iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 30/09/2026

The twelfth century Lantern of Death, in tiny Fenioux, in Aquitaine. Pilgrims followed its flame to guide them on their way to Tours.

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 30/09/2026

Training with Peter near Poitiers.

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 25/09/2026

Where so much began - the very Empire-ish opening of NZ’s first pressing plant in 1949. 400 local HMV singles flowed from this. Pt three of my history of HMV NZ, the 50s, intrigues and rock 'n’ roll: audioculture.co.nz/articles/hmv...

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 24/09/2026

The second part of my HMV NZ history, early retail, the war years (where they made more radios for the military than anyone) and the postwar move into pressing and then, reluctantly, local music audioculture.co.nz/articles/hmv...

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 22/09/2026

Asked my daughter what she'd been up to today and she replied with this.

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 15/08/2026

Paris and Bordeaux through a haze of heat last October (opdiner.substack.com/p/swing-low-sw…)

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 23/06/2026

@richardphelps.bsky.social has created a magical radio show around my 21 Songs For Roger Perry Substack post: retrohitradio.co.nz/podcast/guil...

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 16/06/2026

Staggering around Denpasar's gorgeous unmapped gangs snapping and chatting to folks and I finally bumped into a jalan I recognise.

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 07/06/2026

Russell Crowe on Roger Perry a few hours back. Russell taught him to cue a record and gave him permission at The Venue in 1984 to play what his instincts told him to play - to lead the crowd. It worked. @audioculturenz.bsky.social

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 02/06/2026

I still can't quite get used to this on an aircraft. Air France, and free.

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 02/06/2026

Street art and a map of public gardens in the 20th #Paris

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 02/06/2026

Cooling sprays for walkers beside Canal Saint-Martin. #Paris

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 01/06/2026

This seemed like the appropriate GR IV filter for the Moriyama show at the FHCB

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 01/06/2026

One of a shrinking number of patisseries in Le Marais has gone and yet another chain sunglasses shop has arrived. It was never great and the staff were grumpy but it was still local (and busy)

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 31/05/2026

I reckon there is a strong case to be made that this is Sergio's finest 45. But you rarely see it in the wild. French copy scored at the Paris fleamarkets just now.

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 30/05/2026

Commerce meets art at Pont Neuf this afternoon.

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 16/05/2026

So if something happens do we all just SCREAM.

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 10/05/2026

Meanwhile above Afghanistan on Air France. Free.

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 05/05/2026

In my spare time, I wrote a new Opdiner post about new and old records that I like a lot. It's about to pour down with rain for a month or three in Bangkok, so music matters (it always does, of course). And the world might not be here next week ... open.substack.com/pub/opdiner/...

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 27/04/2026

Here comes the sun. Bangkok BTS, December 2025. #streetphotography #bangkok

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 22/04/2026

The belief that Trump has been following Nixon’s playbk in relation to Iran has been a staple of recent media analysis. It is certainly valid. Yet it raises a further question: Is it possible for someone to act the lunatic while actually being one? The brilliance of Fintan O'Toole archive.ph/CGqqi

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 20/04/2026

I did the AudioCulture quiz today. Starter: Alan Jansson produced OMC’s ‘How Bizarre’ and Sisters Underground’s ‘In The Neighbourhood’ at his Uptown Studio. What was the electro band that gave him his first hit single? www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/aud... @audioculturenz.bsky.social

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 19/04/2026

Looks like the Strait keeps Wall Street hours. Or is that Mar-a-lago hours?

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 15/04/2026

Hi @jingajik.bsky.social I've just turned the last page in this. Fascinating and incredibly educational. I loved the selling chapter at the end - and I've been playing Luke's terrific album over and over.

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 14/04/2026

A photo for the ages. Charlie Tumahai and Bunny Walters in 1993, taken by Chris Traill. Just discovered in his archives and previously unseen. @audioculturenz.bsky.social #NewZealandmusic #Aotearoa

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 14/04/2026

It's a fair question 😂

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 11/04/2026

Today’s view. My friend Chris said it had shades of Dr No, but working in this heat I feel like a victim of the doctor. #Maldives

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 08/04/2026

The other astounding thing I read today was that Deliverance Barbie was one of the small, selected, group of geopolitical braintrust appointees who made the decision to start this war. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/u...

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Simon Grigg @opdiner.com · 21/03/2026

Mike Westbrook turned 90 today, so I guess I'll play this, arguably the greatest UK jazz album of all time, from the era when the Brits stood up and said, "We love what you do, but we are not American". A celebration from the great Richard Williams: thebluemoment.com/2026/03/21/m...