Peter Layzell

As predicted the Times today reports that VPN downloads have shot up to be the most downloaded item. The Government were right to bring in restrictions on adult viewing but need to rethink their rules to stop them being sidestepped so easily.

Blue sky is introducing age checks under new UK adult content viewing law. It won't affect me as I didn't know that Blue Sky offered adult content & its not on any of my streams. I support in principle but think it will fail as I most teens are tech astute enough to get round the controls easily!

#Quadraphenia was a great Who album and not a bad film but Sadlers Wells decision to make it a ballet sounds questionable even if Pete Townsend's wife wrote the score. Despite being a Who fan I think I will give it a miss.👎

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran had delivered a heavy slap to the US & then gave congratulations for his country's "victory" over Israel. If what happened last week is victory I hate to think what a defeat would look like. There are no winners in war - just losers!

Just home from a holiday visiting France, Belgium, Holland and Germany where I spoke to hundreds of people and only a handful couldn't speak English whereas I speak un petit peu in French and nil in the others. Sadly in that aspect I am a typical Brit which is a bit embarrassing for our nation.

Saturday seems strange with no football - Ladies Cricket and rugby league today doesn't fill the gap.

Our song by ‪@remembermonday.bsky.social‬ on #Eurovision last night was quite good and well performed but although it didn't deserve to win or be in close contention it deserved a lot better that nul points from the phone vote especially when compared to the votes awarded to some very ordinary songs

No one other than Man city fans would begrudge Crystal Palace fans their big celebrations yesterday or want to share their hangovers this morning. Football is the better when clubs like Palace get to share some of the honours rather than it being a LiverArse City monopoly

The news that DHL is merging with EVRI is a bit worrying as DHL is one of the best delivery firms and EVRI isnt despite several rebrands. The only hope is that EVRI bring their warehouse and transport side up to the DHL standard and that EVRI keep their local home delivery teams who are great

Went to see Jasper Carrott last night at the Cliffs, Southend . He was one of my favourites in the 70's & saw him then several times but he is now 80 and I was a bit concerned.. Wrong! he was still brilliant with great timing & the ability to make daily life hilarious. Standing ovation well deserved

On the subject of my #caravan Al-Ko Locks are expensive but a great deterrent to thieves & reduce my insurance premium but why do they have to be so difficult to get the wheel aligned to fit them? & why does it always seem to rain whenever I have to do the tricky job of getting them back on? #AL-KO

We own a #caravan which is parked at home in Essex. On Monday it was cleaned by Barry from Essex Caravan Cleaning. He did a really great job at a decent price and the caravan looks great. #caravancleaner www.essexcaravancleaning.com

Sir Jimmy Anderson is a well deserved honour. I can't rank him with greats like Truman, Larwood & Willis as cricket was different in their time but he certainly the best fast bowler of his generation & probably will remain out highest wicket taker. Oh Sir Jimmy Jimmy doesn't chant well though!

Remember it well when I was growing up as Walton was the beach of choice for people living in North East Essex we all avoided Clacton and its London Day Trippers like the plague. The cliffs under the tower were great to explore. Thanks to @smallworldgdn.bsky.social for the memories.

9 days to friendly warm up match away at Kent for @essexcricket.bsky.social and then on 4 April 2025 at Chelmsford the first game is more important than normal as it is against out big rivals Surrey. Strange that this has come up as the first game but a great chance to make them chase us this year!

It is a reflection on modern society trends by #ONS that Yoga Mats and Virtual; Reality Headsets have been added to the list of items that ONS use to measure inflation. Certainly neither affect my cost of living!

I saw and evening with Bradley Wiggins at Southend last year. Bradley is one of my heroes with his exploits on the track & road.He has certainly had some tough breaks in life, partly self inflicted but he deserves the chance to have a better life and so many people like me will be rooting for him.

During covid my small public speaking/family history business folded. I told #HMRC who said in writing that I need not complete self assessment & to ignore emails/letters telling me to do so.Last year I got a fine for non submission which I had to appeal and this year-- yes another fine. #Frustrated

At the moment #IneosGrenadiers are in a bad way with everything seeming to go wrong. Bernal was just beginning to look back in contention following his horrific crash 2 years ago and then big crash. These guys are tough so he will be training soon and back in the saddle in a month or so.