Internet highlights – w/c 12th April 2026
18 04 2026Comments : Leave a Comment »
Categories : The Best of the Internet
Tender – by Harry Baker
18 04 2026I’d already heard some of these poems performed when I saw Harry live last year, but was keen to read the rest, and support his work!
When his son was born, he wrote a poem every day for the first 100 days to help remember that time, and this is a book of all of them, some very moving, several funny, it’s a real mix, and enjoyable!
Favourites would include one about taking the opportunity to have dinner with his wife while the baby sleeps, but they only have poppadums and mango chutney, and how to do that quietly so it doesn’t wake him, also one about his first time seeing a horse. There’s also a wonderful one nearer the end about what various celebrities were doing in 1958.
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Tags: book review, book reviews, harry baker, poetry
Categories : Books I've Read
All the Light We Cannot See – by Anthony Doerr
16 04 2026I was leant this book by a friend who loved it. I’d heard the title around for a long time and always meant to get around to reading it somewhen.
Marie-Laure is a French girl who became blind as a child, her father is the locksmith for a massive museum in Paris. When the Naxis invade, they flee to his Uncle’s in Saint Malo, keeping safe something from the museum.
Werner is a German orphan, brought up in a mining area with his sister, but he teaches himself to repair radios and transmitters, and ends up in a school for elite military training.
The book alternates between their two stories throughout, as well as jumping from before the war to late in the war and back again. I don’t mind a parallel storyline, and I enjoy a dual perspective, but following both was occasionally a bit much, especially when an occasional third perspective came in!
It’s extremely readable and engaging, you really get a feel for the horrors of the time, especially the stuff in August 1944 during the siege of Saint Malo. There were a handful of Americanisms in the text, which sort of pulled you out of the story for a second, but it wasn’t too often. The only other thing that bothered me was the tiny romance storyline, which to me felt a little shoehorned in, but overall I really enjoyed it.
Next stop will be watching the Netflix adaptation.
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Tags: anthony doers, book reviews, fiction, world war 2, world war ii
Categories : Books I've Read
Internet highlights – f/c 28th March 2026
11 04 2026Comments : Leave a Comment »
Categories : The Best of the Internet
Revolting Rhymes – by Roald Dahl
6 04 2026Several years ago I worked through the box set of Roald Dahl’s children’s books, and had the best time! Last week I was at a book sale where I found a copy of Revolting Rhymes, which I’d never read, and looked a lot of fun – turns out it was!
The book contains Dahl’s takes on Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, and the Three Little Pigs. But none of them are quite as you remember them, they have twists, generally much darker, that mean the stories all have different endings to normal, be it beheadings, guns, or becoming as rich as they like, it’s all in rhyme as you’d expect from the title, and a lot of fun!
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Tags: book review, book reviews, fairy tales, poetry, Roald Dahl
Categories : Books I've Read
April Fools 2026
1 04 2026And we’re back!
There’d been a few people online saying people shouldn’t do April Fools this year due to the state of the world, but I’d argue that that’s exactly why we need it, something fun and creative to lift our spirits, and I’m pleased to report, there’s some good stuff out there this year, numbers don’t seem to have reduced at all.
The last couple of days have had so many brands having a laugh at the expense of the great KitKat robbery, (both in the comments on that post, and in their own posts, which have been very enjoyable, but not April fools as such! I’ve had to skirt around a lot of them this morning!
It does feel more and more that there are 2 tiers of these posts these days, those that have put in real thought and come up with something clever and innovative, and those who’ve just launched a new flavour of something. I’ve put it all in this year, but I do thing unless it’s something clever about the new range of perfumes/candles/icecreams, next year they might get omitted, cos this list is LONGGG…
Also, it’s worth pointing out these aren’t in any particular order, just how I stumbled across them, so the quality is mixed throughout, some real gems scattered all the way through.
As per usual, I’m sure I’ll discover more stuff after midday as there’s just too much to cover in 3 hours (and they have flown this morning!), so I’ll post updates at the bottom later if that’s the case.
As has become traditional, there’s a short note under each post incase they delete them later… happy reading 😊
RyanAir actually went early and posted last night that their social media communications were going to become more corporate and professional.
Iceland also went early on Tuesday evening with their tear and share Darlic bread
Bothy Threads selling fully stocked actual craft sheds
National Trust offering a birdsong translation service in Wales
Bath Assembly rooms find new book “Elegance and Expectations” from Jane Austen
Caffe Nero launching new locations from old phone boxes
Subway launching gels for marathon running
PG Tips emergency tea that boils in 10 seconds from the push of a button
Eastenders are filming an episode from the point of view of the Queen Victoria bust
Poundland announce PoundlandAI
Tesco are selling giant boiled eggs like Easter eggs
Easyjet reveal a statue of Jane from Airline
Must Have Ideas launch super smart mug for tea
Dominos and Pot Noodle collaborate on a pot noodle pizza
Dunelm launch swanky new cat bed that looks remarkably like a cardboard box
Ikea launch meatball lollipops
Krispy Kreme launch Kolin the Caterpillar cake made of doughnuts
Sodastream backpack
Surrey Police bobby pins
Ordnance Survey announce a new Grid North
Heinz announce Matcha Mayo, though this really feels like it could be real
Sacla pasta pot ice creams
Greenbelt announce new location of Gloucester Services
Lidl are selling pastry crumbs
Frankie and Bennys are selling space food
Yorkshire Tea are selling mugs made out of biscuits
Beefeater selling a 74 patty burger
Pizza Hut vertical pizza box
British Transport Police trialling AI patrol bots
Square strawberries from Cammas Hall fruit farm
Cake drive through at a cafe in Liverpool
Warburtons and Only Curls collaborate on a curl serum using crusts
Wilkos scratch and sniff wallpaper
National Express launch on board kareoke system
Asda armchair trolleys
Heinz weanbot robot vacuum cleaner
Marlow recognises potholes as local heritage assets
Devonwick candles launch new fish and chips scent
West Midlands Ambulance Service launching AI paramedics
Wildlife hospital launching translation technology
Sweet Reviews announce Heinz chocolate spaghetti
Samsung NZ are selling Earring buds
Uber boat first aerial route
COOK selling their own range of ready made and then frozen teas
Terry’s chocolate orange emergency segment phone case
Quorn Easter picnic egg
Silver Spoon pickle flavour icing sugar
Nescafe and Rowse coffee honey
Vimto sip straws
Golden Syrup chocolate bars
Hole free bagels from NYBakery
Fussy marmite scented deodorant
Timpsons escape room
Bella Italia garlic bread gelato
Decades after the teasmade, Swan bring out the toastmade
Boots de-pollenator to help hayfever sufferers
Golden Wonder super sour flavour
TUI launch plane food pop up shop
Screwfix glow in the dark screws
Vue cinema candle range
Little Tikes Cozy Coupe vacuum cleaner
Ikea Malaysia have brought out a meatball bath bomb
Home Bargains loyalty card, with slightly odd benefits
Vaseline blue lip gloss
Seabrook sea-through crisps
Henry Hoover isn’t going to smile anymore, there’ll be all sorts of expressions
Whittards phone case emergency teabag holder
Divine Good Vibes chocolate infused with positive affirmations
Lily’s kitchen perfumes
Legaldi
New Easter egg ideas from Sainsburys
TGI Fridays mozzerella stick scented candle
BMW launch the indicator!!!!
Scrub daddy fingers
Currys launch sniff tester to see if your clothes need a wash
Lego launch a car
Volkswagen canary blindspot monitor
Branston pickle filled Easter eggs
Vegetable flavour mentos
Muller and Kingsmill collaborate on Crusty Corners…
Count Bin-Face has joined ReformUK
MetOffice perfume that smells of rain
Dishmatic chocolate refillable handle
Farady delivering this year’s RI Christmas lectures via AI
Longleat’s zebras have laid eggs!
Tictac lip balm
Maldon salted caramel sea salt flakes
Russell Hobbs kareoke toaster
Jet2Holidays staff will look after your pets while you’re away
Uber underwater taxis
Gressingham duck ice cream
TSB launching furry bank cards
Paddington claims to have a new favourite sandwich filling
Wickes launch Lunar Panels, like solar, but nocturnal
RSPCA name seagulls as the UKs favourite bird
Skoda have dog washing accessory fitted to cars
Kentucky Fried Carrots
Strawberry Matcha Capri Sun
Sweetzone fizzy brussel sprouts
Boden washing powder to target stripes
Bluewater Shopping’s lake has turned blue
Whitehill Park pool closure due to rubber ducks refusing to leave
Godstone Farm has pink lambs to match the blossom
Lakeside have a new Blockbuster store opening
And lastly, a few links that just wouldn’t embed into wordpress, no matter how many times I tried!
- Skittles all in one flavour https://www.instagram.com/p/DWjM0oPDqf_
- Morrisons originated from a Morris dancing secret society https://www.instagram.com/morrisons/reel/DWlQPoYjHx5/
- Babybel and Monty Bojangles collaborated on babybel chocolate truffles https://www.instagram.com/p/DWlCF5DjMsQ/
- Pineapple Cheesestrings https://www.instagram.com/p/DWlBp0HCLst
Discoveries since midday
Fitsteps heels classes
Lemon & Jinja introduce a browsing fee
York Uni switch graduation hats for LongBoi hats
Hornby launch OnlyTrains app
Toddler snacking jacket from My Little Piccolo
Scalextric helping in roll out of guided motorways
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Tags: April Fools, roundup
Categories : April Fools round-up
Internet highlights – w/c 22nd March 2026
28 03 2026Comments : Leave a Comment »
Categories : The Best of the Internet
Internet highlights – w/c 15th March 2026
21 03 2026Comments : Leave a Comment »
Categories : The Best of the Internet
Internet highlights – w/c 8th March 2026
14 03 2026Comments : Leave a Comment »
Categories : The Best of the Internet
Internet highlights – w/c 1st March 2026
7 03 2026Comments : Leave a Comment »
Categories : The Best of the Internet
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