Graham Jones
LightNews LightNews
banner
oldmanrambling.bsky.social
Graham Jones
@oldmanrambling.bsky.social
2.8K followers 2.2K following 11K posts
Retired journalist from Liverpool, married for 57 years to Janet, now living in Surrey. Left-wing jazz fan and Humanist. No fascists, god botherers or anti-LGBTQ. No DMs. I won’t reply and may block. No requests for cash. Supports 🇵🇸🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈⚧️
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
oldmanrambling.bsky.social
Graham Jones @oldmanrambling.bsky.social · Aug 10
#InsectsOfBluesky
If you build it they will come. OK, I didn’t so much build this bee hotel as buy it from John Lewis and stuck it up on a post near our Sunflowers, Cosmos and other insect-friendly flowers and waited … Today my patience was rewarded.
Reposted by Graham Jones
soph0517.bsky.social
#AlphabetChallenge #WeekUforUnloved #EastCoastKin #NorthernIreland #photography

Kearney

Once essential to the rhythm of daily life
it now stands unloved and forgotten
swallowed by time
An old, weathered red British telephone box stands abandoned in an overgrown rural area. The paint is faded and chipped, and the glass panels are cloudy with grime. Thick green ivy has climbed up the sides and across the roof, almost entirely engulfing the structure. Surrounding it are tall grasses, tangled branches, and bare trees, creating a sense of long neglect. The scene has a muted, slightly desaturated tone, emphasizing the decay and the box’s gradual reclamation by nature.
November 23, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Reposted by Graham Jones
thebeeguy.bsky.social
#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

# 225

Inside the narrow waist (petiole) of #bumblebees cooler blood pumped from the abdomen is heated up as it passes warm blood returning from the head and thorax.
This process is known as ‘Counter Current Heat Exchange’.
#bees
#nature
#science
November 25, 2025 at 2:34 PM
oldmanrambling.bsky.social
it's #HolidayRobin time again because I spent the morning in the garden as it was so sunny if rather chilly. Of course, my helper was on hand. I’m not saying bribery was involved but mealworms were on the menu.
#Birds #Gardening #photography #EastCoastKin #naturephotography
A collage of my garden Robin from today. No, I am not fattening him up for Christmas dinner. We are a vegetarian household. 😇
November 25, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Reposted by Graham Jones
lbflyawayhome.bsky.social
Shell Guide, 1955:
“Between the mild days, November frosts strip the coloured leaves of the shrubs and climbers of the hedgerow so that all the fruits of early winter show more vigourously against a paler sky”
Artists: Edith & Rowland Hilder
Writer: Geoffrey Grigson
November 18, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by Graham Jones
lbflyawayhome.bsky.social
“Across this cloud-dappled sky skeins of wild geese are flying”
(What to Look for in Autumn, 1960)
Writer: EL Grant Watson
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
November 23, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Reposted by Graham Jones
prehistoricwirral.bsky.social
🌲🪨 Pine trees were one of the first to colonise Wirral after the last Ice Age. A useful hardwood, utilised by hunter gathers for spears, arrow shafts; nuts harvested for food and pine resin for glue 🏹🌰💚
#NationalTreeWeek #Archaeology #Prehistory #Britishtrees #nature #Wirral
Scots Pine trees. Ancient pine cone. Ancient pine nut shell.
November 25, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Reposted by Graham Jones
wwf.org.uk
Step outside this #NationalTreeWeek! 🌳

Can you tell your oaks from your ashes on your next forest stroll?

Illustration by Harriet Gardiner.
An illustrated infographic titled ‘Tree Species in the UK’, showing drawings of leaves from various UK tree species arranged around the title. Each leaf is labelled with its species name, including Rowan, Silver Birch, Goat Willow, Guelder Rose, Sycamore, London Plane, Hazel, Wild Cherry, Alder, Ash, Dogwood, Beech, Blackthorn, Aspen, Elder, Horse Chestnut, Hawthorn, Field Maple, Common Lime, and English Oak. The background is light green.
November 24, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Reposted by Graham Jones
prehistoricwirral.bsky.social
Some of the oldest art ever made and part of a collection of the only prehistoric art found on #Wirral. Introducing the #Neolithic Mother Goddess and the Grey Wolf... 🧑‍🍼🐺🪨 www.prehistoricwirral.com/prehistoric-...
#Art #Sculpture #Prehistoric
Prehistoric Art
Creativity and expression have been fundamental to humans since Prehistory. The earliest art known is from the Palaeolithic. Art has continued to be produced and developed ever since. Some of the...
www.prehistoricwirral.com
April 13, 2025 at 8:27 AM
oldmanrambling.bsky.social
It’s #NationalTreeWeek in the UK so I have a special
#ThickTrunkTuesday entry. This Yew is in the Tandridge village churchyard a few miles from our home in Surrey. Legend has that she (yes it is female) is probably more than 2,000 years old.
*More in alt text
#EastCoastKin
#PhotographersUnited
The huge and ancient churchyard yew at St Peter’s, Tandridge, was struck by lightning and pronounced dead in the mid 19th century. However, it survived, thrived and now towers above the medieval church. It is one of the oldest trees in Surrey and one of the oldest Yews in the world. It is thought that the Tandridge Yew may be one of the few pre-Consecration Yews - those that preceded the practice of planting the trees when building a Christian church. Remarkably the tree has regenerated since it was pronounced dead and increased its girth. It has also produced more “babies” through suckering its roots. Some information courtesy of an article, Historic Churchyard Yews by Toby Hindson at https://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/_gsdata_/_saved_/churchyard-yews/churchyard-yews.htm
November 25, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Reposted by Graham Jones
lawnmasternotts.bsky.social
Apologies for showing a bum on here 🤭
BUT how bonkers is this? Bumble bee on our winter flowering honeysuckle just now, there are 2 around as well! 😲🤗🐝 #inspiringnature #wildlife #naturephotography #MentalHealthMatters
#365DaysWild
November 24, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Reposted by Graham Jones
lawnmasternotts.bsky.social
Great to see today’s photo connect with people, thank you so much everyone.
If you fancy trying your own simple 365-day photo journey, feel free to join in.
Just one moment a day you might’ve missed. If you take part, tag #IansDailyPhotoChallenge so we can all follow along.
November 18, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Reposted by Graham Jones
adambienkov.bsky.social
Asked again and again whether he ever racially abused his fellow pupils, as 20 people at his old school have now said he did, Nigel Farage will only say that he never did so in a "hurtful way" or "with intent"
November 24, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Reposted by Graham Jones
groovyshelly.bsky.social
By Bruce MacKinnon
November 23, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Reposted by Graham Jones
sabineshutterbug.bsky.social
Dear friends, this week we make #PalacesAndGardens come alive by showing #People, whether they’re tending, exploring, or relaxing. Have fun!
#photography
#PhotographersOfBluesky
#EastCoastKin
This poster invites participants to a themed photography or social media challenge focused on palaces and gardens, specifically on Thursday, 27 November 2025. The theme for this session is "#People," with a special emphasis on images or motives featuring people in palace and garden settings. Key Details • The challenge uses the hashtags #PalacesandGardens and #EastCoastKin. • Example motives are listed, including: • Gardeners, caretakers, or palace guides at work. • People reading, picnicking, strolling, or enjoying quiet moments. • Stylish visitors or costumed figures in these locations. • The message makes clear that everyone is welcome to participate. • The background image shows statues and people walking in a tree-lined garden path, reinforcing the theme of people in historical garden settings. Design Elements • The poster predominantly uses blue text for its key messages and hashtags, enhancing readability against the muted, autumnal garden photograph. • Headings and hashtags are bold and prominent, while explanatory text uses a friendly, encouraging tone.
November 24, 2025 at 6:48 AM
oldmanrambling.bsky.social
I just heard that today is the start of the 50th #NationalTreeWeek a UK-wide celebration by @thetreecouncil.bsky.social so expect an arboreal feast over the next few days. Does this also count for the #AlphabetChallenge #WeekVforVowels I wonder? Anyway here is my favourite Oak through the year.
Four pictures of the English Oak tree that stands in the middle of a meadow opposite our home in a small village in Surrey, south-east England, captured at different times of the year … bare branched, with sparse leaf coverage, fully dressed in green and emerging golden from a misty autumn morning.
November 24, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Reposted by Graham Jones
thetreecouncil.bsky.social
Great to see #NationalTreeWeek featured in the BBC Gardeners World magazine!

www.gardenersworld.com/news/why-nat...
Why National Tree Week matters and how to get involved
All you need to know about National Tree Week and how to get involved.
www.gardenersworld.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Reposted by Graham Jones
theroyalparks.bsky.social
Situated within the Hyde Park Rose Garden you'll find a giant of a tree which keeps an eye over this area of the park - a Caucasian Elm 🌳

As part of @thetreecouncil.bsky.social's National Tree Week we're shining a spotlight on different trees around the parks 🌲

#NationalTreeWeek
November 24, 2025 at 12:00 PM
oldmanrambling.bsky.social
Sheena @sheena-mck.bsky.social of the
#AlphabetChallenge accused me of missing a trick with my autumn posting earlier, so how about this. My eyes are blue.
#WeekVforVowels
#BlueSkyMonday
#ArtOfSelfPortraiture
#EastCoastKin #MacroMonday #PhotographersOfBluesky
A close-up of a blue eye, reflecting windows in a conservatory. Also featuring prominent eyelashes.
November 24, 2025 at 6:09 PM
oldmanrambling.bsky.social
For #BlueSkyMonday

A sure sign of #Autumn
I took these pictures only a couple of weeks’ apart in the high street of our town in suburban Surrey.
#photography #trees
#England
From autumn golden glory to winter bony branches. The same tree in the high street of our town. On the left on November 8th and the right on Sunday morning.
November 24, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Reposted by Graham Jones
briansmith-photos.bsky.social
#BlueSkyMonday and yes, yet another Western Bluebird. Yesterday they were in the same tree, catching the late afternoon sun. #Birds #EastCoastKin #Photography
A Western Bluebird on a branch with another branch passing in front and casting a shadow across its ches. the head is turned to its right, eye catching the sun. Blue sky, bright afternoon sunshine.
November 24, 2025 at 3:41 PM
oldmanrambling.bsky.social
#EnglishTrees
This multi-stemmed Yew tree that stands by a church in the next village to ours in Surrey is a remarkable specimen … and yet there is another one just a few yards away that is more incredible still. I’ll tell all tomorrow on #ThickTrunkTuesday
#EastCoastKin
#PhotographersUnited
The sun shines through the branches of a multi-stemmed Yew tree that stands near the entrance to a village church in Surrey. Several cars are parked nearby as a service is taking place in the church. The sky is a clear blue.
November 24, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Reposted by Graham Jones
alan678.bsky.social
“ Hands up if you want more peanuts.” #HolidayRobin #photography #birds #EastCoastKin
A European robin stands on a mossy surface with one wing lifted high, as if stretching or mid-gesture. Its bright orange-red breast and face contrast with its soft grey and brown plumage. Behind it, blurred branches and fresh green leaves create a natural woodland backdrop, with tiny droplets still clinging to the twigs.
November 24, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Reposted by Graham Jones
chadbourn.bsky.social
This is one of the big accounts boosting Tommy Robinson, Farage and Reform and ‘English Patriots’.

It’s Russian.
Collingwood @admcollingwood 田 Date joined January 2017 • Account based in Europe Veritied since Since August 2024 > 1 username change Last on January 2017 Connected via Eastern Europe (Non-EU) Android App
November 24, 2025 at 9:29 AM
oldmanrambling.bsky.social
#MagentaMonday
#Bloomscrolling
Not much left in the garden, so I bought the lovely wife some tulips to help cheer her up.
#EastCoastKin
#Photography
A vase of lavender-coloured tulips with green leaves on an oak kitchen table catches the afternoon sunlight and the shadows fall against the wall where photographs are hanging in metal frames. In the foreground a small vase of Hydrangeas - green and rusty coloured.
November 24, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Reposted by Graham Jones
merisi-vienna.bsky.social
❄️ Good Night, Good People Everywhere! ❄️

VIENNESE IMPRESSIONS
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Under a Blanket of Snow
Still Guarding Schönbrunn Palace
Image © Merisi Vienna
#EastCoastKin #Photography #Snow
#StunDay #Scape #ImageAndVerse
A large stone lion guarding the access road to Schönbrunn Palace. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lion_Sleeps_Tonight: '"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is a popular song originally written and composed by the South African musician Solomon Linda in 1939; it was first published as "Mbube".' 'While global commercial success transformed "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" into an "immortal pop epiphany," its background, particularly Linda's perceived lack of recognition and fortune in his lifetime, is now deemed an example of racial exploitation. The song and Linda's history has been probed in numerous documentaries and is the part-inspiration of the 2020 film Black Is King.'
November 23, 2025 at 9:46 PM