You genuinely have to laugh.

This is the catalyst for my discussion with BBC Shropshire, scheduled for 10.10am this morning.

Back inside now. Bammers is unattended in her room and we cannot hear her from the garden, unfortunately. But that was a delightful half hour of utter self indulgence. Back to Tales of the Unexpected then.

Reclining in the garden with a Westvleteren Blond, while The Boy completes the bedtime routine. One of our resident wood pigeons is aggressively nibbling on dandelion leaves. All is well.

Just asked for an update from the fun day that The Boy and Bammers are at. Apparently he keeps getting hugged by Spiderman, which is a bit weird. This is why working when everyone else is doing fun stuff sucks. Now there'll never be a photographic record.

Just got Babylon Zoo's Spaceman put on out of nowhere. Still a great tune. Bonkers. But great.

We are still binge watching Tales of the Unexpected.

That confused me for ages.

Extremely sad to hear of the death of Carlo Petrini, founder of the Slow Food Movement, this morning. I wrote a potted history of its beginnings in a piece for Ferment last year for those unfamiliar with Petrini's huge influence.

An interesting morning ahead!

Another fascinating day of beer judging for the Great Taste Awards. Very different to any other competition and I'm fascinated to triangulate my notes against the award winners.

The alarm entitled "F**k this s**t" is set for 5.20am. Must be a 10am in London tomorrow!

If you see this, post a tree.

Today we have played in the garden, held a Monster High nail salon, done a painting, made a mosaic fish and prepared sticky pork meatball stir fry. I am shattered. But look at Bam Bam's painting! She saw a tutorial this morning then did this fantastic job by herself.

Binge watching Tales of the Unexpected, because I can.

Got Bammers off to school and had my swim, now I'm at my desk ready to crack on. I wonder how quickly this burst of enthusiasm will wear off...

It appears to be hailing quite significantly out there.

Thank goodness I tore myself away from the library to try and get home in time to see Bammers before bed. I didn't make it, but looking at the trains my journey home would have been even grimmer now, if not impossible. Thoughts and prayers with everyone still on the rail network tonight.

Is it just me or do the trains seem particularly broken right now? We just evacuated New Street for approximately 2 minutes and then went back in. Meanwhile, the three trains I tried to get home first were cancelled or just randomly missed out my stop. Oh, and you can't get to the northwest today.

A helpful reminder from 1877.

I got asked to take a DCMS funded survey on my opinions of licensing cultural and creative content for AI use. I found the opportunity to vent was quite cathartic actually.

Our guild members were very busy last week. 🍺🍺🍺🍺 This week’s roundup features: Pete Brown, @tassinam.bsky.social @jaegawise.bsky.social Neil Walker, @morrighani.bsky.social Joey Laskin 🙌

So, my dad has collected and refurbished dinky cars for many years now (don't ask, I haven't). But this birthday gift was still a genuine surprise and delight. How did he even do the packet?? Proper floored by the thought and detail in this.

So, happy birthday to me. The work element was incredibly stressful, but the family side was a delight.

Very much looking forward to getting this journey out the way. Rail replacement, with Bammers in tow, and I have to be at Ludlow Castle by 11.30am. Pray for us.

Well then. I guess that's a thing.

Welcoming The Turf, St George's to the Shropshire Playground Pub Directory.

My review of Ash, Reef and The Bluetones at Shrewsbury Quarry on Friday is now live on My Shrewsbury.

Hop into spring by Laura Hadland @morrighani.bsky.social wb.camra.org.uk/2026/04/22/h...

What I would really love is to celebrate my daughter's birthday without my brain whispering "yeah, but it should have been Pixie's birthday in a month too." Don't need it now, brain.

Right, this month's Vineyard Mag article has just been submitted, which frees me up for three days of The Great Bam Bam Birthday Celebration. See you on the other side!

An update on the upcoming hop growing season in the UK for CAMRA's What's Brewing from me this month.

Bammers just rolled 6 sixes in a row in Ludo, which has a probability of more than 1 in 46k.

Home and all is silent. Its rather nice after 5 hours by the speakers.

They did it. They played Summer's in Bloom. It was everything I'd hoped for.

Big brand vs own label - it's lager in The Telegraph from me today.

Visit to The Indian Brewery in Birmingham today. Working my way, slowly, around my locals.

They appear to have forgotten to add the other elements that make "protein" into a "meal" 🤣

The MMD UK Curious Vines Diploma Diversity Bursary is open now to wine professionals from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background. Great opportunity.

Steak for lunch (reduced to 88p in the Spar) and now the final chocolates from my Christmas tub of Quality Street. I know how to live!

Friends, if you’re taking sertraline, check the batch number as there is a recall out and you may have ended up with a mislabelled lower dose of citalopram. www.gov.uk/government/n...

Guess Hoegaarden Rosee passed Carlsberg Britvic by then.

My pub got a refurbished, but the old carpet lives on.

I filled in a form today and estimated my alcohol consumption as 10-14 units a week. And meant it 🤔

I am so (SO) excited to see Reef play Shrewsbury on Friday. Outdoor on the Quarry and the weather is shaping up perfectly. If they don't play Summer's In Bloom imma gonna have words though.

Just taken 5 minutes after lunch to commune with our tadpoles and get stared at by our resident magpie. Very lovely. Also watched a brave crow dive bombing a buzzard twice its size at quite some considerable altitude.

School have instituted a 10 minute Monday Funday disco on the playground to kick off the week in summer term. 8.30am for Cha Cha Slide and the conga makes me feel like I must have been up all night and still be partying.

Wrapping presents last night, stuffing party bags tonight. I will be Little Birthday ready and do all the work and all the appointments I need to do over the next week. You can have it all.

Parental visit done, Bammers showed off her skating and reading prowess. Fine grandchild exhibition.

Just thought "Oh, I can open all the windows today and air the house out". Within seconds, a wasp had invaded my room and I've had to procure cup and paper to remove it. #FirstWorldProblems