The Plashing Vole

For a concise explanation of British political blogs, have a look at Tim Ireland's explanation . You need sound on, and it probably isn...

I like him, and his politics. But now he's on Radio 4 mispronouncing Merthyr Tydfil and making his opening monologue one about how funny...

6 massive, blue duck-eggs. 2 pheasants. 1 partridge. Rare breed black pudding. Gloucester Old Spot bacon, 2 ham hocks, 1 formerly wild Barba...

I enjoy a good argument, but when commenters start calling each other 'wanker', I can't help thinking that a little more imagina...

I should have been marking essays today, and just couldn't face it. So I ran away to Manchester for a day of culture. First up - the Man...

…by embracing our own extinction for the sake of the planet. Today's Guardian polls climate change scientists. 85% don't believe we...

The dawn chorus started at 5.46 this morning. Thousands of avian voices all singing - yes, I'm afraid so - 'are you looking at my bi...

I'm getting hits from Canada and Algeria from people searching for Damian Mcbride. Hopefully they aren't from politicians wanting to...

(picture from homepages.nildram.co.uk/.../ picsurroundbidd.htm ) So how are you all? I've been away from my Mac for a couple of days, an...

I always worry, when going away for a few days, how many books to take. I never get it right. I'm probably here in rural Shropshire for ...

Stoke City 1 - 1 - Newcastle United . And, for Ben, hearty congratulations to Manchester United for their plucky victory over Sunderland. On...

Well I'm at home. I've done the mandatory religious observance to keep the Aged Parents happy, and am sitting in the sun. The thing ...

Damian McBride, Derek Draper and LabourList (a propagandist mirror of the much more independent conservative.home ) are so utterly embarra...

Got to switch off now - just ordered a biography of Tom Wintringham , a hero of the British left. He's interesting on his own, but I...

I'm not really one for comics. Or even graphic novels, other than Alan Moore and Green Lantern, but I thought Bostin' Heroes deserv...

Just thinking about buying books makes me buy one. I've just ordered Mudslingers: The Twenty-Five Dirtiest Political Campaigns in Histor...

I planned to have a few days off book-purchasing. I almost made it, until I found Cheesman and Williams' Rebels, Pretenders and Impostor...

Well, it's a big day for football - in serious as well as lighthearted ways. Firstly, Liverpool are playing Blackburn on the nearest day...

Mindless celebs who think that being able to wave at photographers qualifies them as doctors, scientists and theologians actually kill peopl...

This is a video made by Ceylan, who directed the film I saw yesterday. It captures his slow, Proustian way…