Look around you

Not for the first time I wrote yesterday about how writing this blog distracts me from a lot of what is going on in the real world. It's become a kind of defence mechanism. Me scribbling about some obscure 70s TV programme, or debating what should or shouldn't be in my Top Five Biscuits of All Time, is the equivalent of sticking pins in my Trump/Farage/Starmer dolls. (Don't get me wrong, I can be a very political animal when I want to be and I'm hopelessly addicted to The Rest is Politics with Alastair Campbell & Rory Stewart.) But I don't want to write tirades or dirges on how fucked up the world currently is anymore than people want to read it.

So, instead, as I touched on in my last blog post, I shall continue to explore new and old cultural themes and whenever possible ask for a bit of feedback from the kind souls who have been following me over the last fifteen odd years. And that's not me seeking affirmation (I don't do needy) but any comments you may leave or photographs you send my way are treasured, I hope you know that.

I also said yesterday that I'm thinking of running a couple of optional Photo Challenges that run in parallel to the main PC. What I'm thinking is twofold: one, a return visit to trees and sunrises/sunsets. If you see a tree that jumps out at you (not literally, that would be a Leshy!) then please send me a photo. Or, like me last week, capturing the sun going down (over a railway line - two birds, one stone!); what I shall do is store them up and, from time to time throughout the year, post them as footnotes to the regular PC. And secondly, I'd love you to take a photograph of someone you know really well and/or a complete stranger and, again, send me the photos. As with the trees & sun pics, I'll post them on an ad hoc basis: I think we could build a terrific gallery with these alone. In my experience the general public like having their picture taken (especially with their favourite 'thing' - dog/cat/bike/car/beer/vinyl LP) - don't be afraid to ask - they're usually vey flattered.

Another theme I love is that of looking down into a city (or even away from a city). Taken usually from high ground you get the feeling of looking at a model village (that's how I see it, anyway). I picked up the car yesterday from its MOT and drove thru a couple of suburbs I don't know that well and saw this view. For anyone who knows Nottingham I was in Aspley looking over at the tower blocks in Radford. To those who don't, I took a picture of Point B from Point A! 

I'll drop a text/email to everyone with a summary of the above optional PCs for anyone who wants to play along. Keep snapping!

Lincoln mod

The year is barely two weeks old and already the news feed is grisly. Whether you're looking at matters domestic or globally it's pretty much armageddon meets mutually assured destruction. And 99.9% of the blame for this collapse in humanity can be laid squarely at the door of one man. However, I'm not going to give him the oxygen of publicity on here as this year I'm going to be too busy talking about trees and trains, maps and stamps, postcards and pens, art and artists, music and musicians, family and friends, knobs and knockers, pubs and clubs, beer and sandwiches, pie and peas, coffee and cake, blogs and bloggers, films and film stars, geography and psychogeography, buildings and building blocks, books and bookmarks, land and landmarks, radio and radiograms, Hi-Fi and Lo-Fi, phone boxes and post boxes, gigs and digs. And a whole lot else besides. Like caffs. And launderettes. And, of course, photography. Always photography. Photographs of anything and everything; anybody and everybody, Speaking of which, I'd love to do a Photo Challenge throw out where we all take a photograph of someone we know really well. Or not at all - asking a complete stranger if you can take their photograph is something I suspect some of you wouldn't be entirely comfortable with, but I think it's got legs. Maybe a totally optional PC we slide in between the main challenges. Thank you for your attention to this matter. JRM. 

Leeds 5

Following our inaugural Bloggers Convention in Edinburgh way back in 2022, we've now had further hugely successful meet-ups in York ('23), Newcastle ('24) & Bristol ('25). And in June BlogCon26 will be pitching its caravan in Leeds! From an exotic shortlist of potential destinations that included both Amsterdam and Dublin, our democratic voting right was exercised and, long story short, we've turned our back on the EU (not for the first time; 52/48 anyone?) and gone for 'one of our own'. No matter. A grand time will be had by all, I'm sure. And anyway, after a couple of drinks it won't really matter if you're in Dam Square or Millennium Square. (That's what I'll keep telling myself, when I'm nursing my warm pint of Tetleys.) More updates to follow, I'm sure.

Leshy?

I can't tell you how excited I was to be gifted Tree Hunting for my birthday: a thousand tress to find in Britain and Ireland's towns & cities. And a signed copy to boot! In Paul Wood's excellent (and hefty!) tome he, and I quote, "seeks out the best individual trees - the most charismatic, quirky or downright spectacular - that grow in our towns, cities and villages." He talks passionately about our relationship with them and how they impact on our lives. From personal experience I only have to out of my window and I'm constantly reminded of the 150 year old beech tree I documented in a short film during Lockdown. And I know when we did trees as a Photo Challenge many of you have similar relationships with our arboreal friends. I feel priveleged to have this beautiful book sitting on my bookshelf. (You won't be surprised to learn I've already started my quest.)

Laureate in waiting?

As is traditional, James compiled his Best of '25 for me just before Christmas and once again this year-end mashup is an eclectic musical smorgasbord which I'm finding most agreeable. I told James when he came up this weekend for his mum's birthday that I'm particularly taken with Antony Szmierek - so much so that I'm now also devouring his debut album Service Station at the End of the Universe which came out in February. It's an astonishing piece of work that ticks so many of my boxes, not least the artwork which depicts Forton Services in a snow globe!. I'm subsumed by his deft staccato vocal delivery - reminiscent of The Streets/Mike Skinner; imagine what Simon Armitage would sound like if only he'd got a beatbox for Christmas. 

Antony Szmierek - Service Station at the End of the Universe (2025)