Ellen
@gershamabob.bsky.social
Sonic landscapes, echoing vistas. She/her-ish.
Reposted by Ellen
Being a British parent is so weird bc you're actually worried about paying the sky high rent/mortgage & getting GP appointments but the entire press keeps telling you you're worried there's a trans person or immigrant nearby & the vat on Eton means there'll only be two skiing holidays this year
December 7, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Being a British parent is so weird bc you're actually worried about paying the sky high rent/mortgage & getting GP appointments but the entire press keeps telling you you're worried there's a trans person or immigrant nearby & the vat on Eton means there'll only be two skiing holidays this year
I have decided that Last Christmas is actually a great song and there should be a reverse Whammageddon where you win if you hear it first or the most times.
(This isn't sour grapes either, I got through all of December one year without being Whammed, I guess I won?)
(This isn't sour grapes either, I got through all of December one year without being Whammed, I guess I won?)
December 6, 2025 at 10:42 PM
I have decided that Last Christmas is actually a great song and there should be a reverse Whammageddon where you win if you hear it first or the most times.
(This isn't sour grapes either, I got through all of December one year without being Whammed, I guess I won?)
(This isn't sour grapes either, I got through all of December one year without being Whammed, I guess I won?)
Reposted by Ellen
On December 14th I'm hosting a free song-writing workshop and performance at Curio bookshop, supported by Access Folk!
Participants can reinterpret existing folk songs or write new ones, and share them in a relaxed and supportive environment.
Details & tickets here: wegottickets.com/event/684059/
Participants can reinterpret existing folk songs or write new ones, and share them in a relaxed and supportive environment.
Details & tickets here: wegottickets.com/event/684059/
December 6, 2025 at 1:50 PM
On December 14th I'm hosting a free song-writing workshop and performance at Curio bookshop, supported by Access Folk!
Participants can reinterpret existing folk songs or write new ones, and share them in a relaxed and supportive environment.
Details & tickets here: wegottickets.com/event/684059/
Participants can reinterpret existing folk songs or write new ones, and share them in a relaxed and supportive environment.
Details & tickets here: wegottickets.com/event/684059/
I seem to have taken over Teen's Animal Crossing island. Do I know anyone here who plays? I want to visit an island and get the rest of the fruits....
November 26, 2025 at 7:38 AM
I seem to have taken over Teen's Animal Crossing island. Do I know anyone here who plays? I want to visit an island and get the rest of the fruits....
I've now listened to every book in The Realm of the Elderlings series - a re-read for me - which is 16 books so took quite a long time. And now I don't know what to do with my ears! What should I listen to next?
November 23, 2025 at 2:22 PM
I've now listened to every book in The Realm of the Elderlings series - a re-read for me - which is 16 books so took quite a long time. And now I don't know what to do with my ears! What should I listen to next?
Change of seasons got me feeling like I need an intravenous drip made of coffee. Although that would take away the joy of drinking the stuff.
November 18, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Change of seasons got me feeling like I need an intravenous drip made of coffee. Although that would take away the joy of drinking the stuff.
I pulled out my spinning wheel tonight for the first time in longer than I care to admit. Of course after 20 minutes then drive band gave up. (Boo)
November 6, 2025 at 11:09 PM
I pulled out my spinning wheel tonight for the first time in longer than I care to admit. Of course after 20 minutes then drive band gave up. (Boo)
I think a lot sometimes about how when I was in my early 20s a group of friends and I had a group we called the Ungirly Girls. I made membership cards and everything.
October 31, 2025 at 4:11 PM
I think a lot sometimes about how when I was in my early 20s a group of friends and I had a group we called the Ungirly Girls. I made membership cards and everything.
Oh hey, it's this thing that has happened to me. I called HMRC and he wouldn't accept me trying to give him my PAYE details like it says you can in the article. What a joke. (I'd already gotten together 95% of the things I need to send in, but WTF.)
HMRC pauses child benefit crackdown after 23,500 families caught up in data error
HMRC pauses child benefit crackdown after 23,500 families caught up in data error
Parents say they were treated as fraudsters because Home Office travel records failed to show their return to UK
The UK tax authorities have announced they will no longer cut off parents’ child benefit payments after a new crackdown on overseas fraud backfired due to incomplete Home Office travel data.
The flawed data led to HMRC suspending 23,500 payments in recent weeks, including for many families who had simply gone on holiday without the Home Office recording their return. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Oh hey, it's this thing that has happened to me. I called HMRC and he wouldn't accept me trying to give him my PAYE details like it says you can in the article. What a joke. (I'd already gotten together 95% of the things I need to send in, but WTF.)
Reposted by Ellen
Minority representation on TV causes outrage
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
October 29, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Minority representation on TV causes outrage
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
I'm trying to identify this awful musical I was in in middle school. I vividly remember it included the line "...and I'm sick(?) in the head, only 13 years old and I wish I was d34d!" That line understandably makes it difficult to search for. I think it was meant to be funny?
October 25, 2025 at 12:43 PM
I'm trying to identify this awful musical I was in in middle school. I vividly remember it included the line "...and I'm sick(?) in the head, only 13 years old and I wish I was d34d!" That line understandably makes it difficult to search for. I think it was meant to be funny?
Parenting: Why it be so hard?
October 9, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Parenting: Why it be so hard?
I'm rereading The Secret Commonwealth in preparation for the next book. I had to spend several minutes finding the optimal combination of book distance and glasses placement which reminded me to make an opticians appointment. :P
September 20, 2025 at 9:42 AM
I'm rereading The Secret Commonwealth in preparation for the next book. I had to spend several minutes finding the optimal combination of book distance and glasses placement which reminded me to make an opticians appointment. :P
Reposted by Ellen
Them, to teen me: ah, you're young and idealistic. You'll get more conservative as you get older
Me, aged 47: TEAR DOWN THE POLITICAL AND MEDIA ELITES! UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME! PUBERTY BLOCKERS AND HORMONES FREE FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS THEM! BORDERS ARE INHERENTLY EVIL! WORKER'S RIGHTS START ON DAY 1!
Me, aged 47: TEAR DOWN THE POLITICAL AND MEDIA ELITES! UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME! PUBERTY BLOCKERS AND HORMONES FREE FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS THEM! BORDERS ARE INHERENTLY EVIL! WORKER'S RIGHTS START ON DAY 1!
August 28, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Them, to teen me: ah, you're young and idealistic. You'll get more conservative as you get older
Me, aged 47: TEAR DOWN THE POLITICAL AND MEDIA ELITES! UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME! PUBERTY BLOCKERS AND HORMONES FREE FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS THEM! BORDERS ARE INHERENTLY EVIL! WORKER'S RIGHTS START ON DAY 1!
Me, aged 47: TEAR DOWN THE POLITICAL AND MEDIA ELITES! UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME! PUBERTY BLOCKERS AND HORMONES FREE FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS THEM! BORDERS ARE INHERENTLY EVIL! WORKER'S RIGHTS START ON DAY 1!
I always think people look "better" in their larp kit, and I think this thread goes a long way to explaining why! (Honestly, bring back the sort of tunics which were worn from viking times to the 1500s, people look great in them.)
Have you ever noticed that people dressed better in the past? Even in the summer, when it was scorching hot?
Why is this? 🧵
Why is this? 🧵
August 14, 2025 at 6:56 AM
I always think people look "better" in their larp kit, and I think this thread goes a long way to explaining why! (Honestly, bring back the sort of tunics which were worn from viking times to the 1500s, people look great in them.)
Won't you look at that then, I blew past the end of term, hurtled straight into having family here and Doing Things and whoosh, out the other side.
August 3, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Won't you look at that then, I blew past the end of term, hurtled straight into having family here and Doing Things and whoosh, out the other side.
The timetable is finished, just in the nick of time. So why is the timetable still invading my dreams? (The timetable is never 100% finished, there will always be tweaks needed.)
July 22, 2025 at 4:44 AM
The timetable is finished, just in the nick of time. So why is the timetable still invading my dreams? (The timetable is never 100% finished, there will always be tweaks needed.)
I showed my coworker how to use filters and vlookup, she brought me a takeaway coffee. Win-win.
July 16, 2025 at 9:31 AM
I showed my coworker how to use filters and vlookup, she brought me a takeaway coffee. Win-win.
Local friends: do any of you have a camping bed, of the sort that has a rigid frame and can store some stuff underneath it, that I can borrow for the last weekend in July?
July 13, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Local friends: do any of you have a camping bed, of the sort that has a rigid frame and can store some stuff underneath it, that I can borrow for the last weekend in July?
I am once again seriously considering putting up my tent and sleeping there for the next few nights! It's a canvas tent so although it gets bright in the morning, it doesn't get stupid hot straight away.
My brain has decided to wake me up at stupid o'clock most mornings (today: 4:45 AM) anyways.
My brain has decided to wake me up at stupid o'clock most mornings (today: 4:45 AM) anyways.
June 28, 2025 at 5:34 PM
I am once again seriously considering putting up my tent and sleeping there for the next few nights! It's a canvas tent so although it gets bright in the morning, it doesn't get stupid hot straight away.
My brain has decided to wake me up at stupid o'clock most mornings (today: 4:45 AM) anyways.
My brain has decided to wake me up at stupid o'clock most mornings (today: 4:45 AM) anyways.
Morning hot weather mood.
June 19, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Morning hot weather mood.
I'm down to 42 clashes on the timetable but that's with several PE classes unstaffed.
This is how students end up with two teachers for a subject - either all lessons don't fit, or it goes over the teacher's hours.
This is how students end up with two teachers for a subject - either all lessons don't fit, or it goes over the teacher's hours.
June 9, 2025 at 4:07 PM
I'm down to 42 clashes on the timetable but that's with several PE classes unstaffed.
This is how students end up with two teachers for a subject - either all lessons don't fit, or it goes over the teacher's hours.
This is how students end up with two teachers for a subject - either all lessons don't fit, or it goes over the teacher's hours.
I am so very braindead. Not quite as bad as on Friday where I'd had several nights of very bad sleep, but after a weekend of catching up, my brain decided to listen to next door's small person* singing at 4am and I've been awake since then.
*I assume it was him. Could've been outside.
*I assume it was him. Could've been outside.
June 9, 2025 at 4:05 PM
I am so very braindead. Not quite as bad as on Friday where I'd had several nights of very bad sleep, but after a weekend of catching up, my brain decided to listen to next door's small person* singing at 4am and I've been awake since then.
*I assume it was him. Could've been outside.
*I assume it was him. Could've been outside.
Reposted by Ellen
🌈 Happy Pride from the mice who live in the phone booth outside the Story Museum 🌈
June 8, 2025 at 2:43 PM
🌈 Happy Pride from the mice who live in the phone booth outside the Story Museum 🌈
Look what I got! It's like a giant fidget toy. Also pictured: the timetable, which has eaten my brain completely. No brain left.
(I'm down to "only" 80 staffing clashes now, with all the year groups in.)
(I'm down to "only" 80 staffing clashes now, with all the year groups in.)
June 6, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Look what I got! It's like a giant fidget toy. Also pictured: the timetable, which has eaten my brain completely. No brain left.
(I'm down to "only" 80 staffing clashes now, with all the year groups in.)
(I'm down to "only" 80 staffing clashes now, with all the year groups in.)