Your tea-time podcast …

Hot Pot by Mark Graham

When Raleigh first returned with spuds
Consumers weren’t impressed
The skins sparked fears of leprosy
So cattle feed at best
Old news, the tuber triumphed
And thrives today of course
Though what would Walter make you ask
Of chips and curry sauce

For my second poem on @CWCPoetryPodcast with Gyles Brandreth

I chose F.E.M.A.L.E by Zambian singer-songwriter Sampa The Great

This was the soundtrack to many marathons 🏃🏿‍♀️over the years!

Listen to the full episode👇

commonwealthpoetrypodcast.co.uk/episodes/episo…

#Zambia

Some of this & some of that ….

(A little restraint is called for this morning. Somehow yesterday I found myself at ⁦JW Marriott Grosvenor House⁩ eating TWO #Rosebud teas!)

Good morning!

Do you listen to podcasts? If so, when? At bedtime? When walking the dog? On your commute? On your run?
(If you don’t yet listen to ⁦therosebudpodcast⁩, give us a go. It’s interesting people sharing early memories. Latest two: ⁦Keir Starmer⁩ & ⁦Dermot O'Leary⁩

I’m a proud vice-president (and former chairman) of this very special & sometimes undersung charity. It protects our open spaces - and if you’re a dog owner you can have fun supporting this initiative. Starting Wednesday!

An early start has its own reward: a late breakfast . . .

A Monday morning treat … my friend ⁦Dermot O'Leary⁩ joins me on ⁦therosebudpodcast⁩. Dermot’s a delight.

From Dame Judi Dench to Sir ⁦Keir Starmer⁩, from ⁦Rory Stewart⁩ to Dame Joanna Lumley, ⁦therosebudpodcast⁩ is where I meet old friends & new ones to explore their first memories. Tomorrow it’s my good friend Dermot: ⁦Dermot O'Leary⁩. A #Rosebud Monday special

Your Sunday night podcast …

This is a bit alarming . . .

A bit of Shakespeare on a Sunday afternoon? Our 90 minute experimental one family Hamlet is here: youtube.com/watch?v=SJMl9L…

'Our life is what our thoughts make it.'
- Marcus Aurelius

A happy Sunday to you and yours from me and mine

Good morning! I'm travelling the world today . . . join me & Aphra Brandreth as we explore Kenya with Njeri wa Wangarĩ Njeri Wangari - she's amazing

'Falling Sails' - by Mark Graham

Famed for skimpy costumes
And dancers shedding kit
If these are things that tickle you
The Moulin Rouge is it
But those who don’t applaud such fun
Last week had chance to scoff
As late one night as Paris slept
It’s famous sails fell off

Midnight - at the end of a marvellous week in which I was lucky enough to meet some remarkable people, take part in some very special podcasts radio, Tv & theatre shows … and find myself at the top of the Post Office tower. Going to bed now counting my blessings. Goodnight.

Looking for a late-night podcast?
From Dame Judi Dench to Sir Keir Starmer … the first memories of people in the public eye … therosebudpodcast

“Bark for your park” is a fun initiative from Fields in Trust 💚 … read all about it in The Telegraph - and help save our green spaces while walking your dog!

This is ⁦antony williams⁩ ‘s other portrait of me - as Claudius in the modern dress 90 minute experimental Hamlet from ⁦Park Theatre⁩ in 2017 - now available via ⁦YouTube⁩ … there’s a fox line in Hamlet though this picture is called “My words fly up …”

My friend ⁦antony williams⁩ (Antony Williams) came round for a sandwich at lunchtime today & generously gave me the preliminary drawing that led to this portrait … He’s up for a big prize at ⁦National Portrait Gallery⁩ - but not (alas) for one of his two paintings of me.