The total tonnage of what Farage doesn’t know could stun a team of oxen in its tracks. "I have no idea ... you know, we were told thalidomide was a very safe drug and it wasn't. Who knows, Nick, I don't know."

You know who knows? Scientists.

Autumn barbecues and you deserve a little beer and a little fire whilst you wait for them to be ready.

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@phoenixedsarah.bsky.social has written about sex and violence and why the taboo on the former is much greater than the latter. substack.com/inbox/post/1...

This is really interesting on language learning. I loved languages and learned them chopped up into abstract pieces and reassembled as a puzzle (you can take the kid out of the mathematics classroom…) I can, however, see that this might not work for everyone.

As Head of Physics with a very amateur enjoyment of languages, I was delighted this year to see that 100% of our unfortunately small year 12 French class also take physics. I just wish it was a more common occurrence.

Harris Westminster open evening tonight - I love this report card on French A-level. More people should study languages in sixth form. More people should love languages at GCSE and yet I see a succession of young people with good grades elsewhere and a 2 in Spanish. What is happening?

No man is an island, Entire of itself; Every man is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, As well as if a promontory were: As well as if a manor of thy friend's Or of thine own were.

Yes indeed, and a thought which is supported by modern research on social cohesion, collective wellness and, I'd argue, biodiversity and interaction between species.

No man is an island, Entire of itself; Every man is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, As well as if a promontory were: As well as if a manor of thy friend's Or of thine own were.

Sunday morning bells - reward for an early start:

A wall in Harris Westminster. Just six of the three dozen student societies that take place across the school at lunch and in the evenings. It’s one of the things that makes the place so amazing, and such a good invitation to the post-18 world of opportunity and leadership. How? A thread 🧵

Fun fact: You can’t score an own goal directly from your own corner kick - it would be a corner.

Today I have learned of the existence of Moldauhafen - Czechia’s 99 year lease on the sea. Established by the treaty of Versailles and expiring in 2028 it is now a private arrangement between the republic and the city of Hamburg (Versailles lapsed due to some disagreement over terms in the 30s)

#FridayFive 1. Talking Bout a Revolution - Tracy Chapman 2. Winds of Change - Scorpions 3. (Just like) Starting Over - John Lennon 4. Like a Virgin - Madonna 5. We Shall Overcome - Pete Seeger

Today’s assembly, a quote from Matt Haig: “Knowledge is finite, but wonder is infinite.” I like that.

My phone thinks I’m walking the Appalachian train and has an app to check my progress. Lads, I’m here to tell you that Maine is huuuge. Don’t try to cross it before lunch.

Reverting to the whining schoolboy, with his satchel, and shining morning face, creeping like snail unwillingly to school. I, meanwhile, am trying to stave off the lean and slippered pantaloon.

Goodbye to Romance - Ozzy Osborne (Randy Rhoads on guitar)

The Wire by HAIM

We Were - Keith Urban That Was Us - Kip Moore The White Hare - Seth Lakeman (but please could I date the double bassist?)

And having set ourselves the challenge here, offering possibilities for female guitarists: Velouria - The Pixies Purple Rain - Prince Alone - Heart The Breeders - Do you Love me Now? Plus, based on the video (😂) Robert Palmer - Addicted to Love

I’ve been reminded by this piece - james-handscombe.co.uk/perserveranc... which combines Agard and Rose into a plea for calm that feels as necessary now as it did when I wrote it. If you have an assembly to give this autumn and are looking for inspiration, or are just looking for hope, I offer this

Hedonism. Skunk Anansie.

November Rain - Guns n Roses There's a Light that Never Goes Out - The Smiths With or Without You - U2

Statuesque by Sleeper.

Shining Light by Hatherley-era Ash.

Angie by the Rolling Stones. Also The Feminine Urge by The Last Dinner Party.

It Makes No Dofference - The Band (assuming Robbie Robertson is playing guitar in that one). Silver Springs - Fleetwood Mac

These are the choices you face at every decision point in life. When you get to the end the crocodile god* weighs your liver and determines an afterlife in the style of a Cosmo quiz: Mostly a’s - you get a practical and rugged outdoor heaven Mostly b’s - you get the luxuries you were denied in life

WE ARE ENTERING FALL, AND I WILL SPICE MY HOT CIDER WITH CINNAMON, GINGER, NUTMEG, ALLSPICE, AND CLOVES, MAD WITH POWER AND WEALTH THAT ROYALTY OF CENTURIES PAST WOULD ENVY.

In the car we pass the time by taking turns to choose the next track and have to link it to the previous one by some devious connection. On the last journey, my daughter invented the genre of songs “Love songs for doomed relationships but I would completely date the guitarist” #FridayFive

I’m running INSET today on having high expectations and holding students to them - thinking about what high expectations are effective, and what having them looks like and how one can practically hold students to anything. Reach for the (A) stars* *I take no responsibility for this pun.

I would absolutely watch a TV show that consists entirely of Victoria reading from Paradise Lost.

Family gathering (3 generations) and we’re taking turns to perform. We’ve had Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, Beatles, Joan Baez and Tom Petty on keyboard, trumpet, harmonica and guitar. The kids are alright, you know.

It's utter nonsense to focus on something like 'Operation Raise the Flag.' If people were genuinely patriotic, they would be putting that same energy into cleaning up the streets and contributing to their communities instead of just flying a flag.

The dwarves and elves had been fighting since the “theft” of the Nauglamir. Some really great guys died, so many dead. Not good. But then Trump made a deal, such a good deal, spoke to Morgoth. He wanted to help Trump out - great guy, really strong. So nice, he gave the necklace to Trump.

I think that apart from the Magritte gag (which is rather good), this will be simply perplexing to anyone unfamiliar with Willerby. Which is, to my mind, a good reason to become familiar with Willerby. @welcometowillerby.bsky.social willerby.substack.com/p/a-short-un...

Farage is content with allowing people to be murdered and tortured. I'm not on that side and never will be.

This is very good 🧵

If you turn to your mate in the pub and say “will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?” they will either look at you funny or ask which of your nemeses has got to you today. If the bishop says that to an archdeacon it could be the beginning of constructive dismissal.

32) I don’t care if you write words, drive cabs or own Amazon, if you cheat on your taxes, you’re a thief.

One of the things I live about @welcometowillerby.bsky.social is the occasional flashes of wisdom sprinkled between the strange stories. “Family isn't a noun. It's a verb. It's not what you are, it's what you do. We’re a family. I thought you knew.” Full story: willerby.substack.com/p/the-take-y...

God moving in mysterious ways...

When I was a student I tried to make toasted cheese sandwiches in my room by putting the cheese inside pitta breads and the pittas in the toaster. it never worked quite as I’d hoped. Today I discovered the purpose for which the air fryer was invented. I was born in the wrong decade.

It's A level results day! So this message is going out to all those students getting their results: What are you doing on Bluesky? You're 18 years old! Get back to discord or snapchat or whatever. Let us make our terrible dad jokes in peace.

This beautiful book is rather the worse for wear having accompanied me across the best part of 100miles of Slovenian upland (I feel the author might approve) and waiting for the plane home I’ve just finished it. A lovely little story with an amazing ending.