Vicky Pattison singing along as she dances <3

Harry 100% will be pec popping to that next week.

For the 2nd time this year I fell today; went the length of myself & this time I landed on my left hip & elbow (in May it was right shoulder & knee). Telling myself it’s residual tiredness from the Great North Run plus being slightly off balance when I slipped. But do not like this new habit for me…

Did my last run tonight before the Great North Run on Sunday. Getting a bit nervous, but will be proud to put on my blue vest and run for @nacoauk.bsky.social If you want to read more about why Nacoa is important to me and find a link to support my run, visit open.substack.com/pub/whathapp...

Got my latest post up; finally (both as in that it took an age to write & in the tech not fighting me. Going increasingly off the platform). It wasn’t an easy one but with Great North Run coming up, I wanted to write more about why I support @nacoauk.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/whathapp...

In a world of chaos, on this morning’s bus journey I was delighted to see that Castormart in Belfast continues trading, for all your castor needs. A constant in troubled times.

You won’t convince me that Gaynor wasn’t 100% setting up that ‘Esme is 4 foot tall’ gag. She knew what she was saying… #sewingbee

Clearly this is Sewing Bee’s Skanklets’ Renaissance Series. And who could have seen that coming? Neil, you were ahead of your time. A Skankletty Voice In The Wilderness. #sewingbee

MORE SKANKLETS????? Dan!!!!

I didn’t think it was possible for jeans-buying to become more complicated than it already was. AND YET. What the hell is a carrot jean, M&S???

Glendora’s secret podium dancer past? ICON #sewingbee

Man, I LOVE the Sibelius Violin Concerto. Actually, I just love Sibelius in general, but oooooh, the violin concerto…. (Catching up on first night of the Proms…)

I managed to nail my ‘once a fortnight’ Substack schedule (self-imposed. Not massively working) for the first time! New post available for reading here: open.substack.com/pub/whathapp...

Over the long bank holiday weekend here, I have found myself watching far too much Food Network. The reason I know? I have developed a number of competing theories about the true state of Barefoot Contessa’s relationship…

Watching Mastermind and one woman’s specialist subject is the films of the Muppets. ICON.

Watching a TOTP from 1986 (of course I am. What else do you watch on a Friday night?) and if they haven’t already - and I don’t believe they have - @divinecomedyhq.bsky.social should absolutely cover Hunting High and Low by A-ha. It’s perfect.

In ‘still not exactly nailing the target of publishing once a fortnight, but going for it erratically nonetheless’ news, I’ve written another thing, about the potency of singing. And you get some bonus Joyce Grenfell. open.substack.com/pub/whathapp...

I think this might be my absolute favourite season of #Taskmaster ever. It’s just an absolute delight every week.

This is entirely true: I’m not quite sure how, but here we are, watching strapping men pull a 75 tonne boat off the coast of Mexico

FINALLY got around to another Substack. So much for once a fortnight…

Not my finest start to a choir rehearsal: tripped and fell in the car park on the way in. Have grazed hands and knees like a 7yo, two toes feel like they *might* be broken and my right knee will, to coin the vernacular, be up like a bap in the morning. Ouch.

Baffling discovery of the day: there appears to be a bird under the bath. Am quite relieved to have to work tonight, leaving the solution of that particular problem to Himself.

In Porto for a week on holiday. The weather today has been like Galway (ie blowing a hooley and pissing down). Currently watching a deeply weird film in Portuguese that reminds me of the last episode of The Prisoner (there is a gallery heist with bees) and am obsessed. Make it make sense!

Trying out a thing on Substack. Might run out of ideas in 3 months time, might hit a new seam of creativity and joy. Only one way to find out… open.substack.com/pub/whathapp...

I am so proud of BOTH my nieces. Legends in their own individual ways…

#outofcontextopinion ‘Everybody’s got an opinion on how far you should go with a sausage’ (Paul Heaton. On barbecues. Watching From Hull To Heatongrad)

I’m not prone to blowing my own trumpet - not even my own kazoo. But last night at work, a former regular who hasn’t been for ages came to the concert with her husband. She’s a total dote & I was so pleased to see her. Went on FB this morning to find she’d tagged me in a post that’s made me 🥲

Catching up on tonight’s Great British Menu and thoroughly delighted with the relentless and profuse discussion of ‘kyarts’ (carrots). Pondering how many households elsewhere in the UK have stuck the subtitles on.

Watching TOTP97 and Eternal are featuring with ‘The Only One’. Remembering one of my best mates at uni insisting that the chorus went ‘I wanna be the only one to hold you/take you from behind’. It is apparently ‘protect you from the rain’, but I still think he was on to something…

Following a conversation with my PT earlier today, I have a name for my new imaginary band - introducing Slack Ovary.

The end of BBC Newsline tonight had me a sobbing mess. It sent me back to the Troubles, but I have enough distance from living through it that I see anew, and so profoundly, just how monumentally relentless, brutal and utterly devastating it all was. We must NEVER go back.

Watching Match of the Day. Not saying we’re rubbish football fans (I’m delighted with the upturn in Everton’s fortunes), but most conversation has revolved around away kits. Takeaways: Bournemouth’s is a pleasing teal/petrol affair. Brentford is either Global Hypercolour or red sock in white wash.

Just been to Strabane for work. Drive home powered by Haribo and Sophie Ellis Bextor’s Kitchen Disco on Radio 2 and it felt like I kept manifesting total bangers (You To Me Are Everything by The Real Thing is a TUNE). Now on sofa with ABBA on the telly and a glass of wine in hand. Not a bad night.

Catching up on last night’s University Challenge. In fairness to Starkey, I’m *from* Bangor and rarely, if ever, think of it as a city… #universitychallenge

Awww, sad news. What a queen.

I am watching Winterwatch at my MiL’s and honestly, I deserve a medal for the fact that I have not sniggered once, despite the heavily repeated phrase ‘live beaver action’. I have the sense of humour of a 12 year old boy.

@thisshipargo.bsky.social after yesterday, a) I present, for your delight, this thread and b) Michelle's duck-based howler was talking about 'flogging a dead duck'. When her husband stopped laughing and explained the mistake she said 'well, what is the phrase? Shooting ducks in a barrel?'.

Turns out I have a lot of opinions about the absolute WRONGNESS of the video for Hello by Lionel Ritchie. Thank goodness for child protection legislation.

What an excellent first episode. Feels like a really strong group this year #potterythrowdown

I love the intros on #potterythrowdown. I didn’t think we’d beat one potter’s Dad’s political punk band, and then we met a UK hula hoop champion. I’ve never felt so dull…

Just received a FAB audio of Littlest Niece repeatedly asking why she has to go to sleep. Eventually, SiL says ‘because it’s good to rest, ready for the new day.’ Pause, then Niece emphatically says ‘yes!’, like at the age of nearly 2 she’s a tiny scientist waiting for a logically plausible answer ❤️

Watching Sophie Ellis-Bextor on telly, revelling in the disco camp and trying to remember anything by theaudience. Think I’ve found an excellent way to celebrate the New Year. Happy 2025!

Me, reflecting on 2024.

This is one of my favourite Christmas Eve traditions. As I am with driving distance of everyone I need to see, I have no photographic contribution to make but I always donate and spend the evening refreshing the feed with deep joy. Pin that feed, people! #duvetknowitschristmas

Conversation topics you never thought you’d be having at a choir Christmas concert - armpit merkins.

Watching Winter Walks on iPlayer. Just finished Lemn Sissay’s, now on to Simon Armitage. VERY chill. (Side note: once had to collect Lemn Sissay from the airport. He is a DELIGHTFUL human)

I needed this little fella in my life today!

Was that an American Smooth or some sort of contempowaft? I am undecided. And the first lift was DEEPLY ungainly #scd #strictly

That moment when you’re watching Paid In Full, the doco shown on BBC4 about the absolute financial abuse of black artists in the music industry, and you spot your IASPM Finnish conference buddy from about 20 years ago. *waves into the internet void to the excellent Matt Stahl*

When I grow up I would rather like to be PJ Harvey, please and thank you. Yes, I am watching Glastonbury coverage. God, she’s fucking SUBLIME. Can’t wait for August…