Asylum seekers, housed in hotels in Manchester, are reaching out in their own words to address the concerns of the local community.

Please take a minute to read their letter, & share it with the people in your life who need to hear the truth about the people they are protesting.

We Need a War, Fischerspooner, 2005.

Back to the 50s with the New Statesman whining about the 'triumph of the screen'. What century is this? And who decides what is a 'literary' novel? Is this even a useful distinction?

Not now, earth's core.

Sunday: 10 inches of snow on the driveway. Wednesday: 14 degrees; butterflies (950 feet up a hill in northeast Scotland). All completely normal.

Joy to the world etc.

Sorry, did I miss the memo where it becomes okay to deny basic rights, conduct clandestine deportations, deny legal assistance and violate international law became okay "when Labour is doing it", because I seem to have an ungodly amount of people in my mentions making that argument today?

The Herald decides that, rather than possible future victims of assault and stalking, it is Stokes himself who needs to be saved from him. 'Flawed'?

I miss the larch needles now they've fallen (and have indelibly bonded themselves to the car windscreen).

Cup of tea on the bench? Perhaps not today.