I’m kind of surprised that one or two people have taken issue with this.

Behind the Bookshelves With Jez Conolly

Here I am, featuring on this week’s Bookshelves of Scotland! open.substack.com/pub/thebooks...

Mr. Bun the baker

Iran has ‘new cards’ on the battlefield. Here’s Trump’s next move. You heard it here first.

That’s quiet *enough*!

Flake advert

Fellatious imagery notwithstanding (if you’ll pardon the phrase), 1970s Flake adverts had a lot of that decade’s soft focus rural aesthetic. Oh stop it!

So I’ve heard 😳

From The World at War.

From The World at War.

From The World at War.

From The World at War.

From The World at War. Eastenders talking about the Blitz.

Yes, quite a lot of this has to do with the the nature of photography and film from that time.

Frenzy pub scene

Frenzy pub scene

Frenzy deserves an honourable mention too. Those early pub scenes are great. Gotta love any film in which you hear Bernard Cribbins use the word ‘bastard’.

I’m guessing you’ve seen Robert Altman’s Images? I’m actually writing an article about Larraz’s film Symptoms, which I consider the epicentre of this woozy contemporary rural British horror.

I think also there was something about colour film processing, and film stick, that lent films made at the time that certain quality. 70s pubs though: dimple glass pint tankards and smokes. Unhealthy but evocative.

The House that Vanished pub scene

The House that Vanished pub scene

Watching Jose Larraz’s film The House that Vanished (which is fairly godawful) and getting a reminder of the lovely colour palette of pub scenes in 1970s British films.

Some very warm words from the redoubtable @robinince.bsky.social - super nice of him to take the time and trouble to post about my book.

Some very warm words from the redoubtable Robin Ince - super nice of him to take the time and trouble to post about my book.

The sofa will have to do 🛋️

Lovely to see folks getting their copies through.

Very cool! I hope you enjoy it☺️

New university free speech complaints system to come into force this year Universities could face fines of £500,000 or 2% of their income if they are found to have failed to protect free speech.

I have to say, I’m very glad I’m no longer caught up in the world of Academia. It’s become a battlefield. You know very well how this is going to go.

New university free speech complaints system to come into force this year www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

If you’re an Instagrammer, you’ll find me featuring on this week’s ‘Bookshelves of Scotland’ account! A Q&A will follow over on Substack on Tuesday, in which you’ll learn, among other things, what my favourite dessert is…

www.instagram.com/p/DXUELyzCNx...

Ahh, but the view from the bridge. It’s worth lingering.

My dad was a cinema manager. They used to sell ‘Jungle Fresh’ peanuts. These were really quite small peanuts, too small to be worthy of making it into bags of KP. But in the dark of the cinema, you don’t check to see how big the nuts are. You just stick ‘’em in your gob and chew. Oo-er missus.

Hercules the hippo

Hercules the hippo. I wrote about him in my book. Poor old Hercules. temporalboundary.bigcartel.com/product/capt...

Andy Kershaw: Former Radio 1 DJ and Live Aid presenter dies aged 66 The broadcaster was known for his eclectic taste and for helping champion world music on BBC Radio 1.

I had some correspondence with Andy a few years ago. He was a fellow Dead of Night obsessive. He sent me a photo of himself standing outside the farmhouse that featured in the film. I bought a copy of No Off Switch from a charity shop just a couple of weeks ago. RIP. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

C’MON PEOPLE, ASSHOLES AND ELBOWS! This sale window closes at midnight on 29 April, so not long. Get ordering! Multidisc Blu-Ray with all the trimmings: £49, digital: £30.Simply hours of content.

aliens-expanded.com?sca_ref=1067...

buttermints. Or humbugs. Take yer pick.

When I think of the phrase ‘for the betterment of humanity’ I always picture buttermints. Or humbugs. Take yer pick.

Hegseth’s use of the Pulp Fiction ‘prayer’ illustrates his ignorance and also the sheer contempt he has for real actual Christians. Ironically, I think it’s high time for those real actual Christians to strike down upon this alcoholic charlatan with great vengeance and furious anger.

Loch Ness Dalek by Leo Baxendale.

Detail from Loch Ness Dalek by Leo Baxendale

I had the Willy the Kid annuals. My favourite was the Loch Ness Dalek. Particularly bottom right: ‘Poor wee Hughie! The Dalek monster just exterminated his brain!’ (See Hughies’s face)

What is it with adages and aunties? Mine used to say that, plus things like ‘there’s many a slip twixt cup and lip’. ‘Twixt’. FFS.

I know!

Aliens Expanded 40th Anniversary Edition Celebrate Aliens 40th Anniversary with the ultimate companion doc featuring Sigourney Weaver, James Cameron, Michael Biehn, and many more, plus 15 hours of special features! Ends April 28th!

#HorrorWritersChat

Fankoo Mary!

I’m affiliated to CreatorVC, so…

Aliens is celebrating its 40th anniversary - NOW is the time to buy your copy of the greatest documentary EVER MADE about this landmark film: ALIENS EXPANDED!

Two-week sales window - ORDER NOW!: aliens-expanded.com?sca_ref=1067...

I totally agree.