Gareth Oakland 🇫🇷🏏🏉
@goakl.bsky.social
Published on 19th Century Vendéen memorials. Former PwC partner. Trustee at Institute of Historical Research. Trustee at NHS Retirement. Active travel in Bishop’s Stortford. Keyboard warrior. Bearsted CC. Cricket, cycling, rugby à XV. France and England.
Things that are utterly weird (verging on creepy) - someone follows you on Strava and then immediately likes a ride you did from a house you moved out of over a decade ago, to have dinner with a girlfriend you split up with a year later.
November 25, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Things that are utterly weird (verging on creepy) - someone follows you on Strava and then immediately likes a ride you did from a house you moved out of over a decade ago, to have dinner with a girlfriend you split up with a year later.
Reposted by Gareth Oakland 🇫🇷🏏🏉
Y’know, believing there’s a kind of racism that isn’t hurtful or insulting is itself quite revealing.
November 25, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Y’know, believing there’s a kind of racism that isn’t hurtful or insulting is itself quite revealing.
Five years ago my #PhD supervisor confirmed that my “minor amendments” had been accepted.
I still smile when someone calls me doctor Oakland though.
I still smile when someone calls me doctor Oakland though.
November 24, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Five years ago my #PhD supervisor confirmed that my “minor amendments” had been accepted.
I still smile when someone calls me doctor Oakland though.
I still smile when someone calls me doctor Oakland though.
From a tv review:
a moving treatise on his sadness at letting go, as every grownup must, of the person his parent used to be, the one who gave him his childhood
Probably 3/4 of the people I engage with on here know this feeling. Most, like me, fear it happening to their children.
a moving treatise on his sadness at letting go, as every grownup must, of the person his parent used to be, the one who gave him his childhood
Probably 3/4 of the people I engage with on here know this feeling. Most, like me, fear it happening to their children.
November 24, 2025 at 11:21 AM
From a tv review:
a moving treatise on his sadness at letting go, as every grownup must, of the person his parent used to be, the one who gave him his childhood
Probably 3/4 of the people I engage with on here know this feeling. Most, like me, fear it happening to their children.
a moving treatise on his sadness at letting go, as every grownup must, of the person his parent used to be, the one who gave him his childhood
Probably 3/4 of the people I engage with on here know this feeling. Most, like me, fear it happening to their children.
November 23, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Ryanair delays. Sitting on tarmac in Poitiers. Plans for getting home before kick off in the rugby disrupted. I have pressed “record” on the Sky app. Hopefully that works!
November 23, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Ryanair delays. Sitting on tarmac in Poitiers. Plans for getting home before kick off in the rugby disrupted. I have pressed “record” on the Sky app. Hopefully that works!
Last time I flew through Poitiers I put 3x100ml of home made chutney in various little pots in the clear plastic bag. No problem.
This time 1x100ml in the smallest jar left, a 200ml jam jar. In the clear plastic bag. Thrown in the bin by officials.
Performative security.
FUMMIN.
This time 1x100ml in the smallest jar left, a 200ml jam jar. In the clear plastic bag. Thrown in the bin by officials.
Performative security.
FUMMIN.
November 23, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Last time I flew through Poitiers I put 3x100ml of home made chutney in various little pots in the clear plastic bag. No problem.
This time 1x100ml in the smallest jar left, a 200ml jam jar. In the clear plastic bag. Thrown in the bin by officials.
Performative security.
FUMMIN.
This time 1x100ml in the smallest jar left, a 200ml jam jar. In the clear plastic bag. Thrown in the bin by officials.
Performative security.
FUMMIN.
“The answers…”
I don’t think I (almost 68 years on the planet) have ever asked a question the remotely needs this answer.
I don’t think I (almost 68 years on the planet) have ever asked a question the remotely needs this answer.
November 23, 2025 at 10:19 AM
“The answers…”
I don’t think I (almost 68 years on the planet) have ever asked a question the remotely needs this answer.
I don’t think I (almost 68 years on the planet) have ever asked a question the remotely needs this answer.
Happy Sunday.
Travel day breakfast.
Travel day breakfast.
November 23, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Happy Sunday.
Travel day breakfast.
Travel day breakfast.
Reposted by Gareth Oakland 🇫🇷🏏🏉
The entrance to the 3-storey bike parking garage at Utrecht Central holding 12,500 bicycles. It’s free for the first 24 hours, linked to the station, and used by tens of thousands every day. This is what happens when a country treats bikes as real transport infrastructure, not an afterthought.
November 22, 2025 at 7:08 PM
The entrance to the 3-storey bike parking garage at Utrecht Central holding 12,500 bicycles. It’s free for the first 24 hours, linked to the station, and used by tens of thousands every day. This is what happens when a country treats bikes as real transport infrastructure, not an afterthought.
Just in time for half-time.
Duck. Orange sauce. The last of the apple pies and the last of the winter wine!
Duck. Orange sauce. The last of the apple pies and the last of the winter wine!
November 22, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Just in time for half-time.
Duck. Orange sauce. The last of the apple pies and the last of the winter wine!
Duck. Orange sauce. The last of the apple pies and the last of the winter wine!
November 22, 2025 at 5:41 PM
November 22, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Whenever I put the freshly ironed laundry to air by the fire, I know my dear old mum would have approved.
Good game on the telly too.
Good game on the telly too.
November 22, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Whenever I put the freshly ironed laundry to air by the fire, I know my dear old mum would have approved.
Good game on the telly too.
Good game on the telly too.
Back to the UK tomorrow. The butter has already been in the freezer once and I had some oats, cream, ginger and flour. At least they won’t be confiscated at customs!
November 22, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Back to the UK tomorrow. The butter has already been in the freezer once and I had some oats, cream, ginger and flour. At least they won’t be confiscated at customs!
Got to say that I read this as “minus one” and thought it was generous.
But y’know he’s a good team man and Baz likes his dad. So…
But y’know he’s a good team man and Baz likes his dad. So…
November 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Got to say that I read this as “minus one” and thought it was generous.
But y’know he’s a good team man and Baz likes his dad. So…
But y’know he’s a good team man and Baz likes his dad. So…
Symbols (swastikas, nooses etc) in the news again. Reminded me of Sanford Levison's conclusion that consensus on public memorials is impossible (plural publics) except perhaps where an event was so terrible that it must be remembered forever after as a cautionary note.
November 22, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Symbols (swastikas, nooses etc) in the news again. Reminded me of Sanford Levison's conclusion that consensus on public memorials is impossible (plural publics) except perhaps where an event was so terrible that it must be remembered forever after as a cautionary note.
Six years ago, I wrote these two words.
Obviously it wasn’t.
Thesis-final-final-v16.doc came a lot later!
Obviously it wasn’t.
Thesis-final-final-v16.doc came a lot later!
November 22, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Six years ago, I wrote these two words.
Obviously it wasn’t.
Thesis-final-final-v16.doc came a lot later!
Obviously it wasn’t.
Thesis-final-final-v16.doc came a lot later!
140 overs. Less than 2 days. The TV people and ground catering must be FUMIN’
November 22, 2025 at 9:44 AM
140 overs. Less than 2 days. The TV people and ground catering must be FUMIN’
Brain: wake up, wake up, Crawley is batting. Ah fuck it, go back to sleep.
🏏
🏏
November 22, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Brain: wake up, wake up, Crawley is batting. Ah fuck it, go back to sleep.
🏏
🏏
Oh you want #rugby predictions too?
4 home wins. And wins for the Kiwis and Saffers. Not sure you’d get very long odds on all six to be honest.
4 home wins. And wins for the Kiwis and Saffers. Not sure you’d get very long odds on all six to be honest.
November 21, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Oh you want #rugby predictions too?
4 home wins. And wins for the Kiwis and Saffers. Not sure you’d get very long odds on all six to be honest.
4 home wins. And wins for the Kiwis and Saffers. Not sure you’d get very long odds on all six to be honest.
Off to sleep. Brain programmed for 5.40 wake up in time for the afternoon session.
Prediction? England 80-3, Root 20 NO having been dropped on 5. Bowled out by tea time. Set Aus 230 to win.
🏏
Prediction? England 80-3, Root 20 NO having been dropped on 5. Bowled out by tea time. Set Aus 230 to win.
🏏
November 21, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Off to sleep. Brain programmed for 5.40 wake up in time for the afternoon session.
Prediction? England 80-3, Root 20 NO having been dropped on 5. Bowled out by tea time. Set Aus 230 to win.
🏏
Prediction? England 80-3, Root 20 NO having been dropped on 5. Bowled out by tea time. Set Aus 230 to win.
🏏
And to finish, home made apple pie and ice cream. Don’t say I don’t spoil you.
November 21, 2025 at 8:10 PM
And to finish, home made apple pie and ice cream. Don’t say I don’t spoil you.
And so we make do with baguette and red wine
November 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
And so we make do with baguette and red wine