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Actually, what a week for new tunes. Body/Dilloway/Head; C. Joynes; and the incredible new album by #Ignatz. Not like the noisy early ones, but utterly beguiling and unique.

Historians enjoying the romance of the cup. #Cheltenham

Because how else would you spend a freezing Saturday afternoon when you could have stayed in the nice warm pub? #madladsweekend

Based on my recent activity, Amazon seems to think that I might be interested in buying my own new book. This could take some time to unpick properly.

What a brilliant day out, obviously because it involved a few choice beers, and top chat, with my best mate who was in town for the day, but also because of the tremendous haul of vinyl at the wonderful World of Echo. Heaven!

Another famous night Cafe OTO with jaw dropping Horse Lords. Lucky old me.

What an unbelievable way to spend a Sunday afternoon! @marylattimore Cafe OTO Three Lobed Records

Hmm… the invocation of ‘necessity’ in a legal and constitutional setting. Let’s get some historians to reflect on that one.

In bleak times, Supersonic festival is wonderfully life affirming. Amazing music, but more importantly a brilliant atmosphere.@supersonicfest@ @bismuthslow juneof44

Excited to announce that John Rees and I have organised a conference to mark the 50th anniversary of Christopher Hill’s The World Turned Upside Down with an amazing lineup of speakers. Register to attend here and please RT eventbrite.co.uk/e/christopher-…

What a privilege to see Richard Dawson ‘supporting’ Pavement @ Roundhouse. Generic indie, with muddy sound, vs inspirational stuff from the Geordie maestro, which was genuinely moving, as always.

More evidence of a recent uptick in interesting music pieces in The Guardian. What a legend, and the prospect of gigs next year with Dead C! Be still my beating heart! theguardian.com/music/2022/nov…

Still reeling from this week’s invitation to be interviewed by Lawrence Fox (sitting in for Farage) on GB News. The topic? Whether Matt Hancock is guilty of treason. That will keep me chuckling for weeks.

This evening - I can’t think why - I’ve been thinking about institutions, representation and accountability, and despairing. Hey ho.

Crikey, the messaging coming from different tiers of UCU this evening suggests that we’ve entered farcical - or dysfunctional - territory. Not good.

Extraordinary service from Royal Mail - my tracked 24 parcel arrived. Distance travelled, 16 miles; days taken to arrive, 17. Stupendous!

Oh my. Richard Dawson at the Boat Club in Nottingham. Me and Martin Naylor as witnesses. Greatest Living Englishman. The question is: where were you?!

I mean, I love Bandcamp Friday, but why do some artists / labels feel the need to send out about 20 different messages in one day? They can FO.

A Christmas present from UCL History: we'd love to have you at our 'Early Modern Connections' conference in March 2025! -- Call for Papers deadline 30 January 2025; we hope this will be a friendly space to test ideas & meet other people who are thinking about the early modern!