I thought Edward Gorey too! These two are on the shelf behind me. The Helpless Doorknob is a series of cards that you shuffle and read in any order.

Somewhere I have a copy of this book, written (I think) in the early 70s and full of enthusiasm for the changing city. And, tangentially related, listen to this: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

My copy of this has just arrived, an enjoyable compilation of vintage motorway-themed library music, with Leeds's 'Motorway City' logo on the cover. @leedscivictrust.bsky.social @silverdraws.bsky.social #leeds #M1 @rockingbob.bsky.social

This gem by the fabulous William Steig, has lots of similarities and was written many years before. Gorgeous book.

Bumper edition this week, with EIGHT albums carefully dissected. Read on: www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social #sinfoniaoflondon #johnwilson #chandosrecords #finzi #reicha #mahler #paavojarvi @jamesweeks.bsky.social @firsthandrecords.bsky.social

I love a vintage board game (though can't stand Monopoly). There's a lot going here; like the French card game Mille Bornes, movement is governed by speed, not dice. Lots of calculating speed limits and gambling on whether to risk spinning off. My problems really began when I overshot the pits.

Meanwhile, I’ve just received this. Can’t wait!

Have just played Waddingtons’ Formula One, a 1960s board game which my brother and I would play obsessively. It’s more complicated than I remember. I drove like an idiot and suffered a fatal brake outage in the final sprint to the finish. #boardgames #waddingtons #formulaone

More Clerkenwell photos, taken last week with an Agfa Optima Sensor 335. The colours! It's as if I'm in the London of my 1970s childhood. #clerkenwell #agfaoptimasensor #analoguephotography #filmisbest

Yes! If you asked AI to create a hip and groovy late 60s film set in swinging London it would probably come up with ‘Toomorrow’. Best silly gag was ‘Johnson’ speaking in a deep male voice.

It's too much. It's Toomorrow. Aliens, Wagner, Swinging London, hip lingo - all this and more in: www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray... #bfi #olivianewtonjohn

The dog’s toys on the washing line. He loves them all dearly. #dogs #bordercollie

I've just watched Val Guest's loopy 1970 sci-fi 'Toomorrow'. It's insane, but what's not to like about a film which celebrates the cosmic healing powers of cheesy power pop? #toomorrow #bfi #olivianewtonjohn

Lovely spot. Who needs Tate Modern or the Science Museum? London has scores of lovely small museums.

There’s a WW2 shelter underneath the footie pitch in the park behind our house. The dry weather has made the outline really clear. Spooky! @leedstours.bsky.social #leeds #chapelallerton @leedscivictrust.bsky.social

A love triangle set on an East German construction site, suppressed after its 1966 release and unseen until 1990. This is an unexpectedly enthralling film: www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray... #eureka #ddr #eastgermany #manfredklug

The Blake et Mortimer dictionary, compiled by Jean-Loup Chiflet, is fantastic fun if you can find a copy.

Just got back from walking over the Humber Bridge. Surprisingly enjoyable - good views, nice lunch on the south side, and happy dog. #hull

Finnish introspection and Californian minimalism in this week's eclectic pile of classical releases: www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social #sibelius #terryriley #wagner @robertlaidlow.bsky.social @nmcrecordings.bsky.social

Emotional evening with @sinfoniaofleeds.bsky.social, bidding farewell to Music Director David Greed. Ravel's 2nd Daphnis and Chloe suite sounds especially good with eight horns letting rip. #ravel #daphnisandchloe #frenchhorn #orchestra

Thorntons' Arcade has this brilliant clock, with historical figures juddering about on the hour.

My iPod Classic gave up the ghost a week ago. Managed to source a replacement yesterday on eBay while the faulty one is at the repair shop, and had to use the Mini as a backup. The best bit of tech Apple ever made, and the one gadget I couldn’t live without. #ipodclassic

I’ve got one too!

It's Classical CD Review Time. Try the Elgar/Dvorak combo - it's ace: www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @jkaconductor.bsky.social #elgar #dvorak #arthursullivan #helencharlston #sholtokynoch #marimba #davidmoliner

I watched this yesterday. Brilliant. Need to see more of Ray's films: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGA8...

Tilly at the vet’s for her annual vaccination, refusing to get out of her cat carrier. #vaccination #cats

Great film, which opens with Aimee Mann's cover version of this Harry Nilsson classic. The big RCA Nilsson box set is a treat. Such a good songwriter: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYzY...

A trivial gripe, but modern lightweight music stands are crap - lightweight, flimsy and temperamental. Back in the day, they were solid, robust and reliable. Check out these two beauties: #musicstand #rehearsal

It's that time again. This week's reviews, carefully curated: theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @mahanesfahani.bsky.social @brittensinfonia.bsky.social #bach #harpsichord #mozart #felixklieser #contrabassflute #danielamars

I like this one - contains new English translations by Thomas Adés’s dad, plus the original French.