It's getting down to crunch time. I'm going to have to start making some LISTS. I think I may have run out of time to catch up with any more films though.

Well we did it, we finally tackled the big boss of Christmas films (at home, not in a cinema, where I will never watch it) and readers, as you know, Love Actually was bad. I would rather rewatch The Holiday every day. Just weird. So many bosses cheating with their employees in that film.

It's that happy time of year (translation: possibly every time of year) when there's chaos on the East Coast Mainline and our train was cancelled, we're standing on another, and we've been delayed by at least three hours but the silver lining is maybe we'll get to Edinburgh today? (Also: refund)

I've come into the office in London today. It's so far looking like I might be spending more time out Xmas shopping then actually working but look what's the use of thia week otherwise?

Well, we've now hit the Christmas moviegoing nuclear option and we're off to see beloved timeless holiday classic The Holiday, screening in 35mm for the real movie lovers.

I'm in a fancy London shop, as one is during this time of the year, overhearing someone ask a staff member where the advent calendars are. Why would you be buying an advent calendar on the 22nd December??!

Anyway I'm off to do some Carolling tonight which is -- and if you know me at all you already know how this skeet ends -- where I go and see Carol (2015, dir. Todd Haynes) for Christmas. I should probably get a new tradition eh

I went to see a film yesterday in which going for a run, come rain or shine, was an expression of freedom and determination for a young woman and mighty inspiring it was too. However I've been looking out the window at the rain all morning while wearing my running kit and I'm not so determined.

I just love when you stand at a bus stop long enough to see the bus that's listed as being due for the last five minutes just silently gives way to the next one coming in 10 minutes and then one just cruises past you without even stopping though you're standing at the fvcking stop. Fuck you buses.

My 122 day streak on Squaredle finally comes to an end so I can stop playing Squaredle all the fvcking time.

I saw someone doing a run in full gear down Charing Cross Road the other day at around 5pm, truly deranged behaviour, can't help but respect it. Feel like even in central London there might be better places to run but hey.

I don't know if people are aware of this television thing called The Traitors but we are getting into it approximately eleventy billion years after everyone else ("Celebrity" version). It's quite addictive it turns out.

I went on a little wander around the BFI because I thought I heard @pamhutch.bsky.social 's voice but now I realise that my brain probably just inserted that into the background hubbub because I'm here to see a silent movie.

We went to the @kermodeandmayo.bsky.social Live Take and my wife Kerry was the loudest, most shameless and frankly dishonest, and hence won a Peace Prize. Well deserved!

Terrible photo but it was lovely to see Stereolab on stage at the RFH. Laetitia was very keen that people tear up the seats but I think her fans are too polite to do that.

I'm in my local community hall, the one literally two steps from my home, watching a big band play, and I thought briefly I had never been in here. But actually I think someone had a birthday here years ago, before I lived here. Ant, I think. A 40th perhaps. It's that kind of hall.

In the last two days I've learned that both the musical lyricist Lorenz Hart (thanks to the film Blue Moon) and political a-hole Joseph McCarthy died at the age I am now (48), from alcoholism. Not sure what my point is. I might be getting old.

There's a guy here (with a weird moustache, what is it with the younger generation and weird moustaches?) who's been talking about the filmography of Will Ferrell, and now saying to his friend that he's doing an Inland Empire/Dune double bill. I wish him the best with that.

Don't get me wrong, I love me a Turner painting, and Constable is okay too, but when is the Tate not doing a Turner and/or Constable exhibition? Still, thought I would take a quick swing around, refresh my memory for sunlight and roiling skies

Enjoying the bar vibes at the Garden Cinema. I can imagine coming here again, just for a drink. Anyway I've joined up as a member because why not. This is better than the member rooms at the Tate.

I checked the Cafe Oto website as I periodically do and booked to see the composer of Bella Tarr's film scores play live next February (Mihaly Vig) because why not eh. Always a fun time is a Bela Tarr movie.

I have also started watching the documentary series about Martin Scorsese but this was a mistake because now I need to watch all his films

Watching an odd, late Preminger film called BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING which inexplicably stars Noel Coward and Laurence Olivier among others. Anyway just taking a break to google "wtf is junket", a dessert that has now been mentioned multiple times. I'm sure it's part of a dense allusory framework.

Classic getting onto a tube train believing it was going down one branch but then it ended up going down another while I was zoned out to a Rosalia. This might be me reaping that unwise 15% beer earlier who can even say. Will I get to my film in time? Absolute scenes.

And while I'm in the bottleshop thinking about beer people, some of whom I've met and had a drink with, possibly in here. Pellicle is a damn fine publication, lots of good people. A+ good work.

Congrats to David for winning this award, best beer writer. Belatedly catching up with beer awards but can't think of a better writer really, so it's well deserved.

Currently at @capsandtaps.co.uk trying to contemplate which 750ml bottle to go for. Something nice, to take advantage of the 20% off they have going today (yes hello I am a walking advert for my local bottleshop what of it). Hmm. A classic or something new to me?

It seems somehow fated that your toilet decides to stop working altogether on the day when you have people coming round in the evening. Like literally the first time we've had people round in months

With respect to Curzon cinemas pre-film ads, what kind of monster would give a Bela Tarr box set as a Christmas gift. (I'd probably like it but I think I'm in a minority.)

I understand the appeal of Guinness but I don't understand focusing on it as some magical thing that can be kept or poured better at one establishment or another. It does the job but I don't worship at its altar.

Back on my bvllsh1t lads. A last crafty few in a lovely railway arch bar in Birmingham before I retire to bed. It's okay they have a 14% impy stout I can finish with

I've spent the day doing buzzer quizzes in a school which have mostly looked like this (pictured is the grand final, not including me), which is inexplicably an activity I seem to derive fun from. Anyway, we did win a prize (best of the third ranked teams) so that's nice.

Political debate in this country is so toxic, just imagine what wonders we'd be losing if they had their way. Like this Lahori breakfast that I fear is sized for two people.

Less chocolatey than I wanted really. But to be fair it is late at night and very cold.

Anyway, beers aside, I'm excited to be in the UK's second city.

Starting my #collabageddon25 with a schwarzbier because that seems like the @elusivebrewing.com way

Quiz people will literally travel miles outside a city, a fifteen minute walk on frozen pavements from the nearest station just so they can drink in a fvcking Spoons. Anyway it'll be nice to see people.

I've popped into a wine bar in a former public toilets called, inventively, WC, and I have to say there's a certain irony in someone drunkenly approaching me to ask where the toilets are. (I did not know but I also did not suggest he just goes wherever though.)

Currently in a scrum, I cannot call it anything else, to try tastes of Beaujolais nouveau outside Noble Rot

I'm so used to restaurants having still and sparkling water on tap, that when they offer and then open up a bottle of Kingsdown or whatever premium brand, it's always a surprise. Like lads, mention it. I might have ordered a more expensive drink but nope fancy water's what I'm drinking now.

I quite liked ALPHA, certainly a very striking film, but it's another to add to the list of films whose poster images are also the last shot of the film.

I am a bit late to this world but I recently sort of stumbled into subscribing to a music streaming platform and now realise I can listen to an artist's entire catalogue in chronological order. As such I am now listening to the entire recorded works of... Lana Del Rey. It's a vibe for sure.

I know Christmas is coming because I've booked to see Carol in December

People really go hard on the dressing up at singalong screenings of Rocky Horror it turns out.

I have to assume that when a pub has its own monogrammed glasses that they spent a bit on the refurb.. Fair enough it's a fancy area.

Truly, day or night, the stretch of pavement between London Eye and the Houses of Parliament is cursed. What a deeply underwhelming bit of London walking, love to experience all the sights and sounds of tourist central.

I'm in a work meeting where someone is doing a demo and so far they are really banging on a lot about AI and though that doesn't make me feel good about them I predict the managers will love it.

Always love to visit a new cinema and Curzon Hoxton seems quite pleasant. Should have booked the front row for the recliner seats. Anyway, I am hopeful for Frankenstein. Been a while since I really loved a GdT film but the lad has talent.

Every month that goes by at one of my local shops creates more and greater visual delights.

I mean technically Upminster is in a London borough but spiritually my answer to this street sign telling me LONDON'S CLOSE would be, no it's not.