Jonathan Bromley
@bromleyj.bsky.social
Lapsed physicist, retired nerd, choral music fanboy, drools over wilderness landscapes. Prone to extreme grumpiness in the presence of scientific illiteracy. Husband and fond supporter of a stellar Parkinson's advocate.
Do you get your money back if you press button B?
November 15, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Do you get your money back if you press button B?
Urgh, so at least I now know what this bastard virus *isn't*, but I still don't know what it *is*. Three days of misery, no sign of improvement yet. Like I said, bastard virus.
Might be man-flu, I suppose, but it's still a bastard.
Might be man-flu, I suppose, but it's still a bastard.
November 12, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Urgh, so at least I now know what this bastard virus *isn't*, but I still don't know what it *is*. Three days of misery, no sign of improvement yet. Like I said, bastard virus.
Might be man-flu, I suppose, but it's still a bastard.
Might be man-flu, I suppose, but it's still a bastard.
If there were no lift, this would be enraging.
There *is* a lift, so instead it is really funny.
The Maltings is a fab local arts centre in north Norfolk run by lovely people, and its accessibility is great.
There *is* a lift, so instead it is really funny.
The Maltings is a fab local arts centre in north Norfolk run by lovely people, and its accessibility is great.
November 11, 2025 at 8:51 PM
If there were no lift, this would be enraging.
There *is* a lift, so instead it is really funny.
The Maltings is a fab local arts centre in north Norfolk run by lovely people, and its accessibility is great.
There *is* a lift, so instead it is really funny.
The Maltings is a fab local arts centre in north Norfolk run by lovely people, and its accessibility is great.
I see someone posted part of it already, but the whole of Ronald Searle's guide to gerunds (from How To Be Topp) is surely worth repeating.
![Two pages from the Molesworth book How To Be Topp (Geoffrey Willans, illustrated by Ronald Searle). Four cartoon panels showing "The Private Life of the Gerund" (a roughly spherical quadruped with a curly tail, a mop of unkempt hair and a long snout):
- The gerund attacks some peaceful pronouns
- Kennedy discovers the gerund and leads it back into captivity
[Kennedy was the author of a Latin grammar primer that was very popular in English private schools in the mid 20th century]
- A gerund shut out. No place for it in one of my sentences
- Social snobery [sic]. A gerund 'cuts' a gerundive.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:n7crulzrkqgmeb4rwmvs77jj/bafkreiciyr4tvmhysmupv6ftunmgpc4kshzbm66o6cfjvxa2avb3novrxq@jpeg)
November 5, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I see someone posted part of it already, but the whole of Ronald Searle's guide to gerunds (from How To Be Topp) is surely worth repeating.
North Norfolk effortlessly scoring magna cum laude in its "English pastoral idyll" assignment.
Dude over the doorway wants to know what business you have entering here.
Dude over the doorway wants to know what business you have entering here.
November 4, 2025 at 3:39 PM
North Norfolk effortlessly scoring magna cum laude in its "English pastoral idyll" assignment.
Dude over the doorway wants to know what business you have entering here.
Dude over the doorway wants to know what business you have entering here.
We were really lucky here - mild, and no rain since about 4.30.
For the first time ever I really leant into Hallowe'en tonight, projecting this onto a dust sheet flung over the hedge. Kids loved it, so much so that I ran out of treats by 6.30 and had to shut up shop.
For the first time ever I really leant into Hallowe'en tonight, projecting this onto a dust sheet flung over the hedge. Kids loved it, so much so that I ran out of treats by 6.30 and had to shut up shop.
October 31, 2025 at 7:36 PM
We were really lucky here - mild, and no rain since about 4.30.
For the first time ever I really leant into Hallowe'en tonight, projecting this onto a dust sheet flung over the hedge. Kids loved it, so much so that I ran out of treats by 6.30 and had to shut up shop.
For the first time ever I really leant into Hallowe'en tonight, projecting this onto a dust sheet flung over the hedge. Kids loved it, so much so that I ran out of treats by 6.30 and had to shut up shop.
Hallowe'en is when all the spirits come out, right?
So that means I'm allowed a gin tonight. I'm sure those are the rules. Right?
Might even deploy the Drouin "Pira" gin, which is AMAZING - smells almost like calvados, but is utterly glorious with tonic.
So that means I'm allowed a gin tonight. I'm sure those are the rules. Right?
Might even deploy the Drouin "Pira" gin, which is AMAZING - smells almost like calvados, but is utterly glorious with tonic.
October 31, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Hallowe'en is when all the spirits come out, right?
So that means I'm allowed a gin tonight. I'm sure those are the rules. Right?
Might even deploy the Drouin "Pira" gin, which is AMAZING - smells almost like calvados, but is utterly glorious with tonic.
So that means I'm allowed a gin tonight. I'm sure those are the rules. Right?
Might even deploy the Drouin "Pira" gin, which is AMAZING - smells almost like calvados, but is utterly glorious with tonic.
Irresponsibly posting my location on social media.
October 28, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Irresponsibly posting my location on social media.
Who's solving the Louvre robbery? Right answers only
October 20, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Who's solving the Louvre robbery? Right answers only
Saw this and thought of @abbeythelab.bsky.social
October 12, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Saw this and thought of @abbeythelab.bsky.social
This is becoming... worrying.
October 11, 2025 at 7:53 PM
This is becoming... worrying.
Unsolicited wick pic.
October 11, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Unsolicited wick pic.
So you're telling me that Evensong obligationd can be discharged solely by a pub visit, with no singing required?
October 7, 2025 at 8:47 PM
So you're telling me that Evensong obligationd can be discharged solely by a pub visit, with no singing required?
Tomorrow I shall mostly be fixing a friggin' leak in our 25-year-old central heating system, so at least it'll take my mind off politics I suppose.
Perished drain cock washer, since you ask.
Perished drain cock washer, since you ask.
September 30, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Tomorrow I shall mostly be fixing a friggin' leak in our 25-year-old central heating system, so at least it'll take my mind off politics I suppose.
Perished drain cock washer, since you ask.
Perished drain cock washer, since you ask.
Unbelievable visibility yesterday evening. From the top of little Killiney Hill just south of Dublin, a hazy view of the Mourne Mts over 100km to the north. Howth peninsula (~12km N) clearly visible beyond the trees.
September 27, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Unbelievable visibility yesterday evening. From the top of little Killiney Hill just south of Dublin, a hazy view of the Mourne Mts over 100km to the north. Howth peninsula (~12km N) clearly visible beyond the trees.
Next up, the carpenter who became a medium and now collects astral planes.
September 20, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Next up, the carpenter who became a medium and now collects astral planes.
Has the image on the right undergone amateur restoration?
September 16, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Has the image on the right undergone amateur restoration?
Bognor can be delightful at this time of year.
September 14, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Bognor can be delightful at this time of year.
RANT #1: We need a Reinheitsgebot for bread. Bought this in careless haste while travelling. Taste and texture are gross, and LOOK at the fn list of ingredients! Flour, salt, water and yeast should be enough!
#ultraprocessed #bread
#ultraprocessed #bread
August 27, 2025 at 10:59 AM
RANT #1: We need a Reinheitsgebot for bread. Bought this in careless haste while travelling. Taste and texture are gross, and LOOK at the fn list of ingredients! Flour, salt, water and yeast should be enough!
#ultraprocessed #bread
#ultraprocessed #bread
It's rather sad that Hutton's butcher in Howegate, Hawick has now ceased trading. The signage is superb, and apparently the steak pies were award-winning. Nowhere else have I seen a butcher advertise itself as a "flesher".
August 25, 2025 at 8:51 PM
It's rather sad that Hutton's butcher in Howegate, Hawick has now ceased trading. The signage is superb, and apparently the steak pies were award-winning. Nowhere else have I seen a butcher advertise itself as a "flesher".
Here in the Scottish Borders they don't mess around when celebrating the life of a whip and thong manufacturer.
August 25, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Here in the Scottish Borders they don't mess around when celebrating the life of a whip and thong manufacturer.
Received this on 8 August. Seriously considering a trip to their French HQ in one of those crane things with a wrecking ball.
![Email blast from jam/preserves company Bonne Maman advertising their Advent calendar (23 mini pots, and a special treat for the 24th). Headline "Advents [sic] have arrived!"
The body copy is too cheesy to beat repetition here.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:n7crulzrkqgmeb4rwmvs77jj/bafkreihle33r6asx7gxxut4hkw2uuv4twrei6ntoa3prkdn2d5bwmizpwi@jpeg)
August 23, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Received this on 8 August. Seriously considering a trip to their French HQ in one of those crane things with a wrecking ball.
