🧵Spotted in Country Aotearoa New Zealand:
A woman (20s?) is sitting on top of a picnic table looking out over a pristine water hole.
Legs swinging idly.
Expression dreamy.
A mist travelling over the water.
Bird song coming from every direction.
This is peace. (1)
There is a snazzy video online of us Cardiacs playing “Fiery Gun Hand” in Manchester the other day, for those who can tolerate such things. My impossible keyboard solo begins at 3:59
youtu.be/povE3Y68mqg
🧵Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A man (60s?) dressed in high vis and paint-smeared work boots is sitting in the window of a bakery. Hard at work, munching on a raspberry bun. A fresh cappuccino by his elbow. A sunbeam warming his face as people hurry by on the way to work. (1)
🧵Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:
In a toy shop: A man (80s?) is studying a great wall of board games. He says with heartfelt sincerity to the owner: "I want to get my grandson something he'll enjoy for his birthday. He's a lovely boy. And I'd like to see him happy." (1)
Cartoon by Gábor Pápai, a well-known Hungarian political cartoonist.
To my friends in Hungary:
A világ veled áll, miközben visszaszerzed, ami a tiéd
🧵Spotted on Market Day in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A couple (60s?) are cosied up next to each other under a big shady tree, reading a shiny new children's book.
An unused gift bag poking out of their colourful shopping basket.
Heads bowed together, laughing as they turn the pages. (1)
I have just watched Cynthia Erivo’s Dracula and it was the most awesome theatre I have ever seen. Absolute talent and genius.
🧵Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:
Two women (80s?) are standing in front of a $2 shop. One is looking at the plastic flowers in the window display and is saying: "Why not? Why shouldn't we?" With the air of Bilbo Baggins inspecting a rather important ring. (1)
🧵Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:
Three small humans (3 to 6?) are sitting on a long seat on the back of Dad's bike. All with legs dangling. All wearing bright green dinosaur helmets. Arms outstretched to AEROPLANE around the corners! (1)
🧵Spotted at a Country Fair in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A couple (teens?) are ambling along, holding hands.
Best clothes on.
The smell of Lynx deodorant wafting as they go.
One says: "This is a pretty good place to do a first date, eh?"
The other agrees and gives him a shy smile. (1)
🧵Spotted On a Lunchtime Walk In Aotearoa New Zealand:
A dapper man (80s?) has parked his mobility scooter in front of a sunny gallery where a man (70s?) with a chaotic halo of hair and paint flecks on his shirt, is debating him over the most optimal way to toast and butter a hot cross bun. (1)
🧵Spotted While Evening Supermarket Shopping in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A woman (late teens?) is dancing on the spot to a chill club track at the back of her camper van, stir frying dinner on a small portable stove. Her friend chilling in a camp chair nearby, a game of Scrabble at her feet. (1)
🧵Spotted on a River Walk at Golden Hour in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A woman in a Pokémon T-shirt (20s?) is humming to herself as she walks along. Arms idly swinging at her sides. Eyes half closed as golden light from the setting sun warms her face. (1)
I nominate this cartoon by Steve Cousineau for a Pulitzer!
🧵Spotted on Market Day in Aotearoa New Zealand:
In a cafe a tiny human (2?) says: "Dad. Dad. Dad! Dad! Can Fluffy have some?"
She thrusts her unicorn plushie towards Dad and he obligingly holds out his espresso cup so Unicorn can "numnumnum" itself a drink.
Unicorn hydration is IMPORTANT. (1)
🧵Spotted at a Multicultural Festival in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A man (30s?) surrounded by backpacks and toys is lying on his back in a sunny patch of grass, listening to a band play traditional a Greek tune. Hands behind his head, shades on.
A tiny new human sprawled on his chest. Fast asleep. (1)
I wish Trump a very long life indeed. I want to see him live through years of being held to account. I want him to live through the biographies and the documentaries. I want to see his allies ditch him like an old diaper and then turn on him. And I want him to hate every last single minute of it.
GBNI • Live Politics Support 145 Opinion Membership FR Refle EXCLUSIVE Robert Jenrick reveals real reason hundreds of thousands of Britons WON'T be able to vote for Reform UK
Ooh! Ooh! I know this one. They have morals and a conscience. And a brain!
🧵Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:
In a library: A woman (50s?) with a gloriously messy bun, in a tartan dress is embroidering a cross-stich sampler.
An overspilling basket of colourful thread at her feet.
A tranquil expression on her face. People browsing shelves around her. (1)
Cartoon by davegranlund.com.
Ideally the President of the United States and the stupidest person on the planet should be two different people…
🧵Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A couple of tourists(70s?) have gone off-piste in a quiet tree-lined street at the edge of the city centre.
Unfolding a paper map.
Studying it intently before looking this way, then that way...
Which way to go?
AH!
Back where they came from! (1)
This very straight news piece buried deep within the FT never uses words like corruption or insider dealing but every detail is quietly devastating. Why is the FT virtually alone in the UK media in covering this important story?
Happy International Women’s Day. Women are great.
Spain's leader with a message that should be adopted by every top Democrat
It's not Roosevelt we're dealing with. Hell, it's not even Nixon.
Evening shaggers, I've caught up on last week and I've torn my starched nightgown collar to shreds in shock at the sheer amount of FLAGRANT RUMPETUS PUMPETUS on display. The petition to the Lord Chamberlain is with the penny post. #TheArchers
🧵Spotted at an Italian Festival in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A family of three--Mum, Dad and Small Human (3?)--are cosied up on a picnic blanket around a bowl of buttery sage gnocchi.
Each holding a fork and tucking in.
Buttery cheeky smiles.
Live opera drifting towards them on a warm breeze. (1)