Enjoying some mid afternoon snuggles on the last weekday before I have to go back to work…

The silence from our Tory Mayor is deafening. Our community needs answers on the future of our Youth Engagement Team. Thank you @ndironsmp.bsky.social for keeping up the pressure. www.mylondon.news/news/south-l...

Croydon residents were promised accountability by having a Mayor but yet that’s the exact opposite we’re getting with Jason Perry. Councillors and the staff affected need to know what’s going on!

Sad to see <you know who> gaining seats left, right and centre tonight. The far right never have and never will be the solution you’re looking for. They tell you what you want to hear with zero intention of delivering.

Very proud of our Labour government today, taking decisive action to secure British jobs. Our neighbour @sarahjonesmp.bsky.social has been doing a fab job this morning explaining on TV and radio why this decision is necessary.

First daffodil has opened ❤️

Been given a permission slip for my daughter’s first school trip. They grow up so fast… (She’s 10 ½ months old)

The TLDR of Croydon Council’s budget tonight: 😡 Council tax up - by the maximum amount allowed again. Pay more, get less ✂️4 libraries closed, the youth service & carers support are next on the chopping block with £16m of FURTHER cuts to come 🧾 Residents footing the bill for Mayor’s incompetence

Stephen Fry, "I'm deeply worried about the darkening shadow that's going over the world, the shadow of fascism" Laura Kuenssberg, "You would use that word?" Stephen Fry, "Absolutely. It's a cult of power. And power only speaks to power"

I love living in Croydon but it’s really disheartening to see us potentially losing yet another vital service for the borough’s young people. It really is pay more, get less under Tory Mayor Jason Perry

Entered the child follows me everywhere era, including to the bathroom

28 people are dead and many others still to be recovered but the presidential press conference turns into a rant about equality and diversity Totally classless.

We did it guys 🥳

Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool.

How’s your Monday going? A cat has 💩 on my kitchen floor. I do not own a cat.

Things I was not prepared for as a parent: how hard it would be to move baby into their own room. She might keep me awake with her snoring but at the same time, there’s nothing else I’d rather listen to and seeing that little breathing lump beside me any time I wake up fills my whole heart.

Despite all of the challenges - legal and meteorological - we did it! After 40 years of damaging deregulation, Greater Manchester has this morning successfully retaken control of the whole its bus network. 🙌🏻

this is a vg (albeit uncomfortable) read, though I would add, from the ground level/editorial point of view, that IMO a big problem is that most media outlets just aren't reliable anymore, for the journalists or the readers, so makes sense that people will want to go hyper-personalised

Thought I’d maybe get to read a bit more this year with LO being *slightly* older. As soon as she saw the book, little hands appeared at the top of the page… Biggest FOMO baby ever and I know exactly where she gets it from 😩

Given I’ve just woken up next door’s baby with my sneezing, I may have to concede that I do in fact sneeze loudly. My own daughter is still fast asleep in my lap however 🫣

Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl proves what I’ve said all along - gnomes can’t be trusted.

This follows the news that Croydon has been selected to pilot the government’s new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders. You can apply for an Order yourself or a friend or family member can apply on your behalf. More info here: www.gov.uk/guidance/app...

Croydon Labour Group’s motion on Violence Against Women & Girls passed successfully at Full Council last week with cross-party agreement. These tangible steps will strengthen the council’s VAWG delivery plan 2024-2027 and make a real difference in safeguarding victims.👇🏼

Really good move here on planning: - Frees up councillors to focus on making Local Plans - Speeds up planning process - Reduces uncertainty - Respects planning officers as professionals doing their job, which should help staff retention. www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....

First contacted the council about these blocked drains in September. After no response, my office wrote to them again but this time with a petition from the residents of Oak Road. We were told an inspection was to take place and thought the drains would finally be cleared. This has not yet happened.

Thank you to everyone who braved the weather to get to my coffee morning in Selsdon. We had some great conversations and ideas for the area. And thank you again to the volunteers who donated cakes and helped make today happen.

Stood in a post office queue for ✨half an hour✨ to post 2 Christmas cards abroad. Oh and it turns out the last posting day for France is tomorrow. All I want for Christmas is EU…

At Humanists UK we get loads of emails from parents amd guardians at this time of year about "Operation Christmas Child" - a Christmas shoebox appeal which looks innocent but is used to evangelise vulnerable children.

Christmas cards are written, decorations come out tomorrow. The temptation to get them out at midnight is overwhelming. Must. Resist.

Popped into Tesco Express on Bywood Avenue in Shirley to support Tesco and Fare Share’s winter Food Collection campaign. You can donate items at your local Tesco and help those who need it in the local community this Christmas. @Tesco @FareShareUK

Wow. Here is one to brighten up your morning. The first images of the restored interior of Notre Dame cathedral. Breathtaking. In just five years France did it

Today’s news - right wing media bully young woman out of a job. Very sad to see Louise Haigh go and hope she’ll be able to continue to contribute to transport policy. Her ideas and determination have got us a long way in such a short time

Timely…

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This is absolutely brilliant and a must watch for fans of all stripes. Great work AFC Bournemouth 👏 youtu.be/Jrpopxqinj8?...

Being diagnosed neurodivergent in your 30s and everything starts slowly making sense…

I love the trams but trams lining up one after another is not helpful to anyone!

For anyone that moans about leaves on the line. This is the contact between the train wheel and the rail. Both of which are metal. #train #railway #leavesontheline

Feeling rather Christmassy now (Baileys possibly included)

I wrote about the Xodus, & how the siloing of social media doesn't have to mean retreat into an echo chamber: understanding other people's pov matters! so does engaging with uncomfortable ideas! but boy, The Death Threat Place was a bad place to do it www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The exodus from the other place seems to be speeding up. For any of the many people who have just joined up, here's a list of UK political journalists, commentators, politicos and experts to get yourself going with go.bsky.app/2CwmVfN

Managed to get a new personal best (distance) in swimming for 2024 this evening (and close to my all time best). Resisted tempting smell of fried chicken but came home and scoffed oven chips. Should have just had the KFC 🫣

Treated myself to a rose for my birthday - Pearl Celebration. Isn’t she just beautiful? 🤍

Just joined here and my timeline is full of cats. I like it already!