Paul Smith

Just had to verify my bloody age. Cheek. Book sounds good. I’ll certainly buy a copy.

Was only thinking about you yesterday - particularly wondering if your book was making progress. I’m fine. The cancer remains under control and I’ve found a way to lessen side-effects (fast 3 days per week). Am 70 in March, so am fair game for any nonsense going, I guess. You ok?

@elizabethalker.bsky.social

Just finished your book and streamed a lot of the music you reference. You have increased and broadened my enjoyment of music no end. Thank you.

Ozzy Osbourne dies aged 76 weeks after touching final Black Sabbath show ROCK legend Ozzy Osbourne has tragically died at the age of 76. It comes just weeks after the Black Sabbath star took to the stage one final time with his band mates at Villa Park in Birmingham. He…

www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz...

R.I P Ozzy Osborne

Orgreave has been a running sore for too long. “The SYP - a grand bunch of lads.” See also ‘Hillsborough’.)

Government launches Orgreave inquiry, 40 years after clashes at miners’ strike Move follows decades of campaigning over violent policing and collapsed prosecutions at South Yorkshire coking plant

About bloody time.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

What we learned yesterday.

The Times They Are a-Changin'

“4am in the morning…”.

Mike Oldfield - ‘Moonlight Shadow’.

One of my favourite poems set by one of my favourite composers. And performed beautifully.

Not a binary choice.

REPORTER: Can you explain more of the decision making on what feels like a reversal here?

BESSENT: No

I didn’t think it was possible for me to feel any more contempt for Trump. But here we are. The French word is, I think, ‘branleur’.

It’s like learning a language; you always feel you can do it better. My missus went to a French university and is thought to be French by other French speakers, but she says her French is merde. I suppose Barenboim thinks he can’t play piano.

I took up piano on retirement. Chorister and guitarist (never the two together) all my life, near enough. Classical piano always appealed. Time, though. My current piano book says ‘Advanced Intermediate’, which flatters somewhat. Let me know when the book’s out.

Still ticking. I’ve weaned myself off social media - but (as you see) can be persuaded back. I am applying myself more assiduously to the piano. How’s the book coming on?

I can’t see a second series.

@henrycporter.bsky.social

Just finished ‘The Enigma Girl’ - pretty much at a sitting. Loved it - gripping and humane and intelligent. Thank you very much indeed.

“I am sorry my Vrbo property is full of sex toys, it’s because the police shot my dog” is now the king of all excuses

Finally made it over here as sick of my birding twitter being full of Reform UK! Please feel free to re...post (?) this so I can find some fellow Bristol/SW birders 👍👍

London's cocaine market is now worth an estimated Elbn a year after new tests revealed people in the capital are taking an average of 23kg of the Class A drug every day.

Roses are red
Violets are gay

Takes a few seconds to vote. No need to tick boxes or add emails

The tradition of Radio 3 broadcasting the New Year’s Day concert from Vienna would be more honoured in the breach than the observance.

This is lovely on the subject. Carol Ann Duffy:

www.fulgura.de/sonett/karus...

The similarities between our two countries are superficial; the differences profound.

Butter

Geoff Wheel - another ex-rugby player dies from MND. Two blokes I played alongside, and in the same team, also died from it. One in his 30’s.

I thought ‘Radio 3 Stoned’ might have provided a refuge from the music of John Rutter and similar Christmas schmalz. I was wrong.

Just bought a replacement copy of ‘The Faber Book of Reportage’. It’s 700 pages of the finest factual writing from 400BCE to 1980’s. My previous copy fell apart from over-use. Highly recommend.

Very few writers on ‘The Guardian’ seem to have heard of the subjunctive. Civilisation continues to crumble and I descend into old-gittery. I’ve lived too long.