2026 is the year of the Horse
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Article Photos from a few days in Paris and a short stay in Épernay: great food and fine fizz, record shop cats, showcase sumo, la Coupe du monde on the TV, and stifling heat.
Note The Major Oak in 2014. Last summer, in response to this press release about the Major Oak’s concerning condition (which we’d just seen first-hand) I felt the need to alert …
Note David Hockney died last week. We were away, and I’m finally catching up with the tributes. I learned so much from him over the years, most notably about colour, scale, landscape, …
Article The Man-Machine delivers a captivating audio-visual, retro-futurist ode to a connected Europe. Deep techno, joyous melodies, and a touching tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Note Heaven and hell. Prophecy and revelation. Longing and love. If you’ve ever found comfort in the uneasy warmth of a Boards of Canada record, you’ll be hypnotised by this dizzying …
Note Celebrations in Market Square this afternoon. A rare moment of joy for us long-suffering Notts County supporters: outplaying the Beckham-owned Salford City FC at Wembley yesterday …
Note Culture is the moat. It’s not craft and it’s not aesthetic. It’s always been culture — lived, relational, contextual. The ability to decode what’s happening right now, to …
Note Three soaring above at 7pm today, 30th April—much earlier than usual. Previously: 2025, 9th May (but I’d been away for the preceding week); 2024, 7th; 2023, 7th; 2022, 11th; …
Article I’ve just spent a week in a beautiful converted barn on the edge of Saddleworth. Nothing restores my positivity quite like being alone on the wild Pennine moors.
Note My favourite conference is celebrating its 15th year right now in Düsseldorf. I’ve attended several times, both on my own and with Geri, and it’s an event that means a lot to us …
Note Arriving just as the sun aligned with the roofline. I’ve been to Wembley Arena many times for gigs, but I’d never been inside the iconic Wembley Stadium next door. On Tuesday …
Note Torn Sail at Squire PAC; L-R: Jim Baron, Henry Claude, Huw Costin, John Thompson and Jeff Davenport. John Newling at Beam, 19th February. I’ve known renowned artist John for many …
Article Days 11 to 15. We celebrated a retirement, caught beans for good fortune, and spent three Perfect Days ticking off favourite places and stores.
Article Days 6 to 10 brought several trip highlights, including an outstanding café, trippy outdoor bathing in Karuizawa, and a perfect few hours at Sakamoto Library.
Article I’ve split my summary across three posts, and this roundup details the first five days. Highlights included lots of sumo, a studio session, and getting to know Ryōgoku.
Note Another time-consuming but deeply rewarding home repair. I love my 43-year-old Technics SU-Z15 amplifier far too much to replace it, and I’ve no excuse when there’s a detailed …
Note I’ve just returned from my third trip to Japan — my first in almost eight years. I have some general notes and photos to post when time allows. In the meantime, here’s the music …
