Martin Cook
@cookieaob.bsky.social
Interested in gardening, politics, art, cryptic crosswords, sport, wine and funny stuff, no particular order. Very proud grandad to Sid and Penelope Jane. Not a retired skier.
This intrigued me this morning. Australia has a foreign born population of 31%!..and yet little populist nonsense. Could it be that mandatory voting is the answer?
November 22, 2025 at 10:56 AM
This intrigued me this morning. Australia has a foreign born population of 31%!..and yet little populist nonsense. Could it be that mandatory voting is the answer?
Do we really need AI?
November 15, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Do we really need AI?
That's Crosby hall, moved from Bishopsgate in the very early 1900s and now surrounded by it's own replica Tudor palace. I tended the garden there from 2004 to around 2021.
November 14, 2025 at 2:17 PM
That's Crosby hall, moved from Bishopsgate in the very early 1900s and now surrounded by it's own replica Tudor palace. I tended the garden there from 2004 to around 2021.
Enjoyed a lovely, if wet, guided walk around Chelsea this morning. Sloane Square to the world's end.
November 14, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Enjoyed a lovely, if wet, guided walk around Chelsea this morning. Sloane Square to the world's end.
My Christmas cactus is a bit early!
November 13, 2025 at 7:43 AM
My Christmas cactus is a bit early!
Couple of other things, Cezanne, Renoir and Venessa Bell lovely too.
November 12, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Couple of other things, Cezanne, Renoir and Venessa Bell lovely too.
Lovely couple of hours at Somerset house today. The collection on the top floor is exceptional. This Winifred Gill (1914) caught my eye, I'd never heard of her.
November 12, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Lovely couple of hours at Somerset house today. The collection on the top floor is exceptional. This Winifred Gill (1914) caught my eye, I'd never heard of her.
BBC is obviously doing something right.
November 12, 2025 at 5:33 PM
BBC is obviously doing something right.
A glorious Red Admiral on our Dahlias this morning. Heartwarming.
November 8, 2025 at 2:14 PM
A glorious Red Admiral on our Dahlias this morning. Heartwarming.
I love this mad red Salvia, it's pretty much the last thing to flower in our IOW garden. Think it's Chinese, but have forgotten it's name, if anyone knows?
November 7, 2025 at 10:35 AM
I love this mad red Salvia, it's pretty much the last thing to flower in our IOW garden. Think it's Chinese, but have forgotten it's name, if anyone knows?
Looking forward to seeing the Ancher exhibition at Dulwich Picture Gallery later today.
November 5, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Looking forward to seeing the Ancher exhibition at Dulwich Picture Gallery later today.
Bit late to this but not a great look for yhe Wight....
November 3, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Bit late to this but not a great look for yhe Wight....
Ooh this is spot on.
October 26, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Ooh this is spot on.
Some Hodgkins from Pitzhanger.
October 24, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Some Hodgkins from Pitzhanger.
If in London and you do one trip this year, I can heartily recommend Soane's Pitzhanger Manor in Ealing. Sublime architecture and decor. And they are showing Howard Hodgkin's gorgeous pictures all through it. Divine.
October 24, 2025 at 11:07 AM
If in London and you do one trip this year, I can heartily recommend Soane's Pitzhanger Manor in Ealing. Sublime architecture and decor. And they are showing Howard Hodgkin's gorgeous pictures all through it. Divine.
Sunday Times, more muck close to Farage.
October 19, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Sunday Times, more muck close to Farage.
Good piece by Misha Glenny in today's FT on rare earth minerals.
October 18, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Good piece by Misha Glenny in today's FT on rare earth minerals.
The café au lait dahlias are marvellous this year. I hope the Madeiran pelargonium survives the winter. Amistad is a wonderful Salvia. All IOW.
October 17, 2025 at 12:22 PM
The café au lait dahlias are marvellous this year. I hope the Madeiran pelargonium survives the winter. Amistad is a wonderful Salvia. All IOW.
Visited the Watts collection near Guildford yesterday late afternoon. It's a lovely place, though his art doesn't really move me. Enjoyed Peter Brookes political cartoons exhibit and the 'Scented Exhibition', particularly the De Morgan below. The chapel is lovely too.
October 17, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Visited the Watts collection near Guildford yesterday late afternoon. It's a lovely place, though his art doesn't really move me. Enjoyed Peter Brookes political cartoons exhibit and the 'Scented Exhibition', particularly the De Morgan below. The chapel is lovely too.
My Spindle tree doing it's thing.
October 14, 2025 at 3:55 PM
My Spindle tree doing it's thing.
A very nice visit to the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow today.
October 10, 2025 at 1:57 PM
A very nice visit to the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow today.