That's a fascinating provenance, thanks. I've known this poem since my teens and always read it with a straightforward waxed 'tache manliness, especially the fourth stanza.

Thankfully, there are no other examples of men getting the credit for women's writing.

Did the crocodile eat him last?

Yup, A bee-loud glade sounds ideal around now.

I always thought this was written by GS Sansom. But, checking the reference, there is some doubt.

It's true. Due to the 🌎's wobbliness, earliest sunset is around the 12th December, shortest day around the 21st and latest sunrise around the 31st. Since it's evenings that most folk care about, it makes good, optimistic sense to focus on getting past mid December.

34 days until the evenings start getting lighter. Heavy emphasis on "start," admittedly.

Making a mental note not to challenge @dorianlynskey.bsky.social at a pub quiz.

I stand ready to serve, Pete.

Even so, a lovely encounter putting a short-eared owl to flight, bursting up almost from under my front wheel and tumbling away over Ullswater.

Blummin’ great.

Can you now join a circus and be a distortionist with them?

The app needs Rawlsian principles: everyone's National Insurance number is added to a lottery. Every Saturday, a thousand names are drawn at random on a BBC show fronted by Michael McIntyre. Police burst through your door on Sunday morning if you're not already at the airport. British fair play...

What's equally baffling and horrifying is that nobody on the right has taken a moment to picture the logical corollary: in a few years, there will be a viral clip of police in paramilitary gear kicking down the door of a house to reveal a terrified girl in bunches clutching a teddy.

Such a great name. Thanks for this, Michael.

Such a great name. Thanks for this, Michael.

Have you covered Gleadless yet?