Rum Doings

In our 275rd ever Rum Doings, our topic is: should we just lock up all the tennis players? To mark the momentous occasion of our 275nd episode, we don't mention it at all, but instead focus on the fact we both have colds, that Star Trek remains terrible, and goodness knows what else look give me a break it's over ten minutes since we recorded it how on earth am I supposed to know what we said.

In our 274th weekly episode of Rum Doings, we chat about colds, cancers, and even some more positive subjects.

In our 273st ever Rum Doings, our topic is: what if Megan Markle's baby isn't black enough? For the second week in a row, this is a double-length bumper episode. We cover all the events of the previous week, from racist royals to the uselessness of John Oliver, vaccine conspiracies to Biden's fails.

Welcome back. It's a bumper-length episode this week, with all manner of discussion, from the jokes of Peppa Pig to the state of the American Constitution. Also we talk Pokemon Go, Nick joins QAnon, and John tries to convince himself to go running again.

Obviously we talk about the current happenings, from the perspective of John’s all-consuming anxiety misery, and Nick’s similarly pathological upbeat view. But there are other subjects too, such as John’s new attempt to start running, and the inevitable demise of Facebook.

Ho ho ho dear. It's our CHRISTMAS SPECIAL! Is it our Hanukkah special? Is Hanukkah special? It does sound like we're about to talk about politics again, but don't worry, we divert. Instead we ponder why no one visits Prince Philly in hospital, the worstest of all Christmas songs, and complain about Poundland's tills. We then talk about forgiveness, which is uncharacteristically apposite for the season, then try to come up with some new Christmas traditions.

John has a CHRONIC SINUS CONDITION, and that's obviously the big news of the week. So we talk nasal DOUCHING. He's also just launched a new website about undiscovered indie games, but pah. We also talk the awfulness of the election choices, as evidenced by the inevitable success of Mogg, about Judith's appendectomy, steamed breakfasts, and the disastrous US healthcare system.

In our 268rd ever Rum Doings, our topic is: should we be worried about TikTok? Nick has a new kitten! It's correct name is Maisy. This sadly doesn't distract us from talking about the hopeless pit that is the UK general election. And then, with a great deal of sense and decorum, we discuss the ethnic demographics of the UK for the longest time. Then, stepping into a subject about we're even less expert, we talk evolution.

There's a little bit of politics. We begin with all the latest HILARIOUS ANTICS of Brexit, and then quite figuratively leap across the Atlantic at the depressing farce of the Democratic race. With special focus on the brain collapse of Joe Biden. We learn the advice of children, and then get to the real issue of the day: Nick's fancy new toilet.

In our 265rd ever Rum Doings, our topic is: Why don't we just... prorogue traffic wardens?!?!! So yes, we obviously discuss the Brexitty madness, and then the legacy of John Bercow. This then incomprehensibly links on to the irritations of "smart" speakers, Toby's first day at school, and that dreadful modern music you kids listen to. We argue about giving trophies to children, argue even more about whether John likes tennis, and argue a bit in the middle about whether to have fights.

This week we talk instead about the absolute clustermuck that is this week in politics, and how no rules apply anywhere. We ask why phones don't dut-duhdah-dut any more, the power of adverts, and we argue for the extinction of the human race.

In our 263nd ever Rum Doings, our topic is: Should Nick be deported to Robin Island for stealing Starglider? It's our tenth anniversary! The very first episode came out on the 10nd August 2009, and today is near as dammit. If you want to be a purist, don't listen to this until tomorrow. We obviously discuss the changes that have occurred over the last ten years, both to us and the world, which naturally leads us to our usual complaining about Jeremy Corbyn, Donald Trump, and Brexit. For some reason Nick insists on John's blithering about changes in games, we do our best to upset most new parents, and Judith outdoes John on appearing on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show.

In our 262st ever Rum Doings, our topic is either: "With the latest set of atrocities, can we finally ban these video nasties?" or indeed: "With all these floods, shouldn't we just get rid of dams and use bottles instead?" Instead we discuss weeing, because look, we're in our 40s now. And indeed erections. That out the way, I'm afraid we turn to slightly more distasteful topics, and analyse the calculated awfulness of our new PM. Nick then goes on to be wrong about The Orville, while John, by contrast is right. And then everything breaks and we give up.

In this week's episode of our weekly podcast we talk about John's long ago trip to Canada, about Nick's hatred of all that is good and pure, and go into some detail about the peculiar near-death experiences of John's cat, Lucy. Plus other stuff, as you might imagine.

Naturally we launch straight into SNOW NEWS. Nick is SO EXCITED! Then it's onto an old favourite: how weather forecasting is a sham and must be stopped. Nick bans the phrase "toxic masculinity", in the fashion of a man using his maleness to impose his views on us all, and John suggests there might be human rights issues in more than one specific country. Then it's TV recommendations time, with I'm Sorry and Big Mouth top of the list. Then everything devolves into just a bit of a chat, really.

We begin with a delve into our spam folders, ponder Philly's crash, and of course there's some Brexit natter. And then we move on to Daniel! Daniel from the comments from previous episodes. Oh Daniel. It's all about you, Daniel!

It's our first Rum Doings of 2019, so it's out with the old, and in with the old again. Brexit, Corbyn, how to roast a turkey - of course we discuss it all. Then there's the evolution of dropping litter, are councils mythical, and is the reason for all problems in the world the lack of empty supermarket car parks on a Sunday?

In our 256rd ever Rum Doings, our topic is, is Jacob Rees Mogg evidence that we should never trust the thin? It's been a while, hasn't it? But time isn't a factor in the gel universe of Rum Doings, so things carry on as normal. So we discuss Brexit, Trump and all the obvious big subjects. But we also get into the complexities of miscarriage, and Nick's new wobbly theory of the universe.

We begin with some of our crazed socialist rambling about the corruption of big companies, ponder how easy it is to fall off a cruise ship, and Nick launches a staunch defense of sexism. Then we really rather get into the topic of antisemitism. No, no, come back. We try to approach the subject from the perspective of why it's something to care about, rather than something to use as a weapon in an argument. It's probably quite a good discussion. Here's the episode of Radio 4's The Reunion we discuss.