Food, wine, cider, comedy, vintage British sitcoms & films. Music Hall & Variety, pantomime. Vintage VW's. Gardening and growing our own veg. Gardener by profession and inclination. Sometimes post about my late Dad's acting career. Still post on 'X'https://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mvfjeuqbpc2xYesterday in Suffolk attended 2 talks by Bob Flowerdew. Informative and interesting as usual. Got to have a good 1 to 1 with him for about half an hour putting the world to rights. Great fun! Bought 3 of his AutobyBobraphy (See what he did there) books #Gardening13 Sep 2026 11:44 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvfjeuqbpc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mux26k4ir22dHappy birthday today Robin Driscoll. He who wrote the Mr Bean films and telly stuff. Also was one of the Fat Sweaty Coppers in The Fast Show! Yesterday at a surprise (to him anyway) get together at his local. Top bloke and mate.07 Sep 2026 17:34 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mux26k4ir22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mutokrzq3k2gAlso yesterday at Wisley GQT summer garden party met Matthew Wilson and chatted about Erigeron germination and propagating Centranthus. What nice fella! I do live life in the fast lane sometimes. @BBCGQT06 Sep 2026 09:28 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mutokrzq3k2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mutj3vgqxc2gGreat day at Wisley yesterday for the Gardeners Question Time summer garden party. Met the lovely Frances Tophill at the potting shed and got to ask her a question on figs. I doubt it will be broadcast as I did waffle on a bit but if it is I will die a happy man!06 Sep 2026 07:51 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mutj3vgqxc2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mupgwg2bhk24Tomorrow off to Wisely @RHSWisley in the audience for a recording of GQT. Looking forward to this. Be warned, there will be selfies/pics posted with some of the panel! I used to be so Rock n Roll but this is just how I 'Roll' nowadays, and all the better for it! #Gardening @petergibbs.bsky.social04 Sep 2026 17:01 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mupgwg2bhk24https://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mucujhpmec2rYou know it's a bank holiday when 'Bridge up the River Kwai' is on. I blinked and missed @countarthurstrong.bsky.social due to not being awake.30 Aug 2026 17:00 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mucujhpmec2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mu7ewe7bcs2wThis is ONE self seeded tomato plant outside. Didn't remove side shoots, just supported fed and watered. These are now chugging away on the rayburn to make even more sauce to freeze for later use. Still loads more to come off this plant!29 Aug 2026 07:43 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu7ewe7bcs2whttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mtqbp3c2es2jGrapes done well this year, a silver lining to the heatwave I think. The question is, do I scoff these straight off the vine or make a very limited bottle of *Chateau Rick*?23 Aug 2026 07:35 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtqbp3c2es2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mtc43nlzbc2rI wanted to see the old rustic country church that JFK visited in Forest Row in 1963 just months before his assassination. Rather underwhelming 1950's building now being redeveloped into 2 apartments. 3rd pic I took today through building site barrier. Local history though! #JFK17 Aug 2026 16:17 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtc43nlzbc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mt5c5fyu2c26Happy birthday Tony Robinson, 80 today. When Baldrick met Bald Rick! Fun fact, Tony was in the unaired pilot episode of The Rag Trade in 1975. He didn't go on to be in the series, the part went to my Dad!15 Aug 2026 18:22 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt5c5fyu2c26https://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3msqjll6vik2bThis lunchtime visited the wonderful National Trust property Ightham Mote near Sevenoaks in Kent. Fab building creaking with history. Nice lunch and took some free coffee grounds to put around acid loving plants and add to compost. Garden is parched like everywhere at the mo. Still worth a visit.10 Aug 2026 16:31 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3msqjll6vik2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3msnaq3tm622oGetting some cracking tomatoes. 3rd pic in order, Alicante, Golden Cherry, which you can see aren't all true to colour but still delish! Roma, Green Envy, Indigo Kumquat and Pink Brandywine. The lone one is a self seeded one pos Alisa Craig? These won't see the day out! #Tomato09 Aug 2026 09:15 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3msnaq3tm622ohttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mshxex7d2k22I knocked up a bug hotel out of pallets and slates for the grounds of a care home (I have the garden maintenance contract). Got the residents involved collecting fir cones, bark and twigs etc. I struggled with a name for it but I'm fairly happy with this one. #Nature #BugHotel07 Aug 2026 06:44 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mshxex7d2k22https://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mshxex7d2k22I knocked up a bug hotel out of pallets and slates for the grounds of a care home (I have the garden maintenance contract). Got the residents involved collecting fir cones, bark and twigs etc. I struggled with a name for it but I'm fairly happy with this one. #Nature #BugHotel07 Aug 2026 06:44 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mshxex7d2k22https://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mrnmgnomtc2zRIP Bill Oddie27 Jul 2026 19:19 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrnmgnomtc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mqwmv5o2hs2vI love this King George VI pillar box just outside Tunbridge Wells. It is slightly pissed (as am I) but despite my best efforts I couldn't straighten it. #PostBoxSaturday @kategarnermusic.bsky.social18 Jul 2026 15:56 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqwmv5o2hs2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mqh7n34dvs2yJust back from a fab couple of days at Penshurst Place Volksweald VW event. Loads of love for my 1963 ratty panel van, and NO, I will not paint her or have any interior fitted! Gertie our 1972 blue Bay Window bus looking good in the sunshine. #VanLife #PenshurstPlace #Volkswagen12 Jul 2026 12:49 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqh7n34dvs2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mq2lity7qc23Dad would have been 85 today bless him x [contains quote post or other embedded content]07 Jul 2026 12:16 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq2lity7qc23https://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mov5wnoax22zThis beautiful sight stopped me in my tracks a couple of hours ago. Near Newhaven on the south downs. Lots of agriculture around but this piece left to nature. More please! 🐝🦋 @petergibbs.bsky.social22 Jun 2026 15:05 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mov5wnoax22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mosrjmuc4s2nAlthough fathers day is an american marketing thing, I must acknowledge we all have Dads. I can miss him on other days.21 Jun 2026 16:18 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mosrjmuc4s2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mn7y5j42nk2zIt's all going on at Rick Acres! Soon have our 1st courgettes. Weeded asparagus beds which are at the fern stage now. Planted squashes to grow up repurposed ladder. Getting strawberries from small g'house. Newly replaced rotten wood raised beds now corrugated iron sheets looking good!01 Jun 2026 11:30 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mn7y5j42nk2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mmoxabcj3k25I'm just packaging up Dads Last of the Summer Wine scripts to send off to be digitised for a virtual archive, the brainchild of @andrewtsmith.bsky.social or Drew as we know him! 26 here so only another 269 to go! Great initiative to create an accessible record of this iconic show.25 May 2026 16:59 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmoxabcj3k25https://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mlxzixvqyk2yFor Roy Hudd's 90th and seaside themed #MusicHallVarietyDay #MHVD2026 a programme for 'Hudd's Here' in Scarborough (a seaside town) and an original photo for the cover! And my fav pic of me with the great man at a Dora Bryan plaque do in Brighton, also a seaside town! @musichallsociety.bsky.social16 May 2026 14:08 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlxzixvqyk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mln7ens5ec25Can't believe it was a year ago today we lost our beloved Irish Terrier Scrumpy. He was 14 but still known as the puppy. Miss him so much. 💔🐶12 May 2026 06:54 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mln7ens5ec25https://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mkwxtciu2225Useful bit of rain yesterday, love the smell of petrichor! Could do with more to fill water butts. Garden seems to have perked up anyway. Asparagus rapidly running to fern stage now but will get another risotto or 2 out of them. Day off from gardening today. Going out for drinkies 🍷03 May 2026 10:40 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkwxtciu2225https://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mkfh2llrts2wYak, yak, yak! Sid James left the stage 50 years ago today.26 Apr 2026 11:25 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkfh2llrts2whttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mkdheizz2s2mJust a few hours ago bought this, what I think must be a 1975 promo card for the record cover which has the same image. Nice genuine sigs by both Windsor Davies and Don Estelle. "I will not have gossip in this jungle!"25 Apr 2026 16:25 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkdheizz2s2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mjrqqhvmzk2yWas at Herstmonceux Castle Garden Show today. Was privileged to have a Dragonfly want to stay with me for a good 3 minutes! Stunning little critters and amazing to see them up close like this.18 Apr 2026 15:25 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjrqqhvmzk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mjohuszz4k2kVery novel yesterday to find a working telephone in a K6 phone box at Birling Gap near Eastbourne. My box is full of wood so I use my mobile. Note the crowns at the top. Mine is a Tudor crown which dates it to pre 1953. The other is an Elizabethan crown so is post 1953. #PhoneBox17 Apr 2026 08:08 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjohuszz4k2khttps://bsky.app/profile/rickblackman.bsky.social/post/3mibyqj7d3c26And just like that, a few hours ago, I found Tommy Coopers holiday home in Eastbourne. Strange location to my thinking. No sea views, just a side road in the Old Town area. Not what I'd expected but a nice little green park and bowling green opposite. #SpoonJarJarSpoon @musichallsociety.bsky.social30 Mar 2026 15:40 +0000at://did:plc:nn2f5cwhy7ht6sd2kveuhoxp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mibyqj7d3c26