I've just spent 2 weeks in NZ during which I said, more than once, that it actually doesn't rain very much in London and it rains more in Auckland. I stand by both of these statements but, my fellow Londoners, I am sorry, I think this weather is my fault. 🌧️

I really enjoyed this piece from a registrar about conducting citizenship ceremonies. I remember my own ceremony very well and, as luck would have it, had the same registrar that had officiated at my wedding a couple of years earlier.

My second go at double sided knitting - a Pokémon scarf for my son. Ready just as the weather gets warm of course. Hope he's still into Pokémon by winter...

Can anyone tell me what happens if the Westminster assisted dying bill passes next reading but doesn't finish the whole process before summer? Will it continue after recess? It looks like govt bills can be carried across sessions but not sure about private members bills.

New footpath guardrails waiting to be installed on South Rd, Southall. Will make things safer for Hambrough Primary kids and parents by stopping parking outside old Methodist Hall and crossing South Rd away from pedestrian crossing. Great to see @ealingcouncil.bsky.social taking action here.

#RedArrows aftermath. #VEDay

Wandered around Brentford yesterday afternoon and was struck by what must be a vast amount of money being put into developments plus new shops and restaurants. Southall much better connected with the Elizabeth Line but very few new shops/restaurants alongside development.

It's pretty grey in London today but it was glorious at @wwtworldwide.bsky.social London Wetland Centre yesterday.

I was dubious that pressure cooker potstickers would work but obviously I should always trust @catherinephipps.bsky.social. These were amazing. 🥟

Good morning Edinburgh!

My mum and 12-yr-old niece have been visiting over the last few weeks and it has been a joy to witness my niece seeing famous landmarks for the first time. Her delight at seeing Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower was incredible, as was (in a different way) her disappointment at seeing the Mona Lisa.

I'm not saying my neighbours are better than your neighbours but we've got my Mum and niece coming from NZ this Christmas and the neighbours have brought over gifts for our visiting family. They don't know them - they've met my Mum a couple of times but haven't met my niece at all.

Thanks so much to @ealingcouncil.bsky.social and @deirdrecostiganmp.bsky.social for clearing up Merrick Road in Southall. I changed my running route to avoid the antisocial behaviour along there but returned today and felt safe. 🏃‍♂️

Public service announcement: if you missed seeing Nye at the National Theatre earlier this year, it seems like it's coming back for summer 2025. I honestly can't recommend this enough. 🎭

Avenue Road in Southall is one of the roads that @ealingcouncil.bsky.social has earmarked for active travel improvements, including a new cycle lane. Interested to know where they'll fit it, are the owners of the dozens of cars parked on vacant land in for a big suprise?

Winding down from a busy three days at #BGSconf with some serious Lego building with my 8-year-old son.

This was exactly as much fun as I thought it was going to be. Thanks so much to @ruth-e-law.bsky.social @jkdhesi.bsky.social @adamgordon1978.bsky.social for a great policy chat and for generally being amazing to work with. #BGSconf

And that's a wrap on @adamgordon1978.bsky.social's presidency at @gerisoc.bsky.social as he hands the chain of office to @jkdhesi.bsky.social. #BGSconf

In one of his final duties as @gerisoc.bsky.social President, @adamgordon1978.bsky.social dons the presidential bling to present the BGS Special Medal and the Marjory Warren Lifetime Achievement Award. #BGSconf

Looking forward to seeing #BGSconf delegates back at the Excel today for day 3 of the conference. I'm excited for the policy session this afternoon where I get to chat policy with @adamgordon1978.bsky.social @jkdhesi.bsky.social and @ruth-e-law.bsky.social.

I've spent most of my career in the third sector so delighted to have Emma from @britishredcross.bsky.social and Tom from @ageuk.bsky.social speaking here at #BGSconf talking about the work their organisations do in older people's care.

Bias and discrimination regarding older people and mental health, not helped by ageist products available normalising grumpiness in older people says Tom Gentry from @ageuk.bsky.social #BGSconf

Some worrying stats on older people's mental health from Tom Gentry from @ageuk.bsky.social including that most older people with depression are offered antidepressants rather than talking therapies. #BGSconf

Depression and anxiety are the most clinically significant non-cognitive symptoms in people with dementia, says Catherine Simnamon. There are 700,000 informal/unpaid carers supporting people with dementia who all have a significant role in medicines management. #BGSconf @gerisoc.bsky.social

@suzanne-reeves.bsky.social describes prescribing antipsychotics to older people as a bit like driving around the windy roads of the Lake District in the dark - start low, go slow. #BGSconf

School drop off this morning and now catching incoming @gerisoc.bsky.social President @jkdhesi.bsky.social speak about the importance of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment. #BGSconf

Interesting - @mancunianmedic.bsky.social just asked the audience how many people watched Breathtaking, the dramatisation of @doctoroxford.bsky.social's book. A smattering of hands. He then asked who was avoiding it - about three quarters of the room put their hands up. #BGSconf

Great to have Dr Rachel Clarke at #BGSconf talking about the power of storytelling in medicine.

Loving the message on @sean9n.bsky.social's shirt - aligns very nicely with the @gerisoc.bsky.social #ChooseGeriatrics campaign. #BGSconf

Great to hear so many people talking about how former @gerisoc.bsky.social president Dr Eileen Burns has inspired their career. Dr George Winder has highlighted the inspirational women of Leeds sculpture that Eileen features on, along with his Mum. #BGSconf www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/news/2024/10...

Great to hear Dr Anna Folwell say #ChooseGeriatrics but also #ChooseCommunity. You can find out more about the #ChooseGeriatrics campaign at www.bgs.org.uk/choose. #BGSconf

Great to hear Dr Dan Harman highlighting @gerisoc.bsky.social publications and say how helpful they've been, including our recent proactive care documents and our #BGSblueprint. You can find them all at www.bgs.org.uk. #BGSconf

I've been hearing about the work at the Jean Bishop Centre in Hull for a long time so it's great to hear about the service from Dr Dan Harman and Dr Anna Folwell. #BGSconf

Pre-pandemic levels of in person delegates at #BGSconf today!

Why should we do proactive care, asks Dr Eileen Burns. Because it's the right thing to do. #BGSconf

Sad not to see @EileenBurns13 in person at #BGSConf but delighted that she's been able to join remotely to present about proactive care. @GeriSoc.

National Clinical Director for Older People and Integrated Person Centred Care @sheffielddoc.bsky.social kicks off the community stream at #BGSconf.

That's a lot of name badges! The @gerisoc.bsky.social team is getting ready to welcome our autumn #BGSconf delegates to the Excel tomorrow.

In Manchester for the weekend - it's been a long time since I was here for anything other than political party conferences. I'm stumbling upon bits of the city that I'm used to needing a conference pass to get into.

Where are the knitters on here? I was never really part of Knitting Twitter but I'm pretty proud of this Charmander hat. It needs to be blocked and, according to my 8-year-old, needs a pom pom.

There's a hierarchy of cookbooks in our house - depending on use, a book might be in a cupboard, on a shelf outside the kitchen or on a shelf in the kitchen. Books by @catherinephipps.bsky.social though are kept on the bench, between the paper towels & the egg basket, with 1 held together by tape. 😳