Smylers
@smylers.uk
Ilkley Christian geek board-gamer puzzle/quiz/crossword fan and parent
Reposted by Smylers
I will restate my modest proposal to save the BBC: ban the BBC from covering itself.
Every BBC scandal goes huge, because every BBC News show wants to assert its independence by covering it prominently, even if several other shows already did. So it gets blanket headlines.
Every BBC scandal goes huge, because every BBC News show wants to assert its independence by covering it prominently, even if several other shows already did. So it gets blanket headlines.
November 11, 2025 at 9:07 AM
I will restate my modest proposal to save the BBC: ban the BBC from covering itself.
Every BBC scandal goes huge, because every BBC News show wants to assert its independence by covering it prominently, even if several other shows already did. So it gets blanket headlines.
Every BBC scandal goes huge, because every BBC News show wants to assert its independence by covering it prominently, even if several other shows already did. So it gets blanket headlines.
Off to see Arrested Development at the Old Woollen in Leeds.
Hope they aren't too tired from all their travelling — their itinerary has just been, on consecutive days, Newcastle–Falmouth–Leeds. I love Falmouth, but I wouldn't do it as a day trip!
Hope they aren't too tired from all their travelling — their itinerary has just been, on consecutive days, Newcastle–Falmouth–Leeds. I love Falmouth, but I wouldn't do it as a day trip!
November 10, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Off to see Arrested Development at the Old Woollen in Leeds.
Hope they aren't too tired from all their travelling — their itinerary has just been, on consecutive days, Newcastle–Falmouth–Leeds. I love Falmouth, but I wouldn't do it as a day trip!
Hope they aren't too tired from all their travelling — their itinerary has just been, on consecutive days, Newcastle–Falmouth–Leeds. I love Falmouth, but I wouldn't do it as a day trip!
Having enjoyed the show, this ‘Matilda’ Q&A sounds really interesting. It's also free for Friends of Bradford Theatres, which I am …
.. but it's at a time I can't go! To get there I'd have to set off 10 min before the children's school bus gets them home. *Sooo* close!
.. but it's at a time I can't go! To get there I'd have to set off 10 min before the children's school bus gets them home. *Sooo* close!
November 10, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Having enjoyed the show, this ‘Matilda’ Q&A sounds really interesting. It's also free for Friends of Bradford Theatres, which I am …
.. but it's at a time I can't go! To get there I'd have to set off 10 min before the children's school bus gets them home. *Sooo* close!
.. but it's at a time I can't go! To get there I'd have to set off 10 min before the children's school bus gets them home. *Sooo* close!
Do treat yourself to Paul's book. It's engaging, well-written, entertaining and insightful — one of the best memoirs I've ever read.
You don't need to know anything about Paul in advance. The tale of a child of immigrants pushed into medicine, not fitting in, then coming out as gay and a comedian.
You don't need to know anything about Paul in advance. The tale of a child of immigrants pushed into medicine, not fitting in, then coming out as gay and a comedian.
Thread. Things i have learnt since publishing a memoir.
1. Dont assume sales based on twitter followers if youre then going to leave the racist cesspit.
2. You're on your own.
3. Whatever you think the headline stories are, the tabloids will disagree.
www.penguin.co.uk/books/456343...
1. Dont assume sales based on twitter followers if youre then going to leave the racist cesspit.
2. You're on your own.
3. Whatever you think the headline stories are, the tabloids will disagree.
www.penguin.co.uk/books/456343...
One Sinha Lifetime
'That night, I'd survived my life flashing before me, with my dignity intact.
Yes, this chaotic life has always been a gamble.
... But what a gamble.'
Paul Sinha is an award-winning comedian, a quiz...
www.penguin.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Do treat yourself to Paul's book. It's engaging, well-written, entertaining and insightful — one of the best memoirs I've ever read.
You don't need to know anything about Paul in advance. The tale of a child of immigrants pushed into medicine, not fitting in, then coming out as gay and a comedian.
You don't need to know anything about Paul in advance. The tale of a child of immigrants pushed into medicine, not fitting in, then coming out as gay and a comedian.
Boiler service person:
• asked to come for 08:45
• was booked for 09:00 after we pushed back
• said last night (when we asked for their reg number for parking) they were coming for 08:30
• actually turned up this morning for 08:10!
• asked to come for 08:45
• was booked for 09:00 after we pushed back
• said last night (when we asked for their reg number for parking) they were coming for 08:30
• actually turned up this morning for 08:10!
November 10, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Boiler service person:
• asked to come for 08:45
• was booked for 09:00 after we pushed back
• said last night (when we asked for their reg number for parking) they were coming for 08:30
• actually turned up this morning for 08:10!
• asked to come for 08:45
• was booked for 09:00 after we pushed back
• said last night (when we asked for their reg number for parking) they were coming for 08:30
• actually turned up this morning for 08:10!
Reposted by Smylers
Kind of appalled how this puff piece glosses over the likely reason for Shein being able to undercut Primark
A side note about "critics" in France protesting "working conditions in its factories" does not really cut it
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A side note about "critics" in France protesting "working conditions in its factories" does not really cut it
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Can Primark stay relevant, or is Shein taking over?
With same-store sales down in the UK and Ireland, some shoppers are leaving Primark to go elsewhere.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Kind of appalled how this puff piece glosses over the likely reason for Shein being able to undercut Primark
A side note about "critics" in France protesting "working conditions in its factories" does not really cut it
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A side note about "critics" in France protesting "working conditions in its factories" does not really cut it
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Smylers
Ive never been slow to criticise the Reach plc media for their awful clickbait headlines. But this is another level. They know exactly what they're doing with this headline, and it is horrible, divisive and dangerous. Shame on them.
November 4, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Ive never been slow to criticise the Reach plc media for their awful clickbait headlines. But this is another level. They know exactly what they're doing with this headline, and it is horrible, divisive and dangerous. Shame on them.
A surprising addition to this morning's commute: being assaulted by a train door.
November 4, 2025 at 8:24 AM
A surprising addition to this morning's commute: being assaulted by a train door.
Reposted by Smylers
My latest: Move over bat tunnel, here’s the wild story of how HS2 were forced to build a multi-million pound bridge for a road that… doesn’t actually exist.
How HS2 built a bridge to nowhere
A state-of-the-art road bridge has been built deep in the heart of rural Buckinghamshire. Designed to carry traffic over the HS2 railway, there's just one tiny problem - there's no actual road.
martinrobbins.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:16 AM
My latest: Move over bat tunnel, here’s the wild story of how HS2 were forced to build a multi-million pound bridge for a road that… doesn’t actually exist.
We all saw ‘Matilda the Musical’ at Bradford Alhambra yesterday. It was as wonderful as I'd been hoping! One of the most impressive things I've ever seen on stage.
Lovely meal in the theatre's 1914 restaurant before the show as well.
Lovely meal in the theatre's 1914 restaurant before the show as well.
November 3, 2025 at 6:18 PM
We all saw ‘Matilda the Musical’ at Bradford Alhambra yesterday. It was as wonderful as I'd been hoping! One of the most impressive things I've ever seen on stage.
Lovely meal in the theatre's 1914 restaurant before the show as well.
Lovely meal in the theatre's 1914 restaurant before the show as well.
Reposted by Smylers
Anyway, we need some joy, so here's the Egyptian foreign minister being given a Lego Pyramid by the Danish foreign minister.
November 3, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Anyway, we need some joy, so here's the Egyptian foreign minister being given a Lego Pyramid by the Danish foreign minister.
Reposted by Smylers
Being fair, today is All Saints Day. #girlbandsforever
November 1, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Being fair, today is All Saints Day. #girlbandsforever
#Ilkley parents: free half-term board games event this afternoon: www.yourilkley.com/events/event...
October 29, 2025 at 8:19 AM
#Ilkley parents: free half-term board games event this afternoon: www.yourilkley.com/events/event...
Reposted by Smylers
I think it's appalling that Britain's most enduringly popular family don't pay income tax or VAT, but it's hard to deny how much joy they bring to the general public. That chandelier gag alone...
October 27, 2025 at 2:41 PM
I think it's appalling that Britain's most enduringly popular family don't pay income tax or VAT, but it's hard to deny how much joy they bring to the general public. That chandelier gag alone...
Theoretically today had an extra hour in it, but actually we spent 1 h 40 min on a rail-replacement bus so we're still down overall.
October 26, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Theoretically today had an extra hour in it, but actually we spent 1 h 40 min on a rail-replacement bus so we're still down overall.
I really can't decide if this is brilliant or terrible.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
October 23, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I really can't decide if this is brilliant or terrible.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
Took a phone call from school. Came back to my computer to find I was 1 letter off completing this, and that's now massively inflated my solve time!
October 21, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Took a phone call from school. Came back to my computer to find I was 1 letter off completing this, and that's now massively inflated my solve time!
“Well, on the phone we read out available dates one at a time and the customer says ‘yes’ to the first one they can do, so we just used the same experience on the website” — the most favourable explanation I can come up with for this monstrosity of a date-picker interface: #UX
October 20, 2025 at 10:58 AM
“Well, on the phone we read out available dates one at a time and the customer says ‘yes’ to the first one they can do, so we just used the same experience on the website” — the most favourable explanation I can come up with for this monstrosity of a date-picker interface: #UX
Reposted by Smylers
Because AWS is down, I can’t turn on my heating.
October 20, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Because AWS is down, I can’t turn on my heating.
Reposted by Smylers
The BBC are accidentally running the subtitles to Mrs Marple over the Mercury Prize, and it’s rather wonderful. A few of lines could plausibly have been written by Jarvis.
October 16, 2025 at 8:58 PM
The BBC are accidentally running the subtitles to Mrs Marple over the Mercury Prize, and it’s rather wonderful. A few of lines could plausibly have been written by Jarvis.
When the title of your path has to contain at least one upper-case letter, lower-case letter, digit, and special character?
In de categorie #straatnaamparels presenteer ik u vandaag: het A9om!pad in Badhoevedorp.
(Dit is de enige straatnaam in Nederland met een uitroepteken erin! Het fietspad is genoemd naar 'A9om!', een van de acties die werden gevoerd om de A9 om Badhoevedorp heen te leggen.)
(Dit is de enige straatnaam in Nederland met een uitroepteken erin! Het fietspad is genoemd naar 'A9om!', een van de acties die werden gevoerd om de A9 om Badhoevedorp heen te leggen.)
October 16, 2025 at 5:24 PM
When the title of your path has to contain at least one upper-case letter, lower-case letter, digit, and special character?
Hints and explanations for today's Telegraph cryptic crossword, with a selection of children's characters, music from @sawdoctors.com, and an ambiguous bakery term: bigdave44.com/2025/10/13/d...
It's at a beginner-friendly level. If you don't have access to it ask and I'll send you a guest link.
It's at a beginner-friendly level. If you don't have access to it ask and I'll send you a guest link.
October 13, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Hints and explanations for today's Telegraph cryptic crossword, with a selection of children's characters, music from @sawdoctors.com, and an ambiguous bakery term: bigdave44.com/2025/10/13/d...
It's at a beginner-friendly level. If you don't have access to it ask and I'll send you a guest link.
It's at a beginner-friendly level. If you don't have access to it ask and I'll send you a guest link.
Interesting talk by @georginasturge.bsky.social at @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social yesterday, A History of the UK in data — censuses and other surveys, questions over time, accidental discoveries, and uncounted people (especially women).
I now want to read both her books.
I now want to read both her books.
October 12, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Interesting talk by @georginasturge.bsky.social at @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social yesterday, A History of the UK in data — censuses and other surveys, questions over time, accidental discoveries, and uncounted people (especially women).
I now want to read both her books.
I now want to read both her books.
Reposted by Smylers
I guess we've completely given up on the original meaning of the expression "One bad apple spoils the whole barrel". I guess hardly anyone stores apples in barrels any more, although I can think of a few politicians I'd like stored in a barrel.
Farage insists ex-Reform UK Wales leader convicted of bribery is ‘bad apple’
Farage insists ex-Reform UK Wales leader convicted of bribery is ‘bad apple’
Farage said he was shocked by Nathan Gill’s admissions relating to pro-Russia statements
Nigel Farage has insisted his party’s former leader in Wales who was convicted of taking pro-Russian bribes was a “bad apple” who betrayed him.
The Reform UK leader was in Caerphilly campaigning for his candidate in a forthcoming Senedd byelection when he was asked about his links to Nathan Gill. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 10, 2025 at 4:12 PM
I guess we've completely given up on the original meaning of the expression "One bad apple spoils the whole barrel". I guess hardly anyone stores apples in barrels any more, although I can think of a few politicians I'd like stored in a barrel.