With @johnconnolly747 looking forward to publication of our book 'The UK Labour Party and the Governance of Regional Inequalities: From Opposition to Government'. Historical and comparative perspectives, lessons from the Starmer Govt's failure. Out with @Palgrave in November.

Outstanding concert (Wagner and Bruckner) from the orchestra of @ScottishOpera in Ayr last night. Conductor Gabriella Teychenne and musicians in fine form.

With Oscar the Springer, rewarded with fine views as the mist cleared on this morning's climb up Arran's Goat Fell. Keeps things in proper perspective ... #Arran #SpringerSpaniels

There's nothing quite like a break @auchrannie in dog-friendly Arran for restoring equilibrium in a world of passing fads and hysteria ... #Arran #SpringerSpaniels

Changes.

Early morning dog walks here in South Ayrshire offer great views of Arran emerging from the mist. Calmness and sanity in a mad world ...

When the boredom and tedium of political stunts and performative public displays eat into one's soul, there's always a fox family to raise the spirits.

Oscar on woodpecker watch. #alertspringerspaniel

Our evening visitors.

We are fortunate to have daily visits from foxes, but this character, from the 2020 cohort, was special ... @ChrisGPackham #FoxOfTheDay

As the new Stalinism bares its teeth, remember (and read) Mikhail Bulgakov, scion of Kyiv, whose works dissected the cruelties and absurdities of the original version.

Delighted to receive my contributor's copy of 'Public Value Management, Governance and Reform in Britain'. Great credit to @johnconnolly747 and @ArnovanderZwet1 for editing such a fine volume.

The le Carre section of a bookcase. He expertly delineated the moral ambiguity and shades of grey in the human condition. Thank you for all the pleasure over the years, Mr Cornwell.

Brief foray into the Ayrshire roots of US Founding Father Alexander Hamilton today. Only ruins remain of Kerelaw Castle, from where James, father of AH, left for West Indies. Impression of past grandeur, which contrasts with relative poverty experienced in WI by young Alexander.