Ben Vulliamy

I loved Finish thriller Bordertown series 1 and 2 and just finished series 3. Even bleaker than those before with all the major characters broken and perhaps the only mentally strong character the wife who dies in a really moving episode 1. Highly recommended viewing. 9/10

Update; now on a train where I’m stood with 8 other people and a dog in the vestibule. Rather hoping I might be able to grab a seat at some stage in the next 3 hours.

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Imagine arriving at the station to find the dreaded words ‘rail replacement bus service’. Grim.

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Ipswich town ready to go on a run now. Took a while but there’s plenty of time left for action this season.

Breaking the away games ho-do in style ITFC now enjoying themselves banging in 4 away. Great to see Nunez get on the score sheet (twice) and perhaps this is a key turning point for Ipswich?

Agree. This is the 1st of all the rumours over the years that’s worried me. I didn’t see him being tempted by Man UTD’s, West Ham, Chelsea etc but Celtic I imagine could be attractive. He’ll know he can make an impact there but also because he may feel now’s a good time for him to leave ITFC.

I never went to university but I’d love to do a mad PhD ‘I always thought students spent three years getting stoned, lying that they were into jazz — then got their parents’ mates to give them a job’

Good fun to read a humorous critique of the (perennial) attack on the quality of HE albeit it’s unfair in implying students are seeking a way to be well funded and have an easy life in the final line or 2.

www.thetimes.com/article/09da...

The weekends foreign language TV series thriller was Dutch Incognito. Slick, modern, sometimes working to hard to be clever but with a decent plot line and some likable characters (as well as some enjoyably unlikable characters). A few too many cliches let it down. 6/10

Went to see Mr Swallow this evening. Very good fun.

Not a storming win but ITFC looked more patient & disciplined today. My brother (not an ITFC fan but a big football fan) said ITFC are team with some really good championship players who need to stop thinking they are premier players so they can play at their level. He’s bang on.

Took a while but super Jack Clarke arrives. DO NOt BLOW THIS ITFC

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I’m a natural optimist and also someone fairly patient about building success but I’m struggling to muster up much hope for today’s ITFC match.

a man in a brown suit and glasses is sitting in a chair and smiling . ALT: a man in a brown suit and glasses is sitting in a chair and smiling .

After the early 1/2 episodes of intense sweats, visible side glances etc Alan Carr is now completely smashing the Traitors. His tactics and game play is A+++ and his screen charisma equally strong:

Brighter mornings with coffee in bed for half an hour before I have to get up.

The end of hair growing in my ears which make me look like an old man who shares genes with the yeti.

A hug from Nicholas Mohammed that didn’t feel weird but was nice & mutually affectionate.

Thanks.

My Christmas list:

About 10kg less fat in my stomach but with the same amount of bacon in my life.

Avocados on the avocado tree I grew. They’d be nice with poached eggs + I could sell them for loads since they are of a similar value to pure gold.

A decent wifi signal on LNER trains and free nuts.

Can regulation cope with a unified tertiary system in Wales? As Wales moves toward a single regulatory framework for its entire tertiary sector, Jim Dickinson explores whether Medr's revisions signal true simplification or simply better-organised bureaucracy As...

Proposals from Medr on a single regulatory framework for tertiary education are interesting. The piece from @jimdickinson.bsky.social asks ‘whether Medr's revisions signal true simplification or simply better-organised bureaucracy’ and to be honest I’d take either. wonkhe.com/blogs/can-re...

UK weather: Storm Benjamin forecast to unleash heavy rain and strong winds With weather warnings issued as Storm Benjamin develops close to the UK, Simon King takes a look at the forecast.

Stormy Benjamin in the house!

www.bbc.co.uk/weather/arti...

Half decent first half. God awful second half.

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Akpom looking well up for this game. Surely his first ITFC goal is coming.

Completed Finish / Swedish noir series Codename: Annika. Very modern and stylish. Undercover cop trying to smash an art dealer involved in money laundering while dealing with her own trauma around the loss of her mother. Double crosses, love triangles, twists & turns. Great stuff. 8/10

Sheffield has Self Esteem.

Welcome to Self Esteem live day!

Agree. I don’t think we are far away from where we should be. Erase a few too many silly mistakes and take a fraction more of the chances of e create and we would be flying.

Shame that for ITFC but Boro were better and kept their cool to win this.

We weren’t terrible though. Playing a good team on their turf. If the penalty had gone in then it could have been very different.

Cajuste getting better every game fro ITFC as he gains fitness and confidence. He’s absurdly good for this level.

I’d be pleased with a draw tonight, a win would be HUGE.

I really like the idea that a condition of practicing free speech ‘even if it might be offensive’ is that you question your own opinions as well as state them when you demand the right to do so. This is beautifully explained here by Tim Minchin

Good luck to England in this evenings football qualifier. Enjoy the half time Balsam.

Took my Mum to Scampston walled gardens as a birthday gift. The autumnal colours, warm sunshine, delicious scones and the best of company made it a perfect end to the week.

Latest series complete is Start Over. French, supernatural time travelling thriller love story. In many ways very silly but actually some good characters (Cedric is adorable as is his chicken McFly) and good sub plots. Easy, enjoyable, fun and worth a look. 7/10

Lovely meal out with the fam-i-lam. Great company and great food.