Artist/Band I got: Hawkwind Best Song: Hassan I Sahba Best album: Levitation Worst album: Alien 4 Seen live: Twelve times (+\-1ish) Bought merch: Too many tour shirts to mention and a plethora of books Band given to me by @misterquartet.bsky.social Like this post and I’ll give you a band.

What GIF pops up when you type your name? (Real name version 😆)

“Look into your mind’s eye, see what you can see” After spending most of the week at work listening to Parallel Universe I thought I’d give this collection a spin today. I may be gone for some time.. #NowPlaying

“The stranger the wood the straighter the arrow” Wonderfully inventive and arch pop/rock from the former 10cc guys. #NowPlaying

“One look in your eyes and I had my answer” Bit of a hidden AOR/Melodic Rock gem this one. Great vocals from Russell Arcara. #NowPlaying

“Got nothin’ in my eyes, and I got an achin’ in my bones” One of the best debut albums of all time from a criminally underrated band. #NowPlaying

“A boy goes in and suddenly a man returns“ Working from home so I’m soundtracked by vinyl rather than Spotify. Controversially, most may say, I think this is the best Kiss album. Not sure why it gets all of the hate. #NowPlaying

Can! DEYA - My Phone’s on Snooze 7.2% Raspberry Berliner Weisse A big, thick, tart, juice bomb. Jammy raspberry as sucked through a fresh lemon. Lovely stuff. #Bskybeer

“Try whistling this” Neil Finn is one of the best singer songwriters in existence. I will brook no argument.

Best debut album ever? Probably second for me. #nowplaying

“Don’t look down girl” Recent purchase from Discogs. I’m sure the little Twister would approve. #NowPlaying #GoWest

Beer 5: Track Sifting at 7.2% abv matched to La Plagne Ave gradient 7.2%. Best beer so far, and that says something. Fresh, juicy, bitter, refreshing, quaffable, it has everything. #drinkthegradient #Bskybeer

Beer 4: Polly’s Bubble Dream at abv 6.2% matched to the Cormet de Roselend at Ave gradient 6.3%. Bit of a hop soup this one. Quite the quaffer actually; not too heavy after all. #drinkghegradient #Bskybeer

Beer 3: Trappistes Rochefort 6 Ave abv 7.5% matched to the Col du Pre ave gradient 7.7%. Delicious bread and brown sugar combination. Beautiful beer. #drinkthegradient #Bskybeer

Beer 2: Full Circle West Coast Looper at 6.4% abv to match (the phantom and diseased cow ridden) Col des Saisies Ave gradient 6.4%. A West Coast IPA from a local brewery. Lovely bitterness and juicy pithiness. #drinkthegradient #Bskybeer

Beer 1: Pilot Rose Sour abv 5.0% matched with (the now phantom) Cote d’Hery-sur-Ugine Ave gradient 5.1%. A lovely red and white grape blush from Leith. Very refreshing with just the right amount of sharpness to start the day. #drinkthegradient #Bskybeer

“Down in the gutter where white eyes roar” The skids were the first band I went to see live and they were absolutely outstanding. That energy had me hooked in to live music from that point on. #NowPlaying

“Where everybody knows your name Expecting you to stay the same” Contains a poster that fans could add their names to by posting their name at venues on the previous tour. I’m on there along with my departed friend Derek Potter. Been searching for a nice copy of this for a while. #NowPlaying

Tomorrow sees me tackle what I believe to be my 17th #drinkthegradient. Being no cyclist I thought it would be my way of “joining in” with the Tour de France. Pick a stage at the TDF, this year tomorrow’s Stage 19 into La Plagne, and look at the average gradient of the climbs. 1/x #Bskybeer

#LookAndSee (Day 156) #MusicChallenge “Cock Robin views his frozen feet And wraps them in a winding sheet”

#readandplay (416) #MusicChallenge "You'll be holding up all your tiny insect hoofs and worshipping me!"

"Driving down a road I get a feeling that I should have been home yesterday" #readandplay (415) #MusicChallenge

“If you see this, post a Marvel cover you love.”

Half! Canediguerra - Brown Porter Brown Porter from Alessandria, Piemonte in Italy - 3.8% More chocolate and coffee, this time with a bit more body. Plenty of flavour for the ABV. #Bskybeer

Half! LZO - Pogue Mahone Dry Stout from Conegliano, Italy - 4.8% Light bodied with aniseed on the nose but dark chocolate & cold coffee in taste. #Bskybeer

Half! Brewpub De Kromme Haring - The Otter Anglo-American Pale Ale - 4.8% Fresh and bitter; a lovely refresher for the road at Cafe Amsterdam, Whitley Bay. #BSkyBeer

Half! Birrbrouwerij De Koningshoeven - La Trappe Blond Special Edition 2025 4 Grain Golden Ale - 7.0% Smooth, bready goodness at Cafe Amsterdam, Whitley Bay #BSkyBeer

Half! White Dog Brewery - Stuck in a Paranoid Mash New England DIPA - Citra/Nelson/Galaxy 8.4% Big juicy, pithy, tang fest. #BSkyBeer

“We are your friends” Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft - The Carpenters #readandplay #MusicChallenge

The view from the office this morning

The view from the office this morning

“Even Mona Lisa smiled Through those fine painted lines” Mona Lisa Smiled - The Quireboys #LookAndSee #MusicChallenge

"I won't forget a single day, believe me" The Kinks - Days #readandplay #MusicChallenge

Styx - Boat on the River #lookandsee

Post your favourite Doctor Who, wrong answers only.

FFS! Dentist called just as I was about to jump on bus; appointment postponed. Rescheduled for Wednesday. They love dragging the “excitement” out…

Soundtrack for my trip to the dentist this morning. Quite apt as I’ve always considered listening to this in its entirety akin to pulling teeth. Who knows, I may like it this time around. #nowplaying #genesis

My office mate in @newcastle-ecmc.bsky.social, Ben Hood, who is our @cancerresearchuk.org Nurse Consultant, has only just gone and won another award. Well done mate, the pints are on me! #cancerresearch #SBRU

My current big project at work. Really looking forward to being able to bring oncology research into a bespoke building which will allow us to expand the team and increase access to clinical trials for the people of the north east. Then, maybe, I’ll retire happy. @sbrfoundation.bsky.social

This morning’s music to do the laundry to…

Nice stroll around MACBA in Barcelona before we head back home. I do love a bit of contemporary art.

Today’s blue sky is brought to you courtesy of Ibiza Old Town. Not my cup of tea. Touristy beyond belief (which shouldn’t have surprised me) but the utter relentlessness of it all was very disappointing. Struggled to get a shot without any tat or pseudo hippy nonsense in it.

This man is an amazing inspiration for so many. Throw a little cash towards his charity of choice. He is a living example of why it’s worth it!

Can! Purple Haze by Abita Brewing of Covington Louisiana. Raspberry Lager 4.7% - fruitiness impinges on the usual lager crispness. It’s pleasant enough but caught between two styles. Once I get my head around it I could probably drink a fair bit 😁 Aboard Scarlet Lady in Palma. #Bskybeer

Today’s blue skies are brought to you courtesy of Palma de Mallorca. Already 29C before 10 in the morning.

Scorchio in València today. Lovely walk around the science park. The stroll to and from the ship was perhaps not the best idea. #cruise #valencia #virginvoyages

A “rather too hot for me” 28C in Casablanca today. The mosque was beautiful and very awe inspiring. It can hold over 20k worshippers inside with a further 80k in the plaza outside. #casablanca #cruise #virginvoyages

Had some lovely blue skies in today’s port of Cadiz. Lovely place which I’m sure we’ll be back to. #holiday #cadiz #virginvoyages

Pint(ish) Cruzcampo Lager 4.4% - perfect for today’s 25C temps in Cadiz. Bar Ultramarinos El Veedor #Bskybeer

Bottle! Late morning refreshers. Helles Schlenkerla Lagerbier 4.3% Helles Lager - cold, crisp with a very subtle hint of smokiness. Gill’s on the Lindemans Apple Lambic at 3.5% - touch of sourness and lots of apple pulp flavour. Off Malaga beach in Unterturkheim #Bskybeer