James Thomson
@james-tho.bsky.social
Interests: classical music, wine (James__t on CT), sailing (own a Boreal), food and cuisine, photography, mathematics
On Saturday we went to an excellent and original Le Nozze di Figaro by Curtis students. Rear doors revealed a different scene each time, an original way to sidestep usual elaborate opera staging. Enormously talented singers and orchestra, especially Juliette Tacchino’s Susanna.
March 3, 2025 at 3:50 PM
On Saturday we went to an excellent and original Le Nozze di Figaro by Curtis students. Rear doors revealed a different scene each time, an original way to sidestep usual elaborate opera staging. Enormously talented singers and orchestra, especially Juliette Tacchino’s Susanna.
Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the death of P G Wodehouse. In 1930, my late mother-in-law, then 12, wrote him a letter and received this lovely reply, complete with a drawing of the Empress of Blandings, Lord Emsworth’s prize pig #wodehouse #pgwodehouse
February 15, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the death of P G Wodehouse. In 1930, my late mother-in-law, then 12, wrote him a letter and received this lovely reply, complete with a drawing of the Empress of Blandings, Lord Emsworth’s prize pig #wodehouse #pgwodehouse
So, finally this was the choice. 2017 was not a weighty year so this is certainly ready to drink. Good notes of leather and cedar giving the sense of an older wine belied by the quite vibrant ruby color. Good, vibrant fruit and reasonable length. Excellent overall
February 15, 2025 at 3:48 AM
So, finally this was the choice. 2017 was not a weighty year so this is certainly ready to drink. Good notes of leather and cedar giving the sense of an older wine belied by the quite vibrant ruby color. Good, vibrant fruit and reasonable length. Excellent overall
February 7, 2025 at 1:32 PM
🪶 Herons always manage to look, thoughtful, introspective and composed. If you watch them for any length of time you realize they are actually ruthless predators who will kill pretty much anything they can swallow and quite a number of things they cannot swallow
January 30, 2025 at 3:36 PM
🪶 Herons always manage to look, thoughtful, introspective and composed. If you watch them for any length of time you realize they are actually ruthless predators who will kill pretty much anything they can swallow and quite a number of things they cannot swallow
Guests coming to dinner, so I thought I would try to serve wine that one doesn’t see in the PLCB. Octagon is a Bordeaux blend, Merlot, CS and Petit Verdot. Got it on a visit last year to the impressive winery at Barboursville, VA, which also has a pretty decent restaurant.
#wine
#wine
January 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Guests coming to dinner, so I thought I would try to serve wine that one doesn’t see in the PLCB. Octagon is a Bordeaux blend, Merlot, CS and Petit Verdot. Got it on a visit last year to the impressive winery at Barboursville, VA, which also has a pretty decent restaurant.
#wine
#wine
🪶 The European robin is a good subject because they are abundant but also not at all shy, so you can get quite close. I was pleased with the detail that came out on this. #robin #birds #inishbofin
January 15, 2025 at 7:25 PM
🪶 The European robin is a good subject because they are abundant but also not at all shy, so you can get quite close. I was pleased with the detail that came out on this. #robin #birds #inishbofin
Our boat Curlew anchored off the village of Cleggan in Co. Galway. A sheltered bay with very good holding and lots of space. The village is worth visiting. Only time it gets tricky is in a strong easterly which funnels down the valley #yachtcurlew #cleggan #boats #sailing #anchor
January 14, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Our boat Curlew anchored off the village of Cleggan in Co. Galway. A sheltered bay with very good holding and lots of space. The village is worth visiting. Only time it gets tricky is in a strong easterly which funnels down the valley #yachtcurlew #cleggan #boats #sailing #anchor
A ptarmigan - photo taken two years ago in Iceland where these birds are quite common. Although they are hunted in the north of the country this one let me get quite close. 🪶 #birds #birdsoficeland
January 6, 2025 at 1:44 PM
A ptarmigan - photo taken two years ago in Iceland where these birds are quite common. Although they are hunted in the north of the country this one let me get quite close. 🪶 #birds #birdsoficeland
On a trip to Iceland two years we saw numerous Common Snipe (gallinago gallinago) that seemed not wary of humans. This one perched just outside our AirBnb.
The sound of them drumming was ever-present. #birds #iceland #birdsoficeland
🪶
The sound of them drumming was ever-present. #birds #iceland #birdsoficeland
🪶
January 5, 2025 at 8:26 PM
On a trip to Iceland two years we saw numerous Common Snipe (gallinago gallinago) that seemed not wary of humans. This one perched just outside our AirBnb.
The sound of them drumming was ever-present. #birds #iceland #birdsoficeland
🪶
The sound of them drumming was ever-present. #birds #iceland #birdsoficeland
🪶
#Tessthespaniel thinking “What is this somewhat scary noise? Oh, just Bruckner, ok I guess”. #dogs #puppies #springerspaniel
January 5, 2025 at 2:55 PM
#Tessthespaniel thinking “What is this somewhat scary noise? Oh, just Bruckner, ok I guess”. #dogs #puppies #springerspaniel
January 4, 2025 at 3:52 PM
🪶 A photo I took in Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland - not a region where you would expect to see peregrine falcons. Not a great shot due to distance. There is something unmistakeable about the #peregrine in profile. #birdsofireland
January 4, 2025 at 1:17 PM
🪶 A photo I took in Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland - not a region where you would expect to see peregrine falcons. Not a great shot due to distance. There is something unmistakeable about the #peregrine in profile. #birdsofireland
Cooper’s Hawk - named by Charles Bonaparte, (nephew of NB), a notable ornithologist, after a friend and fellow enthusiast. This one sat outside our house for half an hour. The species will duly be renamed in the AOS project replacing honorific names #birds #coopershawk #birdsofprey
January 2, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Cooper’s Hawk - named by Charles Bonaparte, (nephew of NB), a notable ornithologist, after a friend and fellow enthusiast. This one sat outside our house for half an hour. The species will duly be renamed in the AOS project replacing honorific names #birds #coopershawk #birdsofprey
A handsome hooded crow (Corvus cornix), only recognized as a distinct species from the carrion crow (Corvus corone) this century. Wikipedia says that the two hybridize but the offspring are less viable, hence the conclusion that the species are distinct. #hoodedcrow #birdsofireland #corvuscornix
January 2, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A handsome hooded crow (Corvus cornix), only recognized as a distinct species from the carrion crow (Corvus corone) this century. Wikipedia says that the two hybridize but the offspring are less viable, hence the conclusion that the species are distinct. #hoodedcrow #birdsofireland #corvuscornix
Tess going for her first walk this morning. Distemper and parvo virus are very prevalent here so our vet advised keeping her in until a week after her third set of shots. She did well but a bit scared of traffic
#tessthespaniel
#springerspaniel
#spanielpuppy
#puppies
#dogs
#tessthespaniel
#springerspaniel
#spanielpuppy
#puppies
#dogs
December 29, 2024 at 1:52 PM
Tess going for her first walk this morning. Distemper and parvo virus are very prevalent here so our vet advised keeping her in until a week after her third set of shots. She did well but a bit scared of traffic
#tessthespaniel
#springerspaniel
#spanielpuppy
#puppies
#dogs
#tessthespaniel
#springerspaniel
#spanielpuppy
#puppies
#dogs
Another milestone - we have moved to the large size of harness. Still a fair amount more growing to do, I suspect. Tess has also learned “Sit” and “Wait”
#tessthespaniel
#springerspaniel
#spanielpuppies
#puppies
#dogs
#tessthespaniel
#springerspaniel
#spanielpuppies
#puppies
#dogs
December 28, 2024 at 4:03 PM
Another milestone - we have moved to the large size of harness. Still a fair amount more growing to do, I suspect. Tess has also learned “Sit” and “Wait”
#tessthespaniel
#springerspaniel
#spanielpuppies
#puppies
#dogs
#tessthespaniel
#springerspaniel
#spanielpuppies
#puppies
#dogs
Our puppy Tess has an endearing habit. When you go to the coat closet she runs up the stairs alongside so she can be at eye level with you.
#springerspaniel #springerspanielpuppy #tessthespaniel
#dogs
#puppies
#springerspaniel #springerspanielpuppy #tessthespaniel
#dogs
#puppies
December 26, 2024 at 5:10 PM
Our puppy Tess has an endearing habit. When you go to the coat closet she runs up the stairs alongside so she can be at eye level with you.
#springerspaniel #springerspanielpuppy #tessthespaniel
#dogs
#puppies
#springerspaniel #springerspanielpuppy #tessthespaniel
#dogs
#puppies
Made these to bring these to the feast of the seven fishes chez our daughter and SIL. I use Claire Saffitz’s excellent recipe in the NYT. It is a little tricky and my shapes are not perfect but the taste and texture are totally authentic. Forgot them last year and was briefly in the maison du chien
December 24, 2024 at 8:22 PM
Made these to bring these to the feast of the seven fishes chez our daughter and SIL. I use Claire Saffitz’s excellent recipe in the NYT. It is a little tricky and my shapes are not perfect but the taste and texture are totally authentic. Forgot them last year and was briefly in the maison du chien
For my birthday, seven years ago, I was given this bottle of Savigny-lès-Beaune from my birth year, 1957. I was grateful but had no expectations. Completely wrong! It had obviously been stored impeccably and was absolutely marvellous. You can never tell. Domaine Louis Affre no longer exists.
December 21, 2024 at 1:36 AM
For my birthday, seven years ago, I was given this bottle of Savigny-lès-Beaune from my birth year, 1957. I was grateful but had no expectations. Completely wrong! It had obviously been stored impeccably and was absolutely marvellous. You can never tell. Domaine Louis Affre no longer exists.
Young dogs have a difficult time seeing their reflection but after a while they seem at least to get the idea that what they see isn’t real. Tess is not there yet and Sophie’s expression of tolerant amusement is excellent. #tessthespringer #dogs #puppies #springerspaniel
December 20, 2024 at 4:13 PM
Young dogs have a difficult time seeing their reflection but after a while they seem at least to get the idea that what they see isn’t real. Tess is not there yet and Sophie’s expression of tolerant amusement is excellent. #tessthespringer #dogs #puppies #springerspaniel