Speed is Expensive: narrated by Ewan McGregor

Great idea: do share your Deighton libraries!

@ShippersUnbound Well put. The early career illustration work is every good; the food writing excellent. RIP

Very sad to learn of the death of Len Deighton, who was one of the two greatest spy thriller writers of all time and in some regards was Le Carre’s superior. Anyone who has not read Deighton should try Funeral in Berlin, Bomber or SSGB. Most of all they should seek out Berlin Game, the start of an epic 10 book Cold War series focused on Bernard Samson. Deighton’s writing was sharp, satirical, gripping and often amusing. His office infighting in the intelligence services was delicious and his characters are beautifully drawn. The Samson cycle starts with a meticulously plotted run of five books (Berlin Game, Mexico Set, London Match, Spy Hook and Spy Line) which all stand alone but tell one big story from the jaded but dedicated perspective Bernard a brilliant field operative. Len’s genius idea was to use the sixth, Spy Sinker, to retell the whole cycle from the perspective of everyone else, exposing what Bernard didn’t know and misunderstood. There is then an origin story about Bernard’s dad during the war, Winter, and then a concluding trilogy of Faith, Hope and Charity, which is not as high quality but deals with the fallout from the events of books 1-5. It’s an epic achievement and the greatest long series in spy fiction, accepting that the Smiley series is the greatest short series. Do yourself a favour, give it a try

@East_Cheam_Lad @jamiesont @pdxraj Have the LP!

@jamiesont @pdxraj Not re-recorded for radio, it was made for an LP. Made by Pye Records, not BBC.

Hancock Ham radio ep (rerecorded for the wireless) - on BBC 4Extra now. One of the greatest Sit Com eps. A comedy masterclass.

@archivetvmus71 It's brilliant

'Car Along the Pass', the first episode of The Galton & Simpson Playhouse, was originally broadcast on this day in 1977. This series was the final one written by G&S (Alan Simpson retired the following year).

@NancySinatra Wonderful - made more so, as just listening to your father's A Day in a Life of a Fool, from the My Way album.

“Memories” is such a beautiful song. It’s feels like an old standard. Billy Strange and Mac Davis wrote it for Elvis’ 1968 television special, during the time Mac was signed to our company B-n-B Music (Boots-n-Billy). The guys were asked to write a song about looking back and the song came together in just one night.  I recorded “Memories” for my album Nancy. The record didn’t get a lot of attention when it was released in 1969, so these kind words from Record Collector really mean a lot. Thank you. ❤️ Pick up Light InThe Attic Records’ definitive reissue of Nancy from Nancy’s Bootique. 🛍️ bootique.nancysinatra.com

@nori0321 It's so rich... wonderful.

The Beatles This Boy John, Paul, and George’s voices finally breathe in true stereo — each harmony beautifully separated, yet perfectly intertwined. Tender, emotional, and absolutely timeless. 💫 Best experienced with headphones. 🎧 ✨ Enchanting 3-Part Harmony, Unlocked ✨

@GlenMatlock First rate Glen.

Still can’t get over getting to do this…. 😎 youtu.be/ppokfdgLSEY?si…

@SohoGeorge Uncanny

@RisingDampOMJ 'You'll spoil the nap'

'The Last of the Big Spenders' is 50 today! Years of bread 'n' butter puddin' that is. #risingdamp #ericchappell

@TheMumper Small world, Bax - watched that episode last night. It gets better.

Traditions innit...

@CurbsideBikes Yes, ridden it... in the dark ;(

Have you ridden the Stelvio Pass? If you have, you already understand why riders speak its name like a challenge accepted. If you haven’t, this is the road that sets the tone for any list of legendary routes. It’s dramatic, historic, a little chaotic, and unforgettable in a way only the Alps can deliver. That’s why it deserves to be the first road we feature—because it captures everything a great motorcycle ride should be: skill, scenery, culture, and a story you’ll tell for the rest of your life. What makes Stelvio such a fantastic motorcycle road is the density of the riding. The eastern ascent packs 48 hairpins into about 14 kilometers, each one a tight, uphill left that forces you to read the road, trust your bike, and commit. It’s a mental and physical workout, but never a punishing one. The western side opens up with broader curves and sweeping views of glacial valleys, letting you breathe a bit before the next set of twists. Along the way you’ll smell pine, diesel, wet stone, and sometimes snow, even in summer. Rider-friendly amenities are part of the charm. At the summit you’ve got food stalls selling the famous Stelvio würstel, warm strudel, espresso, and hot chocolate thick enough to stand a spoon in. There are gear shops, souvenir stalls, and even small mountain huts where you can warm up if the weather turns. Down the Bormio side, historic stops along the Braulio valley and restaurants in the town of Bormio itself offer hearty Alpine meals and killer views. Lodging ranges from classic biker-friendly hotels in Bormio and Prato allo Stelvio to rustic rifugi higher up. One thing many visitors like to know: there’s no toll to ride Stelvio. It’s free, though summer traffic—cars, buses, bicycles, and the occasional herd of animals—can slow things down. Early mornings or late afternoons give you the clearest run and the best photography light. Scenic stops abound: the switchback overlook at Trafoi, the snow walls near the summit, the sweeping valley views on the western descent, and the old border fortifications carved into the mountain. Stelvio isn’t just a ride. It’s a pilgrimage. It tests your technique, feeds you well, throws scenery at you like an IMAX film, and sends you home buzzing. If you’re curating the world’s greatest motorcycle roads, you start here because Stelvio sets the standard. Everything after it is measured by that impossible ribbon of asphalt climbing into the sky. #motorcyclingmeccas #StelvioPass #GreatMotorcycleRoads

@elonmusknews30 👍

@markcousinsfilm Wonderful - just watched.

The career interview I did with the great Terence Stamp - he was so enthusiastic about his collaborators, methods, experiences youtu.be/ViJ3BoeS-kQ?si…

@London_W4 The excellent Black Dog

Pub life. Wednesday afternoon. The trick, of course, is to read a book and not to read the news, because one will make you relaxed and happy and one will make you angry with despair.

A 75-Year-Old Vincent Just Broke a Land Speed Record Australian mechanic Malcolm Hewett just proved that old metal still has bite. On the salt flats of Lake Gairdner, he piloted a 1950 Vincent Rapide, yes, a 75-year-old motorcycle, to a staggering 185.34 mph, 301.496 km/h, using nothing but petrol and determination. No turbo. No nitrous. Just a bored-out 1340cc V-twin, custom frame, and decades of shed-built engineering. This same machine later topped out at 187 mph fully streamlined, and even set AMA national records at Bonneville. Not bad for a bike built when TVs still had knobs. Hewett’s run wasn’t corporate-backed. It was passion-fueled. Proof that with enough grit, an old Vincent can still outrun modern expectations. #Vincent #LandSpeedRecord #MotorcycleHistory #LakeGairdner #Bonneville #SaltFlats #SpeedWeek #RideHard

@gmcgovern128 @SVG__Collection Saw him at the University of Warwick, circa 1984/5. Fell off my motorcycle in the fog on the way home. But worth it.

@SVG__Collection The violinist was Stephane Grappelli. Who saw him play with David Grisman in the 80s?

This rare footage of Django Reinhardt and the Quintette du Hot Club de France from Jazz Hot (1938) is a must-watch…

@dusttodigital How wonderful - goes back 100 years or so...

Remembering Thomas A. Dorsey, born on this day in 1899 in Villa Rica, Georgia. Here he is with Sallie Martin in the early 1980s singing along to a recording of “If You See My Savior,” a song Dorsey wrote and first recorded in 1932.

@RisingDampOMJ 'We've got to get you through the streets safely...'

It's called 'Ritual in the Dark' #risingdamp

Sons and daughers on Father's Day: See this Instagram video by @davidclancaster instagram.com/reel/C9TG8ezMj…