I hope I've not missed anyone who asked for a link to Michael's page with funeral details. Let me know if you asked and I haven't replied

Connections Puzzle #941 🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟪🟪🟪🟪 Ha. I was right to be suspicious. It was a red herring

The snow has melted, the ground looks dry so there shouldn't be ice and I have a long shopping list. Woke late so I'm off to the shops as soon as I've finished breakfast

Waiting for the toast to put up & just realised I hadn't even pushed the thing down 🙄

Good morning bluesky

I need a mood booster, let's talk about capybaras. Here's a capy demonstrating one of MANY ways they can move through the water: running along the bottom. They're 'semi-aquatic' mammals, just like hippos, seals & beavers. They LOVE water. (📷: Fernando Maidana)

The snow seems to have thawed then frozen again. I almost slipped going out to put something in the outside bin. I really do need to go into town tomorrow so I hope it's a bit warmer then

Thank goodness it's not just me. I tried to watch one of these because it was filmed in my town but I gave up because it was just too ludicrous. Apart from anything else the scriptwriter makes no effort whatsoever to convert the plot to fit life in the UK www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

Forecast today is cold with sleet falling on icy ground. I had vaguely intended to go to the shops but there's nothing I really need. Was going to clean the bathroom yesterday but didn't Will try again today

One of the (minor) things that's really irritating me just now is Trump saying that the US "needs" Greenland. No it doesn't. They *want* it. Why on earth would they need it more than Denmark? Or the people who actually live there? That's toddler talk. Full on solipsism

Before anybody starts lecturing us on our inability to cope with a bit of cold weather and look at how well Canada/Scandanavia/Northern Europe cope when it's colder there and it happens far more often, *that's* why they deal with it more easily. They have more practice.

Good morning Bluesky brrr

There is now a tribute page (apparently now the done thing) for Michael with details of the funeral Not sure I want this on open Bluesky so maybe ask for the link & I will DM from either my account or Michael's There will be a live stream & I believe later on-demand. I can probably put that link up

A Dutch worker went viral after explaining to their American boss that they have a life outside work.

New graphics from Target Ovarian Cancer just dropped. I’m really keen to spread the word about symptoms, so please share either my post or the graphic. Other common symptoms include fatigue & changes in bowel habits, it can seem like IBS, and there’s no routine screening.

This is ridiculous. He doesn't "need" it he just wants it. And what if Denmark, needs it? You can't just wander around picking up other countries willy-nilly. We're supposed to be civilised, not savages.

I assume newsreaders have been advised by legal teams to use the word "capture" like they use "collision" even when someone drove on the pavement to run over pedestrians

My ability to deal with all the admin stuff I have to do now comes in waves. Managed a fair bit yesterday but this morning my will to carry on has completely vanished. I'm going to clean the bathroom instead

Okay. I'm not a pizza fan but are they necessarily junk food? I mean bread base, tomatoes & cheese? Is cheese on it's own okay? Is it to do with addititives? In which case what about all those "plant based" meals that have all kinds of stuff added to mimic the taste of meat?

I simply can't get my head around the idea that when Trump wants (needs 🙄) something he genuinely believes he should just be given it. That's the reasoning of a 2yo

This sort of thing really irritates me. I don't want to watch a terrifying video. Just tell me

Paging Lord Agnew, former Schools Minister. Bursars in these schools need one of those advisers you used to send into state schools to patronise Business Managers about making savings, offering a bottle of bubbly if they couldn’t find any.

Good morning Bluesky

It snowed. A bit

Trudging through death admin. (All delayed because of Christmas which was probably a good thing overall) More tomorrow or maybe day after. May walk up to recycling after a cup of tea then put away meagre Christmas decorations

Smoke and Ghosts. New album by Hilliat Fields. On sale now. #Ambient #Quiet #NewMusic hilliatfields.bandcamp.com/album/smoke-...

I have a pattern for a knitted wombat. Tried it once but got list in the increase/decrease bit. Not helped by trying to use Boucher yarn. I'd give it another go (bought more sensible yarn) if I could find either yarn or needles I can post a photo if anybody wants to give it a go

Nobody can describe themselves as "left-leaning" and vote Reform. It's a contradiction in terms. And how can privatising health care possibly help most of us. Look at what happens to Americans who are ill or injured. The idea of a Reform government is frightening www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Imagine how furious you'd be if you were on one of those planes simpleflying.com/tui-diverts-...

Is there anywhere on the web that does an Archers synopsis? I haven't listened in years but I'd like to know roughly what happened over Christmas/New Year without having to actually listen to it

Excellent

Warning Connections is very American again today

I very much want a cup of tea It's cold The question is, do I want the tea enough to brave the cold?

Good morning bluesky

Keir Starmer's approach to Trump reminds me of Stewart Lee's description of Richard Hammond laughing at Jeremy Clarkson's racist jokes while trying to look disapproving. "A cowardly man trapped between two forms of cowardice".

This sounds to me more plausible than any other theory

So, to clarify, spray-painting a plane is terrorism, holding a sign to support the organisation those that spray-painted the plane were members of is terrorism, but taking a foreign head of state hostage needs to wait for a press conference from the hostage taker for nuance?

Spoke to celebrant this morning. Music, readings etc sorted

Kidnapping the leader of a foreign state without any declaration of war and announcing it via social media is full-on rogue state stuff. From the world’s number one superpower.

Considered going for a walk but put off by having to walk uphill at the start. Went out to move car, felt how cold it was. Staying in

I feel like I haven’t even been properly lied to about the purposes of this war

BBC News - www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c5... So our hopes of the military refusing potentially illegal orders have been dashed then? What's next?

Good morning bluesky

Popped briefly into town today. Walked past eyebrow-wrangling place. Thought I'd go next week. Should have gone in today really

Is anybody out there leaving Christmas up until twelfth night?

Cold but no snow here & none forecast

Good morning bluesky

Now trying to decide on charities, poems, readings *sigh*

Watching telly to avoid actual cleaning. Why do police etc shout a suspects name when approaching them & they're still several metres away giving them plenty of time to run? Why not wait until they're close enough to grab them.

Don't bother with this. Full of irritating Americanisms so likely all about American behaviour too