Elections
Knob o’t North
As mentioned by Mike Graham and Kevin O’Sullivan the self styled King o’t North has now been christened the Knob o’t North. The story so far is hard to believe. The mascara man has been [more…]
Blog
Politics
Of Cabbages, Kings in the North, & Populism (Part 2)
Part 1 can be read here:- The upcoming exam question for Reform (and anyone else who wants to solve the UK’s problems rather than merely secure power for its own sake) is how do you [more…]
Holiday
WG’s Summer Cruise, June 2026 – Part One
The Prologue I booked this cruise while onboard P&O Arvia in the Caribbean the Christmas before last (2024). P&O are a bit artful, they leave a copy of the latest cruise brochure in your stateroom, [more…]
19th Century
The Realer World of Little Trains
Burnham, Starmer, by-elections, defence reviews, World Cups, wars and the cost of living? Meh. Never mind all of that, what’s happening in the realer world of little trains? I have an embarrassing gap on my [more…]
Fiction
Bombs and Betrayal, Chapter Seven
An hour after he had told Sally and Jane of Taff’s impending arrival, his phone rang. Security informed him his visitor was waiting for him. He said to Howard he would be gone for an [more…]
20th Century
A History of Pop Music – Albums 1965
Featured Album: Righteous Brothers – Just Once in My Life This is a series of articles looking at albums from 1960 to whatever year we end up in. I will select a featured album for [more…]
Arts
Always Worth Saying’s Question Time Review
Question Time Andy Burnham Special 26th June 2026 The Panel: Emily Thornberry (Labour) Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative) Zia Jusuf (Reform UK) Stephanie Flanders (Journalist) Venue: Kettering Just when you thought it was safe to announce to [more…]
Arts
A Laotian Farewell (past memories part II):
It was early March in 1975 when the editor wandered into the newsroom of the New Zealand Herald and asked for volunteers to go to Vietnam. Specifically, Saigon. The older men kept their eyes down, [more…]
Conservatives
Labour’s bad boys – Part 19 Crayons
If the PM and his Deputy are on the make then we can expect an epidemic of fiddling among their minions. Angela Rayner has been the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne since 2015. Having left school at [more…]