Saw the trailer for Backrooms and TBH it just looks like that time i got lost trying to find Tape Store Room 3 in the mainframe building that I worked at in 1989.

Not sure how much longer I can justify the expense, both financial and moral, of living in a failing state that insists, again and again, in the face of all evidence to the contrary, that the path to improvement and prosperity lies in accepting the abhorrent views of uneducated, manipulated fools.

Watching "Star City" on Apple TV, the Soviet counterpoint to the "For All Mankind" story. Strong "Chernobyl" vibes in the bleakness and austerity of the settings and soundtrack. Rhys Ifans and Anna Maxwell Martin both excellent as you'd expect.

Perfectly normal for Coventry, I think this is the third or fourth of these since I moved here. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

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I didn't mow my lawn for the whole of May. It was a sea of buttercups and daisies by the middle of the month, and the few weeds (mostly dandelions) were easy to spot and dig out because they'd gotten so large. I removed the heads before they seeded. Absolute bugger to mow, though. 3 hours of effort!

Does anyone know what this is? It's properly invaded my garden and it's a devil to get up cleanly - the root snaps far too easily.

The night the Wembley concert was broadcast I was with my band in a rehearsal studio complex in Birmingham. 20-odd metal bands crowded into the reception area to watch on a tiny, tiny TV above the counter and everyone cried at this performance.

Someone, a human being just like you or I, made this beautiful object.

News from an old friend reminds me once again that my contemporaries and I are in that phase of life known as "sniper alley". Need to make more time and effort to ensure that the last time I see so-and-so isn't already in the past.

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekUforUniform Pilots of Twin Otter G-BVVK during takeoff from Barra, Outer Hebrides

Thinking about an interesting point raised on our trip this week: I know more UK people who've been to Rapa Nui than the Isle of Barra, which seems weird/wrong. I doubt most people in the UK would have even heard of it, or be able to identify where it is. Tourism is a fucking odd thing.

Meanwhile, I'm just lazing about. Post-trip laundry has been on since 8am, I'm in no rush to do anything. Enjoying this Outer Hebridean tale of shipwrecks, enterprise, opportunity and excise men that I picked up in the community shop in Castlebay.

Post-trip morning. Lazy coffees in bed, accompanied by an uncharacteristically clingy Charlie. I think, for the first time in his long life thus far, he might have actually missed me this time. #caturday

I just heard a safety announcement at the airport and, dear reader, I cannot tell you how much I *wish* I could just leave my baggage unattended and have it destroyed.

Absolutely this:

Starting a mini-adventure thread that I'll add to over the coming week. Here's my luggage, all packed and ready to go. I can't say *where to* yet; you'll see why in subsequent posts, so stay tuned and watch the story unfold.

“Think back to your childhood. Do you remember when the anxiety started?”

Yeah, I mean, continue doomscrolling by all means... but consider this first: Aren't oranges *amazing*?

A pair of photos for this week's challenge, measuring time by the rotation of the planet. Midsummer sunset in Aberystwyth, sunrise in Southwold, punctuated by one long drive through the night to race the sun. 7 hours between photos. #WeekTforTime #AlphabetChallenge

By my reckoning, I own 7 rucksacks/backpacks of varying sizes and designs, 4 tents, 3 sleeping bags, 3 stoves, 3 waterproof jackets, 3 tarps, 4 pairs of boots/trail shoes and a small shop's worth of accessories and gadgets. I think I might have a problem.

The sun through the leaves.

post your getaway vehicle

Front seat, top deck is for pretending to drive the bus ONLY. No other activity is permitted. Yes, I'm 57 years old and yes, I regularly do this. Come at me.

On our third attempt this year, we found the topiary garden at Packwood House to be open! In one form or another, this collection of sculpted yew trees has been here since the 1600s

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekSforSongs Turned to Stone (Electric Light Orchestra)

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekSforSongs Secret Messages (Electric Light Orchestra)

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekSforSongs Electricity (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)

Duran were such a different band live. The same songs that were pop on the radio were rock anthems on the stage.

Ah, John Peel, you wonderfully po-faced genius. #totp

Just feel that I should point out, to anyone watching who wasn't around at the time: this 1984 chart stuffed full of absolute treasure was a PERFECTLY NORMAL MUSIC WEEK in the 80s, and wasn't even amongst the best charts of the decade. #totp

Banger Not sure about the fan-dancing, tho #totp

Big hair - check Shoulder pads - check 80s episodes are the best #totp

Much as I love #totp, I always feel sad for the poor soul at BBC4 who has to make sure Savile isn't present in any of the clips.

Fortean edition: - Quicksand - Alien abduction - Spontaneous human combustion - Mothman

Late dinner of sausage egg and chips. You can take the boy out of the estate, etc.

If the PM has to go, then he should... but commit us to rejoining the EU as his last act, 'cos fuck the haters why not? Literally nothing to lose.

Spent today exercising our National Trust membership at Charlecote Park, Warwickshire.

Nordfjorden, Norway #AlphabetChallenge #WeekRforReflections

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekRforReflections Llandudno by night. Volume up to hear the sea.

Spent the morning helping Lizzy in her garden, then shopping for bits and pieces for Lizzy's Secret Birthday Getaway That I Could Tell You About But Then I'd Have To Kill You. Now recovering in The Old Windmill with a pint'o'Porter

Post a better subject for a biopic named "Michael". #BetterMichaelFilms

You have to remember that if this barrel of shites say that "they're vetting for abhorrent behaviour", they mean it - just not in the way that anyone sane would want.

Well, I know what my soundtrack for the summer is going to be.

Ironically, the internet was far more social before social media arrived.

Went to the cinema with the teen yesterday to see the reissued Akira. What a fine movie to see on the big screen.

Both measures - burning shitloads of tokens / high rework rates - are indicative of poor adoption, inadequate setup, probably a shop with poor standards/practices to start off with, and (likely) high levels of change-pressure from other areas of the business. Neither metric actually MEANS anything.

Everyone who started knee-jerk-frothing about AI code assistance and "lazy devs" needs to go have a word with themselves. Good job, Bluesky Team.

Yes, my stance has changed since this post; someone built a tool that was actually fit-for-purpose and enhances the job rather than threatens it, so I adapted my view. Firing your devs is still a mince-thick move, though. In summary: managers are still the problem.

Worth mentioning: NatureHike (a budget-friendly outdoors brand from China) make a *very robust tent indeed*. This photo is from AFTER I dug the tent out - it was mostly half-buried when I woke up. It shed the snow well and didn't deform where the snow drifted. This is their CloudUp 2 model.