Rich Paterson (with one t)

How I arrived on Bluesky

Worth saying that on the very few times a story’s had both - Enlightenment/Witchfinders/Can You Hear Me/Haunting of Villa Diodati - they’ve all been absolute bangers

Title card for Red Dwarf episode Queeg

RIP Rob Grant - in tribute tonight:

Abso-smegging-lutely

YouTube video by sargant The Day Today - Crisis Correspondent Spartacus Mills

youtu.be/IOi7um5PtMY?...

Happy 93rd Birthday to the mighty Yoko Ono.
‘I could have been squashed by that incredible amount of hatred. But then I found a way of transforming it into love.’

IKEA “Sundvik” children’s table

IKEA “Sundvik” children’s table

I have found the Ikea Children’s Table of Fenric

Magnificent

I don’t work from home to be more productive. I do it to be *as* productive, without the faff of having to get in and out of the office. NF hasn’t had a job like I (and I imagine most of the country) have in his life

COLUMBO: My wife, she loves your games. The sunken ghost ship level. It’s her favourite

MARIO: Thank-a you!

C: Just one more thing. Now you say your girlfriend, the Princess, was kidnapped by Bowser, your enemy. And yet you were go-karting with him this morning?

M: What’s-a your point, Detective?

What a difference it makes heading in for Evensong in the daylight

I still think that Starmer is at heart a decent man, but he has made some very, very poor choices as PM

I had such hope at the dawn of this Labour government, after 15 years of Tory godawfulness. But each day is a fresh disappointment, and I weep at the prospect of them handing power to racists and fascists because they chose to try and appease them rather than oppose them

YouTube video by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert "There's Nothing I Enjoy More Than Acting In The Theater" - Ian McKellen EXTENDED INTERVIEW

This is superb. Ian McKellen delivers a blistering pro-immigration monologue written by Shakespeare, that makes you want to punch the air with exhilaration. Wow, wow, wow.

An absolute must-watch. (Starts at 20:10 but the entire interview is a joy.) youtu.be/2l2RqzVG4ag

Justice, fairness, equality, freedom etc, all countries lay claim to those. They're not uniquely British values, they're universal ones...they *should* be universally strived towards.

And trains, we bloody well should have superb trains as a core British value...let's just quietly nick that one.

I always hate the vagueness of "British values." This is what I think core *British* values of today should be: the principles of the NHS; the principles of the BBC; appreciation of the magnificent depth, breadth, and flexibility of the English language, and what it can create.

Alan Rickman in clerical attire in The Barchester Chronicles

I advocate the return of clerical cravats, personally

Possibly my first Next Gen episode, from a video we borrowed from a friend of my mum’s. From memory, when they get back to normal, a famished Geordi gorges himself on bread rolls???

A truly gorgeous cover for Polygon’s new edition of Frankenstein.

Drama on 4 - The Goblin King and Me - BBC Sounds A story about a real-life encounter with David Bowie, marking ten years since his passing.

If you like Bowie, Labyrinth, or just really nice stories, this delightful radio play by @paulmagrs.bsky.social is well worth your time. Extra resonance for those with neurodivergence in their lives

I’d read about the original story, but this was a beautiful retelling - thank you

SCAM ALERT – IMPORTANT

The cat has already been fed.

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, if you’re interested

You are now forced to have the same job as the main character in the last book you read.

What is your job?

BBC News story about Nadhim Zahawi joining Reform UK, illustrated by a picture of a smirking Nigel Farage pointing at Zahawi à la erstwhile Doctor Who producer John Nathan-Turner

JNT fingerpoint

My painting of four actors rehearsing the death scene of Oscar Botcherby. Started in 2024, finished this afternoon. Acrylic and gouache on watercolour paper.

I’ve finished this painting (after getting stuck and leaving it for a year.)

Based on the oddly fascinating photos of James Saxon, @nicolabryant.bsky.social, Carmen Gómez, and
@whofrazer.bsky.social rehearsing for The Two Doctors in 1984.

(First inspired by a comment from @quiteamess.bsky.social.)

“Injured in the line of duty”

Watching the second season of the new All Creatures Great and Small show, and just want to say that I unironically love the The Big Cricket Match trope in English period dramas. Fucken love it.

A photo of two pages from The Wonderful World of Ladybird Books for Grown-Ups by Jason Hazeley and Joel Morris. It shows images of classic Ladybird children’s books which have been given different text. In this case it’s the fairy tale rumplestiltskin, featuring an illustration of the small title character. The book is now titled Jools Holland Hootenany. Text on the other sample pages reads “Coming up now, fresh from their North American tour, the fabulous Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings," said the little man, dancing on the spot No more," cried the princess. "No more music." But the music would not stop. The princess was so very tired that she feared her heart would stop. "No more, please," she begged. But the little man said his magic words again. "Boogie-woogiel" laughed the little man. "Boogie-woogie!" And the music did not stop. The caption reads Stories of Britain's colourful and mysterious rituals were always popular with overseas readers.

Happy New Year’s Eve! Hootenanny!