It’s normally late February or March before we dig the bikes out, but today was such a lovely, mild sunny day, we dragged them out of the garage, pumped the tyres and went for a cycle up and round the fort.

A yellow mountain bike with disc brakes is lying on a paved surface.

Watching the kids do HADO.

A scoreboard shows a match between red and blue teams, with the red team leading 15 to 10.

Journalism department Christmas lunch (delayed)

A plate features two slices of toasted bread, a dollop of avocado mixture, a small salad with greens, and a streak of red sauce.

Sussex Downs, 8.30am, Sunday 12th January 2025

A frosty landscape with long shadows cast by trees during a hazy sunrise.

Just another Friday night in Falmer…

Two people in shiny metallic costumes with large spheres on their heads perform on stage under a sign that says "Welcome to the Stage: Light Fantastic!" while a chalkboard displays similar text.

Winter sun on the beach.

A pebbled beach stretches out to meet the ocean under a dramatic sky filled with colorful clouds during sunset. Worthing pier is visible on the horizon.

The beach is doing drama today…

A pebble beach stretches along the coast under a partly cloudy sky, with modern houses lining the shore.

Misty walk.

A foggy park scene with a pathway lined by bare trees.

Morning long black.

A cup of coffee with a frothy surface sits on a mint-coloured saucer on a wooden table.

Duck! It’s a Canada goose.

A Canada goose is flying with its wings outstretched against a backdrop of trees.

Summer’s memory lingering in winter.

A branch features delicate, feathery seed tufts against a blurred background.

Second coming: confirmed… 🌟

A small white paper with the text "Reserved For baby Jesus" rests on a blue fabric church pew.

Winter wetlands boardwalk.

A winding wooden boardwalk on WWT Arundel is surrounded by dense, leafless trees and tall grasses.

Miha Kralj, a Slovene composer and performer, in what was then a Yugoslavian hotel, back in the early 80s. We stayed there on holiday when I was a lad and came home with one of his LPs, Odyssey, which I still have…

DJ Miha Kralj in a Yugoslavian hotel in the early 1980s.

A school friend, Stephen Kent, in my bedroom in Scotland, back in the early 80s. I’ve long lost any contact with him — but look at that Star Wars wallpaper.

A boy standing in front of Star Wars wallpaper in the early 1980s. He’s holding both his thumbs up, and wearing a blue Addidas top.

My late parents’ old angel is atop our tree. She must be over 60 years old now.

A decorative angel figurine with wings and a musical note book is perched amid festive decorations.

As a coastal dweller, I do love the Tides app Apple added to the Watch…

A Apple Watch Ultra displays tidal information for Shoreham Beach, indicating a falling tide of 4.8 meters at 08:58 AM.

Getting some work done in the library of the RSA House. I’ve been a Fellow for years, but I’ve slipped out of the habit of using the venue.

A cozy library corner features a wall of bookshelves, a gray sofa, a red armchair, and a glass coffee table.

Trafalgar Square, December 2024

A large Christmas tree adorned with lights stands in a bustling square in front of a grand, illuminated building at night.

Our annual Christmas tree buying trip to Spithandle Nursery.

It’s a tradition that really marks the beginning of the Christmas season for us.

Shopping for Christmas Trees at Spithandle Nursery in Sussex.