James Tarry
@northamptonian
More a jazz and easy listening Liberal than a classical Liberal. Cricket (Northants fan), literature, economics, politics & anything that takes my fancy.
To add to this, from the Times- Supermac also thought he could spot someone ‘talking balls’, which is a good skill. As well as an expression that’s fallen out of favour.
Sad news about Kevin Keegan. He was here at the Mercure hotel only 5 weeks ago. A real competitor, top sportsman and by all accounts a good bloke.
If you’re enjoying a BBQ during this unusually hot weather, you may want to take the T20 trophy with you. Adds to the experience.
MP for Northampton. Supported by GB Shaw and Basset-Lowke, pictured here outside the Rennie Mackintosh house on Derngate. Remembered still by a statue in town, and a hall of residence at the university.
Good article. I wonder if Rupert Lowe has spotted the effect on social care his views on immigrants would have if executed.
No finer town. Sod the football. The Steelbacks are T20 Champions for the third time. #cricket
Well. We’re through to the final. Quite remarkable, as David Coleman might have said. #thecricket
Really below-par performance by the Steelbacks in the T20 semi final. Looks like I’ll be in the @oldeenglandpub.bsky.social tonight rather than watching the final. Terrible batting performance and that’s our strength. #thecricket
It’s a friend of mine’s joke. It’s the Ken Turner stand but he insists otherwise. Picture of said guy below
Another positive, other than the win, was the queues for drinks and food were very short. Got my prawn kebab in quick time.
I know you’re all watching the footy, but it was also the Vitality Blast quarter finals this evening. The money saved on not needing the lights was offset by a lousy turnout due to the England game. Anyway. A win for Northamptonshire puts us into finals day on Saturday. #cricket
Off to the quarter final today. Predicting T20 matches is a fool’s errand, so I shall merely note that only half of the quarter-finalists host a 100 franchise. Money talks in domestic cricket, but not as loudly as it does in some other sports. At least not yet.
The unbearable horrors of Sudan. Perhaps it’s because the world isn’t hearing about it, it’s being largely ignored. I certainly don’t see much mention on here. And it’s the biggest of the too many human disasters out there at present. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/11/o...
Exactly. I’ve given up going to Test cricket because the tickets are robbery. Run an inflation calculator on this, which featured some greats of the game.
My old mate Joe Payne, prog-rocker, doing songs so long that applause breaks out mid-ditty. (Ex lead singer of The Enid.) The audience is unused to prog, it seems.
Quite a few charities on the market today, it’s a good opportunity for people in need of help to approach them. Btw the Town Council is Labour-led and they supported the event. Hence the Mayor in his nifty hat.
Northampton Pride today. Nice weather for it. Some of anti-Reform material on show which ticked off some Reform councillors. Seeing as they withdrew funding they should stfu and stop whining.
Thought-provoking long read from @mastroianni.bsky.social Amongst other musings- cultural carcinization; why people don’t smoke as much weed nowadays, and why AI slop won’t necessarily win out over proper artists. open.substack.com/pub/experime...
Something else to read before 2pm. John Lanchester on Posh George’s book and the plague of money laundering generally. www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
The highlight of the stuffing we had from Somerset on Sunday - David Ripley, Nigel Felton and Rob Bailey welcome Sir Curtly Ambrose on a rare visit to Northampton. All members of the 1992 NatWest Trophy-winning side when the big man probably won it on his own.
Pretty much a full house on a warm Sunday afternoon at Wantage Rd., Somerset vs Northamptonshire in the Vitality Blast. Apparently T20 cricket isn’t as popular as the 100. The fact we’re struggling to find a seat with a decent view refutes that. Will Smeed is hitting the ball a long way 😬