Gareth Oakland 🇫🇷🏏🏉
@goakl.bsky.social
Published on 19th Century Vendéen memorials. Former PwC partner. Trustee at Institute of Historical Research. Trustee at NHS Retirement. Active travel in Bishop’s Stortford. Keyboard warrior. Bearsted CC. Cricket, cycling, rugby à XV. France and England.
Reposted by Gareth Oakland 🇫🇷🏏🏉
The entrance to the 3-storey bike parking garage at Utrecht Central holding 12,500 bicycles. It’s free for the first 24 hours, linked to the station, and used by tens of thousands every day. This is what happens when a country treats bikes as real transport infrastructure, not an afterthought.
November 22, 2025 at 7:08 PM
The entrance to the 3-storey bike parking garage at Utrecht Central holding 12,500 bicycles. It’s free for the first 24 hours, linked to the station, and used by tens of thousands every day. This is what happens when a country treats bikes as real transport infrastructure, not an afterthought.
Just in time for half-time.
Duck. Orange sauce. The last of the apple pies and the last of the winter wine!
Duck. Orange sauce. The last of the apple pies and the last of the winter wine!
November 22, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Just in time for half-time.
Duck. Orange sauce. The last of the apple pies and the last of the winter wine!
Duck. Orange sauce. The last of the apple pies and the last of the winter wine!
November 22, 2025 at 5:41 PM
November 22, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Whenever I put the freshly ironed laundry to air by the fire, I know my dear old mum would have approved.
Good game on the telly too.
Good game on the telly too.
November 22, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Whenever I put the freshly ironed laundry to air by the fire, I know my dear old mum would have approved.
Good game on the telly too.
Good game on the telly too.
Back to the UK tomorrow. The butter has already been in the freezer once and I had some oats, cream, ginger and flour. At least they won’t be confiscated at customs!
November 22, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Back to the UK tomorrow. The butter has already been in the freezer once and I had some oats, cream, ginger and flour. At least they won’t be confiscated at customs!
Got to say that I read this as “minus one” and thought it was generous.
But y’know he’s a good team man and Baz likes his dad. So…
But y’know he’s a good team man and Baz likes his dad. So…
November 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Got to say that I read this as “minus one” and thought it was generous.
But y’know he’s a good team man and Baz likes his dad. So…
But y’know he’s a good team man and Baz likes his dad. So…
Symbols (swastikas, nooses etc) in the news again. Reminded me of Sanford Levison's conclusion that consensus on public memorials is impossible (plural publics) except perhaps where an event was so terrible that it must be remembered forever after as a cautionary note.
November 22, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Symbols (swastikas, nooses etc) in the news again. Reminded me of Sanford Levison's conclusion that consensus on public memorials is impossible (plural publics) except perhaps where an event was so terrible that it must be remembered forever after as a cautionary note.
Six years ago, I wrote these two words.
Obviously it wasn’t.
Thesis-final-final-v16.doc came a lot later!
Obviously it wasn’t.
Thesis-final-final-v16.doc came a lot later!
November 22, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Six years ago, I wrote these two words.
Obviously it wasn’t.
Thesis-final-final-v16.doc came a lot later!
Obviously it wasn’t.
Thesis-final-final-v16.doc came a lot later!
140 overs. Less than 2 days. The TV people and ground catering must be FUMIN’
November 22, 2025 at 9:44 AM
140 overs. Less than 2 days. The TV people and ground catering must be FUMIN’
Brain: wake up, wake up, Crawley is batting. Ah fuck it, go back to sleep.
🏏
🏏
November 22, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Brain: wake up, wake up, Crawley is batting. Ah fuck it, go back to sleep.
🏏
🏏
Oh you want #rugby predictions too?
4 home wins. And wins for the Kiwis and Saffers. Not sure you’d get very long odds on all six to be honest.
4 home wins. And wins for the Kiwis and Saffers. Not sure you’d get very long odds on all six to be honest.
November 21, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Oh you want #rugby predictions too?
4 home wins. And wins for the Kiwis and Saffers. Not sure you’d get very long odds on all six to be honest.
4 home wins. And wins for the Kiwis and Saffers. Not sure you’d get very long odds on all six to be honest.
Off to sleep. Brain programmed for 5.40 wake up in time for the afternoon session.
Prediction? England 80-3, Root 20 NO having been dropped on 5. Bowled out by tea time. Set Aus 230 to win.
🏏
Prediction? England 80-3, Root 20 NO having been dropped on 5. Bowled out by tea time. Set Aus 230 to win.
🏏
November 21, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Off to sleep. Brain programmed for 5.40 wake up in time for the afternoon session.
Prediction? England 80-3, Root 20 NO having been dropped on 5. Bowled out by tea time. Set Aus 230 to win.
🏏
Prediction? England 80-3, Root 20 NO having been dropped on 5. Bowled out by tea time. Set Aus 230 to win.
🏏
And to finish, home made apple pie and ice cream. Don’t say I don’t spoil you.
November 21, 2025 at 8:10 PM
And to finish, home made apple pie and ice cream. Don’t say I don’t spoil you.
And so we make do with baguette and red wine
November 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
And so we make do with baguette and red wine
Aren’t freezers amazing luck dip machines?
This is a vegan curry. Sweet potato, lentils, chickpeas, onions, garlic and coconut milk.
Made sometime in the summer when I thought the vegetarian child was coming to stay…
Would be good with a naan (which I don’t have) and Thai beer (ditto!)
This is a vegan curry. Sweet potato, lentils, chickpeas, onions, garlic and coconut milk.
Made sometime in the summer when I thought the vegetarian child was coming to stay…
Would be good with a naan (which I don’t have) and Thai beer (ditto!)
November 21, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Aren’t freezers amazing luck dip machines?
This is a vegan curry. Sweet potato, lentils, chickpeas, onions, garlic and coconut milk.
Made sometime in the summer when I thought the vegetarian child was coming to stay…
Would be good with a naan (which I don’t have) and Thai beer (ditto!)
This is a vegan curry. Sweet potato, lentils, chickpeas, onions, garlic and coconut milk.
Made sometime in the summer when I thought the vegetarian child was coming to stay…
Would be good with a naan (which I don’t have) and Thai beer (ditto!)
It’s true that a log burner keeps you warm three times. Once when you scavenge the wood, once when you split the logs and finally when you toast your toes next to it.
French rural life.
French rural life.
November 21, 2025 at 3:42 PM
It’s true that a log burner keeps you warm three times. Once when you scavenge the wood, once when you split the logs and finally when you toast your toes next to it.
French rural life.
French rural life.
Better go and prepare for that important meeting then…
See you later for a vegetable curry?
See you later for a vegetable curry?
November 21, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Better go and prepare for that important meeting then…
See you later for a vegetable curry?
See you later for a vegetable curry?
It’s a real 50:50 call on which side has the most brainless batsmen.
🏏
🏏
November 21, 2025 at 9:43 AM
It’s a real 50:50 call on which side has the most brainless batsmen.
🏏
🏏
Reposted by Gareth Oakland 🇫🇷🏏🏉
Cross party governmental inertia on an important issue. Footway (pavement) parking involves a public good being transferred to private use (car storage) in a way that disadvantages many.
The footway parking ban in England consultation closed 5 years ago tomorrow. The Tories' inaction is now Labour's inaction.
www.gov.uk/government/c...
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Pavement parking: options for change
www.gov.uk
November 21, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Cross party governmental inertia on an important issue. Footway (pavement) parking involves a public good being transferred to private use (car storage) in a way that disadvantages many.
Reposted by Gareth Oakland 🇫🇷🏏🏉
Henry V at Agincourt
Think it’s Archer time #ashes
November 21, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Henry V at Agincourt
This 33 over cricket could catch on. Might be better if the wore coloured pyjamas and had loud rock music though.
🏏🏏🏏
🏏🏏🏏
November 21, 2025 at 8:08 AM
This 33 over cricket could catch on. Might be better if the wore coloured pyjamas and had loud rock music though.
🏏🏏🏏
🏏🏏🏏
We had a little snow overnight. Minus 3 later today.
November 21, 2025 at 7:48 AM
We had a little snow overnight. Minus 3 later today.