Simon
@simeytuba.bsky.social
Tree planter, music educator, lapsed runner, radio ham, retired tuba player. A kind of musical geek I suppose….
Back in the classroom today…hoping for a much drier outcome for my endeavours than that of yesterday…the shire is chilly and damp as of the moment - not at its best…
January 9, 2026 at 7:47 AM
Back in the classroom today…hoping for a much drier outcome for my endeavours than that of yesterday…the shire is chilly and damp as of the moment - not at its best…
Hedge planting today…came home like a rat thrice drownded…it’s been raining you see…
January 8, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Hedge planting today…came home like a rat thrice drownded…it’s been raining you see…
The music teaching thing was good today…I got to hand out 30+ brand spanking new brass instruments to young people at one school I serve. The joy on the faces is something I’m going to carry with me for a long time. 👌🏻👍🏻
January 7, 2026 at 4:36 PM
The music teaching thing was good today…I got to hand out 30+ brand spanking new brass instruments to young people at one school I serve. The joy on the faces is something I’m going to carry with me for a long time. 👌🏻👍🏻
Reposted by Simon
"Those criticising the fireworks would only have been happy if the laser and light show had featured Alf Garnett telling them all to fuck off. But even then, they would not have remembered - or even noticed - that mindless bigotry was the joke."
open.substack.com/pub/fleetstr...
open.substack.com/pub/fleetstr...
The London fireworks they didn't see
If this is Sharia law, it's not what we were led to expect
open.substack.com
January 1, 2026 at 12:13 PM
"Those criticising the fireworks would only have been happy if the laser and light show had featured Alf Garnett telling them all to fuck off. But even then, they would not have remembered - or even noticed - that mindless bigotry was the joke."
open.substack.com/pub/fleetstr...
open.substack.com/pub/fleetstr...
Back in the wood today so I’ve been a bit busy…here is a photo of pre-sunrise over the shire…
December 30, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Back in the wood today so I’ve been a bit busy…here is a photo of pre-sunrise over the shire…
A day off for family and dropping in wrapped love. ‘Tis the season to be tubby…form a queue behind me for excess calorific intake! No more carols for this year - but there shall be cheese, o Lordy bless yes… salutations for the season all, see you on the other side x
December 24, 2025 at 6:35 PM
A day off for family and dropping in wrapped love. ‘Tis the season to be tubby…form a queue behind me for excess calorific intake! No more carols for this year - but there shall be cheese, o Lordy bless yes… salutations for the season all, see you on the other side x
Hedge planting today…double row, 5 to the metre, predominantly hawthorn interspersed with dog rose, hazel, field maple and dogwood…1250 in this stretch 👌🏻👍🏻
December 23, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Hedge planting today…double row, 5 to the metre, predominantly hawthorn interspersed with dog rose, hazel, field maple and dogwood…1250 in this stretch 👌🏻👍🏻
Replacing a few dead trees today…but Lordy-bless isn’t the weather nice here in the shire…!
December 22, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Replacing a few dead trees today…but Lordy-bless isn’t the weather nice here in the shire…!
Replacing a few dead trees today…but Lordy-bless isn’t the weather nice here in the shire…!
December 22, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Replacing a few dead trees today…but Lordy-bless isn’t the weather nice here in the shire…!
Cotswold carolling in the town this afternoon…the older members of the youth band playing to raise money for the organisation. Our buckets will be happy to receive and contributions - the weather isn’t so shabby here in the shire either!
December 20, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Cotswold carolling in the town this afternoon…the older members of the youth band playing to raise money for the organisation. Our buckets will be happy to receive and contributions - the weather isn’t so shabby here in the shire either!
End of year carol concert at the parish church last night…much music from new players, some only playing instruments since September…brass, woodwind, percussion and now our new string group is firmly established! Lots of happy mums and dads and (more importantly) happy and engaged young people! 😌
December 20, 2025 at 9:53 AM
End of year carol concert at the parish church last night…much music from new players, some only playing instruments since September…brass, woodwind, percussion and now our new string group is firmly established! Lots of happy mums and dads and (more importantly) happy and engaged young people! 😌
Il pleut, as they say in France, but this is very much your English type of wetness, coming down like stair-rods here in the shire, proving that coats aren’t water proof but only delay the inevitable dampness and the tale-tale neck trickle. Good tree planting weather though - I’ll give you that!
December 18, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Il pleut, as they say in France, but this is very much your English type of wetness, coming down like stair-rods here in the shire, proving that coats aren’t water proof but only delay the inevitable dampness and the tale-tale neck trickle. Good tree planting weather though - I’ll give you that!
A gathering of brass students at the parish church today…most of them have only been playing since September…a raucously joyous afternoon and yes, there were carols.
December 16, 2025 at 8:48 PM
A gathering of brass students at the parish church today…most of them have only been playing since September…a raucously joyous afternoon and yes, there were carols.
Taking mum shopping today and the local city of Bath has been chosen (I love Bath)… she’s 80 - I hope I don’t lose her in M&S again this year…
December 15, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Taking mum shopping today and the local city of Bath has been chosen (I love Bath)… she’s 80 - I hope I don’t lose her in M&S again this year…
So, how are we all doing…? It’s Sunday and the weather here in the ‘swolds is dry and reasonable…might take an amble into town to pick a few presents. No carols planned today but can’t promise that there won’t be any.
December 14, 2025 at 9:48 AM
So, how are we all doing…? It’s Sunday and the weather here in the ‘swolds is dry and reasonable…might take an amble into town to pick a few presents. No carols planned today but can’t promise that there won’t be any.
As promised, Cotswold carolling commences in T-minus 50 mins… it’s a frosty one here in the shire…lovely 👍🏻👌🏻
December 13, 2025 at 9:36 AM
As promised, Cotswold carolling commences in T-minus 50 mins… it’s a frosty one here in the shire…lovely 👍🏻👌🏻
Sorry, nearly missed you today…all good in the shire though, dry and sunny at times More carols this evening and tomorrow in town - see you there…? 👌🏻👍🏻
December 12, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Sorry, nearly missed you today…all good in the shire though, dry and sunny at times More carols this evening and tomorrow in town - see you there…? 👌🏻👍🏻
A day in the wood today…well, those trees won’t plant themselves will they…?
December 11, 2025 at 7:24 AM
A day in the wood today…well, those trees won’t plant themselves will they…?
Brighter, fresher but still unseasonably warmer than the typical shire at this time of year…a better nights sleep and the unrelenting Yuletide excitement from the students is carrying me along in an ebullient mood…jingle (as they say) bells.
December 10, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Brighter, fresher but still unseasonably warmer than the typical shire at this time of year…a better nights sleep and the unrelenting Yuletide excitement from the students is carrying me along in an ebullient mood…jingle (as they say) bells.
Overcast and gray with a smidgin of precipitation here in the shire… a disturbed night what with erratic communications from mentally unstable adult son… there’s a lot of it about don’t cha know…
December 9, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Overcast and gray with a smidgin of precipitation here in the shire… a disturbed night what with erratic communications from mentally unstable adult son… there’s a lot of it about don’t cha know…
Did a ‘Christmas pudding run’ this morning at a local village, to say it rained would be an understatement…fab atmosphere, medal and a Christmas pudding at the finish line…! (No, there was no carol playing today) 👍🏻👌🏻
December 7, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Did a ‘Christmas pudding run’ this morning at a local village, to say it rained would be an understatement…fab atmosphere, medal and a Christmas pudding at the finish line…! (No, there was no carol playing today) 👍🏻👌🏻
Once again Cotswold carolling with the kids band this morning…very proud of them…bought a Christmas tree on the way home, did intend to buy one from a local farm but they wanted over £70 for a six footer - got a 5ft one from Lidl for just over a tenner! Well done #Lidl nice tree too 👍🏻
December 6, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Once again Cotswold carolling with the kids band this morning…very proud of them…bought a Christmas tree on the way home, did intend to buy one from a local farm but they wanted over £70 for a six footer - got a 5ft one from Lidl for just over a tenner! Well done #Lidl nice tree too 👍🏻
Bonus evening…town lights were a bit damp but ended up
Playing carols at the church…lovely! Ended up having a curry with friends…double lovely 👌🏻👍🏻
Playing carols at the church…lovely! Ended up having a curry with friends…double lovely 👌🏻👍🏻
December 5, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Bonus evening…town lights were a bit damp but ended up
Playing carols at the church…lovely! Ended up having a curry with friends…double lovely 👌🏻👍🏻
Playing carols at the church…lovely! Ended up having a curry with friends…double lovely 👌🏻👍🏻
Another chilly morning here in the shire… heavy rain moving in later. Hope this doesn’t dampen the enthusiasm for the towns Christmas light turn-on and carolling…again, no hurricanes to speak of - I don’t know who to thank for that…
December 5, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Another chilly morning here in the shire… heavy rain moving in later. Hope this doesn’t dampen the enthusiasm for the towns Christmas light turn-on and carolling…again, no hurricanes to speak of - I don’t know who to thank for that…
Nippy outside but the log burner is lit and it’s toasty warmies… a snug post from the shire…👌🏻👍🏻
December 4, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Nippy outside but the log burner is lit and it’s toasty warmies… a snug post from the shire…👌🏻👍🏻