Matthew Gibbons

And there was me thinking London was an uninhabitable, crime ridden hell hole.

“Merci beaucoup. I won’t be silenced.”

On the grave of Simone de Beauvoir, Montparnasse Cemetery.

After what must be 55 years since my last visit, the Farne Islands’ bird life didn’t disappoint. A truly special place.

No, not Greece but the North Sea off Seahouses.

The Laurieston bar didn’t disappoint

St Bride’s church in East Kilbride is a complete delight.

Good things in Rochdale. With thanks to @katrinanavickas.bsky.social for recommendations.

Agree, central Covent Garden is a place that I largely avoid but I’m happy that the buildings are still there. Equally I love much of the C20 stuff in our cities.

That’s an interesting read, hasn’t ruined my day at all! One element he mentions briefly but which very much needs to be in the mix is the environmental case for building retention. Lacaton & Vassal provide an exemplary demonstration of what can be done to refresh buildings.

Some incredible art at the New Art Gallery, Walsall, exhibited in conjunction with the Outside In charity. Deeply moving to read the artists’ stories and of art’s importance in their lives. Highly recommended.

thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk/exhibition/t...

Good things in the Black Country.

Saw Margo Price there recently and really enjoyed the venue, which I haven’t been to since I saw films there many years ago.

Indeed, we just don’t learn. It should be as unthinkable today to demolish Coventry city centre as it would be to knock down St Pancras station.

Coventry: the making of a modern city 1939-1973 — Docomomo UK A talk by Jeremy Gould 19.00-21.00 on 24th June 2025 at the Alan Baxter Associates Gallery, 77 Cowcross St, London EC1M 6EL and online.

Jeremy Gould gave a very interesting talk on Coventry last week at Docomomo. I think the recording should be up on their website at some point. www.docomomo.org.uk/events/coven...

That’s a lovely bit of film, thank you! You’ll know I’m sure that much of the centre is to be demolished, a terrible way to treat the place.

Good things in Coventry.

Perfect!

Dandelion and Burdock John Shuttleworth · The Dolby Decades · Song · 2008

I love the fondness for the museum expressed by the wonderful John Shuttleworth.

open.spotify.com/track/1SOqQJ...

I was around there at a similar time to you and yes, I too remember village shops in lots of places, not just petrol stations on main roads.

The list of stations includes a whole bunch of places I cycled to from Houghton as a teenager to fish in brooks and farm ponds. Fond memories of beautiful, quiet, and as you say, empty, countryside.

The wonderful Margo Price at the Scala tonight - sheer unabashed joy, thank you!
@missmargoprice.bsky.social

Many of us have a past!

Not often one sees Lefebvre and Jameson alongside Enid Blyton!

Coventry: the making of a modern city 1939-1973 — Docomomo UK A talk by Jeremy Gould 19.00-21.00 on 24th June 2025 at the Alan Baxter Associates Gallery, 77 Cowcross St, London EC1M 6EL and online.

You’re probably aware of this but thought I’d share it in case not.

www.docomomo.org.uk/events/coven...

I did, a lot. Have been a fan for a few years but hadn’t seen her before. And you?

A belated hello! I wasn’t one of the guys near you in the queue though…

Waxahatchee in Bristol tonight. Absolutely outstanding.

This is good stuff! As somebody who grew up in Houghton on the Hill I often wondered what the hill’s name was all about. Used to pass it to go fishing at Launde Abbey.

And the nicest roadside loo I’ve ever come across.

Here’s a photo of my bike in the Swiss Alps last week.