A Few Ramblings...

Nelson Mandela dies – 5 December 2013

This evening, news filtered through that the former South African leader and global icon, Nelson Mandela, had passed away at the age of 95, after suffering ill health for the last few years.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

SABC tells viewers to stay tuned for "Breaking News of national importance" at 11:30pm. It is expected that it will be Pres Zuma. #Mandela"

— Tom Ogola (@ogolat) December 5, 2013

South African President Jacob Zuma about to address the nation on "an important matter"

— Dan Roan (@danroan) December 5, 2013

#Breaking: South African president Jacob Zuma will address the nation on an "important matter"

— Telegraph News (@TelegraphNews) December 5, 2013

Breaking: Nelson Mandela has died

— Dan Roan (@danroan) December 5, 2013

#Breaking: Jacob Zuma confirms former South African president Nelson Mandela has died aged 95

— Telegraph News (@TelegraphNews) December 5, 2013

Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president, dies aged 95 pic.twitter.com/uUQOB2F4x7

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) December 5, 2013

SA President Zuma. "Our nation has lost its greatest son, our people have lost their father."

— Dan Roan (@danroan) December 5, 2013

Former South African President Nelson Mandela has died, President Jacob Zuma announces – broadcast

— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) December 5, 2013

Former South African president Nelson Mandela has died aged 95, the country's president Jacob Zuma said tonight.

— Andrew Neil (@afneil) December 5, 2013

Some people inspire individuals. Some groups, tribes even nations. There are very few who inspire generations #Mandela RIP

— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) December 5, 2013

Jacob Zuma: "Our nation has lost its greatest son."

— Telegraph News (@TelegraphNews) December 5, 2013

Nelson Mandela "passed on peacefully", says South Africa's president Jacob Zuma http://t.co/H90gSscqxj

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) December 5, 2013

The greatest man on the planet has died. RIP Nelson Mandela

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) December 5, 2013

"May his soul rest in peace, God bless Africa" – Jacob Zuma on death of Nelson Mandela http://t.co/FSE7ozFM51

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) December 5, 2013

Nelson Mandela, 1918-2013. Breaking stereotypes, he became SA's first black president. "What made Mandela great was what made him human."

— Andrew Burdett (@AndrewBurdett1) December 5, 2013

A great light has gone out in the world. Nelson Mandela was a hero of our time. I've asked for the flag at No10 to be flown at half mast.

— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) December 5, 2013

All flags in South Africa to fly half-mast until after the state funeral of Nelson Mandela – @PresidencyZA http://t.co/nM42r74q83

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) December 5, 2013

No other figure on the world stage influenced Britain as much as Nelson Mandela. Both David Cameron & Ed Miliband met and admired him

— Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) December 5, 2013

RIP Nelson Mandela. Unforgettable moment of 2010 World Cup final: http://t.co/jkZEEL8XRn via @youtube

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) December 5, 2013

Nelson Mandela, South Africa's anti-apartheid icon, dies, aged 95 http://t.co/tJahBW1igA

— Telegraph News (@TelegraphNews) December 5, 2013

I was lucky enough to meet Mandela after release from prison & during the first S African elections. Recall quiet dignity & huge strength

— Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) December 5, 2013

"Let freedom reign. The sun never set on so glorious a human achievement." Nelson Mandela, 1918-2013. #Madiba #RIP

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 5, 2013

Rest in Peace Nelson Mandela #YNWA pic.twitter.com/IvrIIESdoi

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 5, 2013

A Great man has left us today… #RIPNelsonMandela

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 5, 2013

RIP Madiba pic.twitter.com/2FDBnw2dV2

— Dan Roan (@danroan) December 5, 2013

Nelson Mandela emerged from 27 years in jail to become South Africa's first black president. An obituary: http://t.co/Q3gmFwzyPc

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) December 5, 2013

Here the infamous 1962 document committing Nelson Mandela to prison: #MandelaCentre pic.twitter.com/Z8fEI9cvFk

— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) December 5, 2013

Nelson Mandela dies. South Africa's much-loved and globally revered former leader passes away at 95. A nation mourns.

— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) December 5, 2013

I'm sure most people over the age of 30 remember this. http://t.co/ToBjGbT93L

— Q A Pesto (@Quaristice) December 5, 2013

Remembering Nelson Mandela: http://t.co/f6LBC9hyUg pic.twitter.com/WMWKvmaVN5

— Mashable (@mashable) December 5, 2013

Obama: Nelson Mandela 'achieved more than could be expected of any man. Today he has gone home' – live video http://t.co/fVcWekFxC0

— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) December 5, 2013

"I cannot fully imagine my life without the example Nelson Mandela set" – US President @BarackObama http://t.co/L0fwLvnSGP

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) December 5, 2013

Nelson Mandela: a life in pictures http://t.co/rE65Gd2Roa (Pic: AFP/Getty) pic.twitter.com/IIbrq9WR2M

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) December 5, 2013

Due to the death of former South African President Nelson Mandela, we’ve suspended our normal BBC One Schedule.

— BBC One (@BBCOne) December 5, 2013

A great heart is stilled. No statesman in history can match him for resilience, grace and forgiveness. Nelson Mandela, icon of our age.

— Boris Johnson (@MayorofLondon) December 5, 2013

"A giant for justice" – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon & other world leaders react to Nelson Mandela's death http://t.co/riYXiHSLWx

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) December 5, 2013

V moving tributes to late Nelson Mandela by Nomsa Maseko and James Robbins on BBC 10 News

— Hugh Pym (@BBCHughPym) December 5, 2013

Friday's Metro front page #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #Mandela (via @metrokenny) pic.twitter.com/RLcQ0LOGAf

— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) December 5, 2013

"Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again." Nelson Mandela

— Paulo Coll (@paulocoll) December 5, 2013

Nelson Mandela (1918-2013): The man who destroyed apartheid http://t.co/Iohv1yek4Y

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) December 5, 2013

Friday's Times commemorative wrap #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #Mandela pic.twitter.com/gvunrCnVV9

— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) December 5, 2013

Friday's updated Guardian front page #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #Mandela pic.twitter.com/uCfQZGDdVn

— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) December 5, 2013

Friday's updated Daily Telegraph front page #Mandela #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/ImkEIGhSed

— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) December 5, 2013

#RIPNelsonMandela – this is how UK newspapers are marking Nelson Mandela's death pic.twitter.com/kkjZ2PKg11

— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) December 6, 2013

Large crowd gathers outside Nelson Mandela's home singing liberation songs from apartheid era http://t.co/zWKvVHvhLS pic.twitter.com/IhIWVpgGTH

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) December 6, 2013

Nelson Mandela 1918-2013 – Full special report with archive video, photos and features http://t.co/P2ZQ1iRJHb pic.twitter.com/YR2HlxtGhr

— BBC News Graphics (@BBCNewsGraphics) December 6, 2013

My words on Nelson Mandela's passing yesterday. #NelsonMandela #nelson #mandela http://t.co/HTgn4qYNBo

— Andrew Burdett (@AndrewBurdett1) December 6, 2013

#RIPNelsonMandela. "..to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." http://t.co/48VUAvwGYV pic.twitter.com/3yeb4hk9wD

— Twitter (@twitter) December 6, 2013

In pictures: Mourning South Africa's much-loved Nelson #Mandela http://t.co/AGil3lvrpe pic.twitter.com/GtD7DWgjef

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) December 6, 2013

Arrived in Kuwait. Flag at our Embassy at half mast. #RIPNelsonMandela pic.twitter.com/lf2xUEBccW

— William Hague (@WilliamJHague) December 6, 2013

A minutes silence is observed before the start of play in memory of Nelson #Mandela #Ashes pic.twitter.com/ns5UKJd6fW

— BBC TMS (@bbctms) December 6, 2013

Queen on Mandela: "He worked tirelessly for the good of his country, and his legacy is the peaceful South Africa we see today". #Mandela

— Peter Hunt (@BBCPeterHunt) December 6, 2013

Prince Charles: "Mr Mandela was the embodiment of courage and reconciliation. He was also a man of great humour and had a real zest for life

— Peter Hunt (@BBCPeterHunt) December 6, 2013

Our Nelson Mandela obituary in full http://t.co/80qhZASB2w pic.twitter.com/IWuG5WZF4O

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) December 6, 2013

Tags: Madiba, Nelson Mandela, RIP Nelson Mandela, Tweets, Twitter

The Ashes are underway – 21 November 2013

Here’s how things developed on Twitter:

Best of luck to Alastair Cook and England as they look for the 1st back-to-back Ashes series victories in Australia in 80yrs. @ECB_cricket

— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) November 20, 2013

Assume we're staying up for the first ball @Ben_Duffy @PhilBray

— Stuart Herrington (@Stuhezza) November 20, 2013

@PhilBray @Stuhezza @Ben_Duffy oh yes, can't wait for it! @theashes

— Mikey Davies (@tucksontour) November 20, 2013

Good luck to Alastair Cook and the England boys in the first Test in Brisbane starting tonight #ashesvictory @ECB_cricket

— Boris Johnson (@MayorofLondon) November 20, 2013

Wake up @Aggerscricket the Ashes are here, and it looks like a stonking morning at 0530 Brissy time #Ashes pic.twitter.com/hYHVq1NlYn

— Emma Agnew (@MrsAggers) November 20, 2013

0550 and up and at it! Nothing beats first day of the Ashes. On air…3 1/2 hrs!

— Jonathan Agnew (@Aggerscricket) November 20, 2013

Let Battle commence… May the best team win… #Ashes.

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 20, 2013

It's a belting day…. Lovely day for Batting…. #Ashes.

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 20, 2013

Front page of the local Brizzie paper. Is 'smug Pommie cheat' a term of endearment? pic.twitter.com/p7A75NNNrw

— tomfordyce (@tomfordyce) November 20, 2013

In position. Ready to go. 45 mins to wait pic.twitter.com/MCJiVRtTYO

— Jonathan Agnew (@Aggerscricket) November 20, 2013

Already in position in the @bbctms commentary box at the Gabba @Aggerscricket #ashes pic.twitter.com/hyluN9DRyN

— BBC TMS (@bbctms) November 20, 2013

The scene in the fan park at the Gabba ahead of the start of the #Ashes pic.twitter.com/uDoo4GZKN2

— BBC TMS (@bbctms) November 20, 2013

Final countdown underway – another Ashes Down Under – lots of late nights ahead – cant wait

— Hugh Pym (@BBCHughPym) November 20, 2013

Tremlett a definite. Looks like Prior plays too

— Jonathan Agnew (@Aggerscricket) November 20, 2013

@PhilBray @Ben_Duffy @jameswatson5 @tucksontour @ScottyDyer73 @JohnsonBeever Here sir, looking forward to some early wickets.

— Stuart Herrington (@Stuhezza) November 20, 2013

Fortified with Rice Krispies with fifteen minutes to go. #Ashes

— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) November 20, 2013

@Stuhezza @PhilBray @Ben_Duffy @tucksontour @ScottyDyer73 @JohnsonBeever get stuck into them for the first couple of hours before I sleep 🙂

— James Watson (@jameswatson5) November 20, 2013

RT @markpougatch: Standing by for the anthems at the Gabba & then on with the cricket. pic.twitter.com/fqLpjhZJPk

— BBC Radio 5 live (@bbc5live) November 20, 2013

#ashes

— Jonathan Howe (@heresjonniehowe) November 20, 2013

Harmison bowls to second slip, Strsuss out in first over, what will happen in early stages of this Gabba Test?

— Hugh Pym (@BBCHughPym) November 21, 2013

@PhilBray @Stuhezza @Ben_Duffy @jameswatson5 @ScottyDyer73 @JohnsonBeever looks slightly warmer in Brisbane!

— Mikey Davies (@tucksontour) November 21, 2013

Yes!!!!!!! Get in there! Broad!

— James Watson (@jameswatson5) November 21, 2013

Aus 12-1 Rogers 1 wkt for Broad #Ashes. Listen on DAB radio, online at http://t.co/ZLNs4LGBUa or viatheBBCSportradioapp.

— 5 live sports extra (@BBC5LSX) November 21, 2013

Oh get in there so much. Thanks for playing cobber.

— Stuart Herrington (@Stuhezza) November 21, 2013

Great early wicket. Broad is immense. #Ashes

— Rushton Bradshaw (@rushbradshaw) November 21, 2013

https://twitter.com/mrdanwalker/status/403316343698518016

Brilliant by Broad. Rogers caught by Bell for 1. #Ashes

— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) November 21, 2013

There's a room full of people at Lord's staying up all night to watch the #Ashes. What time will you be up until? pic.twitter.com/0Vnc7RFWh6

— BBC Radio 5 live (@bbc5live) November 21, 2013