Graham Barber
@grahambarber.bsky.social
Retired civil servant. Raised in Blackpool, now living in Norfolk. Have never voted Tory so happy to be living in a Truss-free zone. Voted Remain. Still follow Blackpool FC and Lancashire CCC
Current affairs, railways, whatever else nudges my curiosity
Current affairs, railways, whatever else nudges my curiosity
Trump is a flat-track bully who is too used to getting his own way. Your comment is spot on, and Trumplethinskin is a good title for him.
November 16, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Trump is a flat-track bully who is too used to getting his own way. Your comment is spot on, and Trumplethinskin is a good title for him.
The BBC is by no means perfect - we've talked before about the bias of people like Mason - but it's preferable to the likes of GB News. Panorama contained a stupid mistake, but Trump had since October 2024 to do something. Yet nothing happened until the (carefully orchestrated?) leak. Coincidence!
November 15, 2025 at 12:59 PM
The BBC is by no means perfect - we've talked before about the bias of people like Mason - but it's preferable to the likes of GB News. Panorama contained a stupid mistake, but Trump had since October 2024 to do something. Yet nothing happened until the (carefully orchestrated?) leak. Coincidence!
A fine choice. They did some excellent stuff, but The Captain & Me is definitely my favourite Doobies album.
November 15, 2025 at 11:38 AM
A fine choice. They did some excellent stuff, but The Captain & Me is definitely my favourite Doobies album.
Having just been out in this dreary Saturday weather I find the latest Diary to be the perfect restorative. A Councillor who looks like a character played by Dick Emery, to an MP who seems to think Clacton is in Florida, to a coup that never was, and even more besides. What a grand spread!
November 15, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Having just been out in this dreary Saturday weather I find the latest Diary to be the perfect restorative. A Councillor who looks like a character played by Dick Emery, to an MP who seems to think Clacton is in Florida, to a coup that never was, and even more besides. What a grand spread!
Well done, but being manager of the month is usually the kiss of death. Wasn't he previously your manager several years ago?
November 14, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Well done, but being manager of the month is usually the kiss of death. Wasn't he previously your manager several years ago?
They're probably fretting over which bean to eat first. The other calls for too much brain power.
November 14, 2025 at 2:30 PM
They're probably fretting over which bean to eat first. The other calls for too much brain power.
Provided that it's a Democrat POTUS and not Vance!
November 14, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Provided that it's a Democrat POTUS and not Vance!
Good luck! The weather here in Norfolk is horrible - wet, windy and cold - and I suspect you will have the same.
November 14, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Good luck! The weather here in Norfolk is horrible - wet, windy and cold - and I suspect you will have the same.
You've posed the question I was going to put after my comment. Living in the UK my knowledge of Boebet is mostly from social media, and she doesn't seem the type to take the stand she is at the moment.
November 14, 2025 at 8:42 AM
You've posed the question I was going to put after my comment. Living in the UK my knowledge of Boebet is mostly from social media, and she doesn't seem the type to take the stand she is at the moment.
It always did seem a weird concept, so no loss to my mind. Hardly surprising that the PCCs aren't happy!
November 13, 2025 at 7:14 PM
It always did seem a weird concept, so no loss to my mind. Hardly surprising that the PCCs aren't happy!
I would never have figured Boebet as someone who has discovered a backbone.
November 13, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I would never have figured Boebet as someone who has discovered a backbone.
For once I have to commend the BBC, as there is a piece on their site about the decision. Fair point about journalism, though, as nowadays it seems mostly confined to the likes of Bylines Network and Private Eye.
November 13, 2025 at 2:04 PM
For once I have to commend the BBC, as there is a piece on their site about the decision. Fair point about journalism, though, as nowadays it seems mostly confined to the likes of Bylines Network and Private Eye.
I totally agree. Mind you, I think many things about Leavitt but intelligent is not one of them.
November 12, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I totally agree. Mind you, I think many things about Leavitt but intelligent is not one of them.
Thank you for posting this, which certainly adds a lot more context to the events.
November 12, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Thank you for posting this, which certainly adds a lot more context to the events.
If Trump can be so exercised by a (admittedly silly) mistake by the BBC I will be fascinated to see what he makes of this. Personally, I hope this is the beginning of the end for him.
November 12, 2025 at 5:20 PM
If Trump can be so exercised by a (admittedly silly) mistake by the BBC I will be fascinated to see what he makes of this. Personally, I hope this is the beginning of the end for him.
Happy birthday to the man. My favourite track off an album that I bought way back in the day when it was first released. And then, albeit on television, I had the pleasure of watching him perform it at Glastonbury this year.
November 12, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Happy birthday to the man. My favourite track off an album that I bought way back in the day when it was first released. And then, albeit on television, I had the pleasure of watching him perform it at Glastonbury this year.
Climate change and market forces were going to drive up the price of coffee anyway. And then he sticks tariffs on top. True genius!
November 12, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Climate change and market forces were going to drive up the price of coffee anyway. And then he sticks tariffs on top. True genius!
Yes, please, for Gibb. And he can take the likes of Mason and Zefferman with him. If they can't leave their political beliefs at the door in the morning they shouldn't be doing that job.
November 12, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Yes, please, for Gibb. And he can take the likes of Mason and Zefferman with him. If they can't leave their political beliefs at the door in the morning they shouldn't be doing that job.
I do, but the memory is a tad hazy now! One memory I do have is of Oystermouth Road being described as the busiest road in Wales during the rush hours. Don't know what it's like now, but I certainly used to wonder whether the Mumbles Railway was closed too soon.
November 12, 2025 at 12:52 PM
I do, but the memory is a tad hazy now! One memory I do have is of Oystermouth Road being described as the busiest road in Wales during the rush hours. Don't know what it's like now, but I certainly used to wonder whether the Mumbles Railway was closed too soon.
The line that I wish I'd seen was the one from Swansea Victoria. I would have loved to hear the steam locomotives working the climb through Clyne and Killay. The nearest I got was a trip on the Mumbles Railway in the late 1950s, before I was interested in railways.
November 12, 2025 at 11:44 AM
The line that I wish I'd seen was the one from Swansea Victoria. I would have loved to hear the steam locomotives working the climb through Clyne and Killay. The nearest I got was a trip on the Mumbles Railway in the late 1950s, before I was interested in railways.
A true story. Years ago a friend came to visit me in Swansea and I arranged to meet him at the station. Train duly arrived and unloaded, with no sign of him. After a few minutes he suddenly appeared and said that seeing the sign as Swansea Abertawe he thought High Street was a different station!
November 12, 2025 at 11:21 AM
A true story. Years ago a friend came to visit me in Swansea and I arranged to meet him at the station. Train duly arrived and unloaded, with no sign of him. After a few minutes he suddenly appeared and said that seeing the sign as Swansea Abertawe he thought High Street was a different station!
Are the station signs still bi-lingual? If memory serves, Bridgend was something like Pen-y-Bont.
November 12, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Are the station signs still bi-lingual? If memory serves, Bridgend was something like Pen-y-Bont.
Nice looking coach. It reminds me of the old BA advert - "Where is everybody?"
November 12, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Nice looking coach. It reminds me of the old BA advert - "Where is everybody?"