Hello from West Norfolk, which does appear to be on some kind of land rush for Yarmouth.

First noticing of a Chiffchaff earlier today - a welcome sound of the seasons motoring along, although as Melissa Harrison pointed out, they're also the "original monkey with a miniature cymbal". So pros and cons eh?

a close up of a man 's face with a blurry background Alt: Harold Shand (Bob Hoskins) in the closing moments of The Long Good Friday.

Apropos of nothing.

I tried to eek them out for as long as I could, but I've now seen all six episodes, and I adored them. Slightly disheartened to get to the end so quickly, but very happy to find out that good things will come to those who wait. Mackenzie Crook's a keeper eh?

A clipping from The Telegraph newspaper that is headlined "Norfolk's the perfect place to banish Andrew to - it's brutal" accompanied by a picture of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor looking alarmed. So that's something.

Waving from "brutal" Norfolk - if there's anyone from @telegraph.co.uk out there, please be aware we do now have running water and mains electricity. Also there's a reason why we're somewhat unforgiving and one of the reasons is pictured.

small hours big time cutting things up / moving shapes around black paper with holes / night textures star fields / circles - a puzzle of sorts a solution presents itself

18/2/26 - nocturn

Unless it's relating to potato.

see also "smash it"

Small Prophets - Series 1: Episode 1 Since his girlfriend went missing seven years ago, Michael Sleep’s life has been on hold. But a mystical recipe in an old journal promises to give the answers he’s been longing for.

Your five-minute alarm call for the first episode of Mackenzie Crook's new show, Small Prophets, over on BBC2. I've already snuck a look at it on iPlayer and unsurprisingly loved it. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Just thinking back to 20 years ago when I thought about what my life and weekends might be like in the future. A cool, cultured, middle aged glamour and still a keen sense of style, perhaps. The reality? Spending my Sunday evening watching the 1978 Come Dancing final on BBC4.

Glad he was proven wrong. In an increasingly grim world his work is a constant tonic. Glad we’ve more incoming.

Local news update (to me anyway). The Windsor's increasingly niche moves into tourism continue.

And the #BigGardenBirdWatch results are in (2025/2024 results in brackets for the completists out there):

Blackbird = 2 (5/4)
Blue Tit = 3 (5/3)
Dunnock = 3 (0/2)
Great Tit = 2 (2/1)
House Sparrow = 7 (3/2)
Robin = 1 (2/2)
Rook = 2 (0/0)
Wood Pigeon = 3(4/3)

More local news. [And for reference for those who are baffled and intrigued: youtu.be/hn5m4m5VdP8?...

Sadly I think it would take longer than a day.

Screenshot of newspaper headline that states "Owner of King's Lynn wood refused permission to feel trees"

Meanwhile, in local news.

Desert Island Discs - Adeel Akhtar, actor - BBC Sounds Adeel Akhtar, actor, shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren Laverne.

Well, it's good to know that Adeel Akhtar, who I thought seemed like a lovely bloke, appears to be a lovely bloke. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

"Bang! And *everything* is gone."

A small felt alien in oranges and purples rather testicular in shape with vines and fronds projecting from it at all angles and a big sort of trumpet coming out the top on a black felt background

Made a little felt Triffid, based on the Penguin paperback cover.
In retrospect I wish I hadn’t chosen the most nutsack colour to sew what was already quite a bollockular form but sometimes I quite enjoy having created myself a bit of an obstacle to deal with, or in this case, a testicle to surmount

You should - it's well worth it. A great day of festivities to welcome in the new year properly :)

Another great creation. And I've got a copy of that same Penguin edition (I love the triffids!) and have always been a little bemused by that Buster Gonad inspired cover treatment.

A close-up photograph showing some heads of wheat, which make up the "costume" of the straw bear.

While the world slowly disassembles, I took part in some distraction avoidance activities and had a grand day in Whittlesea, at the Straw Bear Festival, where I got the opportunity to get up close and personal with the star of the show.

Heading out into the flatlands.

Checking the internet, there are apparently 44 places called Paradise, with more than a few in the US - which currently seems a stretch eh?

Ha - well spotted - this was indeed the village I grew up in, and while it was a fine place to grow up, I think I'd have expected a little more to be twinned with paradise!

You’re safe :)

Half Man Half Biscuit - Midnight Mass Murder [Official Audio] Midnight Mass Murder by Half Man Half Biscuit. Taken from the latest album The Voltarol Years. Available on CD, download and to stream here: https://HMHB.lnk.to/thevoltarolyears Lyrics: https://halfmanhalfbiscuit.uk/the-voltarol-years/midnight-mass-murder/ https://www.hmhb.co.uk/ https://halfmanhalfbiscuit.uk/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/6hBQq083tyW3yrF1gdVt4Q

Sparing a thought for all the clergy personnel involved in services later tonight:

Reckon it's time to sign up then :) particularly if this is a sign of things to come - great to hear Rosie Cavaliero starring too, she's great.

Hoping there's more of this kind of thing planned in 2026!

This was great :)