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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

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John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 19h

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...

www.arvon.org

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John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 1d

Totally did. It was an amazing atmosphere

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John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 1d

One of the best gigs I've ever been to

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Reposted by John Grindrod

Miller on the Threshold @iammilliam.bsky.social · 1d

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!

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John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 1d

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

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Reposted by John Grindrod

Mike Best @bestlaidplan.bsky.social · 1d

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 · 2d

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...

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John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 1d

A man’s clogged guttering is his own private kingdom

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John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 1d

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

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Reposted by John Grindrod

Clair Woodward @clairywoowoo.bsky.social · 2d

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.

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John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 2d

Well, that gig felt like the entire point of life

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John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 2d

Woohoo!

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John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 2d

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

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Reposted by John Grindrod

Postcard From The Past @pastpostcard.bsky.social · 3d

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.

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John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 4d

In Morrisons cafe. They’re playing Kraftwerk’s The Robots.

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John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 4d

Ah thank you so much!

John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 4d

Oh my god! Thank you so much! It’s lovely to make, one a month someone gets really enthusiastic at me for half an hour. It’s like a shot of caffeine

John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 4d

- Grafton Car Park, Worthing, with Travis Elborough
- The Savoy Centre with Rose Ruane
- Junction 3 of the M32, Bristol, with Gareth E Rees
- Brighton Marina with Angela Barnes
- Minster Court with Philip Downer
- Swindon with Helen Barrett
- Corby Bus Station with Mike Althorpe (the London Ambler)

John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 4d

There’s now ten episodes of Monstrosities Mon Amour available! That’s a lot of cheery chat about unloved and unfairly maligned places… podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...
- The Golden Mile with Kathryn Ferry
- The Drum, Margate, with Dan Thompson
- The Blue Bridge with Catherine Croft