National media clickbait has moved on from "Charlie and Naga shared a joke on BBC Breakfast" to "some person asked the bank how to download a statement"

A little ceramic Dutch house next to a uranium green stemmed shot glass.

I'm blaming @robin.cantrill-fenwick.uk for this. Though I can point out that buying the little ceramic house containing some jonge jenever from Wynand Fockink is probably cheaper than taking a first class flight with KLM to be given one?

Yay! An excellent choice. Cheers

Anyway. Grief is long-lasting, and it's probably the weirdest thing we feel awkward talking about as humans, given we all experience it.

'Rising star' councillor killed_ A YOUNG councillor has died in a motorway car crash. Neil Trafford, 33, who represented Didsbury West, Manchester, was killed in a pile-up involving three cars and a van on the M6.

Music, hey? Leona Lewis' "Run" comes on shuffle. In an instant I'm back at the memorial service to Neil Trafford. Feeling still that for someone *so* alive to have died so suddenly... Well. The universe glitched that day. Can't have happened. And yet.

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...

God love the NHS, and I do too, but it's just made me drive a 90 minute round trip in the middle of a work day, to sign a paper form.

This is such a shame. It's been a bit of an Institution locally for years, known for good food and a special atmosphere - that landlady really doesn't realise just how firmly the foot has gone in the mouth there. I note their Google Reviews are now an absolute car crash.

🥷 🤦‍♂️

Best air fryers on the market. Damned kids.

@johnshea63.bsky.social Cracking selection. And the traditional Swedish folk dance that followed. Total joy.

Through the Night - Mahler's Resurrection Symphony - BBC Sounds The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra performs Mahler's Resurrection Symphony.

Listening to last night's Through the Night and it kicks off with the most INCREDIBLE recording of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony from Sweden, conducted by Daniel Harding. Every hair on my arms standing on end. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Amazing nominations received already, but we are light on nominations for Finance Professional of the year. Show your finance bods some love!

It really does, doesn't it! I've never really noticed that before, so I think that's probably a "no" on consistency

Much nostalgia in my high school Facebook group this weekend. My form tutor sent me out into the world with this damned-with-faint-praise opening sentence. Brutal. The "generally" absolutely nailed it. My sense of humour has got me in trouble my whole life 🫣

Updated

Classical Music needs to stop being in thrall to a dead ‘star’ system — William Norris Arts Management I argue that the artists on stage are rarely the audience attractions that the classical music business think they are. We need a reality check.

After a long hiatus my blog is back - and this time I'm asking why orchestras (and other art forms) continue to be in thrall to 'star' power, when said artists are very rarely the reason audiences attend...

www.williamnorrisartsmanagement.co.uk/blog/classic...

Isn't there. Into the bin with you and your domestic violence, Mr.

I'll take that, I'll take that

Ha! However, this reminds me of an anecdote which I will now foist on you.

I was on a flight last yr when the call went up for a doctor. A cabin crew member confidently walked up to me and said "you look like you're a doctor". I still wonder what it was that made me look medically competent. Specs?

Assisted dying bill will not now become law, say both sides The House of Lords are continuing to debate the proposals but there is not enough time to complete all the stages in the current parliamentary session.

So, so, so disappointing from the House of Lords. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Genius

Whatever you do, do it with massive shoulder pads

So exciting to be one of the many thousands of people who got up early to read the official responses to the independent review of Arts Council England. You feel it too, right?

Bring a champion for all arts and culture, including dance, theatre, opera, animation, musical theatre, being in a band or DJ - these are not mutually exclusive! Falling for stereotype that some art forms only for posh people makes them even less accessible to young people from diverse backgrounds.

And finally, stand back and watch me shoot this giant white stick

Camel's throats, not monkey balls, sorry

*Geordie Accent* Only when the Camel and Lars have been eaten, can the winner sit with a monkey

(And presumably eat its testicles?)

And once they're done with the camel, the leader of the Moderate Party is done for

Denmark's I'm A Member of Parliament Get Me Out of Here takes a surreal turn