The invasion destroyed their hopes that Russia might become a normal, non-violent country.

A normal, non-violent country like the USA, the UK, Israel, France, Germany…?

Podcast art of Next Year in Moscow by The Economist

The Economist’s Next Year in Moscow is an incredible podcast series. (So is Scam Inc).

🍿 A Complete Unknown (2024) - ★★★★☆

I really enjoyed this take on Bob Dylan’s electrifying personal highway to rock ’n’ roll superstardom hell amidst the increasingly furious shaking heads and would-be axe-wielding cable choppers of the folk establishment and elder guitar heroes.

Probably helps if you’re a Dylan fan. If you’re not, or you’re easily bothered by historical/factual inaccuracies in a “it’s the truth even if it didn’t happen” style movie then you should probably give it a miss.

Superb cast with highlights being Timothée Chalamet’s perfect portrayal of the obsessively creative introverted asshole Dylan and Monica Barbaro’s sensitive counterpoint as the already-a-superstar, slightly uptight but all-too-forgiving and exploited Joan Baez.

A Complete Unknown poster

This substation fire is nearer to where I live than Heathrow.

Woke up around 1 am to discover we had a power cut. Helicopter overhead, no mobile signal, no way of finding out what was going on.

Eventually mobile signal returned and called 105. Recorded message informed me that there were 67,000 homes without power from Northolt to Heston, and power expected to be restored by 3 am.

For a few moments I thought Starmer had nuked Moscow.

What we know so far about the Heathrow closure: bbc.com

Seed potatoes out for chitting. A bit earlier than last year!

A child is packing seed potatoes into a cardboard box on a wooden floor.Potatoes are sprouting on a windowsill in egg carton trays with a view of parked cars and buildings outside.

A common moorhen, not to be confused with a red-knobbed coot.

A bird is standing by a moored boat near the water's edge.

I still don’t know who shot JFK, but it’s clear it had nothing to do with Israel.

Well, what do you know?

A news article headline claims that Liz Kendall stated young people may be encouraged to join the army to reduce youth unemployment.

I hope everyone is watching and listening.

Morning walk.

The canal was unusually clean and calm in the sun.

Auto-generated description: A canal lock with surrounding buildings and trees is reflected in calm water.

I hadn’t noticed the little outhouse in the trees before.

Auto-generated description: A peaceful canal scene features boats docked along the waterway, flanked by leafless trees under a clear blue sky.

This Egyptian Goose wasn’t thrilled to see me and looked terrified as it waddled off giving me the beady eye.

Auto-generated description: A duck stands on a grassy path next to a pond with another duck swimming in the background.

It’s a boat.

Auto-generated description: A small boat is docked by a calm river, reflecting in the water against a backdrop of trees and a fence.

My new favourite band. Just wow!

You watch the sky open
But I feel it fall

“Alela Diane meets MotorheadEsben and the Witch.”

Honeyglaze - “I Feel It All”