Going in on The Night Manager; short of anything else it feels like an age since I’ve seen some proper overseas location work.

'... those are the kind of windows faces look in at' is a line I use frequently to describe the kind of architecture I like. www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0X6...

It's just going to be more large-breasted MECHAHITLER skins isn't it?

I can understand (but disagree) with why MAGA would attack London, especially with a divisive administration you don't want to see your wealthy liberal talent flock overseas to an accessible English-speaking alternative, it's the domestic bootlickers that I really despise.

If I ever found myself trying to date a Gen Z I would expect, nay insist that my close friends have me incarcerated in a Swiss Spa Resort for several weeks of convalescence.

I see a lot of people putting 'AI governance' in their job titles and skill sets, not going to lie, lads, you've done a fucking awful job so far.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess we haven't all been meeting our KPIs.

7am on New Year’s moning, #Berlin by László Moholy-Nagy (1930).

The greatest to ever do it, if 'it' is grifting.

The best meals out that I had this year were at: > Maison François, Borough > Andrew Edmunds, Soho > Kolae, Borough > Rambutan, Borough > Singburi, Shoreditch > Angela's, Margate > Roast Dinner @ The Hatch, Hartfield > Sandos @ Village General Store, Saltaire

As is traditional, here is a list of the best pubs I visited for the 1st time in 2025 > 4 Candles, Broadstairs > Fanny's Ale House, Saltaire > The Robin, Finsbury Park > New Inn, Hadlow Down, W-Sx > Stanley Arms, Fishersgate, E-Sx > Duke of Wellington, Shoreham, E-Sx > The Champ, Appledore (Devon)

I think this is a near-perfect summation of where the nation is currently. A lot of very tired people, wondering why on Earth they should bother putting the hard yards in any more when the worst people in the world are opting out to bathe in the ever scorched Slave States of the Empty Quarter.

I do think so much of this is ‘vibes’ and the ongoing narrative of ‘decline’. Blair was detested across the spectrum of politics but held the middle with a sense of forward progress & a coherent ideology backed by an economy on the up. Starmer & Reeves are also just appalling communicators.

Farewell then, 25

We received one of those portable Ninja Air Fryers for Christmas, an appliance I resisted for several years until the women in my life conspired against me. Admittedly, it's brilliant.

I get the sense that within the Ukrainian military leadership, there are likely orders that for there to be a peace largely on Russian terms, the cost to Russian (& allied) personnel must be very high www.bbc.com/news/article...

I could do the Julianne Moore story, but there's light interaction on my part. Instead I shall opt for the several times I've walked past Nick Cave /Dylan Moran / Noah Taylor in Hove and never acknowledged their physical presence in any way.

I reckon Vladimir Putin gets up each morning, takes his HEIGHTs supplements and listens to the Dan Walker podcast.

I mean considering they dont think anything should happen to cancel people based on their posts to gear shift instantly to stripping citizenship is spectacular double think

'Please consider everyone and everything else an enemy of the British People - including roughly 85% of the British people.'

Cut out and keep lads, as this is only going to keep happening.

Farage to Mahmood: "It should go without saying that anyone who possesses racist, anti-British views such as those of Mr el-Fattah should not be allowed into the UK." Says the racist man who tells anyone who will listen the UK is a dystopian hellscape, including testifying as such to the US Congress

In Winchester next weekend for a pub stroll, think I've got my list down, but further suggestions for inns or luncheon warmly welcomed.

It’s crazy to me there’s not been *one* decent intervention by a senior politician on AI, what it’s for, should be about and our society. Unless I missed it? It’s just people saying ‘productivity’ and ‘jobs’ with literally no thought, thinking or ideas. But then I suppose same on everything.

Feckin' Nora

I see the Far Right has found another organisation it can infiltrate by using the mechanics of its own worldview (compassion, forgiveness, renewal) against it.

I just dreamt up a one-off Mad Men special set in 1984 with Don Draper working on the Reagan election campaign and the development of the 'Morning in America' ad. Draper and Roger Stone bicker.

I have fashioned a soup of such quality, it should have a booth at the Royal Exhibition.

It’s that time of year to visit old friends

21:00 walk is going well

As someone whose Stepdad would watch The Great Escape approximately once every four weeks for roughly 13 years, the music alone is enough to send me into a rage.

This is the world where YouTube is filled to the nines with 'overconsumption is bad!' videos that stop every 8 minutes so the influencer can drop an ad.

My nightmarish prediction for 2026 is that it will be the year that we’ll see the financialision of the political divides. Wider gambling on political events, pay to play (have the last word, boost other’s posts) on social media debates, more Private Members Clubs / Dating Apps on the Right.

As a rural boy I can tell you the Countryside Alliance has always only ever been interested in preserving sport for a very small group of individuals (who usually live ‘In town’) Ask them about affordable rural housing and they’ve got nothing.

Every man Jack or them is a Duranty

'Boomer mythology about the war' is an interesting turn of phrase isn't it? Plays beautifully into generational frustrations with the over-60s but also... suggests we might need to re-evaluate WW2 for some reason, who can say why?

I'd agree with this and go further, I think a lot of the Senior leadership of a number of Corporations now run their firms this way, buying into a myth that lightning will strike out of somewhere in the workforce rather than creating the conditions for creativity and innovation to occur.

To be fair, if we wanted to put in new footpaths we'd have to spend £1.2m on a feasibility paper with Boston Consulting Group, followed by a Policy campaign with MHP Group and then... oh never mind.

I’ve made no secret that I’d make The Code of The Woosters with a full Merchant Ivory budget.

Jared Harris always gets me in possibly the best scene in The Crown, the Christmas at Sandringham

What does the BBC Comedy Department actually do when there's not a new Motherland / Alan Partridge coming down the production pipeline?

The Ghost Story this year is a return to form at least

Port’s a little low

Take a break Keith

"I say, did you watch Only Connect? Chap on there was a vegetarian. "What did you do for Christmas Dinner last year," they asked him. "Ordered an Indian takeaway," he said. Very queer" *God Save the King starts to play*

Grandparents during the King’s Speech

And we’re off.

Choose your player

*Deep breath* Into the kitchen everyone.

I looked for the spirit to go on.