Very much enjoyed this last night and looking forward to next years' already

It's the most wonderful time of the year. (I'm definitely giving Robyn some love this year, and Lily Allen and a bit of Sabrina Carpenter in there too among others )

Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.

I'll take people who have never read FT's alphaville blog for $500

One for @jim.londoncentric.media - had my phone stolen yesterday by someone on a bike. Just had the police get in touch to say they've recovered my phone! (Actually an iPhone this time - so no idea if it was discarded or they caught someone?)

I've written about the Farage antisemitism allegations - and my dismay at the behaviour of some who, now that the accused is more to their political liking, seem keen to sweep this all under the carpet. www.jewishnews.co.uk/farages-scho...

We're probably going to miss our target... donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05... But if you donate to this excellent cause by noon today your money will be doubled and (if you drop me an email) I'll give you free access to the members-only London Centric stories I'm working on.

Bertvent is a countdown of my favourite books of the year. Every day until Christmas Eve, the first customer to spend £20 on books will get the chance to unwrap that day’s title and keep it for themselves at no extra cost.

A sad respectful clap for the keeper who came up with the brilliant name 'Claude' for an alligator

I think this is a mistake and it sums up what's wrong with accountability in the British state. Why does he take 'full responsibility'? Surely the person who actually *manages the OBR's website* should take some responsibility:

Zipcar pulling out of the UK is really bad news, i hope that someone is able to buy up their UK operation. It's the thing that makes it possible to live without a car as I know i can hire one for v short trips when i need one.

the best time of the year

No, I love this, the mismatch between 'how the fuck up happened'* and 'the experience of the person they've got to investigate it', it's like if a secondary school hired Arsene Wenger to be a PE teacher. *They hit 'upload' when they really shouldn't, 9/10.

Welp, I appear to have something in my eye.

yes I don't really see how you can go "oh yikes these people have changed their political views incredibly quickly, mostly because of what Very Online people talk about on social media" and also think that people who went from never talking about gender to calling trans women predators are....normal

I don’t like subtweeting people I consider online friends, but there is a subset of people who are very worried about the ongoing radicalisation of our political elite but won’t ever acknowledge the echoes with the radicalisation of their colleagues on trans rights

Am on this ep doing my favourite thing, trying to interpret the intricacies of EBU announcements and rule changes.

The EBU has announced a number of changes to the voting procedure at Eurovision in response to criticism. The number of votes per payment method will be reduced to 10 (from 20). Juries will return to the semi finals, and juries will be increased from 5 -7. At least 2 jurors must be 18-25

What is going on with email marketing right now. Is everyone ok?

Waitrose why you being creepy?

Read this for the analogy and insight but DO NOT MISS the short film review at the very end. Had to explain my loud laugh to my boss

Now here’s Collaterlie Sisters with the financial news

We have people booked to bring broken food processors, favourite jumpers with damaged zips, and ailing plants. Don't miss this opportunity to repair your stuff with the help of 40 technicians and makers. Repair Café | Sustainable UCL - share.google/2qFlWYPHRPLs...

The real patient zero is “la, a note to follow so”, the first time a placeholder line became a major hit on the global stage.

Times journalists urged to make ‘basic’ checks after two ‘humiliating’ hoaxes - the so-called royal cleaner revealed by Press Gazette, and last week's Bill de Blasio 'interview' pressgazette.co.uk/news/times-j...

Anyone fancy buying a rail wagon? auctions.ramco.uk/auctions/944...

Please kill me

do you think the nyt puzzles people saw the only connect wall about them

A superb read (and London Centric is the easiest substack subscription to recommend - such great stories)

This is INCREDIBLE: My headteacher at primary school was v into trains and arranged a trip for the school and chartered a tube train for it. IT MADE THE NEWS. And i'm pretty sure my brother @olibradley.bsky.social is in the clip (at 50 seconds) .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvgNFwyOVyI

Has anyone done a gif of the Tom Daley side eye yet?

Why is it so hard to find a good email client for mac. The default mail app is slow and not the most intuitive. I really enjoyed Edison's Email app - but they are pulling support for the desktop app. Spark was good until they messed it up with a new AI first version. Any newer ones people like?

More detail on the consultation is here: www.gov.uk/government/c... And you can respond here: ditresearch.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_... Please share and do respond to the consultation! 2/2

This is very good from @stephenkb.bsky.social on.ft.com/433rk6P

Making a cake for a birthday today and it’s perfect weather for a @nigella.bsky.social chocolate Guinness cake. Kitchen smelling great already.

I’d be remiss not to flag @ade-bradley.co.uk’s excellent piece on this www.newstatesman.com/culture/musi...

Monthly GDP figures are mostly a distraction.

Podcast update: new episode today as part of the 2025 Eurovision Podcrawl. The theme was “a year when a country hosted for the first time” and I picked Azerbaijan 2012. Join me with special guests @ade-bradley.co.uk and @uisgebeatha.bsky.social: pod.fo/e/326b98

Trying to give Stranded on Honeymoon Island a fair go. And it's kind of cute - but really hard to feel how it sustains 12 episodes. The pacing is kind of strange, it feels so slow. Anyone else watching it?

How’s this for a collaboration? Stephen King and Maurice Sendak combine forces to retell “Hansel and Gretel”! - Michael bertsbooks.co.uk/product/hans...

Been playing with my old 35mm SLR and i definitely need a lot more practice but the best photo i took was, annoyingly, this pointless photo of a bottle of alcohol free beer:

Not the DAILY MAIL ONLINE calling out somebody for being too obsessed with the lives of celebrities.

Lego Eurovision 2025 is ready! youtu.be/ible7S9H0io?... this is so good

I used my kitchenaid Ice Cream attachment for the first time in about 2 years this weekend and god home made ice cream is amazing, I need to get some more done before i forget i have it again

I've wanted a nice new toweling robe for a while now but have no idea where to get one from? Where sells nice comfy robes? I tried white stuff but they just never seemed to be in stock.

Santander bikes are free on Sundays all August! Even the ebikes!

OK - off to day two of the quiz weekender. Pleased with some of my scores yesterday, ready for it all to come crashing down today. Looking forward to joining up with my illustrious team - the South London Ultimate Trivia Society for the regional competition.

@nigella.bsky.social Would it change much in your chicken and pea tray-bake dish if I used thigh fillets instead of thighs on the bone? Person i'm cooking for hates meat on the bone.

I'm not sure why hypnotism is in this list