Toby Bertenshaw
@deceanglius.bsky.social
Labrador. Hungry. Owns David, who's too shy to run his own account, and has nothing useful to say anyway, the coward.
Well, it *does* have the finest verse in any post-WW2 lyric:
She said she’d like to bath in milk
He said alright, Sweetheart
So that night after work
He loaded up the cart
He said ’Do you want it pasteurised?
Coz pasteurised is best.’
She said ’Ernie, I’ll be happy if it comes up to my chest’.
She said she’d like to bath in milk
He said alright, Sweetheart
So that night after work
He loaded up the cart
He said ’Do you want it pasteurised?
Coz pasteurised is best.’
She said ’Ernie, I’ll be happy if it comes up to my chest’.
December 27, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Well, it *does* have the finest verse in any post-WW2 lyric:
She said she’d like to bath in milk
He said alright, Sweetheart
So that night after work
He loaded up the cart
He said ’Do you want it pasteurised?
Coz pasteurised is best.’
She said ’Ernie, I’ll be happy if it comes up to my chest’.
She said she’d like to bath in milk
He said alright, Sweetheart
So that night after work
He loaded up the cart
He said ’Do you want it pasteurised?
Coz pasteurised is best.’
She said ’Ernie, I’ll be happy if it comes up to my chest’.
"Picking up his staff he stood before the rock and said in a clear voice: 'Fuck!'"
December 26, 2025 at 10:17 AM
"Picking up his staff he stood before the rock and said in a clear voice: 'Fuck!'"
Ding Dong, Rivendell's been dry
Since last year's sad fiasco.
(That's when Aragorn got high
On vodka and tabasco!)
But Glori-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-findel
Will still get tipsy…
Since last year's sad fiasco.
(That's when Aragorn got high
On vodka and tabasco!)
But Glori-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-findel
Will still get tipsy…
December 22, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Ding Dong, Rivendell's been dry
Since last year's sad fiasco.
(That's when Aragorn got high
On vodka and tabasco!)
But Glori-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-findel
Will still get tipsy…
Since last year's sad fiasco.
(That's when Aragorn got high
On vodka and tabasco!)
But Glori-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-findel
Will still get tipsy…
It is intensely annoying though!
December 21, 2025 at 4:30 PM
It is intensely annoying though!
Much as it's intensely annoying to see Farage get away with stuff again, all such electoral offences have to be reported within one year. S176 of the Representation of the People Act 1983: www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1983/2...
So you and I wouldn't have been prosecuted in this case either.
So you and I wouldn't have been prosecuted in this case either.
Representation of the People Act 1983
An Act to consolidate the Representation of the People Acts of 1949, 1969, 1977, 1978, and 1980, the Electoral Registers Acts of 1949 and 1953, the Elections (Welsh Forms) Act 1964, Part III of the Lo...
www.legislation.gov.uk
December 21, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Much as it's intensely annoying to see Farage get away with stuff again, all such electoral offences have to be reported within one year. S176 of the Representation of the People Act 1983: www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1983/2...
So you and I wouldn't have been prosecuted in this case either.
So you and I wouldn't have been prosecuted in this case either.
Meanwhile in the Dave Clark 5's Civilisation…
(I'm in pieces, bits and pieces)
Let's grab ourselves a bit of high-class telly
(I'm in…)
Sit back and get this flash of Botticelli
(I'm in…)
The Sistine Chapel is the place to go
(I'm in…)
To gorge yourself on Michelangelo
Makes you glad all over…
(I'm in pieces, bits and pieces)
Let's grab ourselves a bit of high-class telly
(I'm in…)
Sit back and get this flash of Botticelli
(I'm in…)
The Sistine Chapel is the place to go
(I'm in…)
To gorge yourself on Michelangelo
Makes you glad all over…
November 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Meanwhile in the Dave Clark 5's Civilisation…
(I'm in pieces, bits and pieces)
Let's grab ourselves a bit of high-class telly
(I'm in…)
Sit back and get this flash of Botticelli
(I'm in…)
The Sistine Chapel is the place to go
(I'm in…)
To gorge yourself on Michelangelo
Makes you glad all over…
(I'm in pieces, bits and pieces)
Let's grab ourselves a bit of high-class telly
(I'm in…)
Sit back and get this flash of Botticelli
(I'm in…)
The Sistine Chapel is the place to go
(I'm in…)
To gorge yourself on Michelangelo
Makes you glad all over…
Du menu Degastation, sans doute?
November 24, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Du menu Degastation, sans doute?
The books are very good, I think, about the difficulties and nuances of the decisions that had to be made (there often were only 'least bad' options), while still pointing out that sometimes character and/or personal/political advantage overrode logic… E.g. Chamberlain's behaviour…
November 24, 2025 at 12:36 PM
The books are very good, I think, about the difficulties and nuances of the decisions that had to be made (there often were only 'least bad' options), while still pointing out that sometimes character and/or personal/political advantage overrode logic… E.g. Chamberlain's behaviour…
At a slight tangent… One of the things I like most about Britain at Bay is how you gently puncture some current myths. E.g. re the Spitfire, which was actually seen at the time as being made obsolete by the Defiant. That (and much else) was completely new to me.
Both books are excellent – thanks!
Both books are excellent – thanks!
November 24, 2025 at 12:26 PM
At a slight tangent… One of the things I like most about Britain at Bay is how you gently puncture some current myths. E.g. re the Spitfire, which was actually seen at the time as being made obsolete by the Defiant. That (and much else) was completely new to me.
Both books are excellent – thanks!
Both books are excellent – thanks!
And…
Do whatever steps you want if
You have cleared them with the pontiff
Everybody say his own
Kyrie eleison
Doin' the Vatican Rag.
The great Tom Lehrer…
Do whatever steps you want if
You have cleared them with the pontiff
Everybody say his own
Kyrie eleison
Doin' the Vatican Rag.
The great Tom Lehrer…
November 23, 2025 at 12:55 PM
And…
Do whatever steps you want if
You have cleared them with the pontiff
Everybody say his own
Kyrie eleison
Doin' the Vatican Rag.
The great Tom Lehrer…
Do whatever steps you want if
You have cleared them with the pontiff
Everybody say his own
Kyrie eleison
Doin' the Vatican Rag.
The great Tom Lehrer…
Oh, I wasn’t criticising the CS at all. They were in an invidious position.
November 13, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Oh, I wasn’t criticising the CS at all. They were in an invidious position.
I sympathise… I coordinated our force's response to the consultation so had to try to make sense of how illogical it all was.
The highlight was a visitor from the HO saying that they knew all the problems, but ministers had already decided and did we have any ideas to make it work?
The highlight was a visitor from the HO saying that they knew all the problems, but ministers had already decided and did we have any ideas to make it work?
November 13, 2025 at 12:55 PM
I sympathise… I coordinated our force's response to the consultation so had to try to make sense of how illogical it all was.
The highlight was a visitor from the HO saying that they knew all the problems, but ministers had already decided and did we have any ideas to make it work?
The highlight was a visitor from the HO saying that they knew all the problems, but ministers had already decided and did we have any ideas to make it work?
Also, the politicians making the loudest (and mostly fake) claims about the Second World War are so obviously the ones who would been selling knock-off nylons on street corners, having forged their way out of being called up.
November 6, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Also, the politicians making the loudest (and mostly fake) claims about the Second World War are so obviously the ones who would been selling knock-off nylons on street corners, having forged their way out of being called up.
I picked up the preorder from my local bookshop www.mold-bookshop.co.uk on Friday, along with Britain at Bay and Browned Off. Thanks!
THE BOOKSHOP. MOLD
We are an independent bookshop in the historic market town of Mold in Flintshire. North Wales. We stock a wide variety of books for adults and children. We also stock a range of Ordnance Survey maps a...
www.mold-bookshop.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 12:37 PM
I picked up the preorder from my local bookshop www.mold-bookshop.co.uk on Friday, along with Britain at Bay and Browned Off. Thanks!
Well, Hannan was a keen supporter of Brechtsit.
November 1, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Well, Hannan was a keen supporter of Brechtsit.
The 1st half was poor – they'd obviously planned the segment as an attack, had to add the email at the last moment, and failed to amend the rest of the script.
By TBF the half time summary the headline was purely that the Estate Agent had made a mistake, but should have done that first up.
By TBF the half time summary the headline was purely that the Estate Agent had made a mistake, but should have done that first up.
October 30, 2025 at 7:34 PM
The 1st half was poor – they'd obviously planned the segment as an attack, had to add the email at the last moment, and failed to amend the rest of the script.
By TBF the half time summary the headline was purely that the Estate Agent had made a mistake, but should have done that first up.
By TBF the half time summary the headline was purely that the Estate Agent had made a mistake, but should have done that first up.
But what about the greatest ever song of dying love?
Everything is infected with the plague!
Why did you have to sleep with Craig?
"Oh he's so sensitive, he's got a tattoo."
Yeah, carving your name with a compass in my forehead was not enough for you!
youtu.be/1LdjVtHqNxs?...
Everything is infected with the plague!
Why did you have to sleep with Craig?
"Oh he's so sensitive, he's got a tattoo."
Yeah, carving your name with a compass in my forehead was not enough for you!
youtu.be/1LdjVtHqNxs?...
Bill Bailey - Love Song - Part Troll
YouTube video by billbailey
youtu.be
October 30, 2025 at 2:20 PM
But what about the greatest ever song of dying love?
Everything is infected with the plague!
Why did you have to sleep with Craig?
"Oh he's so sensitive, he's got a tattoo."
Yeah, carving your name with a compass in my forehead was not enough for you!
youtu.be/1LdjVtHqNxs?...
Everything is infected with the plague!
Why did you have to sleep with Craig?
"Oh he's so sensitive, he's got a tattoo."
Yeah, carving your name with a compass in my forehead was not enough for you!
youtu.be/1LdjVtHqNxs?...
Don't forget the SH short stories – but wait till you've finished the novels first. The stories fit in between a couple of the novels and mesh with them to some extent.
October 18, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Don't forget the SH short stories – but wait till you've finished the novels first. The stories fit in between a couple of the novels and mesh with them to some extent.
It must feel empowering to have your very own L-space…
October 12, 2025 at 5:51 PM
It must feel empowering to have your very own L-space…
It felt like I Love Lucy was never off the screen – that awful laugh was a terrifying experience for a growing child… Mister Ed the Talking Horse was good though.
September 21, 2025 at 12:31 PM
It felt like I Love Lucy was never off the screen – that awful laugh was a terrifying experience for a growing child… Mister Ed the Talking Horse was good though.
[...]
- The dog 'Idéefix' -> Dogmatix,
- the druid who deals their magic potion (Panoramix) becomes 'Getafix'
- fishmonger's wife (Yellow Submarine) -> 'Bacteria' etc
There's a whole layer of subtlety that just isn't there in the French. It's a brilliant piece of translation!
- The dog 'Idéefix' -> Dogmatix,
- the druid who deals their magic potion (Panoramix) becomes 'Getafix'
- fishmonger's wife (Yellow Submarine) -> 'Bacteria' etc
There's a whole layer of subtlety that just isn't there in the French. It's a brilliant piece of translation!
September 21, 2025 at 12:27 PM
[...]
- The dog 'Idéefix' -> Dogmatix,
- the druid who deals their magic potion (Panoramix) becomes 'Getafix'
- fishmonger's wife (Yellow Submarine) -> 'Bacteria' etc
There's a whole layer of subtlety that just isn't there in the French. It's a brilliant piece of translation!
- The dog 'Idéefix' -> Dogmatix,
- the druid who deals their magic potion (Panoramix) becomes 'Getafix'
- fishmonger's wife (Yellow Submarine) -> 'Bacteria' etc
There's a whole layer of subtlety that just isn't there in the French. It's a brilliant piece of translation!
Translator Anthea Bell improved the humour a lot. E.g. the French char names are fun, but she added a whole new layer:
- the out of tune Bard is 'Fully Comp Insurance' in FR, but Cacofonix in ENG.
- Rotten fish seller 'Alphabetical order' becomes 'Unhygienix'.
[…]
- the out of tune Bard is 'Fully Comp Insurance' in FR, but Cacofonix in ENG.
- Rotten fish seller 'Alphabetical order' becomes 'Unhygienix'.
[…]
September 21, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Translator Anthea Bell improved the humour a lot. E.g. the French char names are fun, but she added a whole new layer:
- the out of tune Bard is 'Fully Comp Insurance' in FR, but Cacofonix in ENG.
- Rotten fish seller 'Alphabetical order' becomes 'Unhygienix'.
[…]
- the out of tune Bard is 'Fully Comp Insurance' in FR, but Cacofonix in ENG.
- Rotten fish seller 'Alphabetical order' becomes 'Unhygienix'.
[…]
My favourite, too… but also
I ache for the touch of your lips, dear
But much more for the touch of your whips, dear
You can raise welts
Like nobody else
As we dance to the Masochism Tango
I ache for the touch of your lips, dear
But much more for the touch of your whips, dear
You can raise welts
Like nobody else
As we dance to the Masochism Tango
July 28, 2025 at 10:24 PM
My favourite, too… but also
I ache for the touch of your lips, dear
But much more for the touch of your whips, dear
You can raise welts
Like nobody else
As we dance to the Masochism Tango
I ache for the touch of your lips, dear
But much more for the touch of your whips, dear
You can raise welts
Like nobody else
As we dance to the Masochism Tango
Have you read any @adamroberts.bsky.social? He is very good at 'thoughtful (and funny) SF', particularly if you like it interwoven with philosophy…: his 'The This' and 'The Thing Itself' are outstanding. The latest ('Lake of Darkness') is a bit more space opera-y, but it's still full of ideas.
July 18, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Have you read any @adamroberts.bsky.social? He is very good at 'thoughtful (and funny) SF', particularly if you like it interwoven with philosophy…: his 'The This' and 'The Thing Itself' are outstanding. The latest ('Lake of Darkness') is a bit more space opera-y, but it's still full of ideas.
Exactly.
(I imagine it's a typo, but the shortcut for en-dash is OPT-HYPHEN on the Mac. SHIFT-HYPHEN is underscore (_)).
(I imagine it's a typo, but the shortcut for en-dash is OPT-HYPHEN on the Mac. SHIFT-HYPHEN is underscore (_)).
July 9, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Exactly.
(I imagine it's a typo, but the shortcut for en-dash is OPT-HYPHEN on the Mac. SHIFT-HYPHEN is underscore (_)).
(I imagine it's a typo, but the shortcut for en-dash is OPT-HYPHEN on the Mac. SHIFT-HYPHEN is underscore (_)).