Simon Ricketts

That mass of disclosed emails, mostly deliberately illiterate grunts to denote the sender’s busyness, is a uniquely indelible record of how networks of power, & the sense of impunity it brings, work. Pre-email, this was in person & on calls, now conveniently disappearing messages on whatsapp etc.

Sleeve of 38 Londres: On impunity, Pinochet in England and a Nazi in Patagonia

Took me a while to get round to reading it but this book will resonate for a long time. The horrors perpetrated by Pinochet and his friend a Nazi war criminal. An international hunt for facts and justice versus time passing & politically convenient compromises. Much to apply to contemporary events?

Latest David Olusoga A House Through Time is astonishing in the depth of its research & human stories revealed of WW2 occupants of apartment block in London & Berlin. Some become nazis, their neighbours holocaust victims, & so many lives destroyed. But the records & (now beautiful) homes remain.

26 albums between 1979 and 2016 each titled alphabetically in order. Bet they never thought that would happen when they released the first, Another Kind Of Blues… If you’ve heard one though you’ll have the picture…

Just misses that one

Sleeve of U.K. Subs (recorded 1979-1981)

Or, as I know them, the A Level years…

Greater Affordable Housing Flex Announced For Some Stalled Schemes; Other Announcements On Affordable Housing & On S106 The flex will be welcome news for some particularly stranded developers, but they will need to move fast. MHCLG has published Policy statement: a roadmap for Section 106 delivery in England (28 Jan…

New blog post, Greater Affordable Housing Flex Announced For Some Stalled Schemes; Other Announcements On Affordable Housing & On S106

simonicity.com/2026/01/30/g...

Trump has control of the world's largest nuclear arsenal, but apparently nothing is going to bomb harder than his wife's film.

I’m a bit further but it’s still odd that the only 2 dates are Watford and Southampton. Strange choices some might say…

As for Public Image Limited at the Watford Colosseum 1 May.

Well I’m looking forward to seeing Mr Lydon practically on my doorstep.

Yes, and not a reconsideration against reg 122 etc - and back in 1991 there was never any thought of any interaction between planning obligations and viability - obligations were not of that scale.

The A In Section 106A A is for… There was an interesting planning appeal decision letter last week concerning a section 106B appeal against refusal of an application made under section 106A to amend a section 106 agreem…

New blog post, The A In Section 106A

simonicity.com/2026/01/25/t...

A handy talking point whenever anyone asked why, romantically, we were wearing matching Air France tees…

Selfie of creased white Air France logo’ed t-shirt

I was so pleased to find this t-shirt at the back of the wardrobe. Air France gave it to us when they lost our luggage on the way to our honeymoon over 31 years ago. Needs ironing, although I suppose I do too.

White cat up a tree

Obviously she knows we are off out with a deadline and have to get her in first.

Nice to see faithful traitors

Dad would have been 90 today. Packing up more of his pictures today including this self-portrait he entered in the Royal Academy Exhibition 1966. ❤️

Cartoon on Board of Peace inaugural dinner with ‘dove’ on the menu

There were some huge wins for grassroots music in 2025. But our Annual Report shows there’s still work to do - especially when it comes to safeguarding future careers.

Read the full 2025 Annual Report from midnight at: www.MusicVenueTrust.com

Glen Tilbrook in front of St George fresco in Raphael cartoons room at V&A

Glen Tilbrook at launch of 2025 @musicvenuetrust.bsky.social annual report at the V&A. All the hits. But today grassroots venues are in a precarious state, partly due to fiscal decisions of this govt. & so right for Mark D to call out Live Nation for not taking part, yet, in ticket levy scheme.

Every Senegal payer should have been sent off except maybe Mané. And pathetically taken penalty then saved. Insane game. Not sure I can cope with extra time.

😕

Long ban for Senegal ahead surely.

Ridiculous closing moments to Senegal v Morocco final currently - Senegal players have all left the pitch because penalty has been awarded against them in final minutes. Chaos…

I don't know if you're looking for romance or
I don't know what you're looking for
But this looked good on the charity shop floor

The President of the United States is trying to economically damage and coerce NATO allies because they don't agree with his imperialist ambition to seize a NATO territory by force.

Donald Trump is the most egregious traitor and saboteur of the West in history.

Black and white image (made to look like a stenciled graffiti) An idealized 1940s-1950s very young "tradwife" mother figure with perfect hair, beautiful features, gingham dress and white apron looks down into mixing bowl where she is whisking eggs. The caption reads: NO, you can't have Greenland. You haven't even finished your Venezuela yet.

I don't know who the artist was, but I salute that person/those people. Borrowed from another social media site

Who is on Trump's 'Board of Peace' for Gaza? The White House has released the names of those who will oversee the next phase of the US president's peace plan for Gaza.

Boyzonly obvs. 😞
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Thank you Tom. It’s become a bit of a crazy “mark the end of the week” obsession.

If It’s Not One Thing It’s The Other Cyber attacks. Almost two months on, the incident on 24 November 2025 which affected an IT system shared by Westminster City Council, the Royal Borough of Kensington and the London Borough of Hamme…

New blog post, If It’s Not One Thing It’s The Other

simonicity.com/2026/01/17/i...