Stuart Drysdale
@darlobun.bsky.social
Middle aged British guy, from Darlington but live in London. Golf, most other sports, travel, crosswords but hopefully not cross words
Reposted by Stuart Drysdale
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Stuart Drysdale
It's the Seasonal Reposting Competition! Repost this over the weekend, and on Sunday one lucky person will win a signed copy of one of my books. For you or the #crossword addict in your life: 50 fiendish @theguardian.com #puzzles and all the stories behind them:
boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossword-bo...
boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossword-bo...
November 14, 2025 at 1:24 PM
It's the Seasonal Reposting Competition! Repost this over the weekend, and on Sunday one lucky person will win a signed copy of one of my books. For you or the #crossword addict in your life: 50 fiendish @theguardian.com #puzzles and all the stories behind them:
boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossword-bo...
boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossword-bo...
Reposted by Stuart Drysdale
"What is certain, and felt instinctively by almost everybody, is that things cannot go on in their present way" – The Times, May 1975
“It is difficult to imagine a previous period when such an all-pervasive hopelessness was exhibited at all levels of British life” – Professor Stephen Haseler, 1975
“It is difficult to imagine a previous period when such an all-pervasive hopelessness was exhibited at all levels of British life” – Professor Stephen Haseler, 1975
November 14, 2025 at 9:13 AM
"What is certain, and felt instinctively by almost everybody, is that things cannot go on in their present way" – The Times, May 1975
“It is difficult to imagine a previous period when such an all-pervasive hopelessness was exhibited at all levels of British life” – Professor Stephen Haseler, 1975
“It is difficult to imagine a previous period when such an all-pervasive hopelessness was exhibited at all levels of British life” – Professor Stephen Haseler, 1975
Reposted by Stuart Drysdale
1. Placing these two graphs side by side shows why we have a prisons crisis. They can also be seen as a kind of Authoritarianism Index, showing the trend in state attitudes.
On the left is the Crime Survey for England and Wales.
On the right is the UK prison population.
🧵1/8
On the left is the Crime Survey for England and Wales.
On the right is the UK prison population.
🧵1/8
November 13, 2025 at 6:54 AM
1. Placing these two graphs side by side shows why we have a prisons crisis. They can also be seen as a kind of Authoritarianism Index, showing the trend in state attitudes.
On the left is the Crime Survey for England and Wales.
On the right is the UK prison population.
🧵1/8
On the left is the Crime Survey for England and Wales.
On the right is the UK prison population.
🧵1/8
Reposted by Stuart Drysdale
This is a really interesting reinflection of reading survey data - a welcome move away from the endless doomsaying of decreasing numbers
77% of people who don’t call themselves readers read every week.
Britain doesn’t have a shortage of readers. We have a shortage of people who feel like readers.
It’s time to #RedefineReading.
👉 Explore the new State of the Nation report here: bit.ly/46ItklZ
Britain doesn’t have a shortage of readers. We have a shortage of people who feel like readers.
It’s time to #RedefineReading.
👉 Explore the new State of the Nation report here: bit.ly/46ItklZ
November 13, 2025 at 7:37 AM
This is a really interesting reinflection of reading survey data - a welcome move away from the endless doomsaying of decreasing numbers
Reposted by Stuart Drysdale
Murder at Mistletoe Manor is just 99P on Kindle at the moment! If you're looking for a festive cozy that reviewers are comparing to Agatha Christie, with all the Christmas trimmings, including mince pies, strangers locked in a manor house, mulled wine and murder, download now!
amzn.eu/d/afq4FLj
amzn.eu/d/afq4FLj
November 3, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Murder at Mistletoe Manor is just 99P on Kindle at the moment! If you're looking for a festive cozy that reviewers are comparing to Agatha Christie, with all the Christmas trimmings, including mince pies, strangers locked in a manor house, mulled wine and murder, download now!
amzn.eu/d/afq4FLj
amzn.eu/d/afq4FLj
Reposted by Stuart Drysdale
Um. There’s a woman presenting this too.
Rylan Clark is set to delve into the eerie world of witchcraft in his new show, The Witches Of Essex.
Rylan Clark slams 'misogyny' in British witch hunt as he fronts new Sky show
Rylan Clark shares the spotlight with professor Alice Roberts in The Witches Of Essex, where the pair delve into the dark history of witch hunts - and one discovery rattled Rylan.
www.ok.co.uk
October 13, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Um. There’s a woman presenting this too.
Reposted by Stuart Drysdale
The Greens requested an interview on the Laura Kuenssberg Show with Zack Polanski when he was elected leader, but were denied, with a promise to interview him during Green conference instead.
This was then scrapped citing the Manchester synagogue attack. Polanski is both Jewish and from Manchester
This was then scrapped citing the Manchester synagogue attack. Polanski is both Jewish and from Manchester
BBC Laura Kuenssberg Show Accused of Anti-Green Bias After Cancelling Zack Polanski Interview
The new Green Party leader was the only major party leader not to have been granted a conference interview on the flagship BBC show
bylinetimes.com
October 6, 2025 at 10:38 AM
The Greens requested an interview on the Laura Kuenssberg Show with Zack Polanski when he was elected leader, but were denied, with a promise to interview him during Green conference instead.
This was then scrapped citing the Manchester synagogue attack. Polanski is both Jewish and from Manchester
This was then scrapped citing the Manchester synagogue attack. Polanski is both Jewish and from Manchester
The American state seems to be giving up on any due process and simply abducting people
I have approximately zero following on this app, sharing in the hopes it can get in front of the right person. A man I went to college with’s wife was kidnapped by ICE at a green card hearing, and he’s trying to find a reporter who will speak to him about the situation
September 28, 2025 at 9:02 AM
The American state seems to be giving up on any due process and simply abducting people
@stevethepunter.bsky.social hi Steve - are you doing anything Ryder Cup wise or watching and enjoying?
September 23, 2025 at 3:47 PM
@stevethepunter.bsky.social hi Steve - are you doing anything Ryder Cup wise or watching and enjoying?
Reposted by Stuart Drysdale
This frontispiece in my book just made me laugh a lot. Is this Buddhist reincarnation, or some other form of afterlife?
September 7, 2025 at 9:20 PM
This frontispiece in my book just made me laugh a lot. Is this Buddhist reincarnation, or some other form of afterlife?
Reposted by Stuart Drysdale
Just heard someone say “OTT, y’all!”, which is totally out of order.
August 28, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Just heard someone say “OTT, y’all!”, which is totally out of order.
Reposted by Stuart Drysdale
I’ve realised there is a modern issue I’m prepared to take a stand on. I will not buy a meal deal. From anywhere
July 23, 2025 at 9:59 AM
I’ve realised there is a modern issue I’m prepared to take a stand on. I will not buy a meal deal. From anywhere
Off all the marketing slogans I’ve ever heard, the one for Monkey Shoulder whisky (“made for mixing”) is one of the oddest? It basically says we’ve made a whisky that doesn’t taste good unless you drown it in cola?
July 21, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Off all the marketing slogans I’ve ever heard, the one for Monkey Shoulder whisky (“made for mixing”) is one of the oddest? It basically says we’ve made a whisky that doesn’t taste good unless you drown it in cola?
@alisonmoyet.bsky.social was excellent at Kew yesterday. A singer in her prime. And I was reminded of how great a writer she is. If I had written
I want our lips to kiss
our limbs to entwine
Let our bodies be twisted
but never our minds
I could die happy on those lines alone
I want our lips to kiss
our limbs to entwine
Let our bodies be twisted
but never our minds
I could die happy on those lines alone
July 13, 2025 at 10:19 AM
@alisonmoyet.bsky.social was excellent at Kew yesterday. A singer in her prime. And I was reminded of how great a writer she is. If I had written
I want our lips to kiss
our limbs to entwine
Let our bodies be twisted
but never our minds
I could die happy on those lines alone
I want our lips to kiss
our limbs to entwine
Let our bodies be twisted
but never our minds
I could die happy on those lines alone
Dan Brown has swung so solidly today. Hope he closes this out #BMWInternationalOpen #RomanbyGC
July 6, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Dan Brown has swung so solidly today. Hope he closes this out #BMWInternationalOpen #RomanbyGC
Praise the lord, Allah, Mother Nature, Buddha, Bastet or pure dumb luck - our nearly 17 year old cat with kidney problems and dental issues has taken to the first brand of renal cat food we plonked in front of him!
July 1, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Praise the lord, Allah, Mother Nature, Buddha, Bastet or pure dumb luck - our nearly 17 year old cat with kidney problems and dental issues has taken to the first brand of renal cat food we plonked in front of him!
I know this place is meant to be more positive than the other place, but crikey if the 1975 are the peak of contemporary music then we are screwed #Glastonbury
June 27, 2025 at 9:56 PM
I know this place is meant to be more positive than the other place, but crikey if the 1975 are the peak of contemporary music then we are screwed #Glastonbury
I’ve just heard the new Richard Ashcroft song. I really hope Joan Armatrading has just taken the pot of money and doesn’t listen to the result, because he’s taken most of what’s beautiful and delicate about her song and replaced it with rubbish
June 23, 2025 at 8:27 AM
I’ve just heard the new Richard Ashcroft song. I really hope Joan Armatrading has just taken the pot of money and doesn’t listen to the result, because he’s taken most of what’s beautiful and delicate about her song and replaced it with rubbish
Connections #729
it’s almost like the @nytimes don’t care that they’ve got a customer base beyond North America
it’s almost like the @nytimes don’t care that they’ve got a customer base beyond North America
June 9, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Connections #729
it’s almost like the @nytimes don’t care that they’ve got a customer base beyond North America
it’s almost like the @nytimes don’t care that they’ve got a customer base beyond North America
@stevethepunter.bsky.social hi Steve. I’m looking ahead to the Open, can you think of any reason that Marc Leishmann isn’t listed on either betfair exchange or Sportsbook? (Or indeed other bookies) Per the Open’s site he’s exempt for the Australian Open. Is there some LiV related issue to resolve?
June 3, 2025 at 10:05 AM
@stevethepunter.bsky.social hi Steve. I’m looking ahead to the Open, can you think of any reason that Marc Leishmann isn’t listed on either betfair exchange or Sportsbook? (Or indeed other bookies) Per the Open’s site he’s exempt for the Australian Open. Is there some LiV related issue to resolve?
Reposted by Stuart Drysdale
"I spent so much time staring at my phone. Thankfully, all it took was looking up from my phone once in a while to make me realize that there are so many incredible things on my phone and that I should stop looking up like that."
Deathbed Wisdom
I wish I’d lived a life truer to myself. If I could go back in time and throw out every fake mustache I owned, I would. Even the smart-mouthed sher...
buff.ly
May 17, 2025 at 1:28 PM
"I spent so much time staring at my phone. Thankfully, all it took was looking up from my phone once in a while to make me realize that there are so many incredible things on my phone and that I should stop looking up like that."
Reposted by Stuart Drysdale
I still think represents the most shocking void in the UK’s COVID response - when the largest biomedical facility offered to undertake testing (many universities did the same) the government didn’t even answer. The cost would have been minimal. But no profit for private companies… is that it?
Astonishing evidence at the Covid Inquiry.
The Government repeatedly ignored offers from the Crick Institute to provide mass testing on a national scale.
Instead, the Government paid Deloitte consultants to project manage, not yet established, privately run labs.
1/2
The Government repeatedly ignored offers from the Crick Institute to provide mass testing on a national scale.
Instead, the Government paid Deloitte consultants to project manage, not yet established, privately run labs.
1/2
May 19, 2025 at 7:20 AM
I still think represents the most shocking void in the UK’s COVID response - when the largest biomedical facility offered to undertake testing (many universities did the same) the government didn’t even answer. The cost would have been minimal. But no profit for private companies… is that it?