Mark McKean

Donald Trump signals US support for Chagos handover deal It comes after the US president suggested last month he could withdraw his support for the deal.

Might he be in the Mandelson files?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

31 December: Wishing you all a happy and peaceful New Year. May 2026 be wonderful for us all.
Signing out the year with ABBA, featuring the seasonal song.

30 December (Day late. Fell asleep early): Shuffle across my narrow made me realise I wasn’t up to going out.
Penultimate LP of the year. Cruelly taken from us way too soon.

29 December: So frustrating at Tranmere again but not in the least surprised.
Needed some classical music to recover from the frustration.

28 December: Watched some catch-up TV. Remembered what a legend Derek Griffiths is.
The album which saw Roger write his first top ten single for the band.

27 December: Slept for a good proportion of the day.
Synthesiser cover album of synthesiser/electronic tracks.

26 December: Finally got to see Tranmere win in the league this season.
To celebrate the above, who else can today’s LP be by?

25 December: Had the traditional quiet Christmas Day with the family. Was very enjoyable.
Did get an LP from Santa featuring this man’s original band. Can’t remember what they’re called 😉, but it’s a triple vinyl so not enough time to listen today.

Oh dear...

“Honestly I expected Christmas TV to be better this year. They’ve dropped the ball.” - superimposed on King Charles

Unexpected message this year.

24 December: Wishing all who see this a Merry Christmas.
As I’ve used up both my Christmas related vinyls, it’s a Slade return. This time that song is on it.

ITV News: BBC to air Would I Lie To You Boxing Day episode featuring David Walliams

So, just to confirm, the BBC can’t keep Robin Ince on the air because his trans allyship brings the organisation into disrepute, but they can keep David Walliams, who performed Nazi salutes at the recording of this very show, on the air despite him being predatory towards women. Cool. Very normal.

Christmas shoppers spotted across Liverpool as city prepares to say goodbye The ECHO photographers have been out and about in the city

Can any of my journalism friends and former colleagues make any sense of this Liverpool Echo headline?
The cheeky buggers want £4.99 a month if you want to read more than ten articles a week.

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/wha...

23 December: One year I might just be more organised.
Introduced a friend to this film today, so the soundtrack is the day’s vinyl.

22 December: RIP Chris Rea.
Already been Whammed so can listen to this album.

Can relate.

21 November: Sore, exhausted, next to no energy. Another typical day.
Today’s LP comes from one of my favourite bands.

20 December: Best laid plans and all that.
The original Red Album.

Why can’t he be honest with the fans who he “didn’t want to take for granted” when he first arrived?
It’s the least we deserve. Especially those that actually own shares in the club.
3/3

We were told “end of quarter one” for an alleged takeover. Then “the start of the 25/26 season”. That was followed by “by Christmas”.
Then he does an interview for a non-Tranmere podcast where he now says he’s “hopeful” that it will be “in the not too distant future”.
2/3

When we had that four or five game unbeaten run up until last weekend, the majority shareholder must have breathed a heavy sigh of relief because he wasn’t getting any flak.
Now, two poor defeats in, it’s time to ask again “what is going on”?
1/3

19 December: Largely drifted in and out of sleep.
An at the time strange collaboration. But it works.

18 December: Trivial, I know, but hate it when Fitbit doesn’t alert it’s on low battery.
Revisit to the classical music section of my shelves.

17 December: Still no word from Evri about where they “delivered” my parcel on Monday. This, despite them saying they’ll respond within 24 hours.
Another cheesy 80s album from my collection.

16 December: Managed to get the most physical plan for today done. Taking that as a result.
It wouldn’t be Christmas without Slade. Although that song isn’t on here.

15 December: Evri up to its usual antics. Not a clue where my parcel was delivered to.
Been a fan of this album ever since I saw the film version. It also introduced me to Paula Cole.

Legendary singer dies as family share heartbreak after 'long hard fight'

Music legend Carl Carlton has died at the age of 72.

Sounds about right.

Did he ever have it to begin with?

14 December: A day of R & R was needed, and that was what needed.
One of the two “Weird Al” vinyls in my collection I’ve not listened to this year before today.