James Tarry
@northamptonian.bsky.social
More a jazz and easy listening Liberal than a classical Liberal. Cricket (Northants fan), literature, economics, politics & anything that takes my fancy.
Reposted by James Tarry
Christmas is not the 'most wonderful time of the year' for many people. I wanted to take some time to explore what hospitality venues are doing to combat loneliness at this vulnerable time and drop them all into a handy directory on my blog.
craftbeerpinup.com/2025/11/23/h...
craftbeerpinup.com/2025/11/23/h...
Hospitality venues tackling loneliness this Christmas
Christmas is a weird time for many. Family, friends, food, drinks and joy are presented as the Clinton Card Christmas we are all supposed to crave. So what happens when Christmas is a time you drea…
craftbeerpinup.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Christmas is not the 'most wonderful time of the year' for many people. I wanted to take some time to explore what hospitality venues are doing to combat loneliness at this vulnerable time and drop them all into a handy directory on my blog.
craftbeerpinup.com/2025/11/23/h...
craftbeerpinup.com/2025/11/23/h...
Reposted by James Tarry
This month's newsletter free to read here:
open.substack.com/pub/theright...
(Badge courtesy of The Poetry Pharmacy!)
open.substack.com/pub/theright...
(Badge courtesy of The Poetry Pharmacy!)
November 26, 2025 at 2:45 PM
This month's newsletter free to read here:
open.substack.com/pub/theright...
(Badge courtesy of The Poetry Pharmacy!)
open.substack.com/pub/theright...
(Badge courtesy of The Poetry Pharmacy!)
Always nice to stumble upon something rational online.
The Twitter/X account geolocation feature should be treated with scepticism (FREE TO READ!)
takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/the-twitte...
takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/the-twitte...
The Twitter/X account geolocation feature should be treated with scepticism
And surely BBC Verify should actually... verify... things?
takes.jamesomalley.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Always nice to stumble upon something rational online.
Reposted by James Tarry
Fantastic(ally depressing) article and this rather sums it all up
November 26, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Fantastic(ally depressing) article and this rather sums it all up
A very intelligent, wide-ranging and thoughtful discussion. (Which is probably a redundant phrase for something Sam is involved with). Also very cheered by how good Jovan and Freddie are. I certainly wasn’t that sharp in my late 20s.
Recently recorded an episode of the "What's Left" podcast which is now out.
I keep thinking podcast means audio so forget they're now increasingly video things. Which is why I'm wearing a tatty jumper...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ4d...
I keep thinking podcast means audio so forget they're now increasingly video things. Which is why I'm wearing a tatty jumper...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ4d...
Reform Can't Reverse Britain's Decline - Sam Freedman
YouTube video by What's Left? with Jovan and Freddie
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:58 PM
A very intelligent, wide-ranging and thoughtful discussion. (Which is probably a redundant phrase for something Sam is involved with). Also very cheered by how good Jovan and Freddie are. I certainly wasn’t that sharp in my late 20s.
Reposted by James Tarry
A great life, ended too soon.
Skye Gyngell, pioneering chef, 1962-2025 on.ft.com/4odLzXi
Skye Gyngell, pioneering chef, 1962-2025
At Petersham Nurseries and Spring, she brought style and beauty to seasonal cooking
on.ft.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:49 PM
A great life, ended too soon.
Presumably it’s just a coincidence that the arrow is pointing to the number 18. A number noted as a neo-Nazi symbol where it represents the first and eighth letters of the alphabet - AH.
November 25, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Presumably it’s just a coincidence that the arrow is pointing to the number 18. A number noted as a neo-Nazi symbol where it represents the first and eighth letters of the alphabet - AH.
Ian Marchant had a rare way with words, and was a lodestar of morality and decency. I was up far too late last night reading ‘The Longest Crawl’, which I sincerely recommend.
November 25, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Ian Marchant had a rare way with words, and was a lodestar of morality and decency. I was up far too late last night reading ‘The Longest Crawl’, which I sincerely recommend.
Reposted by James Tarry
![[Scene is a MEDIEVAL PLAGUE PIT with all the bodies inside it. On the edge of it is a young peasant woman, in a sack cloth dress, covered in boils. She is lounging glamorously next to the pit. Her boyfriend is standing a few feet away, photographing her with an anachronistic mobile phone]
GIRL:
OK so I'll sit here...
With my hair like this…
Rubbing my cyst with the corpse's hand.
[She produces a whithered severed hand and starts rubbing it on her face.]
[We are treated to a revolting close up of her rubbing the severed hand on her disgusting massive cyst.]
[Her boyfriend takes a photo of her.]
SNAP
GIRL:
OK, now write this:
"Hanging out at the burial pit, rubbing my sebaceous cyst with a severed corpse hand from
#BurtsGraverobbers…”
And then: #selfcare, #metime, #BurtsGraverobbers…
... nails emoji, heart emoji, cyst emoji.
BOYFRIEND:
Um...
Should we really be promoting this?
I mean… does rubbing a corpse's hand on a cyst actually work?
GIRL:
Look, Burt's done research, OK?
And he's paying us four groats.
BOYFRIEND:
Hmm.
[Boyfriend dutifully taps out the post on his phone]
TAP TAP TAP
BOYFRIEND:
Cyst emoji?
GIRL:
Just use a fried egg.
[Ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreifyvq2vzehtutrj7ild2dd7kkljmkbcby7yompicekbbpa2bqpluq@jpeg)
Reposted by James Tarry
Jimmy Cliff obituary
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
Jimmy Cliff obituary
One of the greatest stars of Jamaican reggae known for his 1969 hit Many Rivers to Cross and the film The Harder They Come
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Jimmy Cliff obituary
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
Reposted by James Tarry
The biggest problem in the world isn’t climate change, future pandemics, or democratic collapse.
It’s that far too many of our most brilliant minds are working on *everything but* those problems. 🧵
It’s that far too many of our most brilliant minds are working on *everything but* those problems. 🧵
July 29, 2025 at 5:23 PM
The biggest problem in the world isn’t climate change, future pandemics, or democratic collapse.
It’s that far too many of our most brilliant minds are working on *everything but* those problems. 🧵
It’s that far too many of our most brilliant minds are working on *everything but* those problems. 🧵
Reposted by James Tarry
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Desert Island Discs rarely puts a foot wrong these days. This morning I’ve been listening to this episode with Lennie James. He talks about how The Specials (and poetry) changed his life.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Desert Island Discs - Lennie James, actor - BBC Sounds
Lennie James, actor and writer, shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren Laverne.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Desert Island Discs rarely puts a foot wrong these days. This morning I’ve been listening to this episode with Lennie James. He talks about how The Specials (and poetry) changed his life.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Reposted by James Tarry
On reflection, in a perfect story to annoy the post liberals, I did A levels poorly so went to a low tariff university all the way down in that London, where I learned about post structuralism.
I'd have made more effort to maintain the intergenerational bond but unfortunately they'd closed Huwood's mining engineering works so I had to do A levels.
November 25, 2025 at 9:43 AM
On reflection, in a perfect story to annoy the post liberals, I did A levels poorly so went to a low tariff university all the way down in that London, where I learned about post structuralism.
Reposted by James Tarry
Jimmy was just mint , pure joy
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHAb...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHAb...
Jimmy Cliff Recording The Harder They Come In Studio Session
YouTube video by Perry Henzell
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Jimmy was just mint , pure joy
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHAb...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHAb...
Joyous stuff. Those old reviews make Jack Tinker seem rather toothless by comparison.
24 November is a day of theatrical anniversaries. Firstly, it’s the 98th birthday of Noël Coward’s most spectacular flop – a disastrous early play, Sirocco, at the first night of which, he said, “the gallery, upper circle, and pit hooted and yelled … Most of the lines weren’t heard at all”
November 24, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Joyous stuff. Those old reviews make Jack Tinker seem rather toothless by comparison.
Reposted by James Tarry
Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: Because it saw someone from work on a Saturday.
A: Because it saw someone from work on a Saturday.
November 23, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: Because it saw someone from work on a Saturday.
A: Because it saw someone from work on a Saturday.
Makes sense to me.
Trump was ok with Mamdani calling him a fascist while next to him in the Oval Office not because trump is a good sport ever but because he believes everyone else is as empty and cynical as he is, and that Mamdani just says those things for the base and couldn’t possibly mean it even tho Zohran does
November 22, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Makes sense to me.
Reposted by James Tarry
This is an extremely important thread for all of us in NHS secondary care and includes a great piece from @emmajourno.bsky.social and @abirimmer.bsky.social.
My concern is, as we try to stay off Twitter, these pieces disappear into the ether.
There was a valiant effort to make #MedSkyDebate...
My concern is, as we try to stay off Twitter, these pieces disappear into the ether.
There was a valiant effort to make #MedSkyDebate...
1/ The medical workforce and the #SASsix, a Saturday morning thread...
The eagle-eyed among you may have spotted two related publications relating to workforce this week. Taken together, they paint a stark picture of the current medical workforce.
The eagle-eyed among you may have spotted two related publications relating to workforce this week. Taken together, they paint a stark picture of the current medical workforce.
November 22, 2025 at 2:28 PM
This is an extremely important thread for all of us in NHS secondary care and includes a great piece from @emmajourno.bsky.social and @abirimmer.bsky.social.
My concern is, as we try to stay off Twitter, these pieces disappear into the ether.
There was a valiant effort to make #MedSkyDebate...
My concern is, as we try to stay off Twitter, these pieces disappear into the ether.
There was a valiant effort to make #MedSkyDebate...
Nice to see he still has an ashtray within reach. Astounding constitution.
Was a true pleasure to go to Nottingham to interview Ken Clarke, truly the archetypal big political beast.
In an extended conversation, we talk about Reeves nightmare Budget, his long political journey and his fears for where politics might go next.
Listen 👇
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
In an extended conversation, we talk about Reeves nightmare Budget, his long political journey and his fears for where politics might go next.
Listen 👇
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
November 22, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Nice to see he still has an ashtray within reach. Astounding constitution.
Reposted by James Tarry
My little girls (now big girls!), adopted from foster care, arrived with few possessions - but each had been given a box of books by @booktrust.org.uk. These books, read together, became our first shared memories.
Spread the joy of reading with a donation:
donate.booktrust.org.uk/Xmas3/~my-do...
Spread the joy of reading with a donation:
donate.booktrust.org.uk/Xmas3/~my-do...
November 22, 2025 at 5:20 PM
My little girls (now big girls!), adopted from foster care, arrived with few possessions - but each had been given a box of books by @booktrust.org.uk. These books, read together, became our first shared memories.
Spread the joy of reading with a donation:
donate.booktrust.org.uk/Xmas3/~my-do...
Spread the joy of reading with a donation:
donate.booktrust.org.uk/Xmas3/~my-do...
Reposted by James Tarry
November 21, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Reposted by James Tarry
New blog post!
The bond vigilantes are the unsung heroes of the financial and political system. Imposing fiscal discipline on our profligate politicians. We should thank them - and heed their warning.
opportunitylost.substack.com/p/in-defence...
The bond vigilantes are the unsung heroes of the financial and political system. Imposing fiscal discipline on our profligate politicians. We should thank them - and heed their warning.
opportunitylost.substack.com/p/in-defence...
In Defence of the Bond Vigilantes
Feeling Gilty? Part IV
opportunitylost.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:43 PM
New blog post!
The bond vigilantes are the unsung heroes of the financial and political system. Imposing fiscal discipline on our profligate politicians. We should thank them - and heed their warning.
opportunitylost.substack.com/p/in-defence...
The bond vigilantes are the unsung heroes of the financial and political system. Imposing fiscal discipline on our profligate politicians. We should thank them - and heed their warning.
opportunitylost.substack.com/p/in-defence...
Reposted by James Tarry
Madness in Perth! Here's our summary of all the extraordinary stuff that happened on day 2.
#Ashes2025
#AUSvENG
Guerilla Roundup Ashes Test 1 Day 2 youtu.be/6IjbKYiZ3vA?...
#Ashes2025
#AUSvENG
Guerilla Roundup Ashes Test 1 Day 2 youtu.be/6IjbKYiZ3vA?...
Guerilla Roundup Ashes Test 1 Day 2
YouTube video by Guerilla Cricket
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Madness in Perth! Here's our summary of all the extraordinary stuff that happened on day 2.
#Ashes2025
#AUSvENG
Guerilla Roundup Ashes Test 1 Day 2 youtu.be/6IjbKYiZ3vA?...
#Ashes2025
#AUSvENG
Guerilla Roundup Ashes Test 1 Day 2 youtu.be/6IjbKYiZ3vA?...
I generally prefer scotch to cognac, but this makes complete sense.
Why single malt lovers should drink Cognac, with a couple of recommendations. One pricey, one under £50. henryjeffreys.substack.com/p/why-single...
Why single malt lovers should switch to Cognac
A look at one of the great characters of the drinks trade, David Baker, the man behind Hermitage Cognac. Plus a special bottle to buy for the Macallan lover in your life.
henryjeffreys.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:55 PM
I generally prefer scotch to cognac, but this makes complete sense.