John Earls
@johnearls.bsky.social
Director of Research at Unite the Union, writer, music & arts lover, Wealdstone FC season ticket holder, #MDANT, London-Irish. Post in a personal capacity. Subscribe to my blog on cultural and other reflections at https://johnearls.substack.com/
“…We need you home, we need you near
Come back, wild one, will you?
How can we live without your love
You know that could kill you
How can we carry on
When you are gone, my wild one?..”
@punkandnewwave.bsky.social
Come back, wild one, will you?
How can we live without your love
You know that could kill you
How can we carry on
When you are gone, my wild one?..”
@punkandnewwave.bsky.social
January 4, 2026 at 5:09 PM
“…We need you home, we need you near
Come back, wild one, will you?
How can we live without your love
You know that could kill you
How can we carry on
When you are gone, my wild one?..”
@punkandnewwave.bsky.social
Come back, wild one, will you?
How can we live without your love
You know that could kill you
How can we carry on
When you are gone, my wild one?..”
@punkandnewwave.bsky.social
I’m pleased I managed to get to the ‘Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World’ exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery before it closes on 11 January. One can criticise his narrow view of beauty and pursuit of a particular class but what images!
January 4, 2026 at 2:47 PM
I’m pleased I managed to get to the ‘Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World’ exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery before it closes on 11 January. One can criticise his narrow view of beauty and pursuit of a particular class but what images!
30 years ago me and my wife dined every Friday night at a local place in Kenton called ‘Le Metro Bistro’. It’s seen many iterations since. The latest has just opened and when being refurbished I saw the original signage again which moved me. Anyway, we dined again there tonight.
January 3, 2026 at 11:40 PM
30 years ago me and my wife dined every Friday night at a local place in Kenton called ‘Le Metro Bistro’. It’s seen many iterations since. The latest has just opened and when being refurbished I saw the original signage again which moved me. Anyway, we dined again there tonight.
Ivo Van Hove’s production of Arthur Miller’s ‘All My Sons’ at Wyndham’s is live theatre of the highest order and a focus on integrity and taking responsibility seems as relevant as ever. Terrific performances all round but Paapa Essiedu is phenomenal.
January 3, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Ivo Van Hove’s production of Arthur Miller’s ‘All My Sons’ at Wyndham’s is live theatre of the highest order and a focus on integrity and taking responsibility seems as relevant as ever. Terrific performances all round but Paapa Essiedu is phenomenal.
“…The moon descended
And I found with the break of dawn
You and the song had gone
But the melody lingers on…”
And I found with the break of dawn
You and the song had gone
But the melody lingers on…”
January 3, 2026 at 8:33 AM
“…The moon descended
And I found with the break of dawn
You and the song had gone
But the melody lingers on…”
And I found with the break of dawn
You and the song had gone
But the melody lingers on…”
Reposted by John Earls
Some pertinent reflections on culture from an ever-reliable (and relatable) pen
My latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column is out and it has some cultural reflections and thoughts on the year passed and the year coming. Read and subscribe (free) here: johnearls.substack.com/p/the-rear-v...
January 2, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Some pertinent reflections on culture from an ever-reliable (and relatable) pen
My latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column is out and it has some cultural reflections and thoughts on the year passed and the year coming. Read and subscribe (free) here: johnearls.substack.com/p/the-rear-v...
January 2, 2026 at 9:26 AM
My latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column is out and it has some cultural reflections and thoughts on the year passed and the year coming. Read and subscribe (free) here: johnearls.substack.com/p/the-rear-v...
‘Marty Supreme’ is very good indeed. The determination of the lead character is as relentless as the pace of the film. I was exhausted. Timothée Chalamet is terrific, but so too are Gwyneth Paltrow and Odessa A'zion. Nice use of a 1980s soundtrack to the 1950s setting.
January 1, 2026 at 9:05 PM
‘Marty Supreme’ is very good indeed. The determination of the lead character is as relentless as the pace of the film. I was exhausted. Timothée Chalamet is terrific, but so too are Gwyneth Paltrow and Odessa A'zion. Nice use of a 1980s soundtrack to the 1950s setting.
Really enjoyed ‘Pillion’, a feature film debut from director Harry Lighton. Not your traditional Christmas film, it features a graphic BDSM biker subculture. Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård excellent leads. Douglas Hodge and Lesley Sharp as Colin’s parents will melt you.
December 31, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Really enjoyed ‘Pillion’, a feature film debut from director Harry Lighton. Not your traditional Christmas film, it features a graphic BDSM biker subculture. Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård excellent leads. Douglas Hodge and Lesley Sharp as Colin’s parents will melt you.
No excitement in second half compared to first 45 mins. It finishes 4-1 to Aldershot Town due to penalty on 70 mins. This has been a miserable Christmas for Wealdstone and we are in a seriously bad run of form. Away to 4th place Carlisle on Saturday. Not optimistic, but UTS!
December 30, 2025 at 9:52 PM
No excitement in second half compared to first 45 mins. It finishes 4-1 to Aldershot Town due to penalty on 70 mins. This has been a miserable Christmas for Wealdstone and we are in a seriously bad run of form. Away to 4th place Carlisle on Saturday. Not optimistic, but UTS!
Is it still OK to have a mince pie lads?
December 30, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Is it still OK to have a mince pie lads?
This is a crazy Christmas game. Wealdstone 2-0 down after just 10 mins but pull one back on 20 mins and dominate afterwards only for the Shots to bag a 3rd on 45 mins. It’s 3-1 at half-time but anything could happen if first half is any measure. UTS!
December 30, 2025 at 8:43 PM
This is a crazy Christmas game. Wealdstone 2-0 down after just 10 mins but pull one back on 20 mins and dominate afterwards only for the Shots to bag a 3rd on 45 mins. It’s 3-1 at half-time but anything could happen if first half is any measure. UTS!
Left-Handed Girl’, Shih-Ching Tsou’s solo directorial debut and shot entirely on i-Phones is a wonderful film. Responsibility, secrets and shame through the relationships of a Taiwanese family focusing on a mum and two daughters (all terrifically acted). Available on Netflix.
December 30, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Left-Handed Girl’, Shih-Ching Tsou’s solo directorial debut and shot entirely on i-Phones is a wonderful film. Responsibility, secrets and shame through the relationships of a Taiwanese family focusing on a mum and two daughters (all terrifically acted). Available on Netflix.
‘Blue Chiffon’ by The George Shearing Quintet and Orchestra (Capitol, 1959).
December 30, 2025 at 9:07 AM
‘Blue Chiffon’ by The George Shearing Quintet and Orchestra (Capitol, 1959).
“Listen to the girl
As she takes on half the world
Moving up and so alive
In her honey dripping beehive…”
@punkandnewwave.bsky.social
As she takes on half the world
Moving up and so alive
In her honey dripping beehive…”
@punkandnewwave.bsky.social
December 29, 2025 at 6:20 PM
“Listen to the girl
As she takes on half the world
Moving up and so alive
In her honey dripping beehive…”
@punkandnewwave.bsky.social
As she takes on half the world
Moving up and so alive
In her honey dripping beehive…”
@punkandnewwave.bsky.social
Marvelling at the eclectic brilliance and grooves of Geese’s latest release ‘Getting Killed’. A compelling cauldron of an album with flashes of Neil Young, Nick Cave, Rolling Stones, Marvin Gaye, The Band and much more. Magnificent.
December 29, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Marvelling at the eclectic brilliance and grooves of Geese’s latest release ‘Getting Killed’. A compelling cauldron of an album with flashes of Neil Young, Nick Cave, Rolling Stones, Marvin Gaye, The Band and much more. Magnificent.
3 exhibitions, 2 films and a punk podcast. ICYMI my latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column has some cultural highlights and recommendations from the month of December. Read and subscribe (free) here: johnearls.substack.com/p/recent-cul...
December 29, 2025 at 1:21 PM
3 exhibitions, 2 films and a punk podcast. ICYMI my latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column has some cultural highlights and recommendations from the month of December. Read and subscribe (free) here: johnearls.substack.com/p/recent-cul...
“…Now everyday I start by saying to you
‘Good morning, heartache, what's new?’..”
‘Good morning, heartache, what's new?’..”
December 28, 2025 at 8:45 AM
“…Now everyday I start by saying to you
‘Good morning, heartache, what's new?’..”
‘Good morning, heartache, what's new?’..”
Christmas dinner leftovers pie. Goose, turkey, ham, vegetables.
Gorgeous.
Gorgeous.
December 27, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Christmas dinner leftovers pie. Goose, turkey, ham, vegetables.
Gorgeous.
Gorgeous.
How I’m walking out of 2025.
December 27, 2025 at 3:49 PM
How I’m walking out of 2025.
Reposted by John Earls
December 27, 2025 at 8:43 AM
My latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column is just out and it has some cultural highlights and recommendations from the month of December. Read and subscribe (free) here:
johnearls.substack.com/p/recent-cul...
johnearls.substack.com/p/recent-cul...
Recent cultural highlights
including 3 exhibitions, 2 films and a punk podcast
johnearls.substack.com
December 26, 2025 at 8:23 AM
My latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column is just out and it has some cultural highlights and recommendations from the month of December. Read and subscribe (free) here:
johnearls.substack.com/p/recent-cul...
johnearls.substack.com/p/recent-cul...
Happy Christmas to all the lovely people on this platform. You know who you are.
‘5th December 2020’.
iPad ‘painting’ by David Hockney.
‘5th December 2020’.
iPad ‘painting’ by David Hockney.
December 24, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Happy Christmas to all the lovely people on this platform. You know who you are.
‘5th December 2020’.
iPad ‘painting’ by David Hockney.
‘5th December 2020’.
iPad ‘painting’ by David Hockney.
How I’m showing up to the Bluesky Xmas party.
December 24, 2025 at 5:41 PM
How I’m showing up to the Bluesky Xmas party.
When a colleague leaves a 2026 @tufac.bsky.social calendar on your desk. 🙏
December 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM
When a colleague leaves a 2026 @tufac.bsky.social calendar on your desk. 🙏