Leeds Wire

Mysterious, quirky, brilliant and beautiful.

Sat in my kitchen watching the cricket on my laptop, the bi-fold doors are wide open and the blackbirds are singing their hearts out. I can't think of a nicer sound. I refill 4 bird baths/bowls every day, which they really seem to need at the moment. If you only put out food, please put out water too, even if it's just in a bucket or a plant pot.

New one from Susto, an absolute blast of a tune and instantly likeable. So glad they've not retreated into the country music hole they started digging.

After having an awful time with her health and then prioritising bringing up her daughter, the wonderful Natalie Merchant is back with a new album and tour. We've managed to bag tickets for Manchester and I can't wait. The one artist I always wanted to see live (after thankfully seeing Joe Strummer ) was Natalie. The new album is gorgeous. There's a wonderful article on her in the Guardian which shines a huge light on her recent life.

Back at home in Leeds 17, greenfinches are on the feeders for the first time in a number of years and sparrows are nesting for the very first time since we moved here 22 years ago. Lots of interested flocks of goldfinch, but the best thing is that two enormous carrion crows have set up shop in a silver birch and are constantly chasing away the wood pigeons and magpies. I don't mind them at all, they seem really smart. If you throw out-dated hot cross buns into the garden, they will pick them up and dip them in one of the bird baths for easy digestion. I know you shouldn't interfere with nature but the RSPB positively encourages feeding them. We even had a ring ouzel stop by last year for 2 days, so it's obviously a good service station.

I'm jealous of where you live

First house martins of the year skimming the water of Yeadon Tarn next to Leeds-Bradford Airport this weekend.

I should read that, thanks. I spent many years in independent consultancy for govt departments, but under Blair and Brown it was genuine 'evidence-based policy making'. They wanted to know what was happening at local levels so they could adapt as necessary, for example in Job Centres. The day the Tories came to power in 2010 they scrapped evidence based policy and moved to ideological policy making, but continued to use (their own) consultants for advice. Consultancy is a fundamentally good thing, but it depends how it's used.

One of the best reggae tunes

https://sustainability.leeds.ac.uk/our-work/biodiversity/university-of-leeds-peregrines/

Just bought tickets to see her at Manchester Apollo in November. I'm so excited, she rarely comes to the UK.

That’s the energy. It’s hard to explain just how good they are live.

First saw this lot live in Bradford over 30 years ago and they still have the same energy! Absolutely amazing live.

Liam O'Maonlai, still the very best voice I've ever heard on the stage

The Bet Lynch gif on that twitter thread just made me laugh out loud

Topical. Which side are YOU on?

They’re back!

Oh wow