Bethan Hutton

Well, that really does make it a doddle, doesn't it?

No subs on duty at the BBC website on Sundays?

I guess she was born in 1964-ish before the Carry On films really took off, so it is understandable that it did not occur to her parents. But still very unfortunate in the early 80s when the films were on TV all the time.

Belatedly watching this for the first time. Seems somehow relevant for our times.

I think that might disenfranchise quite a few people who have already been voting for years (if by 'homework' you can also mean life admin, tax returns etc)

The Makanai was quite fun too, though a bit too heart-warming in parts for my cynical British tastes...

I enjoyed Quartet too, particularly as I know Karuizawa a bit (my daughter was at school there) and it's always fun spotting familiar locations. Weirdly, some of the Tokyo scene locations were just round the corner from where I lived as well.

Thanks for the tip! I am about to start watching Asura (the Hirokazu Koreeda series on Netflix) - have you seen that one too? I am still missing Midnight Diner, and annoyed that The Solitary Gourmet (recommended by Japanese friend) is not available in UK.

On-brand...

As of this week I have a TV actually hooked up for live viewing for the first time in six years, so I have seen about 30 mins more Live Aid than I did 40 years ago.

I think I was at a Blue Aeroplanes gig so didn't even watch it on TV.

Ten writers by whom I have read more than five books:

Jane Gardam
Penelope Lively
Richard Powers
Yasunari Kawabata
Barbara Kingsolver
Anthony Trollope
Virginia Woolf
Douglas Adams
Haruki Murakami
Dorothy L Sayers

This quiz doesn't seem to apply to non-Americans, and certainly not to vegetarians - there were only about half a dozen things I would (reluctantly) eat on it. Is this really mainstream food over there? I am happy to be uncategorisable.

I have been so distracted I have stopped even making a list of what I have read (habit of a lifetime). Must be something in the air.

Also an Avengers magazine. I may have to revive my ebay account.

@blogmywiki.bsky.social I see your attic clearance and raise you parental house clearance plus my late husband's youth in boxes from my in-law's attic. Today's possible treasure: ZX Spectrum pamphlet apparently signed by the man himself

Three men sit in a cell in El Salvador.

The first asks the second why he has been imprisoned. He replies, "Because I criticized Elon Musk."

The first man responds, "But I am here for praising Musk!"

They ask the third man who has been sitting quietly in the back. He answers, "I AM Elon Musk".

@clairewillett honestly the best marketing scheme in history is men successfully getting away with calling women the "more emotional" gender for like, EONS, because they've successfully rebranded anger as Not An Emotion 6:00 PM • Aug 12, 2020

once again I must tap my own sign

What are the odds on this one turning up in an Omaze draw next year?

...until you try to book a holiday or visit a museum during one of them, and then you remember pretty fast...

A big loss. She was a favourite author of mine from childhood (Bilgewater) all the way up to her novels of older age (the Old Filth trilogy), and everything in between.

Sounds intriguing, and yes! I have already lost at least two copies of Oleander, Jacaranda that I lent to people...

Celebrating Russell Hoban Day on 4 February Russell Hoban was born on 4 February 1925 in Lansdale, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Read about his life here. To celebrate what would have been his 100th birthday, fans are encouraged to: share…

A former teacher of mine was a huge Hoban fan, and I think he may have invented Hoban day. I missed it this year, but I must put it in the diary for next year... russellhoban.org/2025/02/01/c... (cc @blogmywiki.bsky.social )

That reminds me that my collection of Hoban novels is overdue for re-reading. Thank you!

He's just following the official style manual: www.amazon.co.uk/Dictator-Sty...

Slice, fry with a little butter & cinnamon, eat hot with ice cream or Greek yoghurt.

Thanks!

Thanks - I am not a million miles away (Greenwich) so will look him up.