Rob Jackson
@robajackson.bsky.social
Emeritus Reader in Computational Solid State Chemistry @ Keele University (UK). Chair, RSC North Staffs Local Section. CAMRA Potteries Pubs Officer/Webmaster. UK Labour. Trombone player. #Ingress and #PokemonGo. robajackson.com, boomnet.wordpress.com.
Pinned
Rob Jackson
@robajackson.bsky.social
· Nov 15
Thanks to everyone who has followed me here. I think this place promises to be great, perhaps a bit like Twitter in the early days.
Dan Brown's The Secret of Secrets - some thoughts
Dan Brown’s ‘The Secret of Secrets’ – some thoughts
First, this isn't a review, so don't be concerned about spoilers. It's just some of my thoughts on the book, which was greatly anticipated by many, including myself. I've read and enjoyed all of Dan's previous books from 'The Da Vinci Code' onwards, and had great expectations for this his latest book. The first thing to say is that it is seriously long - nearly 700 pages in the hardback version.
boomnet.wordpress.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Dan Brown's The Secret of Secrets - some thoughts
Pokemon Go and the recent game changes - an overview
Pokemon Go – thoughts on the latest changes
I opened my first Pokemon Go account on 7 August 2016, only a few weeks after its UK release on 14 July of that year For the first 4 years or so, there were 40 levels to reach, and I finally reached level 40 on 21 November 2019. Part of the reason it took so long was that I had reduce playing for a while due to work commitments, but it was good to reach that level finally!
boomnet.wordpress.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Pokemon Go and the recent game changes - an overview
Brilliant news!
BBC News - www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cg...
Election day live updates: Zohran Mamdani wins New York mayoral race - BBC News
BBC News - www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cg...
Election day live updates: Zohran Mamdani wins New York mayoral race - BBC News
Election day live updates: Zohran Mamdani wins New York mayoral race
www.bbc.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Brilliant news!
BBC News - www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cg...
Election day live updates: Zohran Mamdani wins New York mayoral race - BBC News
BBC News - www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cg...
Election day live updates: Zohran Mamdani wins New York mayoral race - BBC News
Reposted by Rob Jackson
Let’s take a moment to revel in this incredible day before we jump back into the hard work ahead. The people have spoken. But one day & a few incredible wins won’t fix everything. But that’s the problem for tomorrow. Let’s celebrate today, recharge our batteries. Tomorrow the next phase begins!
November 5, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Let’s take a moment to revel in this incredible day before we jump back into the hard work ahead. The people have spoken. But one day & a few incredible wins won’t fix everything. But that’s the problem for tomorrow. Let’s celebrate today, recharge our batteries. Tomorrow the next phase begins!
Excited to be seeing Focus playing at the Bush Hall!
November 2, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Excited to be seeing Focus playing at the Bush Hall!
GBBF 2025
GBBF 2025 was much anticipated, especially as GBBF 2024 didn’t happen due to building work at Olympia, which was notified to the organisers too late to switch to a different venue. This was incredibly disappointing, as it is one of the fixed points of my year. It did however give CAMRA…
GBBF 2025 was much anticipated, especially as GBBF 2024 didn’t happen due to building work at Olympia, which was notified to the organisers too late to switch to a different venue. This was incredibly disappointing, as it is one of the fixed points of my year. It did however give CAMRA…
GBBF 2025
GBBF 2025 was much anticipated, especially as GBBF 2024 didn’t happen due to building work at Olympia, which was notified to the organisers too late to switch to a different venue. This was incredibly disappointing, as it is one of the fixed points of my year. It did however give CAMRA time to find an alternative venue. The chosen venue was the NEC, Birmingham.
boomnet.wordpress.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:53 PM
GBBF 2025
GBBF 2025 was much anticipated, especially as GBBF 2024 didn’t happen due to building work at Olympia, which was notified to the organisers too late to switch to a different venue. This was incredibly disappointing, as it is one of the fixed points of my year. It did however give CAMRA…
GBBF 2025 was much anticipated, especially as GBBF 2024 didn’t happen due to building work at Olympia, which was notified to the organisers too late to switch to a different venue. This was incredibly disappointing, as it is one of the fixed points of my year. It did however give CAMRA…
Has anyone here read/is reading the new Dan Brown book, The Secret of Secrets?
October 30, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Has anyone here read/is reading the new Dan Brown book, The Secret of Secrets?
Reposted by Rob Jackson
Study of the #PriceofaPint in 155 countries: the priciest pint is £9.95 in Doha, the cheapest 68p in Madagascar. Blighty comes in 11th, average cost £5.50 though you'll pay more in London. You'll need a time machine back to 1986 to pay 68p for a pint in the UK! #BskyBeer
October 28, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Study of the #PriceofaPint in 155 countries: the priciest pint is £9.95 in Doha, the cheapest 68p in Madagascar. Blighty comes in 11th, average cost £5.50 though you'll pay more in London. You'll need a time machine back to 1986 to pay 68p for a pint in the UK! #BskyBeer
This is a ridiculous situation and totally unacceptable in my opinion. Thanks @rogerprotz.bsky.social for publicising it here.
Restoration underway of Iron Duke, Gt Yarmouth, saved/listed thanks @sovenna.bsky.social SaveDuke. Sad the art deco icon will be run by Zaks serving "American themed BBQ ribs burgers hot dogs." Decision by a narrow cabal at the Council, no publicans allowed to pitch, & travesty "public consultation"
October 23, 2025 at 8:02 PM
This is a ridiculous situation and totally unacceptable in my opinion. Thanks @rogerprotz.bsky.social for publicising it here.
Also CBoB Silver winner.
Apologies in advance for an early Xmas image, but I'd love to hear if anyone is lucky enough to find this beautiful award-winning amber Barley Wine, vanishingly rare on cask, selling out at the likes of Dudley Winter Ales Festival. #BskyBeer
Ending @SSMCAMRA Winter Warmer Wander 2024 with something a bit special. @CAMRA_Official's Champion Winter Beer 2024. A rare one, generally available only at festivals and at the brewery itself.
❄️ SARAH HUGHES SNOWFLAKE ❄️
8%. Halfs only, too rare to allow tasters sorry.
❄️ SARAH HUGHES SNOWFLAKE ❄️
8%. Halfs only, too rare to allow tasters sorry.
October 22, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Also CBoB Silver winner.
Saturday morning at the BeerFest, with the Penkhull Village Brass Band on stage. Much enjoyed by all.
October 20, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Saturday morning at the BeerFest, with the Penkhull Village Brass Band on stage. Much enjoyed by all.
Last day of our BeerFest today. Fingers crossed for a good turnout!
October 18, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Last day of our BeerFest today. Fingers crossed for a good turnout!
Some very good points from @rogerprotz.bsky.social
With the China spy case collapsing into fiasco, worth reflecting 10 years ago David Cameron was raising a pint of Greene King IPA with President Xi in the Plough at Cadsden. The following year sales of GK IPA soared in China & Chinese investors bought the Buckinghamshire pub.
October 17, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Some very good points from @rogerprotz.bsky.social
Reposted by Rob Jackson
This is a reminder the abstract deadline for the 44th Christmas Meeting and Early Career Researcher (ECR) Meeting to be held at the University of Leeds on Monday 15 – Wednesday 17 December 2025 is Monday 3 November 2025
Full details of the submission process are available on the meeting website.
Full details of the submission process are available on the meeting website.
October 16, 2025 at 1:03 PM
This is a reminder the abstract deadline for the 44th Christmas Meeting and Early Career Researcher (ECR) Meeting to be held at the University of Leeds on Monday 15 – Wednesday 17 December 2025 is Monday 3 November 2025
Full details of the submission process are available on the meeting website.
Full details of the submission process are available on the meeting website.
A sad day indeed.
A sadly ironic end to the history of Ringwood Brewery that played a key role in the small brewers' revolution
Ringwood Brewery sold to property developer @teamdb.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 10:24 AM
A sad day indeed.