Eurovision Song contest

Eurovision. A vision of h*ll, where music becomes a parody of entertainment, wrapped in slices of paranational tripe, set in a key of 💩 minor by presenters whose verbal diarrhoea is designed to fill our ears, not the blanks between stage appearances. The remote control did not reach as far as Basel, a city I've only passed through, waiting for an onward connection to places, infinitely more alluring than its concert hall this evening. Eurovision. Made in 1956, long since outlasted its sell-by date. Should be able to walk off our TV screen unaided by now.

Remembrance 2025

In November, I observe the two minutes' silence for Remembrance Sunday - to commemorate Armistice Day on 11th November 1918, the end of hostilities in the First World War. In doing so, I remember those from the UK who made the supreme sacrifice in the defence of freedom, in Europe and beyond.

In May, I observe the two minutes' silence for Remembrance Day on 4th May, the eve of the capitulation by Nazi-German force in the Netherlands, at the end of the Second World War, which took place on 5th May 1945.

The focus in the Netherlands tonight will be remembering the victims of the persecution of Jews and others during the Nazi occupation of 5 years, between 1940 and 1945. More than 100,000 Jews were deported to extermination camps like Auschwitz.

In the past, church bells would be rung in times of danger. Although perhaps appearing contradictory, I have always turned to this recording of the St Peter's bell in Cologne cathedral.

Have we learned the lessons of history?