You must forgive me for not writing for so long, but I just wanted to be on my own for a couple of years or so.
This will go down as a major stain on FIFA and its World Cup before a ball has even been kicked. Infantino has been banging on about the most inclusive World Cup and Africa’s top referee can’t even get into the country.
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/08/w...
The Tartan Army heading off to the World Cup made me think of this piece I once wrote about all those who travelled to watch the Lisbon Lions so I uploaded it to Substack. I loved writing it. Different fans, same dreams, same spirit of adventure. Lots of stories to pass to their children.
Still can’t quite believe this happened. Pinching myself. On Radio 4 at 4pm today: James Naughtie and a studio audience interviewing me about Scabby Queen. Some of the audience responses went really deep: really interested to see what makes the cut!
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
@drfrancisyoung.bsky.social Thought you’d enjoy seeing this on sale in a great bookshop in Tallinn.
The seven-month-old, Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, was in his mother’s arms when soldiers fired on family in Hebron
The Scottish writer Kirstin Innes speaks to Bookclub about her second novel, Scabby Queen.
www.bbc.co.uk
Here's a lovely review of The Tattooed Hills by @public-history.bsky.social in British Archaeology, with @peteralanross.bsky.social and @stonelands.bsky.social for excellent company. What would call us? (Polite answers only). The New Antiquarians?
What is happening now is the inevitable conclusion of political weakness, cosying up to Reform, banging on about small boats, making no effort to confront others' lies - it was always going to lead here, as they were warned repeatedly by so many people.
Thanks @parramaterial.bsky.social we set the whole album to stream during pre-order as it's really the only way to listen to this LP. It is quite an amazing journey from start to finish.