Author | Lightnews

Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 4d

Our timelines are Twitter-like in their grimness. Cleanse with Freddie Flintoff. It takes a village, and I’m so grateful for the ‘Freddies’ that are in our son’s life. It is not all down to the parents - teens need a community to transition to independence. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

BBC One - Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams - Available now

Available episodes of Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams

www.bbc.co.uk

Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 4d

Yes, if HMT provide the upfront funding rather than companies, and perhaps make it portable with jobs/retirement? Looking at my employers footprint a meaningful % relates to home working, and we’re far from alone. Perhaps employers fund the upfront advice plan (eg @ecofurb) and do the payroll admin?

Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 5d

Operation distract-the-eye-from-the-heat-pump-unit

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Reposted by Liz Lainé

Colin Smith @colinsmith.bsky.social · 6d

Sunday Times book critic declares the “best defence against fascists is laughing at them”, thereby sidestepping historical reality as expressed by Peter Cook, who recalled:

“those wonderful Berlin cabarets which did so much to stop the rise of Hitler & prevent the outbreak of the Second World War”.

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Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 6d

Today I was moving some
books and wondered why I had kept ‘Heidi’. Then I stuck my nose in it, was taken back to childhood reading, and put the book on the shelf.

Lev Parikian @levparikian.bsky.social · 6d

Right. Good smells:
- a really fruity olive oil
- thyme
- tomatoes
- red wine that’s been in the glass for ten minutes

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Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 6d

A lovely couple of hours walk as part of the biannual town litter pick. Only one Monster can (a record!) so dog 💩 bags take the lead in most common form of litter 😠

Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 7d

Or Africans could use African-made induction hobs powered by solar… ashden.org/awards/winne...

BURN - Ashden

2025 Ashden Award winner, Burn is providing high-quality affordable cookstoves, made in Africa.

ashden.org

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Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 7d

We’ve got an application in locally for a trial agrivoltaic array. With a large solar farm down the road also in planning, we’ll see how it goes down with those who oppose that on the basis of the impact on agriculture.

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication @yaleclimatecomm.bsky.social · 7d

An unexpected ally of solar farms may be traditional agriculture, as solar farms provide ideal growing conditions for certain crops and wildflowers.
insideclimatenews.org/news/1810202...

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Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 8d

Yes, used Aereco. And agree on the light switch - it’s ended up in wrong place for downstairs loo, but I’ve done a workaround with a movement sensor instead (to stop dear son leaving the door open 🤢)

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Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 8d

Have covered this in the write up. We already have a solution we’re happy with.

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Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 8d

It feels like that should be more of a thing. We don’t have mvhr due to low ceilings and dense concrete construction. We’ve got DCMEV, so have considered how that draws heat through the house - we know we don’t need heat input in every room or upstairs.

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Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 8d

I’ve written up the experience of an air to air #heatpump installation, along with our rationale for this choice. Obviously getting a free install helps (!), but for that reason I feel obligated to share the experience

#livinglab | Liz Lainé

A very neat and efficient install of an A2A heat pump by Robert Heath Heating as part of the Energy Systems Catapult #livinglab research project. We’ve got involved as our house was originally desig...

www.linkedin.com

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Reposted by Liz Lainé

sianushka.bsky.social @sianushka.bsky.social · 8d

I am always being told that Labour is doing nothing progressive, that it doesn't care about people, has abandoned its roots. I disagree with some of what it's doing. But this is a radical step in supporting vulnerable women & children. It matters.

www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/long-overdue...

Long overdue: Government repeals presumption of parental involvement | End Violence Against Women

Last night (21st October 2025), the government announced plans to repeal the presumption of parental involvement from the Children Act 1989, to protect children from abusive parents. Responding to thi...

www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk

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Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 10d

Other than realising we no longer have hot water 😱 - and the boost isn’t boosting it either- the heat pump install is going well…

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Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 11d

Getting an air to air heat pump fitted this week as part of @energysyscat.bsky.social research. 3 lessons so far: size of the hole through wall = ~6cm; I’m allowed to paint the indoor units; and AirPod noise cancelling stands up to someone drilling through dense concrete 5m away during a Teams call.

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Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 13d

There are some heat pump wrap services around now, who may get a slightly better finish but if I did it again I’d probably just practice a corner and see if additional heat would help.

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Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 13d

I watched videos of car wrapping and used car wrap vinyl, assuming that has durability and copes with ☀️. Best done on a warm day for stretching round corners, or I guess get a heat gun. amaridigital.com/automotive/v...

Vehicle Wrap Coloured Vinyl

Our Vehicle Wrap Vinyl's are specially designed for wrapping vehicles. Ideal for creating a sleek, distinctive look for your vehicles, choose from our extensive range of colours, textures and design o...

amaridigital.com

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Reposted by Liz Lainé

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 16d

Every time we see further increases in people living in temporary accommodation I feel it should be pointed out that the big reason is that Local Housing Allowance is capped based on 2023 rents. Rents are rising, so private renting is increasing out of range for families in particular.

Jules Birch @julesbirch.bsky.social · 16d

Homelessness stats just out show another new record in households (132k) and children (172k) living in temporary accommodation. Up 7.5% in last year
www.gov.uk/government/s...

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Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 19d

Including when the Olympic opening ceremony organisers pleaded w/ her as they were making their helicopter film that day. So we had a front row seat watching the helicopters fly down the Thames and through the bridge before it opened for us. Quite the start to a boat trip.

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Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 19d

In 2012 we got a Thames barge trip that included the bridge opening for us. Was quite a drama as the operator kept saying it couldn’t open that day after all. But boats have the right of way so my friend stuck to her guns. 1/2

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Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 20d

On the latter, HB is a thug and it’s hard to see alternatives when the drainage board works results in 2+ miles dense Himalayan Balsam seedlings. Beyond volunteers (who keep on top of organic growth) and machinery wd just stir up more seed :(

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Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 20d

It’s up to local councils I think. Our town and district council have stopped using it, sadly the county council were still using it earlier in the year even though I have offered to maintain the area outside my house. Elsewhere farmers have been using it try and halt the spread of Himalayan balsam.

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Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 20d

Spent much of the day clearing the verge outside our house, and raking leaves from the gutter. Quite polarised responses between those giving a cheery hello and others looking mystified why I’d do the Council’s job for them. Answer: because the only thing Via do is spray weeds with glyphosate.

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Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 20d

We should meet! Will DM

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Liz Lainé @lizlaine.bsky.social · 21d

Thanks - can see how that happened, will get it corrected