Impressive new interior at Bel & Dragon in Cookham. An old coaching inn steeped in history, the interior features have been preserved and enhanced with great skill in this recent renovation.

Seems a world away now but catching up with the details of the momentous 2024 General Election. Comprehensive analysis thanks to @psurridge.bsky.social @timbale.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social et al

Could just agree to sell Greenland and then employ our local solicitor to do the paperwork and searches...then say the chain fell through after 6 months or so.

Very entertaining footy match this afternoon (via A406), well done both teams, cracking 2nd half ended @hendonfc.bsky.social 2-4 AFCPortchester

The 🇺🇸 American serial police procedural television series "HILL STREET BLUES" created by Steven Bochco and Michael Kozoll was first broadcast in prime-time #OnThisDay in 1981 on the NBC Network 📺 MTM Productions

From the other site. But says it all. Thank you everyone who keeps non league going! @nonleaguevolunteers.co.uk

Cold night out on the South Coast for @afctotton.bsky.social 1-1 @chippenhamtown.com in the National South. About right on the balance of play

It's a busy morning in many hospitality venues around the country and in Odiham it's Merry Christmas from the hard working staff at Bel & the Dragon 🎄⛄️🎄

Lovely carol service at All Saints Church, Crondall this evening. Beautiful singing from the choir! Thank you to all involved.

It's the middle of December and we have an active bumblebee nest in the compost heap! Clearly collecting pollen. In and out every 30 secs or so @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social @greenhampshire.bsky.social

Desperately sad news that Robin Smith has passed. One of my cricketing heroes, a stalwart for my county Hampshire and my country. RIP great man

Rewarding morning in Cliddesden talking to residents alongside @emmawright111.bsky.social & @jonisdavies.bsky.social . Basingstoke Hospital, the challenges of development and speeding through the village just some of the topics discussed @alexkbrewer.bsky.social

The changes to insect populations & behaviours, even in my short lifetime, are staggering. It's nearly November but there are numerous Red Admirals still feeding on this bank of asters. Assume some will stay and others will eventually head South. It's an extraordinary change.

Very pleased to be presented with a new apple variety today, this tasty #HowdensWonder 🍎 Both a cooker and an eater, it stores unusually well. Nice and sharp on the taste buds too

Out canvassing and delivering in sunny Farnham with new LibDem councillor Tony Fairclough this morning. Always good to be out talking to voters!

The new European Butterfly Red List is published today, with worrying findings. Over 1/4 (28%) of Europe’s 442 species are threatened with extinction or are close to being so. The situation is far worse for our 148 endemic species, 40% are now threatened or nearly so www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...

Windy day but a good crew out in Yateley West including prospective Hampshire Mayoral candidate @martin.tod.social

Very hard to beat the sandy beaches and gorgeous setting of Bournemouth @libdems.org.uk

Interesting to see what matters most to students at the UCA Freshers Fair in Farnham. Affordable housing and Gaza, perhaps unsurprisingly, topping the unconventional poll

Nature Notes Moths & Hedgehogs rule ok?

The #BigButterflyCount results are in and it's official... 2025 was an average year for butterflies. See the full results and what can be done to help butterflies and moths 👇 https://butterfly-conservation.org/big-butterfly-count-results-2025

Not quite ready for a new career as a model but love Sally Ferguson's homage to our beautiful butterflies and moths at the graduate exhibition at Farnham's UCA @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Entertaining game at the picturesque Beveree this afternoon in National League South. Late drama as the visitors had a goal disallowed but it ended Hampton & Richmond 3-2 Ebbsfleet Utd

Superlative and uplifting choral presentiation from @stmartinsvoices.bsky.social at the uniquely cavernous setting of @brunelmuseum.bsky.social in Rotherhithe tonight. Nothing beats live performance

Good to see so many visiting @morecambefc.bsky.social fans applauding their team off the pitch at @theshots.bsky.social today. After all the issues they've had great that they still have a club to follow. @morecambefcfeed.bsky.social

Mega! 2 Death's-Head Hawk-moth caterpillars found in the In-laws garden today in Sleights, North Yorkshire. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @msj99.bsky.social

My first National League South game of the season, a good close encounter, ends Maidenhead Utd 2-2 @hemelfc.bsky.social Enjoyable evening!

Good that Forestry England are making this point but surely they shouldn't have to in 2025?? @savebutterflies.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social

North London last night for footy. A lively match with some good young players on show. Home side took an early lead but it ended @walthamstowfc.bsky.social 2- 2 Bowers&Pitsea @isthmianleague.bsky.social

Being an old school television buff 2 of my favourite presenters were the unique countryman Jack Hargreaves and the versatile Fred Dinenage. Both came to national prominence through their work in the South region. Just love this short news piece... youtu.be/oJSWQLwXTkw?...

New ground for me as the home team make their debut in the @isthmianleague.bsky.social SE division. Very entertaining game which could have gone either way ends Hassocks 3-2 @hernebayfc.bsky.social

Who says young people don't do politics? Excluding me the average age of this @libdems.org.uk canvass team would have been very early 20s! 170 plus doors covered in Chineham on behalf of @alexkbrewer.bsky.social 🔶️

How is it that we can even consider allowing such an iconic asset of nature as the River Test to be abused in this way? www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Never seen anything like this before. What are the chances? www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/v...

I have some good news for election nerds - "The British General Election of 2024" will be out this autumn, and if you're quick you can grab a 25% pre-order discount from Waterstone's by ordering your copy by 31st July, just enter code SUMMER25 www.waterstones.com/book/the-bri...

Baseleys Bridge is falling down (mind you it originates from 1792)

UK for example has consistently been close to or at the top of the pack in terms of this 'target'. Procurement is still terrible and our defence capacity has if anything got worse since the introduction of the two per cent target!

Visited Domme above the Dordogne valley in France today. Spectacular views

One good thing about being in rural Central France is that the sky is properly dark at night and you can actually see the stars. We've forgotten how glorious they are.

Eventful flight to Bordeaux. 4 allocated planes, boarded 3. Technical fault initially, too much fuel on the 1st replacement then returned back to Gatwick after reaching 8000 feet on the next one due to cabin pressure issues. Finally arrived on the 4th around 6 hours late. #joyoftravel

A lovely morning to be out in Sherfield-on-Loddon supporting our local MP @alexkbrewer.bsky.social 🌞🔶️🌞

Caterpillar of the day, Muslin moth scurrying on the patio

A quick visit to Straights Inclosure this afternoon to re-live the joys of 1976 when the place was alive with butterflies. Not quite as good today but the good weather seems to have delivered a recovery of sorts from last year.

It's Cinnabar moth caterpillar time. Save our Weeds. Ragwort Rules Ok !!

RAF Odiham honoured today by Odiham Parish Council. 100 years of flying in the village

Visited Odiham Castle ruins today where the chalk stream River Whitewater runs underneath the Basingstoke Canal. Reminded once again how important it is to preserve beautiful and unique chalk streams #NEHampshire

Pleased to discover a Red-Belted Clearwing moth in the house. Apple trees in garden 👍

Bit of a catch up with old school pals Charlotte, David & Theresa in Farnham Park. Charlotte's Dad was a stalwart at @farnhamcricketclub.bsky.social as well as being Head of English and a top teacher at FGS

Good to see Hampshire & IoW Wildlife Trust taking the campaign the save our precious chalk streams directly to Parliament

Efforts to save our precious native jack-by-the-hedge plants from my family's "tidy gardener" seem to have paid off with 2 Orange Tip 🦋 caterpillars nearing maturity. Bon chance to them for next Spring @savebutterflies.bsky.social