Sharon O'Connell

Man, ‘Small Prophets’ is charm on a stick - sharp script, perfect pitch, terrific performances all round. Now rationing episodes to make it last. Fave visual gags to date: the bucket-selling denial & the rabbit-shaped oil stain.

Ah, maybe it’s on its way here. I feel reassured.

Midday has passed & it hasn’t rained yet. The apocalypse is clearly upon us.

Reminds me of the time I went to the doctors with tonsillitis & she ran through some routine questions first. When I told her my age - 34 - she said, “well, don’t leave it too late”. Took me a full minute to understand what she meant. All shades of astonishing.

Barging in here to enthusiastically endorse Pilates. (But mat-based, not Reformer machine.)

Am genuinely interested in the psychology of the tipping point: the moment when all these slimy, hold-out hopefuls realise that their lies, denial, deliberate obfuscation & the rest are exhausted & the only recourse is “apology” or resignation. Fatally flawed individuals. A fuqt system. On it goes…

The nature of human consciousness, interiority, selfness - this stuff is eternally mysterious & fascinating. And Michael Pollan - highly qualified, endlessly curious & very much not a crank - presents as a perfect investigator. I’m in.

The newly independent Stealing Sheep were a revelation last night. Playing a kind of ravetastic, dirty, art-pop disco w intimations of Peggy Lee, Kraftwerk, Self Esteem, Laurie Anderson & Sugababes. Their obvious glee was contagious: best thing I’ve seen in yonks.

Brilliant - TK to the Maxx.

So it’s excessive to offer a simple thank you to anyone for providing their service, just because they’re being paid? Jesus. People who treat retail & service workers as if they’re blank ciphers absolutely boil my blood.

This feels weirdly like a personal rebuke from @oxfamgb.bsky.social for never having attempted either. (Side note: that ligature in ‘Infinite’ is making me twitch.)

Could? Gah - pure speculumation.

Dear god. You think Trump reached base level some time ago, yet he continues to astonish & horrify. No words, as we used to say.

He’s especially busy atm.

I think it’s Thor.

“You’re in no position to lecture the public about anything”: the odious Gervais, failing to understand the difference betw lecturing & stating a personal opinion. Or acknowledge the fact that being onstage with a mic, at a globally broadcast event, is obvs the perfect “position”. He should know.

Strong Norfolk Holiday Inn vibes in both decor & dress [Lynn Benfield just out of shot].

A long (& highly engaging) read, as befits the thumping great heft of the novel. Which I haven’t forgotten how to read but rather just forgotten to read, period. Maybe 2026 is the year…

Monstrous but true. If the move was toward full justice, god knows there’s already been ample reason & countless opportunities to make it. Sickeningly clear which way this is going.

Watching ‘Charade’ (1963) for the first time: Audrey Hepburn looking spectacularly stylish throughout in Givenchy.

PSA: Exemplary skronk from Shoji Hano & Derek Bailey, as chosen by Stewart Lee - now in highly entertaining convo with @gillespeterson.bsky.social on 6 Music.

The Muppet Show: this thrilling return is so great I can’t even count how many times I laughed Sabrina Carpenter fangirling Miss Piggy, Beaker losing his eyes … yes, Kermit and co are back for a trip down memory lane – and it’s a perfect, saucy joy

This is such a warm & genuine appreciation of the Muppets’ evergreen magnificence, I’m prepared to sign up to Disney+ to watch it. #Muppetsforever www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

“How do you feel about paying your gas bill?” my supplier has just emailed me. Well, I “feel” that you are a monstrously rapacious energy company exploiting my need for hot water & heating, to maximise shareholder profits. I mean, who the hell comes up with this fatuous comms crap?

Experience: a bear moved into my house I heard this huff, then a stomp. A growl that sounded like a death warning

Sheesh - imagine 250kg of claw, fur & tooth taking up residence in your basement. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Weirdly, I pulled ‘Bring The Noise’ off my bookshelf last week & was wondering what SR’s next book might be about - & when it might land. Good news.

The agony of this woman’s experience in the aftermath of her husband’s senseless murder - dealing with unhelpful bureaucracies in two countries & one foreign language - is unimaginable. I honestly don’t know how anyone survives such a thing, on top of their initial loss. Extraordinarily, she has.

Rofl at “sex hiatus” alone.

Cows! Who knew they were mad for bananas?

Just staggered out of ‘Marty Supreme’, shoulders up around my ears from stress. It’s a ridiculous, smart, brash, hectic dramedy & I loved it. Turns out I do like epics after all (though maybe only with one or both of the Safdies attached). Also: Chalamet a marvel.

I had one cocktail in there, once, just after it opened. (Skylon, that is, not the RFH). Someone else was paying. I v much enjoyed the swank.