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Read: Sheila Armstrong by Falling Animals ★★★★ 📚

Celia turned five last month while he was on a container ship from Liverpool to Halifax. They were passing an island off the coast of Newfoundland and Manoy clung to the port railings, scrabbling for a few bars of reception to make a call from the satellite phone, even though the sea-ice was wrist thick and the containers looked like frosted teeth on a blue-white jaw. After hearing her voice, he came down below with a wind-red nose, but a smile so wide the top of his head could have snapped off.

A set of loosely joined stories connected to a coastal town on the west cost of Ireland. Told at a gentle pace that kept me wrapped in each tale. I was slightly disturbed by the way episodes trailed off, but it intrigued & made the atmosphere linger.

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A narrow path through a grassy area with sparse trees and a mostly clear sky. Moorland beyond.

Kilpatrick Braes, the blackthorn here still in bud, later than others places I’ve been recently. Warm & sunny with a bit of a breeze. Few bumble bees out exploring the ground. Several butterflies, probably peacocks, rushed by. Lots of birds singing. Heard a green woodpecker a few times. Chiffchaffs mostly heard but saw a couple. More primroses opening, some mouse-ear cress. Larch starting to green & buds on a chestnut at the edge of the heather.

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Read: Sanshirō by Natsume Sōseki ★★★★ 📚

Why? Well, look at it this way. Your head is alive, but if you seal it up inside dead classes, you're lost. Take it outside and get the wind into it. Riding the streetcar is not the only way to get satisfaction, of course, but it's the first step, and the easiest.

At the turn into the 20th century country boy Sanshirō goes to university in Tokyo. Mixes with crowd interested in the west, literature, art & science. Very much out of his depth as he drifts through lectures & relationships.

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REVEIL 2026. I’ve just set up my page for this year’s Reveil broadcast.

The Reveil broadcast will again make a full loop of the earth over the Dawn Chorus Day weekend in May 2026.
We welcome new and established streamers to join in assembling a sequence of live sounds starting near the 0 meridian at daybreak on Saturday and returning 24 hours later, with a 1 hour coda.

reveil

I’ll be trying to broadcast from Victoria Park from 4:45 on Sunday 3 May. Hopefully no helicopters this year.

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Read: Lean Stand Fall by Jon McGregor ★★★★★ 📚

‘ You want, Robert said, ‘you want, wok?’ He was leaning towards Wiktor and Rachel, his voice loud and clear. Wok, wok, you want to work again?” Wiktor and the dancers all looked at him and shrugged once more, and Robert shrugged in return. He looked very pleased with himself.

Peter straightened his tie, and started speaking.

‘Will you wade with me in the water now Wiktor, will you wade in to your waist and wait while the waves rise higher and all around and we will lift we will wash and water the water is all around and up upon your shoulders now?’

They shrugged, and they laughed, and they came to a standstill.

Starts with a gripping description of an Antarctic disaster. Ends with an equally gripping depiction of a series of sessions of aphasia self help group. Beautiful book. Communication, language & its loss, unexpected changes in life & relationships.