John Bull

Author. Historian. Strategy streamer. Tech/Transport Strategist. Editor of @lonrec. Orient fan. Business: business@longformist.co.uk

Public Key

npub14vakfm6fzv75m0wgj3ufj5dk4glkpxcy0e3nm6d8y06w97s857eqknzqxa

NIP-05 Address

garius_at_mastodon.me.uk@mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqs2kwmyaay3x02dhhyfg7ye2xm250mqnvz8uceaaxnj8a8zlgr60vsxeyg5s

Author Public Key

npub14vakfm6fzv75m0wgj3ufj5dk4glkpxcy0e3nm6d8y06w97s857eqknzqxa

Show more details

Last Notes

2024-08-07 08:52:02

Still suffering with whatever this virus is that makes all my joints ache.
On the plus side, I have several bottles of original flavour Lucozade now. Which, as anyone who grew up in the 80s in the UK knows, is the miracle cure for all general meh illnesses.

2024-03-15 09:32:33

Okay, random history research question!
I've finally tracked down what Lore Harp's maiden name was: Lange Hegermann.
She's often described her grandfather as a politician and economist in Weimar Germany.
So who was he?
It's not a mis-spelling of Werner Hegemann. He died too young. Harp was born in 1944 and she remembers her grandfather, and living in a house with him.
Should add this is not CRITICAL to my research. I'm just intrigued. #histodons #germany

2024-02-19 09:25:36

jesus christ i am getting absolutely BLITZED by bot replies on here now.

2024-01-27 17:38:33

Four days until the 30th anniversary of Green Day's 'Dookie' being released.
Just warning my fellow olds in advance to minimise the existential crisis.

2023-11-21 16:54:10

From today's writing.
Daimons. Not as smart as some people claim.
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/111/449/577/130/738/922/original/52cf49c8e6b5a491.png
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/111/449/580/002/675/475/original/3a13e6ac9748c21d.png

2023-11-10 08:37:11

He does this deliberately. It's to try and stop me going into the office. He's not even asleep, just pretending.
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/111/385/328/364/642/596/original/945841b48bc0bba5.jpg

2023-11-08 18:18:38

Meet Cecilia.
Turned up desperately ill, dehydrated and starving on our doorstep a while ago.
Now recovering well from major surgery to remove a huge polyp (hence the still slightly closed eye), thanks to Cats Protection's help.
We've agreed she can move in permanently. 🐈
She and Napoleon will be introduced slowly. Both are pretty un-territorial, they'll adjust to each other.
No way we were going to leave her without a perma-home, after she'd already been abandoned once as a kitten. #cats
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/111/376/297/741/273/043/original/481d2a5dd2036843.jpg
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/111/376/301/278/413/697/original/27b11c81281ccc3a.jpg

2023-10-27 07:15:56

Good morning from your Emperor. #cats
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/111/305/747/885/842/003/original/390d9586282b2bb3.jpg

2023-10-13 09:49:40

Fediverse, the independent women's football team I support/volunteer for needs your help.
After a MASSIVE comeback win against a higher level team they're through in the cup.
But that means a long coach journey, and the competition grants no prize money to pay for travel.
This is an economic barrier, not a footballing one, that team's without a link to a men's team struggle to overcome. So we're crowdfunding for coach hire. /1 #mastodonFC #woso https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/cup-travel-expenses-for-distant-away-game#start

2023-10-06 16:17:40

Few things will wake you up faster than a cat licking your armpit.

2023-10-04 13:36:47

Oh no help I'm looking at Warhammer 40k armies on Ebay again.

2023-10-04 12:05:42

- reply

@npub1dug…mkax with my Vice-Chair of Seaward hat on, i did actually have a long conversation with the councillor in charge of health things last year about everything i've suggested here.
They got very excited about it and then did nothing, obviously.

2023-10-04 11:23:01

- reply

@npub1dug…mkax that's all there on site. At least to the same level (again) as Redbridge.
And now Lea Bridge station has reopened it has both prime bus connections to Leyton/Walthamstow Central AND a direct rail link to Stratford.
Basically it'd pass a transport eval easily.
You're never gonna get more than an 6k seater there, but it's never gonna need to be.

2023-10-04 11:04:27

- reply

@npub1dug…mkax so your OSD would be that, plus a 4g surface pitch, nets, lights and facilities (2x changing, ref facilities, some kind of clubhouse, 1x seating stand, renovation of standing space).
Facilities can be partially (At least) temporary.
Women's season runs shorter so you have time for long over-summer builds to replace.

2023-10-03 17:21:45

- reply

@npub1wvs…9g9x Social Media platforms are like battleships in the late 30s.
We know they're doomed to disappoint, but we get excited about them anyway.

2023-10-02 08:31:14

- reply

To be clear, I'm NOT asking for legal advice replies. As I've (gently) explained to her - and I think she now understands - she really, really needs to talk to some experts and make sure what she's submitting is done properly.
Just need to find someone who can help her.

2023-10-02 08:28:59

URGENT: An elderly neighbour is facing eviction due to house payment issues with her lender caused by her (pending-divorce) husband.
Are there any UK charities/agencies/others I can put her in contact with to get help? Particularly/urgently in writing a Stay of Eviction request? #london #law

2023-09-30 23:53:30

- reply

@npub1eqf…n59p just the two.

2023-09-30 23:51:37

My kitty. ♥️
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/111/156/779/992/374/094/original/20c92b7ad485f7c5.jpg

2023-09-19 07:00:37

- reply

@npub19ec…fxlk it's in the heart of Walthamstow, so the target demo will mostly not be car owners.

2023-09-18 21:19:20

Ah yes. GOD FORBID we lose the massive local cultural landmark that is...
...the abandoned Texaco garage people keep flytipping at.
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/111/088/230/320/203/833/original/98be0fcb1c149577.png

2023-09-12 00:12:28

Imagine being that one War Thunder player who DOESN'T have military secrets to leak.
It must be such a lonely existence. #gaming

2023-09-11 10:25:20

Updating my Outlook auto-responder to warn people that i have limited capacity today. There is a kitten asleep on my hand.

2023-09-10 07:38:25

- reply

@npub1cr9…9wv2 sadly not. Just the occasional very generic one.
I have... opinions on this that have come up on stream. It's a MASSIVELY missed opportunity to put it mildly.
My plan is to do a short video on that subject once the run is finished.
All episodes of the stream so far are up on my YouTube channel, btw.

2023-09-09 19:35:56

21 May, 2028.
Driving for McLaren, Sophia Flörsch becomes the first woman to stand on the podium in an F1 race.
FINALLY getting somewhere in our F1 Manager quest to make her world champion! Tune in Monday on Twitch for highlights.
I'm legit excited. We're getting there! #gaming #f1
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/111/036/866/866/964/309/original/46185a3c7eb1dee5.png

2023-09-08 17:33:11

Cleaner has finished!
We can now pretend to our weekend guests that the house always looks like this.

2023-09-07 09:29:45

- reply

@npub1psd…9sr7 luckily i'd deliberately planned to stay overnight in kiel before getting the ferry to gothenburg from there the next day.
So i could be RELATIVELY zen about the extra 6 hours it took me to do a (Theoretical) 2 hour journey.

2023-09-07 09:14:38

- reply

@npub1psd…9sr7 DB seem to have a VERY casual approach to train information updates and rerouting.
Last time I tried to go from Hamburg to Kiel I almost accidentally ended up in Denmark.

2023-09-06 10:26:59

Something streamer culture needs to embrace more is the classic radio tradition of the 'relief presenter' to enable holidays and breaks.
And Twitch in particular needs to have better tools to enable it safely and easily.
When Craig Charles goes on holiday, his daily afternoon show on BBC Radio 6 doesn't go off air for two weeks, leaving silence in its place. That would be disastrous for the radio station.
Instead, a relief presenter comes in, or a relief show is scheduled. /1 #gaming

2023-09-01 08:24:35

- reply

@npub1psd…9sr7 yup. it gets a bit worst-of-the-forum-era sometimes.

2023-09-01 07:21:33

Always nice to wake up to #cats
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/110/988/678/813/586/005/original/0d3aa4d707b9ee6f.jpg

2023-08-31 22:56:34

- reply

If I make a joke about cats being from the desert and eating fish, I don't need multiple fucking lectures about the origins of the species.
Just roll with the joke.
You're allowed to do that.
No one is going to put you in joke prison.
It's fine.

2023-08-31 22:52:46

- reply

You don't have to be right all the time. It's fine if there's a little imperfection in the world.
ESPECIALLY if it doesn't hurt anyone and is a bit funny.

2023-08-31 22:50:38

- reply

People on here are smart I get it but you don't need to critically dissect everything other people say.
I did forums. We rolled our eyes at the people who did that there. Don't do it here. It's not fun. Don't be the people no one hangs out with at parties.
Just let fun exist.

2023-08-31 22:47:34

Jesus Christ I love Mastodon to bits but stop explaining my own jokes to me.

2023-08-31 14:24:28

- reply

@npub1ssq…3ejc which is exactly why the article talks about how they likely picked up their fishy habit from hanging around with us.

2023-08-31 14:02:39

- reply

EARLY CAT: What that?
HUMAN: A fish. You can eat them.
EARLY CAT: Mine now. I need it. I need the fish. Without fish I die.
HUMAN: But you're from the desert. How can you possibly-
EARLY CAT: WOE. WOE FOR KITTY. HUMAN INFLICTS A THOUSAND WOES ON-
HUMAN: God. Fine. Have it. #cats

2023-08-31 13:55:46

This article is genuinely interesting (cats are BIG on umami, apparently).
But I love that for all the science, the reason WHY a desert animal love fish still seems to come back to them just deciding they did one day. And then demanding it off our ancestors, who duly obliged. #cats https://www.science.org/content/article/why-do-cats-love-tuna-so-much-scientists-may-finally-know?utm_campaign=SciMag&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=ownedSocial&fbclid=IwAR3dgpvT7dJfn_hEcBI-vQpemCRFv3IgSnzX6TuCkULmYzviwgGPtMrKXmg

2023-08-30 17:07:52

Got home 2mins after kitty dinnertime.
The rage is palpable.

2023-08-30 10:17:01

Of all the statues we have on our university grounds, I do think this is the finest.
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/110/978/047/034/228/650/original/b27f43e9e7b53795.jpeg

2023-08-24 08:23:50

- reply

@npub1a3u…vw69 @npub1ay7…87m2 well it depends on the causes of the unrest, and what you define as 'helping'.
One of the reasons for, or side-effects of, dictatorships where the state voluntarily yields power (e.g. Roman Republic) is reduction of civil unrest.
Unfortunately it's a very short-term outcome unless the underlying causes are addressed.
And people/states rarely cede authoritarian power once gained.

2023-08-23 14:22:51

To find your perfect Predator movie, just take the name of the first kids show you remember and add "vs Predator" to the end.
"Rainbow vs Predator"

2023-08-23 08:59:38

BONUS F1 MANAGER STREAM LATER!
With TWO Design Centre fires his season and major regs changes due, we had to forfeit our title challenge as McLaren to try and salvage a car design for next season:
Is Sophia Flörsch finally ready for a race seat?
Is our car competitive? #gaming #f1
From 5pm UK: https://twitch.tv/gariusthebrit
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/110/938/104/533/279/488/original/6e57e36386434a4c.jpeg

2023-08-22 06:10:54

- reply

@npub1yjv…pzwj endorphin rush?

2023-08-21 06:58:52

Every local UK Facebook group is alternating posts of:
"WHY IS RENT SO HIGH ROUND HERE???"
And:
"Hey someone is trying to build a block of flats sign this petition to stop it."

2023-08-17 13:01:01

- reply

@npub1zw8…90s7 it's the new way to scare midfielders into signing a new deal.
"Chelsea have activated your release clause. Best sign this new contract quick before you end up on their bench for the next 6 years."

2023-08-16 17:50:05

Dude stealing from the British Museum says it's fine, because he got a signed bill of sale from the Ottoman governor.

2023-08-16 12:11:36

- reply

@npub1clc…hg6f if it was this time last month i'd be writing them FROM Australia. 😆

2023-08-16 12:05:34

Fara Williams and Ian Wright should be the ONLY pundit combo used for all England games, both men and women, going forward.
They're both so gloriously genuine, while really knowing their stuff. #fifawwc #mastodonfc

2023-08-16 11:56:56

IT'S COMING HOME.
(Or possibly going on holiday to Spain) #fifawwc #mastodonfc

2023-08-16 11:44:37

yessssss #fifawwc #mastodonFC

2023-08-16 11:31:15

Hemp is a poacher of the highest order. It catches defenders out so much. #fifawwc #mastodonfc

2023-08-16 10:45:18

- reply

@npub1udw…77eu yup.
good game so far!

2023-08-16 10:38:56

GET INNNNNNN.
Stick that up your Harbour Bridge. 😆 #fifawwc #mastodonFC

2023-08-16 10:21:08

Not sure this crowd is on England's side... #mastodonFC #fifawwc

2023-08-15 08:11:06

Any decent football (as in soccer) matchday programme templates out there for inDesign?
I don't mind paying for something decent. You'd think this would be a thing. #mastodonFC

2023-08-15 07:27:18

MY WIFE: There's a package coming for me today.
ME: Cool. What is it?
MY WIFE:
ME:
MY WIFE:
ME: Um... Boxes.
ME: Is it more Tupperware?
MY WIFE: Only to an uneducated eye.

2023-08-15 07:12:54

The darkness seeped into the bedroom. Chloe froze, unable to move. It seemed to slowly fill the room, rising to the level of her bed. Only a matter of time before it flowed over the edge and-
"Mine."
The word was not heard, just etched into her head. The darkness slowed.
"MINE!"
The darkness paused. At the foot of her bed her small tuxedo kitty, Floof sat Sphinx-like, eyes ablaze.
The darkness receded.
Floof looked at Chloe, yawned, and curled back up into a snoozy ball once more. #cats

2023-08-14 23:58:49

The Night Watchman #cats
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/110/890/680/442/158/067/original/6da61152205b31e6.jpg

2023-08-14 22:02:09

- reply

@npub1jh8…0ld0 brill. thanks!

2023-08-13 23:28:12

Will be in Porto at the end of September.
Given my known love of Port, what are the non-standard options for an easy evening of tasting/enjoyment?
Doing some kind of genetic Port tour doesn't really appeal to me.

2023-08-13 13:44:00

Just got snuggle-ambushed.
Couldn't see him around so lay down to stretch my back for 2mins post-stream.
Turns out he was hiding under the bed.
He immediately jumped up, snuggled into me and dozed off. Now I'm trapped. #cats
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/110/882/600/333/116/079/original/8f81211154af9dae.jpg

2023-08-13 08:39:40

Giant scotch egg is a valid breakfast I will die on this hill.

2023-08-12 19:32:31

Agent Kane spursing Bayern up already. #mastodonFC

2023-08-09 08:38:21

Whilst I like flying out of London City Airport for the convenience, a 31 hour flight to Porto seems a bit long.
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/110/858/749/585/503/525/original/a374c088cd416eba.png

2023-08-08 08:24:05

Fuck.
I'm one year off being an "or earlier" as far as videogames are concerned. #gaming
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/110/853/026/744/597/323/original/d47af9fa4e309d0c.png

2023-08-07 20:08:30

- reply

@npub15lx…dkq4 he basically decided that as long as he dug down ten metres, slid a metal plate under it and moved the whole lot in one go he wasn't disturbing the archeology.
Luckily someone tipped off English Heritage (or whatever they were called back then) who promptly turned up on site and told him to quit it, sharpish.
He reluctantly backed down.

2023-08-07 16:06:45

STREAM TIME!
One race left in our first season running McLaren. Can we place in our awful car? Can Piastri not crash?
Big decisions on drivers and changes will be coming in the off-season as we hunt for the first female Champion. Come help me make them. https://twitch.tv/gariusthebrit
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/110/849/178/563/437/440/original/70e14a506b32eab5.png

2023-08-07 13:28:34

- reply

@npub1csm…7z5n handmade by the late, great Richard “Doc” Nagy before he died.
Perfect combo of typewriter feel/sound and rugged tech beneath the surface.
Wonderful for writing with.

2023-08-07 12:00:18

Game over.
Denmark barely have one goal in them. They definitely don't have two. #fifawwc #mastodonFC

2023-08-07 11:00:33

Clinical from Australia, that #fifawwc #mastodonFC

2023-08-07 10:11:54

- reply

@npub19pq…zq3z @npub1mnl…wqet i've seen a goal given after a rebound off a referee at non-league.
It did NOT go down well. 😆

2023-08-07 10:10:22

- reply

@npub1yf4…dcyy yup. they've not just held England, but taken the game to them.

2023-08-07 10:07:39

Mavis Beacon never taught me how to deal with this typing position. #cats #mastodonfc
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/110/847/774/285/192/570/original/808afe9eb66a31f5.jpeg

2023-08-07 10:05:35

- reply

@npub16gs…7ks9 yeah, i've loved watching them

2023-08-07 09:54:00

If England lose this, then the tournament is Japan's for the taking (and they'd be worthy winners) #fifawwc #mastodonFC

2023-08-07 09:41:50

- reply

@npub10pa…0xqj just got back to my desk, for example, to discover that England are busy Englanding. 😆

2023-08-07 09:41:09

- reply

@npub10pa…0xqj nope! just been busy - and the timing of games in the morning meant there were a bunch i couldn't watch (particularly when they clashed with my stream times)

2023-08-07 08:06:28

A transition to casual dress at work meant the end of the 'comedy' fish tie. In this paper I will explore the increasingly desperate ways HR and Procurement departments have tried to convince people that their jobs are 'fun', since this change.

2023-08-07 07:58:25

- reply

@npub15lx…dkq4 stevenage museum has quite a good archive of audio interviews (you've probably encountered them already).
Always fun listening to Claxton still being salty that he wasn't allowed to move one of the Six Hills pre-historic burial mounds round to the other end of the row, so that he could make the road up to the roundabout a bit straighter.

2023-08-07 07:46:59

- reply

@npub15lx…dkq4 I got to raid my shelves a bit for this one, which I delivered at Strictly Highways last year.
Was TREMENDOUSLY satisfying. Especially pulling out the London Plan(s) again.
(Although a copy of Eric Claxton's own limited-run book has always eluded me)
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/110/847/219/982/840/172/original/82f3253e4021f2de.png

2023-08-07 06:27:46

- reply

@npub15lx…dkq4 that Hook book looks wonderful.

2023-08-06 09:22:32

STREAM TIME!
For over 40 years King Iulus has fought to continue his father Uther's dream: A reunited, Roman Britain.
Under his rule, Britannia Maior has grown stronger. Now his eyes turn to the wild north.
Join me for Crusader Kings 3 and history natter! #histodons #gaming https://twitch.tv/gariusthebrit
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/110/841/916/427/549/997/original/c754a505f01143d0.png

2023-08-06 06:36:29

- reply

@npub1rkj…ufed YouTube premium is easily the streaming subscription I'd cancel last.
I find it so jarring when I haven't spotted I've been logged out and suddenly get an advert!

2023-08-05 10:47:30

Will be watching Orient's first game back in League 1 from the Charlton director's box today.
Not how I expected to be doing it, will admit. 😆

2023-08-05 07:57:17

The emperor, in profile. #cats #caturday
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/110/835/939/421/315/143/original/9657119522cf5e26.jpg

2023-08-04 21:47:25

Stupid fucking cat with his stupid fucking big eyes.
Takes the piss and he knows it.
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/110/833/539/046/655/373/original/7bba52152bad3cc7.jpg

2023-08-04 21:18:07

Cat just stole a significant part of my pizza and somehow he's still pitching me as the bad guy. #cats

2023-08-04 20:15:07

Very interesting evening of Xennial drinking, where we all agreed to try and lose weight and be healthier because we want to drink together for AT LEAST 40 more years.
Fuck dying alone. Booze buddies to the end.

2023-08-01 13:08:14

- reply

@npub1nnu…rhww yeah, i thought i'd avoid trying to save Williams until i'd got a bit more of a hang of the changes!
One thing I will say: be warned budgets seem tighter as you get through a lot more parts due to wear and tear, i'm finding.

2023-08-01 08:14:40

- reply

@npub1cr9…9wv2 aye.
i'm doing a twitch/youtube run of rebuilding mclaren and winning the championship with a female driver

2023-08-01 07:41:18

My chief engineer last night, getting all over the live practice data for Monaco as it comes in.
I think his main concern was the signs of wear on Lando Norris' gearbox. #cats #f1
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/110/813/228/440/340/014/original/f54f49d79ced691f.jpg

2023-03-29 08:24:13

It's 1987. The Metropolitan Police are waging an intimidation campaign against London's LBTQ+ community.
Wearing rubber gloves to "protect from AIDS" they raid the Royal Vauxhall Tavern
"Well well," says Lily Savage (Paul O'Grady) from the stage as the police pile into the venue. "It looks like we’ve got help with the washing up" /1

2023-03-16 13:05:56

On 16th March, 1968 Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson Jnr was flying helicopter reconnaissance for an attack on an alleged North Vietnamese-controlled village at My Lai.
As the ground attack developed below, Thompson realised he was in fact witnessing something something else:
A massacre.
He decided to act. /1 🧵 #[0] #[1]
https://mastodon.me.uk/system/media_attachments/files/110/033/103/569/869/412/original/7f5f41d40148bed8.jpeg