There is always a Yes Minister episode.

Ah Sperrings!

I remember when every Saturday was record shop day. The Southampton trail: Subway, Virgin, Henrys, HMV, then the bargain bins at Smiths and Woolies. Yours?

BBC headline “Pope criticise ‘tyrants’ who spend billions on wars after Trump spat”

Disgusting habit, spitting

😬

Big Ben - one clockface says 3.42 the other 12.00

Is that the time? 🤔

Cover of The Wars Against Saddam by John Simpson

I’ve finally started to read a book I borrowed from my late father-in-law 20 years ago. Seemed topical. I’m left feeling that any incoming world leader should be given a compulsory reading list, with this on it - and with a pre-inauguration test. How could we forget the lessons of history, so soon?

Back To The Future: New Town Planning Where are we now on the new towns (the new new towns and some instances new old towns) following the government’s latest 23 March 2026 announcements and further consultation? We now have MHCLG’s Ne…

New blog post, Back To The Future: New Town Planning

simonicity.com/2026/04/12/b...

Just another wild night at Le Beat Route

😋

Chopped beetroot

🎵
Don’t need this pressure on
Don’t need this pressure on
You go down, down
Pass the talk of town
You go down Greek street
Then its underground
Well it’s Soho life
For this mobile knife
It’s the place to shoot
Saturday night beetroot 🎵

Pet Smells would have been so much more evocative

Amazon message on phone “based on your recent purchase you may also be interested in pet odour removers”

Trying to remember what I must have bought 🤨

About right…

Unhinged slab of Trump truth social ramblings

Give him a break this is literary genius.

Starmer could of course call Trump privately now with the message that if he doesn’t immediately switch course the king and UK air bases are now out of bounds and forget about the World Cup. Who knows what’s happening behind the scenes but sleepwalking into this will never be forgiven.

Obscure Pet Shop Boys - 6 April 2026

I made a playlist or last nights Obscure Pet Shop Boys performance at the Electric Ballroom. So good! #petshopboys

open.spotify.com/playlist/2tz...

It was chokka!

First night of Pet Shop Boys “obscure” residency this week at the Electric Ballroom.

My Cat: Open the Fuckin’ Wet Food, you crazy bastard, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.

A huge new dining room you say? Well this is a little too on-the-nose...

Oh.

Well Leeds at Wembley would have a reassuring ring to it 🤞#saintsfc

This is an actual post. This is not funny. This is beyond desperate. This is a deeply unwell man who doesn’t belong anywhere near the levers of power. Every member of his cabinet and Congress is complicit in not demanding his removal now.

Rabbit in garden

He thinks it’s his special day or something. Oi! 🐇

Further Measures To Discourage LPA Refusals Of Large Housing Schemes…Activated Once we are the other side of the local elections, there are a couple of procedural changes to be aware of which take effect from 11 May, both flagged in my 8 March 2026 blog post Planning Committe…

New blog post, Further Measures To Discourage LPA Refusals Of Large Housing Schemes…Activated

simonicity.com/2026/04/05/f...

✊#saintsfc 🟡🔵

Why Building Homes Feels Impossible - A Planning Expert Explains Why YouTube video by Omer Mehmet

I’m just a planning lawyer rather than any sort of planning expert but you are an SME developer maybe you will find this recent chat of interest. Most professional podcast studio I have been in for sure. Thank you Omer Mehmet for the invite.
youtu.be/b705EerDCDs?...

Headline: Dow rises 300 points after Trump says U.S. in ‘serious' talks to end operation in Iran

Golden retriever runs 15 feet after owner mimes throwing tennis ball

Cover of Hooked by Asako Yuzuki

I can’t believe it’s not Butter. I’ve enjoyed this earlier novel by Asako Yuzuki just as much as much - now published in English translation.