"There are no proven therapies or drugs that ‘cure’ autism. Most autistic people and families want research to focus on better understanding and support." Joint statement from the major UK autism charities: www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/about-us/med...

Beautiful from @olivermantell.bsky.social

Beautiful.

Because there is ‘so’ much more evidence of God’ existence than there is that queer people exist, and have always existed. Bigotry and cruelty exhibited proudly by people of ‘faith’ is never ending.

SUCH a beautiful piece of writing from @johnharris1969.bsky.social - manages to simultaneously honour the unique genius of Brian Wilson while also gently making the most civilised-possible argument for society to better understand the fragile necessity of neurodiversity in making a beautiful world.

Re extra money to improve schools' SEND provision: I agree with the Disabled Children's Partnership

Goodwood Art Foundation n Sussex today, with landscaping by Dan Pearson and an opening exhibition by Rachel Whiteread; a fantastic achievement.

First of two Arts Society lectures in Sussex today, on the colourful and consequential life and work of Debo, Mitford & Duchess of Devonshire, who worked with her husband Andrew on the revival of Chatsworth for more than half a century. #chatsworth

For once, not a new build, not in London and not a place afraid of the rich complexity of history, culture and society. Huge congratulations to Esme Ward and her colleagues.

What to Look For in Spring, with Kemi Badenoch

In beautiful Appleby-in-Westmorland to lecture for The Arts Society on the life & work of Debo, Mitford and Duchess of Devonshire, my boss & then friend, who transformed Chatsworth with her husband over 5 decades, making it a benchmark of heritage survival, visitor welcome & flourishing resilience.

My grandmas were immigrants, my mum & sisters in law are immigrants; my sister & nephews are migrants. My kids study maths, Shakespeare, dance, act & score tries alongside the kids of immigrants. My dad’s life was saved by immigrants. Immigrants have made us richer, wiser, stronger Win the fight

“I’ve always felt with the writers that I like that they continue to ask questions, they continue to be spellbound, to engage in wonder rather than becoming wise and knowledgable.” A yes from me; thank you Simon Armitage. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...

This resonates very closely with my experience: www.bps.org.uk/psychologist...

Brilliant and frightening piece. All the poisonous drek on this subject from farage etc is, in my view, simply the polite version of what they really crave, dominance for a white, straight, neuro-typical, Christian, patriarchal, militaristic master race, with everyone else left to rot. Venal toads.

AUTASTIC!

It turns out that all that glitters is, in fact, gold. #chatsworth

Beyond home, three people most influenced my musical tastes; Simon Rattle in his Birmingham days, Peter Cropper in Sheffield and this man, my uncle John Lubbock, & his Orchestra of St Johns (known as OSJ), Here he talks about the immense impact of his Music for Autism work youtu.be/aWrEXDsszlQ?...

Happy Birthday @barbrastreisand.bsky.social

As a family we’ve skin in this game, so it isn’t hard to be repulsed by the usual rancid effluent from Farage, but as a society we are beyond f*cked if a person as morally repulsive as that gurning toad gets to set the nature, tone & terms of our debate about a decent society. What a foul pig.

The opera performance I most yearn to have seen live was Peter Sellars’ production of Handel’s Theodora at Glyndebourne in 1996. An astounding cast, including Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. This is some of the most beautiful tenor singing I’ve ever heard, from Richard Croft. youtu.be/6aKqCCH389s?...

Much like many tech bros.

A perfect post. Bravo the social media person/comms team at @maryrosemuseum.bsky.social

Heading off to Crewe to lecture for the Arts Society Tarporley on a Victorian hero of mine, Joseph Paxton, genius of Chatsworth, who put the world under glass in his revolutionary Crystal Palace of 1851. theartssociety.org/events/%E2%8...

Every word.

Wk 2 of the #hardasnails initiative & remarkably a nail parlour just opened in our small Peak District village, so I got my nails refreshed by its pro, Rachel. Continues to be a fascinating project to be involved in, provoking cheers, jeers, self-reflection & beautiful empathy www.hard-as-nails.com

It’s war and peace with Donald and Pete – and the worst group chat the world has ever seen | Marina Hyde

Hilary Mantel’s short contribution to this is so beautiful, wise and brilliant. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...

Grateful to @orlynatasha.bsky.social for painting my nails for this month’s #hardasnails initiative, inviting men to wear nail polish and track their own and other people’s reactions, conversations and interactions. We decided to add our four family initials to include everyone.

Such a beautiful piece of writing, honest, painful, funny, autism-affirming and joyous.

Majestic from Marina Hyde on the revolting hypocrisy of the oligarchs of silicon valley, Zuck especially. I like her equating FB, etc, with the East India Co - the anarchy. They are making it easier & easier to walk away (once my outrage out-performs my addiction) www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Looking forward to lecturing tomorrow on the fascinating and beautiful land and tidal art of Julie Brook for the Arts Society Samlesbury, in Lancashire, not that far from her fantastic stone sculpture/platform at Holker Hall theartssocietysamlesbury.org.uk/event/

Such a penetrating read.

This will be very lovely, the first time my sister, singer/songwriter Tarisha, has given a concert in our neighbourhood. Can’t wait. www.openhousehathersage.com/events/call-...

Beautiful, gentle, thought-provoking workshop for any/every generation of a family to engage with, at the lovely Open House in Hathersage www.openhousehathersage.com/events/shari...

Perhaps the painting I covet most at Tate Britain. Lucian Freud, meeting his match as the kitten returns the ferocity of his gaze.

This looks like it’s going to be quite something, with a fascinating roster of contemporary artists being shown alongside the historic collections at Chatsworth #chatsworth www.chatsworth.org/events/gorge...

At @yspsculpture.bsky.social today. Don’t imagine Trump will visit.

I’m sure he would if only he could, but good to remind myself that, as yet, Trump has not enshittified the pond in the wood.

This is the thing with Trump; people may claim all sorts of motives for supporting him, or his ‘ideas’ (?!), but if you voted for him, you’re in for the entire rancid, malevolent, pig-shit criminal horror of it. This is on you, no ifs, no buts, no caveats. You denied what we could see, & chose him.

Yup www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Brilliant and perceptive on Trump, just as he was brilliant about our very own homegrown malevolent clown Johnson. Thank you @edwarddocx.bsky.social

They say there are only two certainties in life: death, and taxes. But it turns out there is a third, which is that Liz Truss will do anything, ANYTHING, to avoid taking any responsibility for her own actions & policies, ever. It’s become grimly pathological. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Loved hearing some of the back-story to the wonderful, late Lucian Freud painting at Chatsworth 'Skewbald Mare' which is a portrait of Sioux, a horse at the Pony Centre at Wormwood Scrubs, founded & run by Sister Mary Joy Langdon, last week's guest on Private Passions www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

‘The patterns of your life repeat themselves until you listen. Forgive this. Say now what you have to say.’ Jan Zwicky. A statement of intent for any new year.

Can’t wait for this.

Lovely to see Sheffield and Derby's unique and often under-appreciated (and certainly under-funded) artistic mix being referenced by @rowanmoore.bsky.social in the Observer @sheffieldmuseums.bsky.social @derbymuseums.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...