So clever!

The load-bearing myth at the heart of UK politics is that the politicians and media are tolerant and decent and working people are knuckle-dragging bigots, but it's actually completely the other way around.

Truly terrifying 😱

The Bagpuss mice, and their friend the seal of approval, wish you a happy Halloween 🎃

This is so clever, takes an original mind to see that pic

I enjoyed this essay on ‘Paradise Lost’ - perhaps you would too, @vcorenmitchell.bsky.social, if you aren’t already aware of it? publicdomainreview.org/essay/the-so...

A thing of beauty 🙂

Worth a read, I thought I had my Facebook privacy nailed down but found out Meta was helping itself to my camera roll pics without ever asking for my permission 🤬

Reposting with Alt-text:

An atmospheric retelling of the history of Ramsbottom

My dad worked in the tax office when these were new, and brought home ascii calendars and punched paper tape with holes spelling my name. I remember doing homework in the corner of his office and watching the tapes whirring round

Land Beneath the Waves paperback has been chosen for Waterstones pre-order promotion!! Pre-orders make such a difference & if you could support & share, I'd be so grateful. Enter “OCTOBER25” at checkout for 25% off RRP. www.waterstones.com/campaign/oct... @summersdalebooks.bsky.social #WPreorder

After a few years of lack-lustre growth of a mystery shrub in my garden (bought as a solanum, but clearly not that) it has suddenly produced a few berries for the first time and been revealed as a spindle berry. I could not be more thrilled!

A candidate for tree of the day, perhaps @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social ? It may become more beautiful but I wanted a photo in case the wind tears it to pieces

This makes sense to me

‘Do Good Work’ is an insightful essay that tugs at the heartstrings . Thanks for the recommendation,Terri

It's that #wildflowerhour time of the week, but I haven't had time to admire any this week. Will a cosmos with a butterfly do instead?

On Yom Kippur many Jewish people in Britain have their phones off to mark the holy day. As it ends at 723pm, some will hear the tragic Manchester news for the first time. At that time, please join many of us to send a message of solidarity to British Jews.Thanks Together coalition for proposing.

2.8m signatures, but rate of responses is slowing down. Let’s get this signed by as many people as possible and get Keir Starmer etc to think a bit harder about the fact that we pay them to do the will of the people. Pass it on! petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...

A great bargain and a great book!

RIP Jane Goodall, zoologist, primatologist, the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees & the inspiration for millions of young women who wanted to become scientists, including me. She also believed in Bigfoot. Go well into the great forest you wonderful human 💔

Yay!

Feeling stressed? Here are some otters enchanted by a butterfly.

One of my favourite books, I wanted to be Jo when I grew up

Himalayan balsam (boo, but undeniably pretty) and watermint by the side of a pond in East Kilbride for #WildFlowerHour

Should be too obvious to mention, but…

This is adorable, makes me wish I’d prepared an autumn feast of my own. Maybe next year…

A moody view of the Clyde for #sharemondays2025

Happy autumn equinox to all! Thing I learned today: the sun rises/sets due east/west today. Also, today's sunset will be approx 30 seconds faster than the sunset at the solstices.

I'm taking SO many photos these days, I think I'll start putting a few here on Bluesky, in case other people might enjoy them. Let's start with a comma butterfly I was excited to meet today - first I've seen outside a book 🙂

For #wildflowerhour this week, some naked ladies aka colchicum. Not sure if they're really a wildflower, but found in my local country park so 🤷‍♀️

My new small museums for mental health w'shop is on Sat 4 Oct Recent compelling research shows that collecting & arranging collections neatly alleviates anxiety & lifts mood. Includes: 🌿2 hr zoom-we'll make & photograph small museums 🗝️30% off my Etsy shop: workshops.emmamitchell.uk/courses/smal...

The hilarious improv skills of Chat-GPT

Reminder: The existence of these in most Scottish supermarkets and corner shops is proof that anyone shilling for the notion that multiculturalism can't work on this island is a charlatan

Yes, it’s the guns

More beautiful butterflies from the wee garden at Mount Stewart on Bute

Mount Stewart, Isle of Bute today, and in the garden a big clump of verbena bonariensis, and on the flowers there were SO MANY BUTTERFLIES - painted ladies, red admirals, cabbage whites and even a dragonfly! 😍

A perspective on the long term damage Covid could be doing to us: www.notesforfriends.com/p/covid-isnt...

Late again for #wildflowerhour but here's a lovely #SeedHeads of wild garlic (I believe?)

My dream job!

Why we are where we are with COVID, and why elimination is not the goal

Today is the feast day of St Giles, patron saint of physically disabled people. This interesting thread explains

So useful! 🙂

My Victorian ink bottle posy kits are now in in my Etsy shop. They include: ✒️an antique ink bottle - you can choose your design 💐a tiny posy of dried flowers 🧠a booklet on the neuroscience of how this kit can improve mental health & how to create tiny posies 📔 extras www.etsy.com/uk/shop/silv...

I did not know I could curate my YouTube feed - every day’s a school day.

Late again, but here's a couple of colourful #DaisyFamily flowers for #WildFlowerHour, hemp agrimony and orange hawkweed

My world is full of butterflies just now, including some varieties I've never met before

Drat, missed #WildflowerHour again! And this time I had a nice #PollinatorPal to share - a red admiral showing the lovely details on the underside of its wings, on teasel just beginning to flower

One of the most powerful things I have ever read

This.