The parking situation at the VW dealer in MK (artist's impression) Today, finally, the long saga of the EMERGENCY GEARBOX MODE was brough to a close. We had the actual problem fixed* in France over the summer, but on returning home and trying to use the other car key, we discovered that it had become "unpaired" from the car because an essential electronic component had been swapped out.

The Guardian/Observer has a headline today: ‘No one knows what we stand for’ For a story in which Tories gathering for their conference complain about their party’s offer for the voters. &#82…

In one of his books (can’t remember which one) French polymath philosopher Michel Serres makes a big deal of the fact that in French, the same word – temps – means both weather and time. He makes the point, in his gnomish way, that since weather is a chaotic system, then time is too. Time is not a straight line, but fractal and folded.

Demand for Scotland’s most famous export has slumped, with industry facing job cuts and closures

There was some discourse over the weekend about the record-breaking number one single 'Choosin' Texas' by Ella Langley. I think it revolved around the idea (on one side) that anyone who claims not to have heard (of) it is lying in order to look cool; and (on the other) that it's perfectly possible in today's atomised culture not to have any awareness of incredibly popular things.

YouTube video by Alan Delis

YouTube video by BobSegerVEVO

All the rules and conventions for joining in Kitty's Saturday Mystery Jukebox laid out in one place for your convenience.

YouTube video by New West Records

I posted on Bluesky yesterday a photo of a certain field nearby, which is crossed by a public footpath. Personally, I've always been puzzled about this. If I were the landowner, I might have created a suitable path around the edge of the field: trim back the brambles and the nettles, keep it nice and flat, signposted. But maybe that's not possible, so that field usually has a trodden-down path diagonally across it.

Following advice from Bluesky pals, I self-referred to the physio again (my previous referral having run down the clock), and had heard nothing about an appointment. But then yesterday: an unexpected call, offering me one today, because of a cancellation. Otherwise, it would have been November. Quick update: lateral hip pain (not in the joint). X-rays taken. Referral to physio in January.