Stephen Bickers
@stephenbickers.bsky.social
UK Diplomat in Uganda (and previously Zambia). Posts are personal opinion - mostly about books, boardgames, travel, rugby and cricket. Please don’t expect many great insights.
#Booksof2025 79 - Late Cuts by Vic Marks. A series of short essays on different aspects of cricket. I particularly liked the essay on bowling spells, and the thoughts on what goes through a bowlers mind when it starts going wrong.
And he really dislikes The Hundred, which helps.
#BookSky
#CricketSky
And he really dislikes The Hundred, which helps.
#BookSky
#CricketSky
November 2, 2025 at 6:29 PM
#Booksof2025 79 - Late Cuts by Vic Marks. A series of short essays on different aspects of cricket. I particularly liked the essay on bowling spells, and the thoughts on what goes through a bowlers mind when it starts going wrong.
And he really dislikes The Hundred, which helps.
#BookSky
#CricketSky
And he really dislikes The Hundred, which helps.
#BookSky
#CricketSky
#Bokksof2025 78 - The Woman Who Went To Bed For A Year by Sue Townsend. This is not the continuous laugh out loud comedy suggested by the front cover quotes. The best parts are quite melancholy and plaintive, but some of the characters are unfunny caricatures.
#BookSky
#BookSky
November 2, 2025 at 7:41 AM
#Bokksof2025 78 - The Woman Who Went To Bed For A Year by Sue Townsend. This is not the continuous laugh out loud comedy suggested by the front cover quotes. The best parts are quite melancholy and plaintive, but some of the characters are unfunny caricatures.
#BookSky
#BookSky
#Booksof2025 77 - Stone Blind by
@nataliehaynes.bsky.social A fantastic retelling of the Greek myth of Medusa and Perseus. The latter gets a lot of rightful shade thrown at him.
A really good book.
#BookSky
@nataliehaynes.bsky.social A fantastic retelling of the Greek myth of Medusa and Perseus. The latter gets a lot of rightful shade thrown at him.
A really good book.
#BookSky
October 25, 2025 at 5:55 AM
#Booksof2025 77 - Stone Blind by
@nataliehaynes.bsky.social A fantastic retelling of the Greek myth of Medusa and Perseus. The latter gets a lot of rightful shade thrown at him.
A really good book.
#BookSky
@nataliehaynes.bsky.social A fantastic retelling of the Greek myth of Medusa and Perseus. The latter gets a lot of rightful shade thrown at him.
A really good book.
#BookSky
#Booksof2025 76 - In A Sorry State by @jpjoughin.bsky.social A satire about poverty reduction and the development industry set in Uganda in 2011
#BookSky
#BookSky
October 24, 2025 at 12:28 PM
#Booksof2025 76 - In A Sorry State by @jpjoughin.bsky.social A satire about poverty reduction and the development industry set in Uganda in 2011
#BookSky
#BookSky
Not quite a @legolostatsea.bsky.social but an empty packet of chocolate chip cookies for the UK cornershop market was not something I expected to find on a Zanzibari beach.
The Best Before date was May 2025, so I suspect it had been washing around for some time.
The Best Before date was May 2025, so I suspect it had been washing around for some time.
October 16, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Not quite a @legolostatsea.bsky.social but an empty packet of chocolate chip cookies for the UK cornershop market was not something I expected to find on a Zanzibari beach.
The Best Before date was May 2025, so I suspect it had been washing around for some time.
The Best Before date was May 2025, so I suspect it had been washing around for some time.
#Booksof2025 75 - Bel Canto by Ann Patchett.
A party at the house of the vice president of an unnamed Latin American republic turns into a long running hostage situation.
The exaggerated scenario fits with the recurring opera theme and has a sweet charm about love, life and death.
#BookSky
A party at the house of the vice president of an unnamed Latin American republic turns into a long running hostage situation.
The exaggerated scenario fits with the recurring opera theme and has a sweet charm about love, life and death.
#BookSky
October 14, 2025 at 4:35 AM
#Booksof2025 75 - Bel Canto by Ann Patchett.
A party at the house of the vice president of an unnamed Latin American republic turns into a long running hostage situation.
The exaggerated scenario fits with the recurring opera theme and has a sweet charm about love, life and death.
#BookSky
A party at the house of the vice president of an unnamed Latin American republic turns into a long running hostage situation.
The exaggerated scenario fits with the recurring opera theme and has a sweet charm about love, life and death.
#BookSky
#Booksof2025 74 - The Perfect Golden Circle by @benjaminmyers76.bsky.social The summer of 1989 in southern England and two friends, Redbone and Calvert are spending their weekends creating crop circles. Has the perfect end of summer tinge of melancholy. A great book.
#BookSky
#BookSky
October 14, 2025 at 4:28 AM
#Booksof2025 74 - The Perfect Golden Circle by @benjaminmyers76.bsky.social The summer of 1989 in southern England and two friends, Redbone and Calvert are spending their weekends creating crop circles. Has the perfect end of summer tinge of melancholy. A great book.
#BookSky
#BookSky
#Booksof2025 - Republican Party Reptile by PJ O'Rourke
An odd book. The 'comic' essays are tedious and boring, but the factual essays are well written and interesting. Particularly his criticism of Reagan's support for Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
#BookSky
An odd book. The 'comic' essays are tedious and boring, but the factual essays are well written and interesting. Particularly his criticism of Reagan's support for Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
#BookSky
October 14, 2025 at 4:22 AM
#Booksof2025 - Republican Party Reptile by PJ O'Rourke
An odd book. The 'comic' essays are tedious and boring, but the factual essays are well written and interesting. Particularly his criticism of Reagan's support for Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
#BookSky
An odd book. The 'comic' essays are tedious and boring, but the factual essays are well written and interesting. Particularly his criticism of Reagan's support for Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
#BookSky
#Booksof2025 72 - The Men by @sannewman.bsky.social
One day all the world's men suddenly disappear. Where did they go, and what are the consequences for the world's women? Enjoyable and interesting, but I thought the plot unravelled towards the end.
##BookSky
One day all the world's men suddenly disappear. Where did they go, and what are the consequences for the world's women? Enjoyable and interesting, but I thought the plot unravelled towards the end.
##BookSky
October 14, 2025 at 4:16 AM
#Booksof2025 72 - The Men by @sannewman.bsky.social
One day all the world's men suddenly disappear. Where did they go, and what are the consequences for the world's women? Enjoyable and interesting, but I thought the plot unravelled towards the end.
##BookSky
One day all the world's men suddenly disappear. Where did they go, and what are the consequences for the world's women? Enjoyable and interesting, but I thought the plot unravelled towards the end.
##BookSky
#Booksof2025 71 - The Beautiful Struggle by Ta-Nehisi Coates. A thought-provoking memoir about Ta-Nehisi's childhood in Baltimore, and in particular, his relationship with his father. There is sadness and struggles, but also humour. Made me reflect on my teenage past. Highly Recommended
#BookSky
#BookSky
October 14, 2025 at 4:08 AM
#Booksof2025 71 - The Beautiful Struggle by Ta-Nehisi Coates. A thought-provoking memoir about Ta-Nehisi's childhood in Baltimore, and in particular, his relationship with his father. There is sadness and struggles, but also humour. Made me reflect on my teenage past. Highly Recommended
#BookSky
#BookSky
#Booksof2025 70 - We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
The story of Darling, a Zimbabwean girl growing up in the slums of Harare before moving to America.
#BookSky
The story of Darling, a Zimbabwean girl growing up in the slums of Harare before moving to America.
#BookSky
October 14, 2025 at 4:02 AM
#Booksof2025 70 - We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
The story of Darling, a Zimbabwean girl growing up in the slums of Harare before moving to America.
#BookSky
The story of Darling, a Zimbabwean girl growing up in the slums of Harare before moving to America.
#BookSky
#Booksof2025 69 - Displacement by @kikuhughes.bsky.social The story of the Japanese internment camps set up in the USA during WW2 as told through the eyes of a teenage girl who has been displaced through time.
Interesting story told in a different and thoughtful way.
#BookSky
Interesting story told in a different and thoughtful way.
#BookSky
October 3, 2025 at 5:50 PM
#Booksof2025 69 - Displacement by @kikuhughes.bsky.social The story of the Japanese internment camps set up in the USA during WW2 as told through the eyes of a teenage girl who has been displaced through time.
Interesting story told in a different and thoughtful way.
#BookSky
Interesting story told in a different and thoughtful way.
#BookSky
#Booksof2025 68 - A Castle in England by Jamie Rhodes. A collection of stories inspired by the history of Scotney Castle in Kent.
October 2, 2025 at 6:52 PM
#Booksof2025 68 - A Castle in England by Jamie Rhodes. A collection of stories inspired by the history of Scotney Castle in Kent.
#Booksof2025 67 - A Thousand Ships by @nataliehaynes.bsky.social A retelling of the story of the Trojan Wars through the eyes of the women involved. A powerful and wonderful read, with a mix of famous names (Helen, Penelope etc) and lesser known such as Laodamia and Penthesilea.
#BookSky
#BookSky
October 1, 2025 at 10:21 AM
#Booksof2025 67 - A Thousand Ships by @nataliehaynes.bsky.social A retelling of the story of the Trojan Wars through the eyes of the women involved. A powerful and wonderful read, with a mix of famous names (Helen, Penelope etc) and lesser known such as Laodamia and Penthesilea.
#BookSky
#BookSky
#Booksof2025 66 - Notes From The Burning Age by Claire North (aka Catherine Webb), who is one of the best current science fiction authors. It's a spy thriller set in a post-environmental collapse future. It has themes of forgiveness and taking the long term approach.
#BookSky
#BookSky
September 26, 2025 at 4:50 AM
#Booksof2025 66 - Notes From The Burning Age by Claire North (aka Catherine Webb), who is one of the best current science fiction authors. It's a spy thriller set in a post-environmental collapse future. It has themes of forgiveness and taking the long term approach.
#BookSky
#BookSky
#Booksof2025 64 - The Star Witness by Andy Hamilton
I think I would have enjoyed this satire on celebrity culture more if I read it when it first came out.
I just wasn't particularly interested in the main character, or the situations he found himself in.
#BookSky
I think I would have enjoyed this satire on celebrity culture more if I read it when it first came out.
I just wasn't particularly interested in the main character, or the situations he found himself in.
#BookSky
September 15, 2025 at 5:09 PM
#Booksof2025 64 - The Star Witness by Andy Hamilton
I think I would have enjoyed this satire on celebrity culture more if I read it when it first came out.
I just wasn't particularly interested in the main character, or the situations he found himself in.
#BookSky
I think I would have enjoyed this satire on celebrity culture more if I read it when it first came out.
I just wasn't particularly interested in the main character, or the situations he found himself in.
#BookSky
#Booksof2025 63 - Civilisations by @atahualpavasari.bsky.social (translated by Sam Taylor).
Alternative History fiction where vikings reach the Caribbean, hundreds of years later the Inca invade Europe... then the Aztec cross the Atlantic.
Interesting ideas told in a different way
#BookSky
Alternative History fiction where vikings reach the Caribbean, hundreds of years later the Inca invade Europe... then the Aztec cross the Atlantic.
Interesting ideas told in a different way
#BookSky
September 14, 2025 at 6:03 PM
#Booksof2025 63 - Civilisations by @atahualpavasari.bsky.social (translated by Sam Taylor).
Alternative History fiction where vikings reach the Caribbean, hundreds of years later the Inca invade Europe... then the Aztec cross the Atlantic.
Interesting ideas told in a different way
#BookSky
Alternative History fiction where vikings reach the Caribbean, hundreds of years later the Inca invade Europe... then the Aztec cross the Atlantic.
Interesting ideas told in a different way
#BookSky
#Booksof2025 62 - Bearmouth by @londonbessie.bsky.social (Liz Hyder)
YA adventure set in a very deep, very dark coal mine. Style is reminiscent of Feersum Endjinn by Iain M Banks. In a way, a good primer for early teenagers on workers' rights.
#BookSky
YA adventure set in a very deep, very dark coal mine. Style is reminiscent of Feersum Endjinn by Iain M Banks. In a way, a good primer for early teenagers on workers' rights.
#BookSky
September 6, 2025 at 6:45 AM
#Booksof2025 62 - Bearmouth by @londonbessie.bsky.social (Liz Hyder)
YA adventure set in a very deep, very dark coal mine. Style is reminiscent of Feersum Endjinn by Iain M Banks. In a way, a good primer for early teenagers on workers' rights.
#BookSky
YA adventure set in a very deep, very dark coal mine. Style is reminiscent of Feersum Endjinn by Iain M Banks. In a way, a good primer for early teenagers on workers' rights.
#BookSky
#Booksof2025 61 - Fake Heroes by @ottoenglish.bsky.social
Ten biographies of 'heroes' such as JFK, Mother Theresa and Robert Scott, that explains how they were actually 'wrong uns'.
Informative and funny; I really enjoyed it.
#BookSky
Ten biographies of 'heroes' such as JFK, Mother Theresa and Robert Scott, that explains how they were actually 'wrong uns'.
Informative and funny; I really enjoyed it.
#BookSky
September 3, 2025 at 5:01 PM
#Booksof2025 61 - Fake Heroes by @ottoenglish.bsky.social
Ten biographies of 'heroes' such as JFK, Mother Theresa and Robert Scott, that explains how they were actually 'wrong uns'.
Informative and funny; I really enjoyed it.
#BookSky
Ten biographies of 'heroes' such as JFK, Mother Theresa and Robert Scott, that explains how they were actually 'wrong uns'.
Informative and funny; I really enjoyed it.
#BookSky
#Booksof2025 60 - Dune by Frank Herbert. As I child, I remember seeing this edition on my parents' bookshelf and feeling daunted by the size of it. I'm pleased I've now read it; it is packed full of interesting ideas. Not sure I need to read the sequels
#BookSky
#BookSky
August 30, 2025 at 7:10 AM
#Booksof2025 60 - Dune by Frank Herbert. As I child, I remember seeing this edition on my parents' bookshelf and feeling daunted by the size of it. I'm pleased I've now read it; it is packed full of interesting ideas. Not sure I need to read the sequels
#BookSky
#BookSky
Watched Uganda play South Africa last night at CHAN 2024. The crowd atmosphere was great. Rollercoaster match with Uganda taking the lead, then going 3-1 down before getting two late penalties to level the match and top the group. Go Cranes!
August 19, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Watched Uganda play South Africa last night at CHAN 2024. The crowd atmosphere was great. Rollercoaster match with Uganda taking the lead, then going 3-1 down before getting two late penalties to level the match and top the group. Go Cranes!
Midway through a holiday around Kenya. So far I’ve been to Kisumu (on Lake Victoria), Kericho, Nakuru National Park and Samburu/Buffalo Springs National Reserve.
July 31, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Midway through a holiday around Kenya. So far I’ve been to Kisumu (on Lake Victoria), Kericho, Nakuru National Park and Samburu/Buffalo Springs National Reserve.
#Booksof2025 58 - My Life as a Foreign Country by Brian Turner.
Vaguely poetic reflections on war and being a soldier.
I wasn't particularly keen.
#BookSky
Vaguely poetic reflections on war and being a soldier.
I wasn't particularly keen.
#BookSky
July 31, 2025 at 5:53 AM
#Booksof2025 58 - My Life as a Foreign Country by Brian Turner.
Vaguely poetic reflections on war and being a soldier.
I wasn't particularly keen.
#BookSky
Vaguely poetic reflections on war and being a soldier.
I wasn't particularly keen.
#BookSky
#Booksof2025 57 - A Corner of a Foreign Field by Ramachandra Guha. This summer seemed an appropriate time to read this fascinating history of Indian cricket.
July 27, 2025 at 6:11 PM
#Booksof2025 57 - A Corner of a Foreign Field by Ramachandra Guha. This summer seemed an appropriate time to read this fascinating history of Indian cricket.
It's very popular in my household. This morning, the youngest (after watching it again) used old chopsticks and packing tape to make a demon killing sword.
July 13, 2025 at 9:18 AM
It's very popular in my household. This morning, the youngest (after watching it again) used old chopsticks and packing tape to make a demon killing sword.