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Aug 6, 2025: Clawhammer from Tring Brewery - very nice, and well kept. Pleased to see 3 real ales on at The Fancott, after changing hands. untp.beer/MwQ9O
Aug 6, 2025: Couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw what this allotmenteer was arrested (by armed police) for carrying! I have one of these, and will be keeping …
Aug 5, 2025: Currently reading: The Garden Against Time by Olivia Laing 📚
Aug 5, 2025: We were among the 65,000 people who turned out for the victorious Lionesses last week on their homecoming. A few more than the 7000 they had just …
Aug 4, 2025: Many thanks to @manton for the offer for teachers and nurses. I’m back on micro.blog after a couple of years away.
Aug 20, 2023: Last night, at Smida Jazz Festival.
Aug 18, 2023: Final leg of my outbound journey, on a sleeper train from Vienna to Cluj Napoca. My compartment is quite comfortable, although they seem to be having …
Aug 18, 2023: Grüß Gott! Another advantage of train 🚂 travel - 2 hours to make a connection means time for dinner, not hanging around in airport queues and running …
Aug 18, 2023: Short hop complete, now it’s an ICE train from Koblenz to Vienna 🚂
Aug 18, 2023: Today’s adventure: a 24hr journey from Germany to Romania by train, including my first sleeper train 🚂 . I’m trying to cut down on flights wherever …
Jul 22, 2023: In case you were wondering, it is raining in Manchester…
Jul 21, 2023: At The Sage, Gateshead ready for tonight’s Prom with Yazz Ahmed
Dec 13, 2022: Soundchecking at the Barbican for tonight’s concert with Yazz Ahmed, Emel, and Rabih Abou-Khalil.
Dec 28, 2021: TIL the plural of turf is turves 🌱
Dec 24, 2021: Christmas sound track today provided by Till Brönner
Dec 19, 2021: Last weekend I tested positive for COVID. By that time I was already feeling better. The worst thing about it though: now I can’t get a booster …
Aug 9, 2021: 🏏 Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham
Aug 5, 2021: New pen 🖋
Aug 2, 2021: Echinacea has taken its sweet time this year, but so worth it.
Jul 21, 2021: I have completed my first home electrics DIY and installed a light in our attic. I shall now bask in glory (/the sunshine) for the rest of the day.
Jul 19, 2021: Bio.link has just launched. Still some good usernames available! bio.link/ralph
Jul 11, 2021: The tension! 😱🏴🇮🇹⚽️
Jul 11, 2021: Wow, not the start to this game I was expecting. ⚽️ 🏴 🇮🇹
Jul 8, 2021: On Tuesday, Mochi 🐈 brought in a bird for the first time in his life (373 days). Today he brought in his second. I hope this worrying trend does not …
Jul 6, 2021: E10 petrol is coming to the UK this summer apparently - I seem to have missed this news entirely. Not before time I might add, and it brings us in …
Jul 2, 2021: Thanks to ‘Lyrics match’ the Spotify search has become even more useless than it was before. Now I search for the title of a song, and I’m lucky if I …
Jul 2, 2021: After the first dose of Pfizer my only side-effect was a sore and stiff arm. After the second, it’s a sore arm and a headache, with a general …
Jul 1, 2021: As a gig in Braga 🇵🇹 looks like it’s going ahead in a couple of weeks, it suddenly became very urgent to get a second dose of the vaccine today. …
Jun 28, 2021: So far Euro 2020 is the gift that keeps on giving. Some fantastic games, and it feels like anyone could win at the moment. ⚽️
Jun 26, 2021: Visited RHS Wisley this morning. Absolute highlight was the scent of Philadelphus maculatus ‘Sweet Clare’, but since I can’t share smells online, …
Jun 19, 2021: Watched my first ever Marvel movie last night. We’re doing them in timeline order, so Captain America: The First Avenger was up first. I enjoyed …
Jun 17, 2021: I’ve been lucky enough to record at Abbey Road three times, but it’s still a treat to tread that hallowed ground. 🎵 Hand percussion for me today. Red …
Jun 17, 2021: Such a great feeling to be playing with people again today, and a joy to be at Abbey Road.
Jun 12, 2021: Six on Saturday 12-06-21 🌱 Things have really taken off since the last Six on Saturday I posted two weeks ago. The sun has come out, and I’ve been busy watering. …
Jun 12, 2021: Mochi turns 1 today! Hard to believe he’s an adult cat now - still seems like a kitten to us. A photo of him enjoying the sun today, and the earliest …
Jun 11, 2021: 36 hours after the jab, and my sore arm is just about gone. I’ve managed to avoid any other side effects too.
Jun 9, 2021: 💉🥇🎉
Jun 9, 2021: Having started studying again, with exams in the not-too-distant future, I’ve rediscovered Anki. What an incredible tool for learning with flash …
Jun 7, 2021: First vaccine dose booked for Wednesday! 🎉 🎉 🎉
Jun 4, 2021: UK vaccinations are currently open to age 30 and over, which means I should be in the next age group to be invited. This means I am refreshing the …
May 30, 2021: Six on Saturday 29-05-21 🌱 My Six on Saturday for this week (because it’s still Saturday somewhere, right?). I’m trying to use botanical/scientific names as much as …
May 27, 2021: The raisin moncher is back home, after a few nights with the vet. While he’s been gone, all raisins have been removed from the house. We’re not taking …
May 24, 2021: For the second time in as many months Mochi has had an emergency trip to the vets for eating raisins. Cats are supposed to not like raisins, but this …
May 23, 2021: The Bandcamp app now allows you to download music for offline listening! This is an excellent development.
May 22, 2021: Six on Saturday 22-05-21 🌱 This week my Six on Saturday arrives on Saturday itself. Hope you enjoy my selection of six things from my garden, and why not check out the latest in …
May 21, 2021: Whew, what a morning. The usually simple act of icing a cake was made infinitely more complex by Mochi (🐈), who decided to help by sitting on one …
May 20, 2021: Hiding 🐈
May 18, 2021: ⚽️ Back at The Shots for the first time in 18 months.
May 16, 2021: Six on Saturday 15-05-21 I’ve just found out about Six on Saturday through The Propagator, so although it’s now Sunday, I thought I’d give it a go. …
May 15, 2021: Took most of the day off yesterday, so Saturday becomes the new Friday. Plenty to get done.
May 14, 2021: I see your Friday vibe, @gregmoore, and I raise you Friday vibe:
May 14, 2021: Lunar Module by Rocket Ales. A quaff-able session pale.
May 14, 2021: 🎵 Here’s a little family project we undertook last year: Homeward. More info here. (If you can’t see the audio player above then follow the …
May 14, 2021: Homeward A little Wyld family effort from early on in the UK’s first lockdown: Homeward. Words by Nona Wyld, music by me. Performed by: Nona Wyld - …
May 13, 2021: Just clicked ‘Delete Account’ on both Facebook and Whatsapp. Thought I’d be elated, but I’m left with anxiety to the point of …
May 12, 2021: Submitted my tax return over 6 months earlier than I’ve ever done before. Admittedly it’s a bit simpler this year, but it feels good. I …
May 12, 2021: Currently reading: The Girl In The Spider’s Web by David Lagercrantz 📚 I feel this may lack a little je ne sais quoi over the Stieg Larsson …
May 11, 2021: > You won’t find Schneider’s music on Spotify, YouTube, or various other platforms in which she has no faith. Schneider’s career …
May 9, 2021: Always European in my heart! Happy Europe day everyone. 🇪🇺
May 6, 2021: This technology that Spotify is developing is deeply creepy. Which music would it reccomend to a 20-something white male who’s disturbed by the …
May 5, 2021: Finished reading: In a House of Lies by Ian Rankin 📚 I’ve lost track of which of the 24 Rebus novels I’ve read. This was definitely new to …
May 3, 2021: Well, I’ve let my SaneBox subscription lapse. Having a go at letting the Fastmail filters and rules take care of things.
Apr 26, 2021: The price of my Spotify family subscription is going up, and once again I’m facing the decision of what to do. I really dislike the company …
Apr 25, 2021: On our walk earlier. There’s supposed to be a public footpath across this field, towards the bridge near the left-most pylon. It seems the farmer has …
Apr 25, 2021: My first proper (cask) pint of Tribute for ages. Fresh real ale like this is just the best. Helps that it’s in the sun, on a country walk. 🍺 [Tribute, …
Apr 21, 2021: My Google Maps edit to fix my address was accepted, but the change they made is still incorrect. In fact now someone else’s address is wrong …
Apr 13, 2021: Made it to the pub for the first time in 6 months. 🍻
Apr 4, 2021: Swiss Chard came in our veg box this week, so had a hunt around online for ways to cook it. I’ve been meaning to cook a stir-fry for a while, …
Apr 1, 2021: My new address isn’t recognised by Google Maps. I should be pleased that there’s something about me that Google doesn’t know. …
Mar 31, 2021: DIY of the day: a chunk of door removed in order to make a hole for a cat flap. Had to cut down some screws too, which is also a first for me.
Mar 30, 2021: Garden Developments 🌱 We’re planning to revamp the garden of our new house next winter, after we’ve got a feel for the space and light. However COVID restrictions mean …
Mar 30, 2021: Excellent day for a barbecue here: hot in the sun, but early enough in the year that there aren’t too many wasps…
Mar 30, 2021: The Pest Control Force™️ is out in numbers today.
Mar 25, 2021: Weeding in progress… 🌱
Mar 25, 2021: Currently reading: Planting: A New Perspective by Oudolf, Piet 📚
Mar 22, 2021: I’m not usually one to nerd out over drums, but these Sabian AAX cymbals, just bought by a school I teach in, sound incredible. The word that springs …
Mar 20, 2021: The Joys of Dealing with Utility Providers For me, it's a point of principle that I never let utility providers walk all over me, or take advantage. Worryingly often, they fail to issue …
Mar 19, 2021: Just hearing that a gig in Europe next month might still go ahead, and I’m over the moon. The goalposts have been moved before, and gigs …
Mar 18, 2021: Finally got round to finishing downloading all 50 zip files of my Google data, each one 2+gb. Then I started deleting things from the account. For the …
Mar 14, 2021: My 2011 MacBook Pro still functions fairly smoothly, thanks to a new SSD and upgrading from 4 to 16gb RAM a few years ago. The battery, however, is …
Mar 11, 2021: 1Password comes out on top in the battle of the trackers, by not having any.
Mar 10, 2021: People seem to think that Harry and Meghan’s decision to do an interview with Oprah is at odds with their pleas for more privacy. The …
Mar 10, 2021: Enjoyed listening to my first episode of Hemispheric Views. Regarding handedness and phones, @Burk, I’m left handed and my phone always goes in …
Mar 10, 2021: Is anyone using 1Password or similar for a ‘Break-Glass-in-Case-Of-Emergency-Kit’? By which I mean, a note to be accessed by a spouse or …
Mar 9, 2021: Schools are back, meaning my first drive to work from the new house. It may be quite a lot longer than my old commute, but the scenery is very pretty, …
Mar 8, 2021: Downloading my Google data in the first step towards getting rid of some services. 100GB. This might take some time...
Mar 8, 2021: First home COVID test done. Now to wait 30 mins for the result. 2 of these to do a week from now on. 🤧
Mar 7, 2021: Lovely weather outside today, Spring really is here. Great to spend some time this morning in the garden, getting things straightened out. Whilst …
Mar 5, 2021: I’ve also just discovered that a gig we recorded earlier in the year is now being shown, as part of the Women of the World festival: watch now!
Mar 5, 2021: It’s Bandcamp Friday 😃 I’ve just bought Woolly Mammoth by Dave Manington. Also, When We Were Live by Yazz Ahmed, the live album we …
Mar 5, 2021: Is it Bandcamp Friday?
Mar 4, 2021: Does anyone else get this issue with Screen Time on iOS? It seems after visiting a website through @Gluon or Micro.blog (not sure which yet…) …
Mar 3, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 31: defiance. Our stage set up for a gig in Rouen that took place on the eve of Brexit last year. We’ll always be …
Mar 2, 2021: Since when is this a thing?!! Can’t use my .email address for Argos apparently.
Mar 2, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 30: privacy.
Mar 2, 2021: A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I set aside a dedicated ‘Emergency Fund’ for the first time (we’ve started using YNAB). Since …
Mar 2, 2021: Line of Duty series 1 finished. Wow. Not sure how I missed this before. Got a lot of catching up to do.
Mar 1, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 29: light. For some of these prompts I’ve struggled to find a photo that fits. This one, however, was the opposite …
Feb 28, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 28: up.
Feb 27, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 27: pompasetting.
Feb 27, 2021: Hard to understand the decisions by the ref in that first half, but excellent finishes by Wales for both tries. England need to channel their …
Feb 26, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 26. My favourite breakfast view - Uchisar Kaya Hotel in Cappadocia, Turkey.
Feb 26, 2021: And now local beer to follow up on the local coffee. Came out the bottle a little fizzy, but given a few minutes it’s turned out very nice.
Feb 26, 2021: So happy to find Wooden Hill, a local roastery and cafe. Fairtrade, recyclable packaging, wildflower seeds built into the label… they even …
Feb 26, 2021: The Grauniad at its finest here…
Feb 25, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 25. Not sure what this code means, found on the side of a railway bridge.
Feb 25, 2021: Much better start for England today. Root and Leach in the wickets. I just hope it inspires the batsmen into making a few more runs 🏏
Feb 24, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 24: baby. Mochi was such a cute kitten - we received this photo before we adopted him and it was love at first sight.
Feb 24, 2021: Before last March I hadn’t used Zoom, or the meetings function in Microsoft Teams. Now I’ve done over 250 drum lessons on Teams, and a …
Feb 24, 2021: I’m pretty sure having 4 batsmen at once is cheating… 🏏
Feb 23, 2021: My wife is sharing some beautiful art over on her Instagram. Prints coming soon!
Feb 23, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 23. Here’s a banana disguised as a tasty Bananenweizen enjoyed in Trier, Germany’s oldest city (probably).
Feb 22, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 22: spell.
Feb 22, 2021: I just pulled out a piece of 120gsm paper to print a letter to my solicitor, to show I mean business. That’s just how I roll.
Feb 21, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 21. Garden centre trip this afternoon. I love the gradient of colours in this Hebe Pascal 🌱
Feb 20, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 20: weather. Amazing rainbow here the other day.
Feb 19, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 19: alive.
Feb 18, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 18: at home. Acting as engineer today for some recording at home.
Feb 17, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 17: still.
Feb 16, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 16. Not sure this counts as erudite these days, but still proud of myself. Up until now I’ve only known a very little HTML and …
Feb 15, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 15: reflection. I haven’t taken film photos for ages. I need to go through my cameras and work out which need new batteries …
Feb 14, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 14: Compassion.
Feb 13, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 13: make. I’m a day early for Valentine’s, but 1129 days ago I proposed to my wonderful wife, the best decision I’ll ever …
Feb 12, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 12: Now that’s what I call Sporg!
Feb 11, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 11: Machine. Sadly not my machine, but looking resplendent here in its natural habitat, on an Italian beach.
Feb 10, 2021: I’m a guest on the National Youth Jazz Livestream tonight, alongside the amazing composer and trombonist Alex Paxton. 18:00 UTC
Feb 10, 2021: Challenge Day 9: Energy. I usually wear this Seiko 5 watch every day. It’s automatic, and runs on the kinetic energy generated by its wearer. I love …
Feb 9, 2021: 🧙♂️ Just finished 7-2 in a Kaldheim draft on Arena, my first time hitting 7 wins. Black-Green aggro elves did the trick.
Feb 9, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 9: muddy. Although I had to cut a walk short last week because of the muddiest farmyard I’ve ever seen, I wasn’t organised …
Feb 8, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 8: Hope. Our new house comes with this micro-garden (currently strewn with pots and other stuff). After spending the next year …
Feb 7, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 7: Craving. I’m craving a return to pre-COVID life. I want to be travelling and gigging. I’ll take budget hotels on the edge …
Feb 6, 2021: Watching England twice in a day. The 🏏 went well, now let’s see how the 🏉 goes…
Feb 6, 2021: Photoblog Challenge Day 6: Sport. Missing going to watch the mighty Shots ⚽️ There’s nothing quite like that match day atmosphere. This is a picture …
Feb 5, 2021: Day 5: Pets. Here’s our cat Mochi looking shocked that someone walked in on him in the bath…
Feb 5, 2021: 🏏 Great start for England today. Shame Sibley didn’t go on, but a strong platform for the match.
Feb 5, 2021: Don’t forget it’s Bandcamp Friday today - if you’ve been thinking of buying some new music, today’s the day! My Bandcamp Collection …
Feb 5, 2021: It's Bandcamp Friday! Imprint has two new tracks out today. It’s Bandcamp Friday! Imprint has two new tracks out today. The first is frames For his dreams, the title of which comes from a beautiful Lem …
Feb 4, 2021: Photoblog challenge day 4: layers
Feb 3, 2021: Photo challenge day 3: comfort. The boiler is still out (needs replacing unfortunately), but yesterday this heater arrived unannounced. My mum ordered …
Feb 2, 2021: Delighted the India vs. England test series is going to be on terrestrial TV. Not sure what my wife will think of the 4am alarms though… 🏏
Feb 2, 2021: Not only have we got some new Imprint music ready for release this ‘Bandcamp Friday’, I’ve also got a giftcard ready to spend …
Feb 2, 2021: Today’s theme: morning beverage. Coffee, in a William Morris print mug. I get my beans from Alpaca who ship in entirely home-compostable packaging. …
Feb 1, 2021: Photo challenge day 1: close up. This new rug arrived today.
Feb 1, 2021: 🧙♂Excited to pick up a few Kaldheim cards for my EDH decks. All the red-black gold cards would be great in my ‘Judith, The Scourge Diva’ sacrifice …
Feb 1, 2021: 🧙♂Went 2-3 in my first Kaldheim sealed. Had a bit of a Mardu pile after jamming in the rares I opened in WB and RB, including Tybalt, and ended up …
Jan 31, 2021: On the plus side, I’ve found coffee.
Jan 31, 2021: Moved house on Thursday. Discovered on Friday night that the boiler had broken down. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions.
Jan 29, 2021: A lesser-spotted gig. Look forward to hearing how this one turned out when it streams later in the year.
Jan 24, 2021: Just a bit snowy today.
Jan 23, 2021: Work in progress
Jan 4, 2021: Jazz to be dropped from A Level Syllabus, meaning they now also have no black composers to study at all. Seems like a big backwards step.
Jan 2, 2021: Today I went to unfollow someone on Twitter, whose Tweets appear on my timeline on a daily basis. I discovered I’m not following them at all. Twitter …
Dec 28, 2020: Currently, there’s no provision for touring musicians in the UK government’s withdrawal agreement. This probably means visas & work permits …
Dec 4, 2020: My music is also available on Bandcamp - Scarborough Fair and Subterranea. The Music page of my site showcases the many albums I’ve been lucky …
Dec 4, 2020: It’s Bandcamp day again! Inspiring to sit and watch the purchases roll in on their home page. People still buy (and value) music! If …
Nov 19, 2020: 🎵 London Jazz Festival livestream tonight at 8pm GMT with Yazz Ahmed. We’ll be playing at Kings Place; you’ll be in your living room, or …
Nov 18, 2020: I take great pleasure in showing my more advanced drum pupils this compilation of Vinnie Colaiuta fills from the opening of the Late Show with Joan …
Nov 17, 2020: The London Jazz Festival continues online. I recorded a set with Sam Eagles’ band Spirit, which is streaming tonight from 6pm GMT. Free to tune in!
Nov 15, 2020: First gig in 245 days. Felt pretty good.
Nov 13, 2020: Tomorrow is the last chance to hear Yazz Ahmed’s Polyhymnia performed live with the full ensemble, and you can do so from the comfort of your …
Oct 22, 2020: There’s a monster in my kitchen
Oct 19, 2020: 📷 Journey in Film, highlights from roll #009 | Camera: Olympus OM2n | | Film: Kodak T-Max 400 | | Date: September 2017 | | Location: Little Chalfont, …
Oct 19, 2020: Journey in Film I started taking film photos in July 2017, on a trip to Villars-Sur-Ollon in the Swiss Alps. Dave Hamblett, a friend, drummer, and photographer, had …
Oct 18, 2020: Another amazing recording venue today - this time it was aboard Lightship 95. Formerly guiding ships off the coast of Deal, Kent, in the English …
Oct 16, 2020: More images of today’s recording venue. Beautifully furnished!
Oct 16, 2020: Amazing venue for recording today 🎵
Oct 15, 2020: This really is excellent news: MPs to examine impact of streaming on future of music industry. £0.002/stream for artists is not a fair model, and …
Oct 14, 2020: Teaching drums through visors and plastic screens… Berkhamsted, UK, 10:55 #adayinthelife For the Micro.blog A Day in the Life Challenge
Oct 13, 2020: A car, parked outside Le Plan near Paris. 📷
Oct 13, 2020: Currently reading: To Obama by Jeanne Marie Laskas 📚