2026-06-01 06:34:18
Inspired, as so many are, by Robert, I'm going to attempt #Junited2026 — sharing one link to another blogger every day to celebrate some of the excellent writing out there.
I may not make it but we can but try.
2026-06-01 02:24:28
As much as I was enjoying "Left Hand Of Darkness", it's not a holiday read. I didn't DNF it as much as set it aside for when I got home. I started to read a scandi-noir thriller (classic poolside fare) only to discover, one chapter in, that I had already read it! Sara Taylor to the rescue; "Boring Girls" is written by the lead singer of a metal band I like and is about a teenage killing spree. Really well written and excellent holiday fodder — light and funny and interesting AF.
The heatwave in Britain while we were away caused an explosion of growth in the garden. Back to, yes 5' weeds, but also a flurry of flowers; columbine, buttercups, clematis, and a huge solitary poppy — even the strawberries are making a go of it! The huge climbing rose is covered in fragrant pink flowers and the smaller white rose is not far behind.
Perfect morning weather for long dog walks. Living up to her name, our retriever picked up a fledgling jackdaw from a hedgerow. She dropped it on command (Good girl!) and the little fella was fine; spread its wings to look menacing and "flew" away back under the hedge.
Ten days of beer fueled lethargy, while lovely, left me feeling a bit urgh so, striking that hot iron before it cools, I pulled on a pair of running shoes and jogged around my old running circuit. Stats were too embarrassing to share but I felt good afterwards and plan to keep it up. Famous last words.
2026-05-30 03:58:20
This interesting debut novel gripped me from the off with its "Virgin Suicides plus Carrie vibes". Rachel is an outsider in high school; mildly bullied but mostly ignored. A chance overhear of a death metal band plunges her into a world custom built for outcasts.
The book spends its majority trucking through forming a band, nascent gigs, Rachel's mild obsession with a specific painting that becomes really important later, themes of joining a scene and finding kinship; found family when your parents don't "get" you. But also frustration that there are assholes everywhere with the self assurance of any smart 15 year old. I should know — I was one!
Spoiler/Trigger Warning
The main events of the book are kick started by a sexual assault. It's not extremely graphic but it's worth flagging.
Taylor is clearly drawing on her experiences of being in a band and this gives those scenes a depth and colour that is lacking elsewhere in the book. Some contextual inaccuracies pulled me out of the narrative a little; we don't have "school buses" in England, for example.
An interesting theme as it's something I'm into outside of reading. I could have done with a little more killing and a bit less band rehearsal though.
All said, a good debut novel from a musician I like. When it lands, it lands well.
2026-05-24 13:38:17
Hello to everyone but especially the teenage emo lesbian in this restaurant wearing Vans, stockings, and a "I ♥️ My Girlfriend" t-shirt who has clearly escaped from 2005. Nice work.
The washing machine packed in necessitating an emergency replacement; other parents, I'm sure, can attest to the particularly Sisyphean effort of laundering children's clothes. A quick trip to the Sue Ryder and I picked up the last one they had. The new machine is black; gothic and shiny in that way the Eighties thought was classy.
I thought, shivering, that there are things that outweigh comfort, unless ones is an old woman or a cat.
Ursula K LeGuin, "The Left Hand of Darkness"
2026-05-18 04:16:29
It was one of those days that Spring does so well; rounding out a week of sunshine with biblical rains to remind you it's not summer yet, and I managed to get caught in no less than three of the random downpours. On all the occasions though I was wearing boots and a coat because there's no such thing as bad weather just inappropriate clothing.
Random shower thought; as a middle aged white man in the tech industry, I have more in common with literally any other worker in the world than with Elon Musk.
I have been idly thinking of moving these links to their own post. Not sure if they warrant separating; it might oblige me to write something about each link. What do you think — keep them here or move them on? Get in touch by email, hit me up on the Socials™, or elsewhere online.
2026-05-11 04:58:14
The dog lagged, unusually, behind for the whole last stretch of the walk home. When she eventually caught up after much cajoling, the reasons for her sheepish attitude became apparent; she was carrying half a starling and didn't want it confiscated. It was confiscated.
Trekking over the field a touch before dawn and the distinctive call of a Northern Lapwing split the dawn chorus. There's a marshy area where the cow pasture meets the cornfield meets the peat bog that looks like ideal nesting grounds for the little blighters. I hope they do well with their chicks!
I used to really dread being pulled into a client call on the spur of the moment but, the more I get into this project, the easier that becomes. I feel like I've found a groove — this is more familiar territory than some of the other work and it's reflecting in my confidence.
Science fiction is not predictive; it is descriptive. Predictions are uttered by prophets (free of charge); by clairvoyants (who usually charge a fee, and are therefore more honored in their day than prophets); and by futurologists (salaried). Prediction is the business of prophets, clairvoyants, and futurologists. It is not the business of novelists. A novelist’s business is lying.
Ursula K LeGuin, Introduction of "The Left Hand of Darkness", added 1976