At the end of the summer season Cheltenham Lido drains down the pool and re-fills for winter cold water swimming. But before that, they open it to dogs for the weekend. It's Mabel's favourite day of the year.

Tidied up my confusion over marinade/marinate.

@givesyouhel.bsky.social 👋

Just had lunch.

Very very very funny book.

Same.

No Rutling Orange Peel.

My favourite feature of Niels van Roij’s Corniche shooting brake is this electrically retractable cycle rack. It slots into the centre section of a new, horseshoe-shaped fuel tank. Tank capacity isn’t diminished – handy when you have a 6.75-litre V8 and three-speed auto ’box…

This morning I turned on my phone only to find that it had changed my user name to Shirley, and when I tried to enter a simple Google query it came out as "Do you like gladiator movies?" Then I realised it was in Airplane! mode.

Italian athletes to the medal table.

A far better song than Mondays.

One of the best list jokes ever committed to broadcasting.

First can of spray paint I owned.

I had an old Capri in 1989 whose gear lever came off in Worcester. A £1 bus fare would have been very appealing, even then.

Still.

This is fucking GREAT.

Here you go... Probably the last time David drew Mr Benn. It's a treasured souvenir.

Going to retire now @pgtips.bsky.social Cardle 1/5 Streak 1🔥 Total Score 15 🟢 🟢 🟢 www.playcardle.com

My favourite Barry Cryer story is his account of Nicholas Parsons asking Ross Noble who his favourite comedian was. "Richard Pryor" Noble replied, "Genius! So sad he set himself on fire while freebasing crack cocaine". Parsons, visibly upset, asked Barry later: "did you hear about Richard Briers?"

Ahhhh. Chris Woakes. @jackcounsell.bsky.social

Husband is reading a political biog which contains this fantastic anecdote about George Brown, the boozy Deputy Leader of Harold Wilson’s cabinet:

When I saw them in Australia early this century, they told the audience where they were staying and invited us all round for the bbq they were having the following day.

That would explain why covered by the Anti Nowhere League. Sure it won't surprise you that I saw them a few times as a teenager. Also, when I played Rebellion Festival in 2008 with Attila the Stockbroker's Barnstormer, we found ourselves double booked in our B&B with them. IRL: nice people.

It is.

My goodness this is lovely.

This week's lunch with the FT is Tom Hollandander. Not Spiderman. Or the historian. The one of Rev and the Night Manager. That one. And it's a really good read. Includes references to noisily masticating bread. www.ft.com/content/2a02...

My lovely old BMW E39 530i Sport Touring is for sale here and on auto trader - please repost and/or share with anyone you think might be in the market! Or just buy it yourself... www.ebay.co.uk/itm/33619195...

This presumably explains why my dog insurance keeps going up.

I would do but can’t. One of you should though. The Beta Band at the Roundhouse - what a joy.

We’re living in an era of radical subjectivity. Truth has become much less important than what people feel to be true.

What a lovely obituary piece on a brilliant career.

Apple News follows after the pips.

The joy of language. What proportion of tests are taken in automatics now? Based on the headline, you might think over 50%? Nope. 25%.

Article about a compelling actor/activist. Aside from all of that, he is 6’7” how the hell does he get into his Audi TT? www.theguardian.com/film/2025/se...

RIP Stephen Luscombe. I saw Blancmange in 1983 and they were fabulous. One of the great singles bands driven by Stephen's keyboard wizardry. This remains one of my favourite TOTP performances. The Day Before You Came youtu.be/ihYA79bq0cs?...

Sad news. Feels like a major door slamming shut.

"I just bought some discounted boat-shoes at Clarks" "Oh great. Do they have a sale on?" "No, I think you've misunderstood the name. They're just normal shoes"

Without a well resourced and skilled Civil Service the country would descend into anarchy within a fortnight, sure it can always do things better but this myth that politicians pedal that you can massively cut it and still get everything done is just a lie.

Not me. I hope obvs.

Only just realised both of her feet on the ground.

“Uh-oh, overflow, population ‘common food, but it’ll do’, save yourself, serve yourself, world serves its own needs—listen to your heart bleed, dummy with the raptured and the revered and the right, right” And let it be said I’m of the lets eat grandma school of punctuation, so

Unexpected Level 42 bootleg in bagging area, and I coudlnt' be more pleased. Milan, Dec 1985. They bound on stage, the first thing out of Mark King's mouth is "How the hell are ya? LET'S DANCE!!!" and they tear into "The Chinese Way". There's no letup for the next 90 minutes.

Yes yes yes. Drinking in comfort.

Ok its ‘feed it off an aux, speak, grunt no strength, the ladder start to clatter with fear fight down height, wire in a fire representing seven games, a government for hire and a combat site’.

Netflix series The Waterfront - organised crime with fish. Or The Soprawnos if you will.

Miss Jean Brodie Nights, They’re the Longest #cliffscotland