I didn't intend to stay up for the football, but I was still awake at 3am anyway, so watched the second half. Wowzers. Now I'm still wide awake though. Decided to do a little work - then I can sleep this afternoon.

Very late to the party, but just discovered the French Language TV show Lupin. So good

Seen a hedgehog in our garden twice this week 👀♥️🦔

My 19yr old son's girlfriend of about 4 months (who we haven't actually met yet because she lives in Swansea and can't drive, so son always visits her), bought us some fancy tea for no particular reason. She might be a keeper.

This one has to be worth a mention on @alexpodyssey.bsky.social at some point, surely?

Quite enjoying Olivia Rodrigo's new album. Particularly appreciated some of the harmonica choices on the bridges.

Finally just about cooler outside than in, so windows open at last. Wishing we had a walk-in fridge...

Not a British thing obviously, but Juneteenth is a stupid portmanteau - great thing for the Americans to mark, but it's useless if you want to remember what day it's on - could be any day between June 13th and 19th...

These are the 30 women killed since 2020 in Northern Ireland, all by white men 21 killed in their homes by men they knew. The youngest 20, the oldest 82 21 were mothers, 4 were killed with their children in the home. Two were pregnant Nobody rioted over their murders www.bbc.com/news/article...

In Florence and saw this - Medusa is a very misunderstood character... - see this @alexpodyssey.bsky.social episode to find out why open.spotify.com/episode/67sR... Also Perseus was a nob.

The announcement of the next set of NASA astronauts is a bit extra. Going to have to switch over - I can physically feel flight or flight hormone levels rising. How do Americans survive the constant hype? Must be exhausting.

A friend just alerted me to being included on a list of 66 top 'Christian Adjacent Albums of 2025' on a substack I have never heard of. I laughed at 'emerging artist'. It's only been 23 years since my first album... Still, nice to know someone has listened and enjoyed it.

Really glad I took up bell ringing again - the steady rhythmic movement and mental concentration is a kind of meditation every Tuesday evening. Just lovely! 🔔🔔

Very tempted to go see this www.bridgetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/the... , but I need to hear @sturdyalex.bsky.social 's take on the Oresteia first; he is my only source of Greek mythological knowledge thanks to @alexpodyssey.bsky.social and the total lack of classics in UK state schools in the 1990s

👏 This is a fantastic report from @makevotesmatter.bsky.social. Britain needs electoral reform now, or we risk a Reform UK government at the next election. ⚠️ At the local elections Reform won 300 councillors because of FPTP. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J1XBQhrOfLbkWT9S6NYylVQ4LBYQjJJ4/view

Britain's broadcast media boasts of its strict adherence to impartiality rules. Mentions per MP. LibDems: 645 Tories: 5,116 Greens: 7,763 Labour (the actual govt): 27,438 Reform: 70,732 Anyone surprised they're ahead? bebroadcast.co.uk/politics-who...

Does anyone know what's going on in Syria since Assad was ousted? It's dropped out of the news and for some reason just crossed my mind...

One sent to me, my one to my 19 year old son. Different list of priorities, which isn't particularly surprising, but is rather fascinating. Can you guess which is which?

Spent 20 minutes this morning trying to usher a mouse out from behind a chest of doors and out of the house. Cats are supposed to keep the mice out, not bring them home to play with... 🐈🐀

Trying to explain St Augustine to the pope, the former head of the Augustinian order, who wrote his doctoral thesis on Augustine, on his way back from celebrating mass at the Basilica of St Augustine in Annaba, Algeria, overlooking the site where Augustine lived is peak Adult Catholic Convert.

"By placing Europe at the top centre of the map and vastly exaggerating its size, Mercator created probably the most enduring visual propaganda ever conceived. It's no coincidence that he was fixated on the myth of Europa. The bull, he wrote, 'aptly represents the natural disposition of Europeans'."

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH

Voters in Wales failed by inaccurate UK media reports on devolved issues, study finds

Thought I had nearly finished crocheting a cardigan, but the sizing on the back was wrong, so just spent an hour frogging it and starting again (just the back, the sleeves and front panels are still intact, thankfully). Slightly frustrating.

Just bought tickets to see Jonathan Groff in an all-male cast of As You Like It at the RSC in the Autumn. Couldn't pass up the opportunity to see Shakespeare as it was originally cast, with blokes playing the women's parts. Plus Jonathan freaking Groff for goodness sake.

Been watching something play out and it’s wild how quickly people jump in to be offended on someone else’s behalf — often without actually knowing much of what’s going on.

Went to see 'Punch' at the Nottingham Playhouse. Seriously brilliant piece of art. The script, acting, staging, sound, lighting, everything were incredible. So, so moving. Worth the three hour drive. Highly recommend.

I went bell ringing tonight for the first time in about 32 years (new bells just put in the local church's tower). It's been a while, but just about remembered how.

love how we killed the old, frail anti-nuke ayatollah just to have him replaced with his young, healthy son who wants nukes and who just had his father, mother, wife, and child murdered on the same day by his mortal enemy. surely this will bring peace to the region

I've heard lots of commentary on the potential reasons Trump is engaged in Iran, but I think many are missing the Christian Nationalist angle. Not that Trump is any kind of Christian, but plenty in his ear ascribe to this nonsense. www.esquire.com/news-politic...

Nigel Farage lied multiple times at his press conference today - including saying no-one who voted Green in Gorton and Denton has a job and he's "certain" Reform won most British born voters in the by-election, based on zero evidence, and yet not a single journalist there pushed back on them

So it turns out Matt Goodwin's Reform campaign manager was a holocaust-denying Nazi who said he would "never touch a Jewish woman.” When do we start seeing all the coverage of the antisemitism crisis in Reform UK? www.jewishnews.co.uk/reform-uk-su...

Had a lovely weekend at a songwriting retreat - caught up with friends, made new friends, ate amazing food, dug into theology and wrote a song. Doesn't get much better than that

Successfully busted my yarn stash. Now I can justify buying new yarn...

Orange-not-my-cat has been pretty bold - coming through the flap and exploring. Resident tabby has been gently jumping on him and hinting that he would rather he didn't come round. Which is unusual because usually any other cat within 100m of the house makes him growl, hiss and fluff up his tail.

45 large squares have busted most of my yarn - just a load of black, grey and brown left. All ends woven in. Next to purchase some white for borders and joining. #crochet

I don't generally make new years resolutions, but this year I am going to try to use up all the yarn I have in my drawer before buying any new yarn. Yarnbusting blanket here we come

Went to London and saw two shows and 2 exhibitions. Recommend seeing All My Sons (Wyndham's Theatre), Into The Woods (The Bridge Theatre) and Emily Kam Kngwarray (Tate Modern)

One hour to go until our midnight service starts and I need to be awake enough to lead worship. Struggling.

Got drafted in at the last minute to play piano at one of our carol services. Fudged my way through Hark The Herald, but eased into the arpeggios on Oh Holy Night. Now twiddling thumbs waiting for the 11.30pm service, which I am on the rota to play at and have actually practiced for!

I can already hear @sturdyalex.bsky.social saying 'This week, fonts are woke'.

"How appropriate that the award resembled the planet earth being literally dragged to hell." 😂

This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥

Oh my God. Bluesky, you know what to do!! @shakespeare.lol beta.ideas.lego.com/product-idea...

For Shabana Mahmood to attack some of the most cruelly treated people in the world as having won a "golden ticket" because they manage to get to and claim asylum in Britain is unforgiveable. A new, far right, low for which I can think of no precedent, by any UK Government.

Strong 'live, laugh, love' vibes. Plus it would look slightly better if it was painted directly onto the wall rather than looking like it's printed on 3 sheets on A4 and blue-tacked on.

The little spark of joy I felt when this unexpectedly popped up on my podcast feed last night - 🥳 This podcast has been a little light in the darkness recently - fascinating and entertaining with lots of culture and really thought provoking. Plus Alex is the BEST story-teller.

Anyway, we need some joy, so here's the Egyptian foreign minister being given a Lego Pyramid by the Danish foreign minister.