John Grindrod
@grindrod.bsky.social
Social historian of modern places. Wrote Concretopia and Iconicon. Tales of the Suburbs, on LGBTQ+ history, out March 2026. Also, maps. Disappointingly unserious. Podcast: Monstrosities Mon Amour
https://linktr.ee/johngrindrod
https://linktr.ee/johngrindrod
Pinned
Let's take a ride... My next book is coming out with @faberbooks.bsky.social. Tales of the Suburbs: LGBTQ+ Lives Behind Net Curtains will be published March 12 2026. Preorder links in profile, and lots more on the book and the remarkable stories people told me to come over the next few months...
Woman in TV department showing us all the old people settings on a new set, talking loudly and slowly about how we could watch Coronation Street if we miss it. Feeling good.
November 22, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Woman in TV department showing us all the old people settings on a new set, talking loudly and slowly about how we could watch Coronation Street if we miss it. Feeling good.
Popped into the shopping centre. We’ve gone to Christmas by mistake
November 22, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Popped into the shopping centre. We’ve gone to Christmas by mistake
For me the Stone Roses were the opposite of the Smiths, because the bass and drums were the stars
November 21, 2025 at 11:51 AM
For me the Stone Roses were the opposite of the Smiths, because the bass and drums were the stars
Reskeet with a time you looked cool.
November 20, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Reskeet with a time you looked cool.
It’s a problem that none of the people criticised in the covid response report seems capable of shame, reflection or believing they could be wrong about anything. Everything’s just a game, other lives or deaths aren’t something they understand or even believe
November 20, 2025 at 8:46 PM
It’s a problem that none of the people criticised in the covid response report seems capable of shame, reflection or believing they could be wrong about anything. Everything’s just a game, other lives or deaths aren’t something they understand or even believe
Been editing next week's Monstrosities Mon Amour and it involves a lot of laughing, ingenious Victorian engineering and pub microwaved curries. Can't wait* to share it with you.
*am actually waiting one week
*am actually waiting one week
November 20, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Been editing next week's Monstrosities Mon Amour and it involves a lot of laughing, ingenious Victorian engineering and pub microwaved curries. Can't wait* to share it with you.
*am actually waiting one week
*am actually waiting one week
British Rail Travellers-Fare menu from 1975
And here's the offering typical of what was to be found at both station and on-train buffet cars.
![Travellers-Fare tariff : price list : British Rail : nd [c.1975] : tariff. The centre fold is cartefully, typographically laid out with Tariff in red on the left column and with "starters, Main Courses, Vegetables and Sweets ranged right in a vertical column and on the other page the Hot Snacks, Cold Snacks and Beverages are in a column ranged left. The details of the cover appear in the lower edge of the left margin column. Prices are shown.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:yqh2atawixxlb6ncx2fh73r6/bafkreifudcd5tln2bkqmhtdy6ftyw2be2so37avoqxosultbxu7krnuvxe@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 11:49 AM
British Rail Travellers-Fare menu from 1975
Went for a run this afternoon and my ears still hate me
November 19, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Went for a run this afternoon and my ears still hate me
Still loads of stuff flowering in the garden that’s not going to enjoy this snow
November 19, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Still loads of stuff flowering in the garden that’s not going to enjoy this snow
New Substack post, on another curious obsession, plus event news
johngrindrod.substack.com/p/runningpla...
johngrindrod.substack.com/p/runningpla...
Running/Planning
No apologies for sharing another curious obsession, this time with how Wang Junxia and the Chinese runners of the 1990s have helped steady my nerves. Plus event news.
johngrindrod.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:05 PM
New Substack post, on another curious obsession, plus event news
johngrindrod.substack.com/p/runningpla...
johngrindrod.substack.com/p/runningpla...
Argh, Zencastr recording stuck at 99% and won't download, anyone know how to fix this?
November 18, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Argh, Zencastr recording stuck at 99% and won't download, anyone know how to fix this?
Morrisons going full Slade and Wizzard this evening. It does seem Roy Wood got his wish
November 18, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Morrisons going full Slade and Wizzard this evening. It does seem Roy Wood got his wish
Reposted by John Grindrod
Today is the last day to submit your writing if you'd like to potentially be part of our Raising Voices StoryMap launch. Send us your writing about places in #miltonkeynes.
www.mklitfest.org/raisingvoice...
#poetry #shortstories #flashfiction #CreativeNonfiction #writingcompetition
www.mklitfest.org/raisingvoice...
#poetry #shortstories #flashfiction #CreativeNonfiction #writingcompetition
The Raising Voices StoryMap Launch Party | MK Lit Fest 2025
Join us in-person or online for a special end of year celebration event, as we officially launch the Raising Voices StoryMap - an interactive, online audio-visual map of poems and stories inspired by ...
www.mklitfest.org
November 17, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Today is the last day to submit your writing if you'd like to potentially be part of our Raising Voices StoryMap launch. Send us your writing about places in #miltonkeynes.
www.mklitfest.org/raisingvoice...
#poetry #shortstories #flashfiction #CreativeNonfiction #writingcompetition
www.mklitfest.org/raisingvoice...
#poetry #shortstories #flashfiction #CreativeNonfiction #writingcompetition
Reposted by John Grindrod
Quite unfortunate that this is the ugliest book cover ever created
November 16, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Quite unfortunate that this is the ugliest book cover ever created
Pre-cold snap jobs for the day: fill up peanut and fat ball feeders for the birds, put new insulation round the door, sweep leaves onto the hedgehog hibernation area
November 16, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Pre-cold snap jobs for the day: fill up peanut and fat ball feeders for the birds, put new insulation round the door, sweep leaves onto the hedgehog hibernation area
Reposted by John Grindrod
Municipal Dreams supremo John Boughton champions 60s expanded town Thetford in the latest episode of Monstrosities Mon Amour
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...
Monstrosities Mon Amour: Thetford with John Boughton
Podcast Episode · Monstrosities Mon Amour · 30/10/2025 · 28m
podcasts.apple.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Municipal Dreams supremo John Boughton champions 60s expanded town Thetford in the latest episode of Monstrosities Mon Amour
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...
Reposted by John Grindrod
I am reminded today of this skit by Sarah Cooper.
November 14, 2025 at 6:11 PM
I am reminded today of this skit by Sarah Cooper.
Reposted by John Grindrod
Join filmmaker Graham Williamson and I, and @themodernist.bsky.social in Manchester, to see Graham's brilliant short film Song of the Suburbs, and to hear us in conversation about suburbia in all of its weirdness www.johngrindrod.co.uk/events/song-...
Song of the Suburbs — John Grindrod.
Screening of Graham Williamson’s short documentary film Song of the Suburbs , with an introduction to the film by Graham Williamson and a discussion between Graham and John Grindrod. A Manches...
www.johngrindrod.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Join filmmaker Graham Williamson and I, and @themodernist.bsky.social in Manchester, to see Graham's brilliant short film Song of the Suburbs, and to hear us in conversation about suburbia in all of its weirdness www.johngrindrod.co.uk/events/song-...
A top ten of Whoopi Goldberg films that doesn’t even feature Jumpin’ Jack Flash is a joyless list indeed
November 13, 2025 at 8:33 PM
A top ten of Whoopi Goldberg films that doesn’t even feature Jumpin’ Jack Flash is a joyless list indeed
Join filmmaker Graham Williamson and I, and @themodernist.bsky.social in Manchester, to see Graham's brilliant short film Song of the Suburbs, and to hear us in conversation about suburbia in all of its weirdness www.johngrindrod.co.uk/events/song-...
Song of the Suburbs — John Grindrod.
Screening of Graham Williamson’s short documentary film Song of the Suburbs , with an introduction to the film by Graham Williamson and a discussion between Graham and John Grindrod. A Manches...
www.johngrindrod.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Join filmmaker Graham Williamson and I, and @themodernist.bsky.social in Manchester, to see Graham's brilliant short film Song of the Suburbs, and to hear us in conversation about suburbia in all of its weirdness www.johngrindrod.co.uk/events/song-...
Thinking of adopting Taskmaster contestant-style outfit for book events next year. Possibly a 70s WHSmith uniform.
November 12, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Thinking of adopting Taskmaster contestant-style outfit for book events next year. Possibly a 70s WHSmith uniform.
Concerned that when I go to bed the dream I had last night will resume, where I was being attacked by knife wielding soft toys
November 11, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Concerned that when I go to bed the dream I had last night will resume, where I was being attacked by knife wielding soft toys
Very funny standup show by Judi Love. Ridiculous charisma
November 10, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Very funny standup show by Judi Love. Ridiculous charisma
All the leaves have fallen off the acer overnight
November 10, 2025 at 10:18 AM
All the leaves have fallen off the acer overnight