iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Yesterday in Suffolk attended 2 talks by Bob Flowerdew. Informative and interesting as usual. Got to have a good 1 to 1 with him for about half an hour putting the world to rights. Great fun! Bought 3 of his AutobyBobraphy (See what he did there) books #Gardening

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Happy birthday today Robin Driscoll. He who wrote the Mr Bean films and telly stuff. Also was one of the Fat Sweaty Coppers in The Fast Show! Yesterday at a surprise (to him anyway) get together at his local. Top bloke and mate.

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Also yesterday at Wisley GQT summer garden party met Matthew Wilson and chatted about Erigeron germination and propagating Centranthus. What nice fella! I do live life in the fast lane sometimes. @BBCGQT

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Great day at Wisley yesterday for the Gardeners Question Time summer garden party. Met the lovely Frances Tophill at the potting shed and got to ask her a question on figs. I doubt it will be broadcast as I did waffle on a bit but if it is I will die a happy man!

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Tomorrow off to Wisely @RHSWisley in the audience for a recording of GQT. Looking forward to this. Be warned, there will be selfies/pics posted with some of the panel! I used to be so Rock n Roll but this is just how I 'Roll' nowadays, and all the better for it! #Gardening @petergibbs.bsky.social

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

You know it's a bank holiday when 'Bridge up the River Kwai' is on. I blinked and missed @countarthurstrong.bsky.social due to not being awake.

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

This is ONE self seeded tomato plant outside. Didn't remove side shoots, just supported fed and watered. These are now chugging away on the rayburn to make even more sauce to freeze for later use. Still loads more to come off this plant!

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Grapes done well this year, a silver lining to the heatwave I think. The question is, do I scoff these straight off the vine or make a very limited bottle of *Chateau Rick*?

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

I wanted to see the old rustic country church that JFK visited in Forest Row in 1963 just months before his assassination. Rather underwhelming 1950's building now being redeveloped into 2 apartments. 3rd pic I took today through building site barrier. Local history though! #JFK

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Happy birthday Tony Robinson, 80 today. When Baldrick met Bald Rick! Fun fact, Tony was in the unaired pilot episode of The Rag Trade in 1975. He didn't go on to be in the series, the part went to my Dad!

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

This lunchtime visited the wonderful National Trust property Ightham Mote near Sevenoaks in Kent. Fab building creaking with history. Nice lunch and took some free coffee grounds to put around acid loving plants and add to compost. Garden is parched like everywhere at the mo. Still worth a visit.

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Getting some cracking tomatoes. 3rd pic in order, Alicante, Golden Cherry, which you can see aren't all true to colour but still delish! Roma, Green Envy, Indigo Kumquat and Pink Brandywine. The lone one is a self seeded one pos Alisa Craig? These won't see the day out! #Tomato

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

I knocked up a bug hotel out of pallets and slates for the grounds of a care home (I have the garden maintenance contract). Got the residents involved collecting fir cones, bark and twigs etc. I struggled with a name for it but I'm fairly happy with this one. #Nature #BugHotel

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

I love this King George VI pillar box just outside Tunbridge Wells. It is slightly pissed (as am I) but despite my best efforts I couldn't straighten it. #PostBoxSaturday @kategarnermusic.bsky.social

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Just back from a fab couple of days at Penshurst Place Volksweald VW event. Loads of love for my 1963 ratty panel van, and NO, I will not paint her or have any interior fitted! Gertie our 1972 blue Bay Window bus looking good in the sunshine. #VanLife #PenshurstPlace #Volkswagen

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Dad would have been 85 today bless him x

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

This beautiful sight stopped me in my tracks a couple of hours ago. Near Newhaven on the south downs. Lots of agriculture around but this piece left to nature. More please! 🐝🦋 @petergibbs.bsky.social

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Although fathers day is an american marketing thing, I must acknowledge we all have Dads. I can miss him on other days.

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

It's all going on at Rick Acres! Soon have our 1st courgettes. Weeded asparagus beds which are at the fern stage now. Planted squashes to grow up repurposed ladder. Getting strawberries from small g'house. Newly replaced rotten wood raised beds now corrugated iron sheets looking good!

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

I'm just packaging up Dads Last of the Summer Wine scripts to send off to be digitised for a virtual archive, the brainchild of @andrewtsmith.bsky.social or Drew as we know him! 26 here so only another 269 to go! Great initiative to create an accessible record of this iconic show.

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

For Roy Hudd's 90th and seaside themed #MusicHallVarietyDay #MHVD2026 a programme for 'Hudd's Here' in Scarborough (a seaside town) and an original photo for the cover! And my fav pic of me with the great man at a Dora Bryan plaque do in Brighton, also a seaside town! @musichallsociety.bsky.social

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Can't believe it was a year ago today we lost our beloved Irish Terrier Scrumpy. He was 14 but still known as the puppy. Miss him so much. 💔🐶

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Useful bit of rain yesterday, love the smell of petrichor! Could do with more to fill water butts. Garden seems to have perked up anyway. Asparagus rapidly running to fern stage now but will get another risotto or 2 out of them. Day off from gardening today. Going out for drinkies 🍷

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Yak, yak, yak! Sid James left the stage 50 years ago today.

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Just a few hours ago bought this, what I think must be a 1975 promo card for the record cover which has the same image. Nice genuine sigs by both Windsor Davies and Don Estelle. "I will not have gossip in this jungle!"

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Was at Herstmonceux Castle Garden Show today. Was privileged to have a Dragonfly want to stay with me for a good 3 minutes! Stunning little critters and amazing to see them up close like this.

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Very novel yesterday to find a working telephone in a K6 phone box at Birling Gap near Eastbourne. My box is full of wood so I use my mobile. Note the crowns at the top. Mine is a Tudor crown which dates it to pre 1953. The other is an Elizabethan crown so is post 1953. #PhoneBox

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

And just like that, a few hours ago, I found Tommy Coopers holiday home in Eastbourne. Strange location to my thinking. No sea views, just a side road in the Old Town area. Not what I'd expected but a nice little green park and bowling green opposite. #SpoonJarJarSpoon @musichallsociety.bsky.social

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

I love this autograph in my collection. Betty Balfour #BOTD probably 1902, possibly '03. Big star of the silent film era. Fav film is 'Squibs' 1935. Also 'My Old Ditch' 1934. #MusicHall @musichallsociety.bsky.social

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

My now annual pilgrimage at this time of year to see the spectacular Rhododendron at South Lodge near Horsham, West Sussex. It's definitely put on at least another 6 inches since last year! Click on image for full effect.

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

I'm still on 'X'/'Twitter' for better or worse as I get more interactions than on Bluesky @support.bsky.team . It seems the posts I see on here are going a bit like 'X' with its content from users wishing to spread discord. I doubt anyone even read this anyway as its a bit of a waste of time here.

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Bonar Colleano was #BOTD in 1924. That's a reason to be cheerful.

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Well I'm 60 and just had another tattoo this lunchtime. I had to go straight to Wetherspoons and have some pizza!!

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

I don't do politics on social media. The nearest I get is to suggest the Houses of Parliament would make a fucking awesome Wetherspoons.

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

I wonder where that bloke in the Trivago ad bought his teeth?

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

My annual birthday heads up for Sam Kydd who was #BOTD 1915. Check his IMDb, it's staggering, be quicker to list what he hadn't appeared in! I love the little gag in his reply to the Lord Taverners.

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

Patricia Haines #BOTD 1932 d.1977. One of my fav autographs. She was in loads of cult tv shows I love, Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased), The Champions, The Baron, Dept S, The Avengers, Adam Adamant lives, The Saint, Public Eye etc. Once married to Michael Caine. Not a lot of people know that!

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🇬🇧📺 Classic British TV 📺🇬🇧 @classicbritishtv.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Remembering the late Actor, Michael Sharvell-Martin (2 February 1944 – 28 October 2010)

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

The Late Michael Sharvell-Martin was #BOTD 1944. Well known comedy actor who worked with the likes of Benny Hill and Dave Allen. He and Dad did many Panto's together at Windsor and had a great partnership particularly as Ugly sisters. I actually knew Michael before Dad met him!

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Happy birthday to Carol Hawkins, #BOTD! Lucky old Dad got to work with her in the 1970's!

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Simon Osborne Pitt the Younger @pitt-the-younger.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

Remembering actor Christopher Beeny, who left us 6 Years Ago Today! Seen here in Upstairs Downstairs!

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

Keith Floyd would have been 82 today! We have his signed photo hanging in our kitchen for inspiration. Just making bubble n squeak with the Christmas leftovers. Mashed spuds, roast spuds, carrot, parsnip, swede, sprouts, kale, chestnuts. Yes, of course I have a large glass of red on the go! 🍷🍷

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

Dan Leno #BOTD 1860. Massive star of music hall in his day. The panto 'Mother Goose' was written for him! @musichallsociety.bsky.social

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

In the mince pie zone. Cleaning lady up to usual high standard. Dollop of Crème Fraiche on the side, job done! A lot goes into these. The mincemeat for next years batches will be made tomorrow. Merry Christmas! Can you believe there are no mince pie emojis!

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Count Arthur Strong @countarthurstrong.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7no... This isn't because I can't be bothered doing a new one. Before you say anything

youtube.com

Count Arthur Strong's Christmas Message

YouTube video by Count Arthur Strong

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

Actress Liz Smith was #BOTD 1921. She didn't really get started as an actress until around the age of 50 and considering that appeared in a huge amount of TV and films, including 'In Loving Memory' Christmas ep 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'. Still shows Dad on far right.

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Rick Blackman @rickblackman.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

I've not shared this flyer before! Dad in panto in Canterbury with Gerald Flood, Donald Hewlett and Michael Knowles in 'Babes in the Wood'. 1981-82 season. Seats from £2.20-£3.50! #Pantomime #ItsBehindYou #OhYesItIs!

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