Only just heard that Ralph Towner died earlier this month. An inspired guitarist and composer whose work has been part of the soundtrack to my life for almost half a century. Here's one of his loveliest tunes and best solos. A melancholy, contemplative musical start to your day.

Good morning everyone, happy to share this draft poem with you for #poemsabout #blackveils. Another tricky prompt from @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk! Look forward to reading others later!

#poems #poetry #scottishpoetry #scottishwriting

Do you remember the ‘other’ 1960s Ladybird brand? The clothes they sold in Woolworths? The dressing gowns with the ladybird buttons? Well they also brought out a series of children’s books. Usually children were saved from peril by the quality of their clothing ...

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/.... More train listening: this thoughtful programme

The Christian fundamentalists and evangelicals aligning with ICE are “prying Christianity further and further away from the ethic and teachings of Jesus,” Peter Wehner argues.

We’ve nearly made it through January - well done everyone. February’s gonna be wild.

Bruce Springsteen is a good example of how to do American manhood.

Donald Trump is a barnacle on the great toilet bowl of humanity.

How do you visualise the supernatural?

An exhibition at Kunstmuseum Basel frames the ghost as a ‘call to attention’ that interrupts temporal continuity and insists upon the unfinished work of history. ⁠

Read the review: artreview.com/ghosts-visua...

#OtD 26 Jan 1649 English radical and founder of the Digger movement, Gerrard Winstanley, completed his text “The New Law of Righteousness” which laid out his plans for occupying the commons during the English Civil War stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/9821...

We seem to be living in an era of competitive shamelessness artreview.com/a-philosophy...

There is not a great deal to watch on TV that suits us, we do not enjoy modern comedy.

Enjoyed listening to Ali Smith talking about her new book, Glyph on Take Four Books, Radio 4, followed by The Verb.

Perfect Sunday in the kitchen. Gloom banished.

When we got to our bungalow we could not have as much heating as we wanted.

What do we call our posts here ? Flutter bys ?

"We should get rid of that idea that there are a few people at the top of the wealth pyramid who are the ones who make us wealthy - they aren't." PMUK's Brian Eno

Son got me this for Christmas. It’s gossipy, cerebral, filled with insights. Eno really is one of a very special kind.

Poet Laureate Simon Armitage embarks on the next leg of his ten-year tour of the UK’s libraries, visiting N to P Libraries during the National Year of Reading 2026.

Details on how to book your tickets below 💫

simonarmitage.com/how-to-book-n-to-p-libraries-tour-2026/

Such peace - such beauty.