• Conventions

    British!

    As of a couple of days ago I’m officially British. The ceremony was a bit long but nice overall, there was piper and a harpist and a couple of speeches. The mayor confirmed we are also Geordies, so I’ll have to start working on the accent. The other speech was very much a welcome to the country sort of thing. Which was well-meaning obviously, but they also mentioned at one point that the new citizens in the room had lived here between four and seventeen(!) years, so I can’t imagine that latter one felt especially in need of encouragment to…

  • Fandom,  Food and Drink,  Travel

    We went to London and saw some culture! Despite the strikes on Friday we had a smooth trip to Croydon to the stay at Fishlifter Manor, where we were greeted by a very welcome dhansak. Saturday we headed to the…

  • Film,  Food and Drink,  Updates

    In the ear

    One of the nice things about working from home is that I can listen to stuff all day; music, audiobooks, podcasts. I’m not consistent in my habits, usually the end and beginning of the year are when I’m best at…

  • Food and Drink

    Catmass

    One Wednesday I had lunch at the new Spanish tapas place in Grainger market, after getting a roscón from their shop, it has a limited but solid menu and they plan to open in the mornings to do churros, so…

  • Film,  Updates

    Obligatory New Year’s Post

    2023, so far so good. We ended the old year with friends, drinks, food, boardgames, and a movie, then started the new year with much the same. Appropriately the movie for the closing year was a rewatch, Logan Lucky in…

  • Fandom,  Updates

    Social(s)

    I’m on wandering.shop, enjoying it well enough now that there are actual people on it – I had created an account a while back but only poked my nose in now and then as it was pretty quiet. It has…

  • Film

    Yes Chef!

    We went to see The Menu yesterday and really loved it. Dark, tense, very funny, and the perfect cast. There’s a few minor bits that don’t gel (sorry) but it’d make a great triple bill with the Benoit Blanc films.…

  • Fandom,  Updates

    Out and about

    Moving up to Newcastle has meant a lot more going out and doing things. Partly because we’re no longer in the process of finding a house and moving across the country, of course, but really mostly because there is so…

  • Conventions,  Travel

    Chicago, etc

    Not a proper con report, but a roundup of highlights; Arriving at 3am and losing a day of touristing due to American Airlines being trash, but still getting to ride the L because it runs all night. Good breakfasts at…

  • Updates

    The Great British Queue

    It’s the weekend before the Queen’s funeral, so we get a bank holiday, but everything is closed. Just getting back in the groove of things after a few weeks of non-stop. Orlando, which was very hot and humid. Short version:…

  • Updates

    Jubilee Weekend

    Nearly three months at the new place and enjoying the long weekend. The garden is good, the house is fit for visitors and we’ve had a few, which still feels novel. We’ve done well so far at exploring the toon,…