Michael Spring
@vitessesoupspoon.bsky.social
An old man who enjoys reading, teaching lit, gardening, London and art. Touring galleries and interesting places every day!
The head of a totem pole in the British Museum
January 30, 2026 at 8:16 AM
The head of a totem pole in the British Museum
Had ultrasound on my heart today. Nurse stonily unimpressed by my quip about not wanting to know the sex...
January 28, 2026 at 1:14 PM
Had ultrasound on my heart today. Nurse stonily unimpressed by my quip about not wanting to know the sex...
Lovely tour of Tate Britain today. Lots of revelations about Frith's Derby Day and Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose. Of course John Ruskin didn't like it
January 26, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Lovely tour of Tate Britain today. Lots of revelations about Frith's Derby Day and Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose. Of course John Ruskin didn't like it
Mid-table respectability at quiz night last night. Knightsbridge is the tube station name with the longest run of vowels, for the curious.
January 25, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Mid-table respectability at quiz night last night. Knightsbridge is the tube station name with the longest run of vowels, for the curious.
Scott Bessent is right. He should bring pop tarts with him next time. International cuisine from the USA. Hope he puts them in the microwave...
January 24, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Scott Bessent is right. He should bring pop tarts with him next time. International cuisine from the USA. Hope he puts them in the microwave...
Can't stop whistling 'The Trumpton Riots.' 'Tell PC McGarry to get himself a mate, and arm themselves with CS gas, they're gonna be out late.'
January 23, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Can't stop whistling 'The Trumpton Riots.' 'Tell PC McGarry to get himself a mate, and arm themselves with CS gas, they're gonna be out late.'
On no account to be read when hungry
January 23, 2026 at 8:16 AM
On no account to be read when hungry
Romeo and Juliet, An Inspector Calls, A Christmas Carol - my students' GCSE books are becoming wonderfully familiar to them.
January 23, 2026 at 7:44 AM
Romeo and Juliet, An Inspector Calls, A Christmas Carol - my students' GCSE books are becoming wonderfully familiar to them.
My invitation to join the Boatd of Peace seems to have been delayed
January 22, 2026 at 10:24 AM
My invitation to join the Boatd of Peace seems to have been delayed
Reposted by Michael Spring
Finished The Ambassadors by Henry James. Feel I need to revisit some of it, but life may be too short. Some of those sentences!
January 19, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Finished The Ambassadors by Henry James. Feel I need to revisit some of it, but life may be too short. Some of those sentences!
Neither of the Mullins horses wins at Fakenham today! But A Piece of Fortune does after an energetic ride from Paul O'Brien
January 18, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Neither of the Mullins horses wins at Fakenham today! But A Piece of Fortune does after an energetic ride from Paul O'Brien
Here's an odd insult from a long time ago. "You say you are popular with ladies, Sextus. You who have the face of a man swimming under water." (Martial. Epigrams).
January 16, 2026 at 9:49 AM
Here's an odd insult from a long time ago. "You say you are popular with ladies, Sextus. You who have the face of a man swimming under water." (Martial. Epigrams).
Chocolate without palm oil is my crusade. How can anyone eat that stuff Mr Cadbury?
January 16, 2026 at 8:17 AM
Chocolate without palm oil is my crusade. How can anyone eat that stuff Mr Cadbury?
Personally, I didn't enjoy Hamnet. Too much angst and pain. Hamlet is too great a play to be inspired thus, in my view.
January 13, 2026 at 11:27 AM
Personally, I didn't enjoy Hamnet. Too much angst and pain. Hamlet is too great a play to be inspired thus, in my view.
Nigel Dennis is largely forgotten now, but a great writer. Cards of Identity was published with a Lucien Freud cover. The Making of Moo - about a fake religion - is a wonderful play. More in the locker...
January 12, 2026 at 8:26 AM
Nigel Dennis is largely forgotten now, but a great writer. Cards of Identity was published with a Lucien Freud cover. The Making of Moo - about a fake religion - is a wonderful play. More in the locker...
Jobs I wouldn't have wanted #1: Henry James's proofreafer. First thing would be to try to figure out what those convoluted sentences mean...
January 11, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Jobs I wouldn't have wanted #1: Henry James's proofreafer. First thing would be to try to figure out what those convoluted sentences mean...
People saying Keir Starmer has no personality often support Liz Truss. Must've had an irony bypass...
January 11, 2026 at 10:48 AM
People saying Keir Starmer has no personality often support Liz Truss. Must've had an irony bypass...
Off for a tour of Spencer House (Mayfair, London) today. A rare opportunity to visit a very grand house.
January 11, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Off for a tour of Spencer House (Mayfair, London) today. A rare opportunity to visit a very grand house.
When AJ Liebling was in Paris, his lunchtime tipple was often a bottle of Cotes-Rotie. Times change, and so do prices!
January 10, 2026 at 8:17 AM
When AJ Liebling was in Paris, his lunchtime tipple was often a bottle of Cotes-Rotie. Times change, and so do prices!
Started reading Henry James' The Ambassadors, just to show I'm not scared...
January 2, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Started reading Henry James' The Ambassadors, just to show I'm not scared...
Does my Antifa card cover me for radical leftist scum meetings or do I need to apply separately? Asking for a friend...
January 1, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Does my Antifa card cover me for radical leftist scum meetings or do I need to apply separately? Asking for a friend...
The resolution for 2026 should be for each of us to help others. Each of us has some skill (or many!) that we can put to use. And of course in helping others, we help ourselves.
January 1, 2026 at 10:20 AM
The resolution for 2026 should be for each of us to help others. Each of us has some skill (or many!) that we can put to use. And of course in helping others, we help ourselves.
"Night rushes on, embracing the world in her sable wings..."
December 29, 2025 at 9:59 AM
"Night rushes on, embracing the world in her sable wings..."
'And God created woman...' Farewell Brigitte
December 28, 2025 at 1:34 PM
'And God created woman...' Farewell Brigitte