Sunshine, blue skies can only.mean one thing...

The Captain's Paradise (1953) Trailer | Alec Guinness | Peter Bull YouTube video by Film Trailer Channel

#blackandwhitefilm of the day: The Captain's Paradise, 1952. Fun film with plenty of laughs as Alec Guinness' ferryboat captain's perfect life unravels. His cosy family in Gibraltar and mistress in Morocco head for trouble on @talkingpicturestv.bsky.social at 1.40pm youtu.be/k58TzJpSQ8g?...

Yours is back to normal now. It seems to come and go

Faces Places - Official Trailer YouTube video by Madman Films

I loved this film, known in France as Visage Village, which was nominated for a documentary Oscar. It was touching and inspirational. youtu.be/KKbjnLpxv70?...

As in here

Yes, it seems to come and go and also appears to have afflicted you

I'm at the brilliant Garden Cinema for a showing of 2017 French documentary Faces Places. 90-year-old director Agnès Varda goes on the road with 35-year-old street artist JR to create what The Guardian called "remarkable, moving portraits of the people they meet". Have high hopes

When Angela Rayner underpaid £40,000 in stamp duty, Richard Tice said it was "morally completely indefensible” and she should resign if she had “any moral decency”.

Now we learn he set up four shell companies that let him avoid paying £100,000 he owed in tax and to then transfer the cash to Reform

Two are great fun

Second football match of the day is Chelsea V Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. After a dismal time at Plough Lane this afternoon I'm expecting something similar here, tbh.

They lost to Plymouth today, I should have said

Saw AFC Wimbledon concede three goals for the third game in a row leaving them precariously two points off relegation with two games to go. But we did see them score for the first time in several weeks, the joy of which gave us a brief reminder of why we keep going back to games.

I've had a fun and interesting week. I hope you have too.

Margarita #cocktail, pistachios, and an interesting book in the Friday garden sunshine. A good way to ease into the weekend.

Saw the BBC Singers perform a wonderful concert of songs of love at St Peter's Church in Eaton Square in Chelsea. It's a fine way to spend a Friday afternoon.

He was in The Beano. First appeared in 1964

Comic triva: who's this? (you need to be British and of a certain age to know, I reckon)

It"a a lovely night for League One football as AFC Wimbledon take on Stockport County at Plough Lane

Are influencers just grifters? Some seem to be so and, as their victims point out, exposure doesn't pay bills www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04...

Nouvelle Vague | Official Trailer | Netflix YouTube video by Netflix

#blackandwhitefilm of the month: Nouvelle Vague, 2025. I loved Richard Linklater's film about the making of Godard's 1960 A Bout De Souffle (Breathless). I didn't expect it to be so funny and entertaining and joyous. If you're any kind of cinephile, it's worth a look.
youtu.be/UufRzKVFseg?...

The job search continues.
My trial at the ice factory didn't last long. I was hoping to crush it, but I froze.

Postcard from #London. Seeing some of the sights in the distance under a bridge

The Lady Eve Official Trailer #1 - Henry Fonda Movie (1941) HD YouTube video by Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers

#blackandwhitefilm of the day: The Lady Eve on Film4 at 2.55pm. Brilliant 1941 screwball comedy sees Barbara Stanwyck and Charles Coburn as cruise ship crooks, looking for victims, including unsuspecting Henry Fonda. But she falls for him, leading to hurt feelings and laughs
youtu.be/ZeVAJre7PWU?...

Postcard from #London's South Bank - skateboarders just out of sight

That was an unforgettable experience!

The Old Grey Whistle Test spoof - RWT (1975) YouTube video by Doktor Uzo

Whispering Bob Harris is 80 today. Happy birthday Bob. The Whistle Test was a huge influence on a lot of people my age youtu.be/ZVgLUGfdW1U?...

Tonight's slightly chilled garden #cocktail is a warming Old-Fashioned, made with bourbon, rye, Demerara and bitters, according to Tom Savano cocktails. It's a pleasing pre-mix to which I added a couple of Maraschino cherries, which have sunk to the depths of the drink. Pip pip!

I saw Summerfolk at the Olivier Theatre. A little over-long but some amusing moments in a play that covered the pointlessness of privileged lives in Russia at the start of the 20th century with some heavy-handed portent of the revolution to come. It runs until 29 April.

Saturday's matinee #theatre treat is Summerfolk at the Olivier at the National. It's a modern version of an old Gorky play set in 1905 about class, privilege and denial. It comes highly-recommended by pals, so I'm full of theatrical anticipation.

I've had a fun and interesting week. I hope you have too.