I'm pleased to announce that your daily diamond geezer blogpost is now available on YouTube. Here's yesterday's bus route post presented in video format. My thanks to Ryan, the AI voiceover bot, for doing the commentary. And wow, who realised a single 1200-word post could take up seven minutes of your day?

Ofcom's annual report on UK media trends was released yesterday, packed with fascinating insights about how we consume audio, video, news and all kinds of on-demand streaming. [94 page pdf] Over a typical month, (85%) than live TV (67%) (68%) than streamed music (62%) (53%) than an ebook (28%) (35%) than read a printed newspaper (25%) Of UK households... As a priority, public service broadcasters should work urgently with YouTube, to ensure that PSM content is prominent and easy to find on the platforms, and on fair commercial terms. This is particularly important for news and children’s content, and we believe there is a strong case for Government to legislate to enable the change. So today I'm making the leap to sharing my posts as video-based content, ensuring that more youthful audiences can discover and embrace my ongoing Public Service Media output. Now you can enjoy this blog on your commute with your pods in, and all without having to read that tiny text on the horrible grey background in a non-mobile friendly template any more. Come back at 8am for the grand launch!

020 is the dialling code for London. This is Wikipedia's map of the 020 dialling code area. It forms an approximate circle spreading 20 miles from the centre of London. But London is not circular. Places outside London with an 020 dialling code telephone exchanges outside London. The most populous areas outside London with an 020 dialling code are South Oxhey/Bushey/Borehamwood and Buckhurst Hill/Loughton/Chigwell. Gilwell Park has postcode E4 7QW and telephone number 020 8138 0191. Places in Greater London not in the 020 area telephone exchanges inside London don't have an 020 dialling code. They are... 01322: Crayford, Erith, Slade Green 01689: Orpington, Farnborough, Lodge Hill 01959: Biggin Hill 01737: Downland 01895: West Drayton, Denham, Uxbridge, Harefield, Ruislip 01923: Northwood 01708: Romford, Ingrebourne, Hornchurch, Upminster, Rainham But I believe eight other non-020 dialling codes can also be found in London. 01883: Caterham [for example The Fox, Coulsdon Common - 01883 340737] 01372: Esher [for example The Star, Malden Rushett - 01372 842416] 01932: Weybridge [for example Kempton Steam Museum - 01932 765328] 01784: Staines [for example The Orchard Cafe, Staines Road - 01784 258795] 01753: Slough [for example Airpets, Spout Lane North - 01753 685571] 01707: Welwyn Garden City [for example New Cottage Farm, The Ridgeway - 01707 655026] 01992: Waltham Cross [for example Lea Valley Academy, Bullsmoor Lane - 01992 763666] 01227: Brentwood [for example RJ Skip Hire, Grove Farm - 01277 350775] peripheral postcodes that barely enter London. Greater London thus has 16 geographic dialling codes I don't believe anyone else has ever made a definitive list before.

A tribute to Tom Lehrer (1928-2025)   🔊