Hellripper on stage at the Dome in London
Schizophrenia onstage at the Dome in London
Another good gig last night courtesy of Hellripper and Schizophrenia. Second week in a row for awesome metal tours!
Kreator on stage in London with Red lights on stage, a demon head with eyes lit up and half of a devil sculpture on right side of stage.
Kreator on stage with flames on part of stage and demon head with eyes lit up.
Had a great time seeing Kreator and Carcass last night. Kreator have quite the stage show these days!
Lewes and Warwick are two that come to mind. I’m sure there are others.
Napalm Death on stage at Electric Ballroom, London.
Napalm Death on stage at Electric Ballroom, London.
First gig of the year: Grindcore legends Napalm Death. Still ferocious as ever.
Long overdue.
Hedgehog crossing sign near the entrance to the London Wetland Centre.
Bob the heron inside the otter enclosure.
Two Asian small-clawed otters in their enclosure.
Had a pleasant afternoon at the London Wetland Centre earlier this week. Among the flapping wonders was Bob the heron who likes to prowl the otter enclosure looking for something good to eat!
A bit later than I planned, here’s my cultural highlights of 2025
Film: Sinners
Album: Lambrini Girls - Who Let The Dogs Out?
Book: The Lamb by Lucy Rose
TV: The Death of Bunny Munro
Stage: Inside No.9: Stage/Fright
Exhibition: Leigh Bowery, Tate Modern
A grey heron standing beside the boating lake in Battersea Park, London.
Several ring-necked parakeets in tree foliage in Battersea Park, London.
Mallards in a pond by the US embassy in London.
I seem to have accidentally become a chronicler of birds in my local area. Here are a few photos that I’ve taken recently.
Wet Leg on stage at Circuit, Kingston
Wet Leg with added bubbles!
Last gig of 2025 last night: Wet Leg. A good one to end the year with.
I think Reform will gain Bexley and Havering and do well enough to push Bromley into no overall control. Hillingdon is another promising area along with maybe Sutton but the LDs have generally held up better against Reform than Labour and the Tories in recent elections so might be able to hold on.
I did the same last week. Been a member for 15 years but I’ve just had enough now. I may vote Labour again in the future but at the moment, I’m backing the Greens and I’m looking forward to making a positive vote for them in next year’s elections.
Vacant seat was a Lib Dem defence. Labour hold the other seat in the ward.
While things are likely to be bad for Labour in next year’s local elections, I don’t think they’ll be quite that bad!
Are you going to be doing any more events in London, John? I missed the one you did earlier in the year due to illness.
Quite disappointed that Sam Fender won. Probably the artist who needed the recognition the least out of the nominees. Emma-Jean Thackray would have been my choice.
Hate to be that guy but The Sea Devils’ music was actually by Malcolm Clarke.
Blood Incantation performing at Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Blood Incantation performing at Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Saw Blood Incantation for the first time tonight and they were fantastic. If you get a chance to see them on this tour, do not hesitate!
Gravensteen Castle in Ghent at night
Part of The Eurorats installation by Luis Lazaro Matos at the SMAK museum in Ghent
Nova Twins onstage at Club Wintercircus in Ghent
Back from a very pleasant stay in Ghent. Lovely architecture, great food and drink and cool places to hang out in. Definitely intend to go back at some point.
Ellie Rowsell, Theo Ellis and Joff Oddie from Wolf Alice onstage at Circuit in Kingston, London.
Wolf Alice performing at Circuit in Kingston, London
Very much enjoyed seeing Wolf Alice at an intimate gig in Kingston earlier today. Ellie Rowsell is such a good singer!
West Hampstead has often been close between Labour and the Lib Dems. They almost won a seat in the ward at the last Camden elections in 2022 when Labour were still in opposition nationally. Not saying that Labour won’t struggle in London next year but they are unlikely to lose Camden.
I don’t know why she is still their leader on the Assembly as she is utterly woeful. If they replaced her with Andrew Boff or Emma Best, they might start getting somewhere in London. Until then, they’ll continue their slide into irrelevance.
Went to see Together earlier today. Probably the best argument for staying single that I’ve seen for some time!
Mark Justin in Nine Elms. Which just happens to be my ward!
Record player with vinyl copy of Black Sabbath - Vol. 4 on a shelf above player
Feels appropriate to listen to this classic album today. RIP Ozzy.
More info here: www.london.gov.uk/mayor-london...
Iga Swiatek serving at Wimbledon
Jannik Sinner serving at Wimbledon
Went to Wimbledon yesterday and saw two very good matches: Iga Swiatek v Liudmila Samsonova and Jannik Sinner vs Blake Shelton. Great weather for it too!
Ghost did it on their UK tour in April. Jack White has it at his shows too.
Visited the Grayson Perry exhibition at the Wallace Collection for my birthday earlier today. Good fun as always from Mr. Perry. Also had a very tasty Match Point Tart from L’eto in Covent Garden.
High Vis at Crystal Palace Park
Deftones at Crystal Palace Park
Another enjoyable outdoor gig. This time courtesy of Deftones, Weezer and High Vis. Crystal Palace Park is a really nice venue for outdoor shows.
I’m watching it right now on iPlayer and they’ve said “Fuck Keir Starmer” several times.