Chris Lines
@chrislines.bsky.social
Interested in family, Wales, public relations, communications, language, politics, change, sustainability, football (Swansea City and Cymru), cricket, hiking...most things really.
With a performance of Prince otherwise known as the Prince of Denmark, the #NationalTheatreLive #Hamlet was stylish and thoroughly enjoyable. I only wish that I'd watched it before seeing #Hamnet with an N at the cinema.
January 27, 2026 at 10:57 PM
With a performance of Prince otherwise known as the Prince of Denmark, the #NationalTheatreLive #Hamlet was stylish and thoroughly enjoyable. I only wish that I'd watched it before seeing #Hamnet with an N at the cinema.
"He Banged The Leather for Goal" is the title of the first recorded football chant. It was written specially for Wolverhampton Wanderers fans by Edward Elgar no less. Elgar used to ride his bike from Worcester to Wolverhampton and back to see his side.
From 'We Lose Every Week' by Andrew Lawn.
From 'We Lose Every Week' by Andrew Lawn.
January 26, 2026 at 10:06 PM
"He Banged The Leather for Goal" is the title of the first recorded football chant. It was written specially for Wolverhampton Wanderers fans by Edward Elgar no less. Elgar used to ride his bike from Worcester to Wolverhampton and back to see his side.
From 'We Lose Every Week' by Andrew Lawn.
From 'We Lose Every Week' by Andrew Lawn.
With another #BigGardenBirdWatch completed, I can report that we saw one blackbird, one blue tit, two house sparrows, one robin, three woodpigeons, three crows and a common gull. There were fewer tits around this year. Perhaps they've been eaten by our tawney owls.
January 25, 2026 at 2:47 PM
With another #BigGardenBirdWatch completed, I can report that we saw one blackbird, one blue tit, two house sparrows, one robin, three woodpigeons, three crows and a common gull. There were fewer tits around this year. Perhaps they've been eaten by our tawney owls.
You won't see a better table tennis heist movie but the film #MartySupreme presents the same overconfident swagger as its lead character. Despite its fast-moving plot and fast-talking dialogue, by the second half I found myself un-invested in any of the characters.
January 17, 2026 at 11:14 PM
You won't see a better table tennis heist movie but the film #MartySupreme presents the same overconfident swagger as its lead character. Despite its fast-moving plot and fast-talking dialogue, by the second half I found myself un-invested in any of the characters.
Another excellent talk at Abergavenny Local History Society. Simon Maddison described the evidence for a Roman bridge at Chepstow. The archeology involved wallowing in mud for the couple of hours available at low tide together with carbon dating, tree ring dating and Lidar, using light rays.
January 14, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Another excellent talk at Abergavenny Local History Society. Simon Maddison described the evidence for a Roman bridge at Chepstow. The archeology involved wallowing in mud for the couple of hours available at low tide together with carbon dating, tree ring dating and Lidar, using light rays.
Swansea City 2 West Bromwich Albion 2 (6-5 on penalties). Very unusually, I watched the game from the first row rather than the back of the stand. The perceived faster pace and congested space add to the excitement. I have no idea how managers follow the game from the touchline.
January 11, 2026 at 10:09 PM
Swansea City 2 West Bromwich Albion 2 (6-5 on penalties). Very unusually, I watched the game from the first row rather than the back of the stand. The perceived faster pace and congested space add to the excitement. I have no idea how managers follow the game from the touchline.
As the credits rolled, nobody in the cinema moved. That was the emotional punch of #Hamnet - an extraordinary film with an astonishing performance from Jesse Buckley. If I woz more cleverer I'd have understood a lot more than I did. None-the-less it still gripped me and generated a tear or two.
January 9, 2026 at 10:39 PM
As the credits rolled, nobody in the cinema moved. That was the emotional punch of #Hamnet - an extraordinary film with an astonishing performance from Jesse Buckley. If I woz more cleverer I'd have understood a lot more than I did. None-the-less it still gripped me and generated a tear or two.
After nearly 40 years living here it was time to see a film at the oldest film club in Wales, Abergavenny's no less.
Santosh was both gripping and repulsive, telling the story of a corrupt and violent police force.
The film captured conflict and tensions brilliantly.
Santosh was both gripping and repulsive, telling the story of a corrupt and violent police force.
The film captured conflict and tensions brilliantly.
January 7, 2026 at 11:09 PM
After nearly 40 years living here it was time to see a film at the oldest film club in Wales, Abergavenny's no less.
Santosh was both gripping and repulsive, telling the story of a corrupt and violent police force.
The film captured conflict and tensions brilliantly.
Santosh was both gripping and repulsive, telling the story of a corrupt and violent police force.
The film captured conflict and tensions brilliantly.
Very different from the film - it's only really the idea which survived - it was brave to write #TheZoneOfInterest but it doesn't quite come off.
A dark comedy about the management of a concentration camp, the book generates uncomfortable laughter but loses its way a bit.
A dark comedy about the management of a concentration camp, the book generates uncomfortable laughter but loses its way a bit.
January 4, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Very different from the film - it's only really the idea which survived - it was brave to write #TheZoneOfInterest but it doesn't quite come off.
A dark comedy about the management of a concentration camp, the book generates uncomfortable laughter but loses its way a bit.
A dark comedy about the management of a concentration camp, the book generates uncomfortable laughter but loses its way a bit.
The second day of the year and we climbed another mountain, this time a little higher to the top of The Sugar Loaf. If we carry on like this, we'll have conquered Everest by December.
January 2, 2026 at 5:43 PM
The second day of the year and we climbed another mountain, this time a little higher to the top of The Sugar Loaf. If we carry on like this, we'll have conquered Everest by December.
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda from the top of a blowy Blorenge. It's the first day of a new year and the first time the wind has ever blown a woolly hat off my head!
January 1, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda from the top of a blowy Blorenge. It's the first day of a new year and the first time the wind has ever blown a woolly hat off my head!
A play about alcoholism, organised religion, honesty and trust, The Fifth Step was both very funny and completely absorbing with subtlety and twists in the fast and furious script. Jack Lowden was mesmerising from beginning to end but Martin Freeman was not to be overshadowed.
December 16, 2025 at 9:21 PM
A play about alcoholism, organised religion, honesty and trust, The Fifth Step was both very funny and completely absorbing with subtlety and twists in the fast and furious script. Jack Lowden was mesmerising from beginning to end but Martin Freeman was not to be overshadowed.
A story of war, geo-politics, the desperation and exploitation of refugees, mercenaries, resistance...and love. 'Casablanca...A Live Radio Play' Live in the Theatre was an original, energetic and thoroughly enjoyable production by the Lighthouse Theatre Company. Go and see it.
December 3, 2025 at 10:30 PM
A story of war, geo-politics, the desperation and exploitation of refugees, mercenaries, resistance...and love. 'Casablanca...A Live Radio Play' Live in the Theatre was an original, energetic and thoroughly enjoyable production by the Lighthouse Theatre Company. Go and see it.
Chris Patten's First Confession is an engaging account of an impressive career in public service.
His adult lifetime has coincided, through little of his own fault, with the right-ward drift and possible destruction of the Conservative Party.
His adult lifetime has coincided, through little of his own fault, with the right-ward drift and possible destruction of the Conservative Party.
December 1, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Chris Patten's First Confession is an engaging account of an impressive career in public service.
His adult lifetime has coincided, through little of his own fault, with the right-ward drift and possible destruction of the Conservative Party.
His adult lifetime has coincided, through little of his own fault, with the right-ward drift and possible destruction of the Conservative Party.
A Bookish day ended with Sebastian Faulks coming to Abergavenny to talk about his memoir, Fires Which Burned Brightly.
He had a lovely voice and spoke with reason and humour about his life and books. He remembers has plenty more writing in him.
He had a lovely voice and spoke with reason and humour about his life and books. He remembers has plenty more writing in him.
November 30, 2025 at 9:59 PM
A Bookish day ended with Sebastian Faulks coming to Abergavenny to talk about his memoir, Fires Which Burned Brightly.
He had a lovely voice and spoke with reason and humour about his life and books. He remembers has plenty more writing in him.
He had a lovely voice and spoke with reason and humour about his life and books. He remembers has plenty more writing in him.
The BBC's international correspondent, Lyse Doucet, came to the finest hotel in Abergavenny to talk about her book, The Finest Hotel in Kabul. It looks at Afghanistan and its different governing regimes through the eyes of the staff working there.
November 30, 2025 at 2:47 PM
The BBC's international correspondent, Lyse Doucet, came to the finest hotel in Abergavenny to talk about her book, The Finest Hotel in Kabul. It looks at Afghanistan and its different governing regimes through the eyes of the staff working there.
To Hay again for the second day of the winter festival. We heard Vlatko Vedral and Paul Davies talk to Caroline Steel about quantum physics.
Don't think for a minute that I understood what I heard but my learning points were:
Don't think for a minute that I understood what I heard but my learning points were:
November 28, 2025 at 11:05 PM
To Hay again for the second day of the winter festival. We heard Vlatko Vedral and Paul Davies talk to Caroline Steel about quantum physics.
Don't think for a minute that I understood what I heard but my learning points were:
Don't think for a minute that I understood what I heard but my learning points were:
Nick Clegg discussing 'How to Save the Internet' in Hay:
* Soc med is not all the same
* Little hope of AI governance system covering China & USA
*Silicon valley tech bros will agree regulation is in their interest
* UK needs to build AI co.s with Europe
* Soc med is not all the same
* Little hope of AI governance system covering China & USA
*Silicon valley tech bros will agree regulation is in their interest
* UK needs to build AI co.s with Europe
November 27, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Nick Clegg discussing 'How to Save the Internet' in Hay:
* Soc med is not all the same
* Little hope of AI governance system covering China & USA
*Silicon valley tech bros will agree regulation is in their interest
* UK needs to build AI co.s with Europe
* Soc med is not all the same
* Little hope of AI governance system covering China & USA
*Silicon valley tech bros will agree regulation is in their interest
* UK needs to build AI co.s with Europe
A story of a Basque family, the Spanish civil war and the consequences of the horrific bombing of Guernica. It was a page-turner which ran out of steam and left me feeling dissatisfied. I wanted to understand more about Basque culture and the politics of the civil war.
November 25, 2025 at 7:13 PM
A story of a Basque family, the Spanish civil war and the consequences of the horrific bombing of Guernica. It was a page-turner which ran out of steam and left me feeling dissatisfied. I wanted to understand more about Basque culture and the politics of the civil war.
I cried! But that shouldn't put you off seeing I Swear.
A film about ignorance and understanding, cruelty and kindness, it's very well written, acted and directed.
A film about ignorance and understanding, cruelty and kindness, it's very well written, acted and directed.
October 17, 2025 at 9:20 PM
I cried! But that shouldn't put you off seeing I Swear.
A film about ignorance and understanding, cruelty and kindness, it's very well written, acted and directed.
A film about ignorance and understanding, cruelty and kindness, it's very well written, acted and directed.
The Book Club verdict on CloudStreet was positive. I enjoyed it, liked getting to know the characters, laughed out loud at times and got a strong sense of the environment in post war West Australia. However, I also found it too long, unevenly paced and at times a difficult read.
October 15, 2025 at 8:18 PM
The Book Club verdict on CloudStreet was positive. I enjoyed it, liked getting to know the characters, laughed out loud at times and got a strong sense of the environment in post war West Australia. However, I also found it too long, unevenly paced and at times a difficult read.
A weekend in Portsmouth so we saw the rash of English flags hanging from lamp posts and in some house windows. What we also saw were Hope not Hate posters as well as other heart-warming posters, stickers and signs - many home-made - promoting kindness, welcoming refugees and opposing racism.
October 13, 2025 at 4:39 PM
A weekend in Portsmouth so we saw the rash of English flags hanging from lamp posts and in some house windows. What we also saw were Hope not Hate posters as well as other heart-warming posters, stickers and signs - many home-made - promoting kindness, welcoming refugees and opposing racism.
Good to see Adam Idah's first goal for Swansea but it wasn't enough to beat two classy Leicester goals and a freak one. It wasn't a 1 - 3 performance and we were competitive for most of the game but losing ain't fun.
October 4, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Good to see Adam Idah's first goal for Swansea but it wasn't enough to beat two classy Leicester goals and a freak one. It wasn't a 1 - 3 performance and we were competitive for most of the game but losing ain't fun.
An enjoyable watch for the neutral at Swansea today but very frustrating to only get a draw.
The atmosphere in the stadium was disappointingly flat too.
The atmosphere in the stadium was disappointingly flat too.
September 27, 2025 at 9:48 PM
An enjoyable watch for the neutral at Swansea today but very frustrating to only get a draw.
The atmosphere in the stadium was disappointingly flat too.
The atmosphere in the stadium was disappointingly flat too.
Disinformation - what's new?
Paintings of south Wales iron works in the industrial revolution were often sanitised for the owners who commissioned them.
One of the many facts discussed by Merthy Tydfil's, Huw Williams, in his talk to Abergavenny's history society.
Paintings of south Wales iron works in the industrial revolution were often sanitised for the owners who commissioned them.
One of the many facts discussed by Merthy Tydfil's, Huw Williams, in his talk to Abergavenny's history society.
September 24, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Disinformation - what's new?
Paintings of south Wales iron works in the industrial revolution were often sanitised for the owners who commissioned them.
One of the many facts discussed by Merthy Tydfil's, Huw Williams, in his talk to Abergavenny's history society.
Paintings of south Wales iron works in the industrial revolution were often sanitised for the owners who commissioned them.
One of the many facts discussed by Merthy Tydfil's, Huw Williams, in his talk to Abergavenny's history society.