A woman next to me on the overground doing God’s own work after a fellow passenger started blaring music at full volume. “Excuse me” she said loudly. The response was an “I’m sorry, I didn’t even notice!” I’ve only tried remonstrating once and it was a failure.

July 31, 1926: Rupert Neve, a British sound engineer who invented the equipment that made modern studio recording possible, is born in the town of Newton Abbott. Neve mixing consoles were used in the making of records by Fleetwood Mac, Nirana, the Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd, among others.

#rudeveg

First sighting of the new London blimp!

"Former Bulk Distributor assistant editor Andy Burnham is set to become the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, marking an extraordinary journey from the pages of the tank container industry press to the steps of Downing Street." bulk-distributor.com/2026/07/form...

Former BD journalist set to become UK PM - Bulk Distributor

Former Bulk Distributor assistant editor Andy Burnham is set to become the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, marking an extraordinary journey from the pages of the tank container industry pre...

bulk-distributor.com

It was such a balmy evening working overnight that I went for a long walk at around 3 to take in the sights and sounds of nighttime city life. It was fascinating to see all the folk helping to keep London’s overnight economy going.

‪The second and third Presidents of the USA, Adams and Jefferson, great friends and bitter rivals, both died today in 1826. 200 years ago. It was also the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.‬ Five years later, to the day, the fifth President, James Monroe also died.

Stephen Moylan, an Irish-born secretary to George Washington, is the first person known to have used the phrase “United States of America,” in a letter of Jan. 2, 1776. Thomas Paine, in a letter published June 29, was the first to publicly urge the name “United States of America.” 4/4

There is much to admire in the composition of this photo, but the dog peeing on the wind breaker elevates it to a different level!

Des@desdelboy.bsky.social · last mo.

Morning all. Of all the many, many photographs I’ve seen this remains one of my all time favourites, like a Caravaggio painting. What a frame. Photograph by Chris Steele Perkins, Blackpool 1972.

Nice when a headline asks a question and answers it to my full satisfaction in the same sentence.

The Times and Sunday Times@thetimes.com · last mo.

Who is Donna Kelce, Taylor Swift’s future mother-in-law?

Locked in for England v New Zealand at the T20 women’s World Cup!

Just had my debit card checked on the Windrush line to confirm I’d tapped in. Can’t remember that ever happening before! There’s a team of five people on the train to make this happen.

Who knew he also made guitars?!

Global Museum@globalmuseum.bsky.social · last mo.

This 1679 “Sabionari” Stradivarius is the only playable guitar by Antonio Stradivari left in this world.🤗 So take just a moment to hear a sound that’s well over 300 years old! @55SweetThing #globalmuseum #music #guitar #Stradivarius

For any fans of The Cure this Olivia Rodrigo and Robert Smith collaboration grows on me more every time I hear it. I’ll never forget seeing the bemusement on the faces of her fans when she brought him on stage at Glastonbury!

what’s wrong with me

Olivia Rodrigo, Robert Smith · you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love · Song · 2026

open.spotify.com

We went for a wonderful cool off at Charlton lido last night. It feels a shame this sort of project isn’t really built any more. I wonder if some tech billionaire would like to gain some social credit by creating one - perhaps in Peckham Rye Park?!

I just boarded a wonderfully air conditioned 185 electric bus, but someone had opened the windows which meant the cooled air was being pumped into the world outside, and hot air was pouring in! I closed the windows I could reach and it made a huge difference.

I’ve had to switch to the Jubilee line this morning instead of the Elizabeth Line to get to work owing to problems on the latter, and it’s amazing how much noisier the journey is. I can’t hear conversation on my headphones on max volume, whereas on the Lizzie line it’s no problem at all.

Can you see the silhouette of a cheeky squirrel who’d dived into this bin and was eating the contents?!

The first all-British podium at a Grand Prix since 1968 - that’s pretty amazing!

I’m so sad to hear about David Hockney’s death. He was truly one of the greats! I’m posting this as a small tribute to him - remembering my first experience of his work, when I was tiny. My sister @kimmannesabbott.bsky.social had created his name in his artistic style for her foundation art year.

Our stick blender’s motor recently died and we bought a new one. The old attachments sat in a cupboard gathering dust. I decided to list them on eBay. eBay’s ai works out what the item is and estimates a value. I’ve now sold three attachments and made £28. I was just going to throw those things out!

It’s only taken us 12 years, but we have finally unpacked the last of our boxes shipped back from our time in the UAE - four boxes of books tucked away in the loft! Arrietty was sad to lose her impromptu cat tree when we finally sorted them. The contents we didn’t dispose of are now shelved.

Should this mark the extreme extent of a bubble, let no one say there weren't some absolutely gigantic red flags www.ft.com/content/9528...

The Elizabeth line has really taken the sting out of tube strikes in London. I’ve even got a seat on my way in on both this train, and the Windrush line before it this morning. Somehow I think things will be a bit busier for my return journey at 6pm though…

Good advice from the Dalai Lama.

We went to Pangbourne Meadow today for a swim in one of the newly designated dozen or so safe outdoor swimming spots across the country. It was amazing!

Found in one of the many piles I’m sorting through, a signed Gloria Hunniford photo!

Glorious garden roses!

@microbear.bsky.social random question but I’m sure I saw a post from you talking about a cooling fan you’d bought. Wondering which one it was as it looked great

I just had a lovely catch up after many, many years with former colleague Giles @blogmywiki.bsky.social at the Blythe Hill Tavern in #se23