Clearing out 2 bags of my eldest son's 'don't starve' surplus uni supplies has led to an empty cupboard which has led to shifting stuff out of several places into one which has led to the reconfiguration of a neither spare bedroom nor office into a designated office & workroom. For ME.

#caturday (if he wasn't enjoying it he wouldn't be there)

Alas, Larry the cat appears to have been an AI thing and so reluctantly I have deleted that little post of joy.

Morning all. Of all the many, many photographs I’ve seen this remains one of my all time favourites, like a Caravaggio painting. What a frame. Photograph by Chris Steele Perkins, Blackpool 1972.

I'll be finishing this book this evening and I'll be so sorry to leave all the characters #booksky

Thanks to the very lovely @exilefromgroggs.bsky.social I can confirm that this t-shirt is brilliant. Really good quality and I shall wear it with, and spread, joy.

Oh GEORGE. #TOTP

Now this is a tune. At last #totp

Just kill me now #totp

Dance music completely passed me by. Genuine question - did you need to take drugs to get it? #totp

While #TOTP feeds us direst forgotten bland, I'm going to tell you about a vegetable discovery I've made: the Asturian cabbage tree. It produces massive, tender, buttery cut & come again leaves and seems (so far) immune to slugs & caterpillars.

I did my job quite well last week too. And extras. Where's mine? FAFS.

In my ongoing tidying and decluttering (SO much easier since we got help with the cleaning) I have found bags of food supplies (dried & tinned) that I sent my eldest off to university with in 2021. HE MIGHT HAVE STARVED!! He did not.

And for the first time since I can remember, I'm going to take the edge off A Week with Joe Wicks rather than snuffling about trying to find stashed chocolate biscuits. I think that's pretty solid personal development.

I have been doing a lot of in-depth analysis of why patients DNA on planned operations. It's massively complex and we are learning lots as to how we can better support patients to be ready. However, just not turning up is NOT HELPFUL. Please don't do that. Please don't @me on hospitals cancelling

Well this is stupidly cute.

Public service announcement. Don't buy a tin of these and have them on your desk while you are doing very focused work.

Anyhoo. I survived a very tricksy "but what about" meeting & managed to keep it on the tracks, was work mum to 2 colleagues who needed a cry & somehow got signed up to lead a wellbeing initiative for a team I don't belong to, never mind lead. How was YOUR day?

I've just found out why the office I was working in today emptied earlier than usual. Thank you Bluesky. I was starting to wonder about my deodorant. Related I read a Reddit sub about deodorant and now I'm paranoid to the point of checking with A before I leave the house.

Do check out the comment underneath too.

If I see Penelope Keith with that bear, I will delete EVERYTHING. For a bit. My father was utterly in love with Barbara. My mother WAS Barbara and yearned to be Margot. She had a wonderful caftan which was worn every Christmas day. I believe it was her only real act of rebellion. Caftan subversion.

I cannot tell you how much I love these t-shirts. I had no idea about them until today. Here's another which I like just as much if not more. bristolslocalartists.org/product/poet...

Apart from some bits of furniture, a hand turned elm needle holder which was given to me by my nanna when I was 7, 53 years ago. It's useful and beautiful and is really just at the beginning of its life.

'#Summer tree glow' Linocut by contemporary printmaker Alexandra Buckle #WomensArt

TLC: Singing rescued elephants shows music reaches hearts across species. 🎶❤️ #MusicSky #Singing #Elephants @plumes officie!

Flood alert has landed for tomorrow. But this is all perfectly normal "we just used to call it summer in my day, lads". FFS.

This is so utterly cringe you will want to stick pins in your eyes before the end, but I urge you to persevere. Vive les lesbiennes!

For reasons I was unable to park my car in my usual place on the hard standing at the back of the cottage. One of the reasons actually offered to 'put my car in for me'. I've had a DAY dealing with suppliers, grumpy engineers and spreadsheets in hospital temperatures so guess how that went.

Here's something lovely

For fellow #booksky pals, my obsession with Maggie O'Farrell continues. I finished The Hand That First Held Mine this morning and it was ACE. I want to be more Lexie. She rocked.

This was lovely. The cat came with us, neighbours stopped to chat and there was even a rainbow cloud. It was a very charming walk.

We heard the osprey!! Didn't see it though. Glad to know they are back.

I've just made cardamom & lemon shortbread. I have surpassed myself. Related. I am alone in the cottage. I have a faint memory of Jaffa cakes. These are so much better than Jaffa cakes. Uh oh.

For anyone interested Jo Hutton is offering a subscription service for pay what you can afford rates (minimum £20 pa to cover costs) for a limited time. The more you pay, the more others can be supported. substack.com/@johuttonyog...

This is the reality of accepting refugees in the UK. Lovely stuff. #NiceThings

We saw a little (teeny TINY) dog that was so full of joyful verve on the beach at Spittal it made me think for the first time since Beryl died that there might be room in my heart to look for another wee pup. Never in a million years did I think it would be a miniature Yorkshire terrier.

That reminds me: I haven't drunk enough water. Also it's 2 years today since @alistaircoleman.bsky.social and I met in real life after knowing each other for at least 18 years on the various socials. We're off for an ice cream on Spittal Beach to celebrate. I'd still travel 430 miles to see him.

I know fruit in salads isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I made a chicken & pineapple salad from Mob yesterday and it was delish. We've just had leftovers for lunch. I reckon it would work really well with harissa/honey marinated tofu as well. Or Bold Bean butter beans.

Actually managed to stay up long enough to put the hens to bed. That hasn't happened in weeks. The song thrushes were still going strong at 10:30. I know everyone's going to be making the joke about the nights fair drawing in, but we'll be feeling it proper in August and that's just too soon.

HAH!

This is a vg reminder for me (please don't @me on Substack why nots - am aware, feel free to unfollow, etc). I had a big regroup of finances which meant cancelling EVERYTHING, then bringing back in essentials. Jonn very kindly offered me a comp, & even though not intention, I am spurred into action.

When most footballers from that era retire, they open a pub or simply fade away. Lou Macari opened a homeless shelter. #NiceThings

Day 1. Did the first Joe Wicks; Day 6 of Louis Cal Anxiety Release and declared intention & now I feel pretty bloody good already. Direct effect on breakfast choice & drinking a decent amount of water. My brain rarely registers thirst, so this is a big one for me.

I slept 9 glorious proper restful (not drugged - even though I was, anyone who has known drugged sleep knows what I mean) sleep. I also came back to work on Monday realising that while there's still lots to learn, I'm now properly positioned & delivering. So now it's time to sort myself out.

RIP bee fren

Anyhoo - for some reason insomnia bit me in the arse good and proper last night: 2 hours sleep, thank you very much. So now I'm going to treat myself to some rather excellent prescription knockout meds and leave you all to it.

Janice is giving big Perry "Yes Mrs Patterson" vibes here #totp

Eurgh - was this the start of white socks with loafers? #totp

You promised me an 80's episode with some classic tracks. Now look at this sad, squashed object #TOTP

I got really excited* when A told me it was 1986 next. It's not living up to my memory of shenanigans and late nights when I was 20. *Perked up a bit from the 1999 stupor. #totp