Brian Withington

End of Days.

The Handmaid’s Talc

Ron Quixote
(Costa Brava edition)

In Cool Blood

Middlestroll

I think the human body has an analogous regenerative trick - apart from the new bits looking progressively older …

Lovely work - making me feel a bit nostalgic about my dim distant Underground years.

Thank you Chris - just wished I’d paused long enough to notice the “Follow all” button …

Well that was another insightful and sobering read. Had me wondering about Johnson’s positioning. Did he embrace Ukraine and belatedly oppose Putin with the same naked opportunism that he grabbed on to Brexit and disparaged the EU? See also the reverse pivot to backing the previously mocked Trump.

That needed saying, and a very well articulated counter to the implied polarising line that “you are either unreservedly with us or incomprehensibly against us”. When did seeking to understand or at least appreciate context and nuance become unacceptable?

A Glen Baxter cartoon of a man improbably floating from a cliff with four small balloons attached by string and a tiny sail strapped to his head. Not recommended as a basis for travel or international trade.

It turned out that Glen Baxter’s fertile absurdist imagination had already captured an image for every twist and turn of the proceedings, and his original captions just adapted themselves to each fresh horror.

I sometimes don’t know how you find the strength and patience to maintain your objectivity, discipline and rigour Chris - but I’m very glad that you do. I used to just adapt Glen Baxter cartoons and naively hope it would simply collapse under the weight of its inherent absurdity …

I went searching for the obligatory (but affectionate) response with a Louis Balfour Jazz Club cutaway “mmmmm nice”, but instead found this old friend from my favourite Crash Test Dummies album. youtu.be/eTeg1txDv8w?...

I gather Johnson (the charlatan’s charlatan) is now opining in the Mail that cutting inheritance tax is some sort of moral imperative in inter-generational fairness! On a par with the dregs of his Telegraph dross for intellectual rigour and (in)sincerity.Levelling up indeed.

Can I cheat with one word and offer Scorsese’s contradictory classic GoodSpellas?
“You think I’m funny?”

He was very impressive indeed, and spoke with such obvious authority. Such a shame he was confined to five minutes at the end of a late night show, but credit to Peston for at least inviting him. It would of course have been even better for him to have been interviewed before the political vacuity!

It’s so disappointing that most media/political focus is on confected almost semantical distinctions between politicians which ignore the practical experience of those who really know what is needed, which would then place focus on willingness of IDF to communicate effectively with agencies.

Any good? I’m wistfully recalling student life visits to The Penultimate Picture Palace down the Cowley Road in Oxford.

I felt at time that Stokes should be focussed on his knee and the Tests in India. Reinforced the impression of an aging team trying to reprise 2019 without the building blocks and prep. He may yet go on and win this one but clearly unfit and rusty although as ever not for want of effort on his part.

Peter Mandelson (fellow guest) was noticeably hanging on his every word as he articulated his perspective most impressively, and clearly with benefit of hard won painful experience. (60 UN workers already lost apparently at time of broadcast.)

On Peston, Sir Mark Lowcock (former UN Head of Humanitarian Affairs) implied that ceasefire vs pause debate rather missing the point. He cited Yemen experience and stressed need for daily dialogue between aid agencies and IDF to ensure clarity about where and when the convoys and clinics would be.

Defeat AND debacle looking like a good double. Great win for Pakistan elsewhere which has really opened up the race for the fourth spot.

Give me time Peter 😉- I’m trying to work my way around whilst keeping a jinxing eye on the cricket!

Do you see Ravindra’s innings (again)? Wonderful player. I wonder if he fancies summering in Chelmsford now that a spot has opened up?

I aim to please …

Love this track, too. I went with Goodbye Girl because of my favourite chorus line
“Sunlight on the lino
Waking me with a shake”

Thank you! Good distraction from the Smith/Labuschagne inevitability…

Listen to Squeeze on streaming at: https://ffm.bio/squeezeofficialVisit the Official Website and Store: https://www.squeezeofficial.comFollow Squeeze on:http... Squeeze - Goodbye Girl (Live at Liverpool Philharmonic, 2019)

Good call. See also Squeeze? youtu.be/5r-3RhIDpGA?...