Polly Mortimer
@pollymortimer.bsky.social
Librarian, crafter, nan, partner. Likes: dolmens, Bach, Shakespeare, pasta, theatre. Dislikes: current mental health system. Former @intervalthinks
Reposted by Polly Mortimer
NEW: Carney nails it. We have to stop pretending.
Read this to understand the deep & dark hinterland behind the speech & why Vaclav Havel’s concept of ‘living in truth’ is the guide we need right now
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Read this to understand the deep & dark hinterland behind the speech & why Vaclav Havel’s concept of ‘living in truth’ is the guide we need right now
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January 21, 2026 at 1:27 PM
NEW: Carney nails it. We have to stop pretending.
Read this to understand the deep & dark hinterland behind the speech & why Vaclav Havel’s concept of ‘living in truth’ is the guide we need right now
1/
Read this to understand the deep & dark hinterland behind the speech & why Vaclav Havel’s concept of ‘living in truth’ is the guide we need right now
1/
Reposted by Polly Mortimer
A brilliant speech by Canada's Mark Carney in Davos: "The old order is not coming back. We should not mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy...The powerful have their power. But we have something too — the capacity to stop pretending, to name reality, to build our strength at home & to act together."
January 20, 2026 at 8:46 PM
A brilliant speech by Canada's Mark Carney in Davos: "The old order is not coming back. We should not mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy...The powerful have their power. But we have something too — the capacity to stop pretending, to name reality, to build our strength at home & to act together."
Reposted by Polly Mortimer
The Gendered Experience of ECT: Insights From a Global Survey | Psychology Today www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psyc...
The Gendered Experience of ECT: Insights From a Global Survey
Women are twice as likely as men to be given electroconvulsive therapy. Our international survey shows they are less likely to benefit and more likely to suffer memory loss.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 16, 2026 at 6:29 AM
The Gendered Experience of ECT: Insights From a Global Survey | Psychology Today www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psyc...
Reposted by Polly Mortimer
Poplar trees with evening sky
Albert Steiner, 1920s
Albert Steiner, 1920s
December 28, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Poplar trees with evening sky
Albert Steiner, 1920s
Albert Steiner, 1920s
Reposted by Polly Mortimer
Not sure why my phone has passively aggressively sent me this message, it sounds like something you'd say to a drunk ambassador.
December 22, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Not sure why my phone has passively aggressively sent me this message, it sounds like something you'd say to a drunk ambassador.
Reposted by Polly Mortimer
Astronomical #winter starts today. It's the shortest day of the year in terms of daylight with the sun starting to set later each day until Summer Solstice.
The mosaic depicts the dancing Genii (protective spirits) of the four seasons. The Genius of winter is wrapped in a heavy cloak.🧵1/2
#Solstice
The mosaic depicts the dancing Genii (protective spirits) of the four seasons. The Genius of winter is wrapped in a heavy cloak.🧵1/2
#Solstice
December 21, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Reposted by Polly Mortimer
These are bad times for the BBC: Trump is suing, its leaders have resigned, GB News snaps at its heels. In our winter issue, @aiannucci.bsky.social, @lewisgoodall.com, @sophiasgaler.bsky.social and others suggest how it could change.
Fixing the BBC
The corporation faces threats from inside and out. We asked a panel of past and present BBC voices how it must change to survive
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
December 18, 2025 at 3:45 PM
These are bad times for the BBC: Trump is suing, its leaders have resigned, GB News snaps at its heels. In our winter issue, @aiannucci.bsky.social, @lewisgoodall.com, @sophiasgaler.bsky.social and others suggest how it could change.
Three failed Xmas fruit cakes and I’m off to buy an Xmas Colin the 🐛 instead.
December 18, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Three failed Xmas fruit cakes and I’m off to buy an Xmas Colin the 🐛 instead.
@tommckinney.bsky.social my favourite ‘Christmas’ song is Tchaikovsky s Crown of Roses. Sad, haunting, certainly not jolly, seeing the bleak future for Jesus.
December 16, 2025 at 8:04 AM
@tommckinney.bsky.social my favourite ‘Christmas’ song is Tchaikovsky s Crown of Roses. Sad, haunting, certainly not jolly, seeing the bleak future for Jesus.
@petroc.bsky.social oddly as you played Les Tricoteuses yesterday I was driving over Hampstead Heath on the way back from Yarn Club at work.
December 12, 2025 at 9:22 AM
@petroc.bsky.social oddly as you played Les Tricoteuses yesterday I was driving over Hampstead Heath on the way back from Yarn Club at work.
Reposted by Polly Mortimer
In #winter 2018, Icelandic photographer Rebekka Guðleifsdóttir wanted to show her partner, who was away in the capital, how much it had snowed overnight at their home and posted a photo of herself on FB #womensart
December 9, 2025 at 9:49 AM
In #winter 2018, Icelandic photographer Rebekka Guðleifsdóttir wanted to show her partner, who was away in the capital, how much it had snowed overnight at their home and posted a photo of herself on FB #womensart
@tommckinney.bsky.social my music of the year was Caroline Shaws The Swallow sung at a Dunedin consort @dunedinconsort weekend in Stirling. I still try and sing it with friends. Quite hard…
December 3, 2025 at 9:22 AM
@tommckinney.bsky.social my music of the year was Caroline Shaws The Swallow sung at a Dunedin consort @dunedinconsort weekend in Stirling. I still try and sing it with friends. Quite hard…
Reposted by Polly Mortimer
Shells found in Spain could be among oldest known musical instruments
Shells found in Spain could be among oldest known musical instruments
Conch-shell trumpets discovered in Neolithic settlements and mines in Catalonia make tone similar to french horn, says lead researcher
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Shells found in Spain could be among oldest known musical instruments
Do your Xmas shopping @oxfamgb.bsky.social ! Loads of lovely things.
December 1, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Do your Xmas shopping @oxfamgb.bsky.social ! Loads of lovely things.
Reposted by Polly Mortimer
This is a wonderful thread. Scholarship, creativity, a portrait of a generation.
Eleven years ago, I wrote to Tom Stoppard to ask about this coup de théâtre from 1949. It took me down an unexpected rabbit hole - in memory of Stoppard, here's what I found.
December 1, 2025 at 9:14 AM
This is a wonderful thread. Scholarship, creativity, a portrait of a generation.
Reposted by Polly Mortimer
Happy December!🎄🌟
Once the 10th month of the Roman calendar, December began with festivals for Neptune & Pietas on the 1st — the start of a busy season that included Saturnalia & the birthday of Sol Invictus.
Follow @trimontiumtrust this month as we explore Roman winter traditions.
Once the 10th month of the Roman calendar, December began with festivals for Neptune & Pietas on the 1st — the start of a busy season that included Saturnalia & the birthday of Sol Invictus.
Follow @trimontiumtrust this month as we explore Roman winter traditions.
December 1, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Happy December!🎄🌟
Once the 10th month of the Roman calendar, December began with festivals for Neptune & Pietas on the 1st — the start of a busy season that included Saturnalia & the birthday of Sol Invictus.
Follow @trimontiumtrust this month as we explore Roman winter traditions.
Once the 10th month of the Roman calendar, December began with festivals for Neptune & Pietas on the 1st — the start of a busy season that included Saturnalia & the birthday of Sol Invictus.
Follow @trimontiumtrust this month as we explore Roman winter traditions.
Reposted by Polly Mortimer
Lord Dubs said he was "lost for words".
Labour Peer Who Fled The Nazis Condemns His Party's Immigration Crackdown
Lord Dubs said he was "lost for words".
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Lord Dubs said he was "lost for words".
Sectioned children face more trauma in the institutions supposed to protect them
November 15, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Sectioned children face more trauma in the institutions supposed to protect them
Reposted by Polly Mortimer
Ok President Trump, if you sue the BBC for $1bn for spreading lies, I’ll sue you for the same amount. I reckon Planet Earth would crowdfund that. Then I’ll buy Mar A Largo, turn it into a climate change research centre, free Melania, and put a 1000% tariff on orange face paint.
November 10, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Ok President Trump, if you sue the BBC for $1bn for spreading lies, I’ll sue you for the same amount. I reckon Planet Earth would crowdfund that. Then I’ll buy Mar A Largo, turn it into a climate change research centre, free Melania, and put a 1000% tariff on orange face paint.
Reposted by Polly Mortimer
Prunella Scales, who has died aged 93, was superb as Sybil in Fawlty Towers and in so many other roles. Here’s my musical tribute to a wonderful actress.
November 1, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Prunella Scales, who has died aged 93, was superb as Sybil in Fawlty Towers and in so many other roles. Here’s my musical tribute to a wonderful actress.
Reposted by Polly Mortimer
Archaeology of the plastic hair curler.
All found on Cornish beaches.
All found on Cornish beaches.
October 29, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Archaeology of the plastic hair curler.
All found on Cornish beaches.
All found on Cornish beaches.
Reposted by Polly Mortimer
RIP to David Bellos, a great translator, teacher, scholar and popularizer. Here's a charming little essay about what he learned from his landmark translation of Georges Perec's 'Life: A User's Manual'. online.wsj.com/article/SB10...
October 27, 2025 at 4:38 PM
RIP to David Bellos, a great translator, teacher, scholar and popularizer. Here's a charming little essay about what he learned from his landmark translation of Georges Perec's 'Life: A User's Manual'. online.wsj.com/article/SB10...
The mighty Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings kept us spellbound. Truly great.
October 27, 2025 at 11:41 PM
The mighty Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings kept us spellbound. Truly great.
@tommckinney.bsky.social yikes! Nooooo! If you play this, you can play a track from the new Robert Plant album in mitigation…
October 1, 2025 at 8:11 AM
@tommckinney.bsky.social yikes! Nooooo! If you play this, you can play a track from the new Robert Plant album in mitigation…