Aileen Walker

Interesting piece on how peerages can be removed (but not titles)

Hear hear!

a blue background with a triangle that says thank you on it ALT: a blue background with a triangle that says thank you on it

As our annual weekend draws to a close. We just wanted to say thank you to all our panellists, and chairs for their time over the last two days; to all of you who attended (virtually or in person); and also to our organisers. We hope you enjoyed the weekend & safe travels!

The annual SPG quiz …

Looking forward to the @studyofparl.bsky.social annual conference this weekend and to catching up with friends and former colleagues. An interesting programme, as always.

studyofparliamentgroup.org

studyofparliamentgroup.org/wp-content/u...

So that’s our #Ashes tour over. We enjoyed tootling around various Australian cities. Shame about the cricket!
I’ll leave you with pics of the Adelaide Oval, the South Australia state Parliament building, #Glenelg, & the Christmas tree in the state library in #Adelaide.
#lovinglegislatures

… and of course, a visit to the Tasmania state Parliament building
#lovinglegislatures #Tasmania #australia

We enjoyed Hobart, Tasmania last week. Highlights were the extraordinary MONA - Museum of Old and New Art - and tour up Mount Wellington (Kunanyi)
#hobart #tasmania #lutruwita #mona #mountwellington #australia

The Four Nations Outdoor Arts Bursary is now open!
Deadline: 1/2/26
4 Nations Bursary Project is offering bursaries for new outdoor work to emerging artists and companies interested in outdoor arts from Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland. Apply -https://www.surge.scot/four-nations-bursary

Parliament House building in sunshine with Christmas tree

Parliament House in Brisbane. Queensland State Parliament
#lovinglegislatures #queensland #Brisbane #australia

A real parliamentary nerdy day in Canberra yesterday!
Sat in the public galleries of the House of Reps & the Senate. Art & Politics tour. Visit to Old Parliament House (inc Clerk of the Senate’s office @ckskm.bsky.social!) - now a museum of democracy.
#parliament
#lovinglegislatures @marcgeddes.uk

❤️Freo

Visit to the fabulous WA Museum Boola Bardip in Perth, including the Terracotta Warriors exhibition
@wamuseum.bsky.social

Parliament of Western Australia, Perth
#lovinglegislatures
@marcgeddes.uk

Poster advertising the Parliament Choir’s A Westminster Christmas concert in 3 December at 7.30pm in Smith Square Hall

London friends …

Tickets: www.sinfoniasmithsq.org.uk/event/a-west...

So depressing. Scared to take a decision because of the sums involved, when it’s costing £1.56m a week in maintenance? It was clear years ago that a full decant would be quickest, cheapest & easiest way to do the urgent necessary work to this much-loved building. Some just don’t want to move out

Shakespeare's Globe | LEGO® Ideas Shakespeare's Globe is a world famous theatre in London. This set recreates it's iconic shape and style, whilst celebrating the many plays of William Shakespear…

Shakespeare’s Globe in Lego? Yes please!
You can vote and support this idea …
beta.ideas.lego.com/product-idea...
#lego

Brilliant GSA Choir weekend at the Badaguish Outdoor Centre
#badaguish #Cairngorms

Long view down a loch with mountains off to one side and leaves turning red and golden, beneath a cloudy but blue autumn sky

Queen’s View, Perthshire. Looking down Loch Tummel. Glorious autumn day.

The GSA Choir Christmas Concert (Matinee) - Glasgow Life 3pm performance

Only a few tickets left for GSA Choir Christmas concerts!🎄

Join us for a mix of classical & contemporary choral works & well-loved standards. 🎶

📅 13th Dec 2025
🕰️ 3pm & 7.30pm
🏛️ New Auditorium, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
🎟️ 3pm matinee tix: bit.ly/GSACxmasmati...
🎟️ 7.30pm tix: bit.ly/GSACxmaseven...

Tonight!
The Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow’s public lecture will be delivered by Prof Barbara Maher - Magnetism and the Brain: Pollution Particles and Alzheimer’s Disease

www.royalphil.org/lecture/magn...

We bought one of Damian’s prints a while ago (the Tree, Bird, Bell, Fish one you see in the photo). I love his style! Sounds like a good exhibition

Growth: A reckoning - The Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow Summary

Excellent lecture at the Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow last night from Prof Daniel Susskind on growth. "Growth does not come from using more resources, but from discovering more productive ways of using resources."

www.royalphil.org/lecture/grow...

External shot of new facade of Citizens Theatre Glasgow. All lit up against the evening sky

Visit to the Citizens Theatre tonight for its first production post-refurb - #smallactsoflove. A musical about the Lockerbie disaster sounds like a strange project, but it worked. Very good. And the building is looking splendid.

@clarefurniss.bsky.social It was lovely to meet you in Wigtown. I’ve just finished reading “The Things We Leave Behind”. It’s wonderful. Powerful storytelling. So important that YA fiction explores current issues like this. I’m looking forward to seeing what my young friend makes of it.

It really was. The plot of the Wigtown novel was a hoot. And you made an excellent Mr Dickens!

Two excellent sessions yesterday at the Wigtown Book Festival:
Kate Summerscale - The Peepshow: the murders at 10 Rillington Place;
A conversation with Charles Dickens (via AI) with Stuart Kelly & @philipardagh.bsky.social Fascinating & fun!
#WigtownBookFestival

Most enjoyable day at our first #WigtownBookFestival :
@gavinesler.bsky.social and Chris Turpin;
#OneManPoe at Swallow Theatre;
@clarefurniss.bsky.social;
and the fab @lenniesaurus.bsky.social

tickets.wigtownbookfestival.com/sales

A wee bit hot, but great walk yesterday around Kilmahog /Falls of Leny

How to Practice I wanted to get rid of my possessions, because possessions stood between me and death.

Wonderful, tender article by Ann Prachett in @newyorker.com

www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...