I am not the only person who heard the eurostar train manager say 'be careful to take all your belongings to the Brexit, I mean exit'.

Is there anyone nerdy enough to know what I mean if I say 'I was in Brussels Midi Eurostar lounge and didn't have time to visit Harrow on The Heap'?

I'm in a station franchise and they're tuned to a station enjoying an 80s playlist: Howard Jones, ABC and Tears for Fears amongst the treats.

I've been discovering the work of Eugene Jansson while passing through Stockholm. His later work is largely huge studies of male nudes doing gym etc. The official writing in English is all very 'nothing is known of Jansson's private life and it would be wrong to conjecture'. Mate, honestly.

Books about books! This one looks great but I can't agree with @iammilliam.bsky.social that they are always the best .. been given too many that are either basically anthologies or undigested notes from a phd thesis. Love to hear anyone else's favourites though.

Tallinn's Depeche Mode themed bar never seems to be open but it's been open for 20+ years so must be doing something right.

Played English scrabble with Estonians. I was clearly at an advantage but .. the rules! Only infinitive forms of verbs allowed (go but not went), you can reuse value-enhancing squares if you add to a word, and you can't count twice if you make two wordss.

Finished my last book of the year, 61, up on last year's 45. Two five star reads on Storygraph: Ashes to Admin by Evie King (aka @christinamartin.bsky.social ) and You Could Do Something Amazing with your Life (*You are Raoul Moat) by Andrew Hickey. Thanks very much for everyone's suggestions!

As we experience a huge surge of flu cases, a reminder that the widespread usage of masks at the start of the COVID pandemic wiped out a strain of the flu. If you haven’t been masking up lately, now would be a great time to restart.

I don't want to sound heartless, but I'm really impressed that some of these people lasted as long as they did.

If it's the one I just finished, I'm either a carpenter or the caretaker of a seed bank on a sub-antarctic island. If it's what I'm reading now, I'm a Soviet spy in early 1970s London.

If you ever go to Tallinn, do go to Rocco al Mare, the open air museum. It is especially magical in the snow.

Your local librarian here to say that it’s great if you read lots of books this year, alright if you read barely anything, that audiobooks, romance and graphic novels are all valid formats and genres, and that some authors suck but we’re still not stopping you from reading them.

Honestly, Hamburg, it wasn't that bad.

Kudos to this Baltic ferry restaurant. My server cleared a table so I could sit by a window although I'm on my own. Seasonal lights mean you see a lot of the archipelago.

Well there's a thing.

Have to give DB credit. Both my trains on time (as was Eurostar). Night train (run by SJ/EN) left Berlin 1 minute late, but definitely running. Still lots that could go wrong, but looking good. (Incidentally, not worried about tomorrow's ferry, those ladies cross the Baltic in anything)

I was the only person I could see removing a belt to go through security (I put it back on waiting for my cuppa in pret). Does everyone else have trousers that fit?

No fingerprinting for me today at St P. I was through all the queues, even the Pret one, in 20 minutes.

I was reminded today that there's a place in Germany designated Hamm (West). To distinguish it from a Hamm not in Westfalen, presumably.

Boxing Day away at Peterborough is unfortunate. Good luck to everyone who caught the supporters' bus. Could be much further North of course! #ComeOnYouOs

OMG I'm on one of those buses that announces random destinations every few seconds.

And here is (most of) the final product.

Come on guys, no picture of the composer?

Making brownies for Mr S (and whoever is working over Christmas). This is the butter and chocolate for half the recipe from ... guess who?

It's a bit late for me to make this observation, but I was very touched to be asked for Christmas this year by some friends. I thought they would probably say yes if I asked them, but it meant a lot that they asked me. I know lots of people prefer Christmas on their own, but I'm not one of them.

theguyliner.substack.com/p/the-truth-... this is FABULOUS! Thanks @theguyliner.bsky.social

FOI teams I've been involved in are a) super-aware that over-redacting leads to internal reviews b) never to do the black highlighter thing - but not every public authority gives the same resource to it. So a good warning here.

Classic 'off someone else's desk, now it's on mine' last day task. But it would be nice to settle this one.

Lugging home just as much stuff although to be fair one of my friends is already reading the book I got her.

Next year I'm giving silk handkerchiefs. What possessed me to lug 3 bottles of spirits and 3 hardback books into town?

Big news from the chemist. They're rationing Prozac.

My toaster caught fire on Thursday and stopped working (after 11 years). New one ordered but I really miss toast!

FFS @theguardian.com If I subscribe, surely I have a right to reject cookies. Even if I wanted to pay an extra £60 a year, it's set up that I'd have to open a new account. Seriously considering unsubscribing altogether.

Watching a CDWM. Franco-Caribbean man calls a bloke called Philip 'Patrick'. That's a very funny 'sorry Ranjeet, called you Rajiv' SorryNotSorry mistake.

I couldn't get the book I wanted for one friend because it turned out to be, er, academically priced. But I am really excited about the very much not academic book I got him instead. He'll open under tree so a few days to wait for the reaction.

Just a G&T but one I am very much enjoying on a Saturday night in. Recovering from a busy Thursday and preparing for the next few days. #ConfinedCocktails

Crazy insights! This year on Bluesky I wrote 628 posts and 1,794 replies. I received 5,871 likes, whereas 381 was from my most popular post, and apparently I love saying "its" and 🍳! www.madebyolof.com/bluesky-wrap...

I'm in work on Monday and Tuesday but this weekend is going to be very quiet. I may not even be seeing Mr S as his home is currently on lockdown with RSV. If I'm up to it, Nine Lessons and Carols on Sunday night.

Three Harks in a single evening! And then the pub played Mariah. #CarolSinging #HarkHunter

Hadn't occurred to me that a brass/ silver band could be called 'Metall' in German, but makes sense.

Was about to point out this would make an excellent present for me then I remembered I got a book token for my birthday.

There are 3 things I'm good at: choosing books for people, classification, and making pastry. I've been able to do all three this December.

Late to the game sharing this: Stage 1 of #CALC26 CfP is out and we're accepting submissions The Critical Approaches to Libraries Conference is for anyone with research, projects, perspectives on all things using critical practice in libraries and information studies sites.google.com/view/calccon...

Draft Guidance on Toilets and Changing Rooms OUT for consultation. No, not THAT guidance - but mine. I got fed up with waiting for this government to get on with the guidance that’s really needed especially after the Kelly and Peggy cases. translucent.org.uk/toilets-chan...

Ah the smugness of lying in bed hearing Bins (in Black Bin Week, no less) when I sorted it all last night, including the cat litter.

This is *well* worth reading all 3/3

Surprise urgent task: create a taxonomy. This is me in my happy place and not something I often get to do.

I was going to catch up on Christmas Around Europe tonight but this is unmissable. Dona Nobis Pacem is beautiful, normally sung on remembrance Sunday, and maybe remembering people who have died is appropriate today. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Had a sudden fear that today might be my last Hark! Then I remembered I'm carol singing on Thursday: weird numbers of people in parts, unaccompanied, unrehearsed, and I jump from harmony to descant. But it still counts! #HarkHunter