Gerard DeGroot
@groovydegroovy.bsky.social
Historian, journalist, dad, dog lover, Emeritus professor. Writes book reviews for The Times. Exile from Facebook and Twitter, still getting the hang of Bluesky. https://gerarddegroot.substack.com, www.begurvilla.net
Happy birthday Joe.
September 20, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Happy birthday Joe.
It's a relief to have Humphrey feeling better, but the special food the vet prescribed for wiggly tummies makes him fart. So I'm sitting here, reading a book, with a nice glass of white Rioja. The boys are at my feet and Humphrey is farting -- loudly and noxiously. Bliss.
August 9, 2025 at 6:06 PM
It's a relief to have Humphrey feeling better, but the special food the vet prescribed for wiggly tummies makes him fart. So I'm sitting here, reading a book, with a nice glass of white Rioja. The boys are at my feet and Humphrey is farting -- loudly and noxiously. Bliss.
I'm feeling nostalgic about the Biden administration. So here's a photo of Joseph Robinette Bidog, a.k.a. Joe, at nine weeks, in 2021.
May 17, 2025 at 10:30 AM
I'm feeling nostalgic about the Biden administration. So here's a photo of Joseph Robinette Bidog, a.k.a. Joe, at nine weeks, in 2021.
One of my Canadian friends pointed out the similarity between Mark Carney and Mr Rogers. Perhaps that's why Carney makes me feel optimistic.
March 28, 2025 at 5:56 PM
One of my Canadian friends pointed out the similarity between Mark Carney and Mr Rogers. Perhaps that's why Carney makes me feel optimistic.
Joe is disappointed that he was left off the group chat.
March 27, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Joe is disappointed that he was left off the group chat.
You Can’t Make this Shit Up. Hegseth’s DOD has conducted a purge of ‘DEI images’ - photos of Black, Asian, female, gay, etc. people who've served their country heroically. Also excised were photos of the Enola Gay, the bomber that dropped the first atom bomb. Because, you know, it’s a gay plane.
March 8, 2025 at 10:05 AM
You Can’t Make this Shit Up. Hegseth’s DOD has conducted a purge of ‘DEI images’ - photos of Black, Asian, female, gay, etc. people who've served their country heroically. Also excised were photos of the Enola Gay, the bomber that dropped the first atom bomb. Because, you know, it’s a gay plane.
Another example of Humphrey trolling Joe. Humphrey is not remotely interested in the piece of wood, but he thoroughly enjoys not letting Joe have it.
March 3, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Another example of Humphrey trolling Joe. Humphrey is not remotely interested in the piece of wood, but he thoroughly enjoys not letting Joe have it.
Holy shit. Did he really say that? We're not worthy. BTW, speaking of eloquence, did you see this?
March 2, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Holy shit. Did he really say that? We're not worthy. BTW, speaking of eloquence, did you see this?
Something I should have said to the posh male students I taught at the University of St Andrews.
March 2, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Something I should have said to the posh male students I taught at the University of St Andrews.
Joe channeling Gordon Gekko
March 1, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Joe channeling Gordon Gekko
I'm in Spain, by myself. Missing my boys. I just finished my dinner and put the plate on the floor. Auto-pilot. But no Humphrey to lick the plate and no Joe to watch.
February 27, 2025 at 9:41 PM
I'm in Spain, by myself. Missing my boys. I just finished my dinner and put the plate on the floor. Auto-pilot. But no Humphrey to lick the plate and no Joe to watch.
RIP Gene. Funny how you managed to be in so many of my favourite films.
February 27, 2025 at 8:00 PM
RIP Gene. Funny how you managed to be in so many of my favourite films.
Spare a thought for my boy Humphrey. When he was young he had health problems which caused him to develop an aversion to the vet. So now, in order to get his annual checkup and vaccines, he has to be sedated. We used the opportunity to groom him. So here he is looking miserable. Oh, the guilt.
February 24, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Spare a thought for my boy Humphrey. When he was young he had health problems which caused him to develop an aversion to the vet. So now, in order to get his annual checkup and vaccines, he has to be sedated. We used the opportunity to groom him. So here he is looking miserable. Oh, the guilt.
The Washington Post refused to print this ad:
February 17, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The Washington Post refused to print this ad:
Humphrey seems to be laughing here. I'm going to assume so. I need his laughs at a time when laughs are few.
February 17, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Humphrey seems to be laughing here. I'm going to assume so. I need his laughs at a time when laughs are few.
In light of what I wrote yesterday about vaccines and the false connection to autism, there's currently a measles epidemic in Texas, among the unvaccinated. My piece here:
open.substack.com/pub/gerardde...
open.substack.com/pub/gerardde...
February 15, 2025 at 8:56 AM
In light of what I wrote yesterday about vaccines and the false connection to autism, there's currently a measles epidemic in Texas, among the unvaccinated. My piece here:
open.substack.com/pub/gerardde...
open.substack.com/pub/gerardde...
Just leaving this here
February 14, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Just leaving this here
Just leaving this here
February 13, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Just leaving this here
A photo of my dog Joe has received 1,365 likes on Substack. I'm lucky to get a tenth of that attention. I took this up with Joe, who said ‘Fame is unfair’. Or at least I think that’s what his eyes were saying.
Today on Substack, I riff on dogs, past and present.
open.substack.com/pub/gerardde...
Today on Substack, I riff on dogs, past and present.
open.substack.com/pub/gerardde...
February 13, 2025 at 3:54 PM
A photo of my dog Joe has received 1,365 likes on Substack. I'm lucky to get a tenth of that attention. I took this up with Joe, who said ‘Fame is unfair’. Or at least I think that’s what his eyes were saying.
Today on Substack, I riff on dogs, past and present.
open.substack.com/pub/gerardde...
Today on Substack, I riff on dogs, past and present.
open.substack.com/pub/gerardde...
Is there an alternative to Google maps? Because this pisses me off.
February 12, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Is there an alternative to Google maps? Because this pisses me off.
I've decided to provide an occasional photo of my boys, to relieve the gloom of a messed up world. So here goes. This is Humphrey's ‘I love you’ face. Not to be confused with his begging face. You're welcome.
February 5, 2025 at 3:05 PM
I've decided to provide an occasional photo of my boys, to relieve the gloom of a messed up world. So here goes. This is Humphrey's ‘I love you’ face. Not to be confused with his begging face. You're welcome.
I saw a lovely wood pigeon on my fence. 'What's happening?', I asked him.
He replied: 'Coup, Coup, Coup'.
He replied: 'Coup, Coup, Coup'.
February 4, 2025 at 9:21 AM
I saw a lovely wood pigeon on my fence. 'What's happening?', I asked him.
He replied: 'Coup, Coup, Coup'.
He replied: 'Coup, Coup, Coup'.
I'm a bit ashamed that Donald Trump thinks Starmer is ok.
February 3, 2025 at 10:14 AM
I'm a bit ashamed that Donald Trump thinks Starmer is ok.