'Départ.' (1948) Nan Youngman's painting depicts an almost deserted station, with a train stationary at the platform and a tiny figure just visible at the far end of the platform. She was working in the tradition of the English surrealists (what might be termed gentle surrealism)

Thanks to Joe Smart for these photos from 1979 featuring a certain Steven Patrick Morrissey 😀

47 years ago today, Soap debuted. We don't talk enough about how brilliant and underrated this show was. This scene. 😂😂😂

Poverty is one of the main causes of ill health. They think we're stupid

Some things never change! A 2,000 year-old Roman souvenir pen with joke inscription roughly equivalent to: “I went to Rome and all I got you was this cheap pen!" 😂 Dated c. 70 AD, the stylus pen was found in London during excavations by MOLA. The Roman inscription reads:

When you're out for a weekend walk, and you have to do a double take and make sure you've not disturbed a tree monster having a bath—and they're not very pleased about it...

My 1980 photo of the Champion Pub at the junction of Eastcastle Street and Wells Street, with the Post Office Tower in the background, from my post on the pub and nearby Oxford Market at alondoninheritance.com/londonpubs/the…

"Take that glint out of your eye." Helen Wright (Joan Crawford) makes her position clear in Humoresque (1946)

Your annual reminder that Ian Richardson's father, John, invented the Jaffa Cake.

Starmer and Streeting are picking a fight with doctors. They have decided not to fund the NHS. This is politically dangerous as well as damaging to the population. They need a different explanation as to why the NHS continues to fall behind. 'It's the obstinacy of the doctors."

Thank you Leah Byatt and SocialismTODAY for a lovely review of The Undesirables – only just spotted it. socialismtoday.org/a-shameful-his…

'Willow in Winter', Blackheath Park (exhibited 1928) by Francis Dodd (Manchester Art Gallery)

If you heard Dr Jane Jordan speaking about Doulton’s Women at #LambethHistoryFair in #Streatham on 7th September you'll know you will be in for a treat on this Walking Tour of Vauxhall Women with Jane this Sunday 22nd September. eventbrite.co.uk/e/guided-tour-…

My Bunhill walk is on Sun 22 Sep, 2.30pm. Nonconformist burial grounds; the Army's oldest regiment; 90 year-old public baths; site of London's first outdoor swimming pool; and a most unusual church. Tickets: londonontheground.com/service-page/b… #bunhill #Islington @islingtonwalks #walkingtour

What if you obediently study bad literature?

Realistic Harry Potter Tour of Edinburgh with Craig the tourguide

IHR Workshop for New Research Students in History history.ac.uk/study-training…

They are building slums in the sky.

Oh, my God! This is peak Guardian. He's so balls deep in the system he claims to critique that asking literally anyone else in the country how to "heal Britain" would give you a more actionable answer. Ask a seagull, ask a baby!

Looking forward to CrimeCon in London on Saturday. Some interesting former detectives, documentary makers, authors and experts lined up – Colin Sutton, Katherine Schweit, Prof Patricia Wiltshire… Check it out here crimecon.co.uk/schedule-2024