I’m so old I can remember when Aston Villa used to lose football matches … #AVFC

The current top four in the Champions League table - sharing a stat that they were all beaten last time they played Aston Villa. Just saying … #AVFC #UTV

Very excited this evening to attend the launch of OPEN: The People's Exhibition at @leicestermuseums.bsky.social ... especially as it features my eldest's first piece to be on display in a public art gallery. #Stoneface by Edward Ellis

Wet days at work bring extra duties … but all the umbrellas will be dry and ready for tomorrow’s intrepid explorers. (Featuring a wet floor sign for added safety)

As always it was a delight to be at the Royal Albert Hall today for the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance - and I’m so proud of the part the National Memorial Arboretum plays in helping to bring society together to remember those who serve and sacrifice.

It was great to slip onto site today to help our volunteers plant 35,000+ Poppy Tributes for the RBL Field of Remembrance here at the National Memorial Arboretum … my knees were a bit sore after an hour so huge respect and thanks to those who have been out doing it all day.

A very special day at work as we dedicated the new LGBT+ Armed Forces Community Memorial in the presence of His Majesty The King. Careers, livelihoods, and sometimes lives were lost as a result of the ‘gay ban’, and now people can serve regardless of who they are or who they love

Today's hard work included a meeting at Lichfield Cathedral - the current home of the Fenland Table, a 13 metre long table made from Fenland Black Oak that has been preserved in peat for the last 5,000 years. Not only remarkable but also designed to be used (hence the coffee and pastry)

The changing of the seasons is marked by the pin oaks (Quercus palustris) displaying their gorgeous autumnal colours in Heroes’ Square at the National Memorial Arboretum. Not only a powerful reminder of the inherent beauty of nature but they also provide a great excuse for a daily walk around site

Ride To The Wall (RTTW) brings thousands of motorcycle fans from around the UK to the National Memorial Arboretum for huge show of remembrance and respect - always a highlight of my working year. And despite the challenges brought by Storm Amy this year’s event has been as great as always.

An afternoon off near Coventry … and time well spent in my opinion

Amazing who you meet at work sometimes … On this occasion to dedicate a memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum to the 97 men who died in the Le Paradis Massacre in 1940: www.leparadismassacre.com/massacre-ove...

After a very dry summer it’s lovely to see some vibrant greenery return to the National Forest before we head into autumn.

Fixing a broken laptop hinge with nothing but some basic tools, a YouTube video and a sense of adventure … what could possibly go wrong?

Next door’s cat waiting, with hope over expectation, that a bird decides to take a bath.

So you probably worked out my last post was Blackpool - and whilst I was there to discuss the many challenges facing the visitor attraction sector with some brilliant people from across our industry, it was also a lot of fun to be at Blackpool Pleasure Beach at night.

Can you guess where I am …

Oooo - that felt good Wordle 1,542 3/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

This week we bought both an Air Fryer and a Hair Dryer … we are, of course, now conflating them - “I’ll do some Cajun style chicken in the hair dryer this evening”. #OhHowWeLaugh

Another brilliant weekend at @endoftheroadfestival.com - great bands, great food and drink (so many real ales on offer), great company and a stunningly gorgeous site. (The Garden Stage wins a prize for not only the best looking stage I have ever seen but also the best sound quality)

Bags packed and ready to go. See you later @endoftheroadfestival.com

The tap is fixed … I did all by myself … I am feeling just a little bit proud.

Fabulous idea 🌺🐝🪻🐝🌳

NEW: Ever heard of a grätzloase? It means “neighbourhood oasis”– a miniature park replacing a parking space, aka parklets. With the blessing of city hall, more than 100 of them have sprung up across Vienna since 2015. And in theory, anyone in Vienna can build one. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

All creatures great and small at Chester Zoo today.

Ok - DIY advice needed … I need to change this tap and it is stuck fast - if I apply more pressure I’m just bending the copper pipe it is fixed to. Any tips for loosening it or do I need to cut the pipe and join on a new section on which I can mount a new tap?

A few days after the VJ80 commemorations at the @natmemarb.bsky.social the memorials in the Far East section of the site are still looking wonderful, dressed in flowers and displaying the wreaths laid with such respect by so many people.

I’ve just noticed that the oak in our garden is bursting with acorns (see picture) - way more than I have seen before. As a result I have learnt about ‘mast years’ - is this going to be one for oaks? www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2020/10...

Lesbian veterans receive berets decades after ban Twenty veterans of the Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC) have been formally presented with berets and cap badges at the National Memorial Arboretum Read more🔗⬇️

Might need a trip to Shropshire at some point … I love the story behind this walk.

No, homeless ex-service people are not being evicted to make space for asylum seekers Obviously Please share widely, particularly under the noses of anyone who might have seen the claim elsewhere www.bigissue.com/news/social-...

A wonderful episode of BBC Antiques Roadshow this evening filmed at the @natmemarb.bsky.social It’s a great place to start if you want to understand a bit more about the war in the Far East ahead of the 80th anniversary of VJ Day on 15th August. #WeWillRememberThem www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Currently checking out new-to-me music ahead of heading to @endoftheroadfestival.com at the end of the month. Loving Black Country New Road, Sofia Kourties and BAMBARA this morning - my Clashfinder is beginning to fill up. #LiveMusic #Festival #EOTR

I’m often (well occasionally) asked how we keep the grounds at the @natmemarb.bsky.social in such great condition. There is no secret … just lots of dedication, care and hard work by a great team of staff and volunteers. #Horticulture

🚨 Did you know Brexit could be affecting your favourite artist?🎸 🎶 📊 Best for Britain research shows Brexit is hitting the music industry hard. Find out why. ⬇️

This is good news - and reminds me that the very last conversation I had with my Dad was my reminisces of childhood conversations in which he would point out how much green there was in Birmingham.

The moment I saw that "trans bra" M & S story I sensed it was nonsense. Seconds later, having read the Telegraph piece I knew it was worse than that. It was deliberate hate mongering completely devoid of evidence, names and facts. Superb job of debunking it here www.thepinknews.com/2025/08/06/m...

In exciting news for old buildings in #Staffordshire ... It's so important we remind ourselves of our industrial heritage whilst also making sure important and beautiful buildings serve our modern communities. daily-focus.co.uk/2025/08/1-5m...

There is a "machine" here that extracts CO2 from the atmosphere, produces oxygen, builds itself, is cheap and additionally delights us with its splendor and beauty.💚🌱🌿☘️🌲🌳🍀💚 👇👇👇It is called tree👇👇👇

A day off work so it seemed reasonable to spend some time strolling along the Ashby Canal at Snarestone. #Towpath #Canal #Outdoors #Countryside #Walk

#Cricket eh? Bloody Hell! Sounded like a great atmosphere at the Oval ... took me back to sitting at Trent Bridge in '05 as England edged to 129 in the 4th innings to go 2-1 up in that famous Ashes Series. It's always a reminder that you can't beat Test Cricket for excitement. Well done India 👏

I'm fascinated by both the shirt and the the "Barrett" sponsor in this. The kit in '82 was the one with blue sleeves and sides and I believe Davenports were the first shirt sponsor the next season. This was Brian Little's Testimonial: #AVFC 3-2 Eng. Does anyone know more about the what and why?

A touch more from our Bavarian adventures - priceless treasure and works of art in Munich … beautifully presented and awe-inspiring to see. (Check the ALT text for a little more info). #Bavaria 🇩🇪

And we’re back from a fabulous couple of weeks exploring Bavaria in southeast Germany - amazing scenery, great history and so many wonderful places to visit. I may well share a few more highlights over the next few days (because what’s the point of travel if you don’t go on about it?) #Germany

I love an optimistic, stats driven football thread (especially about #AVFC) - and this one is a peach.

Well #Glastonbury was just amazing - music, performance, fun, laughter and joy ... all underpinned by plenty of love, peace, joy, diversity and inclusion. I was especially moved by all of the calls for equality and love for the trans community ... especially by the always impressive Billy Bragg

A day off to pack my bags ready for #Glastonbury … this will involve wandering around the house picking things up, putting them down and forgetting what I need before hurriedly bunging stuff into a rucksack at the last minute … It will be worth it.

“It seems the weather gods are being kind…” - this is what we’re here for. Thanks @gavsweathervids.bsky.social - I hope the next update maintains the trend. #Glastonbury

Gav keeping us on tenterhooks as a potential wobble appears on his charts … and this is a beautifully presented weather forecast whether you are going to #Glastonbury or not.

With thanks to @gavsweathervids.bsky.social … and liking the look of this. #Glastonbury #WeatherCheck