Jeremy P

Exactly

Exactly.

In that case perhaps you should stop trying and move on. The one I don’t get on with is A PIace of Greater Safety. I wanted to enjoy it but just ran out of steam. I too though loved Beyond Black, and there are lots of other fab books out there.

I too struggled and read it through on the third attempt. Having done so I think it’s one of the best books I ever read. Not a wasted word. Sometimes I think you have to let it wash over you (as per Shakespeare) rather than trying to get every nuance. It all comes together in the end

It is fab. Almost overwhelming in its scope, but there is amazing stuff from every era. My personal favourites (in age order) were his very early paintings, California, and the Normandy iPad works.

Make too that you go right to the top of the building. Terraces outdoors on many levels

Absolutely. It’s easy altruism and, as you say, is paying forward unconditionally for whoever is in need. And, in a few places, plasma donation is an option. It takes a bit longer but the benefit is that the red cells are centrifuged and returned so there’s no effect on your body during exercise.

Hello @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social. My friend David has set up a new library from scratch at St Richard’s School in Hanworth. The opening is on Wednesday. I’d love to pass on a metaphorical wave from you, if can spare a moment. Thanks so much.

6 Music Festival - 2025: Ezra Collective London firebrands blend Afrobeat, jazz and Caribbean heat into euphoric grooves

You MUST watch Ezra Collective at the BBC 6 music festival. It’s joyous, with a stage full of kids playing the drums and dancing www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis.... Femi Koleoso take a bow!

Fraser Nelson urbanely defended Boris and his acolytes with just a touch of sneer. Now onto new subjects - he is polite and apparently reasonable but actually saying some horrible stuff

Sh!t Theatre: Or What’s Left Of Us - Soho Theatre Multi award-winning “magnificent Fringe legends” (Time Out) Sh!t Theatre are back! And we're totally fine! Actually all things considered, we're OK.

This week I’ve seen sohotheatre.com/events/or-wh... and also orangetreetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/chu....

Both are small venues, and I realise how much I prefer these (sometimes slightly shonky) places to larger, more glossy places. Two fab productions too

YouTube video by Erik Satie Erik Satie ~1913~ Enfantillages Pittoresques

In tidying up my account I accidentally deleted this link;

m.youtube.com/watch?v=SN2_...

These short Satie compositions, originally designed as a practice piece for children, are part of the soundtrack to Joy, a rather lovely film.

We all go through stages. I’m doing the complete Le Carré at the moment. They’re actually quite bleak in the context of his real life, but I think they’re fantastically tightly-written

You’re right. My wife plays the piano at home (she almost refused to move into our house on the day because it looked the it wouldn’t fit) and it’s lovely to hear her learning it

I enjoyed our book talk on the other side, but couldn’t remember your ID once I’d deactivated my account. Nice to find you … any recent recommendations?

One from me: 10 Minutes 38 Seconds by Elif Shafak. She’s great - I love her books

Our first set of Stellar saucepans. Bought in late 1980s and pretty much as good as new

Not only that, it’s just badly written. Big chunks are so simplistic they could be part of a school debating competition

Today’s entire edition looks as though it is designed to cause paranoia in anyone who uses it as their main source of news. Nothing, of course, is in fact any way their fault.

Sadly in this space we have to pick a side. You are definitely on the right side. Don’t let the bastards grind you down

BBC Sounds - Add to Playlist - Available Episodes Listen to the latest episodes of Add to Playlist on BBC Sounds.

On my list. Hannah Peel is so knowledgeable and interesting.

Have you tried www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand.... It’s really found its feet as a format and also has some excellent musicians descending their craft

Shared and written…

We strike again tomorrow and Friday.

Please support us
SHARE our posts
WRITE to guardian.readers@theguardian.com
JOIN US - the picketline was packed last week. Will be the same tomorrow.

The strength of feeling is undimmed 💪⬇️

This is staggering. It should be remembered forever just how desperate the last years of the Conservative government.

Does this ring a bell. Another early favourite (which I still have)

Yes! I loved this as a child

Thank you @mscaitlinmoran.bsky.social for expressing this so brilliantly.
Also, in the words of my sister, ‘I don’t think the proposed legislation goes nearly far enough because it won’t include those of us likely to suffer long, drawn-out, miserably mundane deaths, devoid of agency and dignity.1/2

Enfantillages pittoresques: I. Petit préoude à la journée Aldo Ciccolini · Satie: Piano Works · Song · 2013

I’m watching a rather beautiful film, Joy

I know it’s a different argument to the assisted dying debate, but it highlights a previous example of the establishment (of men) deciding what was right for women, rather than the women themselves.

Anyway. Fab music!

open.spotify.com/track/6Ln1iy...

I didn’t meet Philippa Brewster. But I wish I had, thanks to this lovely piece by Jeanette Winterson. amp.theguardian.com/books/2024/n...

Alan Simpson (of Galton and Simpson fame) ate in our local Indian restaurant in Hampton, and supported the local football team, every weekend

Natalie Palamides: WEER - Soho Theatre Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner Natalie Palamides (Nate, Netflix) presents an achingly tender 90s rom-drom (romantic dramedy) which asks you to look at every argument from two sides.

Not sure what we saw at the The Soho Theatre last night. Natalie Palamides in Were. Her one wo/man show is brilliant. Very rude and very funny. Strong recommendation

sohotheatre.com/events/natal...