Some Melodious Plot
@somemelodiousplot.bsky.social
I know you love Manhattan, but
you ought to look up more often.
https://somemelodiousplot.blogspot.com/
https://somemelodiousplot.blogspot.com/
Pinned
A Knot is a Knot is a Knot - Francisco de Zurbarán at the National Gallery (III)
If Saint Casilda’s outfit causes you to gaze upwards as if you’re taking in a show on a catwalk, Zurbaran’s two paintings of Saint Franc...
somemelodiousplot.blogspot.com
More thoughts on Zurbarán at the National Gallery. The two Saint Francis paintings almost have me rushing off to join a monastery.
somemelodiousplot.blogspot.com/2026/08/a-kn...
somemelodiousplot.blogspot.com/2026/08/a-kn...
I need a midweek pick-me-up. Just grabbed a last minute ticket to see The Producers tonight. That'll do it!
September 16, 2026 at 4:25 PM
I need a midweek pick-me-up. Just grabbed a last minute ticket to see The Producers tonight. That'll do it!
This is so sad and I'm thinking back to my old workplace of Kingston University. In her capacity as Chancellor at Kingston I got to meet her a few times. She'd often host my donor thank you events. Charming, intelligent and inspirational.
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/s...
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/s...
Bonnie Greer, writer and cultural commentator, dies aged 77
The British-American novelist and playwright who regularly appeared on panel shows will be remembered for her ‘warmth, humour and generosity’, says her husband
www.theguardian.com
September 16, 2026 at 1:08 PM
This is so sad and I'm thinking back to my old workplace of Kingston University. In her capacity as Chancellor at Kingston I got to meet her a few times. She'd often host my donor thank you events. Charming, intelligent and inspirational.
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/s...
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/s...
My streak of 36 still alive. 😮💨 One of the hardest ever Connections. I had to use the elimination method - far from foolproof - to get the final berths.
Connections
Puzzle #1193
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Connections
Puzzle #1193
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September 16, 2026 at 8:36 AM
My streak of 36 still alive. 😮💨 One of the hardest ever Connections. I had to use the elimination method - far from foolproof - to get the final berths.
Connections
Puzzle #1193
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟦🟪🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
Connections
Puzzle #1193
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟦🟪🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟦
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Today I've learned that Oscar Wilde paid his brother Willie to grow and keep a beard so they wouldn't be mistaken for each other.
September 15, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Today I've learned that Oscar Wilde paid his brother Willie to grow and keep a beard so they wouldn't be mistaken for each other.
Lacey the cat, not enjoying Penda’s Fen as much as me. I think she’s taken against Stephen.
September 13, 2026 at 11:40 AM
Lacey the cat, not enjoying Penda’s Fen as much as me. I think she’s taken against Stephen.
That AI startup that was breached by OpenAI. It’s called Hugging Face. They’re even naming their products after stuff that poses an existential threat to humankind.
September 13, 2026 at 8:41 AM
That AI startup that was breached by OpenAI. It’s called Hugging Face. They’re even naming their products after stuff that poses an existential threat to humankind.
Cinema? Bit of Harry Dean Stanton in Repo Man? Why not!
September 12, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Cinema? Bit of Harry Dean Stanton in Repo Man? Why not!
Love this Bruno Schrecker photograph of the harpist Marisa Robles. Bruno used to be the cellist in the Allegri Quartet and he died last month. Bedtime listening: the Quartet playing Ravel’s String Quartet.
September 11, 2026 at 9:36 PM
Love this Bruno Schrecker photograph of the harpist Marisa Robles. Bruno used to be the cellist in the Allegri Quartet and he died last month. Bedtime listening: the Quartet playing Ravel’s String Quartet.
Diet weigh in tomorrow. University event on AI. Presence needed to thank donors. Avoid the snacks and the booze. Leaving and remarking to a colleague: “I’ve always walked past this dive whisky bar yet wanted to try it!” Five minutes later ….
Well, there’s a 10% chance we’ll be dead by 2030!
Well, there’s a 10% chance we’ll be dead by 2030!
September 10, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Diet weigh in tomorrow. University event on AI. Presence needed to thank donors. Avoid the snacks and the booze. Leaving and remarking to a colleague: “I’ve always walked past this dive whisky bar yet wanted to try it!” Five minutes later ….
Well, there’s a 10% chance we’ll be dead by 2030!
Well, there’s a 10% chance we’ll be dead by 2030!
My first sally into the worlds of M John Harrison. Just magnificent. Never a single dull sentence. Here’s Robert MacFarlane writing about Climbers over a decade ago.
www.theguardian.com/books/2013/m...
www.theguardian.com/books/2013/m...
Robert Macfarlane: rereading Climbers by M John Harrison
Robert Macfarlane on a foray outside the world of sci-fi by MJ Harrison, 'among the most brilliant novelists writing today'
www.theguardian.com
September 9, 2026 at 5:45 PM
My first sally into the worlds of M John Harrison. Just magnificent. Never a single dull sentence. Here’s Robert MacFarlane writing about Climbers over a decade ago.
www.theguardian.com/books/2013/m...
www.theguardian.com/books/2013/m...
Catching the last tube home after the last Prom of the season. A late night one. The incredible Weyes Blood.
September 8, 2026 at 11:30 PM
Catching the last tube home after the last Prom of the season. A late night one. The incredible Weyes Blood.
Wonderful night at the Proms with Martha Argerich and the Munich Philharmonic knocking out a bit of Beethoven (and Ravel for the encore). Living legend!
September 5, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Wonderful night at the Proms with Martha Argerich and the Munich Philharmonic knocking out a bit of Beethoven (and Ravel for the encore). Living legend!
Did I get tickets for Martha Argerich at the Proms tonight? Damn right I did.
www.bbc.co.uk/events/eff3v2
www.bbc.co.uk/events/eff3v2
Martha Argerich Plays Beethoven
Legendary pianist Martha Argerich returns to the Proms, joining Lahav Shani and the Munich Philharmonic for Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto. We also hear Louise Farrenc’s dramatic Overture No. 2 and...
www.bbc.co.uk
September 5, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Did I get tickets for Martha Argerich at the Proms tonight? Damn right I did.
www.bbc.co.uk/events/eff3v2
www.bbc.co.uk/events/eff3v2
Reposted by Some Melodious Plot
A week is a long time in academic politics.
September 5, 2026 at 7:24 AM
A week is a long time in academic politics.
Waiter, could you uncork my bottle of wine too?
September 4, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Waiter, could you uncork my bottle of wine too?
Reposted by Some Melodious Plot
What are the Khan-haters saying now?
Pollution levels in London after 10 years of advancing sustainable transport.
September 3, 2026 at 3:21 PM
What are the Khan-haters saying now?
I'm sorry, all the naysaying about The Chandos as one of Burnham's top three London pubs, needs to be defended. I love the place! Though it's not in the league of my favourite Sam Smiths pub, The Champion.
www.timeout.com/london/news/...
www.timeout.com/london/news/...
Andy Burham reveals his top three pubs in London
‘I don’t think there’s a pub in London I’ve not been in.’
www.timeout.com
September 3, 2026 at 2:54 PM
I'm sorry, all the naysaying about The Chandos as one of Burnham's top three London pubs, needs to be defended. I love the place! Though it's not in the league of my favourite Sam Smiths pub, The Champion.
www.timeout.com/london/news/...
www.timeout.com/london/news/...
I’ve never been good at rock climbing. And I’ll certainly never take it up. But there’s a real thrill about the pastime in M. John Harrison’s strangely beautiful novel. #Climbers
September 2, 2026 at 8:50 AM
I’ve never been good at rock climbing. And I’ll certainly never take it up. But there’s a real thrill about the pastime in M. John Harrison’s strangely beautiful novel. #Climbers
Reposted by Some Melodious Plot
Morning Bluesky.
September 2, 2026 at 7:49 AM
Morning Bluesky.
Reposted by Some Melodious Plot
September again.
“But today, cut deep in last plums, in yellow pears, in second flush of roses, in the warmth of an hour, now late,
as drunk on heat as the girl who long ago vanished into green trees,
fold that loneliness, one moment, two, love, back into your arms.”
“But today, cut deep in last plums, in yellow pears, in second flush of roses, in the warmth of an hour, now late,
as drunk on heat as the girl who long ago vanished into green trees,
fold that loneliness, one moment, two, love, back into your arms.”
September 1, 2026 at 8:04 AM
September again.
“But today, cut deep in last plums, in yellow pears, in second flush of roses, in the warmth of an hour, now late,
as drunk on heat as the girl who long ago vanished into green trees,
fold that loneliness, one moment, two, love, back into your arms.”
“But today, cut deep in last plums, in yellow pears, in second flush of roses, in the warmth of an hour, now late,
as drunk on heat as the girl who long ago vanished into green trees,
fold that loneliness, one moment, two, love, back into your arms.”
Peter Watkins’ mock documentary Edvard Munch. An absolute masterpiece. It was also really funny (which was unexpected). Loved how it gave so much time to Munch’s early painting The Sick Child. Which I blogged about back in 2019.
somemelodiousplot.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-...
somemelodiousplot.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-...
The Colour of Angst - Edvard Munch at The British Museum
Let's start with the black and white elephant in the room. Although very much aware that the version of The Scream on show at the British ...
somemelodiousplot.blogspot.com
August 31, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Peter Watkins’ mock documentary Edvard Munch. An absolute masterpiece. It was also really funny (which was unexpected). Loved how it gave so much time to Munch’s early painting The Sick Child. Which I blogged about back in 2019.
somemelodiousplot.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-...
somemelodiousplot.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-...
Last look at the Tracey Emin today. And, originally unwittingly, combining it with a screening of Peter Watkins’ Edvard Munch at the BFI. Which will partially atone for missing the combined Emin/Munch RA exhibition that I missed a few years ago.
August 31, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Last look at the Tracey Emin today. And, originally unwittingly, combining it with a screening of Peter Watkins’ Edvard Munch at the BFI. Which will partially atone for missing the combined Emin/Munch RA exhibition that I missed a few years ago.
Seeing / hearing Nightjars was on my summer list this year. It’ll probably have to wait till next year now.
For the time being, I’ll make do with this Rowan Ricardo Phillips poem. I love the description of the bird in flight: ‘unclenched’.
For the time being, I’ll make do with this Rowan Ricardo Phillips poem. I love the description of the bird in flight: ‘unclenched’.
August 30, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Seeing / hearing Nightjars was on my summer list this year. It’ll probably have to wait till next year now.
For the time being, I’ll make do with this Rowan Ricardo Phillips poem. I love the description of the bird in flight: ‘unclenched’.
For the time being, I’ll make do with this Rowan Ricardo Phillips poem. I love the description of the bird in flight: ‘unclenched’.