Connections Puzzle #985 🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟦🟪🟦🟦 🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟪🟪🟪🟪

Wordle 1 707 4/6 🟨⬜⬜🟨⬜ 🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩⬜🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Today *really* is a popcorn day

*Opens Bluesky*

Connections Puzzle #984 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟪🟪🟪🟪 🟨🟨🟨🟨

Minute Cryptic - 19 February, 2026 "Broadcaster’s question: “Is Jamie Oliver completely naked?”" (2,1,4) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 1 under the community par (30 648 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Wordle 1 706 3/6 ⬜⬜🟨🟩⬜ 🟨⬜⬜🟨⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Something new: A short video responding to the Trump administration saying that economists whose studies aren’t what they want to hear should be “disciplined” www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzZd...

Please tell me we've reached fourtieth day o'the wet...

Wordle 1 705 4/6 ⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜ ⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜ 🟨🟩⬜🟩🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Minute Cryptic - 18 February, 2026 "He's into splattering paint - quite the scene-maker!" (8) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (29 030 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Quick reminder to us GenXers or older - "If you were born before 1970 and haven't had #measles, mumps or rubella (german measles) or vaccines...you can ask your GP for MMR vaccine." We didn't all catch this stuff when we were littlies, so we're not all protected! www.nhs.uk/vaccinations...

Sharing this - the symptoms of stroke. Someone important to me didn't recognise loss of speech as a sign, to their cost, upsettingly so. Know the signs: F. A. S. T. Dropped side of the FACE Inability to raise both ARMS SPEECH slurred or impossible Act FAST, call an ambulance #Stroke #StrokeAwareness

I keep saying this, but please get vaccinated. And check *everyone*

Just gave a talk to a group of sixth formers from a state school in Shropshire. Many questions asked, along the lines of: will the UK rejoin? How can I work for the EU? etc. These young people had their future stolen from them by Brexit, and they want that future back. 💪

Chitting nicely 😊 this year Sarpo Axona (maincrop, blight resistant), Sagitta (2nd early) and Home Guard (1st early). You don't have to chit - makes no difference to growth rates except for new #potatoes, & even then not much. But it's useful for keeping tubers healthy till sowing time #gardening 🌱

@kimwillsher.bsky.social End of Penelopegate I see.

Connections Puzzle #982 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟨🟪🟨🟨 🟨🟪🟨🟨 🟨🟪🟨🟨 🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟪🟪🟪🟪

Wordle 1 704 4/6 🟨⬜⬜🟨⬜ ⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟨🟩⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Minute Cryptic - 17 February, 2026 "Package returned in Wednesday’s post" (4) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 1 under the community par (31 420 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Goodnight Donegal, Ireland Joseph McKenzie, 1969

⚡️OUT NOW ⚡️ Latest MRN forecasts point to higher than expected #inflation for the second half of 2026 📈 Ahead of the latest official figures out on Wednesday, read here Huw Dixon's latest #blog 👇👇👇 @cu-cardiffbusiness.bsky.social niesr.ac.uk/blog/latest-...

One in five children infected in the recent London measles outbreak were reportedly hospitalised. Don’t believe the anti-vaxxers when they say “it’s a mild disease” or “it’s better to get immunity naturally”. It isn’t.

Connections Puzzle #981 🟦🟨🟦🟦 🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟪🟪🟪🟪 🟩🟩🟩🟩

Minute Cryptic - 16 February, 2026 "No more texting inside by primary classmates… & teachers" (7) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 3 under the community par (42 288 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Wordle 1 703 3/6 ⬜🟨🟩🟩⬜ 🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

My book about Britain ends with a memory. Of the first time I ever worked at Broadcasting House as a guest commentator, what that meant to me, and what the BBC means for 🇬🇧’s place in the world. The idea that the World Service could end is awful, and frankly embarrassing for the British Government.

Probably one of the greatest scenes in cinema history youtu.be/cOeFhSzoTuc?...

Still this.

I went down to try out the toughest spot kit in France: The Lucarne d'Evry. It's a 43-centimetre window to a bin room in the Parisian banlieue that became a viral challenge and then a national competition. It's also a way to celebrate a forgotten side of France. observer.co.uk/news/interna...

That could have been even worse...

Say what?

TO THE SOFA!

Oh, dear

6d is a definite LOL for a cryptic Sunday afternoon... www.theguardian.com/crosswords/q...

15 years ago today I arrived on Downing Street in a cage. I've seen off Cameron, May, Johnson, Truss and Sunak and I'm still going strong. Only two Prime Ministers have ever done longer stints here: William Pitt the Younger and Sir Robert Walpole. Bill and Bob - I'm coming for you... (Photos AP)

'Tens of thousands of discarded Christmas trees have been partially buried on beaches south of Blackpool as a frontier against rising sea levels.'

Trying an experiment this spring: didn’t get around to sowing garlic in November (quite glad I didn't tbh as would probably have drowned). So instead I'm trying giving it the chilling it needs to form cloves by leaving the bulbs in the fridge for a few weeks - let's see how it goes! #gardening 🌱

If anyone is looking for me this afternoon, I'll be the one hiding behind the sofa whilst the trauma of Wales v France is happening #6Nations

Hello! I’m Gail, a one woman business, based in #Manchester My online shop is full of bold & colourful prints, homewares, cards and t-shirts. Have a look gailmyerscough.co.uk

If anyone is looking for me this afternoon, I'll be the one hiding behind the sofa whilst the trauma of Wales v France is happening #6Nations

A reminder that if you live in England or Wales & were born between 1970-1990 – or even before 1970 – you can help protect your community by getting the MMR vaccine free from your NHS GP now. I did last year. www.nhs.uk/vaccinations...

Connections Puzzle #980 🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟪🟪🟪🟪 🟦🟦🟦🟦

Wordle 1 702 4/6 ⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜ ⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜ 🟩🟨🟩⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Also, were you Tiswas or Swap Shop? Or did you flick between the two? Can you still sing The Bucket of Water song? (I used to have my jumpers knitted by Bob Carolgees' mum)

It's Saturday! Post a cartoon TV series you love.

My brother Garry has dementia and is currently lost somewhere in the Chester area. If anyone should spot him please call the police on 999. We'd appreciate reposts. @shitchester.bsky.social

Reminder that if you were born between 1970 and 1990, you can get MMR boosters free on the NHS. Just call your GP surgery and ask, they'll get you a nurse's appointment pretty quick www.nhs.uk/vaccinations...

Check *everyone* is vaccinated.