Matthew Somerville
@dracos.co.uk
I help people report broken street lights, find out their bin day, plan train travel, manage an orchestra, locate the nearest postbox, research old theatre productions, keep time in a choir, and occasionally play board games | https://dracos.co.uk
Reposted by Matthew Somerville
Off to Manchester!
The walk-on peak fare is the £115.10 Anytime Return.
But the walk-on Anytime Return to Stafford is £23.20.
And an Anytime Return from Stafford to Manchester is £36.80.
split.traintimes.org.uk/BRV/MAN/n/07...
The walk-on peak fare is the £115.10 Anytime Return.
But the walk-on Anytime Return to Stafford is £23.20.
And an Anytime Return from Stafford to Manchester is £36.80.
split.traintimes.org.uk/BRV/MAN/n/07...
split.traintimes.org.uk
November 11, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Off to Manchester!
The walk-on peak fare is the £115.10 Anytime Return.
But the walk-on Anytime Return to Stafford is £23.20.
And an Anytime Return from Stafford to Manchester is £36.80.
split.traintimes.org.uk/BRV/MAN/n/07...
The walk-on peak fare is the £115.10 Anytime Return.
But the walk-on Anytime Return to Stafford is £23.20.
And an Anytime Return from Stafford to Manchester is £36.80.
split.traintimes.org.uk/BRV/MAN/n/07...
Off to Manchester!
The walk-on peak fare is the £115.10 Anytime Return.
But the walk-on Anytime Return to Stafford is £23.20.
And an Anytime Return from Stafford to Manchester is £36.80.
split.traintimes.org.uk/BRV/MAN/n/07...
The walk-on peak fare is the £115.10 Anytime Return.
But the walk-on Anytime Return to Stafford is £23.20.
And an Anytime Return from Stafford to Manchester is £36.80.
split.traintimes.org.uk/BRV/MAN/n/07...
split.traintimes.org.uk
November 11, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Off to Manchester!
The walk-on peak fare is the £115.10 Anytime Return.
But the walk-on Anytime Return to Stafford is £23.20.
And an Anytime Return from Stafford to Manchester is £36.80.
split.traintimes.org.uk/BRV/MAN/n/07...
The walk-on peak fare is the £115.10 Anytime Return.
But the walk-on Anytime Return to Stafford is £23.20.
And an Anytime Return from Stafford to Manchester is £36.80.
split.traintimes.org.uk/BRV/MAN/n/07...
I have to re-apply for tax free childcare every three months, even though they would/should know if any of my details have changed. I always wonder each time why the whole byzantine system exists like this (also, if you apply for TFC, you lose Universal Credit?)
The two child cap is a test of the government’s seriousness: if you are serious about child poverty, you lift it, and if you are serious about not wasting money, you don’t fritter away cash on dumb things like vouchers to try and manage the PLP.
If the government chooses to keep the 2 child limit and spend money on vouchers and parenting programmes instead, child poverty will rise and this will be a conscious and deliberate political choice in defiance of all the evidence
November 10, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I have to re-apply for tax free childcare every three months, even though they would/should know if any of my details have changed. I always wonder each time why the whole byzantine system exists like this (also, if you apply for TFC, you lose Universal Credit?)
Reposted by Matthew Somerville
🌟 Tomorrow! 🌟
We've had a fantastic run of events all about the power of freedom of information to make real world change, and I think this one could be our best yet!
We'd love to see you there!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/networked-...
We've had a fantastic run of events all about the power of freedom of information to make real world change, and I think this one could be our best yet!
We'd love to see you there!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/networked-...
Networked auditors: crowdsourcing and community-led ATI
Discover how three organisations are using crowdsourcing and ATI laws to uncover data, monitor public projects, and drive accountability
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 10:06 AM
🌟 Tomorrow! 🌟
We've had a fantastic run of events all about the power of freedom of information to make real world change, and I think this one could be our best yet!
We'd love to see you there!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/networked-...
We've had a fantastic run of events all about the power of freedom of information to make real world change, and I think this one could be our best yet!
We'd love to see you there!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/networked-...
“finding out which Strictly celeb’s rumba has been voted the most mediocre is deemed more important to the schedule.”
Strictly is on at the same time as in 2017.
Then, it was 6.20 Countryfile 7.20 Strictly 8 AR/Blue Planet.
This year, it is 5.25 Countryfile 6.25 Kingdom 7.15 Strictly 8 AR.
Strictly is on at the same time as in 2017.
Then, it was 6.20 Countryfile 7.20 Strictly 8 AR/Blue Planet.
This year, it is 5.25 Countryfile 6.25 Kingdom 7.15 Strictly 8 AR.
Kingdom review – David Attenborough never fails to make nature awe-inspiring
Attenborough’s latest extravaganza is packed with such high drama it’s like Game of Thrones … if Cersei was a hyena. If only it hadn’t been bumped down the schedules because of Strictly
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:10 PM
“finding out which Strictly celeb’s rumba has been voted the most mediocre is deemed more important to the schedule.”
Strictly is on at the same time as in 2017.
Then, it was 6.20 Countryfile 7.20 Strictly 8 AR/Blue Planet.
This year, it is 5.25 Countryfile 6.25 Kingdom 7.15 Strictly 8 AR.
Strictly is on at the same time as in 2017.
Then, it was 6.20 Countryfile 7.20 Strictly 8 AR/Blue Planet.
This year, it is 5.25 Countryfile 6.25 Kingdom 7.15 Strictly 8 AR.
You don’t realise how much you’ve come to rely on the bus live departures and live locations, until they’re not working today and you’re like “I have to turn up at the stop for a pre-published time? And hope the bus appears?“
November 8, 2025 at 1:05 PM
You don’t realise how much you’ve come to rely on the bus live departures and live locations, until they’re not working today and you’re like “I have to turn up at the stop for a pre-published time? And hope the bus appears?“
Different calendar, though. It was 8th November “secundum computationem Ecclesiae Anglicanae”, so Old Style; that would have been 18th November in the Gregorian calendar already used in Catholic countries, and would be 21st November this year (Julian has had three more leap years since).
Happy 423 years of us! 🎉 📚
The Bodleian Libraries opened for the first time on 8 November 1602...
This means, we're older than the refracting telescope (1608), the publication of Shakespeare's Hamlet (1623) and Sir Isaac Newton's apple (1666)! 😅
The Bodleian Libraries opened for the first time on 8 November 1602...
This means, we're older than the refracting telescope (1608), the publication of Shakespeare's Hamlet (1623) and Sir Isaac Newton's apple (1666)! 😅
November 8, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Different calendar, though. It was 8th November “secundum computationem Ecclesiae Anglicanae”, so Old Style; that would have been 18th November in the Gregorian calendar already used in Catholic countries, and would be 21st November this year (Julian has had three more leap years since).
Kinder Surprise eggs are banned in the United States.
I added three new suicides helped by ChatGPT to Wikipedia today: en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...
I added three new suicides helped by ChatGPT to Wikipedia today: en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...
November 7, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Kinder Surprise eggs are banned in the United States.
I added three new suicides helped by ChatGPT to Wikipedia today: en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...
I added three new suicides helped by ChatGPT to Wikipedia today: en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...
“But the undeniable energy of the Mamdani campaign has been joy — an effusive, exuberant, contagious joy. Even when times are hard, maybe especially when times are hard, people are drawn to that joy. And they've been missing leaders who offer them a positive vision.”
Ten things I took away from one remarkable, history-making moment. Turn the volume up. www.anildash.com/2025/11/05/t...
Turn the volume up. - Anil Dash
A blog about making culture. Since 1999.
www.anildash.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:52 PM
“But the undeniable energy of the Mamdani campaign has been joy — an effusive, exuberant, contagious joy. Even when times are hard, maybe especially when times are hard, people are drawn to that joy. And they've been missing leaders who offer them a positive vision.”
The flags on the street lights now mean walking down the windy street is a weird strobing nightmare of flickering lights
November 3, 2025 at 7:34 PM
The flags on the street lights now mean walking down the windy street is a weird strobing nightmare of flickering lights
If you select “Least walking” in Google Maps, it changes to first suggest you… walk the whole way instead
November 2, 2025 at 10:49 AM
If you select “Least walking” in Google Maps, it changes to first suggest you… walk the whole way instead
“Huntingdon, near Cambridgeshire“, @theguardian.com? Huntingdon is in Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire isn’t a spot, you’ve got a pin on Needingworth, a little village, also in Cambridgeshire
November 2, 2025 at 6:54 AM
“Huntingdon, near Cambridgeshire“, @theguardian.com? Huntingdon is in Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire isn’t a spot, you’ve got a pin on Needingworth, a little village, also in Cambridgeshire
I wondered what the most common score in Strictly was, and if it was more often one less than a multiple of four. Taking only the dances in which Anton voted (easiest proxy for current set of judges), the most common score (49 times) is 39. Then it's 32, 30, 31, 35, 29, 33, 27, 28, 40.
They don’t, yet, call me the @zaltzcricket.bsky.social of Strictly, but there’s still time
I make it the lowest average score for week 1 ever:
1: 23.88
2: 22.50
3: 22.25
4: 22.29
5: 22.71
6: 22.88
7: 23.63
8: 24.43
9: 23.00
10: 22.07
11: 24.07
12: 23.33
13: 23.40
14: 26.47
15: 22.20
16: 22.80
17: 22.53
[18: 24.89]
19: 23.87
20: 25.13
21: 24.27
22: 22.67
23: 21.33
1: 23.88
2: 22.50
3: 22.25
4: 22.29
5: 22.71
6: 22.88
7: 23.63
8: 24.43
9: 23.00
10: 22.07
11: 24.07
12: 23.33
13: 23.40
14: 26.47
15: 22.20
16: 22.80
17: 22.53
[18: 24.89]
19: 23.87
20: 25.13
21: 24.27
22: 22.67
23: 21.33
November 1, 2025 at 8:59 PM
I wondered what the most common score in Strictly was, and if it was more often one less than a multiple of four. Taking only the dances in which Anton voted (easiest proxy for current set of judges), the most common score (49 times) is 39. Then it's 32, 30, 31, 35, 29, 33, 27, 28, 40.
Reposted by Matthew Somerville
Happy Hallowe’en. My annual chance to put out the one piece of amazing tat that I own
October 31, 2024 at 5:59 PM
Happy Hallowe’en. My annual chance to put out the one piece of amazing tat that I own
Near disaster averted when a trio of children arrived at the door and I hadn’t realised my chocolate tub now contained only two sweets. I had another tub, but couldn’t get the sticky tape off. Quickly found some open chocolate chip cookies instead.
Soundtrack: Rachmaninov’s Isle of the Dead
Soundtrack: Rachmaninov’s Isle of the Dead
October 31, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Near disaster averted when a trio of children arrived at the door and I hadn’t realised my chocolate tub now contained only two sweets. I had another tub, but couldn’t get the sticky tape off. Quickly found some open chocolate chip cookies instead.
Soundtrack: Rachmaninov’s Isle of the Dead
Soundtrack: Rachmaninov’s Isle of the Dead
In love with this chord progression, – Ic, then vii°7 and I in the relative minor. Probably more famous uses, but works so well here
October 26, 2025 at 1:19 PM
In love with this chord progression, – Ic, then vii°7 and I in the relative minor. Probably more famous uses, but works so well here
South Birmingham Sinfonia playday today, doing both Fountains of Rome and Pines of Rome (and me filling in sight reading on piano in one movement). Smell of Crunchie from the factory on the way, and some flash flooding
October 25, 2025 at 12:38 PM
South Birmingham Sinfonia playday today, doing both Fountains of Rome and Pines of Rome (and me filling in sight reading on piano in one movement). Smell of Crunchie from the factory on the way, and some flash flooding
This was an excellent game, I did have to break out a spreadsheet in the end to keep track, but the fact I bothered to do that shows how good it was!
Type Help
A file. A mystery. Dive into echoes of the past to solve a murder. The game is making it to Steam next year under the title The Incident at Galley House -- but why wait when you can play it now?
william-rous.itch.io/type-help
A file. A mystery. Dive into echoes of the past to solve a murder. The game is making it to Steam next year under the title The Incident at Galley House -- but why wait when you can play it now?
william-rous.itch.io/type-help
Type Help by William Rous
The Unsolvable Mystery
william-rous.itch.io
October 25, 2025 at 6:58 AM
This was an excellent game, I did have to break out a spreadsheet in the end to keep track, but the fact I bothered to do that shows how good it was!
Did the AI write this paragraph
October 24, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Did the AI write this paragraph
Reposted by Matthew Somerville
New thing 4: A new interface for managing keyword email alerts as a parliamentary monitoring tool
New on TheyWorkForYou: better ways of managing email alerts
Improving TheyWorkForYou email alerts
Improving our parliamentary monitoring tools to make it easier to manage more complex alerts.
www.mysociety.org
October 24, 2025 at 9:55 AM
New thing 4: A new interface for managing keyword email alerts as a parliamentary monitoring tool
Agreeing with all this, but not the slight at Zork which handled both take and pick fine ;) if50.substack.com/p/1977-zork is a great look back.
I love GUIs, I love CLI too; brilliant for processing, chaining things together, can be much faster than GUI. The problem is this browser isn’t doing that.
I love GUIs, I love CLI too; brilliant for processing, chaining things together, can be much faster than GUI. The problem is this browser isn’t doing that.
October 23, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Agreeing with all this, but not the slight at Zork which handled both take and pick fine ;) if50.substack.com/p/1977-zork is a great look back.
I love GUIs, I love CLI too; brilliant for processing, chaining things together, can be much faster than GUI. The problem is this browser isn’t doing that.
I love GUIs, I love CLI too; brilliant for processing, chaining things together, can be much faster than GUI. The problem is this browser isn’t doing that.
We’ve added the future devolved legislature boundaries to @mysociety.org’s MapIt:
www.mysociety.org/2025/10/23/f...
www.mysociety.org/2025/10/23/f...
Future boundaries for devolved legislatures
The Scottish Parliament and the Senedd are both holding elections in May 2026, and the Northern Ireland Assembly will be holding an election before May 2027. All of these elections will take place on ...
www.mysociety.org
October 23, 2025 at 11:39 AM
We’ve added the future devolved legislature boundaries to @mysociety.org’s MapIt:
www.mysociety.org/2025/10/23/f...
www.mysociety.org/2025/10/23/f...
Reposted by Matthew Somerville
New thing 2: MPs profiles now have a 'Signatures' section, covering open letters, EDMs, and motions to annul.
New on TheyWorkForYou: EDMs and Open Letters www.mysociety.org/2025/10/21/s...
New to TheyWorkForYou: Signatures
Building data pipelines for better information about MPs interests.
www.mysociety.org
October 22, 2025 at 8:55 AM
New thing 2: MPs profiles now have a 'Signatures' section, covering open letters, EDMs, and motions to annul.
Reposted by Matthew Somerville
UK based MySociety is looking for a business development manager to help them keep their work supporting democracy and digital transparency sustainable
- UK remote
- £40-50k
- They seem hella nice
apply.workable.com/mysociety/j/...
- UK remote
- £40-50k
- They seem hella nice
apply.workable.com/mysociety/j/...
Business Development Manager, SocietyWorks - Remote - mySociety and SocietyWorks
Are you looking for a business development role where you can use your sales skills to help make a real difference in society? A role where you’re not just selling for the sake of it, but selling to i...
apply.workable.com
October 21, 2025 at 4:58 PM
UK based MySociety is looking for a business development manager to help them keep their work supporting democracy and digital transparency sustainable
- UK remote
- £40-50k
- They seem hella nice
apply.workable.com/mysociety/j/...
- UK remote
- £40-50k
- They seem hella nice
apply.workable.com/mysociety/j/...
Let’s see how many people put all their eggs in one AWS shaped basket. (OS Maps API has gone down, related? Switched FixMyStreet to OpenStreetMap. Deploy was fine, apart from the notification to Slack *about* the deploy got stuck...)
October 20, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Let’s see how many people put all their eggs in one AWS shaped basket. (OS Maps API has gone down, related? Switched FixMyStreet to OpenStreetMap. Deploy was fine, apart from the notification to Slack *about* the deploy got stuck...)