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Ben Newmark

@bennewmark

Teacher, parent, school governor. Occasional blogger. "A million different people from one day to the next, I can change." https://bennewmark.wordpress.com/

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06.08.2024
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Latest posts by Ben Newmark @bennewmark

Tea, in a pot. But maybe that's UK &Ni
Afternoon tea.
A brisk, windy walk by the sea.
I want to say All Butter Shortbread, but that's Scottish (it doesn't help being half n half).
A proper veggie fry up for Sunday brunch.

These were things I missed when I lived in Barcelona.

07.03.2026 20:28 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Screenshot of text from the linked story.

Screenshot of text from the linked story.

Jack and the Great Heathen Army.
A NEW Willerby Story.
Jack and the attempted Viking invasion.
willerby.substack.com/p/jack-and-t...

07.03.2026 20:02 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

I’d say scones and cream but that might spark a different debate!

07.03.2026 18:36 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Shirley Bassey

07.03.2026 18:30 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

18. Derek Redmond and his dad.
19. John Barnes. Annoying I can't have Paul McGrath but Irish.
20. Idris Elba.
21. Marcus Rashford stepping up in the pandemic.
22. Nadiya Hussain.
23. David Olusoga narrating Charles' coronation.
24. Trevor McDonald.
25. David mccalmont.
26. Skin skunk anansie.

07.03.2026 18:29 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

6. Kedgeree for breakfast.
7. Miss Dynamite.
8. Bombay Mix.
9. Bristol Trip Hop.
10. Tabasco Sauce in Bloody Mary's.
11. Bend it Like Beckham.
12. East is East.
13. Gurkhas in Nuneaton.
14. Hilary and Tenzing.
15. Stories from the whole world in a taxi.
16. Zadie Smith.
17. Eddie Izzard.

07.03.2026 18:20 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

This is a great idea. Exclusive monobrands of Englishness deprive lots of us of patriotism. Here's a list of things that make me feel English I want to be proud of. Feel free to join in.
1. Chicken tika masala.
2. Desi pubs.
3. The Specials.
4. Goodness Gracious Me.
5. London curry goat.

07.03.2026 18:17 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 5 πŸ“Œ 0

A good day to remember Holly and Jessica.

07.03.2026 18:09 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

No but that's one hell of a line.

07.03.2026 17:33 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Campaign seeks 50 objects to β€˜take the heat’ out of Englishness debate Billy Bragg, Caroline Lucas and Kojo Koram among those encouraging people to share cultural artefacts

I nominate The Specials.

Campaign seeks 50 objects to β€˜take the heat’ out of Englishness debate | England | The Guardian share.google/p16Gbg1zzbav...

07.03.2026 17:22 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 2

Has anything ever happened to you that you still can't explain?

07.03.2026 08:00 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 9 πŸ“Œ 0

When I did some training for a placement in developing abroad they said don't worry too much about food stuff and other diseases.
But..
Don't get in cars at night.
If an animal bites or scratches you go to the capital immediately and get the injections.

07.03.2026 07:47 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Screenshot of text from the linked story.

Screenshot of text from the linked story.

Jack and the Great Heathen Army.
A Willerby Story.
There are far worse things than the North Man.
willerby.substack.com/p/jack-and-t...

07.03.2026 07:27 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

#FridayFive
1. Bedtime Stories - Madonna
2. Ghosts - Siobhan Donaghy (Sugababes)
3. Celebrity Skin - Hole
4. Even Cowgirls Get The Blues - kd lang
5. In The End - The Cranberries

06.03.2026 20:31 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0

Agree it's an incredible album. Strong from start to finish.

06.03.2026 20:04 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

1. Like a Ship - Pastor TL Barrett
2. Harmony No Harmony - Million Dead
3. If You Wait - London Grammar
4. Given to the Wild - Maccabees
5. Glo - Delirious?

06.03.2026 19:26 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

#FridayFive
1)Red House Painters 1 (Rollercoaster ) Red House Painters.
2)Tindersticks (debut) Tindersticks
3)Sunlight Echoes, Whitelands
4) Rooks, Shearwater
5) Lift your Skinny Fists, Godspeed You the Black Emporer.

06.03.2026 19:49 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Best #FridayFive for ages. Ben's choices are great, and others have mentioned Talk Talk, Sparklehorse, Delgados, great stuff...
I'm offering:
1. Rosie Vela - Zazu
2. Tin Machine - Tin Machine
3. Electric Soft Parade - Holes in the Wall
4. Wings - Wild Life
5. Sleeper - Pleased to Meet You

06.03.2026 18:43 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Albums that don't get enough love.
1. Grrrrr- It's Betty Boo! Betty Boo
2. Zooropa - U2
3. The Cardigans - Emmerdale
4. De La Soul Is Dead - De La Soul
5. Erasure - Chorus

06.03.2026 18:48 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Is 5 underappreciated?

06.03.2026 19:10 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

#FridayFive albums I don’t think get enough love:
1. Loveless - my bloody valentine
2. De Pelicula - the Liminanas
3. Floating Features- La Luz
4. May I sing with me - Yo La Tengo
5. Psycho Tropical Berlin - La Femme

06.03.2026 18:58 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

#FridayFive are albums you don't think get enough love

1. Gary Numan - Savage (Songs from a Broken World)
2. Spacemen 3 - Playing with Fire
3. Siouxie & the Banshees - Peepshow
4. All About Eve - Touched by Jesus
5. Galaxie 500 - On Fire

06.03.2026 18:59 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

#FridayFive are albums you don't think get enough love.

1. How to kill a butterfly band of holy joy
2. Barbarous English fayre King of the Slums
3. Empire and Dance simple Minds
4. Pleased to meet you James
5. 4:13 dream The Cure

06.03.2026 18:23 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Albums that don't get enough love:
1. The Circle and The Square - Red Box
2. Music In Colors - Stephen Duffy and Nigel Kennedy
3. The Guitar and Other Machines - The Durutti Column
4. All Life Long - Kali Malone
5. Dazzle Ships - OMD
#FridayFive

06.03.2026 17:55 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

1. Fire of Love by The Gun Club
2. Memories of the Future by Kode 9
3. Mutilator Defeated At Last by Osees
4. Mandrill Is by Mandrill
5. Esengo by London Afrobeat Collective
#FridayFive

06.03.2026 17:58 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

#FridayFive albums that don’t get enough love
1. I’m Breathless - Madonna
2. Jacket Hangs - The Blue Aeroplanes
3. A Larum - Johnny Flynn
4. The Wanderer - OAR
5. Home - Spearhead

3.

06.03.2026 18:15 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

1. Exile on Cold Harbour Lane - Alabama 3
2. Smart - Sleeper
3. The Signs Are All There - Blameless
4. Drastic Fantastic - K.T. Tunstall
5. Ruins - First Aid Kit
#FridayFive loving the albums a bit more

06.03.2026 17:34 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

Same feels as a J G Ballard.

06.03.2026 17:19 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Day sleeper does something strange to me. Makes me.. emote.

06.03.2026 17:18 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

#FridayFive are albums you don't think get enough love.
1. Mercury - Longview
2. Clutching at Straws - Marillion
3. The Good Witch - Maisie Peters
4. Pneuma - Moving Mountains
5. Single - Loote

06.03.2026 17:14 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0