Simon Read
@simonread.bsky.social
Writer/broadcaster: an anagram of 'randomise'. Tweet about #cocktails #beer #blackandwhitefilms #music #puns #football #finance. Work: [email protected]
Football used to be the game of the ordinary people. Now it's the game of the too-much-money elitist class
December 4, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Football used to be the game of the ordinary people. Now it's the game of the too-much-money elitist class
We saw A Christmas Carol at the Alexander Palace Theatre. It's a great high-ceilinged venue, a brilliant play, and a joyous production with Matthew Cottle a convincing Scrooge and Neil Morrissey a fitting Marley and other characters. Worth the trip. God bless us, everyone!
December 4, 2025 at 5:14 PM
We saw A Christmas Carol at the Alexander Palace Theatre. It's a great high-ceilinged venue, a brilliant play, and a joyous production with Matthew Cottle a convincing Scrooge and Neil Morrissey a fitting Marley and other characters. Worth the trip. God bless us, everyone!
Is it too soon for a Christmas show? Not for me. Today's matinee #theatre treat is A Christmas Carol, adapted by Mark Gariss at the Alexander Palace Theatre. It's a new venue for me, so I'm excited by that as well as seeing this version of Dickens' classic.
December 4, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Is it too soon for a Christmas show? Not for me. Today's matinee #theatre treat is A Christmas Carol, adapted by Mark Gariss at the Alexander Palace Theatre. It's a new venue for me, so I'm excited by that as well as seeing this version of Dickens' classic.
I saw End at the National Theatre. It was an emotionally Involving story with great performances from Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves.
December 3, 2025 at 7:09 PM
I saw End at the National Theatre. It was an emotionally Involving story with great performances from Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves.
Retro trivia: which London street is this pictured at the end of the 19th century?
December 3, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Retro trivia: which London street is this pictured at the end of the 19th century?
Early morning tennis - love it!
December 3, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Early morning tennis - love it!
Postcard from the London Underground (this was taken at Edgware Road, and slightly filtered for effect)
December 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Postcard from the London Underground (this was taken at Edgware Road, and slightly filtered for effect)
A generous Ginger Old Fashioned is my #cocktail of choice before venturing out in the cold this evening. It's 60ml of whiskey, 20ml of ginger wine, caramel sugar syrup, angostura bitters and orange bitters, to create a sweet, warming concoction, with a cherry for fun. It hits the spot. Pip pip!
December 2, 2025 at 4:49 PM
A generous Ginger Old Fashioned is my #cocktail of choice before venturing out in the cold this evening. It's 60ml of whiskey, 20ml of ginger wine, caramel sugar syrup, angostura bitters and orange bitters, to create a sweet, warming concoction, with a cherry for fun. It hits the spot. Pip pip!
AI pic of the week: Dora The Explorer inflatable is chased by ICE inflatables at Macy's annual Thanksgiving Parade in New York
December 1, 2025 at 10:44 PM
AI pic of the week: Dora The Explorer inflatable is chased by ICE inflatables at Macy's annual Thanksgiving Parade in New York
We saw Wet Leg at Circuit in Kingston. They delivered a pleasing but short set of their classics, with a wave of guitar sounds and thumping drums and passionate performance from singer Rhian Teasdale. Memorably good.
December 1, 2025 at 8:44 PM
We saw Wet Leg at Circuit in Kingston. They delivered a pleasing but short set of their classics, with a wave of guitar sounds and thumping drums and passionate performance from singer Rhian Teasdale. Memorably good.
Dangerous #VirginMedia: Ofcom has fined Virgin Media £23.8m after it put thousands of vulnerable customers at direct risk of harm by disconnecting their alarms. The serious incidents took place while Virgin was upgrading customers’ phone services in November and December 2023.
December 1, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Dangerous #VirginMedia: Ofcom has fined Virgin Media £23.8m after it put thousands of vulnerable customers at direct risk of harm by disconnecting their alarms. The serious incidents took place while Virgin was upgrading customers’ phone services in November and December 2023.
10 men Chelsea were held to a draw by table-toppers Arsenal. It was a great atmosphere at Stamford Bridge but a disappointing result for the Chelsea fans, albeit also pleasing to get a draw.
November 30, 2025 at 7:48 PM
10 men Chelsea were held to a draw by table-toppers Arsenal. It was a great atmosphere at Stamford Bridge but a disappointing result for the Chelsea fans, albeit also pleasing to get a draw.
Postcards from Kings Cross at Christmas (in November!)
November 29, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Postcards from Kings Cross at Christmas (in November!)
I saw Elvis Evolution at a venue near the Excel in Docklands. We were promised an immersive journey through Elvis' life and it certainly told the tale of his early years, through film and actors. There were good musicians playing, which led to a pleasant couple of hours, but it lacked focus and pace
November 27, 2025 at 7:01 PM
I saw Elvis Evolution at a venue near the Excel in Docklands. We were promised an immersive journey through Elvis' life and it certainly told the tale of his early years, through film and actors. There were good musicians playing, which led to a pleasant couple of hours, but it lacked focus and pace
Postcard from south-east London (from West Silvertown station)
November 27, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Postcard from south-east London (from West Silvertown station)
Meet John Doe has themes that resonate today. Does this sound familiar?
November 27, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Meet John Doe has themes that resonate today. Does this sound familiar?
It's definitely #stout season now. The cold weather means a warming dark #beer is a treat to look forward to. Today's is a flavoursome 7% brew from West Yorkshire brewer @saltbeerfactory. The Banoffee Pud Stout delivers a sweet and rich banana and toffee mouthful. Cheers!
November 26, 2025 at 5:21 PM
It's a beautiful looking day in Southfields
November 26, 2025 at 10:56 AM
It's a beautiful looking day in Southfields
A magnificent night at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea beat Barcelona 3-0, and it could have been more. The fans were incredibly noisy, making for a brilliant atmosphere rewarded by an excellent performance from the Chelsea players.
November 25, 2025 at 10:08 PM
A magnificent night at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea beat Barcelona 3-0, and it could have been more. The fans were incredibly noisy, making for a brilliant atmosphere rewarded by an excellent performance from the Chelsea players.
Yes, it's the mighty Radiohead at the 02 arena. Fittingly there's no between-song chat, just an onslaught of brilliant music.
November 22, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Yes, it's the mighty Radiohead at the 02 arena. Fittingly there's no between-song chat, just an onslaught of brilliant music.
Still drizzling at Plough Lane
November 22, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Still drizzling at Plough Lane
It's a wet Saturday afternoon at Plough Lane
November 22, 2025 at 3:00 PM
It's a wet Saturday afternoon at Plough Lane
I've had a fun and interesting week. I hope you have too.
November 22, 2025 at 8:27 AM
I've had a fun and interesting week. I hope you have too.
We saw Ballet Shoes at the National Theatre. It's a totally magical and uplifting story and a wonderful production. If you get a chance to see it this Christmas, you won't regret it.
November 21, 2025 at 10:19 PM
We saw Ballet Shoes at the National Theatre. It's a totally magical and uplifting story and a wonderful production. If you get a chance to see it this Christmas, you won't regret it.