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Alex Johnson

@shedworking.bsky.social

190 followers 56 following 880 posts

Writer of non-fiction books. Latest: My Year of Reading Welshly. Next: When Books Go Bad, out October. Online editor at Fine Books magazine, columnist at the Idler. Coined term "shedworking". Half-decent snooker player. https://thewritinghut.substack.com/

thewritinghut.substack.com

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🅢🅗🅔🅔🅝🅐 @sheena-mck.bsky.social · 18h

This made me laugh more than it probably should 😂
#funny

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Reposted by Alex Johnson

Keith W. Dickinson @keithwdickinson.bsky.social · 1d

Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

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Alex Johnson @shedworking.bsky.social · 22h

We have a Fishy Plaice in St Albans which used to be called Fishy Delishy. We also have a Coddess.

Alex Johnson @shedworking.bsky.social · 1d

Received nice email today from a reader who's enjoyed My Year of Reading Welshly. If you like an author's work, please do get in touch, I assure you they'll be delighted to hear from you.

Reposted by Alex Johnson

Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 1d

Calling English a 'rip-off degree' is one of the most blatant exhibitions of personal barbarism I've ever seen. You've demonstrated nothing but the poverty of your own mind.

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Alex Johnson @shedworking.bsky.social · 1d

Filmed largely very close to where Mrs J works so she is constantly pointing and saying “ooh”.

Reposted by Alex Johnson

GPWigglesworth @gpwigglesworth.bsky.social · 1d

Do you live in or near Wells & love books? If so come to my book quiz on the 19th! Bookish fun to be had & prizes to win. #bookquiz

wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk/events/2025-...

Wells Literary Quiz - Quirky quiz conundrums! | Wells Festival of Literature

wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk

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Alex Johnson @shedworking.bsky.social · 2d

I think you will like this thewritinghut.substack.com/p/judging-bo...

Judging books by their quilted covers

An intriguing way to celebrate your What I Read This Year list

thewritinghut.substack.com

Reposted by Alex Johnson

Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 3d

Anyone remember Reform promising to go into their new councils with DOGE-style units to slash “waste” and stop taxes from rising? Yeah, it went exactly as you’d expect if you put people in charge who have no idea how anything works.

Reform poised to raise Kent council tax as Musk-inspired attack on costs falters
ANNA GROSS - KENT
Kent's local authority will probably raise council tax rates next year as Reform UK strugglesto find big savings under an Elon Musk-inspired cost-cutting drive.
Kent was one of 10 councils that Nigel Farage's rightwing populist party seized in a swath of local election victories in May. He vowed to save "a lot of money" by abolishing "wasteful" spending.
But Diane Morton, Reform's cabinet member for adult social care on Kent county council, told the Financial Times that services were already "down to the bare bones".
"We've got more demand than ever before and it's growing." she said, stressing she did not believe access to those services should be limited. "We just want more money." As with many local
authorities in England, the bulk of declined to say whether council tax Kent's budget went on adult and chil-
would be raised but other Reform coun-
dren's social care, as well as on children cillors said they wanted to avoid hitting
with special educational needs, which the full 5 percent.
together accounted for about 50 per
Reform's experience highlights some
cent of its £2.5bn annual expenditure.
of the obstacles it may face in national
All councils have a legal duty to bal-
government if it won the next general
ance their books and will set next year's
election and pursued its pledge to slash
budgets in February or March. Ahead of taxes and spending. "Everyone thought
that, most councils in England are we d come in and there were going to be
expected to increase council tax by 5 per
these huge costs we could cut away but
cent, the maximum allowed.
there just aren't," said a third senior
"I think it's going to be 5 per cent,"
Reform cabinet member in Kent.
Morton said of where Kent would land
Farage has set up a Reform Depart-
on tax rises, adding that every 1 per cent ment of Government Efficiency team -
increase equated to an extra E10mn.
modelled on Musk's "Doge" i…

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Alex Johnson @shedworking.bsky.social · 2d

How are they? Careful going down stairs.

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Alex Johnson @shedworking.bsky.social · 2d

Out next week...

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Alex Johnson @shedworking.bsky.social · 2d

@chrisroutledge.bsky.social 'Pubworking' seems to finally be becoming a thing! I should never have given up on the idea.

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Alex Johnson @shedworking.bsky.social · 2d

Jilly Cooper regularly picked A Question of Upbringing by Anthony Powell as one of her top 10 favourite books, also including it on a list of her top 10 favourite romances which is an interesting choice.

Reposted by Alex Johnson

Points Like A Man @pointslikeaman.bsky.social · 3d

Check it out! Our project director, @aelagrand.bsky.social won the @honeyandwaxbks.bsky.social Book Collecting Prize for her collection of materials related to Shakespearean breeches actresses! ✨🎩 Points Like A Man even gets a shout-out!

Fine Books & Collections @finebooks.bsky.social · 12d

Alexandra E. LaGrand Wins 2025 Honey & Wax Book Collecting Prize
www.finebooksmagazine.com/fine-books-n...

Alexandra E. LaGrand Wins 2025 Honey & Wax Book Collecting Prize

Alexandra E. LaGrand has won the 2025 Honey & Wax Book Collecting Prize for her archive documenting Shakespearean breeches actresses over the long 19th century.The annual prize, which rewards American...

www.finebooksmagazine.com

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Alex Johnson @shedworking.bsky.social · 3d

The tortoise beats the hare, even though that's not the way you'd bet on the race.

Alex Johnson @shedworking.bsky.social · 4d

At Vicarage Road this afternoon hoping for a repeat of last Saturday’s result.

Alex Johnson @shedworking.bsky.social · 5d

Definitely oilseed rape.

Alex Johnson @shedworking.bsky.social · 6d

Wipe it down.

Alex Johnson @shedworking.bsky.social · 6d

I came to clean up, I came to clean up.

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Alex Johnson @shedworking.bsky.social · 6d

Saw this last year and it is excellent. Strong recommend.

Vincent Franklin @vincentfranklin.bsky.social · 6d

Less than two months until the mister returns. More info at dickensachristmascarol.co.uk. If you know anyone who might fancy coming along, please share.

Reposted by Alex Johnson

Fine Books & Collections @finebooks.bsky.social · 7d

The Maps of Ursula K. Le Guin Explored in New Exhibition and Book
www.finebooksmagazine.com/fine-books-n...

The Maps of Ursula K. Le Guin Explored in New Exhibition and Book

Ursula K Le Guin began writing each new story by drawing a map and from October 10 The Word for World: The Maps of Ursula K Le Guin will present a selection of these images by her including many which...

www.finebooksmagazine.com

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Alex Johnson @shedworking.bsky.social · 7d

Been reading too many Chalet Girl books again.

Alex Johnson @shedworking.bsky.social · 7d

Red line for almost everything, not just "chuckling", that isn't "said".

Reposted by Alex Johnson

Oh God, What Now? – the politics podcast @ohgodwhatnow.bsky.social · 8d

🚨ICYMI🚨

Housing expert and author of Big Capital: Who Is London For? @annaminton.bsky.social joins @hannahfearn.bsky.social to discuss the nightmare of trying to build houses in a system designed to inhibit it 👉 linktr.ee/ohgodwhatnow...

#starmer #housing #regeneration

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