Rob McMinn
@robmcminn.uk
Author, blogger, Irish tea drinker, pizza perfectionist, Beatles person. UK and France. My two latest novels: Type Thief and Codename Hirondelle, are available on paper, as audio, or as ebooks.
https://robmcminn.uk
https://robmcminn.uk
Pinned
Rob McMinn
@robmcminn.uk
· Dec 30
Type Thief – now an audiobook
Type Thief, set in #earlymodern Europe, is the tale of a beautiful typeface created in Venice for exclusive use by the Vatican. But the apprentice tasked with delivering the type to Rome decides in…
robmcminn.uk
Updated links to Type Thief as an audiobook. Now available on Apple Books as well as Amazon/Audible
robmcminn.uk/2025/12/29/t...
robmcminn.uk/2025/12/29/t...
Podcasters who spend time imploring you to support them on Patreon, gushing about how grateful they are, and then spend 20 minutes or so discussing which $80,000 Porsche or Audi to buy next…
February 13, 2026 at 9:21 AM
Podcasters who spend time imploring you to support them on Patreon, gushing about how grateful they are, and then spend 20 minutes or so discussing which $80,000 Porsche or Audi to buy next…
TIL that Mick Jagger (82) has a 38-year-old “fiancée”
February 12, 2026 at 6:41 PM
TIL that Mick Jagger (82) has a 38-year-old “fiancée”
All the bros thinking they could cash in on climate meltdown. Plant a vineyard! Drive a convertible! Grow fucking sunflowers or coconuts or whatever. Visions of Mediterranean climate on the North Sea coast.
What they got instead: endless pissing fucking rain
What they got instead: endless pissing fucking rain
February 12, 2026 at 3:20 PM
All the bros thinking they could cash in on climate meltdown. Plant a vineyard! Drive a convertible! Grow fucking sunflowers or coconuts or whatever. Visions of Mediterranean climate on the North Sea coast.
What they got instead: endless pissing fucking rain
What they got instead: endless pissing fucking rain
Small Prophets
Stop: look away now if you have not watched Small Prophets (BBC iPlayer). This is not a review, by the way; it’s more of a meandering personal response. I knew I was in as soon as I saw that Michael’s car in Small Prohets was a Ford Capri. I couldn’t tell you if it was a Mk II or a…
Stop: look away now if you have not watched Small Prophets (BBC iPlayer). This is not a review, by the way; it’s more of a meandering personal response. I knew I was in as soon as I saw that Michael’s car in Small Prohets was a Ford Capri. I couldn’t tell you if it was a Mk II or a…
Small Prophets
Stop: look away now if you have not watched Small Prophets (BBC iPlayer). This is not a review, by the way; it’s more of a meandering personal response. I knew I was in as soon as I saw that Michael’s car in Small Prohets was a Ford Capri. I couldn’t tell you if it was a Mk II or a Mk III, I’m no expert, but a Ford Capri was one of my sliding doors moments.
robmcminn.uk
February 12, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Small Prophets
Stop: look away now if you have not watched Small Prophets (BBC iPlayer). This is not a review, by the way; it’s more of a meandering personal response. I knew I was in as soon as I saw that Michael’s car in Small Prohets was a Ford Capri. I couldn’t tell you if it was a Mk II or a…
Stop: look away now if you have not watched Small Prophets (BBC iPlayer). This is not a review, by the way; it’s more of a meandering personal response. I knew I was in as soon as I saw that Michael’s car in Small Prohets was a Ford Capri. I couldn’t tell you if it was a Mk II or a…
Here’s a question for historians: was Hereward the Wake woke?
I suspect he was, since he led the resistance. Also, it’s in his name
I suspect he was, since he led the resistance. Also, it’s in his name
February 12, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Here’s a question for historians: was Hereward the Wake woke?
I suspect he was, since he led the resistance. Also, it’s in his name
I suspect he was, since he led the resistance. Also, it’s in his name
Reposted by Rob McMinn
Wrote this because I was annoyed that Antonia Romeo got crowned queen of woke, even tho from the little I know of her, she does seem to be yasss, queen www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
If Starmer’s prospective top civil servant really is the ‘queen of woke’, let’s agree that word has lost all meaning | Zoe Williams
The incoming cabinet secretary, Antonia Romeo, worked under the notoriously woke David Cameron and Theresa May. Maybe she was a double agent? says Guardian columnist Zoe Williams
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:20 AM
Wrote this because I was annoyed that Antonia Romeo got crowned queen of woke, even tho from the little I know of her, she does seem to be yasss, queen www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Rob McMinn
13th February 2026 marks the 29th anniversary of the Great Lego Spill, when nearly five million pieces of Lego fell into the ocean after a cargo ship laden with goods was hit by a storm.
February 12, 2026 at 9:48 AM
13th February 2026 marks the 29th anniversary of the Great Lego Spill, when nearly five million pieces of Lego fell into the ocean after a cargo ship laden with goods was hit by a storm.
Reposted by Rob McMinn
If you really want to learn about AI hype, please read about my many excellent cats
Vital Cat Update
It’s time to talk about my cat. To which you might be saying, “Chuck, I didn’t know you had a cat!” and I’d respond with, “I didn’t know I had a cat either…
terribleminds.com
February 11, 2026 at 8:05 PM
If you really want to learn about AI hype, please read about my many excellent cats
Tesco electric delivery van has been broken down outside for about two hours. Not the best advertisement for that kind of thing.
February 11, 2026 at 11:56 AM
Tesco electric delivery van has been broken down outside for about two hours. Not the best advertisement for that kind of thing.
When did supermarkets stop stocking Bar Keeper's Friend? Have I missed a memo?
February 11, 2026 at 11:31 AM
When did supermarkets stop stocking Bar Keeper's Friend? Have I missed a memo?
Hiss Golden Messenger - In The Middle Of It (Official Lyric Video)
YouTube video by HGMVEVO
youtu.be
February 11, 2026 at 7:54 AM
What the fuck is this headline?
What’s wrong with “Teen arrested”?
What fucked up SEO demands that the verb become a noun?
What’s wrong with “Teen arrested”?
What fucked up SEO demands that the verb become a noun?
February 10, 2026 at 8:05 PM
What the fuck is this headline?
What’s wrong with “Teen arrested”?
What fucked up SEO demands that the verb become a noun?
What’s wrong with “Teen arrested”?
What fucked up SEO demands that the verb become a noun?
Huh. I've been watching the @metoffice.gov.uk office deep dives on the regular, and I've been seeing maps very much like this one — dark blue areas showing excessive rainfall compared to the average. But the one below is from 2014, so what we're seeing is probably the new normal 😑
February 10, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Huh. I've been watching the @metoffice.gov.uk office deep dives on the regular, and I've been seeing maps very much like this one — dark blue areas showing excessive rainfall compared to the average. But the one below is from 2014, so what we're seeing is probably the new normal 😑
My latest Mimeo photos book has arrived. ‘Tis nice
February 10, 2026 at 1:05 PM
My latest Mimeo photos book has arrived. ‘Tis nice
BREAKING: Keir Starmer's chiropodist is stepping down
February 9, 2026 at 4:57 PM
BREAKING: Keir Starmer's chiropodist is stepping down
Polly Toynbee used the word pusillanimity and I didn’t know what it meant and I don’t know how to pronounce it
February 9, 2026 at 12:52 PM
Polly Toynbee used the word pusillanimity and I didn’t know what it meant and I don’t know how to pronounce it
I know there’s more rain to come, but I just walked 3km in some watery sunshine wearing just 2½ layers and no hat. Such a tonic
February 9, 2026 at 12:21 PM
I know there’s more rain to come, but I just walked 3km in some watery sunshine wearing just 2½ layers and no hat. Such a tonic
The nation reels in shock on learning that there was a director of communications inside number 10
February 9, 2026 at 11:33 AM
The nation reels in shock on learning that there was a director of communications inside number 10
I nurse an irrational hatred for the Guardian’s line in editorial cartoons
February 8, 2026 at 7:29 PM
I nurse an irrational hatred for the Guardian’s line in editorial cartoons
Reposted by Rob McMinn
Good riddance. But, guys, he didn't mastermind shit. That election win was going to happen bar some video of Starmer saying the N word. Nobody was particularly enthusiastic about Labour but at least they were Not The Tories.
Has he be claiming individual credit for it all along?
Has he be claiming individual credit for it all along?
February 8, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Good riddance. But, guys, he didn't mastermind shit. That election win was going to happen bar some video of Starmer saying the N word. Nobody was particularly enthusiastic about Labour but at least they were Not The Tories.
Has he be claiming individual credit for it all along?
Has he be claiming individual credit for it all along?
This McSweeney guy was supposed to be a mastermind, but it's hard to imagine this government's comms being much worse after the past 18 months of shitshow-on-shitshow
February 8, 2026 at 2:39 PM
This McSweeney guy was supposed to be a mastermind, but it's hard to imagine this government's comms being much worse after the past 18 months of shitshow-on-shitshow
Bent Coppers: the story of the man who arrested John Lennon, George Harrison and Brian Jones—by Norman Pilcher
Another day, another disappointing copper memoir. I had relatively high hopes for this one, given the prominence and notoriety of the individual concerned. Unfortunately, this was badly…
Another day, another disappointing copper memoir. I had relatively high hopes for this one, given the prominence and notoriety of the individual concerned. Unfortunately, this was badly…
Bent Coppers: the story of the man who arrested John Lennon, George Harrison and Brian Jones—by Norman Pilcher
Another day, another disappointing copper memoir. I had relatively high hopes for this one, given the prominence and notoriety of the individual concerned. Unfortunately, this was badly written to the point of incoherence; my understanding was that it was at least ghost written, but if so, the "real" writer did the bare minimum. It reads like it was transcribed verbatim from tapes; at best, you could say that someone bothered to put related bits together.
robmcminn.uk
February 8, 2026 at 1:28 PM
Bent Coppers: the story of the man who arrested John Lennon, George Harrison and Brian Jones—by Norman Pilcher
Another day, another disappointing copper memoir. I had relatively high hopes for this one, given the prominence and notoriety of the individual concerned. Unfortunately, this was badly…
Another day, another disappointing copper memoir. I had relatively high hopes for this one, given the prominence and notoriety of the individual concerned. Unfortunately, this was badly…