That’s a photo I just took of the Moon – and beneath it, Jupiter. Jupiter! I can see Jupiter with my eyes?! That’s incredible. Apparently our orbits are close at the moment. Even so, if we are at the closest it’s possible for the Earth and Jupiter to be to each other, it’s still 630 [...]
Categories: Birmingham
Tagged: Space
Stephen Helebert and Stanley Hems from Johnstans Butchers, Kings Heath I popped into my local butcher shop this morning to pick up some lovely dry-cured bacon, and they were celebrating their big win: a Gold award for ‘Best Customer Service’ and Silver for ‘Best Window Display’ in the Kings Heath Business Association awards. Stanley Hems [...]
Categories: Birmingham
Tagged: kings heath
Out the window of my home office, across the road, there’s been a lot of squirrel activity lately. My eye is drawn to the comings and goings of the squirrels because of their rapid movement in the leafless trees – and because even though I’ve lived in the UK for over seven years, squirrels are [...]
Categories: Birmingham
I went for a cycle along the canal today. It’s the first time I’ve done that in ages. It was a fairly dreary, overcast sort of day – but even that can look nice when you’re out and about on your bike. I took this photo coming over the bridge to the Kings Norton junction. [...]
Categories: Birmingham
I had a wonderful time at #brumsanta this evening. It was very simple idea: a Christmas get-together with some people from Birmingham who are on Twitter, with a (somewhat) secret Santa element to it – but the twist being that the maximum spend on gifts was £0. About 35 people came along – lots of [...]
Categories: Birmingham
Tagged: Christmas, Hare and Hounds, Twitter
Some friends in New Zealand are involved in a massive 700-strong Twitter secret Santa. I think it’s a great idea, and thought it was the kind of thing the people I know from around here might be interested in doing. Reluctant as I am to organise anything (and as much as I should not ever [...]
Categories: Birmingham
Tagged: Christmas, Hare and Hounds, Santa, Twitter
Panic on the streets of London Panic on the streets of Birmingham I wonder to myself Could life ever be sane again? Panic – The Smiths (1986) There’s a lot being said on the internet about last night’s escalation of riots in London and Birmingham (and spreading). So much so that blogging about it feels [...]
Categories: Birmingham,culture,Politics,Technology
I arrived back from Zagreb around lunchtime yesterday, stopped off at home and picked up some records, and then headed down the road to play at the Mostly Jazz Festival in Moseley Park. I’d been asked to DJ between bands, and then play support for Matthew Herbert at the afterparty at the Hare and Hounds. [...]
Categories: Birmingham,Music
Tagged: jazz
[Video link] Last week, Brian from UB40 came along to the Hare and Hounds to look over my shoulder and get a few jazz DJ-ing tips so that he can fill in for me while I’m away in May. This week, he came back armed with some music of his own, and gave me a [...]
Categories: Birmingham,Food,Music
