeds, on December 27th, 2010.

Having a fabulous home-made Chicken Curry for my Christmas dinner, served with plain white rice, mango chutney and an ice-cold Stella 😋

Having a quiet Christmas Eve pint in Bridge End Social, Leeds. Merry Christmas everybody!

Cooking a Chicken Curry today. Last time I made one, a reasonable person in the street would have described it as the best curry in the known universe. I hope this one's just as good 😊

My late breakfast: home-made Eggs Benedict. The Hollandaise Sauce was a bit thin, but otherwise quite successful.

Lots of dubbing, vowing, wooing and hailing going on in the news today, but I don't see any ruing. What's wrong with ruing, or has it been ruled-out of the journo-cliche lexicon?

My evening meal: home-made spicy onion, potato and lentil soup.

#Leeds in the late afternoon sunshine - the view from my Brewery Wharf flat looking roughly north.

I thought it would behove me to have a healthy mid-morning snack. But then I thought ... naa

Remembering the hugely popular entertainer Lionel Blair, on what would have been his 97th birthday. Here's my photo of him taken backstage at the Carriageworks Theatre in #Leeds in 2010.

In Bridge End Social, #Leeds, for a spot of lunch. These are "small plates". There's a 3 for £15 deal, but even I - a right guts - couldn't manage 3!

Terrific skies over Leeds about 15 minutes before sunrise this morning.

When you think your lovely rainbow photo has been ruined by a dirty sensor, but then you realize that, nope, it's pigeons.

Showery skies over Leeds this morning

If I was one of the journalists posted outside no. 10 as the PM turned up, and it was my last day, I'd love to shout a completely irrelevant question to him. "Is Weymouth on the coast, Prime Minister?" "Do you have hot or cold milk with your Weetabix Mr Starmer?"

My simple, messy breakfast 😋

Breakfast Tacos in Bridge End Social, Leeds. Tasty!