Selfishly, I’m a few weeks behind (like to give myself proper time to read them and listen) so this is all very helpful for me. Seriously, you can only do what you can do.

I met John Major when I was my 20s for about 45 secs and oooh boy, the charisma. Seriously.

I know exactly what you mean, thems the rules. But in DH’s case, I feel I know the exact type of man who is powerfully attractive in person as rather than visually. (Can’t quite articulate what I mean ‘cos it’s vibes, but…)

Exactly. People sitting in a chair is NOT visual and after a day in meetings I can barely even look at a screen. Still, it’s helping me read more books as I jettison nearly every podcast from my “to listen” pile.

Yes, that’s good. I like the idea of “active” ignorance.

The moment i stopped listening to a particular group of debaters was when they tried in 2022/23 to argue that Badenoch was bold, a breath of fresh air and intellectually rigorous when it was clear to those of us not suffering from monomania that she was completely thick.

Best one for ages: delivers much more than the blurb promises. Vintage YBTJ.

I listen to a lot of 6 music (basically that and 3 are the only non internet music stations I listen to) but I don’t really see the podcasts I listen to being competition or either/or - completely different content imo. (and I actually I find the constant trsikrrs on 6 irksome too!)

(See also Radio 2 breakfast DJs who think they are on television, which I suppose they are nowadays.)

I'm not an expert though, so someone who is may have a solution!

Start again, I’d say, I’m afraid. If you can salvage the middle, you can make some little puddings or Christmas pudding bonbons or similar.

Hahaha, I’d forgotten that.

I’ll take your word for it…

Grim.

Lovely.

Lovely stuff.

(Unsigned)