This is a beautiful, heartbreaking piece about losing a child.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...

As somebody who has lost a child, I agree with that rather beautiful description. Thank you for posting it.

I’ve left the bright lights for the quieter and darker Gloucestershire countryside. Some lovely dark spots around here.

Tom, should that be a link? It looks very interesting but it doesn't lead anywhere (bit like a good walk...)

👀🤡

Lyrid meteor shower 2026: Ideal conditions forecast for peak of display The Lyrid meteor shower is the oldest recorded and Wednesday brings near perfect weather conditions to see them as they peak. Simon King explains.

In the immediate aftermath of our son's death I used to go for long walks in the middle of the night. It was the Perseid meteor shower at the time. I was treated to a magical display that I found incredibly comforting. This time it's the Lyrids. Get out & watch it. www.bbc.co.uk/weather/arti...

I only play it when it goes over £100m as anything less wouldn't make a difference to my lifestyle. Obviously. I'd also like to say I'm pleased for the winners but that would be a barefaced lie.

Exactly this....which will in turn impact wealthier countries. We live in an interdependent world. Eventually the problems of the poorest will become the problems of everybody. The more and sooner we help out, the more manageable these problems will be.

I hope so. I saw a post yesterday with Trump heaping praise on him which he mostly tends to do with people who pander to him.

Scandalous really. And, as if by design, these two posts next to each other on my timeline.......

Yup. I’ve been as disappointed with him as most but the absence of any rational and sensible alternative is concerning.

His biggest crime is probably not being Steve Jobs. Many people seem unable to forgive him for that. Apple has lost some of its appeal but that's just the cycle of business and it's hardly failing. My only beef with him is that he seems to be quite close with Trump.

That's a lovely picture of you both. Sending you big love and hugs, Caroline x

Mandelson's predecessor was the highly respected Karen Pierce. She was popular, good at the job, rated by the Americans who wanted her to stay and (so I have read) also wanted to remain in post.

Everything about this appears to be a self-inflicted and self-indulgent boys' club error.

Friend of mine just posted this elsewhere. Tipping for online store staff.....

I didn't know that one. Love it.

Much better today. A good night's sleep can do wonders but I will of course ignore my own advice not to overdo it next time.

Life is too short not to let it all go every now and then.

After almost 13 yrs I’ve become pretty good at managing the grief of losing a child but the day after a big night out can be challenging. It’s self-inflicted, of course, but strewth it’s been dark today. But, it’s good to wallow in it sometimes too. Life, eh.

Well, unless this is a new thing whereby the BBC utilises the logo of each party when reporting on them (which is a stupid idea too), this is idiocy.

In fact, this whole Mandelson matter reminds me of the Russian term 'vranyo', which describes situations in which somebody is lying, everybody knows they're lying, they both know that each other knows that they're lying, but everybody acts as if it's true.

From what I can make out, what's going on in Parliament right now is one useless person being criticised by lots of other useless people. It's a circle jerk of uselessness.

As a 'neutral'* the run in is going to be compelling viewing but your lot don't half like making it stressful for themselves and their fans.

*If my lot can't win it/also be nice if a different team won the PL for a third season in a row.....

I love a good portmanteau.

Agree with all that. But also, what could possibly go wrong?

The US is being looted by its own President but the saddest part is that nobody appears to be resisting.

We saw here in the UK under the last Conservative government how democracy is dependent on good people being in charge & how easy it is for corrupt self-serving politicians to take advantage.

He's going to appoint Simon Sinek captain next.

Went to a lovely wedding of some good friends yesterday. Being a Sunday, it meant that it cut into my gardening time, so when we got back at midnight after some not insignificant pintage, I did some gardening.

I am now considering starting a silent disco and gardening club.

Rock and roll.

I retrospect I will concede that I should’ve been more clear about when and how I agree and disagree with him!

Again, agreed. I’m merely commenting on his overall point. We’re currently up shit creek and nobody is confronting it.

I agree with you but it doesn’t detract from his overall point of the state we’re in. I place Johnson and Cameron as the two worst PMs of my lifetime, more so than Truss who was too shit to cause the kind of long term damage they did. She was hopeless, they were harmful.