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John Grindrod

@grindrod.bsky.social

5.1K followers 1.2K following 3.7K posts

Social historian of modern places. Wrote Concretopia and Iconicon. Next book on suburban LGBTQ history out March 2026. Also, maps. Disappointingly unserious. New podcast: Monstrosities Mon Amour https://linktr.ee/johngrindrod

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John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · Mar 8

If you fancy a cheery listen my podcast Monstrosities Mon Amour explores places that bring joy which usually get a bad press. The Radio Times said it’s ’a breath of fresh air.’ Contains whimsical asides and geekery podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...

Monstrosities Mon Amour

Places & Travel Podcast · 4 Episodes · Monthly

podcasts.apple.com

Reposted by John Grindrod

Geraint Franklin @geraintfranklin.bsky.social · 6h

It's a book on High-Tech Architecture. Made out of wood pulp. Not even holograms or shiny inks. I mean.

Waterstones 25% off RRP on upcoming books, such as High-Tech Britain. Prr-order now with code OCTOBER25

Reposted by John Grindrod

Jon Woolcott @jonwoolcott.bsky.social · 9h

Just sayin'.

A poster promoting The Tattooed Hills, 25% off the RRP at Waterstones.com until 17 October only.

Reposted by John Grindrod

Birmingham 81 @birmingham81.bsky.social · 10h

Here's another clip to celebrate Cliff's 85th birthday. This one features him walking around Birmingham in his 1973 film Take Me High. Look out for brutalist landmarks like the Central Library (RIP), Alpha Tower and New Street Signal Box
youtu.be/yfvsVcKlLQs?...

Cliff Richard - Winning - Take Me High - 1973 - 4K - Stereo Retro Remix 2005 Remaster

YouTube video by Cliff, The Shadows | And Other Great Music

John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 9h

Ah yes, much beloved!

Reposted by John Grindrod

Oli Mould @olimould.bsky.social · 11h

People! Next week at the British Library, we're launching the amazing oral history archive of environmental activism in the UK (1970 - 2020). We've assembled an amazing panel of speakers & showcasing the results of our just-finished AHRC project.

Tickets are going fast, so sign up here:

Voices for Change: Stories from the Environmental Movement | British Library

Leaders of Greenpeace UK, Friends of the Earth, Natural England and the Green Party on 50 years of action.

Reposted by John Grindrod

Harry Wilkin$ @hs-wilkins.bsky.social · 11h

WELL THIS NEAT AND UNASSUMING LIBRARY IS RATHER ENJOYABLE ISN’T IT.

Reposted by John Grindrod

So Mayer @suchmayer.bsky.social · 1d

Bristol pals! I am coming to talk about language, power & dragons to launch BAD LANGUAGE @bookhaus.bsky.social. I'll be talking to the amazing @noreenmasud.bsky.social so it will be AWESOME.

Weds 26 Nov, 6pm
Book your tickets here👇

www.bookhausbristol.com/events/#e139...

Cover of Bad Language by So Mayer, featuring a hand-drawn large letter B in the style of a medieval manuscript illuminated. The B is composed of a dragon coiled around a tree, and looking at the reader with one red eye. The dragon is grey on a deep blue background.

John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 1d

Almost as cool as the Fairfield Halls. Almost

John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 1d

This is lovely to hear

John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 1d

TBH that could have been a legitimate reply to any of my posts

John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 1d

Maybe tomorrow

John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 1d

Had a Christmas sandwich

John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 2d

Next July am going to be running a residential Arvon course with @lamornaash.bsky.social on Writing Lives: how to write about and with other people’s stories. www.arvon.org/writing-cour...

Residential Writing Course: Non-fiction | Writing lives | Arvon

At the heart of so much great non-fiction are real people’s stories. On this course we will help you to discover how to capture the voices and lives of other people – through interviews and archival r...

John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 2d

Totally did. It was an amazing atmosphere

John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 2d

One of the best gigs I've ever been to

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Miller on the Threshold @iammilliam.bsky.social · 2d

Readers of my first book Tilting at Windmills may be interested to learn that the inner sleeve of @warringtonruncorn.com’s new LP depicts the ‘betong’ category of miniature golf course, as utilised in international minigolf tournaments to this day. Hats off to that dead town planner!

John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 3d

Oh Diane Keaton. The absolute best. Rewatched Annie Hall last week and she just conjures extraordinarily funny moments from nowhere

Reposted by John Grindrod

Mike Best @bestlaidplan.bsky.social · 3d

If you need to get to sleep tonight, my soporific tones on this podcast talking about Green Belt should do the job.

Always great to listen to @catrionariddell.bsky.social though!

50 Shades of Planning @50shadesofplanning.bsky.social · 3d

Episode 150 of 50 Shades of Planning is available now.

The Amazing Technicolour Green Belt

🍎: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

🎧: open.spotify.com/episode/5nQy...

John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 3d

A man’s clogged guttering is his own private kingdom

John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 3d

Have cleared out some guttering and done some hefty gardening so now for a Belgian bun

Reposted by John Grindrod

Clair Woodward @clairywoowoo.bsky.social · 3d

Have just had a VERY long bus journey through Bromley, Beckenham and surrounds, and now I understand why Bowie drank, took drugs and lived in Berlin and New York.

John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 4d

Well, that gig felt like the entire point of life

John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 4d

Woohoo!

John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 4d

Off to see Ibibio Sound Machine at Esquires in Bedford. VERY excited

Reposted by John Grindrod

Postcard From The Past @pastpostcard.bsky.social · 5d

Writing this card at the Post Office Tower. We have just been up the top looking at a lovely view, you could see Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge & lots of other famous places. On Monday we went to the cinema and had dinner at a Wimpy Bar.