mattypenny

‘This is not Winston Churchill we’re dealing with’: Trump ramps up row with Starmer over Iran war involvement

It’s not FDR that we’re dealing with, sadly.

Crucial Track for 02 March 2026: "Irish Pub Song" by The High Kings

Today's prompt: A song that reminds you of one of your favorite places. #CrucialTracks

https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/mattypenny/20260302

Arsenal seem to be fantastic at cheating at corners

⚽ #ChelseaFC #cfc

Ruddy Arsenal

@stuffbymark.bsky.social
#Pogues #ShaneMacGowan 🍀

I have only just twigged that all of Yes Minister is on the BBC iPlayer

This will make my lunchtimes more chucklesome

Jim Hacker is the only Prime Minister to have studied at the college I went to

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/e…

One of the things I like about by-elections is discovering new places names. ‘Gorton’, ‘Denton’, and on the telly this morning, ‘Longsight’. All very good.

Shame my side lost though

It looks like Spring is almost sprung in Vicky Park

A colorful music album cover features a portrait of Elvis Presley, advertising Les 40 Plus Grands Succès with several popular song titles listed.

I heard a good new-to-me made-up word this morning (although aren’t all words are made-up?)

fauxstalgia - nostalgia for something you never experienced in the first place

The Rest is Entertainment

My Crucial Track for 23 February 2026 - “Red Right Hand (2011 Remaster)” by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
What’s a song that grew on you over time?

“Red Right Hand (2011 Remaster)” by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

This gives me... https://mattypenny.micro.blog/2026/02/23/my-crucial-track-for-february.html

My Crucial Track for 22 February 2026 - “If It Wasn’t for the Nights” by ABBA
What’s your favorite deep cut from an album?

“If It Wasn’t for the Nights” by ABBA

A jaunty tune with a bleak-as-a-northern-winter lyric

“If It Wasn’t for the Nights” by ABBA on Apple Music

A whimsical and exaggerated newspaper cover features a large poodle with a prominent human face, alongside humorous text and images, including figures resembling public figures.

Childish from the Daily Star….but I can’t help smiling

Particularly at the description “wingnut manbaby”

My Crucial Track for 21 February 2026 - “Zobi la mouche” by Les Négresses Vertes
What song makes you feel like you’re in a different country?

“Zobi la mouche” by Les Négresses Vertes

I went to see this band at what used... https://mattypenny.micro.blog/2026/02/21/my-crucial-track-for-february.html

I'm old enough to remember when you'd expect Chelsea to hold onto a lead. To a promoted side. At home.

Still....win or lose, up the Blues!

⚽ #ChelseaFC #cfc

KFC, Nando's, and others ditch chicken welfare pledge as demand soars Wingstop, Burger King, and others have walked away from an industry commitment to avoid using fast-growing chickens

Not that I eat an any of these but this is very disappointing - www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Crucial Track for 20 February 2026: "Blue Moon of Kentucky" by Elvis Presley

Today's prompt: Share a song you feel was ahead of its time. #CrucialTracks

https://app.crucialtracks.org/profile/mattypenny/20260220

I’ve moved away from database-y stuff over the last couple of years, but I’ve been fiddling about with a point-in-time restore this morning, and I’ve been reminded how good dbatools is.

It seems to have grown a viking helmet since I last used it :)

dbatools | SQL Server automation with PowerShell

Crucial Track for 19 February 2026: "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter

_What’s the last song you discovered and loved instantly?_

I like the line "I'm working late...because I'm a singer" #CrucialTracks

https://app.crucialtracks.org/profile/mattypenny/20260219

Crucial Track for 17 February 2026: "The Wind Doesn't Blow This Far Right" by Lisa O'Neill

Today's prompt: How do you discover new music, and what’s the latest gem you’ve found? #CrucialTracks

https://app.crucialtracks.org/profile/mattypenny/20260217

Eden Hazard: ‘I’m more of a taxi driver than a football player now, but it’s OK’ The former Chelsea and Real Madrid idol wants nothing more than to be remembered as ‘a good player and a funny guy’ after a vintage career of league titles, European triumphs and spats with José Mouri...

"But what about his favourite goal? “Maybe the one against Tottenham,”....That goal didn’t just secure a 2-2 draw, it effectively ended Spurs’ title hopes and handed the trophy to Claudio Ranieri’"

One of my favourites, too 😀​

www.theguardian.com/football/202...

⚽ #ChelseaFC #cfc ​

YouTube video by Content Without Context Northerner terrifies Londoners by saying "Hello"

It's like the Mash Report sketch on the Northerner who terrified Londoners by saying "Hello".
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT0a...

A bit about my old school and William Golding.

Golding was a bit before my time, but we ‘did’ Lord of the Flies with a teacher called Mr Gammon, who we all called ‘Piggy’

BBC News - How teaching inspired Lord of the Flies author

From Brontë to Ballard, Orwell to Okri: the best songs inspired by literature – ranked! As Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights gets a boost from a new film adaptation, we survey the surprising, seditious and sensual ways in which prose has influenced pop

www.theguardian.com/music/2026/f... ) ​

A portrait of a woman holding a red lily is set against a vibrant sunset background, alongside the words Clouds Joni Mitchell.

This is fun…I know some of the songs, and some of the books, but apart from the Jefferson Airplane and the Joy Division, I wouldn’t of linked any of them

From Brontë to Ballard, Orwell to Okri: the best songs inspired by literature – ranked!

Crucial Track for 12 February 2026: "Rain" by The Cult

Today's prompt: What song do you associate with the current season? #CrucialTracks

https://app.crucialtracks.org/profile/mattypenny/20260212

Two men face off against a tropical backdrop, with the text SAIPAN prominently displayed between them.

Thoughts on 'Saipan'. The TLDR is football nerds should go and see it: https://mattypenny.micro.blog/2026/02/11/thoughts-on-saipan-the-tldr.html

Crucial Track for 11 February 2026: "First Time Ever (Live)" by Christy Moore

Today's prompt: What’s your favorite love song, and why? #CrucialTracks

https://app.crucialtracks.org/profile/mattypenny/20260211

Crucial Track for 10 February 2026: "Woman In Love" by Barbra Streisand

Today's prompt: What’s a guilty pleasure song?

From the 'Guilty' LP

#CrucialTracks

https://app.crucialtracks.org/profile/mattypenny/20260210

Crucial Track for 09 February 2026: "Don't Falter (with Lauren Laverne)" by Mint Royale

Today's prompt: What’s a song you’ve had on repeat recently? #CrucialTracks

https://app.crucialtracks.org/profile/mattypenny/20260209

The weather is still rubbish here in the Shire.

But it feels like it’s rubbish Spring weather, rather than rubbish Winter weather, so that’s good.