My fun Sunday afternoon activity has been using up loads of veg (some homegrown, some not) for roasting - including some gorgeous stripy beetroot that looks like sweets. That plus some halloumi and couscous for Sunday dinner - yum.

Front garden visitor this hot afternoon.

Great last two weeks up in NE England - wonderful countryside and coast in Northumberland and North Yorkshire, with Lindisfarne and the Farne Islands a massive highlight. Unexpected Brummie connections in Lindisfarne (Mr Egg sweatshirt) and Whitby (cafe stocking Birmingham Brew Co beers).

Very tiny but energetic inhabitant of our small front garden pond.

Our raspberries are also doing very well this year - getting this much every day, as well as strawberries.

I’ve got mine - happy new apples!

Current listening - it's my birthday today, as it is for the writer of one of the most perfect songs ever. Happy birthday @robert.thecure.com

Saturday listening - still my favourite @buck65.bsky.social record

This is still such a great record. The first LFO record is one of those where I can still remember the first time I heard it, and this follow up is just as good. Some great remixes from this too, including Spiritualized.

#cdfriday

Current listening - Baroque, by the great Susumu Yokota

Some days, only Fugazi will do - rattles the ears, the mind, the conscience. Playing loud.

A chilly heron in the River Rea this morning

#uksnow snowing here in B14. Not heavy but steady.

Got the expanded anniversary edition of 'Tranquilizer' by Terre Thaemlitz for Christmas. It's a really rather special album. So good.

Current listening - Xerrox Vol.5 by Alva Noto. Rapidly becoming one of my favourite albums of the year. He keeps getting better.

Yay, snow in Brum!

Yeah, ok.