If you like this sort of idiocy there are still tickets for Gateshead, Edinburgh, Birmingham and London. Plus music. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

The absolutely brilliant Police Dog Hogan — one of the most joyful live bands on the UK circuit — fusing Americana, folk and country with energy, warmth and soul, are live at Islington Assembly Hall Thurs 18 June. Don’t miss them!

Woody Brown is non-speaking, autistic and a brilliant new novelist. I interviewed him, and he's bloody amazing. Would be great if you could share www.theguardian.com/books/2026/m...

non capisco niente. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

My mother’s best advice: learn to raise one eyebrow at the world

We're on the cover!

It is what it is.

This week's column, in which I am obliged to hide from the dog. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

@timdowling.bsky.social thank you for sharing the tortoise early rising story. Toni woke this week - one month early from her hibernation spot under the stairs. Now back asleep under a dog bed. PS Much loved little thing. Now has official @floperry.bsky.social portrait alongside dogs.

Even the written down part of this speech is insane.

Are they gonna clap when this over?

A rare January victory. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Spoiler: eventually, it mysteriously went away. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

On the show today: Tiktok politicians; @henrymckean.bsky.social on the kids coming home; @timdowling.bsky.social on male shapewear; @lucymichael.bsky.social on gardai and tasers; @jamesproclaims.bsky.social reviews 'The Revenge Club' 'Irish Blood' & 'Man vs Baby'; Ireland's most significant actor..

I should probably stress that in the end EVERYTHING WENT FINE www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

I've advanced to a new circle of customer service purgatory www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Beautiful piece by @TimAdamsWrites on the brilliant Observer journalist Rachel Cooke who could write wonderfully about anything, has died tragically young and will be hugely, hugely missed by so many people. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

I went all in on jelly. As ever, gastronomy was the loser. www.theguardian.com/food/2025/no...

One for the Tims www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

I enjoyed the blue one, for what it’s worth. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

So, I made a lot of puddings. www.theguardian.com/food/2025/se...

I wore toe shoes www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025...

RIP, the old dog. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Tim Dowling: the dog is destroying the lawn, but I need to catch her red-pawed

The short answer to the question is: yes, I'm afraid it does suit me. www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025...

As a custodian of an ancient tortoise adept at concealing himself with the least available ground cover, that elusive Pimpershell, I always identify with @timdowling.bsky.social’s columns about his. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Here's this week's column, posted a bit later than usual (no idea why). www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

The world is still not ready for my joke. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

I'd forgotten that when I went to interview Onion staff 23 years ago, their photographer asked to borrow my gormless, self-satisfied mug.

The less I say about this the better, except: there are ticket still available for Glasgow, Edinburgh and Brighton. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Somewhere on this album is the sound of me not playing the banjo, which is now destined to become a popular live request. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

We're among 1,000+ musicians who are jointly releasing this album of recordings of empty studios to protest the government's planned changes to copyright law, which would hand the life's work of the country's musicians to AI companies for free. Don't legalise music theft! isthiswhatwewant.com

I slept in a giant human dog bed, with dogs www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

For the record I would like to state that I know you're not supposed to wear them around your neck like a feed bag. But I am eerily compliant in the company of photographers. www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025...

Celebrating my sobriety in this the 11th week of January. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Celebrating #SteveEarle at 70 on #ralphmcleancountry tonight. Some old favourites and a couple of exclusive session tracks. Also new music from Brown Horse, Dean Owens and Police Dog Hogan plus a classic live performance from #GarthHudson. 8pm on BBC Radio Ulster & Sounds folks.

Many thanks to Ralph McLean for playing the title track from our album Lightning Strike on BBC Radio Ulster last night! Listen here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

I have a big ask. My 9yo son is autistic and he’s been raising a betta fish he named Kevin. Yesterday He asked if he could “share a photo of Kevin with the whole world“. I don’t know if this will work, but a dad’s gotta try. Like and share if that’s your thing. Kevin says hi! 🐟👋

Super-rare all the animals portrait.

When kids set their parents’ screen time rules: ‘I hit my limit before I even get out of bed’

I interviewed @leenanorms.bsky.social about her new book Half-Arse Human. I thought she'd have nothing to teach me, but it turns out I've been half-arsing half-arsing all this time. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

My top 5 gigs of 2024: 1) The Long Ryders (229) 2) Police Dog Hogan (Half Moon) 3) Bruce Springsteen (Cork) 4) Sons Of Town Hall (St Pancras Old Church) 5) The Hanging Stars (Jazz Cafe) @sidthesquid.bsky.social @policedoghogan.bsky.social @officialbruce.bsky.social @thehangingstars.bsky.social

Lettuce for everybody

Here is our new video for Pull Away, celebrating 200 years of the RNLI! www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgRb...

In the time since I filed this, the dog has only got weirder looking. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

I came here for the measured discourse. I stayed because there are no ads for shoes for people with wide feet.