Elizabeth Blunt

I thought she was Hindu. But then, did they do the seven times round the fire - this lifetime and seven lifetimes - thing?

He then appears to have spent last night (which was cold) sleeping rough in Finsbury Park. I imagine he will now be glad to be deported.

Proud of my city.

I didn't know this. Is he a patron saint of artists?

This is daft. There must be Jewish football fans in Birmingham. Why on earth would they support a visiting foreign team rather than Aston Villa?

Why does no one ask the obvious question — "Kemi, you are black; how did it make you feel?"

Easily solved by paying everyone adequately (and equally).

Late evening flight, Ryanair, from Plovdiv to Stanstead. When we got there someone had locked the doors into the terminal, and the man with the key had gone away.

I'm hoping Pres Trump won't want to risk his fragile health on a transatlantic flight, but if the visit does go ahead they should invite his old chum Prince Andrew to sit next to him at the banquet. Just think of the embarrassment potential.

Why are so many Brits being arrested over tweets? Because of Elon Musk. Social media moderation is being outsourced to UK police forces. Unsurprisingly, they're terrible at it.

Interesting thoughts on the Britain/free speech debate:
open.substack.com/pub/techtris...

Ethiopian mural depicting an unidentified saint riding a lion. The lion looks straight at the viewer, whereas the saint looks to the right.

"What are you staring at?" 🦁

Ethiopia, unknown date (16th c.?) #lion #saint #mural #africanart

If there is a problem with asylum applicant hostels, it is that they are full of single men. So preventing refugees from having their families with them seems an odd response.

Oh well done. Those are very impressive.

Maybe Trump is at death's door. Or maybe he just has something like flu or covid which makes you feel really awful, and wants to lie down quietly with his eyes shut. So he retreats to his country club. The White House can't be very restful. All those people wanting things. All that gilding....

Has a pool reporter gone with him?

Is there a pool reporter with him?

I'm not sure what country you are in, but here in the UK Channel Four news had a report on it. It was very bizarre.

As a moderately competent watercolourist, I long for the days before photography, when my ability would have made me valued just for being able to show people what a place was like.

I'm not sure how widespread this is, but my ex butcher told me he could no longer take apprentices because all local courses doing the theory had closed. (He is an ex butcher, because he couldn't find staff)

And, wisely, you haven't lit the candle. I remember a one-year-old reaching delightedly for the candle flame....

Does he have that power?

Good ones are spicy, with plenty of black pepper. My hot tip is to steam it, rather than boil it, since if the sheep's paunch bursts, you end up with haggis soup. Which is not good.

And then it turned orange.

@rosatkins.bsky.social Ros, can I make a request? I would like to know if recently arrived migrants really do commit more crime than the general British population, when you match then with a similar demographic group, ie disproportionately young single men. Have you looked at this?

Our residents' association is a limited company, and we have been asked to verify our identities. But I don't understand how that is a wealth tax?

Thank you, and have a good break.

You should. They are rather lovely.

Surely the home cooked food would have been nicer, which is a good reason for eating more.

Yes, as a first-time visitor to Washington I was surprised at its scale. It's an elegant building, but not large. The last thing it needs is a whopping great hanger of a ballroom stuck on the side.

Ditto Richmond. I am on a bus currently setting the world record from my house to Kew Gardens.