Alastair
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as-j.bsky.social
Alastair
@as-j.bsky.social
340 followers 840 following 1.4K posts
Mobility as a Service (MaaS), Cycling, Rugby, France, Steely Dan. Familial Hypercholesterolemia victim. Scottish.
Once ate Prince Phillip's Pavlova. #NoCarBiggerThanAGolf #RadioParadise
#Rejoin 🔶
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as-j.bsky.social
I am under the weather. I've been treated to lunch in bed. Suddenly, I have company.
Bella, the Golden Doodle is standing by the bed staring at me eating lunch , ever hopeful.
December 27, 2025 at 1:22 PM
as-j.bsky.social
The relative cost of car ownership has, in real terms, gone down aided a great deal by 12 years of freezing fuel duty while public transport charges have gone through the roof.
A bar chart showing relative increases of motoring and public transport from 2011 to 2021. Bus is up 75% while motoring only rose by 9%.
November 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM
as-j.bsky.social
This is not an equitable relationship.
A 24kg Golden Doodle sound asleep across the bed I was hoping to get into.
October 14, 2025 at 8:47 PM
as-j.bsky.social
Some actual evidence for them.
Graphic showing statistics of people killed at red lights by cyclists (1) and motorists (41)
October 9, 2025 at 9:47 PM
as-j.bsky.social
Today is Bella's 2nd birthday. I never thought having a dog could make such a huge and almost universally positive change to our lives but, has she and then some. She is beautiful in every sense of the word.
Bella, a 2 year old Golden Doodle sitting on a gravel courtyard. Her head is turned to the camera and her tongue is hanging out.
August 13, 2025 at 10:32 AM
as-j.bsky.social
You buy them a cool mat and what do they do?
A Golden Doodle lies sleeping on a terracotta floor right next to the coolmat that has been bought for her.
August 10, 2025 at 5:05 PM
as-j.bsky.social
Near my house. Not exactly working out how people thought it would.
An electric car parked partly on the pavement. Made worse by charger cables sticking out from the house and car make the available pedestrian space even narrower.
July 14, 2025 at 12:52 PM
as-j.bsky.social
Bella was very disappointed in the Wimbledon final yesterday.
A young Golden Doodle lying on a footstool looks back at the camera as if in disappointment at the Wimbledon Ladies' Final which is on TV in the background.
July 13, 2025 at 10:02 AM
as-j.bsky.social
You are never, never, never alone with a Golden Doodle in your life.
A Golden Doodle pokes its nose around the bathroom door (that it has just opened) just to make sure I'm not lonely.
June 20, 2025 at 8:56 AM
as-j.bsky.social
Doesn't matter how the day has been.
Bella, the Golden Doodle pops her head up between the sofa and the footstool, probably because she thinks she heard food.
June 18, 2025 at 7:22 PM
as-j.bsky.social
65 this Sunday so I'm making a weekend of it. #SakeSharks on TV tonight but starting with the greatest band ever. #SteelyDan.
A slightly scruffy, vinyl album cover of Gaucho by Steely Dan.
May 9, 2025 at 5:14 PM
as-j.bsky.social
Bella has been under the weather. There's a gastric bug going around. She's on the (£128) mend now but her trumps may cause emergency services to declare a major incident.
Bella, a Golden Doodle, looking straight into the camera lens.
March 17, 2025 at 7:19 PM
as-j.bsky.social
Notice in my dentist's waiting room. Not what I was expecting.
A notice in the dentist waiting room saying "Sorry about the mess" above icons of a power drill, a hammer and large paint brushes.
February 21, 2025 at 5:20 PM
as-j.bsky.social
You never dine alone with a Golden Doodle in the house.
Bella, the Golden Doodle asking for food (chili con carne). She's offering a paw and doing the sad eyes.
February 19, 2025 at 12:59 PM
as-j.bsky.social
Younger, fewer chases but I suspect when she catches up, same number of catches.
Bella a young Golden Doodle sitting on a large footstool looking straight at the camera with her tongue hanging out.
February 15, 2025 at 8:04 PM
as-j.bsky.social
I'm not so sure.
A tray of sandwiches at a conference buffet labelled,Hoisin Duck, Vegan.
January 23, 2025 at 2:21 PM
as-j.bsky.social
Bella's first proper snow.
Bella, the honey colored Golden Doodle standing in the snow in a narrow back yard. She has just turned to the camera. On the left is a low brick wall with a 3ft high slatted wooden fence on top. Bella has left lots of paw prints in the snow.
January 5, 2025 at 10:09 AM
as-j.bsky.social
Last day of the year in France. Turned out nice.
A view of a two story, stone built French house down a narrow country lane. The sky is bright blue and the ivy on the wall is still fresh green.
December 31, 2024 at 3:36 PM
as-j.bsky.social
Happy Christmas from La Belle France.
A view of a sunny Christmas morning in mid-France. The sky is bright blue above a long green meadow and a small barn and pigonier on the right. Happy Christmas.
December 25, 2024 at 12:45 PM
as-j.bsky.social
Misty and cold at the French gaff but, who cares? It's France.
A misty grey sky above the forrest in the background and terracotta roofs of two french farmhouses in the foreground.
December 24, 2024 at 10:24 AM
as-j.bsky.social
Last working day for a fortnight so time for a bit of #CadoBelle. This album includes 'That Kind of Fool', which has the best saxophone solo of any song I know. Volume is now up to 11.
The cover of the eponymous Cado Belle album. The pic is a sepia tinted block of buildings with the band appearing on a billboard, getting soaked, for some reason. The band name appears at the top looking like a red neon sign.
December 20, 2024 at 1:26 PM
as-j.bsky.social
With you. I just made toast.
Bella, the Golden Doodle looks up at the camera because her owner has just made toast.
December 20, 2024 at 10:37 AM
as-j.bsky.social
Saturday's stormy 9 hour train journey gave me the chance to tidy up my photo albums on my phone. Photos of my son, 21. Photos of my dog, 389.
A fluffy Golden Doodle standing on a grey drug is looking up at the camera with what looks like a smile on its face. Her bushy tail is waving about.
December 9, 2024 at 10:53 AM
as-j.bsky.social
Sunday and I have the place to myself for a few hours. Time for a bit of this .
The album cover of Steely Dan's album, Aja.
November 17, 2024 at 10:33 AM
as-j.bsky.social
Even now, 8 years after my heart attack and triple bypass, when my bike ride takes me past this lamp post, I stop to take in the view and give thanks that I can still do this ride. (I also get a rest before the climb). I call this lamp post The Rest and be Thankful.
My black and grey road bike leaning against a dry stone wall with a misty view of the Woodhead Pass and peak district in the background
November 9, 2024 at 1:24 PM