The Fence

Issue 26 Is Protecting Albion

Thanks to the AIPS Sport Media Awards for longlisting my @thefence.bsky.social feature In the Shadow of the Mountain.

Issue 26 in W H Smith in Wimbledon. Yes, you read that right.

Hideous Kinky Naughty Naughty Naughty

Dan Beaumont, founder of Dalston Superstore, reports on the capital's sex clubs.

the-fence.com/hideous-kinky/

Now struggling to imagine the Carioca pronunciation of 'Nuneaton'.

Noonee Atorng, maybe

It is!

Issue 26 is in sunny Nuneaton

Issue 26 is in sunny Nuneaton

Off The Fence: More Epstein, Vicar? And we have ten discounted subscriptions available...

Particularly good newsletter here, with unreported details on Paul Tweed, the Northern Irish libel lawyer who advised Epstein.

thefence.substack.com/p/off-the-fe...

He does know a lot about pubs though...

Off The Fence: More Epstein, Vicar? And we have ten discounted subscriptions available...

Have a short piece in off @thefence.bsky.social newsletter today about the appearance of an Irish lawyer (who represented Britney Spears and Gerry Adams) in the Epstein Files

Pretty bonkers segment in this week's newsletter. The fashion world marches to the beat of its own drum!

thefence.substack.com/p/off-the-fe...

We've got 20 per cent off subscriptions for the YEAR. All you need to do is enter code MARCH20 at the check out. Only ten tokens printed!

the-fence.com/shop/

This was my absolute favourite from the last issue. I walk the dog sometimes across the river Wharfe from Heselden's estate near to Boston Spa. I had heard of his unfortunate demise, but had no idea of his amazing life. What a mensch.

The Da Vinci of Halton Moor A man with a future-proofed legacy.

Who was Jimi Heselden? The miner turned multi-millionaire led a truly astonishing life, as Ed Platt writes.

the-fence.com/the-da-vinci...

The Fence Makes Kidz Read Good

I rely on @thefence.bsky.social for this.

The whole article is free to read, all you need to do is sign up.

The Ceremonial Counties of England… Ranked! God’s Own Counties

'23: Norfolk

A deeply overrated place. Takes ages to get there and not that exciting when you arrive. Flat, flinty and feudal. The beach at Holkham is nice but there are beaches elsewhere.'

the-fence.com/the-ceremoni...

All My Friends Are Famous David Gardner, David Beckham’s buddy, recently got engaged to a beautiful model, and it made front-page news in the UK. If I’m being honest, I had never heard of the guy.

'It’s not unlike the relationship with your oldest and most annoying friend, but if you manage it correctly, there is a much larger upside.'

the-fence.com/all-my-frien...

pipeline from @thefence.bsky.social to guardian going strong

Misjudged the lateness of trains back to Newcastle from London after a gig on my second ever visit to the capital in my early 20s. Spent the night fitfully nodding off sat on a pile of newspapers outside Victoria Station while avoiding being arrested/mugged/urinated on. Great gig, though. Worth it.

*cracks knuckles* 2002, alcoholic creepy downstairs neighbour hated me, decided to wage war by playing A Little Less Conversation at full blast in five second bursts throughout the night. Police came and took his stereo. He retaliated by trying to set fire to my flat through the letterbox.

yup this doesn't sound good

We have finally conquered the seven continents... Issue 26 is in Antarctica!

Last call for nominations...

There was a TOTS show in Brighton where all 4 of us plus our driver William had to share a room afterwards. I awoke in the night to hear 4 different snorers going in and out of phase, it was positively Reichian.

Some fantastic nominations so far!

Stayed in a hotel in Mexico in a bit summer. The aircon sounded like someone had thrown a bunch of 2ps into a tumble dryer. The whole night was a repeated cycle of a cold shower, blasting the air con on full and then turning it off and desperately trying to get to sleep before it got too hot again.

Day after the Brexit vote, heading to a Polish wedding. Thunder storms rerouted me from Szczecin to Berlin. I found a hostel but no food, skulled four cans of vending machine Sterni, and was drifting off when my Aussie dormmates returned hammered, turned on the light, and started discussing Farage