No, I’m afraid I can’t justify this purchase…. But what an amazing thing. It’s a lot of money…..

I appear to have gone on holiday with @sachacoward.bsky.social and @grindrod.bsky.social, again. Have great reading for the fortnight ahead - some new work, some favourites, sometimes it’s nice to be still and enjoy familiarity. Can’t recommend Sacha and John’s books enough. Go shopping.

It’s 2120 on Crete. It’s dark yet, reassuringly, we can hear the chickens that live next door having an absolute ball of a time scuttling round the ceiling. Love being here. Let’s hope there’s no earthquakes this time.

I don’t think we talk enough about #TheLoversOfValdaro covering Nick Kamen’s utterly brilliant tune, “I Promised Myself”. youtu.be/qorMtuAUAsE?... Turn it up.

Been here since about 1630 local time and our fab hosts have filled the fridge, made us traditional stuffed tomatoes and peppers with mint and rice (that’s tea sorted). We’re cream crackered as we’ve been up since 0245 to get down to Mancs for the flight. In our very happy place.

The Great British Public simply can’t be trusted - there’s no option for Boaty McBoatFace. Mind you, who’s going to see these things? Cash? What is this ‘cash’ you speak of? Isn’t it all numbers on computers these days? www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/he...

Very sad to hear that he has left us but, as we all know, he was one of the good ones. The world is poorer without him. RIP Anthony Stewart Head

A boy can dream #TheArchers

Out of office ON, for two weeks. Amen.

God I miss her. And I miss Paul. The world was so much brighter when they were in it.

That sort of European inclusivity that burns The Mail and Reflux UK. Long may they reign.

#StarCity is magnificent. Anna Maxwell-Martin in imperious form as always. The perfect counterpoint from a CCCP perspective as the latest season of #ForAllMankind closes. Appointment Television. tv.apple.com/gb/show/star...

This needs a LOT more work, and I’m appalled I’m having to make my own, but here’s an initial #SmoggieQueens playlist. Feel free to add and curate. music.apple.com/gb/playlist/...

The Peonies my Mam grew up with on Norton High Street in the 1940s were transplanted to her new house with my Dad in the 1970s after her parents died. Mam dug them up in memory of her folks on the hope they would continue. They did. They’re a beautiful thing. Flouncy and fabulous. That’s a Peony.

I’m still eternally amused that the hashtag that heralded Susan Boyle’s last album launch was #susanalbumparty or #SusAnalBumParty Still makes me giggle.

We had a flying visit to London yesterday to catch My Neighbour Totoro at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. One of the most remarkable stage productions I’ve ever seem. Literally magical. Do catch it if you can before the Catbus leaves the West End in Jan 2027. #Totoro

As we say round these parts, “‘kin min’ tha’” #SmoggieQueens

Beautiful to hear this song in all ir’s unheard glory on #SmoggieQueens #UTB #WeAreTeesside

#PrivateEye in superb form this week. Somehow, journalists at the Mail seem completely oblivious to this….

Kraftwerk in imperious form at The Globe this evening. Just your bog standard quasi religious musical experience. 🙂

That time Kraftwerk came to Stockton….

No idea why but this seems to be strangely unloved by ABBA fans. They’re wrong. Perfect.

My favourite things: * Bonnie Chung’s AMAZING organic White Miso paste * bitch-slapped new potatoes roasted * halloumi * asparagus * onions and tomatoes,

@nigella.bsky.social’s Lemon 🍋 and Polenta Cake to the rescue for Coeliac chums visiting tomorrow. I can’t help gilding any lily with Svenskt Pärlsocker 🇸🇪 and obviously, friends visiting? The chick peas are already on the hob for Nigella’s White Miso Hummus - after many years, it’s non negotiable.

Today is Eric Cantona’s 60th birthday - a footballing magician, philanthropist, poet, actor, kicks racist scum in the head. Beautiful man. One of the only ones that deservedly transcends the 90s Manure #RedShite. He is an abject lesson in how to manage wealth and fortune. And he is SO lickable.

Won’t SOMEBODY think of the new cheese? #TheArchers

Have re-watched S1 of #SmoggieQueens ahead of binging S2 tomorrow. Needed a laugh today. Superb stuff. Loving #TheDickieShow as well.

FT: 0-1. Absolute sickener as they score in stoppage time but blunt #Boro didn’t do enough and while they edged the stats they didn’t threaten or work the keeper. Gutted after a dramatic week. Automatic next year. No messing about with the Wembley curse. #UTB

teesvalleygettinghelp.co.uk - please share and re-post.

What a week it was. Payday, long Bank Holiday Weekend to look forward to, a great week at work of being out and about meeting folks as we launch our new Tees Valley Mental Health support offer for children and young people, their families and carers. Boro at Wembley. teesvalleygettinghelp.co.uk

Happy #ElmerDay2026 to all who celebrate!

#TheArchers What a glorious Aldridge Trainwreck. Beautiful.

Happy Friday y’all. We made it. Like hostages. Rango sends greetings post initial sweep of the garden for intruders.

Terribly saddened to hear that the fabulous Michael Keating has left us. RIP #Blakes7

“I got caught shoplifting and now the owner has kicked me of of the shop. And I’ve only done it three times before. It’s a disproportionate punishment.”

Of course, the main lesson of all this is: don't fuck with Gibbo. #Boro #Southampton

Alice: “Well, we’re past first base Ian, and have gone beyond fingers and tops…. So, that’s how it’s going” #TheArchers

In the mood for writing more fiction. Well, sort of fiction. Here's an earlier tale... when I was little in the 1970s, I was genuinely troubled every night by the sound of rumbling railway lines, and my dad delighted in telling me I'd heard "the ghost train". hauntedgeneration.co.uk/2025/07/22/t...

The soundtrack of my life. Believe it or not, we actually choose to live like this - with ABBA mounted above the fireplace, and the corresponding Matroyshka dolls mirrored below. This is how brilliant Eurovision can be. But no, let’s blow up kids.

One of my earliest televisual memories is ABBA winning Eurovision in 1974. Jon Pertwee became Tom Baker. It was a vintage year. I became a member of the Official International ABBA Fanclub shortly after. Here in 2026, I’m still a member of the ABBA Fanclub. They are the soundtrack of my life.

Saddened to not be hearing the annual 20:00 outing of Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s “Te Deum in D major”, but sending love and solidarity to other Eurovision fans this evening who aren’t playing. Just put my favourite t-towel away which was a gift from my fab Swedish chums, many years ago.

"There’s also something quietly radical in the band’s refusal to succumb to cynicism. Duran Duran could easily lean into heritage status, delivering tasteful, restrained updates to their catalog. Instead, “Free to Love” pulses with an almost youthful urgency." duran.io/AtwoodF2L

Taken from us, not soon enough for my liking…. 🤣 RIP Firecracker.

Stop calling reform a new party. It was ukip. It was the brexit party. It is now reform. It isn't a new party it's a new logo. It embarrassing to pretend anything else. Foreign funded Farage has been the puppet for foreign billionaires in British politics for decades.

“‘I’ve got a gay show. What else have you got?’” – Smoggie Queens producer Chris Jones on pitching the show www.attitude.co.uk/culture/smog...

Genius!! www.thenerve.news/p/stewart-le...

Well knock me down with a paedophile….

90% of new Reform councillors will have stood down within 3 weeks on account of that racist post they made on Facebook last week OR, because being a local councillor is too much like hard work. Reform Councillors - The gobshite flag shaggers from your local pub.

The Daily Mail is having a blast today - celebrating bitcoin financed racist millionaires enjoying their validation from the people. It’s funny that today is the anniversary of VE Day. And fascism has never had it so good.

“When Farage enters 10 Downing St, having been cheered on by my employer (the Daily Mail), he’s going to have to answer questions on the things we’ve been ignoring”