Glad that it's at least partially back. Would never have gone to university if it hadn't been for a grant. BBC News - Maintenance grants to return for some students - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

@horatioclare.bsky.social Just finished reading Something of his art, and adored it. Realised when reading that a many times GGrandad would almost certainly have met Bach at Celle. My much loved late Dad would have been thrilled, as was I an organist. Thank you for such a beautiful book and series.

Happily reading about Bach, so the current ear-worm is, of course....a Welsh goat counting song :-(

Gosh, have just realised that my many times Great-grandfather may have met Bach. I find this extraordinarily exciting, as I would have loved to meet both.

Lovely end to the evening reading about a journey in the footsteps of Bach from Arnstadt to Lubeck, while listening to this glorious cantata. youtu.be/_OqiEmgnBpQ?...

My dearest wife, It is week two of the Siege of Portland, and still these barbarians will not yield to our troops. We have severed the cords of their latte machines but they are making cowboy coffee in their camps, where loud ukulele songs of resistance even now drift in on the breeze.

There was a queue at the library this morning. Lucky I didn't have my returns snatched from me :-D #GeeseOfMarch

Challenge 45 of the #52BookChallenge2025 completed. Author releases more than one book a year. Last flight to Stalingrad / Graham Hurley. Not a regular occurrence, but Hurley has released more than a book a year across the multiple series and standalones that he writes over the last 30 years.

Just discovered the music of Seckou Keita. Wonderful. youtu.be/4Wljy6oXVio?...

More news and responses to the Huntington's breakthrough BBC News - Huntington's breakthrough 'like winning the lottery 10 times over' www.bbc.com/news/article...

Very moving. BBC News - How the war detectives solved the mystery of two missing Scottish soldiers - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Nuns still determinedly on the run. Bless them www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

If you have any interest in the development of music, the Church or indeed societal changes between 150CE & 1000CE I'd recommend the Gresham College lectures by Christopher Page (YouTube)

From another site...In Wales there is a legal requirement for road signs to be in both English and Welsh. In this case, the official of the Highways department emailed the English wording to the translator and, after receiving a reply, proceeded to have the sign made and installed....

Ooooo! Looks as though we may be older than we think. BBC News - Million-year-old skull rewrites human evolution, scientists claim www.bbc.com/news/article...

Writer's cramp (or should that be librarian's?) after filling out 30 fetching slips... #TrustMeImAMusicLibrarian

A lot of honking going on this morning. Think the Siberian swans have started to arrive en force for their winter break.

What jaw droppingly wonderful news. BBC News - Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I think they're being ironic...

Good gracious! Haydn was nearly eaten by a tiger. What an ending...

Thought today's Momentum wallpaper was particular beautiful, then realised it was Wales.

BBC News - Italian actress and star of The Leopard Claudia Cardinale dies aged 87 www.bbc.com/news/article...

Startled to discover how funny Picture of Dorian Gray is. Hadn't expected to find myself chuckling away.

Announced just as I was listening to the end of the Apollo 11 podcast. Evidently realised I had a yearning for more Moon BBC News - Nasa plans first crewed Moon mission in 50 years for February 2026 www.bbc.com/news/article...

Groans. Spotted on the #EveningCommute, a large sign advertising Santa's Grotto #StartedEarly

Top Ten Tuesday – 23/09/25 – Books on My Autumn 2025 TBR #TopTenTuesday #TuesdayBookBlog #BookSky #BookList #SecretLibraryBookBlog And... Murder room / P.D. James, Siege / Ben Macintyre, Maidens / Alex Michaelides, Gentlemen & players / Joanne Harris, Narrow bed / Sophie Hannah & something spooky!

Not leaving receptionists to triage (personal experience) would also be helpful... BBC News - New rule for GPs after 27-year-old's cancer missed www.bbc.com/news/article...

Bashed Bridge now has its very own candid camera. In other news, the sign further up the bank warning of Bashed Bridge has been driven into, and knocked over.... BBC News - New cameras monitor Stonea Road bridge strikes - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

What's your sign?

BBC News - March geese celebrated at first Golden Goose Awards - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

After a couple of days not feeling very well, am cheering myself up by reading Alan Rickman's diaries. They are wonderful.

Relieved that it looks as though they've finally found her, but very sorry that it was this way. BBC News - Human remains found in search for murdered woman Julia Buckley - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Oh, thank goodness for that. So relieved that they've been released. BBC News - British couple freed by Taliban hug daughter as family express 'immense relief' www.bbc.com/news/article...

If your faith in humanity is being tested right now: my MacBook and satchel (and entire contents) were waiting for me safe and sound at Waterloo Lost Property. I genuinely thought them lost forever.

Lager louts! BBC News - Chimps drinking a lager a day in ripe fruit, study finds www.bbc.com/news/article...

About time too... BBC News - Police join forces to tackle hare coursing across East of England - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Especially loved him in All the President's Men BBC News - Acting legend Robert Redford dies aged 89 www.bbc.com/news/article...

Wonderful late night Prom from Avi Avital, the Between Worlds ensemble, and the fabulous Georgian Rustavi choir. Well worth a listen.

Was thinking on the #MorningCommute about the old advert for advanced driving with the wedding party and the steady glass of champagne. I dare them to try it on Fenland roads, where one side of the car can suddenly be several inches below the other. It's pothole / uneven road central.

Spotted on the #MorningCommute : A young llama arriving at its new home

BBC News - Hillsborough Law will include duty of candour on public officials - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I should launch a cephalopodcast.

This memory popped up elsewhere, it still astonishes me... "Reading a book about Kim Philby, I discovered that I have spoken to the brother of the woman who introduced Philby to his Russian handler. Gulp!"

Thriled for Noah Wyle, who was a bit of a crush of mine back in his young Carter days in ER. Well done too to the cast and crew of Adolescence BBC News - www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cz... Emmys 2025 live updates: Adolescence, The Studio and The Pitt dominate Emmy Awards - BBC News

The weird world of Dogs at the opera (one of the oddest cinema experiences I've ever had) the-bookhound.blogspot.com/2025/09/dogs...

Wonderfully mixed theatrical metaphor in the exceedingly weird (more shortly) Dogs at the opera - I'm dancing the role of Carmen in this play

BBC News - US visitors flock to mother church in Longstanton village - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...