Oh for the elegance of 1910, when, instead of cancelling things willy-nilly, Statements were made. Black Ascot, where every racegoer wore (vastly extravagant) mourning for Edward VII

This is well worth watching… dangerous views being expressed on live Russian TV.

It doesn't especially bother me, as someone who approves of constitutional monarchy, but it's striking how the BBC has gone from singing the merits of 'both sides journalism' just two weeks ago, to not even a tiny debate on republicanism since the Queen's death.

It is a disservice to democracy when elected politicians - albeit neutral ones - don't stop to think about the absolute rubbish that comes out of their mouths on TV. What a plonker.

Thank you!

Western experts say nuclear attack unlikely. Those with their fingers on the button say they will use them. I believe the latter: when a nuclear-armed dictator finds himself staring at defeat, his supporters will expect him to use their most powerful weapons, rather than give up.

One long dead twisted hazel that has now produced one new leaf. The embodiment of optimism. Appropriate image on my birthday.

One of my favourite views. Actually, two of them. (At the Warren House, on Dartmoor)

This makes me so sad. It is infuriating. The answer to a crisis is never to 'sell off the family silver' - or, in this case, to try to generate growth by relaxing protections of natural treasures. It is never anything more than a short-term fix - and one easily abused.

Difficult to believe these two pictures are of the same house. Since the 1860s, when the Read family lived there, it's been extended at both ends, re-roofed, re-faced at both levels, doorways have been removed & windows replaced. Not much left. (Hamsell Farm, Penshurst, Kent)

Congratulations, Paul and all the parkrun team. Was thinking of you this morning as I ran at my local Parke, here in Devon. Happy 18th birthday.

Mesmerising watching - and agree with a lot of it - but a little surprised given his views that he has remained a member for more than fifty years. (Perhaps, he says hopefully, there may still be a centre-right out there - somewhere - to rebuild).

Don’t quite understand the value of presenting a date range of 1448 years. Playing safe, no doubt, but ‘Circa’ too. Might as well have said “post Ice Age”. In Fingle Woods, Dartmoor.

Considering there's no firm evidence of habitation in the area between prehistoric times and the 10th century, let alone charcoal burning on this spot, no.

That guess would be wrong with regard to the start date. No one knows when the area started to be inhabited nor when this area strated to be used for charcoal burning. Terminal date not a problem.

No they're not structural. But I'm not sure of their purpose. I only have copies - since photographing four glass plates like this at my grandmother's house in the early 1990s, they have been lost. Goes to show you can never take the lasting qualities of anything for granted.

Just off to Barton St David in Somerset to do a talk on my next book 'Medieval Horizons', which comes out in February. Third time talking on this subject, second rewrite. Hope I've got it okay now. Much harder to memorise a speech when I've performed it differently in the past.

Very proud today - younger son Oliver’s 200th parkrun and elder son Alexander’s 100th - so I was thrilled to join them for the occasion, at Southampton parkrun. ⁦Southampton parkrun⁩