gingerjon

Orient fans peacefully invaded the pitch for over an hour in protest at the way their club has been run into the ground (a rather mild description for what has happened) whilst the FA and EFL twiddle their thumbs. EFL pretend they have thus abandoned the game to get the fans to leave ... and then play the final five minutes behind closed doors "for the integrity of the competition".

Just finished watching Goliath on Amazon Prime. Billy Bob Thornton as a lawyer-with-issues taking on dark forces. Not quite as brutal as it needs to be to be a proper contender it's pretty decent with some strong performances. And, as only 8 episodes, does not come close to outstaying its welcome.

Hastings United are basically into the Ryman South play-offs following a 4-4 draw at Lewes today. They're the highest scorers in senior football (as their twitter never tires of saying) so their goal difference is such that Carshalton would need to win (and Hastings lose) whilst overturning a 28 goal deficit next week. In other Sussex news, Brighton are in the Premier League.

What a strange comment. The Park Run in Hastings is on the seafront (as I'm sure you know) and they adjourn to the Bo Peep afterwards. I haven't been down there when it's on but the seafront paths are genuinely in dire need of work at the St Leonards end but no-one (ESCC, HBC) seems to have the funds to do it - although the bits around the Pier of the Year are lovely (even if all the markings have not been put back on). The NCN route to Bexhill has had an officially failed surface for the whole time I've lived here so that's a quarter of a million of public money wasted. We already have a government that's increasing borrowing. They have to because they've made it illegal for themselves to raise taxes. Smart move that.

As Mr Park run said: However, it's just as important that local authorities receive the support required to ensure these wonderful areas of open space are available for future generations. It's a nice idea but with slashes to council budgets keeping parks in any kind of decent condition is already dropping down the list of priorities.

It may the general ambience (I'm on the laptop in the garden, editing photos, listening to the Cubs score four in the first inning at Milwaukee (and the police sirens wail by)) but this is alright. A little harsh on first sip but surprisingly mellow after that.

Jura is one of the ones I was talking about. Age statement, heritage etc ... absolute bilge.

I've been burnt by a couple of "proper" labels recently.

I've had the Sainsbury's Highland a couple of times and it's been excellent.

Aldi have got out their 'limited release' single malts. No age statement and no clear notice about which distillery (one blog suggests Aldi have an arrangement with Dalmore) but £17.49 for a verified single malt. I picked up a Highland this morning, they also had a Speyside available. Apparently once they're sold out that's it for the year.

Used the 'easy but impressive' section of BBC Good Food to make this yesterday. Accurate on both counts. Very easy and very tasty.

I second the vote for Jessica Jones. I also enjoyed, having read the books, A Series of Unfortunate Events. I am watching Brooklyn Nine Nine (which I think has been on Channel 4) as it's quite wonderfully silly and over in 20 minutes.

Can I recommend ...

Went through a very long stage when I was hardly reading at all. In the past few months I've attempted to change that a bit. Last book I read was The Glorious Heresies which, whilst being slightly too long, was a damn good read in a suitably grubby kind of way. Apparently there's a sequel coming out now but I'm not sure I'm that bothered about that. Currently making up for decades of mistakes by actually reading Iain M Banks' Culture sci-fi novels and very much enjoying them. Use of Weapons currently. After that, Guy de Maupassant's Like Death awaits.

Panama have never made it and they're currently lying in one of the qualification places in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying.

You may have power cuts in St Leonards. Here in Hastings we do not.

See - now I agree with that comment. If you want a lifelike representation and nothing else: sit in a photo booth. OTOH, if someone is painting something that doesn't look like the sitter because they *can't* (as opposed to having an alternative, better concept) then that way pretension lies.

I've even seen them play and didn't have a clue. Good stuff.

Finally got round to watching Jessica Jones. Not watched any other Marvel Universe stuff so no idea how it all fits in but as a stand-alone series it's really rather good. Downbeat, sorta-superhero, neo-noir. Enjoyed it.

I've been accepted into this year's Ride London. In other news, I've just watched a video of cyclists attempting to go up Leith Hill and now feel like weeping.

No-one's calling you lazy. But that smacks of inefficiency. Have you thought about being more efficient? That will help the NHS more than money ever could.

Thanks for that - will take a look.

The Opera on 3 tonight is Harrison Birtwistle's Last Supper. I remember not being that impressed when I saw it performed on its premiere tour. However, as a concert 'oratorio' (for want of a better phrase) it's working remarkably well. Unlike some of yer moderns, Harrison does do good tune as well.

My memory is that it was a lot easier (and the film more forgiving) with black and white.

After being badly treated by me for the better part of eight years things finally started to fall off my faithful D90. It has now been relegated to the role of back-up camera and its place has been taken by the thrusting young buck of a Nikon D7200. I am still recovering from the shock that something taken at ISO 25600 comes out with negligible noise. In fact, under lights at a non-league ground yesterday the quality of the image (not, obviously the quality of the photographer) at 1/1250, f4, ISO 25600 was remarkable (example below - although I'd not use it at this size). Hard to think that my first DSLR less than a decade ago couldn't really handle ISO 1600 - and that for film it was only black and white (from memory) that could go to ISO 3200 and that wasn't mainstream. The auto-focus is just ludicrously quick compared to those 'older' cameras too - I just need to get the hang of controlling it.