A fascinating view within the cloisters of Lacock Abbey. Every item a beautiful thing in its own right. Something I can’t say about my own house, but perhaps it would be a helpful aspiration.

Theresa May, Amber Rudd, Sajid Javid, Priti Patel, Suella Braverman, Grant Shapps, Suella Braverman again, James Cleverley, Yvette Cooper, Shabana Mahmood.

What a race to the bottom. Who's next, Sauron? Fucking bleak isn't it.

East window, Carlisle Cathedral, for #TraceryTuesday. Victorian rather than medieval. Apparently it's been voted the UK's favourite stained glass window. (I'd have gone for the west window at Fairford myself, Judgment Day in lurid Technicolor....)

The thing that really annoys me about all this Mandelson stuff is that the US Ambassador role was not vacant! There was already a highly qualified and competent woman in the position

And now this thing about finding a job for Starmer's ex Head of Comms?

Jobs for the Boys alive and well

As it's a washing machine, wouldn't a knight in white satin been more appropriate?

(Sorry 😀)

England wildlife watchdog ‘has stopped designating special sites for protection’ Exclusive: Report finds Natural England has created no new SSSIs, which protect areas from development, since 2023

Natural England hasn't protected a single new SSSI since 2023. Are they avoiding making decisions on sites where irreplaceable wildlife is in peril too – eg, Middlewick Ranges, Essex? Appreciate they're working with a nature-hostile government, so not easy. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Today's railway photograph: Paris Gare du Nord.

Whether or not you have been to the Kederminster Library at Langley Marish (now in the suburbs of Slough), do share this one abd consider visiting. It’s utterly spectacular and worth a long journey. langleymarish.com/stmary/keder... - hats off for them for seeing that is open to be visited.

I thought they were invented by a French man, Philippe Pheloppe...

Very vivid!

This isn't a reference it's security vetting.

There's no foliage that I can see (in fact none of the misericords depict a foliate head), but my first thought when I saw it was, 'What's that dog doing there?'

It seems to me that Mandelson was going to be appointed almost irrespective. And that's irresponsible.

Given the sensitivities of the post, Mandelson's previous history and the importance of the US relationship, yes he should have checked. Arguing that this post isn't important enough to have bothered is ridiculous.

Ambassador to the US is a minor position? 🤣

He hadn't completed vetting before he was appointed. You don't think that was a mistake?

So the appointment of someone who he knew had remained friends with Epstein, had already been sacked twice and is being appointed to possibly the most important ambassador post and you're not bothered he didn't ask?

The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery We are delighted to announce that The Friends of The Potteries Museums & Art Gallery, helped by generous public donations, have raised £10,000 towards the acquisition Ellastone Dress Fastener. Thank you everyone who has donated towards this fantastic milestone. We are now closing this strand of the funding campaign.

Some great news - thank you to everyone who contributed their hard earned cash!

(Just a reminder that had the finder/ landowner donated the dress fastener, it would have cost £0 instead of £150,000...)

#Archaeology #Detecting #Treasure 🏺

He's already said he didn't know Mandelson hadn't passed vetting, therefore he clearly didn't bother to find out. Can you even understand English?

Not the point. He's the boss and should have established that Mandelson had passed vetting before appointment. Surely that's basic?

Another misericord from Carlisle Cathedral, although I'm not sure what's going on in this one. Birds (eagles?) are pecking at this creature's tongue (demonic Yorkshire terrier?) Meanwhile, two bearded guys on caps support impassively.

Hilarious . Now moaning renewables are too efficient 🤣🤣🤣🫣

A fur-covered Wild Man attacks a dragon on a misericord in Carlisle Cathedral.

If you see this, post something orange from your gallery

It's heading for the sunshine.

If the past really is a foreign country I’m surprised so many right-wingers want to live there.

Angry Starmer: like being shouted at by a dormouse.

Ed Miliband to double down on net zero with measures to combat Iran energy shock As fossil fuel prices soar ‘the era of clean energy security must come of age’, energy secretary will say

This really is the only answer. Our dependence on fossil fuels must end. For our planet, and for our society.

Memorial stone in Sherborne Abbey. (The ‘Abbey-garden and Green’ refers to the churchyard.) The winter of 1708/9 had been extraordinarily cold and was the coldest European winter during the past 500 years. It seems the extreme weather continued into May.

A picture of a rather dilapidated copy of "The picture of Dorian Gray" There is visible water damage to the cover and the plastic cover is yellowing. Obviously, not evident from the picture but there is a truly foul musty smell emanating from it!

Last week, a gentleman returned this rather dilapidated copy of this famous book to us after 50 years. He had found it in his attic!
Presumably this means there is a pristine copy somewhere in our libraries....