Chris Lines
@chrislines.bsky.social
Interested in family, Wales, public relations, communications, language, politics, change, sustainability, football (Swansea City and Cymru), cricket, hiking...most things really.
A story of war, geo-politics, the desperation and exploitation of refugees, mercenaries, resistance...and love. 'Casablanca...A Live Radio Play' Live in the Theatre was an original, energetic and thoroughly enjoyable production by the Lighthouse Theatre Company. Go and see it.
December 3, 2025 at 10:30 PM
A story of war, geo-politics, the desperation and exploitation of refugees, mercenaries, resistance...and love. 'Casablanca...A Live Radio Play' Live in the Theatre was an original, energetic and thoroughly enjoyable production by the Lighthouse Theatre Company. Go and see it.
Chris Patten's First Confession is an engaging account of an impressive career in public service.
His adult lifetime has coincided, through little of his own fault, with the right-ward drift and possible destruction of the Conservative Party.
His adult lifetime has coincided, through little of his own fault, with the right-ward drift and possible destruction of the Conservative Party.
December 1, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Chris Patten's First Confession is an engaging account of an impressive career in public service.
His adult lifetime has coincided, through little of his own fault, with the right-ward drift and possible destruction of the Conservative Party.
His adult lifetime has coincided, through little of his own fault, with the right-ward drift and possible destruction of the Conservative Party.
A Bookish day ended with Sebastian Faulks coming to Abergavenny to talk about his memoir, Fires Which Burned Brightly.
He had a lovely voice and spoke with reason and humour about his life and books. He remembers has plenty more writing in him.
He had a lovely voice and spoke with reason and humour about his life and books. He remembers has plenty more writing in him.
November 30, 2025 at 9:59 PM
A Bookish day ended with Sebastian Faulks coming to Abergavenny to talk about his memoir, Fires Which Burned Brightly.
He had a lovely voice and spoke with reason and humour about his life and books. He remembers has plenty more writing in him.
He had a lovely voice and spoke with reason and humour about his life and books. He remembers has plenty more writing in him.
The BBC's international correspondent, Lyse Doucet, came to the finest hotel in Abergavenny to talk about her book, The Finest Hotel in Kabul. It looks at Afghanistan and its different governing regimes through the eyes of the staff working there.
November 30, 2025 at 2:47 PM
The BBC's international correspondent, Lyse Doucet, came to the finest hotel in Abergavenny to talk about her book, The Finest Hotel in Kabul. It looks at Afghanistan and its different governing regimes through the eyes of the staff working there.
To Hay again for the second day of the winter festival. We heard Vlatko Vedral and Paul Davies talk to Caroline Steel about quantum physics.
Don't think for a minute that I understood what I heard but my learning points were:
Don't think for a minute that I understood what I heard but my learning points were:
November 28, 2025 at 11:05 PM
To Hay again for the second day of the winter festival. We heard Vlatko Vedral and Paul Davies talk to Caroline Steel about quantum physics.
Don't think for a minute that I understood what I heard but my learning points were:
Don't think for a minute that I understood what I heard but my learning points were:
Nick Clegg discussing 'How to Save the Internet' in Hay:
* Soc med is not all the same
* Little hope of AI governance system covering China & USA
*Silicon valley tech bros will agree regulation is in their interest
* UK needs to build AI co.s with Europe
* Soc med is not all the same
* Little hope of AI governance system covering China & USA
*Silicon valley tech bros will agree regulation is in their interest
* UK needs to build AI co.s with Europe
November 27, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Nick Clegg discussing 'How to Save the Internet' in Hay:
* Soc med is not all the same
* Little hope of AI governance system covering China & USA
*Silicon valley tech bros will agree regulation is in their interest
* UK needs to build AI co.s with Europe
* Soc med is not all the same
* Little hope of AI governance system covering China & USA
*Silicon valley tech bros will agree regulation is in their interest
* UK needs to build AI co.s with Europe
A story of a Basque family, the Spanish civil war and the consequences of the horrific bombing of Guernica. It was a page-turner which ran out of steam and left me feeling dissatisfied. I wanted to understand more about Basque culture and the politics of the civil war.
November 25, 2025 at 7:13 PM
A story of a Basque family, the Spanish civil war and the consequences of the horrific bombing of Guernica. It was a page-turner which ran out of steam and left me feeling dissatisfied. I wanted to understand more about Basque culture and the politics of the civil war.
I cried! But that shouldn't put you off seeing I Swear.
A film about ignorance and understanding, cruelty and kindness, it's very well written, acted and directed.
A film about ignorance and understanding, cruelty and kindness, it's very well written, acted and directed.
October 17, 2025 at 9:20 PM
I cried! But that shouldn't put you off seeing I Swear.
A film about ignorance and understanding, cruelty and kindness, it's very well written, acted and directed.
A film about ignorance and understanding, cruelty and kindness, it's very well written, acted and directed.
The Book Club verdict on CloudStreet was positive. I enjoyed it, liked getting to know the characters, laughed out loud at times and got a strong sense of the environment in post war West Australia. However, I also found it too long, unevenly paced and at times a difficult read.
October 15, 2025 at 8:18 PM
The Book Club verdict on CloudStreet was positive. I enjoyed it, liked getting to know the characters, laughed out loud at times and got a strong sense of the environment in post war West Australia. However, I also found it too long, unevenly paced and at times a difficult read.
A weekend in Portsmouth so we saw the rash of English flags hanging from lamp posts and in some house windows. What we also saw were Hope not Hate posters as well as other heart-warming posters, stickers and signs - many home-made - promoting kindness, welcoming refugees and opposing racism.
October 13, 2025 at 4:39 PM
A weekend in Portsmouth so we saw the rash of English flags hanging from lamp posts and in some house windows. What we also saw were Hope not Hate posters as well as other heart-warming posters, stickers and signs - many home-made - promoting kindness, welcoming refugees and opposing racism.
Good to see Adam Idah's first goal for Swansea but it wasn't enough to beat two classy Leicester goals and a freak one. It wasn't a 1 - 3 performance and we were competitive for most of the game but losing ain't fun.
October 4, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Good to see Adam Idah's first goal for Swansea but it wasn't enough to beat two classy Leicester goals and a freak one. It wasn't a 1 - 3 performance and we were competitive for most of the game but losing ain't fun.
An enjoyable watch for the neutral at Swansea today but very frustrating to only get a draw.
The atmosphere in the stadium was disappointingly flat too.
The atmosphere in the stadium was disappointingly flat too.
September 27, 2025 at 9:48 PM
An enjoyable watch for the neutral at Swansea today but very frustrating to only get a draw.
The atmosphere in the stadium was disappointingly flat too.
The atmosphere in the stadium was disappointingly flat too.
Disinformation - what's new?
Paintings of south Wales iron works in the industrial revolution were often sanitised for the owners who commissioned them.
One of the many facts discussed by Merthy Tydfil's, Huw Williams, in his talk to Abergavenny's history society.
Paintings of south Wales iron works in the industrial revolution were often sanitised for the owners who commissioned them.
One of the many facts discussed by Merthy Tydfil's, Huw Williams, in his talk to Abergavenny's history society.
September 24, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Disinformation - what's new?
Paintings of south Wales iron works in the industrial revolution were often sanitised for the owners who commissioned them.
One of the many facts discussed by Merthy Tydfil's, Huw Williams, in his talk to Abergavenny's history society.
Paintings of south Wales iron works in the industrial revolution were often sanitised for the owners who commissioned them.
One of the many facts discussed by Merthy Tydfil's, Huw Williams, in his talk to Abergavenny's history society.
Two years after being captivated by Irene Vallejo at the Hay Festival I finished her enchanting book, Papyrus, appropriately while in Rome.
Highly recommended, the book will stay with me for some time. I'm sure to dip in to it and to refer to it many a time to come.
Highly recommended, the book will stay with me for some time. I'm sure to dip in to it and to refer to it many a time to come.
September 23, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Two years after being captivated by Irene Vallejo at the Hay Festival I finished her enchanting book, Papyrus, appropriately while in Rome.
Highly recommended, the book will stay with me for some time. I'm sure to dip in to it and to refer to it many a time to come.
Highly recommended, the book will stay with me for some time. I'm sure to dip in to it and to refer to it many a time to come.
A general strike has been called in Italy today in support of Palestine. We're in Rome and all services seem to be running as normal. However, we have seen the second big demo in three days.
September 22, 2025 at 1:36 PM
A general strike has been called in Italy today in support of Palestine. We're in Rome and all services seem to be running as normal. However, we have seen the second big demo in three days.
As wildlife conservation slogans go, in my opinion the whale beats the duck.
September 21, 2025 at 7:22 AM
As wildlife conservation slogans go, in my opinion the whale beats the duck.
I propose a game. What is the most unlikely internet search result? You're allowed to search on unlikely company sites like this one.
August 5, 2025 at 11:24 AM
I propose a game. What is the most unlikely internet search result? You're allowed to search on unlikely company sites like this one.
We are regressing. We drink coffee as though it comes in a child's beaker - through a small hole even when served indoors.
July 29, 2025 at 9:03 AM
We are regressing. We drink coffee as though it comes in a child's beaker - through a small hole even when served indoors.
An entertaining 'Conversation at The Chapel' with Ian Leslie, author of 'John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs.' Told chronologically, the story was not just the love of two men making such great music together, but one of the author's obvious love for Paul and growing love for John.
June 5, 2025 at 9:10 PM
An entertaining 'Conversation at The Chapel' with Ian Leslie, author of 'John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs.' Told chronologically, the story was not just the love of two men making such great music together, but one of the author's obvious love for Paul and growing love for John.
Running, chasing, punching, fighting, swimming, driving, flying, grunting, groaning and gurning, #MissionImpossible:TheFinalReckoning was an enjoyable mix of stone tunnels, National Geographic landscapes and rehashed James Bond sets, all in the cause of a cybersecurity warning.
May 30, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Running, chasing, punching, fighting, swimming, driving, flying, grunting, groaning and gurning, #MissionImpossible:TheFinalReckoning was an enjoyable mix of stone tunnels, National Geographic landscapes and rehashed James Bond sets, all in the cause of a cybersecurity warning.
A very dark, funny and satirical look at the enduring legacy of racism in the USA, #TheTrees manages to conjure depth of character from skin-deep characterisation and credibility from incredible situations. Although, the book loses momentum it's highly relevant and recommended.
May 7, 2025 at 1:01 PM
A very dark, funny and satirical look at the enduring legacy of racism in the USA, #TheTrees manages to conjure depth of character from skin-deep characterisation and credibility from incredible situations. Although, the book loses momentum it's highly relevant and recommended.
Swansea City 3 Oxford United 3. A fitting end to a season full of hope, despair and then hope again. The send-off for Joe Allen and Kyle Naughton was also fitting in front of a sell-out crowd with both sets of supporters contributing to a party atmosphere on a beautiful, sunny day.
May 3, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Swansea City 3 Oxford United 3. A fitting end to a season full of hope, despair and then hope again. The send-off for Joe Allen and Kyle Naughton was also fitting in front of a sell-out crowd with both sets of supporters contributing to a party atmosphere on a beautiful, sunny day.
It's not over 'till it's over.
May 1, 2025 at 9:34 AM
It's not over 'till it's over.
Instagram killed the postcard.
May 1, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Instagram killed the postcard.
The kind of wonderful biography that makes you wish you'd known the subject. Minnie Pallister was a pacifist, feminist and socialist living at a time when high ideals seemed achievable. But for illness she would surely have been in Atlee's post-war cabinet.
April 22, 2025 at 8:09 PM
The kind of wonderful biography that makes you wish you'd known the subject. Minnie Pallister was a pacifist, feminist and socialist living at a time when high ideals seemed achievable. But for illness she would surely have been in Atlee's post-war cabinet.