I said yesterday that the chancellor was laying the ground for her budget as hard choices for everyone but the wealthiest.⁣ And now the chancellor is reportedly going to cut vital funding for desperately needed home insulation to cut bills.

“You can’t blame austerity on one hand, but then say it’s the immigrants. The immigrants haven’t caused austerity.” Zack Polanski takes on Reform’s Zia Yusuf over spreading of misinformation on #BBCQT

On #BBCQT - Fiona Bruce said that the audience and public didn't want to press Reform UK on their dodgy links to Russia. I disagree. RT if you agree it's in the public interest for Reform to explain about their links to Russian money and bribery!

If you don't already, watch Colbert. He is a man with no more f*cks left to give. And it's glorious. Check out this song parody from last night's show: Mike Johnson Delays House Epstein Vote Until September

🚨 This morning we turned the street outside Labour Party Headquarters in London into Jabaliya camp in Gaza. Listen to @ahmedmasoud02.bsky.social talking about what the Israeli army did to his neighourhood and family.

I've been absent on here for quite a while because life has been hectic and I've had a lot to deal with. I really need to find time to get back to the things I love. Anyway, this is the closet to a #maple tree that I have. #JulyArty #watercolour #ArtYear #smArtist #painting

Happy Friday #scape #EastCoastKin #WeekVfor5 #AlphabetChallenge #golden #MayBlooms #floralFriday #flowersonfriday #smArtist

A #golden sycamore leaf l made from air-dry clay with 5 points. #MayBlooms #WeekVfor5 #weekvforfive #AlphabetChallenge #ArtYear

I’m a bit late but it must still be Friday somewhere. #FlowersonFriday #FloralFriday #MayBlooms #smArtist It’s definitelySaturday here though so time for #BlueSkyArtShow theme of #LightAndShadow #EastCoastKin #PhotoHour #onlybeautifulthings #bloomscrolling #macro

This is the first time I’ve had the chance to sit down and have some peace and quiet this week. So here’s one of my favourite places to relax and look up at the sky. #Blueskyartshow #LightAndShadow #AlphabetChallenge #WeekUforUp #EastCoastKin #PhotoHour ##sunset #PhotographersUnited #photography

Moon shadows. #Blueskyartshow #LightAndShadow #AlphabetChallenge #WeekUforUp #EastCoastKin #Photography #ClassicMono #moon #PhotoHour #photographersofBluesky #PhotographersUnited

Golden eagles are protected in the UK and can only be seen in the wild in Scotland or Northern Ireland but they’re making a comeback due to #conservation and rewilding efforts. #birds #birding #wildlife #nature #texture #BlueSkyArtShow #EastCoastKin #photography #photographersofbluesky

Time to rest. May is the best time to see ducklings on the river bank. Look at the #texture in their feathers against the grass. #WeekTforTime #AlphabetChallenge #BlueSkyArtShow #EastCoastKin #birds #nature #wildlife #SmArtist #ArtYear #photography #PhotoHour

It's been a ridiculously warm spring here om the south coast 🇬🇧 Only had a single frost since January and now everything is producing early. I bet when it comes to August, it will be grey and wet so I'm glad I sowed early too. #globalwarming #seasons #sprinf #gardening #flowers #tomatoes #vegetables

Gotta love a meadow of poppies in #fullbloom. #SmArtist #MayBlooms #scape #flowersonFriday #FloralFriday #ArtYear #photohour #EastCoastKin #photography

Whilst not officially summer time yet, the flowers don't know that and are reacting to warmer temperatures. Every year I feel the seasons are shifting in time. #WeekTforTime #AlphabetChallenge #Mayblooms #SmArtist #EastCoastKin #bloomscrolling #onlybeautifulthings #photography #macro #ArtYear

Sadly the tulips are coming to the end of their time this year. Spring time is over here as temps reach 22C today. Time for summer! #WeekTforTime #AlphabetChallenge #Mayblooms #SmArtist #tulipTuesday #EastCoastKin #bloomscrolling #onlybeautifulthings #photography #macro #tulip #flower #ArtYear

Light swims through the leaves, not above, not through, but with — sight becomes belief. Nikon D70 560nm infrared with a Vivitar Chromo Blend Blue. #photography #infrared #560nm #infraredphotography #IR

A delicate grape #hyacinth for #BlueSkyMonday and #MacroMonday #SmArtist #MayBlooms #macro Taken in my garden at #home which is my place of comfort. #SensoryArt #EastCoastKin #bloomscrolling #flowers #onlybeautifulthings

I’m a bit late to the party as haven’t had access to my photos over the weekend. #MayBlooms #smArtist #tulip #Stunday #ArtYear #flowers #onlybeautifulthings #EastCoastKin

Today's #smArtist theme is #waterlily. It also fits the theme of #calming, sitting by the pond watching the insects buzz around the flowers and skate on the water is #MayBlooms #flowers #bloomscrolling #onlybeautifulthings #photography

I like the #abstract effect of this soft, out of focus #macro of a dandelion. Let’s show some appreciation for the weeds that feed pollinators and birds. #MayBlooms #SmArtist #flowers #onlybeautifulthings #photography #nature #EastCoastKin

Why have I only just learnt about #invertefest a month late? One of the first honeybees to visit my garden this spring. #MayBlooms #smArtist #macro #nature #SciArt #insects #honeybee #flowers #onlybeautifulthings

I've been so busy that I've not had time to post or paint or take photos. But I did walk the dog along a road lined with strong smelling wild garlic flowers. #BlueSkyArtShow #green #weekRforRoads #smArtist #scape #EastCoastKin #ArtYear #SensoryArt #phonephotography

Wood forget me not sprig against a #beige stone wall. #blueskyMonday #macroMonday #EastCoastKin #acoloradAyPRIL #smArtist #ArtYear #macro #bloomscrolling #flowers #onlybeautifulthings

Bluebell opening. #blueskyMonday #macroMonday #EastCoastKin #ArtYear #bokeh #macro #bloomscrolling #flowers #onlybeautifulthings

A place of quiet reflection. This isolated gem is hidden away. The clay #earth beneath the water defracts the light to give it a turquoise hue. #BlueSkyArtShow #acoloradAyPRIL #olivegreen #smArtist #shrub #AlphabetChallenge #weekQforQs #EastCoastKin #ArtYear #photography #nature #SciArt #PhotoHour

#magenta #acoloradAyPRIL #scape #ArtYear #smArtist #floralFriday #flowersonFriday #onlybeautifulthings #flower #photography

A cyclist moves quickly under the teal lights strung up across the street in Stratford,London. #UrbanGaze #WeekQforQs #AlphabetChallenge #acoloradAyPRIL #humansofbluesky #EastCoastKin #ArtYear #streetphotography #phonephotography

A large quantity of bluebells on the hill with Corfe Castle in the distance for #BlueSkyMonday. A coral hue in the sky is developing at dusk. #acoloradAyPRIL #WeekQforQs #AlphabetChallenge #EastCoastKin #ArtYear #landscape #photography #Dorset

The bluebells are almost up and this welcome sight will return very soon. My absolute favourite time of year. Love it #inside this glade where #nature puts on a #spring show. #BlueSkyArtShow #AlphabetChallenge #Weekiforinside #landscape #photography #photohour

The petals are almost transparent, like #glass. I like colours and #texture of the paint in the background (it actually feels bumpy). An old one from my 'play around with acrylics and see what happens' period. #makersmARTch #SensoryArt #ArtYear #acrylicpainting #flowers

A large quantity of bluebells on the hill with Corfe Castle in the distance for #BlueSkyMonday. A coral hue in the sky is developing at dusk. #acoloradAyPRIL #WeekQforQs #AlphabetChallenge #EastCoastKin #ArtYear #landscape #photography #Dorset

Angle shades moth sitting quietly in my vegetable bed yesterday. Its wings have a coral hue. #MacroMonday #WeekQforQs #AlphabetChallenge #acoloradAyPRIL #EastCoastKin #SmArtist #phonephotography #ArtYear #SciArt

It’s absolutely tipping it down and blowing a gale today so I’m dreaming of summer when the poppies brighten my day. #BlueSkyArtShow #dream #AcoloradAyPRIL #maroon #Smartist Oriental poppies are awakening from their #dormant state. #AlphabetChallenge #WeekPforPatterns #ArtYear

#scape #EastCoastKin #navyblue #acoloradAyPRIL #ArtYear #PhotoHour #PhotographersUnited #PhotographersofBluesky #photography

Taken while walking the dog last night. Unfortunately, landscapes come out a bit flat on my phone though. #scape #EastCoastKin #landscape #photography #PhotoHour #PhitograohersUnited

Scrolling through old photos, I found this one that’s a bit out of focus but hits all of today’s challenges. #UrbanGaze #Humansofbluesky #Smartist #dry #acoloradAyPRIL #tan #AlphabetChallenge #WeekPforPatterns #EastCoastKin

Straddling time zones with this photo of the Transport for London building. #WindowsOnWednesday #UrbanGaze #turquoise #acoloradAyPRIL #AlphabetChallenge #WeekPforPatterns #EastCoastKin #ArtYear #photography

Turquoise textures making abstract patterns: found by the sea. #AcoloradAypril #turquoise #WeekPforPatterns #AlphabetChallenge #EastCoastKin #ArtYear #texture #abstract #photography

Boscombe Pier again: best captured when it’s empty, just after sunrise with the light shining through its #turquoise glass roof and shadows making patterns. #acoloradAyPRIL #WeekPforPatterns #AlphabetChallenge #EastCoastKin #PhotoHour #ArtYear

I have not had time to paint recently so I'm reposting this from February because it's a nice #peach colour #AcoloradAyPRIL. And it has patterned scales #AlphabetChallenge #WeekPforPatterns #EastCoastKin #ArtYear

A few more of my bird paintings: each has some #black feathers and the ornate hawk eagle, in particular, has oodles of character. See alt for names. #acoloradAyPRIL #weekOforOodles #AlphabetChallenge #EastCoastKin #birbfest #birds #watercolor #watercolour #painting #ArtYear #art

A few paintings I did for #birbfest2025 back in January when I had only just joined BlueSky. I have found such a wonderfully supportive art community here 🥰. It gives me such #joy #sensoryart #brown #acoloradAyPRIL #ArtYear #painting #watercolor #watercolour #birds #art

Both #lavender and #peach tones in the rocky path through the heather. #AcoloradAyPRIL #RockinTuesday #Seasonal #SmArtist #ArtYear #nature #onlybeautifulthings #thelittlethings

Patterns and pictures in the sandstone cliffs on the beach. #SensoryArt #faces #pareidolia #AcoloradAyPRIL #peach #RockinTuesday #smArtist #AlphabetChallenge #WeekPforPatterns #EastCoastKin

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekPforPattern I don't think I've ever seen such an amazingly intricate pattern on a butterfly as that on the Two-Tailed Pasha. It flew past my nose in Croatia and obligingly landed right in front of me. What a stunner! #butterflies #insects #nature #wildlife #macro

From my brief foray* into experimenting with fairly shallow depth of field macro images. *by which I mean around 10 minutes one day because I found a feather in a bunch of old crafting stuff. #AlphabetChallenge #WeekPforPatterns #Photography

Copenhagen Metro, Denmark. #BlueSkyMonday #WeekPforPatterns #AlphabetChallenge #EastCoastKin #photography #travelphotography

The iconic roof at Kings Cross Station,London with a little of the blue sky peeping through. #WeekPforPatterns #AlphabetChallenge #lavender #acoloradAyPRIL #BlueSkyMonday #architecture #photography