Yes!! You're right Jo.

In Wales this week & we've discovered an insect we've never even heard of: the Bombylius Major (Dark-edged Bee-fly). Alarmingly large with a long proboscis, but that's for drinking nectar not stinging. They say it's'common' but we've never seen one before

Met Police setting up live facial recognition cameras in my hood. I feel dubious. Does this tech really work? How will it be used in the future? We are already one of the most surveilled cities in the world.

Last night we watched the Colin Currie group perform 'Drumming', a 60-minute percussion piece by American composer Steve Reich. An amazing experience. And what a fantastic space: BoldTendencies, a vast converted car park in Peckham. The silver artwork on the roof is by Richard Wentworth.

Woke up to this bit of poppy drama this morning. I grew these babies from seed.

Great evening of readings at the Scratch Books event in Soho last night.

What's up? Supermarket ginger.

Found this on the pavement this afternoon. Cheered me up no end.

What's fantastic story!!! @nightjarpress.bsky.social

My haul from today's Alternative Book Fair at Islington's public library.

I enjoyed immersing myself in the joyful, open-minded world of painter Rose Wylie (at the Royal Academy). She's 91. Impressed by her very messy studio and her incredible creativity.

I just finished reading this gorgeously produced short story collection last night. SO good. Particularly loved, David Frankel's The Builder, Flo Ward's The End of the World and (I know you shouldn't have favourites but...) Nathaniel Spain's What My Father Left Behind. Get this book!!!

Pankaj Mishra on 'the silent death of what Tagore hailed as "Indo-Iranian civilisation".' A Bitter Education in Tye New York Review of Books (April 9)

Great evening at the Owl (Daunts) bookshop in Kentish Town for the launch of Oanna Aristide's second novel Astronaut!

Crossing the river. Thinking of Gaza & the occupied West Bank & southern Lebanon.

Looking out from the train just now I spotted a green parrot shredding these blossoms, bunch by bunch. Very methodically. Tried to take a pic but I missed him.

Lovely sunny day and a great atmosphere on today's march in London. For tolerance & multi-culturalism, against the values of Nigel Farage & Reform.

Brockwell Park today. A pair well camouflaged Egyptian geese with their 2 remaining goslings (out of 6 or 7 apparently).

This little tree self seeded about 3 years ago. I could see it was some kind of fruit tree so I cosseted it, got it through a couple of bouts of wrangly diseased leaves, and this year it burst into blossom for the first time. No idea what it is apart from a little pink miracle.

Another intriguing delivery by Royle mail yesterday. Looking forward to reading these four new stories from @nightjarpress.bsky.social

This all The Economist Style Guide has to say about commas. I think they're right that too many commas get in the way. I'm inconsistent. I'd like to be more of a comma minimalist.

Just finished Livi Michael's Elizabeth and Ruth (Salt, 2026), inspired by correspondence between Dickens and the novelist Elizabeth Gaskell. What an achievement, so full of vivid, living detail. Dickens is a minor character but Mrs Gaskell's world & 19c Manchester spring to life. A real page turner!

Listening to Olivia Laing's The Garden Against Time (2024). What a book! Milton & Paradise Lost; John Clare; wealth from slavery 'greenwashed'; The Diggers; the Chartists; Wm Morris; Derek Jarman. Personally, less interested in the litany of plants but it's a heart-breaking account of utopian dreams

Reading Big Kiss, Bye-Bye in the twilight zone of an A&E ward (with my Dad). Claire-Louise Bennett is such good company. '...seemed pleased with the word "loop". Though thinking about it probably it was the word "the" that pleased them most. I've noticed this ruse in marketing lately' (etc). Superb!

Open mic night at Backstory Bookshop in Balham. I didn't read but was there to support my short story team! Great atmosphere.

City Lit's 26-27 Malorie Blackman Scholarship for Unheard Voices is open for applications until 8 February 2026. More info at: www.citylit.ac.uk/malorie-blac...

Thanks to @laurabesley.bsky.social for recommending this lively and practical book of essays from @flyonthewallpress.bsky.social

Scratch Books evenings are always such uplifting occasions. Readings & literary chat with strangers.

Another great evening of new writing hosted by Tom Conaghan of @scratchbooks.bsky.social All six readers were brilliant.