This week I'm at a conference that has thoughtfully provided a "social battery" badge which you can slide from red to green - it doesn't have a "evening in a darkened hotel room listening to Sibelius" level of recharge, alas #ExtrovertedForProfessionalReasonsOnly

For anyone who was inspired by @andrewrecinos.bsky.social #TLCC2026 mention of Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, can I heartily commend the podcast with Tea with Netty to you - Netty is a joyous soon-to-retire Viola player who takes us all behind the curtain with OAE oae.co.uk/tea-with-net...

Tea with Netty - Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Tea with Netty is our podcast hosted by viola player Annette Isserlis (Netty). You can read more about the podcast series here.

oae.co.uk

Deep down a Paul Simon rabbit hole 🎸

*not* before I pick up my Phillips 3000 steamer with portable hanging board for the travelling executive at 4pm today, thank *you*. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Sainsbury's agrees to sell Argos for £120m

Under the terms of the deal, Argos will still operate in Sainsbury's shops, sell Habitat products, and offer Nectar points.

bbc.co.uk

Really nice day enjoying the #BBCProms in Gateshead and Sunderland. Surprises, delights, and some really blissful moments too. Plus my first glimpse of the new, gorgeous and very exciting CultureHouse Sunderland where I'm planning to record some arty farty sector podcasts.

I don't understand, is he having dinner with everyone he's appointing to the Cabinet?

It was so nice to hear Mishal Husain on Broadcasting House this morning, and to have spent the day binging her podcast as a consequence. What an amazing interviewer.

31 out of the 34 are men. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Clacton by-election attracts 34 candidates

The list of people taking on Nigel Farage contains 20 independents and a number of joke candidates.

bbc.co.uk

Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man was the first piece I heard performed live by an orchestra*. It triggered a totally unexpected, electric, visceral reaction to classical music - unlocking a lifelong love. Cracking start to #BBCProms * Raymond Gubbay Classical Spectacular at the Utilita Arena

It is an excellent book, in which Lady Hale talks a great deal of sense on a great many issues.

Mark Pack@markpackuk.bsky.social · 4w ago

This is indeed as good as everyone says. Thank you for the recommendation @robin.cantrill-fenwick.uk!

I have got a very soft spot for Lerwick, I'm not going to lie

Arts Professional@artsprofessional.co.uk · 4w ago

Fifteen towns have been shortlisted to become the UK’s first Town of Culture in 2028, after nearly 400 places from across the UK entered the inaugural competition.

A person can be disqualified from being an MP by being appointed to one of the stupendous number of posts listed in Sch 1 House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975. I often feel we should use those for resignations in addition to the traditional ones. (Director of Flexibus Ltd, for example!)

The absolute joy of being in the car last night as Mahler 2 from the BBC Phil at the Bridgewater Hall was broadcast - we turned it up, then we turned it up some more. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Radio 3 in Concert - Mahler's Resurrection Symphony - BBC Sounds

The BBC Philharmonic in Manchester.

bbc.co.uk

Would you look at that, I only went and married a Doctor, didn't I?

Filing a confirmation statement with Companies House is like a sodding escape room these days - a mounting series of ever more complex puzzles accompanied by a £50 bill

Listening to reports of Sweden's annual political Almedalen week - we could so easily replicate this in the UK, and we'd be better off for it. Plus, random thought for the day, we should have a biannual Council of Premier Ministers with the First Ministers and the PM meeting. #FederalismOnTheQT

Petition for the BBC to put this 2011 performance of Mahler 2 on the iPlayer www.youtube.com/watch?v=RONB...

GLORIOUS! -- Mahler 2nd Symphony "Resurrection" - Ending

YouTube video by OneQuietLife

youtube.com

People saying a leadership election is pointless. Strongly suspect we are about to enter a period of mounting/relentless noise about how Burnham is an unelected PM, and then when he makes his first misstep, howls of complaint that he wasn't tested by the Labour party in an internal contest.

All I want to know is how much luggage you can fit in a 420L roof box. I can't believe I've found the one topic YouTube doesn't have a video on. The internet is rubbish. I'm out.

The hospitality industry wants their VAT cut to 10%. It will cost £12bn Who benefits? ❌ The smallest most vulnerable businesses? Nope. 45% get nothing. ❌ Consumers? Nope - prices won't fall. ✅ Nearly half the cash goes straight to large chains. McDonald's gets £400m. 🧵:

But there can't be a big football thing on, I'm sure there was a big football thing on very recently

Triggered. I lived next to a pub for 4 years and barely noticed. The landlord changed, and it became an overnight noise nuisance. The pub pre-dated me, and I pre-dated the Landlord. The Landlord was an inconsiderate prick.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan@london.gov.uk · 2mo ago

Complaining about nightlife when you *checks notes* choose to live in Soho is like living in South Kensington and complaining about the museums. Or moving to Hackney and grumbling about creatives. Living in Richmond and hating green space. It's all getting a bit silly, isn't it?

I have a new favourite YouTube channel which offers "travel videos about nerdy stuff", and I think some of you might like it too youtube.com/@whatonearth...

What On Earth Is This?

I do travel videos but about nerdy stuff.

youtube.com

Jaw dropping that #BBCLauraK chucked 'are you a lesbian now?' into that Nicola Sturgeon interview

Fascinating read on Restore Britain, and how Reform have adopted the Lib Dem byelection playbook www.thetimes.com/article/f823...

In Makerfield, armed with leaflets, Reform are ready for El Alamein

Nigel Farage’s candidate, Robert Kenyon, says his party can unite the right by absorbing Restore Britain support to beat Andy Burnham’s Labour in the by-election

thetimes.com

No, they're calling for a 50%, or 10 point, cut. #ThisStuffDrivesMeMad

Have some longer thoughts on the Blair intervention, but big challenge for him is, fairly or not, the public aren't particularly inclined to want govt to listen. When we asked about which ex-PMs (and podcasting MPs) govt should listen to he got lowest 'worth listening to' of any ex PM bar Truss.

An absolute legend of the Lib Dem party in local government.

Ed Davey@eddavey.libdems.org.uk · 2mo ago

Very sad to hear that Flick Rea, one of our longest-serving London councillors, has passed away aged 88. From meeting her in the 90s to my last campaign trip to Camden earlier this year, she never stopped smiling, campaigning, and being the amazing Liberal she was.

Need a reason to smile? This, learned of through @quietriotpod.bsky.social, sounds brilliant reasonstobecheerful.world/greening-aba...

Near Philadelphia's New Green Spaces, a Dramatic Reduction in Crime

With thousands of vacant lots now beautified, the city is showing that targeting places instead of people can work wonders.

reasonstobecheerful.world

These lads are absolutely... Well... boss. Love them. Good luck, boys! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Race Across The World: Jo and Kush say finale is 'very tense'

The childhood best friends from Liverpool are the youngest duo in this series of the BBC show.

bbc.co.uk