Julia Redhead

She has always bored me, and it's been rather gratifying to see more people start to catch on.

I certainly will someday. Just probably not that week!

Still not quite ready to hit the cancel button on my Vienna bed reservation. Not until it's in black and white. But it's the hope that kills.

No, not at all. Been trying to think of the NFs as their own creatures to get behind, but it's nearly impossible when it looks so likely their winners will end up at this tainted contest.

Nothing clever to say about this, just feeling profound disappointment. Had some hope that 2025 wouldn't be the last contest I followed, but looks like it was.

Shame on the absolute spinelessness of the EBU.

It's the funny thing with national teams, they often work in such a different way to the sum of their parts. Sad to see it going awry for you guys.

Isak will get back in form, no doubt. He's had such a strange summer and has played more minutes for us than we thought he would this early. All odd.

Excellent choice, Georgian food (and wine) is the absolute best!

So I've emailed OGAE and, to my surprise, got an email back immediately! They've told me that we can withdraw from the ballot right up until when tickets are allocated. I've asked when they'll announce the date this will happen.

Thanks for reminding me it's today that it's out, just had a listen and it's a banger. Sorry to read that you're not well.

Annalisa - MA IO SONO FUOCO Listen to MA IO SONO FUOCO on TIDAL

Listening to lots of new (to me) albums today, and on first listens this is by far the standout. Strong tunes from start to finish, loads of fun.

tidal.com/browse/album...

I'm going to email OGAE UK about it, because same. But in the UK one you're banned from future ballots if you're selected than say no, so as it stands it's a choice with quite big consequences.

So much for entering the OGAE ballot this year. Had thought I would if I was going to Vienna, but that's still a HUGE "if" and there's no chance I'm committing before the vote, like they're asking us to.

Anyway, as of this week Spanish seems to be becoming the dominant language in my head, finally.

Will this end up earning me odd stares in some other country somewhere in the future? Probably. Am I always correct? Probably not. But is it serving my purpose now?? Close enough. ¡Vamos! 🇪🇸

I don't know if this is common for language learners or if I'm just odd, but I've always struggled replying to a language I know a bit of in the SAME language. So for years, if I've heard Spanish or French, even if I know what to say, I'll reply in...Russian. Coz my brain just processes "foreign".

Have a cold. Hate having a cold. Finally got settled into a routine of activities and exercise and it all goes out the window while I feel sorry for myself on the sofa.

Made such a good decision yesterday to go over to EuroNotts. With all the drama in both the contest and fandom, a few hours of music, dancing and l connecting with real people was needed, a reminder of why it is I love this thing in the first place.

Geese - Getting Killed Listen to Getting Killed on your streaming service

Yeah, a few more listens in and I think this is my album of the year so far. Sounds like lots of things, but brings them together in the best way.

tidal.com/browse/album...

Happy birthday!!

Please share a full report! And if they ban discussion that's just as interesting to me 👀

Can somebody who's going to Eurobash please fill me in on any tidbits which come out about the FB group fracas. Unsurprising, but also want the full story coz I love a bit of goss.

I've been a fan for years and seen her a few times before but this was the best by far. Just perfect execution of her artistic vision.

Self Esteem: what can I say, the woman's a genius. This was an extraordinary show. Made an already great set of songs even more visceral.

Spent the weekend off the apps, catching up with new music. Come back on and it seems I'm in the minority for actually rather liking the new Geese album??

This. Felt like "lads being provocative with a stunt", not exactly clever but not terrorism.

Saw them at 2000Trees over the summer and their message was really on point and effective. Turns out the combination of speaking the truth and being great performers works.

This is a really great (without meaning to fall into glib criticism!) piece by Laura. It hits the heart of things I've been mulling over more & more this year, and which from various conversations with friends I think is becoming more recognised as missing from Liverpool right now.

Perhaps taking lessons from the Russian literary classic Dead Souls, in which a man buys the names of deceased serfs to make himself seem rich. If it's good enough for Gogol!

Gdansk has been on our list for ages and it looks like we're gonna get there next year, head there after SOAD in Warsaw. Only heard good things!

El Gato Negro on Castle Street. Looks from his Insta like he's filming a show in town today. Between that and Batman, town is quite the celebrity hub right now!

I just let him enjoy his dinner with his pals. But I did but a ticket to his Cavern gig next month if anybody else is going?

I am in a restaurant and THE ACTUAL SAM RYDER has just sat down two tables across what do I do?!