Rowing away from the BBC. Channel 4 has agreed a five year deal for the annual Oxford v Cambridge university rowing race, including broadcasting 100th anniversary of the women’s race. Hope the clean up of the Thames continues!

Cheery talk about bumper harvests of apples, pears, damsons etc but there is also a massive glut of acorns from the ancient oak trees in Wales, currently causing grief to farmers as cattle, livestock scoff them greedily, with reports some are seriously ill. Squirrel shortage.

theguardian.com/politics/2025/…

How our traditional TV broadcasters are seeing audiences dip below one million viewers for once peak time dramas and programming. Interesting article. theguardian.com/media/2025/oct…

A call for reform. South Africa’s Black Economic Empowerment drive to draw black people into business, has mainly benefited politically connected people: 100 people have gained 57 billion dollars says Financial Times Weekend. Money goes where money is?

The UK is waking up damage caused to children from rushed Covid lockdowns. I am surprised the experts seem to ignore the BBC’s enterprise, its instant move to deliver Bite Size, education online etc aligned to the curriculum with fun attached. Public Service Broadcasting.

The wonderful thing about Paris despite its apparent political impasse is the quality fresh food, at every station on the metro I’ve observed makes space for a stall of fruits, salads, healthy snacks! Lesson for UK?

There's £millions being made from council-imposed traffic relocation schemes but there's a cost. The minority who spend all their lives inside LTNs benefit from quieter less polluted roads. The majority who walk, cycle and wait for buses on main roads pay the price. Ediz

Tom Chivers Why adopt that tone and hostility towards people of all ages including children, and those who live in the country, who appreciate the beauty and power of horses. Wales has a real connection and tradition. Hence the annual Royal Welsh Show !

More stop and search powers wouldn’t have stopped this train knife attack. What did make a difference was having a train manager present and going beyond the call of duty. All parties should now rule out plans to cut train managers.

He’s right

BBC Politics BBC News (UK) This racket has been destroying our high streets for years and it was always obvious what was happening. No village needs 6 barber shops and 4 vape shops. A thorough investigation is way overdue.

Fantastic correction in the Guardian: "This article was amended on 4 November 2025 to remove a suggestion that print journalism is “obsolete”. Newspapers and magazines are still available." theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2…

November 5th used to be fireworks and sparklers night in England for children, marking the failed attempt to blow up Parliament, but last night - venturing to the theatre - nothing doing. It is clear trick & treating & hollowed out pumpkins have won the day!

theguardian.com/business/2025/…

Key Financial Times weekend article “Only generosity can secure peace” says both sides, Israelis & Palestinians must abandon false moral certainties, oversimplified error strewn historical narratives, to break cycle of violence. By wise historian & philosopher Yuval Noah Harare.