Deezer is trying to notify me about the new U2 EP. That's cute, but I knew about it *and* had added the tracks to my library before dinner 😁

I think the Qarabag v Newcastle match is what you call "one-sided". It's currently 1-5 to Newcastle with nearly half an hour to go.

Typical. I log on intending to do coursework - and find that U2 have released a new EP. Coursework can wait half an hour 🎸🥁🎤

Also, smashed my most recent French assignment with 83% 😎 Still several more to go, but a Distinction is distinctly possible if I can maintain the high standard (and improve a few things).

If a profile has only been posting on here for 5 minutes, yet somehow already follows 1,500+ accounts then I have to assume it's a spambot of some sort. Especially when it's 10+ "posts" are a random mish-mash, some from nearly 2 years ago that clearly take more than 5 min for a human to find.

Benfica v Real Madrid was suspended for about 10 minutes with Real 0-1 up - Vinicius Jr reported racist abuse by the Benfica fans. I hope he scores another goal in what's left of the match. And whoever was racially abusing him needs banning for life. It's the only way these idiots will learn.

Heads-up for Scottish friends - and I'm hoping they'll be on the BBC Sport website for the rest of us. As with the Bundesliga matches, it's occasional rather than regular, but still good to see another league getting free-to-air coverage. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Here we are - Isack decided to have a nosey into the Mercedes garage. Not the first time a Red Bull driver has tried to have a peek in there 😂 #F1

Tick "Driver in the wrong pit-box" off your pre-season bingo card 😁 (Screenshot of post from BBC #F1 live text - the full text of the post is also included in the ALT text description).

Yesterday, I assumed Aston Martin being 4 seconds off the pace could be partly down to Lance Stroll being at the wheel. Today, with Alonso driving, they are still about 4 seconds off the pace. And it sounds like the (Honda) engine is the problem. Is this 2015 all over again? 😩 #F1

Attempting to study *and* follow #F1 pre-season testing is not a good combination 😂 Although I did manage to play some #LOTRO before the weekly maintenance shutdown. Finally got a task bag for my Minstrel, using one of the current discount codes 😎

Whatever study plans I had for this evening are out of the window. Logged into Deezer to find a new Laura Pausini album waiting for me 😁 Including what I believe is her first song in German. Expanding the language skills even further. Judging from song titles, I count at least 5 on this album.

I find it telling that conservative types whinging about Bad Bunny's performance focus on the language, as if they think everything should be in English. English isn't indigenous to America. English was taken to America by immigrants. Same as Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese and many more.

Word counts on assignments continue to be my nemesis 🤣 My ADHD brain struggles with the concept of being concise. I want to give lots of information, in the same way as when I'm speaking.

Supposed to be finishing an assignment, so of course my brain wants to do literally anything but what I'm meant to be working on 😩

Every time you think Infantino can't sink any lower... 😡 Allowing Russian teams to compete again would be an utter disgrace while Ukrainian people are still being murdered by Russia every day. How does he think Ukrainian players will feel if he basically stops punishing Russia?

Did I mention I love library book sales? 😍 Found 10 children's non-fiction books today. In French. Short books, ideal reading practice. Plenty of pictures and I can guess some bits from existing knowledge of the topics. Which range from space to Samurai, rocks to reptiles and more. All for £1.

In other matters, I find it very telling that it's the German football authorities suggesting a boycott of the World Cup. They, more than anyone, know a fascist dictator when they see one. They know all too well where that road ends.

Today will mainly involve sorting my shoes. I've known for years that one foot is bigger than the other. Having them measured yesterday showed the difference is half a shoe size. And I have *not* been taking that into account. Which probably explains a lot about the health of my feet 🙄

Solberg leading a WRC rally after Day 1... what year are we in? 😂 Motorsport and football continue to make me feel old. In this case, it's Oliver Solberg leading after Day 1 in Monte Carlo. Here's the link to the BBC Sport article: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motors...

We just had a power cut! Only for a couple of minutes, but still dramatic when the room suddenly goes black. Row behind us was also affected, but the opposite side of the street was fine, so not sure how local/widespread it was 🤔

The HMO next door is being converted back to a regular family home 🥳 And this afternoon, we met the couple who will be moving in. They even apologised about the noise from the last couple of days' renovations, which was nice of them. Here's hoping it's a happier house with them in it.

Honestly, every time you think that shithead can't sink any lower... I've said it before, I'll keep saying it: America, you have a 25th Amendment. Please use it. Unless you *want* to continually be embarrassed by this pathetic ignoramus calling himself your "President"?

After more than a month with no heating, we now know our new boiler should be arriving next week. Thank goodness for that. I am sick of feeling like an icicle. Currently wearing 3 layers of socks, 4 layers on the top half, using a bath towel as a blanket over my trousers - and I'm still cold! 🥶

I wondered why I was having trouble trying to log into Meri. The team are working on it. #LOTRO #LOTROfamily

One day, I might be able to listen to "The Glass" by Foo Fighters without getting a lump in my throat. But it is not this day. 😭🦅🥁

I assume it's 7 Palace fans downvoting the BBC Sport live text post about Macclesfield dumping Palace out of the FA Cup? 🤣 Well done Macclesfield. Especially given the tragedy they've been through in the last 6 weeks or so, with losing their player Ethan McLeod. #FACup

Bah. Less than 10 minutes in and Shrewsbury Town are 1-0 down to Wolves already in the #FACup. Question of possible offside, but there's no VAR at these 3rd round matches.

Note to my fellow UK-based football fans: the #AFCON quarter-final coverage moves to E4 (Freeview ch. 13) from today.

Not often I have to log off the computer as quickly as I did last night, when the lights flickered *very* dramatically 😬 We had a couple of very short, few-second power outages (which briefly knocked out the local streetlights) but nothing worse than that. About 6-7cm (nearly 3in) of snow here.

Oh, that's just typical. Less than 15 minutes in, Manchester United are 1-0 down to Burnley and it's an own goal 😩 On the upside, still plenty of time to turn this around.

Shame on whoever has stolen these karts from the Bianchi family 🤬 Hopefully, the motorsport community can help to find both the karts and the thieves. Just... lost for words at the idea someone would want to cause more pain for Jules' family. #F1 #JBI7 www.lequipe.fr/Formule-1/Ac...

BBC Sport have confirmed that Ruben Amorim has been sacked by Manchester United. Presumably they've timed it with the January transfer window now being open. But who exactly are they going to get in to replace him? (Assuming they do have a plan in place/candidate in mind).

Also, wherever Gianni Infantino is right now, I hope he is feeling utterly ashamed of himself today. If I knew who/where to send one to, I'd start the petition demanding his immediate resignation from FIFA. Seriously, what is the procedure? Can national FAs put pressure on him to go?

Aaand I've already missed a goal in the first AFCON match of today 😂 Sudan have taken the lead against Senegal.

I got up late. And now would like to go back to bed again. Can America and it's politicians *please* remember that you have a 25th Amendment. Damn well use it. And can international leaders *please* stop being cowards and start condemning this mad, needless violence? That is all.

AFCON returns to the telly tomorrow for the knock-out stages *and* it's nearly the start of the Dakar rally. Which, like AFCON, I'm going to be able to follow more closely this year 😎 Hoping for a safe race for everyone across the various classes.

One more song, then I shall go to bed. Here's hoping this year is a decent one. And that I remember to write "2026" in the date when I get back to my coursework after the break 🤣 That always trips me up at the start of a year.

Patiently waiting for the clock to hit midnight so I can start my traditional U2 New Year's Day playlist with all the remixes and live versions on it 😍 And... now!

Local fireworks are starting to get louder (or be let off closer). Taylor and his Birds of Satan drown them out pretty well. Currently playing "Be the Bird", which ends with T having an epic, 3-minute-odd drum solo. And now the Hawk is being followed by Noel and his High Flying Birds 😁

2 hours to the end of the year... where *has* it gone? 😂 I think I've spent most of it doing coursework and playing LOTRO. Changing my degree to Languages was a brilliant decision - it's so much easier to study when you feel confident and capable in a subject. Well done earlier 2025 me.

New Year's Eve. A.K.A. the annual battle of my noisiest music v the local fireworks. Thoroughly enjoyed the #AFCON2025 Gabon v Cote d'Ivoire match - a suitably dramatic last match of the year. Looking forward to the knock-out stages and enjoying being able to watch it all for once.

Angry guy is in next-door's garden, swearing his head off. Sounds like they invited him for a beer/catch-up as a friendly gesture for NYE, but now he's starting to kick off with the homophobic crap again 😩 And seems to think he can tell *current* residents to leave...

While I appreciate that energy company staff need their time off as well, it's a bit crap that we're going to start the New Year *still* without heating in our house 😩 On the upside, Dad was able to go to a local laundrette this morning to get our washing dried.

It looks like our heating will not be sorted in time for Christmas 😩 In better news, I got 91% in my latest French assignment 🤩

In further good news (if you're a football fan), the Africa Cup of Nations starts this evening - and we *finally* get proper coverage of it on free-to-air telly in the UK 😁 E4, 4Seven, C4 etc are showing all of the matches live between them. That's my festive/New Year viewing sorted!

As much as it's annoying when neighbours have loud music/TV on until at least 2 in the morning, it's weirdly also helping to prove that the angry guy has *finally* moved out of the HMO next door. And that is a huge relief. His bullying of housemates was absolutely horrendous.

My French assignment is finished and submitted. I officially declare myself to be on Christmas holidays. Well, as much as you can be "on holidays" when you're learning from home 😁

Trying to catch up on French coursework while still freezing cold as we *still* have no heating 🥶 Although we should hopefully have it sorted within the next week. I sincerely hope so. It's no fun being *so* cold that I've been wearing my daytime clothes to bed.

Catching up on United v Bournemouth after an evening of LOTRO... What. The... 4-4 at the moment. Have both teams forgotten how to defend, or are they giving early Christmas presents? 🤣