Wayne Connolly

It's always a pleasure to see the latest issue of Razur Cuts, and I'm made up to see an art photo of mine included amongst so much great new writing. @razurcutsmag.bsky.social

When was the last time you were floored by a song? youtu.be/Jn99Nk6zQkQ?...

Every time the Golden Balloon comes round, I wonder if someone’s going to take it to a party, rub it on their jumper then make their hair stand on end.

Short story collections are a notorious hard sell. So it has been with Saltburn. Here’s a review that might whet your appetite. And the hardest thing is spreading the word. So a share or a like would be nice. davesbookblog-daja.blogspot.com/2025/04/salt... renardpress.com/books/saltbu...

What a great man. I made him laugh once, which is a surprisingly easy thing to do. I also shook his hand - the greatest and biggest hand I have ever shaken. www.theguardian.com/music/2026/o...

Buying a packet of quinoa today reminded me of my dear friend Gordon, who died almost ten years ago. He said it's the only food that actually grows on your plate, and no matter how much you eat there's more in front of you when you've finished than when you started.

Hello! It doesn’t cost anything to repost but it helps me spread the word about my small business. My online shop is full of bold & colourful prints, homewares and cards. I’m also available for freelance design work and art licensing. gailmyerscough.co.uk

Dog food, clean shirts, best suit, tassled loafers, overcoat, cashmere stripy scarf, and lots of books on 17thC art.

My dog does that for me already

It puzzles me that so many people on the Guardian’s blind date claim to have a ‘rabble’ of edgy friends that they couldn’t possibly introduce their date to. Who are all these dangerous people, and how did I end up with nice friends?

This appeared on my screen and I was ready to tut and complain at the choices, but it’s a great selection and reminds me that Leonard Cohen’s music is the soundtrack of my life. He was my only hero. www.theguardian.com/music/2026/o...

Knocked out by this new acquisition at the Spanish Gallery in Bishop Auckland that I saw for the first time today. The Marriage of Mary and Joseph by Paulo de San Leocadio c1490.

One Interrail plass, travelled 3500km, visiting 18 places in 6 countries on 20 trains. Planning next year already, only bigger!

Having been on a variety of trains in five European countries in the past few weeks, coming home to the UK is such a dismal experience. The LNER Azuma trains are so noisy and uncomfortable, and the east coast track so poor, it feels like torture just to make the journey back too Newcastle.

At Wetherspoons in St Pancras there's a woman of my age wearing a Spizzernergi tee-shirt, and I'm wondering if I know her and I'm going to ask her where Captain Kirk went.

After waiting almost an hour at passport control at the Brussels Eurostar terminal, I'm going to round up all those who voted for Brexit and force them to stand in the corner wearing dunces' hats until the rest of us have boarded.

Here's a wee dog in Antwerp cathedral to brighten your day

If Rubens made pizza, every one would be an extra large deep-pan special with double cheese and an inch-thick topping, which makes you queasy just to look at it. #AntwerpCathedral

I've just been to the third Ethiopean restaurant in the last ten days, in three different countries, and it's the best food I've had in ages.

This is absolutely what I need when I’m parking at Consett Tesco to do the weekly shop www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Leaving Köln listening to Keith Jarrett seems like the right thing to do

A wee dog in Cologne cathedral to brighten your morning

Love Köln, old and new

I asked the young guy in Cologne tourist information where Keith Jarrett had played his concert in 1975. He had obviously never heard of it, and I was shocked - literally one of the most important moments in 20thC music in his city and he didn't know.

The Rhine looking splendid from the train this morning

Oh, Salzburg

I watched the second half of Argyle’s match today on my phone sitting in the corner of a graveyard in the rain in Salzburg. Luckily I managed to stop myself from running around and cheering when the 95th minute winner went in.

Admitted kissing on Blind Date. More of this kind of thing, please.

Blimey, Salzburg, I've only been here ten minutes and you're showing me this...

I have to admit I shed a tear today at the Leopold Museum in Vienna

I want to hang out with these guys.

Age yourself with your childhood crush

Back in the Oxfam shop today and I'm in charge of the music! We're starting with Pokey Lafarge.

Big excitement in Jesmond public library today. A second borrow!

Here's some news I can't believe I've kept to myself for so long! My second novel, End of a Century, now has a bold & beautiful new look courtesy of the brilliant designer and illustrator @gailmyerscough.co.uk. I'm a huge fan of Gail's work, so this is a dream come true. Isn't it gorgeous? #BookSky

I thought I’d try something on ChatGPT this morning. This looks to me to be quite sinister. I don’t like it at all.

I’m Gail, a one woman (and a feline assistant) business, based in Manchester. I create prints, homewares, T-shirts & cards inspired by midcentury design, music and architecture. Have a look gailmyerscough.co.uk

The Interrail sale ends today with some passes at half price. I have a three month unlimited pass and I'm buzzing about the number of trains I can ride all over Europe next year.

When will politicians stop talking about the bloody housing ladder and ‘encouraging’ developers, and start building homes for people to live in?

Miklos, mate, don’t wear a sloppy joe on a date. It makes you look like a kid who hasn’t learned to dress himself yet.

For most of my life I used to watch tv all the time. And then I stopped. That doesn’t make me a better person, but it gives me a lot more time for other things. Reading and music, mostly.

I was in the Kunstmuseum in Basel last week, and this painting made me stop and stare. John the Baptist by Juan Bautista Maino.

Mamdani is giving away 70,000 free Met opera tickets. Burnham wants people (ie blokes) to be able to drink beer in football stands. Now I like football and beer, and I don't kike opera, but I know whose side I'm on.

I'm scheduling anthologies for the autumn and winter, so if you love short stories and can narrow that love down to JUST 12 STORIES and write about them, then get in touch! You'll be joining 300+ previous guest editors and helping build an archive that now features 3,600+ story recommendations!

After flying home from Geneva last weekend I now have a raging bout of flu or something worse. The whole journey home was terrible - overcrowded airports, long shuffling boarding queues and packed planes. Flying really is the worst way to travel.