Tim Fletcher

A man, dressed warmly, standing on a red set of steps with a megaphone. He is wearing the blue hi vis vest if a parkrun run Director. In background are some runners walking by on their way to the start line. This against a backdrop of bare trees and a grassy slope.

Managed my first parkrun of 2026 yesterday, & first in new age category. After @allypallyparkrun.bsky.social was cancelled for the second week running we made it to Pymmes parkrun for a potter round.
At least Ally Pally managed a NYD event this year where I made my Run Directing debut. #loveparkrun

A screenshot shot from Duolingo containing the phrase “ Tu dois tourner à gauche” (You have to turn to the left).

Duolingo’s French course quietly imparting important information. 🙂

And should anyone be interested it ended in a 4-0 win for Haringey. 🙂

A view from the stand as two football teams line up under floodlights to shake hands before kickoff. One team in red shirts and black shirts, the other in yellow shirts and blue shirts.

Down to White Hart Lane for tonight’s football as Haringey Borough take on Wormley Rovers at Coles Park. Apparently there’s another game on down the road.

Nigel Farage uses private company to pay less tax on GB News earnings Exclusive: Reform leader’s use of personal services firm is a practice criticised across the political spectrum

Since this is apparently a resigning matter, I’ll just leave this here…

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Thank you for this morning’s music, and how great to hear @theyounguns.bsky.social suddenly popping up. 🙂

NHS cancer patients denied life-saving drugs due to Brexit costs, report finds Exclusive: Britons found to have ‘lost out’ while rest of Europe benefits from golden age of research and treatments

Brexit is bad for our health (as predicted). There’s an urgent need now to repair the damage done and get health research and provision back on its feet.
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

Thank you for Awake, Awake. Off to parkrun volunteering with a spring in my step!

A cup of coffee in dark red mug alongside and apricot danish pastry on a wooden table.

That’s #parkrun no. 227 in the books on a perfect Spring morning. A few seconds quicker (40:45) than last week so hurrah. Followed by another lovely #parkfaff with the @allypallyparkrun.bsky.social team. #loveparkrun

Sorry to bid farewell to @petroc.bsky.social from BBC Radio 3 Breakfast, but looking forward to welcoming @tommckinney.bsky.social from next week. 📻

Thank you Petroc for being with us over the past years, a calm a reassuring presence in these turbulent and troubling times. We, like many, were morning refugees from a place of argument and nobody listening about 10 years ago and stayed.
All the best on In Tune.

🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨

In a shock U-turn, @transportforlondon.bsky.social spokesperson Joe King has confirmed to LCC that the new Silvertown Tunnel will in fact be opening only for walking, cycling and public transport!

More on this as we get it... 👀

If only …

UK expects to be affected by Trump tariffs, No 10 says Downing Street does not rule out retaliating if new tariffs are imposed on Wednesday.

Hmm. Now might be a good time for the UK to strengthen relationships with our European neighbours 👀

By rejoining the Customs Union, the government could begin to overcome the obstacles that small businesses have faced in trading with our closest neighbours since Brexit
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Runners lined up at the start of a parkrun. In front of the them is purple pop up sign with Ally Pally on it. This is at Ally Pally parkrun. The runners are spread across a tarmac road listening to the welcome from the run director wearing a blue hivis vest.

A selfie of a grey bearded parkrunner wearing sunglasses and running cap, with an apricot coloured shirt. Behind is the finish funnel with yellow bunting, with trees beyond. It is a bright sunny morning.

The players and staff of Barnet FC gather together at the end of a match. We are looking down from the stand as they come towards us to acknowledge the supporters. In the background on the other side of the pitch the scoreboard shows the result. A 3-1 win for Barnet.

Another Saturday and another parkrun (at Ally Pally), and another 3 points for the Bees.
My time of 41:01 was a nice surprise, I was aiming at sub-42 so job done! 🙂
Barnet’s 3-1 defeat of Gateshead sees us requiring just 8 points to clinch the title. All very satisfactory. #loveparkrun #barnetfc

A close up of white, tinged with pink, blossom. The close blossom is in focus with the rest becoming more blurred. Beyond the blossom is a clear blue sky and grey pavement.

Blossom on a north London street under blue skies. #blossomwatch
(Taken yesterday- it’s not so nice today)

After this morning’s Ally Pally parkrun I am officially 90% of the way to my 250 milestone (225). Another walk/run in 42:04 so a smidge faster than the previous outing so I’m happy with that. The antibiotics might be working!
And the Bees march on the National League title!
#loveparkrun #barnetfc

Looking up at the bare branches of trees against a clear blue sky. Some branches and trunks are in silhouette, others are catching the sun.

Hello Spring! Despite the still bare branches there’s definitely a hint of things about to happen. The sky above Ally Pally.

REAL HOPE. REAL CHANGE. SEWAGE DISCHARGES INCREASE AND SO DO YOUR BILLS! Green Party Promoted by Chris Williams on behalf of The Green Party, both at PO Box 78066, London SE16 9GQ

💩 Thames Water dumped 50% more raw sewage into rivers last year than the previous 12 months.

🤯 That's 300,000 of sewage discharge.

🤬And they want us to pay for the cleanup by increasing our bills.

🚰 Time to stop rewarding failure. Time for water be back in public hands.

Of course that should be #fairportconvention 😉

A view of a music festival (Farport’s Cropredy Convention) from the back of the field. In the distance is the stage under blue skies with some light clouds. The audience spreads down the hill towards the stage.

As if to welcome the sun and some warmth returning after the winter, our Cropredy tickets have arrived! Roll on August.
#faiportconvention #cropredy

REAL HOPE. REAL CHANGE. The Thames Water Effect 1990 No debt Public service No dividends Fair bills 2025 £19bn in debt Private profits £7bn paid out Bills up 47% Green Party Promoted by Chris Williams on behalf of The Green Party, both at PO Box 78066, London SE16 9GQ

Thames Water's £3 billion loan will include £898 million in consultancy fees and interest payments.

And they plan on forcing customers to pay for it.

We can't keep rewarding them for failure. Public ownership of our water is the only option.

Hello! 👋

Why on earth is any politician allowed to receive any “donation” of any kind apart from their official salary? It’s basically bribery.

I’d like to say I remember it well but I’m not sure I do! My 96th parkrun at the time. That 100 milestone took a while to come around.

Saturn’s moons, royal songs and sporting politicians – take the Thursday quiz Questions on general knowledge and topical trivia, plus a few jokes, every Thursday. How will you fare?

A day late … 8/15
Got off to a good start then slumped.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Pink and white blossom on a tree against a background of blue sky.

Given it’s gone all grey and gloomy again here’s a not very good picture of some blossom against a blue sky. Taken yesterday after junior parkrun funnel “managing” at @prioryparkparkrun.bsky.social.

“our lad”? … our lead!
Where’s that edit button? 😉

A sunny Saturday of parkrun (42:14 at @allypallyparkrun.bsky.social) followed by a 93rd minute winner for the Bees to defeat Dagenham & Redbridge in a lunchtime kickoff in front of a bumper crowd to maintain our lad at the top of the table. All very enjoyable in the end. #barnetfc #loveparkrun

14/15 - 😀
A bit annoyed that the one I got wrong was the TV sci-fi question!