A 10 mile hike in 30c heat wasn’t my best idea but that’s Section 9 of the @ldnloop-capring.bsky.social completed. A gloriously sweaty ramble from Kingston to Hatton. As an aviation nerd getting to walk under the Heathrow flight path was an absolute treat. @gojauntly.bsky.social #LondonLoop.

After getting rained off last week, I took advantage of the gorgeous weather to tick off Sections 7 & 8 of the @ldnloop-capring.bsky.social. A gorgeous 13m walk along the Hogsmill River. Happy to see the Thames again having not seen it since Erith. Now a 1/3 way through the Loop, only 100m to go!

Had a thoroughly lovely long weekend ambling around #Brussels thanks to a cheap Eurostar ticket. I’d never put much thought into going but the architecture, art, food and of course, beer make it an easy recommend.

Absolutley adored Matt Lyons documentary, SOBO, a beautiful story capturing his attempt at hiking the Pacific Crest Trail South Bound. It's a great reminder about how personal growth often comes from doing the hard things. #SOBO youtu.be/AhUizyW99PM?...

SOBO: A Pacific Crest Trail Story by Matt Lyons

YouTube video by Matt Lyons

youtu.be

Hiking the #NakasendoTrail has sat with me since coming home from Japan in March. This is the longest piece I've written since I've started writing more about my hiking but I'm really please how it's turned out. open.substack.com/pub/nikmorti...

Hiking the Nakasendo Trail

Walking Japans Samurai Road

open.substack.com

Overjoyed to be back in my beloved Tokyo after 18 months away, it’s a city I’ll never fully understand but I’ll always adore. Looking forward to a busy 10 days exploring Japan.

Over the last twelve months or so I’ve really gotten into collecting Invaders via the #flashinvaders app. It’s such a fun way to explore more of the London (or Paris or plenty of other cities) and get off the beaten path. Anyone else collecting #Invaders where they live?

Took a nostalgic trip back to Twin Peaks the #BFI last night, such a treat getting to see the pilot on the big screen in 35mm. I’d forgotten just how good a job of world building that 1st episode does, guess I’m doing a rewatch of the whole thing now.

2025 was a sensational year for movies. I managed to watch 46 2025 releases this year and it’s amazing how many of the films in my Top 10 have sat there all year only to be toppled by One Battle After Another which I’m still thinking about weeks after seeing it. @letterboxd.social

Wes Anderson: The Archives is absolutely worth a visit if you’re a fan of his films. It’s incredible just how much detail goes into his movies, it’s fantastic seeing how well preserved everything is.

#RentalFamily is cute, sentimental and you can spot the ending coming a mile off but damn if this movie doesn’t have a lot of heart. It explores some of the knottier aspects of Japanese culture in a way that doesn’t pass judgement, using them as plot mechanism instead. Brendan Fraser is superb. #LFF

#Wakeupdeadman might be Benoit Blanc’s finest outing yet. Darker and more layered that its predecessors @rianjohnson.bsky.social turns his attention to the online weaponisation of faith in a way I found enthralling, all whilst wrapping the plot in the trapping a of a gorgeous gothic mystery. #LFF

Richard Linklater’s #NouvelleVague is a celebration of the messiness of the creative process, it’s one of those movies only he could direct. The cast is fantastic, all charm personified. I just want to sit in the dark, watch movies in my sunglasses and smoke, all whilst fabulously dressed. #LFF.

#Frankenstein is a big beautiful gothic horror delivered in a way that only @realgdt.bsky.social can, he makes the world feel alive. Issac makes for a wonderfully unhinged Victor Frankenstein but the movie belongs to Elordi who tackles one of the most iconic characters ever and makes it his own #LFF

@noclipvideo.bsky.social it’s only small but the London Film Festival is hosting an Indie Games Lounge at the BFI IMAX in London. It’s not been massively advertised but thought your London audience might want to check it out.

I’m more an Invader fan than I am of Hirst or Fairey but I quite enjoyed their collab, Triple Trouble which is on display at Hirsts Newport Street Gallery. Invaders work is better seen in the street but this is a great way to see a bunch of it in one place.

So happy that my favourite cinema, the Odyssey in St. Albans is showing Harakiri, the top rated narrative feature film on @letterboxd.social. Never seen the movie before so I’m overjoyed that I get to tick it off the list and support an independent cinema at the same time.

Finally kicked off the @ldnloop-capring.bsky.social this morning, a very windy 9 mile walk from Erith to Bexley with @gojauntly.bsky.social as my trusty guide. Hard to believe some of this scenery is still technically in London, gorgeous stuff. Looking forward to getting stuck in now.

Had a great few days exploring Zurich, my first time in Switzerland but not my last. Such a fantastic city that’s easy to amble around with just enough to see and some excellent food and drink options. #zurich #travel

Stranger Things: The First Shadow absolutely blew my mind, how they achieved some of things they put on stage is astounding. If you’re not a fan of Stranger Things, it’s not going to convert you but if you are then it’s a thrilling addition to the series cannon.

Fantasic 4 is my favourite Marvel flick in a while. Perfect casting, great world building and some gorgeous production design that's let down by some ropey CGI that’s sub-par even for Marvel. The focus on kindness and hopefulness is a welcome addition to the MCU. Herbie deserves all the scritches.

Really enjoyed the Daily Planet pop in Kings Cross promoting #Superman. Even if it did mean revealing my secret identity…..

The Cinema Museum is an absolute must visit if you’re a fan of film, London & the history of film in London. It’s an absolute treasure trove celebrating the rich history of picture houses that used to cover the capital, at one stage Elephant & Castle alone had over 40 cinemas in it.

Amazing day getting reacquainted with Copenhagen after a decade away. When I say reacquainted, what I mean is visiting all of the Mikkeller beer locations that have opened since the last time I was here. Such a great city to hang out in for a few days, as the kids would say, the vibes are on point.

I think of Paris as my second home, getting to visit a couple of times a year is therapy to me. Like London, it’s a city I’ll never fully understand or get bored of but that’s kind of the point. I loved @simonkuper.bsky.social Impossible City, he captures my feelings on the city of light perfectly.

Finally got to see the stage adaptation of My Neighbour Totoro yesterday and absolutely adored it. The production values were incredible, the way they brought Totoro and the forest sprites to life was astounding. If you need a pick me up, I can’t recommended checking this out highly enough.

Outstanding evening at the gorgeous Union Chapel for @pattonoswalt.bsky.social. Haven’t had the pleasure of seeing him live since 2019 and he didn’t disappoint, I really hope he doesn’t leave so long until his next visit. His bit about choosing money or a life well lived really hit home.

Hiroshige, artist of the open road is gorgeous exhibit celebrating the stunning scenery of my home away from home. Well worth paying the British Museum a visit to check it out.

#Sinners is an absolute certified banger and hopped straight to the top of my favourite movies this year. Coogler is operating on another level directing his own original script and Jordan does fantastic work pulling double duty as twins bringing nuance and depth to both. See it on the big screen.

Fantastic set by @kumail.bsky.social at the Leicester Square Theatre tonight. His story about his geriatric cat actually being his baby hit me hard, I too have older cat who will always be my baby and I won’t hear otherwise. And remember, shit’s fucked up right now but you’re going to be ok.