My friend Oliver Smith‘s exquisite book is out today, a joyful, mind boggling tour of sites of pilgrimage in the UK, from druid caves to remote islands (via a pack raft) - I had an early read of it and it’s so worthy of all its glowing reviews ✨

God I hate those TfL bus announcements of “please stay with your buggy for your child’s safety.” Sure, I was just gonna leave him on the bus and let him ride around town 🙄

What’s been so depressing about this whole affair has been seeing people I thought were quite serious political commentators - especially in the US - openly mocking a women who was quite obviously seriously unwell. You don’t have to love the Royals to find that distasteful.

I’m extremely sad to hear David English of Cardiff’s journalism school has died - he was a proper old school hack who emphasised getting off your backside and off the internet and onto the streets of local communities to find stories
theguardian.com/media-network/…

My brilliant brilliant friend Oliver Smith is the most magical and witty writer, this book is pure joy - the mystical history of our island hidden in its extraordinary landscapes

Tory MP Bob Stewart found guilty of racially aggravated public order offence after telling activist to “go back to Bahrain” during protest - as first revealed my brilliant colleague Jessica Elgot is on maternity leave last year theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/n…

Have got this far over three nights of baby feeding wake-ups and now just guessing by naming random football clubs to see if stations are named after them london.metro-memory.com

The big secret behind the timing of when big investigations are released by the media?

It tends to be when it’s ready and the lawyers have said yes. Incredible but true.

When I go back to work it will be £1050 for my younger boy for four days. It was £750 for his elder brother, so a massive increase. This is *with* the current system of tax-free reduction.

The baby has gone back to sleep after the night feed but I still appear to be waiting up for Selby…. probably going to regret this at 5am

I think I found the patient zero…

No one puts the counter argument better than Frank McCourt - in one of my favourite ever letters

👋Personal news - It's my last day before maternity leave & the brilliant Peter Walker will be covering as deputy political editor. I'll miss this lovely team a lot.

Last time I was on leave we had a snap election and a global plague, apologies in advance if that happens again

NHS threatens legal action to block second day of nurses’ strike theguardian.com/society/2023/a…