1996: 30 years on @ The Barbican Music Library…

The Barbican Music Library in London is currently hosting "1996: 30 years on", an exhibition celebrating peak of 90s "Cool Britannia" era. It runs from April 16 to September 19, 2026.

The free exhibit, curated by former The Sun editor Dominic Mohan, is time capsule of year when music, fashion, & culture collided. 

Key highlights include:

Spice Girls Memorabilia: Original costumes worn by group, including Mel B’s leopard-print catsuit & Geri Halliwell's famous Union Jack platform boots.

Britpop Artifacts: Previously unseen Oasis materials, including Liam Gallagher's tambourine & an Epiphone "Union Jack" guitar.

Club Culture & Media: Personal items from legendary DJs (Paul Oakenfold, Judge Jules, & Dave Pearce), iconic photographs by Jill Furmanovsky & Derek Ridgers, & front pages from era.

Broader Pop Culture: Nods to Trainspotting, Brit Awards chaos, & excitement of UEFA Euro '96.

@barbicancentre #1996ThirtyYearsOn #BarbicanMusicLibrary #BarbicanCentre #CoolBritannia 

Middle Temple Hall Luncheon…

Middle Temple is one of the four historic Inns of Court with the exclusive right to call students to the Bar.

Luckily for Andrew, Andy, Tim and me, the Inn also provides a rather fabulous luncheon in the equally fabulous Middle Temple Hall.

Sitting beneath a sensational double hammerbeam roof dating from 1573, we enjoyed a great menu of fresh food made on-site from the finest ingredients. Yum. 😋

@Middle_Temple @MiddleTemple #MiddleTemple #InnsOfCourt #LondonHistory #LegalLondon #HistoricLondon #HammerbeamRoof #DiningInLondon #LunchWithFriends #CityOfLondon

PSG 1 - 1 Arsenal. AET. PSG won 4 3 on pens...

We gaygooners found a dozen different ways to get to Budapest. Arsenal themselves arrived by decorated jet, chasing a double but left with a lesson in football’s favourite hobby: cruelty. 

Havertz struck early, PSG monopolised the ball, Mosquera donated a penalty, and Gabriel’s spot kick achieved low Earth orbit at precisely the wrong moment. 

A champion’s effort, but not a champion’s ending. 

Next year, it’s ours for the taking. It is. 

Onwards and upwards, my friends.

@Arsenal ⚽️ @Regenersaurus 🦖 @gaygooners 🌈 #COYG 🔴⚪️ #PSGARS 🥅 #UCL #ChampionsLeague #UCLFinal #UEFAChampionsLeague #Arsenal #PSG

Arsenal Parade…

Red sky in the morning, skip the mourning.

It was a day after Arsenal suffered cruel defeat in the Champions League final, yet the streets of Highbury & Islington were wreathed in red pyro smoke, and no one was in the mood for anything other than rejoicing.

Darce and I had raced across the world overnight to get back from Budapest for the party. And what a party. Arsenal are English Premiership League Champions.

The side streets, pavements and balconies along the parade route were thronged with Arsenal fans desperate to catch a glimpse of their heroes and heroines.

Some were even standing on top of bus stops. We’d been waiting 22 years for this particular bus to arrive, and when four buses came at once carrying the Arsenal players swinging down the Holloway Road, past Greggs and the Victoria Tavern, no one was bemoaning the slow running of the service.

A truly joyous day.

@Arsenal @ArsenalWFC

#Arsenal #AFC #COYG #ArsenalParade #PremierLeagueChampions #NorthLondon #Champions #VictoriaConcordiaCrescit