I think I’ve always been worried intellectually about global warming. This is the year when the worry has moved from my head to my heart, to my gut, and to various other bits. It’s gone from intellectual to visceral

“Unexpected crypto-mining breach”. Two more from them after the news. [I’m trying to keep this old ‘joke’ alive]

Thoughts on the eclipse: https://mattypenny.micro.blog/2026/08/12/thoughts-on-the-eclipse.html

If we ever had another Public Holiday in the UK, I’d like it to be called “Test Your Smoke Alarms Day”. This would seem more useful a title than ‘Battle of Britain Day’ or ‘Autumn Bank Holiday’ or whatever

I’ve seen many references to Stepford Wives over the years, but never read the book or seen either of the films. It’s very good, but uncomfortable to read. The introduction says the Nicole Kidman film was a comedy. God knows how that worked. Finished reading: The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin 📚

I enjoyed this sequel to Animal Farm. It’s not as tightly focused as Orwell’s book, and I was a bit uncomfortable with the mixture of references to contemporary politicians and the general horror of the story. Worth reading, though. Finished reading: Beasts of England by Adam Biles 📚

"The truth about the past is this: A day can only be perfect once it’s ended. - Ian Dunt" Nostalgia is a terrible drug - We’ve become obsessed with the past and fallen out of love with the present

I loved this. Learnt, and laughed. Fundamentally - Nussaibah Younis ( @nussaibah.bsky.social )

My favourite book this year. I’m not always very receptive to comedy in books but this manages to extract humour from ISIS, Iraq, and people smuggling. Finished reading: Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis 📚

That's Stephen King's Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption ( I forgot the Alt-text) Also Agatha Christie 's And Then There Were None might work well. The obvious structure of the book might help to create a sense of momentum for someone who hasn't been reading so much

It's short, and the story is a big part of why it's so many people's favourite film

I failed to get down to the river path last night so I ended up just plodding around the industrial estate. I thought this was weirdly picturesque anyway #salisbury 🏃

#TodayILearned the word ouroboros "The ouroboros… is an ancient symbol depicting a snake or dragon[4] eating its own tail. Ouroboros - Wikipedia" via this bit: "And if LLMs end up training on blogs made by AI sl... https://mattypenny.micro.blog/2026/07/17/todayilearned-the-word-ouroboros-the.html

Never mind.. Roll on 2030.. It will come one day. ⚽

I wouldn't **normally** support an extra-terrestrial in an election, but.: https://mattypenny.micro.blog/2026/07/09/i-wouldnt-normally-support-an.html

"It does tend to get parky alright — there’s a rumour that one day on Achill Island the wind stopped blowing and everybody fell over." Made me laugh The counties of Ireland and their nicknames – from Antrim to Wicklow | The Irish... https://mattypenny.micro.blog/2026/07/03/it-does-tend-to-get.html

Well…he’s got my vote "" I always say to my son, in my more bleak moments, play ‘The Sick Bed Of Cuchulainn’ at my funeral"" The Quietus - Party Pieces: Andy Burnham’s Favourite Albums

I haven’t seen this before - a Wikipedia page detailing all the statues on the West Front of Salisbury Cathedral Statuary of the West Front of Salisbury Cathedral Pic: by me, when the Fire Brigade were practicing

Sad to see him go. I don’t know if anyone else will do any better

Great bit of detail about Count Binface "The man in the bin is a comedian named Jon Harvey. He used to stand in elections as Lord Buckethead, including in the former prime minister Theresa May’s constituency in 2017 so that ... https://mattypenny.micro.blog/2026/06/19/great-bit-of-detail-about.html

I enjoyed today’s Sun headline (although ‘massacre’ is a bit strong)

There was a chap in the radio the other day who had bought a bottle of beer from each of the 48 nations in the World Cup. As each team gets eliminated he’s going to drink that country’s beer. It’s a nice idea. I wonder whether th... https://mattypenny.micro.blog/2026/06/17/there-was-a-chap-in.html

My very favourite comedy ever is a radio comedy set in a corner shop near Glasgow, called Fags, Mags and Bags. I just listened to an episode in which they mention Bensons for Beds, Salisbury. I might have to go and get my picture taken in front of it.

In my happy place

I’m enjoying ‘Play Nice’. Sex and the City meets the Haunting of Hill House? Currently reading: Play Nice by Rachel Harrison 📚

I have two things to say today. God bless the NHS. ….and wear sunscreen

How to create a shortcut that always runs something, in this case MS Terminal, as admin: https://mattypenny.micro.blog/2026/06/01/how-to-create-a-shortcut.html

"“When I get to heaven, I mean to spend a considerable portion of my first million years in painting, and so get to the bottom of the subject.”" Winston Churchill the Painter, Wallace Collection, London, to Nov 29

I am sad for my Gooner-y chums, but…..

Caption on the big photo on the front page of today’s Times. "Television critic Kevin McCloud, the Grand Designs presenter, has said he finds reality TV “slightly exploitative”." If the King, or the Prime Minister, or Tommy ... https://mattypenny.micro.blog/2026/05/30/caption-on-the-big-photo.html