Mark Samuels
@marksamuels.bsky.social
Journalist | Senior contributing editor at ZDNET | Words for Computer Weekly, Diginomica, IT Pro, CIO, Guardian, and more
Aston Villa fan | Shoegazer who loves ambient and drone | Freelancer | Vegetarian with a geography PhD | Dad to two excellent people
Aston Villa fan | Shoegazer who loves ambient and drone | Freelancer | Vegetarian with a geography PhD | Dad to two excellent people
I’ve just noticed a nice detail on my daughter’s new Feed Me With Your Kiss t-shirt from the My Bloody Valentine gig. The label on the back says established 2804. Desperately hoping that’s a nod to the fact that MBV’s music still sounds hundreds of years in the future.
#MBV #shoegaze #shoegazing
#MBV #shoegaze #shoegazing
November 26, 2025 at 12:25 PM
I’ve just noticed a nice detail on my daughter’s new Feed Me With Your Kiss t-shirt from the My Bloody Valentine gig. The label on the back says established 2804. Desperately hoping that’s a nod to the fact that MBV’s music still sounds hundreds of years in the future.
#MBV #shoegaze #shoegazing
#MBV #shoegaze #shoegazing
Wow, wow, WOW!!!
My Bloody Valentine were INCREDIBLE in London tonight. Loud, but crystal clear - the best I’ve ever seen them. Also got to go with my eldest, so bucket-list stuff. What a gig, what a band.
To Here Knows When…
Long live the Valentines!
#MBV #MyBloodyValentine #Shoegaze
My Bloody Valentine were INCREDIBLE in London tonight. Loud, but crystal clear - the best I’ve ever seen them. Also got to go with my eldest, so bucket-list stuff. What a gig, what a band.
To Here Knows When…
Long live the Valentines!
#MBV #MyBloodyValentine #Shoegaze
November 25, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Wow, wow, WOW!!!
My Bloody Valentine were INCREDIBLE in London tonight. Loud, but crystal clear - the best I’ve ever seen them. Also got to go with my eldest, so bucket-list stuff. What a gig, what a band.
To Here Knows When…
Long live the Valentines!
#MBV #MyBloodyValentine #Shoegaze
My Bloody Valentine were INCREDIBLE in London tonight. Loud, but crystal clear - the best I’ve ever seen them. Also got to go with my eldest, so bucket-list stuff. What a gig, what a band.
To Here Knows When…
Long live the Valentines!
#MBV #MyBloodyValentine #Shoegaze
Who decided this seating arrangement on the new-look Politics Live? It looks like the most uncomfortable and badly laid-out waiting room in history.
#PoliticsLive
#PoliticsLive
November 10, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Who decided this seating arrangement on the new-look Politics Live? It looks like the most uncomfortable and badly laid-out waiting room in history.
#PoliticsLive
#PoliticsLive
Enjoy the post match celebrations. My view of the Villa fans from the posh seats (although there were Villa fans all around us).
Great performance and two wonderful goals. Up the Villa!
#AVFC
Great performance and two wonderful goals. Up the Villa!
#AVFC
October 19, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Enjoy the post match celebrations. My view of the Villa fans from the posh seats (although there were Villa fans all around us).
Great performance and two wonderful goals. Up the Villa!
#AVFC
Great performance and two wonderful goals. Up the Villa!
#AVFC
Word to the wise. If you visit ALDI, and you’re not allergic, get these. I buy loads of them. A woman saw me getting five bags in Leytonstone and said she was going to get some because of my obsession. They’re stupidly cheap, too - usually about 99p a bag.
You’re welcome.
#ALDI
You’re welcome.
#ALDI
October 4, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Word to the wise. If you visit ALDI, and you’re not allergic, get these. I buy loads of them. A woman saw me getting five bags in Leytonstone and said she was going to get some because of my obsession. They’re stupidly cheap, too - usually about 99p a bag.
You’re welcome.
#ALDI
You’re welcome.
#ALDI
I see Today’s Special at John Lewis is subject to availability. I would imagine there’s likely to be an incredible rush for such special items. Don’t miss out.
September 7, 2025 at 6:36 PM
I see Today’s Special at John Lewis is subject to availability. I would imagine there’s likely to be an incredible rush for such special items. Don’t miss out.
We went to the V&A East Storehouse by the Olympic Park in Stratford yesterday. It’s a fascinating twist on the museum experience. It feels like you’re seeing behind the scenes. Lovely space, too. Another great addition to east London.
#V&A #Musuems #London #EastLondon
#V&A #Musuems #London #EastLondon
July 20, 2025 at 9:20 AM
We went to the V&A East Storehouse by the Olympic Park in Stratford yesterday. It’s a fascinating twist on the museum experience. It feels like you’re seeing behind the scenes. Lovely space, too. Another great addition to east London.
#V&A #Musuems #London #EastLondon
#V&A #Musuems #London #EastLondon
In other news, Leytonstone has finally up and come, 25 years after I moved there because I thought it was up and coming.
July 7, 2025 at 8:00 PM
In other news, Leytonstone has finally up and come, 25 years after I moved there because I thought it was up and coming.
Saw this bag in a charity shop in Leytonstone today. Been draeming of it ever since. Powerful stuff.
July 7, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Saw this bag in a charity shop in Leytonstone today. Been draeming of it ever since. Powerful stuff.
I see M&S is still having fun with its electronic ordering systems. In Wanstead, there’s a milk section and a wine section that is, err, milk. And lots of it.
May 30, 2025 at 6:34 PM
I see M&S is still having fun with its electronic ordering systems. In Wanstead, there’s a milk section and a wine section that is, err, milk. And lots of it.
Me at four years old. I guess I was always going to be a shoegazer.
Striped top - check
Floppy haircut - check
Shy and sensitive - check
Striped top - check
Floppy haircut - check
Shy and sensitive - check
May 1, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Me at four years old. I guess I was always going to be a shoegazer.
Striped top - check
Floppy haircut - check
Shy and sensitive - check
Striped top - check
Floppy haircut - check
Shy and sensitive - check
One thing to take from yesterday is that Palace’s atmosphere was truly like a twelfth man. You could feel the deflation around us when you saw our pitiful tifo and half-hearted flag display. Villa Park has been awesome for European nights but yesterday was as flat as a pancake.
#AVFC
#AVFC
April 27, 2025 at 1:23 PM
One thing to take from yesterday is that Palace’s atmosphere was truly like a twelfth man. You could feel the deflation around us when you saw our pitiful tifo and half-hearted flag display. Villa Park has been awesome for European nights but yesterday was as flat as a pancake.
#AVFC
#AVFC
April 26, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Just back from the Amex - an away day in the posh seats at Brighton. Our amazing fans singing loud and proud. What a result. Up the Villa!
#AVFC
#AVFC
April 2, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Just back from the Amex - an away day in the posh seats at Brighton. Our amazing fans singing loud and proud. What a result. Up the Villa!
#AVFC
#AVFC
I’m going to see My Bloody Valentine with my eldest daughter. My passion for shoegazing passes from one generation to the next. Pray for our eardrums.
#MBV #shoegazing
#MBV #shoegazing
March 31, 2025 at 5:03 PM
I’m going to see My Bloody Valentine with my eldest daughter. My passion for shoegazing passes from one generation to the next. Pray for our eardrums.
#MBV #shoegazing
#MBV #shoegazing
Went to West Ham versus Newcastle. West Ham aren’t very good. No idea why they didn’t put up more of a fight against a team with one eye on their visit to Wembley this weekend.
March 10, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Went to West Ham versus Newcastle. West Ham aren’t very good. No idea why they didn’t put up more of a fight against a team with one eye on their visit to Wembley this weekend.
What a result that is. Backs to the wall second half. Disasi was absolutely colossal. Special mention for the man in the picture - the world’s number two.
Up the Villa! #AVFC
Up the Villa! #AVFC
March 8, 2025 at 7:34 PM
What a result that is. Backs to the wall second half. Disasi was absolutely colossal. Special mention for the man in the picture - the world’s number two.
Up the Villa! #AVFC
Up the Villa! #AVFC
Walked across Christchurch Green in Wanstead at 8pm tonight and took these pictures because the light looked unusual. The photos look like I was in an uncanny valley rather than east London. #Wanstead
February 24, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Walked across Christchurch Green in Wanstead at 8pm tonight and took these pictures because the light looked unusual. The photos look like I was in an uncanny valley rather than east London. #Wanstead
February 23, 2025 at 10:09 PM
This guy has been an under-the-radar diamond for the Villa this season. Stepping in and helping out all over the pitch in unexpected circumstances. Calm and collected on the ball, he gets better with every opportunity. Lamare Bogarde has a bright future.
#AVFC
#AVFC
February 23, 2025 at 7:43 AM
This guy has been an under-the-radar diamond for the Villa this season. Stepping in and helping out all over the pitch in unexpected circumstances. Calm and collected on the ball, he gets better with every opportunity. Lamare Bogarde has a bright future.
#AVFC
#AVFC
I was in Vegas yesterday. Sitting by the pool in 25 degrees of sun at the start of February. Flying into wet London felt pretty miserable…
February 8, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I was in Vegas yesterday. Sitting by the pool in 25 degrees of sun at the start of February. Flying into wet London felt pretty miserable…
In the East Stand after Jamie Donley’s wonder strike for the Orient against Man City. The O’s did themselves proud. Putting on a show!
February 8, 2025 at 3:01 PM
In the East Stand after Jamie Donley’s wonder strike for the Orient against Man City. The O’s did themselves proud. Putting on a show!
My sister came up with the idea of a T-shirt-decorating contest for Xmas Day. Mine is number 4.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Merry Christmas, everyone!
December 25, 2024 at 10:00 PM
My sister came up with the idea of a T-shirt-decorating contest for Xmas Day. Mine is number 4.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Merry Christmas, everyone!