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Nigel Farage has spent his summer fighting a pointless election against a bin, an attempted distraction from his £5m donation.
Meanwhile, the Labour Government has closed 13 more asylum hotels. That brings the total to 44 asylum hotels closed this year. Saving the taxpayer £224 million and bringing us a step... eyebeemania.net https://eyebeemania.net/2026/08/13/nigel-farage-has-spent-his.html

2026-08-13 08:44:05 GMT

Last evening’s partial eclipse from my back garden… https://ianbmay.com/uploads/2026/c88872b2e8.jpg

2026-08-13 07:15:54 GMT

It’s currently, just after 8 am here in London, 71°F. It’s heading up to a forecast high of 94° this afternoon, with a ‘feels like’ temperature of 97°F (36°C)

2026-08-12 05:55:12 GMT

UK peeps, check put this scam and sign the protest: 38d.gs/vqro https://38d.gs/vqro

2026-08-10 10:00:29 GMT

Breaking News! https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/251909/2026/f5e4e4a37b.jpg

2026-08-07 16:32:12 GMT

IT’s not been a bad day today. I’ve been at work, but it’s been sensible hours 7-4. I’ve finished work and headed to the pub for a beer, and it’s nice and relaxing. I’m enjoying a pint of Fuller’s ESB.

2026-08-04 15:33:37 GMT

I know about petrichor, and I’ve smelt it before. However, I am sitting in my front room, with the windows open, and headphones on. I got this really overpowering smell of dampness, and then I realised it had been gently spitting with rain outside. I’ve just never smelt it that strongly before, and never... eyebeemania.net https://eyebeemania.net/2026/08/04/i-know-about-petrichor-and.html

2026-08-04 15:20:31 GMT

I don’t often listen to the radio these days, but I’m tuned into one of my favourites right now: WCOO 105.5 The Bridge, from Charleston, SC, USA.

2026-08-04 15:19:13 GMT

Having worked late shifts for the past week or so, I haven’t had the opportunity to have one single refreshing beer. However, I’m just rectifying that right now, as I’ve just opened a bottle of Fuller’s London Pride. I was going to the local, but I had a few things to do indoors, and I’m looking to have a... eyebeemania.net https://eyebeemania.net/2026/08/04/having-worked-late-shifts-for.html

2026-08-04 14:51:17 GMT

That was fun, sorting out some 45s for Vinyl Night this evening. 9 records. A real mix. Everly Bros, Mink DeVille, Kim Weston, Free, The Fortunes, Pecy Faith, Paul Evans, England Dan & John Ford Coley, and ELO.

2026-08-04 08:58:30 GMT

First of two days off. I got up late again after catching up on some sleep. This evening is Vinyl Night at the Mason’s Arms, but Kathy has an evening dental appointment now, which has thrown a spanner in the works a bit. We shall see how it all pans out. More important to get her toothache sorted!

2026-08-03 10:26:08 GMT

Go on. You just know you’d love to try these! https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/251909/2026/0e8a9a3ea6.jpg

2026-08-03 10:10:37 GMT

In the mood for some relaxing tunes before getting ready for work in a couple of hours. Fired up Roon and am playing some Coleman Hawkins from my digital audio collection

2026-08-03 09:59:23 GMT

MPs are trying to push Thames Water into a ‘cooperative model’.
Basically, they have a babysitter from the State who sits with them until they behave, then in a few years it is back to business as usual.
NO, end the con, Nationalise.

2026-08-03 09:00:08 GMT

Well, that’s a first! I woke up when Kathy was getting ready for work, stayed in bed, and went back to sleep until after nine! I’ve only been getting 4-5 hours of sleep each night over the past few days, so it was needed. From tomorrow, I can go back to a regular bedtime.

2026-08-02 09:58:52 GMT

This piece of crap is the CEO of @Thameswater. A greedy cunt that trousered a huge salary, yet complains that water bills are too low. Renationalisation is way past due, and get rid of wankers like this. https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/251909/2026/353f05ee77.jpg

2026-08-02 09:34:44 GMT

It’s a shit weekend, with these horrible shifts. If I were an early shift, at least I’d get the evenings at home, and get to bed at a reasonable hour.

2026-08-02 09:31:12 GMT

Sunday Morning. Sunny 72°F. Into the 80s this afternoon. Salt mine from three until Midnight, which sucks ass.

2026-08-02 00:02:20 GMT

It’s 1 am. Still drinking coffee. Yawning big time too.

2026-08-01 22:55:04 GMT

It’s just approaching midnight and I’m drinking coffee. Caveat: I’m still at work until 2am.

2026-08-01 07:08:42 GMT

Defend the BBC from the Orange Blob
act.38degrees.org.uk/act/bbc-n… https://act.38degrees.org.uk/act/bbc-new-dg-petition-eoi

2026-08-01 06:53:42 GMT

Today will be fun. NOT. Awake after five hours of sleep, and today I have to work from 5 pm to 2 am. I think the body state after that, plus 3 pm to midnight tomorrow begins with an ‘F’.

2026-07-31 09:40:40 GMT

Another day at the salt mine. Yawn. Already looking forward to getting home around 11pm.

2026-07-30 11:40:43 GMT

No to Bezos in Liverpool: 38d.gs/mexd https://38d.gs/mexd

2026-07-30 09:45:01 GMT

Giving my ears a clean out, with some PsyTrance this morning. Philosophy, an album I found on Qobuz. Well, Room found it for me, actually.

2026-07-30 06:54:43 GMT

I tried to sleep in a bit this morning but, alas, it didn’t work. Still awake soon after six. Working until 10.30 pm messes up my sleep pattern. I’m usually asleep by ten. Wife’s alarm goes off just after six. That’s it then, I’m awake.

2026-07-30 06:51:08 GMT

2026-07-28 06:27:27 GMT

2-10 at the salt mine for the next seven days, except the weekend, which is even later. Sigh.

2026-07-27 08:10:55 GMT

Been into the garden and watered the veggies. It’s a pain in the backside with a watering can, but we haven’t had any rain for a while, and the useless water companies haven’t invested in any additional reservoirs, just pocketed the profits instead.

2026-07-27 07:34:36 GMT

The quiet before the storm? A day off today, and then working 2-10 all week. Yuck.

2026-07-26 19:21:44 GMT

Why the fuck do these assholes get bonuses? What for? For pumping more shit into our rivers?
@thameswater still paid £4.1m in bonuses to senior staff not covered by the ban.

2026-07-26 16:02:28 GMT

Not a brand of crisps that you see too often these days! https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/251909/2026/06625dee14.jpg

2026-07-26 15:55:39 GMT

Is Bob your Uncle?

2026-07-25 09:17:37 GMT

Back to the salt mine today. Got through the first five hours, and I’m having a break in the nearby coffee shop. I did bring a coffee to work from home, but I’ve drunk that already. I only had about 3.5 hours sleep last night, so I’m yawning my head off now. I love coffee, but it doesn’t wake me up!

2026-07-24 15:16:29 GMT

16-bit audio or 24?

2026-07-24 13:24:15 GMT

I’ve lost my headphones. I invited my wife to try out the new DAC set-up, and now she doesn’t want to give them back, LOL. She’s got me searching through Roon to find her favourite tracks, so I’m her DJ for the afternoon…

2026-07-23 07:55:32 GMT

It’s about time, in fact it’s long past due, for the
@thameswater
cowboys to be renationalised. Trousering bastards should have been spending money on the infrastructure, not pocketing the profits until they got taken to task over it. Too little, too late now.

2026-07-22 08:31:18 GMT

Needed a DAC upgrade. Was using a Topping DX1. It was OK, but I wanted something better. After much thought and mind-changing, I went for the FiiO K13 R2R. A ladder DAC rather than a Delta Sigma. I am not disappointed! A rich, smooth, lush sound. Just need to re-listen to my audio library.

2026-07-19 19:09:27 GMT

Time for bed, said Zebedee. Up for the salt mine at 03:45.

2026-07-19 08:43:42 GMT

Sunday Morning. 09.45 am now. Been awake for some time, but only just got to sit down at the computer. Made coffee first of course. It’s a bright sunny day, currently 67° outside and a few degrees warmer inside. Windows are open though, to have some nice fresh air through the house since being shut overnight.

2026-07-18 16:33:16 GMT

OK, I have to concede something. My wife has been saying for ages to get a rice cooker. I said, “What’s wrong with a saucepan?” Anyway, a few weeks ago, I got one. They are surprisingly inexpensive. Today, I’ve made rice, and I didn’t have to keep going to the kitchen to check it.

2026-07-18 16:28:09 GMT

Saturday Listening: This afternoon, I’ve been listening to New Order for the past three hours.

2026-07-18 16:23:01 GMT

A day at home today. Making dinner now. My wife will be home in about an hour and a half. Cracked open a beer.

2026-07-18 09:55:26 GMT

Coffee inspires me to do things. It’s like this. I got up from my desk and went to the kitchen to make coffee. I looked out of the window at the garden. I then went into the garden, weeded the veg patch, spot-watered what needed watering, and cleaned out the paddling pool. THEN I got coffee.

2026-07-17 14:32:05 GMT

Giving the Rolling Stones latest album, Foreign Tongues, a spin. Currently streaming from Qobuz, but I’m going to look at getting the CD or LP. Only one track has the late Charlie Watts drumming, but Steve Jordan does an admirable job with the rest of the album.

2026-07-17 10:08:26 GMT

Definitely sluggish this morning. Beers with a friend in the afternoon, and then wine tasting with my wife in the evening.

2026-07-16 06:55:52 GMT

Meeting a friend later for a couple of sherbets, but first I have a PSA test ( prostrate test). It’s most important for guys to get these so if you get the chance go for it.

2026-07-16 06:27:22 GMT

I do like waking up on the first morning of a four day long weekend off. No salt mine until Monday!

2026-07-15 09:01:17 GMT

I’m sitting here with a cool breeze coming through the window and doing some journaling. I need to go make another mug of coffee, though.

2026-07-15 08:24:41 GMT

I scored 8/8 on CAMRA’s ‘Spot the fake craft’ quiz. Can you spot which ‘craft beers’ are actually owned by global corps? camra.org.uk/beer-repo… https://camra.org.uk/beer-report?score=8

2026-07-14 11:49:58 GMT

It’s not what politicians say that counts; It’s not even what they do that counts. It’s what they actually achieve that truly counts. Yet the media waste so many column inches analysing every word that’s said.

2026-07-13 08:37:49 GMT

It was a cool night here. We didn’t even have the fan on. Bedroom windows were open but we have those open at night pretty much year round.

2026-07-12 20:42:03 GMT

Just sitting here playing a few tunes. I dug out Frampton Comes Alive. I can’t get my head around that it’s 50 years old!

2026-07-11 09:20:44 GMT

Well, that break went much too quickly. The Ealing Beer Festival was fun as usual, even though Wednesday and Thursday were a little warm. Back to the tedium of work today.

2026-07-09 10:44:42 GMT

Another warm day. Going to hit 90° on the mercury today. Some cool beer will be in order this afternoon!

2026-07-08 18:52:52 GMT

Usenet, anyone?

2026-07-07 09:03:10 GMT

Another round of dev betas for Apple’s OS 27. I’ve done this Mac Mini, Done my iPhone 15 PM, the Apple TV 4Ks, and now I’m doing anApple Watch Ultra 3.

2026-07-07 08:33:16 GMT

OK. I’m slacking. I’m off this week, and I’ve let my journaling slip. I’m going to brew another coffee and get right to it.

2026-07-07 08:21:32 GMT

Another warm day. Up at six and watered the garden. Coffee and more coffee. Charging up all my tags and trackers this morning. Playing some Techno. Lodge supper this evening, before the summer recess.

2026-07-06 15:26:49 GMT

We are going to have brill for tea, with a side salad

2026-07-06 12:41:02 GMT

Just had a very pleasant hour in the new paddling pool. Couldn’t stay any longer, as I’m not supposed to stay out in the sun due to the medication I take, and the sun moved around, and I was no longer in the shade.

2026-07-06 09:15:12 GMT

Don’t laugh. We bought a paddling pool. Delivered yesterday. Inflated it this morning and now I’m taking out a new mortgage so I can pay the Thames Water bandits to fill it.

2026-07-06 06:39:20 GMT

It was a rather warm night; I woke up more than once but eventually slept well. It was almost 7 am when I finally got up. First things first. Coffee, of course.

2026-07-05 12:06:58 GMT

I don’t often wear them, but today, for a change, I thought I would wear contacts. Took me a while to get them in. I seem to have lost the knack!

2026-07-04 12:59:31 GMT

Had to go to the local pharmacy to get prescription meds. Jumped in the bus, went downtown and now grabbing an Americano

2026-07-04 08:15:43 GMT

The Morning Brew. Episode One https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/251909/2026/38af9cc908.jpg

2026-07-04 03:09:13 GMT

Hello, four in the morning. How are you?

2026-07-03 17:13:40 GMT

Listening to some hi-res audio. Recordings are from 1964. Stereo recording became commercially available in 1958, but there was a ten-year overlap, and quite a number of mono recordings until 1968. Clarity is excellent, but mono is very noticeable on headphones, and some early stereo poorly mixed.

2026-07-03 08:36:58 GMT

I was awake around six. I saw my wife off to work, and then made coffee and checked emails. I then did some hoeing and weeding in the vegetable patch, and watered everything that needed a drop. Now I’m cooking some sausages to make a sandwich for breakfast, with more coffee, of course.

2026-07-02 21:32:35 GMT

Using Wavelength https://eyebeemania.net/2026/07/02/using-wavelength.html

2026-07-02 08:42:29 GMT

The weather app on my computer (and phone) said 0% chance of rain for the next ten days. So, I come out in just t-shirt and shorts. I’m sitting in a coffee shop, and… it’s raining outside. No, I don’t carry an umbrella, they are a total pain in the backside, and I always leave them somewhere anyway.

2026-07-01 10:49:48 GMT

That’s half the year gone already! Apparently, there’s another hastened coming here this weekend. We shall see.

2026-06-29 12:49:42 GMT

It’s time for a lunchtime sherbet.
Fullers ESB

2026-06-29 10:03:38 GMT

Personal grooming day today. Haircut, shave, facial massage and the brutal waxing. Guys can do the pampering thing too! https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/251909/2026/8c656916d3.jpg

2026-06-28 15:50:22 GMT

So I’m now cooking ribs on the George Foreman ala Keith Floyd style. That is, with a large glass of Picpoul de Pinet…

2026-06-28 15:22:26 GMT

We’re making dinners for a few days. Pork Adobo, Chicken Curry, and Beef Casserole. Today I’m about to grill some pork ribs on the George Foreman, which will be served with new potatoes I had to scrape, steamed broccoli, and some chilled white wine to wash it down.

2026-06-28 14:59:02 GMT

Makerfield By-Election https://eyebeemania.net/2026/06/28/makerfield-byelection.html

2026-06-28 14:54:38 GMT

Grrr. My Hive Thermostat decided it didn’t want to talk to the system all of a sudden. Not that we need the heating on, of course, but these things need to be working correctly. 45 minutes of farting about with multiple reboots and pairing attempts with receiver, hub, and thermostat finally worked!

2026-06-28 11:20:39 GMT

Not looking for any early growing record or anything, but this is the first year I’ve tried growing strawberries. I bought ten plants on a stall at an event in Kent, and having planted them out, I’ve just spied the very first small fruit.

2026-06-28 10:40:48 GMT

I KNEW this would happen. Hot sunny weather all week while I’m at the salt mine. Get a day off, get in the garden, for a few jobs and some fresh air and it starts poxy raining! Grrrrr.

2026-06-28 08:52:16 GMT

Planted out savoy cabbage seedlings this morning.

2026-06-28 07:01:13 GMT

macOS 27 Beta 2 downloaded and installed on this M3 MacBook Air, and we’re up and running OK. Let’s see what bugs I can find and report as we go through the day. Mind you, I’ll probably switch to my Mac Mini later on. I don’t expect to sit outside all day.

2026-06-28 06:47:51 GMT

Downloading macOS 27 Beta 2 for this MacBook. It’s not my main machine, so I can live with any issues that arise.

2026-06-28 06:44:24 GMT

My ideal temperature, would be about 81°F - 27°C during the day, and about 50°F - 10°C overnight.

2026-06-28 06:43:08 GMT

My wife likes to sleep in on days off. I tend to wake up the same time every day. Earlier sometimes if I’m at work by five, but otherwise, naturally, around 5.30 - 6.00 am. If I sleep later, it’s never beyond 7 am unless I’m unwell. Anyway, I leave her sleeping unless we’re going out somewhere.

2026-06-28 06:37:05 GMT

7.30 am Sunday morning. The garden has been watered. Coffee has been brewed. Wife is still snoring upstairs. I’m sitting on the patio, and there’s a whole lot of birdsong going on, and the noise of aircraft in the background every so often. There’s a cool breeze.

2026-06-27 13:01:12 GMT

It is still a warm day here, but it’s a few degrees down on yesterday at this time. Itdoesn’tfeel quite so humid either.

2026-06-27 06:59:15 GMT

Last day at the salt mine for a couple of days. Of course the weather will turn dodgy tomorrow, I bet!

2026-06-25 19:32:40 GMT

Ealing Beer Festival 2026 https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/251909/2026/549f415db2.jpg

2026-06-25 12:14:47 GMT

In old London Town this week… https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/251909/2026/image.png

2026-06-25 12:09:19 GMT

It’s another warm day in London, but it seems to be just a few degrees lower than yesterday at this time.

2026-06-21 13:51:44 GMT

I’m very much a coffee drinker. Americano or Espresso, nothing added. However, I’ve got an abundance of lemon balm growing in the garden, so I thought I’d steep some leaves and see how that turns out. It’s actually quite refreshing on such a warm day, and does make a change from coffee!

2026-06-21 12:57:21 GMT

The sun moved around. The patio is no longer in the shade. I came inside the house. I took a shower (I was gardening earlier anyway). I made lemon balm tea as we have a ton of it in the. garden. I’m in the front room, which is now away from the sun. IT’s 86°F (30°C) in here, certainly warm!

2026-06-21 10:02:19 GMT

My house lies NE to SW. In the morning, it’s cool and shady in the back garden. In the afternoon, it can get hot, as it’s a real sun trap. Right now, though, I’m sitting in the shade, on the patio with my MacBook and another mug of coffee, and it’s pleasant at 72°F (22°C).

2026-06-21 08:54:06 GMT

Perhaps I am becoming a minority. I much prefer to write, blog, and use social media on my MacBook or Mac Mini than I do on my iPhone. I usually only do quick stuff on the phone, though I did buy a folding keyboard so I can use it more easily when out and about. I’m almost always more interested in MacOS... eyebeemania.net https://eyebeemania.net/2026/06/21/perhaps-i-am-becoming-a.html

2026-06-18 10:21:39 GMT

I’m not really into sports. Here’s a video explaining the psychology.
youtu.be/FNaKeJmqC… https://youtu.be/FNaKeJmqCBs?si=59ORo5fnSYVSJ9_J

2026-05-28 19:14:14 GMT

I got in from work at 2.15 pm. I watered the garden, made a lamb stew from scratch, cleaned the kitchen, put all the rubbish out for the dustmen tomorrow, took a shower, and paid some bills. THEN I opened a beer and sat down. It was 3.25 pm. You can get a lot done when you put your mind to it.