This reminds me of the case where under Dutch law, the cops can't interrupt a religious service. So a church got everyone in to keep the religious service going, to protect a family seeking sanctuary. 96 days, 24/7. Clergy - if you don't feel you can attend a demo, you can still do something.

Holy shit go off John Oliver youtu.be/gieTx_P6INQ?...

Uni professors should start wearing hi-viz vests so the PM can pose with them as he bails them out.

Email from Dad: "sermon on ‘exile’ seemed to avoid any reference to individuals and whole communities held hostage in Middle East, evidently to stay ’theological’ rather than ‘political’, as if, like Bible in one hand and newspaper in other they don’t belong together and mutually inform each other"

My football club has a brand new women‘s team and they‘re recruiting players. Affordable membership fees, pro coaches, regular training and games. Please share with any Berlin friends who might want to play football in a friendly, & LGBTQ+ inclusive environment. Newcomers and returners welcome.

Macron reappoints Sébastien Lecornu as French prime minister. I am confused.

Email from Dad: "Gruaniad BIRTHDAYS has PJHarvey at 56 today, in case you dont have it tatooed anywhere." At least he's improved from getting the Sisters of Mercy and Shakespeare's Sister mixed up.

Adi Hütter fired... www.lequipe.fr/Football/Act...

Paris FC managed to throw away a 2-goal lead to draw against Louvain - the lowest-ranked team in a difficult league. Not a great start.

I’ve *finally* set up a ForzaFibres Etsy shop. Come take a look: etsy.com/de-en/shop/ForzaFibres

Macron keeps appointing prime ministers the way tech startups appoint interim CEOs before liquidation. Bayrou, Barnier, Lecornu…Each sold as the “stabilizing force.” Each lasted less than a fiscal quarter.

Did the left fragment? They got a group together in about two weeks (LFI/PS/Greens/Communists) and I'm guessing Macron called that snap election because he thought they couldn't do that. The rest I clearly agree with. Although I'm not sure any of us saw the Republican disintegration coming. Keys?

𝐔𝐖𝐂𝐋 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓-𝟐𝟔: League Phase Fixture Difficulty 🗓 The 2025-26 UEFA Women’s Champions League kicks off tonight with a new format, as an 18-team league phase replaces the group stage. Which teams have the hardest fixtures and who has been dealt the easiest draw?

Seriously, watch this video. "Er, this chap in the wheelchair" www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

New pod is on Spotify! Kris, Phil Tom and Jez are all on board after a good week in Europe and an interesting weekend in the league. You can find Jez and his French Football snippets on Instagram at www.instagram.com/smithjez77 open.spotify.com/episode/2phl...

Includes several of us trying not to mention our own teams, but crossing our fingers for a title race.

Thanks to the people who gave family friend J shelter and support when she was released from police custody at 1.30am on Sunday after participating in the peaceful protest in Trafalgar Square. She is now home safe.

OK even by French politics' usual standards, this is just getting weird now.

Six weeks ago, I picked up a year-old tawny owl with a broken leg off the main road near our home and dropped him off at our nearest vet. After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵

Saturday in Ligue 1 kicks off with Metz v OM. On a good run of form, including a 4-0 win over Ajax midweek, you have to think that unless OM do something really stupid (early red card, hilarious own goal), this is a gimme for them. #Footy-live

Short thread... This week ICE fascists: •Attacked & detained Black U.S. Citizen children in Chicago. •In a Chicago hospital ER, arrested Alderman Jessie Fuentes for demanding they show a judicial warrant before arresting someone. •In Broadview, IL, arrested US Veterans peacefully protesting. 1/3

Not sure it's an 'upbeat pop song', but Take On Me by Aha might work. Also probably anything from the Thermals' album 'the Body the Blood the Machine'.

In memoriam...

Keeping Up Appearances actor Patricia Routledge dies aged 96

We've had an inline water softener installed in the building and now half a dozen people have, erm, gastro problems. Superb.

Is this the first time that a penalty has to be retaken twice and a keeper (Berke Özer of Lille) stops all three attempts? www.reddit.com/r/soccer/com...

The moment when I thought it was just one woman taking him on outside, and then the footage panned to show the *whole fucking class* was there. Not playing. Not. At. All.

After being unwell over the weekend, back to physio. Used the elliptical (?) for the first time, which took Lena and a step box to get me onto, but, I managed to get off it all by myself without doing myself an injury! Suffering already. But - done.

Was just thinking it would be cool if a candy manufacturer made boiled sweets for all the pride flags. What flavour would you want for yours? I'm thinking fruits of the forest...

My latest article on LinkedIn - data strategy must come before data analysis. www.linkedin.com/pulse/back-s...

And Florian Thauvin continues to look like Dave Gahan...

A mini-multiplex in Ligue 1 at the moment = Angers/Brest, Metz/Le Havre, and Europa team Lille v Lyon, where OL are ahead through Tyler Morton. Worth a watch. #Foot-Live

Trans followers: if you didn't have to defend your own existence all the time, what would you post about?

And if you don't have a smartphone? Hmm? It refers to 'working adults' which might exclude retired people, but then I suppose you need some form of ID to prove you are above a certain age, and I think we know the government's record on that kind of thing (child migrants, etc). And that poll...

A good day at physio today. 1) PB for walking there 2) Picked up that sodding sponge ball *five times* with right foot (left foot not so good) 3) 2k on the exercise bike in 11mins (was supposed to be 10mins but I wanted a round number) on a hard/easy setting Feel perky. Will suffer tomorrow... 😀

"She is already working with a group of young people who know they have the gene, but don't yet have symptoms – known as stage zero Huntington's – and is aiming to do the first prevention trial to see if the disease can be significantly delayed or even stopped completely." Wow.

This is huge: “A drug that provides near-perfect protection against H.I.V. with shots just twice a year will be made available at $40 per patient annually in low- and middle-income countries, offering new hope… making lenacapavir a realistic choice in countries with constrained resources.”

Hear hear.

Hello from France...

Original story: amp.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...

The even more unbelievable crime fact (which I learned relatively recently) is that burglary has fallen by more than 90% since the 1990s. Did anyone notice? Nope. Does anyone believe it? Nope. But is is true? It is!

I also mention Rulli, and whether Thauvin is becoming Dave Gahan from Depeche Mode.

Email from Dad, who for some reason feels the need to reassure me: "In case you are anxious, I only wear crocs in the garden. Wouldn’t dream of wearing them in public."

OM v PSG has been moved to Monday at 20h local time, due to weather. Really. This time of year in the south of France the weather is either hot and sunny or 'you need an ark'. Hope this means more people tune in for French #Footy-live !

Well, that's assault...

Why does my bank text me to tell me it's raining? Baffled by that.

Anyone who signs this pledge is not a journalist.

Problems with doing your physio exercises outside: 1) Neighbours ask you if you're doing ballet 2) Cat thinks this is a hilarious new game and wants to get involved...

Dutch late night TV has its take

I wonder if comedians can do a 24 hour Global Roast where one by one they just get up and absolutely cook some of these autocrats. Live streamed, back to back, just truly going to town on them.