Gareth
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chibiabos83.bsky.social
Gareth
@chibiabos83.bsky.social
110 followers 290 following 270 posts
Charm is the viscous grease with which he oils his flim-flam machine

he/him
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Gareth
ahistoryinart.bsky.social
By the 17thC, painting citrus with fidelity was a quiet test of skill. That lineage runs to still-lifes by Eliot Hodgkin: modest things, directly centered and made with restraint but with vibrant colour. This from 1971.
February 9, 2026 at 12:19 PM
chibiabos83.bsky.social
What did you just call me?
An email from Zizzi with the subject line 'Come hungry'
February 7, 2026 at 11:53 AM
Reposted by Gareth
chibiabos83.bsky.social
In memory of John Virgo, let's pay tribute to the the 3 June 2010 edit of his Wikipedia page.
en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...
Catchphrases "That's absolutely inch-perfect." "Welcome to Gardeners' World!" (when somebody hits a 'plant' shot of one ball onto another). "Jupiter, Jupiter, munch it down" (when someone pots the brown in one of the centre pockets). "Where's the cue ball going?! WHERE'S THE CUE BALL GOING?!!" (when the cue ball appears to be heading towards a pocket). "Is he having a laugh? Are you having a laugh?" (when Joe Swail misses an easy yellow). "Great chance!" "If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it." "Pot as many balls as you can." (when Michaela Tabb enters the arena). "Peasants, pigs and astronauts!" (when the cue ball splits the pack of reds after hitting the blue). "Good night JV." (said in a glum voice in response to someone, often Jim Davidson, saying "say good night JV"). "It's all about the in-play" "You know what they say, all toasters, toast, toast, toast, toast, toast!" (when the scores are tied). "Well, roger me sideways and call me Mr. Bent-Back Tallywhacker" (When a player goes in-off the blue) "He'll settle for that." (when a shot doesn't go completely as planned, but the result is still beneficial to whoever played it). "A finer coco-shunter you couldn't ask for!" (when a player achieves the rare feat of using the brown ball in a plant) "Put on those old clogs, we're going to dance in Itchycoo Park." (when someone pots a red followed by the blue followed by a red then a pink). "It's there!" (when an important and tough pot is sunk or on course for the pocket). "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded." "Did anyone else have that pie from the canteen? I've got a right rectal going on 'ere." "Please be standing for Breakus Maximus" (When a player completes a 147 break). "That's one of his five-a-day." (when someone pots the green). "Lock me in the cupboard and feed me pins!" (After a series of red-black combos have been dealt with spectacularly) "Gravity took over there!" (when the ball seems to stop just before the pocket but ultimately drops in). "Spiceworld!" (upon a player compiling a century). "Why don't you say that to my face?" "Stick it in without taking your shoes off" (When a player cleans up in his first visit) "That wiped its feet" (when a ball rattles in the jaws, before going in). "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade" (when a yellow is despatched) "I know I'm biased, but Shaun Murphy can stick his Jesus up his dunghole." "Tremendous pot!" (usually after a hard or long distance shot) "It knocked three times, but needed a password!" (when a ball rattles the pocket before potting) "Christ's fat cock!" (said after a player aggressively plays what most would consider a low percentage pot)
February 4, 2026 at 12:18 PM
chibiabos83.bsky.social
Unprecedented two snooker items on the BBC News homepage
Two headlines: Man sentenced to life in prison for 2024 attempt on Trump's life Snooker's 'Mr Perfection' - John Virgo brought old-school charm to primetime TV
February 4, 2026 at 6:47 PM
chibiabos83.bsky.social
In memory of John Virgo, let's pay tribute to the the 3 June 2010 edit of his Wikipedia page.
en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...
Catchphrases "That's absolutely inch-perfect." "Welcome to Gardeners' World!" (when somebody hits a 'plant' shot of one ball onto another). "Jupiter, Jupiter, munch it down" (when someone pots the brown in one of the centre pockets). "Where's the cue ball going?! WHERE'S THE CUE BALL GOING?!!" (when the cue ball appears to be heading towards a pocket). "Is he having a laugh? Are you having a laugh?" (when Joe Swail misses an easy yellow). "Great chance!" "If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it." "Pot as many balls as you can." (when Michaela Tabb enters the arena). "Peasants, pigs and astronauts!" (when the cue ball splits the pack of reds after hitting the blue). "Good night JV." (said in a glum voice in response to someone, often Jim Davidson, saying "say good night JV"). "It's all about the in-play" "You know what they say, all toasters, toast, toast, toast, toast, toast!" (when the scores are tied). "Well, roger me sideways and call me Mr. Bent-Back Tallywhacker" (When a player goes in-off the blue) "He'll settle for that." (when a shot doesn't go completely as planned, but the result is still beneficial to whoever played it). "A finer coco-shunter you couldn't ask for!" (when a player achieves the rare feat of using the brown ball in a plant) "Put on those old clogs, we're going to dance in Itchycoo Park." (when someone pots a red followed by the blue followed by a red then a pink). "It's there!" (when an important and tough pot is sunk or on course for the pocket). "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded." "Did anyone else have that pie from the canteen? I've got a right rectal going on 'ere." "Please be standing for Breakus Maximus" (When a player completes a 147 break). "That's one of his five-a-day." (when someone pots the green). "Lock me in the cupboard and feed me pins!" (After a series of red-black combos have been dealt with spectacularly) "Gravity took over there!" (when the ball seems to stop just before the pocket but ultimately drops in). "Spiceworld!" (upon a player compiling a century). "Why don't you say that to my face?" "Stick it in without taking your shoes off" (When a player cleans up in his first visit) "That wiped its feet" (when a ball rattles in the jaws, before going in). "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade" (when a yellow is despatched) "I know I'm biased, but Shaun Murphy can stick his Jesus up his dunghole." "Tremendous pot!" (usually after a hard or long distance shot) "It knocked three times, but needed a password!" (when a ball rattles the pocket before potting) "Christ's fat cock!" (said after a player aggressively plays what most would consider a low percentage pot)
February 4, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Reposted by Gareth
john-self.bsky.social
Proof if needed that Michael Gove is a wrong 'un: he cites the laboured, overrated hangover passage in Lucky Jim as "the finest piece of comic prose in English".

www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-r...
The book I wish I had written Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis. Nothing funnier has been written in the last 100 years. The description of Jim's hangover is the finest piece of comic prose in English.
February 3, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Reposted by Gareth
finoreilly.bsky.social
From 'Burnham would' to dunce inane
A headline from the Faily Mailograph, that reads:”‘I was going to vote for Burnham. Now I’ll back Reform’ The Telegraph asks Gorton and Denton constituents who they want as their next MP. It’s not good news for Starmer"
January 26, 2026 at 4:39 PM
chibiabos83.bsky.social
Just started a new podcast whose host substitutes a 'd' for a 't' when broadcasting (the behaviour of a dosser), and I'm trying to find out if he's Australian (which would make it borderline acceptable) or if he's not (in which case I'll reluctantly have to stop listening).
January 26, 2026 at 4:20 PM
chibiabos83.bsky.social
Imagine if the King gets dementia and eventually the only thing he can remember from his past is this.
King Charles III dancing Donna Summer's Hot Stuff (1998)
YouTube video by otzi
www.youtube.com
January 25, 2026 at 9:35 PM
chibiabos83.bsky.social
One of the most exciting procedural films ever made. Nuts and bolts can be more thrilling than any number of explosions.
tobytram.bsky.social Toby Miller @tobytram.bsky.social · 16d
you’ve both reminded me of this, which I once posted on the old site - one of the finest scenes of a crime partially solved through a sensible order of business. From Ealing’s The Long Arm.
January 25, 2026 at 1:00 PM
chibiabos83.bsky.social
I've read two books in a row that have included scenes of young women falling in love with the poetry of Richard Crashaw. This kind of thing happens to me far more often than you'd expect. Anyway, the books are HILDA LESSWAYS by Arnold Bennett and AS IF BY MAGIC by Angus Wilson.
January 25, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Reposted by Gareth
treehousebookshop.bsky.social
#BookSky
treehousebookshop.bsky.social Tree House Second-hand Bookshop @treehousebookshop.bsky.social · 16d
We have the post-Christmas blues* and are going to struggle to pay our bills at the end of the month. If you would like to help, why not buy a surprise book parcel for just £10 inc P&P, 2 wrapped novels in the post
[*not personally, I'm v happy! Just poor]
www.treehousebookshop.co.uk/shop/details...
The Beat the January Blues Package!
Two surprise books in the post, chosen by us, wrapped and sent to you or to anyone you like. We are using up Christmas wrapping paper, but it is still Christmas until 2 Feb (Candlemas)! Nothing bespok...
www.treehousebookshop.co.uk
January 24, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Reposted by Gareth
markvalencia.bsky.social
Top man, Ben, for sharing this.
larkingrumple.bsky.social Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 24d
This interview with conductor Ben Glassberg by my colleague Elisabeth Schwarz is well worth your time and a salutary reminder of the pressures performers face under the social media microscope: bachtrack.com/interview-be...
Ben Glassberg © Caroline Doutre
January 21, 2026 at 9:23 PM
chibiabos83.bsky.social
I found Les Blank's 1980 documentary GARLIC IS AS GOOD AS TEN MOTHERS on my university Kanopy subscription. The most wholesome thing I'll see all year.
Screenshot from Les Blank's GARLIC IS AS GOOD AS TEN MOTHERS that reads 'Support the people who grow the food we eat'
January 20, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Reposted by Gareth
scriblit.bsky.social
"I'm afraid that your mother has grown increasingly enigmatic and expansive after her fall so you should consider full time care for her safety"
tom-phillips.com Tom Phillips @tom-phillips.com · 20d
going to use "at my most enigmatic and expansive" to describe the next time I have a few too many wines
Screenshot from BBC News live text coverage of Trump press conference: 19:27 This news conference could go on for a very long time (byline: Gary O'Donoghue, Chief North America correspondent at the White House) This is the president in his most enigmatic and expansive mood. During the campaign this used to be called "the weave" – meandering from subject to subject, often the connections not immediately obvious.
January 20, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Reposted by Gareth
staggerlee42.bsky.social
This should be a national fucking scandal. They are making university education more elitist than it ever was. I was Free School Meals and even though fees came in during my 1st year, I came out with manageable debt. This is unacceptable!
nadiawhittomemp.bsky.social Nadia Whittome MP @nadiawhittomemp.bsky.social · 25d
I left university in 2019 with £49,600 of debt. A few months later, I became an MP and have since received a salary that puts me in the top 5% in the country. 6 years on, the repayments from my salary have brought this total to down to £48,600 - just £1,000 less.
January 17, 2026 at 10:19 AM
chibiabos83.bsky.social
Slip found inside library copy of Žižek's The Ticklish Subject
Magnets review Name of writer Y6HH Did you enjoy reading this work on magnets? Yes/no Was there enough information? Yes/no Was it easy to understand? Yes/no
January 15, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by Gareth
machinepix.bsky.social
Hamster MRI.
January 14, 2026 at 5:15 PM
chibiabos83.bsky.social
The technical term is 'shins'
BBC news story: 'Kneecap supporters gather at High Court ahead of appeal case'
January 14, 2026 at 10:16 AM
Reposted by Gareth
mrphilnorman.bsky.social
January 14, 2026 at 9:53 AM
Reposted by Gareth
emilyoram.bsky.social
Elle Fanning’s shoot for WhoWhatWear is OUT-STANDING.
A blonde woman with her hair pulled back in a long floral sequin gown with a high neck, nipped waist and puff sleeves. She’s holding a huge cardboard fork with cardboard flames on it A woman in a puffy dress with huge puff sleeves and a ruff collar laying flat but looking like she’s standing on a table. There’s a huge shiny silvery cardboard fish next to her. A woman sat awkwardly on a high stool. She’s wearing a blue suede coat with puff sleeves and a large fur collar plus a striped blue and white fascinator. A woman lying down with green Mary Jane’s on her splayed feet. She’s wearing a black dress over a chambray shirt and has a long furry black tail. There are several painted cardboard cats surrounding her.
January 13, 2026 at 8:45 PM
chibiabos83.bsky.social
Name 4 of your favorite 80s movies (non horror). Mine are:

AU REVOIR LES ENFANTS
FANNY AND ALEXANDER
GREGORY'S GIRL
RITA, SUE AND BOB TOO

#FilmSky
Gaspard Manesse going miserably off to school in AU REVOIR LES ENFANTS Bertil Guve beguiled by theatre in FANNY AND ALEXANDER Jake D'Arcy and Dee Hepburn doing their changing-room dance in GREGORY'S GIRL George Costigan, Siobhan Finneran and Michelle Holmes having a tussle in RITA, SUE AND BOB TOO
January 13, 2026 at 9:23 PM
Reposted by Gareth
lottelydia.bsky.social
Funny how “most divorced woman ever” and “most divorced man ever” have such diametrically opposed energies
January 13, 2026 at 8:23 PM
chibiabos83.bsky.social
Well, PETER HUJAR'S DAY was everything I dreamed of and more.
The controls of the MY DINNER WITH ANDRE arcade game from THE SIMPSONS, reading 'Trenchant insight', 'Tell me more' and 'Bon mot'
January 13, 2026 at 8:19 PM
chibiabos83.bsky.social
One of my favourite Alan Bennett lines, from an On the Margin sketch: 'It's everything that Virginia Woolf failed to do, plus the best of Stan Barstow.'
January 9, 2026 at 6:58 PM