I sense a return to the 1990s-esque cricketing doldrums for this England and Wales team. Medium-pace swing bowling tedium here we come.

Awesome

Tax folk: I think today is the day the GIR goes in. The sense of elation is overwhelming.

Not sure we need a draft excluder right now.

That’s my mid-January fun sorted.

A colleague is at the France Iraq game with his kids, who wanted to see Mbappe. Glad they got what they wanted before the heavens opened.

Lovely to see the Linc full of soccer fans. Last time I was there, @carolinepennock.bsky.social got us onto the big screen. #GoBirds

Within 2 months Northern mayors will find themselves painfully dumped off Burnham’s speed dial.

Hearing rumours that during Burnham’s premiership the speaker is to be referred to as ‘Our Right Honourable Kid’. All ministers must wear fully buttoned-up white polo shirts in the chamber, and a cabinet cardigan will be commissioned.

Really hope Ed Miliband shits on Burham’s parade and stands against him in a leadership contest. Fucking hate the love that Burnham has got, despite his cheerleading for the Iraq war, and voting against an enquiry into it.

In a fragile new world, how great is it going to be if UK’s next PM is one of Blair’s Iraq war supporters?

Oh thank Christ I haven’t disgraced myself. Yet.

Bleurgy mandolin-related incident in the kitchen before dinner. Perhaps the most unnecessary utensil ever.

Watched The Breakfast Club with my daughter, then explained to her that it’s a film about a bunch of self-obsessed teenage bores who will grow up to be their teacher. Now that’s parenting.

BBC News just showed a headline that stated ‘David Hockney Resigns’. Never heard that particular euphemism before.

Why wouldn’t you watch birds from the sink, your grey fur the perfect camouflage for the stainless steel environment?

Labour’s next policy will be to keep under 16 year olds indoors so they don’t have to experience the effects of climate crisis.

I remember watching the first game of the 1998 World Cup, Brazil vs Scotland, in my uni room in Oxford. My left leg was clad with pink plaster, having broken my ankle in 3 places on the last day of my finals. I think I still went home after Scotland did.

Tolkien’s former Leeds residence up for sale. Nice, but you know, Leeds. www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/8...

Sunday night jaunt to Nottingham Rock City for my first ever gig experience there. Another dose of Sugar….and the inevitable tinnitus.

Also have a hugely talented friend whose song writing talent, voice and front-man charisma, and awesome band, should have made it. Gothic Sheffield Americana tales from 19th century. youtu.be/CbHBSvjYlyc?...

During the 1990s I loved a song called ‘Helping Hand’ by an Aussie rock band called The Screaming Jets. Still do. youtu.be/OtJGLPuJVVo?...

Uno hive mind: 2 cards left in my hand. Played the ‘pick up 4’ card. As I was saying ‘suck it’, and before I had picked the colour for the next player, some twat (daughter) called me out for not Uno-ing. Surely you can’t get Uno’d before naming the colour, and certainly not whilst showboating?

Only one book left to read in Karl Ove Knausgaard’s My Struggle series…and it’s 1,000+ pages.

It only took 7 hours but I finally got my Eagles Jags tickets for Week 5 in London.

Happy Punch-Climate-Change-Deniers-In-The-Face Day!

You’re never too late to this youtu.be/9iTuDvk45Qk

One of the loudest gigs I’ve been to. Sugar were incredible. If everyone loved what they did as much as Bob Mould loves performing, the world would be a better place.

Final call - anyone in London fancy coming to see Sugar at Kentish Town tonight? Relive your teenage years (if you’re old like me) and lose your hearing. What’s not to like about that?!

It’s warmer here than it was in Philly when I left 12 hours ago. Jeepers.

Another visit to Philly’s Barnes & Noble, another valiant effort to marry up the recommendation card and the sole copy of @carolinepennock.bsky.social’s book in the store. I deserve a medal.

introduce yourself with 10 bands/musicians you’ve seen live. Shellac Pavement Built To Spill Descendents Dag Nasty Mannequin Pussy Jeff Rosenstock Low Hop Along Meat Puppets

Sunset in Philly started off slightly biblical last night.

Incredibly hot day in Philly. Makes my flesh bubble just thinking about going outside.

West Philly as the sun sets and rises.

Daughter talked me through her birthday list (August) yesterday. Whilst I’ve been up on a Transatlantic flight, she’s been shopping with Revd Canon Grandma and bought one of the items on the list.

For the Guardian’s top 100 novels, I’d be interested in people’s ‘read voluntarily’ vs ‘forced to read’ split.

Eagles Jags confirmed for 11 October at Tottenham Stadium.

@carolinepennock.bsky.social One for our holiday…

Dinosaur Sr

Still up for grabs for anyone desiring Bob-Mould-inflicted tinnitus.

Rosie would rather not watch Villa on the telly.

Performance art on the telly

Or, if you must, ‘I Can See Keirly Now’, if you’re still that way inclined.

Replace the lyrics to Def Leppard’s Armageddon It with ‘Is Starmer getting it’.

I have a match ball from the last trophy that Aston Villa won. Long enough ago that the signatures are pretty faded.

Was one minute away from £600. Thanks a fucking bunch Harry Kane.

They should rebrand Shaun Murphy as ‘The Cheese’, and have him walk on to the theme from Wallace and Grommit. #snooker

I just made the kettlebells and Big Black combo look sexy. Thanks for asking.

A new fact I learned today - Happy Mondays’ second album (Bummed) was recorded in the market town of Driffield, East Yorkshire.