I have been so disappointed by the lack of urgency and transparency displayed by the universities watchdog. Allegations of impropriety at the University of Greater Manchester surfaced months ago after @manchestermill.bsky.social reporting, so why has a formal investigation only just been launched?

'Estragon: Suppose we repented. Vladimir: Repented what? Estragon: Oh... we wouldn’t have to go into the details.' The writer Samuel Beckett stopped Waiting for Godot #OTD 22 December 1989.

I was at a hotel recently that had a cutout in the glass shower pane so you could reach in and turn it on without being in the shower proper. It felt like the first real societal progress in decades.

🕥 ‘After the The Mill’s first reports, parliament was told in March that the OfS and police were investigating. But while GMP said in May they were looking into “financial irregularities” at the university, the OfS did not announce its own investigation until this month’

'No smoking gun'. #c4news Or the smoking gun has been redacted.

Elke Hausmann @drelke.bsky.social on Exercise and “The Salt Path” bjgplife.com/what-does-th... Screenshot from AMMES December 2025 newsletter #LongCovid #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #MEcfs #CFS #PwME

For the eternal optimists it’s the first day of summer tomorrow 🥳🌳

Elegant orange sunburst #lichen, Rusavskia elegans. This photo was taken at around -40C/F…amazing how they thrive in pretty extreme environments. Northwest Territories, Canada. #fungi #fungifriends.

I'm sure you're all wondering: it was great. Yesterday evening cooked sprouts (covered) in micro for 7 minutes 30, added reduced salt Marmite and 225g porridge mix (5:5:4 oatmeal, porridge oats, rye flakes) and left overnight. Cooked for 7 minutes. Served with homemade tomato sauce someone gave me.

Today's #BlueSkyArtShow theme from @churchstreetimages.com is #OpenHouse, celebrating the feed's year. I got back into #Photography a year ago, to get me out of the house; and the first image I felt really proud of was this one. Not flashy, but for me ... less random #Landscape #EastCoastKin

On Dasher, on Prancer … sorry, I’ve got Christmas on the mind. This is actually a late 2nd-early 3rd c. imperial cameo (once owned by Rubens) which may depict the deified Empress Julia Domna as the goddess Luna or Dea Syria. Note how the horns of the bulls form crescents. 🏺 1/ #BritishMuseum 📸 me

Have you signed up for #12DaysWild yet? Need some inspiration for how to add random acts of wildness into winter? Take a look back at the Fletcher family's blog from last time! www.greatfen.org.uk/blog/guest-p... @wildlifebcn.org @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

Five holly leaves from the same tree 🌳 If holly is allowed to grow into a tree it is highly likely to do the same Holly evolved to fight back against the large herbivores that used to roam the Earth. The higher the tree grows the smoother the leaves get Photo: Emmanuel Lattes

Just Giving Page: If you’re able to support Harry’s fundraising further, please do so via the link below: www.justgiving.com/page/harrybo... Every purchase, share and donation makes a difference. Thank you for your support! #MECFS #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #Fundraising #MEAssociation

"Early on, I realised something wasn’t right... people from opposite ends of the spectrum lived, not only in the same neighbourhoods, but in the very same buildings..." | @emvchung.bsky.social in the #ManchesterMill | 18 December 2025: manchestermill.co.uk/engels-descr... #population #Manchester

📣Out now on #firstview! Emily Chung (@emvchung.bsky.social) (@camhistory.bsky.social) (@camunicampop.bsky.social) on 'Proximity and Segregation in Industrial Manchester' #Industrialisation #Class #Social #Wealth 19thc 🗃️🏠 👉Read open access: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Was Manchester really as segregated as Engels said? What kept the rich and poor apart.... if anything? My first article is out today in @historicaljnl.bsky.social and I'm so pleased to share it with you all! doi:10.1017/S0018246X25101246 @stjohnscollege.bsky.social @camunicampop.bsky.social

“Right son, I’ve been saving up I’ve bought you a present to remember…” “Oooh! What’s that, dad?” “Tickets to travel to Australia to watch England play in the Ashes on Boxing Day.” “But England will be 3-0 down …” “I know son, but I don’t like you very much.” #Ashes2025

🚨BIG HIRING NEWS🚨 We're hiring for a marketing and events assistant! Applications close Sunday 4 January, and the successful candidate will be: - Creative, organised and highly efficient - Committed to working in a fast-paced startup - A talented social media operator More below:

#BondiMassacre In a primeval howl against the madness, @ronnisalt.bsky.social says we should look closer to home for our everyday heroes (well worth a read) | TheShot.net.au | 18 December 2025: theshot.net.au/uncategorize... #antisemitism #Sydney #Australia

🎄 Your attention please. This is my annual shameless Christmas plug . . . and please send any complaints about shameless Christmas plugs to management. 🎄 👉🏽 www.hachette.com.au/ronni-salt/g...

The problem for Farage is that it is and always has been about him. His whole shctick has always and only been 'Good old Nige, tells it how it is, etc, etc'. More than that, he's only able to function as the star and single focus. He knows that if he gets Ratnered, it's all over.

@forbes.com @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social I'm not a Grinch, particularly - but I do prefer Winter Solstice day on 21st December to Christmas Day. It wakes me up! It brings that promise of brighter days to come, the days gradually getting longer, more chances to get out and all that palaver...

'Long COVID Web: December 2025 Webinar' 'In this webinar, leading experts explore the neurological impacts of Long COVID and emerging therapeutic approaches...' Features Dr. David Putrino & Dr. Avindra Nath www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9mf...

I could not be more thrilled to share my "Boosting Festive Footfall" film with everyone! 🎬 Working on it with Tees Valley Combined Authority was a pleasure, and the end result is a celebration of #Darlington, of the #TeesValley, and of independent retailers in general. youtu.be/j_5dDdr9zIo?...

Lovely story on the man behind the "Howard" tag in @manchestermill.bsky.social manchestermill.co.uk/howards-name...

The Sick Times: Research updates, December 16 A summary of the MEA's recent funding announcement has been included in The Sick Times recent research roundup. Read the full summary here: https://thesicktimes.org/2025/12/16/research-updates-december-16/ #MECFS

Post to: ME ASSOCIATION PO Box 16992 Sutton Coldfield B73 9YA N.B. This is a Recycling for Good Cause address and not the ME Association's charity address. More info here: https://www.recyclingforgoodcauses.org/stamps/  #PostCovid #Stamps #Charity #Fundraising #ThankYou

Stamp Collection - Please don't forget to keep collecting stamps for the ME Association this Christmas! Simply cut or gently rip used stamps from their envelopes, taking care not to damage the stamp. #pwME #MECFS #MyalgicE #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #LongCovid

New Scientist: 'Chronic fatigue syndrome seems to have a very strong genetic element' 'The largest study so far into the genetics of...myalgic encephalomyelitis, has implicated 259 genes – six times more than those identified just four months ago' www.newscientist.com/article/2508...

Reminder, #MEcfs researchers: all consented data from @decodemestudy.bsky.social is available to researchers, including individual-level genotypes and symptom questionnaire responses institute-genetics-cancer.ed.ac.uk/decodeme-the... Summary stats & questionnaires available: osf.io/rgqs3/files/...

Glorious winter morning in the woods 😊☀️ #sunshine #bluesky #woods #tree #trees #forest #winter #shadows #nature #landscape #photography #mobilephotography

Why would Trump's chief of staff speak to a US magazine about Elon Musk's ketamine habit, or describe JD Vance as a conspiracy theorist? "Susie Wiles isn't stupid, she's phenomenally smart," says Emily Maitlis, so why does this remind her of a scene from Succession?

Owl of Athena! 🦉❤️ Silver tetradrachm coin minted in Athens c. 475-465 BC. Photo Getty Museum: www.getty.edu/art/collecti... #ReliefWednesday #Archaeology

Have you seen our CEO’s message in the latest Annual Report? 👏🏽 Anne Wilson shares gratitude, key progress and the impact of our team and volunteers. Read and get inspired: zurl.co/WMCGE #CEOMessage #EmergeAustralia

🛻FOR SALE by TENDER: Toyota Hilux (62): Spares & Repairs, 190k miles, No MOT - find out more at www.wlma.org.uk/south-hollan... Offers before midday 9 January 2025 #southhollandidb #fenland #southlincolnshire #spalding #holbeach

@spaldingvoice.bsky.social That mock-up of a BTHub looks neat and well designed (and the LED lighting is not over-bright). It would improve the look of the market place no end! Can't think of a good reason for it being turned down. #BTHub #SHDC #Spalding #marketplace #SHollandDC #veryodddecision

Our team at @thesicktimes.org covered yesterday's HHS Lyme Disease Roundtable and recently updated the story to include all speakers present at the discussion. Read on for a recap, new government initiatives for Lyme, and Kennedy's debunked conspiracy theories 🤦‍♂️ thesicktimes.org/2025/12/16/h...

I've been using #GiveAsYouLive to raise FREE donations for a favourite charity – @wildlifebcn.org   – by shopping online. Please sign up from my link and give me the chance to win a £50 donation for them! 👇 www.giveasyoulive.com/refer/R9UrYA... #WildlifeTrustCBN #GreatFen #TheFens #peatlands

I've been using #GiveAsYouLive to raise FREE donations for a favourite charity – @wildlifebcn.org   – by shopping online. Please sign up from my link and give me the chance to win a £50 donation for them! 👇 www.giveasyoulive.com/refer/R9UrYA... #WildlifeTrustCBN #GreatFen #TheFens #peatlands

Layers of History: Ruins and Residency at Port Arthur. Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia. © 𝓐𝓵𝓵 𝓡𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 𝓡𝓮𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓿𝓮𝓭 𝓫𝔂 𝓚𝓮𝓿 𝓟𝓮𝓲𝓻𝓬𝓮. #photo #photography #australia #tasmania #PortArthur #TasmaniaHistory #WorldHeritage #TasmanPeninsula #ruins

16 May 1944: the Rt Revd Geoffrey Franceys Cranswick (1894-1978) installed and enthroned at St David's Cathedral as eighth Bishop of Tasmania (only the second Australian-born). #anglican #81years Here he is ten years later, with Dean Fewtrell, greeting some special guests:

Oystercatcher at Kingston Beach Tasmania today What a life! Wading all day

Tasmania is a motorcyclists paradise. We have roads similar and often better close to every city and in Hobart’s case in the city, well starting about 800 metres south of the Casino through Taroona anyway. All tight bends through to Kingston. And I mean tight bends.

Spent my last day in Tasmania going for lunch in Richmond and then up Mt. Wellington in the afternoon. It even snowed. What a send-off.

The 15th century ‘Angel Roof’ of St Helen’s Church at Brant Broughton in Lincolnshire. While restored in the later 19th century, the colours are based on extensive traces of the original paintwork. 📸 My own. #Woodensday #BrantBroughton #Lincolnshire #AdventAngels

Phillip Island, we are here to see the fairy penguins at sunset. Western Port bay Victoria Australia. #phillipisland #australia #friends

Thank goodness for that. Something that shouldn’t have happened, happened. And now it’s set to unhappen. Great for students, great for research in general and great for Britain. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...