On Saturday, Hanover showed up to protest against the rise of fascism and the AfD in particular. We were there too.

Happy New Year to everyone. I spent yesterday evening around a big table with close friends in England. Zero fireworks in sight. Lovely. I've spent the last 6 NYEs hoping the next year will be better. But it never is, just usually full of more but different sh!te. Remarkably, I remain an optimist.

Here it is, unpopular opinion about Germany: I don't like the firework-throwing recklessness that is NYE. It frightens me and am I alone in thinking it's deeply inappropriate, given all the suffering in Gaza? Glad I'm in England this year.

Hanover's best-kept secret: its superb Christmas market. This year's featured a dedicated biscuit-making bakery for kids. The market also has a Finnish section with fish smoked over a fire and a medieval part where you can try your hand at a crossbow. It's a cut above.

Hanover's Christmas market (and I say this from experience of many) is pretty unbeatable. Alongside a nightly fire show, a Finnish and surprisingly fun mediaeval section, they've now introduced a bakery for little kids to use. Oh, and there's also a pine-smelling forest with a pub in it.

When in Yorkshire, we visited Shibden Hall, home of the 19 c diarist, business woman and linguist Anne Lister. She was also a lesbian who lived openly with her partner, also called Ann. Netflix turned her life into a series called Gentleman Jack. I recommend it highly for long dark evenings ahead.

A rare opportunity in the humanities.

Yorkshire ppl: looking for something to do at the weekend? Go to Salt's Mill in Saltaire. It's wonderful in itself, but there's also lots of Hockney's work on the ground floor and a wonderful exhibition of his frieze (painted on an iPad) of A Year In Normandy. All free.

I'm holidaying in Yorkshire. What a place. Such friendly folks. And I know what to say when ppl say "Ey up" now - this greeting always puzzled me before. I also learnt that scran means food.

I recommend using @deck.blue if you're after a tweetdeck experience. The current version even has lists!

The one where you're dying for a change of scene and wake up to this view in Copenhagen.

Just heard a great definition of AI: plagiarism software. Telling it like it is. #ai #callingoutbs

I abhor Mitch McConnell's politics, but felt very sorry for him experiencing a TIA while half the world was watching. #BeKind