“Run for parliament”

I can get people’s frustration with Starmer - and the Labour Party as a whole - but 1) this constant revolving door policy regarding Prime Ministers is not good for actually getting things done; and 2) Streeting is not popular among the voters Labour need to win back.

There’s nothing quite like a springtime walk with my little buddy

About 1.5 years ago, I severely injured my foot to the degree that I could barely walk (even getting downstairs in the morning was difficult and left me close to tears) let alone run. Today, for the first time since 2020, I ran a half marathon *and* got a new PB of 1:46:17. I’m so proud of myself 🥹🥳

The Welsh really just went “It’s either Nationalism (Welsh) or Nationalism (British)”, eh?

There are many days, but especially days like today, when I wonder what the “Chaos with Ed Miliband” timeline looks like 🥲

The Greens have an antisemitism problem, Reform (and the Tories) have an Islamophobia problem, Labour have a fumbled the ball problem. I understand the frustration with and deep disappointment in Labour, but every time we drift too far to the edges in politics, extremism and hatred dwell.

Ontroerende en zelfs heftige verhalen gehoord over de slachtoffers en (verzets)strijders van WOII en daarna. Altijd triest maar het is ook goed dat wij jaarlijks stilstaan om ons de levensveranderende en intergenerationele last en trauma van oorlog en geweld te doen herinneren. Nooit meer. Nooit.

It’s that time of the year when I don’t know whether my eyes are hurting because I’m tired, because my hay fever is acting up, or both 🥲

Went on the longest run I’ve done in 5.5 years and somehow smashed both my 15k and 10-mile records, getting TWO PBs 🥳 I may have been achy, exhausted and massively dehydrated by the end of it, but goodness I’m proud of myself!

George en ik wensen jullie allemaal een hele fijne Koningsdag! Laten we er een mooie dag van maken. Lang leve de koning! 🥳👑🧡

I would love to run a bakery/café with a cosy upstairs room that shows a classic film every evening (which can be enjoyed with a nice cocktail and a freshly baked piece of cake). Maybe add in an afternoon language café hour? That’s the dream 😌

My favourite thing about this week is that my hay fever decided to act up at the exact moment I was telling my students off for not doing their homework, and it looked like I was about to cry because of it 🙃

Being the US’s “ally” seems to be a lot shittier for Europe than being its “enemy” does for Russia…

Jesus wept. Pray for the souls of the poor innocents who were murdered in cold blood, their families and friends, and for a change in the vicious system which continues to allow this brutality to happen in the name of gun rights and freedom.

Started the day off pretty solidly by running my own quarter marathon and getting a 10k PB (46:13). Feeling rather chuffed about all of that, especially as it’s the first time I’ve run those distances this year 😄🥳

it feels quite bad that it's basically impossible to argue that much of the modern right in the west has become both entirely intellectually shallow and deeply, fundamentally morally corrupt without sounding like a tedious teenage tankie, because it is.....the factual truth

🇭🇺🇪🇺

It's not just that Orbán losing inspires hope in other competitive-autocratic countries ruled by right-wing nationalist authoritarians. It's that his loss materially changes things in those other countries, because he's been operating as a headquarters and funding source...

Inshallah Tisza will get at least one more seat (but regardless, this landslide would be glorious)

In other words, they know they’ve lost 🥳

all these universities kept axing medieval history departments as if they thought tyrants beefing with the Pope was going to stop being relevant

I’m so glad we have an American leader who understands what justice is, who knows that every human being deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and who emanates the true Christian message of peace, love and righteousness. Just a shame the president is everything Pope Leo isn’t.

I hope your Easter has been as excellent as I felt when I saw how humongous this Easter egg was 😌

After a week of slaving away in the kitchen, I can happily say that Easter feasting has been well and truly enjoyed! I’m also just flipping proud of these creations: I think they all look (and certainly do taste) pretty great! Happy Easter everyone! Christ is risen! Let us rejoice!

At the end of the Vigil Mass, my priest highlighted an important element of the Church: “This international community of ours is a foretaste of heaven when we will see and be with all kinds of people from every background and culture!” What a beautiful reminder that Christ is with all and for all.

What in the absolute insanity is this?!

“For if we have been united with [Christ] in a death like His, we will certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.” — Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭5 Jesus suffered, died and rose for you. The Creator of the universe loves you: no matter your past, how you identify, or your origin, He loves you.

The thing I can’t forgive America for is that there’s no particular hidden matter with this man. He overtly talks like a rapist and revels in his corruption and thuggery.

👀

Got a flat tyre on the way to Mass this morning, which meant I didn’t get my palm & missed the whole triumphant entry part of Palm Sunday Mass… BUT someone at Church told me that they didn’t realise Dutch isn’t my mother tongue & I got to watch Project Hail Mary. So I suppose that all balances out?

When I came out to my parents, I was terrified. I stayed up all night and read the Prisoner Of Azkaban for comfort. My relationship with those books is more than nostalgia... You couldn't pay me to spend a single second of my finite life on supporting the franchise today.

Please pray for the Americans as their prices go up to prices we haven’t seen in years. In NL, as a result of this war we neither started nor are part of, per gallon, unleaded petrol has shot up to $11.01 and diesel to $11.62. But sure, $7/gallon when you earn two times more than us must be awful.

How it started v How it’s going:

Still can’t believe I’ve become one of those people who goes to the gym and works out when he’s away… but that hotel gym was great!

An absolute blessing (and quite the coincidence) to be able to venerate the relics of the first Millennial Saint, Carlo Acutis, in my home diocese’s cathedral. Pretty cool to know there’s a guy hanging out with Jesus and praying for me who also played the same Pokémon games as me!

I’m told that this means my powers of homosexuality have been restored ✂️💈

At Church to conclude our bidding prayers, we always pray for those suffering from war and violence, naming specific locations. It’s fucking bleak how long that list has got over the past year… 😢

When I was doing missionary work in London during the 2012 Olympics, the local wing of the Tamil Tigers mistook me as an official representative of the British government. I was taken to meet the leader and given a list of demands to present to David Cameron.

Well, I suppose we have been long due a Crusade 😌🥲

If thousands of my neighbors just died at the hands of their own government and then my daughter was blown up by some chucklefuck on the other side of the planet claiming to help, I would walk into sea. It is hard to fathom the suffering innocent Iranians are enduring. God have mercy.

Eight months ago.

The President of Peace strikes again

I have many - MANY - gripes and disagreements with the Green Party, but they did fight a good campaign (and have been consistent with their values). I’m hoping this will be a wake-up call not to pander to Reform voters and instead focus on the left/progressive coalition that got Labour into power.

A few years ago, the Church in my village was facing closure - I prayed fervently that God would refill it and have the parishioners’ hearts on fire for Him. It was then… shut. And then… bought by the Chaldean Catholic community. Today, I had the honour of attending a Mass. God answered my prayer.

It’s almost like they used up all of their talent stores in the first match - I thought last week was bad, but this was beyond painful to watch. Stupid mistakes, butter fingers, and constant stumbling… not the England we know. I hope they reflect on this and use the next fortnight productively.

You see, England, what the Irish just did was actually consistently catch the ball and then cross the try line rather than just say hello to it 🙂🙃

Totally appalling way to treat anyone but in this case this woman had not broken any immigration rule at all. And the British consulate were completely and inexcusably useless. Awful and I think deserves some response from the Foreign Office. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Waarom moet jij iedere keer de rekening betalen? In het regeerakkoord van D66, VVD en CDA krijgen gewone mensen te maken met pijnlijke bezuinigingen en hogere belastingen terwijl de allerrijksten worden ontzien. Dat is niet eerlijk. Wat ons betreft komt er een fundamentele koerswijziging.