Stephen Bickers

A view from a hill over looking Lake Bunyonyi. You can see some of the 29 islands of the lake.

Two Crested Cranes standing on a fallen tree.

A view of Lake Bunyonyi with Mount Muhabura emerging from the clouds in the background.

Went to Lake Bunyonyi in south western Uganda. Beautiful scenery, through a combination of the Lake and the surrounding hills... and the eight hour drive from Kampala is not that bad.

Last night I met a descendant of the great late 19th century cricketer K. S. Ranjitsinhji. We were meant to talk about tri-continental economic links, but somehow we kept drifting back to #cricket.

The paperback cover of Nomads by Anthony Sattin

#Booksof2026 8 - Nomads by Anthony Sattin.
At times an interesting history of various nomadic people and tribes. But I felt the parts on the 'genetic' reasons for nomadic life were slightly pseudo science.
#BookSky

The paperback cover is very battered. This is a book that has been passed between many readers.

#Booksof2027 7 - It's Our Turn To Eat by @michelawrong.bsky.social The story of an epic corruption scandal in Kenya, and the efforts of John Githongo to blow the whistle on it.
Couldn't help feeling that this nearly 20 yr old story has many recent equivalents. Highly recommended
#BookSky

The paperback cover features an elephant standing on a red circle.

#Booksof2026 6 - A Carnival of Snackery by David Sedaris
A selection of diary entries from 2003 to 2020 by one of my favourite writers. Whilst I like trying new authors and style, it also good to read a book that in advance, you know will be great. Funny, frank and thoughtful.
#BookSky

Quacks Pull ingredients from your stock to make your pot bubble, but hopefully not explode!

Played Quacks on 2026-01-30 boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/24... #bggplay via @boardgamegeek.com

Perdido Street Station and The Last Days of New Paris are also good examples of Mieville books where the urban setting is key to the concept.

Wingspan Attract a beautiful and diverse collection of birds to your wildlife preserve.

Played Wingspan on 2026-01-30 boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/26... #bggplay via @boardgamegeek.com

MANTIS A colorfully cutthroat card game of RAINBOWS and REVENGE.

Played MANTIS on 2026-01-30 boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/35... #bggplay via @boardgamegeek.com

The 30th anniversary paperback cover of Mythago Wood

#Booksof2026 5 - Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock
A mysterious wood, the power of myths and legends. It felt like something I would enjoy, but I couldn't get into it.
#BookSky

The Paperback cover has a large avocado (compared to the size of the squirrel).

#Booksof2026 4 - The Hotel Avocado by @bobmort.bsky.social
A sort of convoluted crime story with some pleasingly odd situations.
#BookSky

#Booksof2026 3 - Not In My Day, Sir edited by Martin Smith
A century worth of cricket letters to The Daily Telegraph. It is pretty much as you would expect it to be.
#BookSky

Dominion Acquire the most valuable lands by building your deck with treasure and power cards.

Played Dominion on 2026-01-10 boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/36... #bggplay via @boardgamegeek.com

Forever Home Help dogs in need find their new families by mastering puzzly training cards.

Played Forever Home on 2026-01-10 boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/38... #bggplay via @boardgamegeek.com

MANTIS A colorfully cutthroat card game of RAINBOWS and REVENGE.

Played MANTIS 2 times on 2026-01-10 boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/35... #bggplay via @boardgamegeek.com

Kavango Build and protect your nature reserve by drafting cards and completing research.

Played Kavango today boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/38... #bggplay via @boardgamegeek.com

It is a bit like Wingspan, but with card mechanism that promotes more interaction.

Made by Mazaza Games and designed by @zimbooble.bsky.social (a former colleague of mine)

The Vegetarian by Han Kang (translated into English by Deborah Smith)
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata (translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori)

Paperback cover of Counterfeit, designed by Yordanka Poleganova. Features a women with sunglasses; handbags are on the reflection from the lenses.

#Booksof2026 2 - Counterfeit by Kirsten
Ava's former college roommate Winnie has a successful but dodgy business. How much does Ava want to get involved before she goes too deep? It's about crime and luxury goods; but also the pressure of familial and maternal expectations. Recommended!
#BookSky

Was washing up whilst listening to that episode of the bugle. Had to stop to wipe the tears away from my eyes whilst @alicefraser.bsky.social was talking about Bondi.

Trying to avoid spoilers, but some memorable ones are:
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman (satire with a happy? ending)
The Princess Bride by William Goldman (not what you expect if you see the film first)
Julia by Sandra Newman (reworking of 1984)
Small Gods by Terry Pratchett

The paperback cover has a drawing of Alexander Obolensky playing rugby, and is done in the style of a 1930s cigarette card.

#Booksof2026 1 - The Flying Prince by @hughgodwin.bsky.social
A biography of Alexander Obolensky whose two tries on debut helped England beat NZL for the first time at rugby union, before dying early in WW2.
More than a typical sports biography, with details on his childhood as a refugee.
#BookSky

MANTIS A colorfully cutthroat card game of RAINBOWS and REVENGE.

Played MANTIS 4 times on 2026-01-02 boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/35... #bggplay via @boardgamegeek.com

Forever Home Help dogs in need find their new families by mastering puzzly training cards.

Played Forever Home today boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/38... #bggplay via @boardgamegeek.com

Wingspan Attract a beautiful and diverse collection of birds to your wildlife preserve.

Played Wingspan 2 times on 2025-12-30 boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/26... #bggplay via @boardgamegeek.com

Love Wingspan by @stonemaiergames.com - it is definitely in my top five. #boardgames

The paperback cover depicts the England team celebrating their victory by doing the sprinkler dance.

#Booksof2025 90 - 766 And All That by @theguardian.com (mostly Rob Smyth and Andy Bull) Over by over coverage of the 2010/11 #ashes - how England could do with another Alastair Cook!
#BookSky

MANTIS A colorfully cutthroat card game of RAINBOWS and REVENGE.

Played MANTIS 5 times on 2025-12-28 boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/35... #bggplay via @boardgamegeek.com

A fun and fairly simple card game; made for players who enjoy stealing cards (and points) from others.

Forever Home Help dogs in need find their new families by mastering puzzly training cards.

Played Forever Home today boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/38... #bggplay via @boardgamegeek.com
First time playing this Birdwood Games game about rehousing dogs. It has a good balance between pattern making and strategic play.

A very paperback copy of Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog. It's from the 1960s.

#Booksof2025 89 - A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog by Dylan Thomas.
A collection of stories based on his childhood and young adulthood in Wales. As a honorary Welshman, I probably should have read this years ago, but instead I've read this copy I found in Zambia a few years ago.
#BookSky

This book is probably my origin story.

During one school term, a friend and I spent every break time reading this book rather than going to the playground.

And Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, was the one who caught and ate Scrat's nut.

The family made me watch Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas earlier.