What a momentous date September 5 is - not only the birth of Tottenham Hotspur in 1882, but also The Muppet Show's UK premiere in 1976. A motley troupe whose slapstick antics, duff jokes and behind-the-scenes chaos have entertained generations, and (here we go) the Muppets. #COYS

All together now (all together now): 🎶"And we're all Simons, like the moon and the stars and the sun..."🎶 Took our time getting there but that's an exciting creator of a signing. Welcome, Xavi, our new number seven - hopefully following in the footsteps of our last one... #COYS

Many fably happy returns, fellow Uefa Cup champion celebrant @christianrad.com youtu.be/-aeny8EOd44 #COYS

#HereComesTheSon 💙

A little video tribute I made for the great man.

#COYS

The air lately seems especially dusty. So long, Sonny - what a player, person, Tottenham legend. Nice one, and then some. #COYS

Watch me touch the sky, quite easily. #COYS

🎶"Daylight is good at arriving at the right time
It's not always going to be this grey..."🎶
Happy should've-been 82nd, to spiritually sardonic Beatle George.
("Oh, by all means, I'd be quite prepared for that eventuality...")
youtu.be/5ODEhwaU2Uw

Bought this way back when (albeit a decade after their sudden split), and not too far from (A Bomb In) Wardour Street, primarily for the chords - yet kept coming back too to the cuttings. "Only" six years and yet an immense record of records. A mighty band, suitably mighty drummer. RIP Rick Buckler.

"Small pleasures"? Large measures. Admirable latest London "Oliver!" in its early scenes, yet really suddenly transforms mid-song mid-way through the first half, on reaching London in some stunning staging - pick a pocket for tickets, you should buy this wonderful feeling etc etc. Ever a pleasure...

George: "Of course I don't want to go on the roof."
Ringo: "I would like to go on the roof."
Paul: "You *would* like to?"
John: "Yes, I'd like to go on the roof."
Well, it was 56 years ago today - think they passed the audition...
youtu.be/NCtzkaL2t_Y

Only kids on a not-even-full bench. Senior players AWOL. Team looking clueless and charitable as can be to the division's worst sides. Baffling subs by a manager who's had a fair few signings but little this window, with a chairman neither backing nor sacking (so far, for now). Pity's sake, Spurs...

As superior "jukebox musical" movies go, really enjoyed "A Complete Unknown". New York and Newport (and Chalamet as Dylan especially after the abrupt cut to 1965) coolly look the part, while the songs put tightly to the forefront sound terrific - particularly Monica Barbaro trilling so as Joan Baez.

Another stellar set tonight by "Bring Barnet Back" T-shirt-clad @christianrad.com and the Average Joes at the Fiddler's Elbow in Camden - including this Oasis/Bentancur song (though couldn't help but imagine rewritten lyrics as "He's the reason we *might just stay up this season*...")

The annual St Mary-at-Finchley Holocaust Memorial Day event takes place this Sunday at 6pm. (Past reflections by my mum, organising: "Never underestimate the power of a simple gesture or that of the humble little snowdrop – a symbol of hope and consolation..." aidanrad.blogspot.com/2017/01/neve...)

Know it's a little off to go out finally starting Christmas shopping only to buy something for yourself yet couldn't resist this from a North Finchley charity shop for much-needed Tottenham cheer. Beatles/Lennon covers too. (Tch, misspelling Glenn, mind.) Ah, those were the days, my friends... #COYS

"It's a thousand pages, give or take a few..." Phew, finally finished writing two books forthcoming some time soonest, ahead of Paris 2024, about 100 great British Olympians and 100 from the US - plus 20 ROW. (Only managed, mind, one mention apiece for Tottenham Hotspur and The Beatles.)

"Elmore James got nothing on this, baby..." youtu.be/TIFHRaZERHg