First week of clinic training completed for students in the University of Portsmouth General Legal Advice Clinic. Next week they will be advising real clients on real cases.

Porcelain fungi in the Forest of Bere this morning. Old Canon Power shot A460, treatment on my mobile phone with Snapseed.

Listening to the audiobook of The Cut Throat Trial by @barristersecret.bsky.social, I have just finished chapter 15 in which Baxter Wyatt KC f***s up big time in relation to a prosecution witness. Does this kind of thing happen for real? I am very much enjoying, totally engaged with this trial.

Interesting email in spam this morning. Amongst all the usual stuff, an invitation to join the Illuminati and unlock the secrets of power and wealth.

Who is Danny Kruger anyway?

Sue Ellen on telly sharing a stage with Farridge's lot about leaving the ECHR.

Here's an abstract treatment of a photo of Lake Pielinen, Finland, at dusk.

I have just listened again to Tusk, Fleetwood Mac's 1979 follow-up to Rumours. I do not listen to it often, but I always find something new and interesting in it. Stand-out track for me today is the full band bluesy performance of Stevie Nicks' song Sisters of the Moon.

who is Nigel Farridge anyway?

Juvenile blackbird in our raised bed, photographed through the kitchen window.

Do you want to read about the harbinger of blood-soaked rainbows? I love this piece about the mantis shrimp, and come back to it from time to time. theoatmeal.com/comics/manti...

Another wonderful image by @jostephen.bsky.social

I am watching the live feed of the church in Kiruna being moved to its new location. Absolutely enthralling viewing. What an amazing, impressive feat!

What happened to the serious consequences for Russia, Donny?

I am enjoying all the serious replies whenever I ask who is [some has-been useless Tory]

How to get a Nobel Peace Prize, Step 1.

I enjoyed my 2 days on the clearing hotline. Obviously I was not able to offer everyone a place, but I had many good conversations with lovely intelligent young people.

A good first day manning the phones at the clearing hotline. I was so pleased to be told by one young man that I had put a smile on his face after a horrible morning.

Best wishes to all students today, and of course their parents. I'm going in to man the phones for clearing.

Trump just wants the Nobel Peace Prize, doesn't he?

Clearing Training completed this morning. Rehearsal tomorrow, ahead of the main event, taking phone calls from 8.00am Thursday.

This morning I will be undertaking Clearing Training - I will be one of those manning the phones on Thursday and Friday.

Thursday is A Level results day. Best of luck to everyone. But in case it is needed, here is the University of Portsmouth's Clearing Guide for Parents and Caregivers bit.ly/40Wwz7p

Another great Billable Hour t-shirt. I have ordered mine, and you should order yours.

Thank you Sonny. Always a #Spurs legend

We're looking for a Medical Negligence Solicitor to join our team based in London. A successful candidate will have a passion for access to justice, experience of inquests, and claims involving Human Rights Act issues. Find out more and apply now: www.hja.net/careers/curr...

University of Portsmouth Law School graduation yesterday. Every year this is such a joyful occasion, and I am so happy for all these lovely young people as they move on to the next steps in their careers. Photo of Law School staff before going on to the stage for the ceremony.

"Returning the catch" Another photo from our holiday in Finland 🇫🇮

We have just returned from a fabulous fortnight in Finland. I loved the forests, lakes and rivers. And there was a heatwave - 30°C at the Arctic Circle! Here are some photos.

I am experimenting with returning to Bluesky. I have finally deleted Threads, where I have wasted too much time.

Fabulous first line from a ruling by Deputy Master Linwood: "This is an unusual probate claim in that the deceased says she is very much alive." TL;DR - she is. But he found that the person who said he had married her does not exist🤯 caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewhc/ch/2025...

Can someone please help me understand what an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States means. Given the so-called President's actions and utterances, I think I may not understand this properly.

Much needed timeline cleanser youtu.be/2c6qENWh2jQ?...

I don't want to be on ghastly x anymore but it's where a lot of my sales come from so this post is a brazen request for shares to spread the word about my work on a kinder platform that isn't run by a dangerous megalomaniac! www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Sara... #selfemployedartist #ukgifthour #shopindie

@tudway.bsky.social Thank you for connecting. A name from the past, and a different life for both of us.

Reappraising Be Bop Deluxe, some 50 years on... As a teenager in the 70s I loved that band, but all their albums were different in approach, and with that length of hindsight I can't help but feel that Bill Nelson was trying to find his musical voice. (1/2)

Can the UK offer asylum to Fauci?

why is some tv prog called Traitors a news item, BBC?

I am just reminding myself just how good this album is - The Republic of Heaven by The Endless theendless.bandcamp.com/album/the-re...

4 years ago I watched this inspirational young lady. I have just watched it again.

Does anyone know where I go to nominate Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde for Archbishop of Canterbury?

Bishop Budde speaking truth to power - you can watch the key part here.

@felicityhannah.bsky.social I wonder if Money Box has thoughts on this. My mother is having to jump through all sorts of hoops helping her grandchildren buy properties. Different solicitors with different anti money laundering requirements, some quite demanding. 1/2

knives and forks

In the hope of encouraging @lenspencer.bsky.social to write and record an album, I need to say just how good "In the Tide of All We Know" is. I just listened to it again. music.apple.com/ca/album/in-...

One of the less enjoyable aspects of working in a university, but one that is necessary, is invigilating examinations. I can report that yesterday afternoon's experience was uneventful.

Sunrise this morning

Good mandolin lesson this afternoon. I have been set a target for next time (24 Jan) of memorising the tune, rather than reading it, so we can work on technique.

I have just picked up my mandolin for the first time since before Christmas. I surprised myself by playing smoothly the tune that I was struggling with. I had been dreading going back to it, but now I can practice and work on real fluency 😀