Knitted Clanger
@knittedclanger.bsky.social
Retired communications manager who once knew a lot about banking strategy. Now mostly having a cup of tea and reading a Victorian three-volume novel.
Email from local petting farm offering a VIP Highland Cow Christmas Experience. Tempted, as I’ve never met a VIP cow, be nice to ask them about their careers.
December 4, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Email from local petting farm offering a VIP Highland Cow Christmas Experience. Tempted, as I’ve never met a VIP cow, be nice to ask them about their careers.
A day on which there hasn’t been any real daylight seems apt for the nineteenth century’s greatest opening paragraph, as Book Club sets off for Bleak House.
December 4, 2025 at 3:03 PM
A day on which there hasn’t been any real daylight seems apt for the nineteenth century’s greatest opening paragraph, as Book Club sets off for Bleak House.
Reposted by Knitted Clanger
The subjectiveness of art history: at the Tate show, Constable is condemned for presenting a misleadingly pleasant view of rural life. In the same room, one of his paintings shows two labourers literally shovelling shit.
December 2, 2025 at 7:38 PM
The subjectiveness of art history: at the Tate show, Constable is condemned for presenting a misleadingly pleasant view of rural life. In the same room, one of his paintings shows two labourers literally shovelling shit.
Meanwhile in Birmingham City Council Chamber, absolute scenes as scuffles break out about the bins, but not about the shark. Can only assume that Birmingham's extremely inland nature means we don't recognise sharks as our natural predators. But we're very cross about the bins.
December 2, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Meanwhile in Birmingham City Council Chamber, absolute scenes as scuffles break out about the bins, but not about the shark. Can only assume that Birmingham's extremely inland nature means we don't recognise sharks as our natural predators. But we're very cross about the bins.
Routine eye check this morning, and I have entered the countdown-to-cataracts years. Not even a sausage dog on the bus in a Christmas jumper has cheered me up #Mustn'tGrumble
December 2, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Routine eye check this morning, and I have entered the countdown-to-cataracts years. Not even a sausage dog on the bus in a Christmas jumper has cheered me up #Mustn'tGrumble
Art history class tonight on Vermeer at Kenwood has reminded me of the theft of the Guitar Player, which was a big story when I was nine. Strap in, this goes places. 🧵(1/13)
December 1, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Art history class tonight on Vermeer at Kenwood has reminded me of the theft of the Guitar Player, which was a big story when I was nine. Strap in, this goes places. 🧵(1/13)
After some discussion of which of Tom Stoppard’s works with which to celebrate his monumental contribution to postmodernism, we’re watching Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Fave line so far: ‘I said no camels! That’s five camels! Can’t you count?’
Fave line so far: ‘I said no camels! That’s five camels! Can’t you count?’
November 30, 2025 at 4:42 PM
After some discussion of which of Tom Stoppard’s works with which to celebrate his monumental contribution to postmodernism, we’re watching Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Fave line so far: ‘I said no camels! That’s five camels! Can’t you count?’
Fave line so far: ‘I said no camels! That’s five camels! Can’t you count?’
It’s the first Sunday of Advent and this year the weekly rites of observance are:
1. The Shop Around the Corner
2. A Christmas Carol (Alastair Sim)
3. It’s a Wonderful Life
4. The Muppet Christmas Carol
These are the only canonical Christmas films, the rest are apocrypha.
1. The Shop Around the Corner
2. A Christmas Carol (Alastair Sim)
3. It’s a Wonderful Life
4. The Muppet Christmas Carol
These are the only canonical Christmas films, the rest are apocrypha.
November 30, 2025 at 10:53 AM
It’s the first Sunday of Advent and this year the weekly rites of observance are:
1. The Shop Around the Corner
2. A Christmas Carol (Alastair Sim)
3. It’s a Wonderful Life
4. The Muppet Christmas Carol
These are the only canonical Christmas films, the rest are apocrypha.
1. The Shop Around the Corner
2. A Christmas Carol (Alastair Sim)
3. It’s a Wonderful Life
4. The Muppet Christmas Carol
These are the only canonical Christmas films, the rest are apocrypha.
Persistent rain seems the ideal medium to spend 3+ hours indoors testing my theory that Fanny and Alexander is a Christmas film...
November 29, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Persistent rain seems the ideal medium to spend 3+ hours indoors testing my theory that Fanny and Alexander is a Christmas film...
I’ve been to the early bird show of The Fifth Step from NT Live with all the other old dears. Wasn’t sure I’d like this, as a family history of alcoholics makes me ill disposed to a comedy about AA, but it was very funny and perceptive, so a recommend if it shows up on Sky Arts.
November 27, 2025 at 6:37 PM
I’ve been to the early bird show of The Fifth Step from NT Live with all the other old dears. Wasn’t sure I’d like this, as a family history of alcoholics makes me ill disposed to a comedy about AA, but it was very funny and perceptive, so a recommend if it shows up on Sky Arts.
*Ahem* I have written an email to the council about the alley. On my death, my emails to the council will be compiled into a memorial volume with a forward by the Director of Place (which is what we apparently call environmental health now). It will read: 'Please leave us alone' (four words).
November 27, 2025 at 1:42 PM
*Ahem* I have written an email to the council about the alley. On my death, my emails to the council will be compiled into a memorial volume with a forward by the Director of Place (which is what we apparently call environmental health now). It will read: 'Please leave us alone' (four words).
Enjoyed the second part of Ronald Hutton's Gresham College lecture series on 'Dodgy Deities'. Tonight: Hecate, who may have taken triple form to reflect the phases of the moon or (my theory) because she was busy looking after so many things, including gates, snakes, knives, lions and weasels.
November 26, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Enjoyed the second part of Ronald Hutton's Gresham College lecture series on 'Dodgy Deities'. Tonight: Hecate, who may have taken triple form to reflect the phases of the moon or (my theory) because she was busy looking after so many things, including gates, snakes, knives, lions and weasels.
Delighted to learn about the Osmothèque in Versailles which archives and recreates historic perfumes. I always enjoy a reference to Pliny the Elder in the wild.
November 26, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Delighted to learn about the Osmothèque in Versailles which archives and recreates historic perfumes. I always enjoy a reference to Pliny the Elder in the wild.
Top three things I'd tax today if I were Chancellor of the Exchequer:
1. Any form of tutting (immediate loss of personal allowance)
2. Swans (capped at the annual cost to the NHS of fixing broken arms)
3. Cheese with bits in (highest tier applying to Wensleydale)
1. Any form of tutting (immediate loss of personal allowance)
2. Swans (capped at the annual cost to the NHS of fixing broken arms)
3. Cheese with bits in (highest tier applying to Wensleydale)
November 26, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Top three things I'd tax today if I were Chancellor of the Exchequer:
1. Any form of tutting (immediate loss of personal allowance)
2. Swans (capped at the annual cost to the NHS of fixing broken arms)
3. Cheese with bits in (highest tier applying to Wensleydale)
1. Any form of tutting (immediate loss of personal allowance)
2. Swans (capped at the annual cost to the NHS of fixing broken arms)
3. Cheese with bits in (highest tier applying to Wensleydale)
Interesting adaptation of Hedda Gabler this evening, set in 1940s England with Hedda as an Anglo-Indian actress hiding the secret of her mixed heritage. Clearly referencing Merle Oberon, seen here wearing her special arguing negligée to express her disappointment with Leslie Howard.
November 25, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Interesting adaptation of Hedda Gabler this evening, set in 1940s England with Hedda as an Anglo-Indian actress hiding the secret of her mixed heritage. Clearly referencing Merle Oberon, seen here wearing her special arguing negligée to express her disappointment with Leslie Howard.
Annual festival of discovering I still have chestnuts from last Christmas and deciding they’ll probably be fine added to lentil soup. Must buy some more and hide them until next November. (‘Plant-based Simplicity’ sounds like she writes a beauty column for the Telegraph.)
November 25, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Annual festival of discovering I still have chestnuts from last Christmas and deciding they’ll probably be fine added to lentil soup. Must buy some more and hide them until next November. (‘Plant-based Simplicity’ sounds like she writes a beauty column for the Telegraph.)
Ooh, we’re getting a harpsichord as well as recorders. It’s Naples 1725 today at the CBSO.
November 24, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Ooh, we’re getting a harpsichord as well as recorders. It’s Naples 1725 today at the CBSO.
Sad to hear about this one. Always thought that line about ‘make a joyful noise unto the Lord’ was about Jimmy Cliff.
youtu.be/-y9Q7ud7Or0?...
youtu.be/-y9Q7ud7Or0?...
Many rivers to cross - Jimmy Cliff
YouTube video by TheSunAnge
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Sad to hear about this one. Always thought that line about ‘make a joyful noise unto the Lord’ was about Jimmy Cliff.
youtu.be/-y9Q7ud7Or0?...
youtu.be/-y9Q7ud7Or0?...
*Attenborough voice* Here, we see the life-cycle of the fruit cake. #StirUpSunday
November 23, 2025 at 4:15 PM
*Attenborough voice* Here, we see the life-cycle of the fruit cake. #StirUpSunday
This is nagging at me. If you’re opening a letter that arrives while you’re fighting a bear, do you just hold up one hand and say, “Bear with me”? ✋🐻
New excuse just dropped in Act I. Hero has not read an important letter as it is covered in blood because he was fighting a bear when it arrived.
November 22, 2025 at 10:46 PM
This is nagging at me. If you’re opening a letter that arrives while you’re fighting a bear, do you just hold up one hand and say, “Bear with me”? ✋🐻
This evening's opera will be Arabella by Richard Strauss. No, me neither so I've looked it up. Essentially, never make a sexy assignation in a darkened room with a woman you've been corresponding with, because she *will* turn out to be her sister who you previously believed to be her brother.
November 22, 2025 at 12:03 PM
This evening's opera will be Arabella by Richard Strauss. No, me neither so I've looked it up. Essentially, never make a sexy assignation in a darkened room with a woman you've been corresponding with, because she *will* turn out to be her sister who you previously believed to be her brother.
Reflecting on what my superpower should be, I favour the ability to shoot elephants out of my fingertips. My superhero name would be Look-Out-She's-Got-Elephants-Woman. No special costume, just an occasional crash-zoom on me taking my gloves off and a musical leitmotif of excited trumpeting.
November 21, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Reflecting on what my superpower should be, I favour the ability to shoot elephants out of my fingertips. My superhero name would be Look-Out-She's-Got-Elephants-Woman. No special costume, just an occasional crash-zoom on me taking my gloves off and a musical leitmotif of excited trumpeting.
Open Day for The Shakespeare Institute post-grad program in Stratford today. I'm worried retirement doesn't have enough essay crises, so I may have to pay a fee to acquire some next year. Not quite decided, that's a nice arch in their garden, though.
November 20, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Open Day for The Shakespeare Institute post-grad program in Stratford today. I'm worried retirement doesn't have enough essay crises, so I may have to pay a fee to acquire some next year. Not quite decided, that's a nice arch in their garden, though.
Walter de Staplecat!
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
College cats of Oxford
Once upon a time, we featured an image of Magdalen's kitten, Ozymandias, in our newsletter. We figured it might be a gentle contrast to our regular diet of planning and local politics.
The grey ball ...
oxfordclarion.uk
November 20, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Walter de Staplecat!
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
With a brief prayer to St Delia the pre-Christmas soak has begun (hides mid-morning glass of sherry).
November 20, 2025 at 11:13 AM
With a brief prayer to St Delia the pre-Christmas soak has begun (hides mid-morning glass of sherry).