Clair G

Fears of Dry January might be exaggerated We heard and observed a few things that led us to believe January was pretty busy for UK pubs, despite expectations to the contrary.

BLOG POST: “One publican told us that not only had January been hectic but that they were now struggling to source cask ale because so many breweries they usually deal with had... reduced the amount they brewed in anticipation of a slump that didn't come.”

boakandbailey.com/2026/02/fear...

Sonia Bompastor has to do without almost an entire starting XI 🤕

But… but is there *ANY* way this could be a woman’s fault…?

A mound of assorted bits on sticks stuck to something to create a hedgehog of sorts.

In the Smithfield in Derby, wondering why pub hedgehogs aren't a thing.

From Chelsea to Chatham: In search of the magic of the FA Cup - The Halfway Line This weekend, Barclays Women's Super League sides entered the most historic competition in England the Adobe Women's FA Cup.

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐦: 𝐈𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐀 𝐂𝐮𝐩

On the lookout for some pre FA Cup fifth round draw reading? We've got you covered!

#AdobeWomensFACup
thehalfwayline.com/2026/01/19/f...

a woman dancing in front of a sign that says " no mercy " Alt: Ria in Polite Society dancing to distract her enemies; text overlaid says " no mercy "

Polite Society is on Film4, Wednesday night at 9pm and I'd hugely recommend it: teenage would-be stuntwoman plots to stop her older sister's wedding, having decided the bridegroom is secretly evil.
Enormous fun - this was my NYE film a couple of years ago.

With some of the recent incoming transfers to the WSL, Sweden 🇸🇪 has now the most players from outside of England. 🔢📊

There are now at least 365 UK MPs with accounts on Bluesky – more than half (56%) of all MPs

🔴 This includes nearly 70% of Labour MPs
🔶 Nearly 90% of Lib Dem MPs
🟢 All the 4 Green MPs

🔵 But only 5% of Conservative MPs
➡️ No Reform MPs

Bayern München have announced the departure of England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 international Georgia Stanway. She was last linked to Arsenal.

Long but very important article

pluralistic.net/2026/01/01/3...

LOVE this!

A short thread on The Death of Pubs inspired by that post from @steveuntilnextyear.bsky.social

1. One of our early blog posts, back in 2009, was about *why* people stopped going to the pub

boakandbailey.com/2009/03/pubs...

“Working class homes are nicer now than they were in the 60s and 70s...”

'Thanks for calling. Did you know, on our website...' YES I HAVE TRIED YOUR WEBSITE BECAUSE IT IS THE 21ST CENTURY, BUT YOU SEE, YOUR WEBSITE IS A LOAD OF OLD SHIT, SO I AM CALLING IN THE - I ADMIT, FAINT - HOPE OF INTERACTING WITH A FUCKING HUMAN BEING

A planned US takeover of critical infrastructure in the Netherlands raises troubling questions for all of us in Europe and the UK.

open.substack.com/pub/georgina...

Hey Bluesky, send us your best ducks

(Happy #InternationalUnsolicitedDuckPicDay to all who celebrate)

We are looking for girls aged 12-18 who want to have their voices heard regarding parks. We are creating a video and would love them to be part of it. Find out more:
www.makespaceforgirls.co.uk/blog/be-part...

We are looking at a giant bronze sculpture of a Terrys Chocolate Orange. It has been ‘tapped’ and ‘unwrapped’ with some segments ready to be eaten. If it was indeed edible, which it is not sadly.

We thought better of licking this giant chocolate orange as we thought in these chilly conditions our tongue might get stuck to it…

…not because it’s bronze and therefore inedible.

The Guardian Footballer of the Year Jess Carter: ‘I remember not wanting to go out’ The England defender publicly confronted racist abuse at the Euros and ended 2025 a title winner with club and country

Sat down with the Guardian football of the year 2025, Jess Carter, for this wonderful and insightful interview. Brilliant player, brilliant person, remarkable year on and off the pitch. It could have easily been quadruple the length.

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

Saw Bluesky described as where elder millennials go to retire from the internet, and immediately felt the peace that passes all understanding wash over me. None of have to struggle any longer. We completed our time.

A five by five bingo card, here are the things to look out for: Top row: 80's bed linen, obscure musical instrument, bed too small for over 6ft person, CRT TV/Monitor, tumble dryer Second row: exercise bike (as clothes horse), DALEK, 90s or earlier games console, too much crafting stuff, single beds for long term partners Middle row: old cuddly toy, bed on tiles/lino, DUVET, multiple labubus, bare plaster board Fourth row: bed next to fridge, 4+ Jilly Cooper novels, definitely dead house plant, caravan, large collection of jigsaws Bottom row: giant buzz ball, "curtains" that are not curtains, scary dolls, bed under table, power tools.

My #DuvetKnowItsChristmas bingo card from @carsmilesteve.bsky.social
Will go from square 1 (top left)

Dark attic room with stone walls, cardboard on floor with single mattress & antique coffee table (random)

I’m entering The Teenager as potential winner of #Duvetknowitschristmas

He’s had to move from his bedroom to the unconverted attic

Cardboard floor & headboard is a nice touch which I’m sure he appreciates

He think it looks like he’s living in a meth den
#DuvetKnowItsChristmas

My sleeping arrangements at my brother’s over Christmas - double airbed and duvet combo squeezed into a small home office. Surrounded by office furniture, a music stand, an acoustic guitar and various other random items

Brother and sister in law have invited both families and thus I have been relegated to this classic #DuvetKnowItsChristmas arrangement in their downstairs office/music practise room. Had to lobby to get a lamp 😂

Suuuuch a strange decision

We are looking at the river Ouse which is slightly high and over spilling its banks. The sky is a blaze of red, orange, coral pink, lilac and blue, it reflects onto the river whilst the buildings on the banks are silhouetted against the sky.

Good morning from York and its majestic sky!

Stealworkers

Panetonne! Curated gins! Pig snouts! It’s that time of year again, the Observer bumper guide to Independent Shopping in Greater Kennington! kenningtonrunoff.com

What it takes to save a community lifeline 'I think they just thought we’d calm down and do a petition'

manchestermill.co.uk/what-it-take...

Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era | The Local A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.

thelocal.to/investigatin...

Fascinating article and makes me even more determined to support pubkications that put in the hard graft to ensure this isnt happening (although I appreciate it must be tricky)

Hi, I'm Amy! ✨

⛩️ I wrote a Japan guide book: cakeswithfaces.co.uk/product/japa...

🍣 Here are my Japan travel videos on YouTube: www.youtube.com/cakeswithfaces

🍡 I also design gifts & clothing, inspired by Japan and kawaii style: www.cakeswithfaces.co.uk