47% of Europeans want X banned across the EU, so the flipping Scandiwegians are doing something about it, with proper Viking energy. W is now accepting registration ahead of it's launch. wsocial.eu

Nothing like enjoying your slightly cheaper pint while imagining the toddler crying from hunger that paid for it.

In case you missed @amyjanebeer.bsky.social very moving Country Diary last week, on the gift of birds following her beloved sister's untimely death; do have a read, its beautiful. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

I know you've heard that a federal judge ordered the release of 5 year old Liam Conejo Arias and his father, and that they're now home. But did you look at the judge's order? It's less than 2.5 pages and well worth a minute. "Jesus wept." Link to pdf: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

A remarkable story on the radio this morning- one I’d never heard but which reveals other ways of peace making. theconversation.com/when-us-and-...

Married 33 years today - still loving the adventure.

Another day, another utterly shameful cruelty against refugees announced. Recognised refugees - so people granted the long term right to stay in the UK because they have escaped real danger - will face new barriers to reuniting with spouses & children safely in the UK #r4todat

Today’s walk, nice loop from Ilkley to Denton, then up to Middleton and back through the woods. Got pretty wet at one point, but there was some lovely light too. Definite areas they don’t want you to go - 3x “Private” signs in one frame. ;)

Look who’s back from her year abroad 😀

Mini-adventure day 3 - Six Dales Trail, Leeds Pals Memorial to Middleham. Had about 3 miles this morning to rejoin the route, but some fabulous views again as we went over the moors.

Mini adventure day 2 - Pateley Bridge up to the Leeds Pals memorial. More moorland today. We found Nidderdale’s answer to Sycamore Gap too.

Mini adventure day 2 - Pateley Bridge up to the Leeds Pals memorial. More moorland today. We found Nidderdale’s answer to Sycamore Gap too.

This weekend’s mini-adventure… Six Dales Trail. Today was Otley to Pateley Bridge. Quite varied walking. The reservoirs are looking desperate. Fabulous inosculation of beech :)

*R2-D2 projects Leia hologram* LEIA: Hi guys, welcome back to my channel! Today I'm so excited to share some big new plans *4 mins later* So today's sponsor is AlderaanVPN. I always use *5 mins later* So let's get right into the video! Don't forget to like, subscribe and com- *R2's battery runs out*

Thought for the day, from the wonderful Wendell Berry’s Sabbath Poems.

Our Tawny Chicks are much bigger now, but as vocal as ever.

Just stumbled across treasure :)

The skies above Gourdon are heaving with Swifts tonight. More than I could possibly count. An absolute joy.

Off down a new (to me) rabbit hole, with thanks to @daeganmiller.bsky.social for the suggestion :)

Beautiful essay from Robin Wall Kimmerer, on ecology and experimental theology - life, death and on becoming soil. emergencemagazine.org/essay/becomi...

Hunting for a Daegan Miller quote about Wilderness has led me to this superb essay on @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social sublime magnum opus. (Still looking for the source of the sentence I noted several years back, Daegan, but I'll find it ;) ).

Was lovely to watch these two in the field behind the house yesterday morning.

Celebrating 55 orbits of the sun with a Warwickshire walk. Somewhat leaden skies, but filled with larksong.

Batcliffe beeches, bluebells and blue sky.

Very proud of my sister - her debut novel has just been published :) amzn.eu/d/9OD264S

The most enraging but also weirdly the only encouraging thing about that latest Once In A Generation (if only) crash is this one is so fixable. There’s no Covid, no subprime lending, just a dumb move that could be undone tomorrow. One man’s ego is the only obstacle.

It has been showers and then occasional sun all afternoon. Does mean you get views like this from the back of the house though :)

For anyone who needs a bit of a lift - a Blackcap in the blossom at the side of our barn yesterday afternoon. Joyful, uplifting song with Robin accompaniment.

Fifth and final leg of Leeds Country Way today. Abby’s Dad joined us today too. Fabulous weather and probably the most countryside-ish leg we’ve done. As ever way-marking really poor and wrong enough in one place to cause a couple of miles detour..

Nice start to the day with a morning walk with @johnpleeds.bsky.social

Leeds Country Way fourth leg - Garforth to Harewood. Perhaps a more enjoyable section this week, a bit more rural and fewer new estates right on the path. Made even better by some old friends joining us part way round :) Catkins, butchered hedges and Texels eating beets.

I don’t think cutting overseas aid is a difficult decision. It plays well with Badenoch & Farage supporters. Those affected won’t have a vote but will be deeply impacted and so will we in the longer term. Cutting the triple lock - now that’s a difficult decision…

There's been a lot of sharing of this post this evening, but it looks very much like the European Elections Map from 2024 (see below).. Whilst it is a striking image, careful what you re-share as the post being shared tonight looks a bit iffy...

The French Parliament has approved a ban on the manufacture, import, and sale of #PFAS in cosmetics, ski wax, and clothing by January 2026, which will be extended to all textiles in 2030.

Mike Pence just reposted an old article he wrote about the limitations on the powers of a president. For some reason. Here is a part of it.

Another section of Leeds Country Way today, Gildersome to Carlton. Waymarking utterly hopeless, probably fewer than 10 over the entire leg today. Would be impossible without digital mapping tbh. Very sticky underfoot, so slow going. In the Rhubarb Triangle though.

We’ve been together 34 years today. Still adventuring ❤️

Judge rules that Black church in DC, which won a $2.8 million default judgment against the Proud Boys, now gains control over the trademark “Proud Boys.” The far-right group is barred from selling any related merchandise or symbols without the consent of the church. Gift link:

The wonderful Wendell Berry, prophetic as ever, speaking into our present from decades past.

We can easily spare a tenth of England for nature without affecting food production! 20% of our land produces just 3% of our food. Vast swathes of our uplands are owned by about 150 wealthy landowners who use it for shooting grouse, and set fire to our biggest carbon sink, our peat bogs...

YouGov find just 30% of people think we were right to leave the EU. The lowest number yet. Just 10% of 18-24 year olds think it was the right decision.

I was delighted to have this superb essay by @david-farrier.bsky.social in @emergencemagazine.bsky.social pop up in my feed yesterday. Well worth a listen. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/e...

It’s the truffle market in Gourdon today :)

Today’s walk to help me ponder gift economics. One of my favourite views of Gourdon in the distance. Delighted to have the company of Long-Tailed Tits (who perfectly understand gift based economics) twittering busily among the dormant oaks as I walked the top track.

Morning everyone.

This morning’s view.

Today's Heron (trying to remain aloof).

Absolutely true - the earliest technology was the Lomekwian hand axe 3.3 million years ago. Fire was a technology. The hafted spear too. String. Sewing needle. Shoes. The simplest tools radically changed the planet