Ah, #Piddington. I live nearby. When I was about 12, a troglodytic throwback in Piddington bloodied my face with the remains of a fox earlier torn apart by the local hunt. I remember the mess and the awful smell. Nothing about this place would surprise me.

In north Oxfordshire where we are generally snuggling down till Saturday. Books, walks, pubs.

a great letter in the times today. perhaps worth sharing in these troubled times. #RNLI #heroes

Wet and gloomy for most of yesterday so here is an autumnal dahlia from near Lower Heyford in Oxfordshire. September 2026. #FlowerPhotography #BlackandWhitePhotography #Dahlia

Every year in the autumn a string of lovely and gentle ponies comes to a field near us for a few months. They’ve just arrived again, as elegant as ever. #Oxfordshire #Horses #Autumn

Good message to get on a rain-soaked Tuesday morning.

George The Station Cat@george-station-cat.bsky.social · 2w ago

Good morning and welcome to tuna Tuesday Is the plate half full or half empty? Sometimes life isn’t about deciding which one it is. Sometimes it’s simply about remembering that you can top it up

We had lunch at the Wheatsheaf in Chilton Foliat yesterday. Very pleasant, newly renovated, excellent food concentrating on simple things done very well, plus you can stay there too. In a lovely village right by the River Kennet. We’ll be back. www.thewheatsheafchiltonfoliat.co.uk

Love these posts at this time of year. Very much part of autumn in England.

Portland Bird Observatory@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 2w ago

“Tony”: Enjoyed this, though there’s always a darkling undercurrent; lovely Cape light (shades of Joel Meyerowitz); the excruciating awkwardness of being 19 so well expressed by Dominic Sessa, affectionate standout performance from Antonio Banderas. www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ju...

Tony review – knives out in tasty reheat of Anthony Bourdain’s memoir

Dominic Sessa stars as a conceited yet vulnerable young chef alongside Antonio Banderas – but the feelgood factor is compromised by what we know of the author

theguardian.com

What a difference even one week of rain makes. The first (left) image was taken today; the second was taken two weeks ago, before the rains. Nature is able to restore itself remarkably quickly if only we give it a chance. Lower Heyford, Oxfordshire, 2026. #Oxfordshire #LandscapePhotography

It looks as if the fabulous Barbu d'Uccle bantams may have received some new recruits. The old flock was pretty depleted, likely after brazen behaviour by Mr Fox. Lower Heyford, September 2026. #Chickens #Oxfordshire #Barbud'Uccle

After a week of rain the plums are coming along nicely. Unfortunately the tree I have in mind is in someone else’s garden … grappling hooks to the ready … I am going in …

Quite a common sight in rural South India: a striking pottery mask to ward off the evil eye with, here, a pink ensemble. They are called Drishti Bommai, at least in Tamil parts though in Kerala the correct term may be Drishti Bomma. Near Palakkad, spring 2024. #Kerala #ColorADay #PinkMon

Through the narrow gate and into this garden of magic and delight where time and cares slip away. We’ve been coming to this wonderful place for 20+ years. Few seem to know it. I’m not saying where it is so things stay that way. Oxfordshire, August 2026. #BlueskyArtShow #Summer #Oxfordshire

Nipped into the local cafe to avoid another deluge while out walking. It’s not at all warm either. Have ordered hot chocolate like it’s mid-winter. Only a couple of weeks ago it was so hot that we were contemplating bailing for an air-conditioned hotel for the night. Strange days …

Went out for a walk this morning. Took a direct hit. Absolutely soaked. Went for a walk yesterday afternoon. An even more direct hit with thunder and lightning crashing overhead. Soaked. Dramatic. God it feels good after so much dryness.

Good morning Bluesky ☀️ This is one of the last coal powered sheep. The vast majority of UK sheep are now all electric ⚡️

This dry summer. I doubt there is anything left in the grass so I’d guess these lovely (and, I am sure, pedigree) Longhorns are already on supplements and winter provisions. We’re all waiting for rain, an unfamiliar, primal feeling. Near Lower Heyford, August 2026. #Stunday #Oxfordshire #Drought

Discarded dahlias that have gone over and rotten apples, all piled up in the compost bin: the detritus of summer’s end. Lower Heyford, Oxfordshire, August 2026. #BlueskyArtShow #Chaos #Oxfordshire

This is incredibly silly 😀

SlenderSherbet@slendersherbet.bsky.social · last mo.

"I AM VENGEANCE! I AM THE NIGHT! I AM BATMAN! I'M IN THE SHED AGAIN SANDRA"

Big mob of rooks and jackdaws wheeling and calling over the church tower in Deddington last night, the sky dark slate streaked with orange in the last of the light. For the first time I felt, this is autumn now. TBH not a moment too soon after this punishing summer. #Oxfordshire

Well said. I’ve always thought that. A civil war likely means violent rule by gangsters in uniforms. After the war, most go back to being just plain gangsters.

John Oxley@joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · last mo.

More, both sides need to understand a civil war isn't you gloriously defeating your Ideological enemies. It's your local criminal gang shooting you in the head for your car.

Tremendous stuff. I miss Hunter S T. When one looks at the utter nonsense pumped out by culture warriors, politicians, tech bros and AI spivs every day, the world might be better and calmer if a lot more of us put a little Hunter S into our dealings with them.

Odd This Day@oddthisday.bsky.social · last mo.

It’s also the 53rd anniversary of *that* letter from Hunter S T to Anthony B

Raving on the Thames with the Go Go Cages. I could get into that. People are too serious these days and probably don’t rave enough. Or go go enough. Alas we missed it. This is a poster from last weekend’s Twickenham 1960s street festival. Hope it was fun. #Twickenham #1960s #Festivals

#Stunday: The Thames by Eel Pie Island at Twickenham. Always a lovely place and full of history even though the crows are a bit knackered, the pubs are eccentric and there’s not much water in the river at low tide. August 2026. #Thames #Twickenham #UrbanGaze

Where there is water there is still some green lushness in the parched countryside around here. But the River Cherwell is as low as I’ve seen it, just a few inches deep. Last winter, this entire area was flooded. Hampton Poyle, Oxfordshire, August 2026. #BlueskyArtShow #Earth #Oxfordshire

Gorgeous Cotswold view from Aynho Park this fine evening. Just miles of countryside. What a place! #Oxfordshire #AynhoPark #LandscapePhotography

Austen and lacey things in a vintage shop window. Oxford, August 2026. #Oxford #UrbanGaze #JaneAusten

It’s hotter in our garden this afternoon than it is in New Delhi or Mumbai. Cripes. (Source: BBC Weather app.)

Some of the business ends of Stan, Oxford’s local T. rex. Looks a no-nonsense character. Likely to expect better rations than the City Council’s famous vegan sandwiches. #Oxford #Dinosaur #Tyrannosaurusrex