Philip Hogarth
@jampacker.bsky.social
Ex-Twitter. Once FCDO, now happily retired. Dual Brit/French, & I'm quite happy to be both or just one of them according to circumstances! Geordie born & bred, so there is only NUFC. Otherwise, foreign & current affairs as well as general political stuff
Reposted by Philip Hogarth
Every year I hear people complaining Fenwicks' window is not as good as in the past. I've no idea what's in their memory, but I think it's great, and I'm 70.
December 5, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Every year I hear people complaining Fenwicks' window is not as good as in the past. I've no idea what's in their memory, but I think it's great, and I'm 70.
I'm more in despair about what FIFA has become. In the past, I would watch the draw. Not this time; I can't be arsed. The FIFA circus needed its Coco the clown, and it's found him. The hilarity will come when there's a complete fuck up.
December 5, 2025 at 1:42 PM
I'm more in despair about what FIFA has become. In the past, I would watch the draw. Not this time; I can't be arsed. The FIFA circus needed its Coco the clown, and it's found him. The hilarity will come when there's a complete fuck up.
A dilemma: Catania for the city life or Punta Secca so I can pretend to be Commissario Montalbano.
December 4, 2025 at 2:17 PM
A dilemma: Catania for the city life or Punta Secca so I can pretend to be Commissario Montalbano.
Tell that to those in La Joliette this afternoon or those in the Old Port this evening. There is no grief!
November 24, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Tell that to those in La Joliette this afternoon or those in the Old Port this evening. There is no grief!
We #NUFC were supposed to get humped, from Feyenoord in the first round onwards. And then especially by Ujpest Doza, who had knackered Leeds, arguably the best team in England. The Press gave us no chance at any time. I was there, and I'll be there again ... I hope!
November 24, 2025 at 4:52 PM
We #NUFC were supposed to get humped, from Feyenoord in the first round onwards. And then especially by Ujpest Doza, who had knackered Leeds, arguably the best team in England. The Press gave us no chance at any time. I was there, and I'll be there again ... I hope!
That is a bit stupid and could well be seen as a wind up. On the other hand, it's not far from where I'm sitting now. A little bit of sense, not just the common stuff, helps.
November 24, 2025 at 11:46 AM
That is a bit stupid and could well be seen as a wind up. On the other hand, it's not far from where I'm sitting now. A little bit of sense, not just the common stuff, helps.
That's a hell of a lot of permutations right now! A win would probably guarantee a play off place. A draw might, just, but probably not. A loss is not the end of the world.
November 24, 2025 at 11:38 AM
That's a hell of a lot of permutations right now! A win would probably guarantee a play off place. A draw might, just, but probably not. A loss is not the end of the world.
It's Trump. He changes tack faster than a hummingbird 's wings flap.
November 24, 2025 at 11:34 AM
It's Trump. He changes tack faster than a hummingbird 's wings flap.
He was on the 11.05 (delayed) Newcastle/Paris flight this morning; had been doing a French TV job, apparently.
November 23, 2025 at 9:43 PM
He was on the 11.05 (delayed) Newcastle/Paris flight this morning; had been doing a French TV job, apparently.
And then Trump will say Putin has a week to accept or face the consequences. And TACO will then kick in yet again. Same old screen play.
November 23, 2025 at 2:31 PM
And then Trump will say Putin has a week to accept or face the consequences. And TACO will then kick in yet again. Same old screen play.
70.2 pence an hour. Paid for 35 hours. Then less the deductions. I gave my mam £7 a week board.
November 20, 2025 at 11:54 AM
70.2 pence an hour. Paid for 35 hours. Then less the deductions. I gave my mam £7 a week board.
On last Monday, but with a short-sleeved tee shirt. I had longjohns on as well. I was playing golf, though, and it was bitter and wet. So, I'm excusing myself for being a soft bugga.
November 20, 2025 at 9:51 AM
On last Monday, but with a short-sleeved tee shirt. I had longjohns on as well. I was playing golf, though, and it was bitter and wet. So, I'm excusing myself for being a soft bugga.
Badenoch couldn't dismantle a Jenga tower. She's utterly hopeless in a field of hopelessness.
November 18, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Badenoch couldn't dismantle a Jenga tower. She's utterly hopeless in a field of hopelessness.
Tommy Cassidy was a good player; much underrated
November 17, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Tommy Cassidy was a good player; much underrated
There isn't. And even when I was a part of it, there wasn't. Walk in political asylum was a different matter, but rarely happened. The vast majority of asylum claims, then and now, are made by people already legally allowed into the country.
November 17, 2025 at 7:04 PM
There isn't. And even when I was a part of it, there wasn't. Walk in political asylum was a different matter, but rarely happened. The vast majority of asylum claims, then and now, are made by people already legally allowed into the country.
Good idea. Do you know where we now have Dip representation properly staffed to handle asylum claims?
November 17, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Good idea. Do you know where we now have Dip representation properly staffed to handle asylum claims?
That would be me, too. And applied also to a place being stowed out.
November 16, 2025 at 2:20 PM
That would be me, too. And applied also to a place being stowed out.