And also: turkey has only been the traditional Christmas meal in the UK since the 1950s.

Btw if you want some answers to some of those questions, I can recommend this book I've been reading recently...

atlantic-books.co.uk/book/the-uni...

These symbols matter. Names and flags signify things, and yet as a nation I don't think we have common agreement about them.

And *then* some folk start banging on about immigration and nationality as if it's all perfectly clear and completely understood.

It's not.

Most people don't understand the nature of our nation, often confusing the concepts of England, Britain, Great Britain and the UK.

Most people don't understand the flag - why no Wales? Why a St Patrick's cross when N Ireland has a St George's Cross?

Most people can't draw the flag.

Or cracking down on it is the answer to whatever problem it is you think you have at the moment?

Either way, it's a very depressing path they are headed down.

He had dirt on people?

The experience of citizens' assemblies in Ireland also seems to have been broadly positive in addressing otherwise intractable problems?

I'm currently working on a book about randomness, and we seriously underuse random selection as part of our institutions and political system. I also happened to go on jury service recently and it was life-affirming to see how 12 strangers can come together and make serious decisions.

Try not to spin too many platelets Simon!

For reasons of accident and randomness, my branch used to be 1, Fleet Street. They had blunderbusses in a glass case on the wall which has been bought in the 1700s in case insurgents tried to attack from South London.

They don't even appear to name a branch on my statement these days...

You won't find that's the case at Planets!

Make sure you wear shorts.

Sounds like an amazing trip!

Teamlabs Planets in Tokyo is one of the most amazing experiences I've had in the last few years.

randomthebook.com/2025/11/09/t...

Next up on Woodsie's...

I guess to Cumming's worldview where he is, obviously, the smartest person on the planet, there must be a reason why he's not got an important job.

In this case 'diversity hire' allows Cummings to not have to confront the idea that maybe, possibly, Cummings is not very smart after all.

Until the bad stuff broke #PriddlarTheFiddlar

"but nobody spotted the clues that he would go on to criminal activity until it was too late"

I had a Nice recently. I think they contain dessicated coconut.

That's quite exotic for a British biscuit.