Fiona McLaughlin
@speccymcspec.bsky.social
Enthusiastic and exhausted. Read, hang out at the seaside. Live with ME. Volunteer in health. Ramble about rare disease & rant about politics. Belfast & Donegal. Unimpressed by royalty. She/ her
Reposted by Fiona McLaughlin
"Why I Can't Just Meet You for Dinner"
Article by Fred Rossi on the hard and complex realities of #PEM [post-exertional malaise] which are unrecognised by the outside world.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Screenshot from latest Science for ME weekly update
#MEcfs #LongCovid
Article by Fred Rossi on the hard and complex realities of #PEM [post-exertional malaise] which are unrecognised by the outside world.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Screenshot from latest Science for ME weekly update
#MEcfs #LongCovid
December 1, 2025 at 12:20 AM
"Why I Can't Just Meet You for Dinner"
Article by Fred Rossi on the hard and complex realities of #PEM [post-exertional malaise] which are unrecognised by the outside world.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Screenshot from latest Science for ME weekly update
#MEcfs #LongCovid
Article by Fred Rossi on the hard and complex realities of #PEM [post-exertional malaise] which are unrecognised by the outside world.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Screenshot from latest Science for ME weekly update
#MEcfs #LongCovid
Your Party seemed interesting for a brief moment, months ago. Now they’re just a ridiculous distraction
November 30, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Your Party seemed interesting for a brief moment, months ago. Now they’re just a ridiculous distraction
Reposted by Fiona McLaughlin
There is simply no medical reason to take a person, cold-turkey, off of a medication they've been stable on for almost a decade, with no offer of anything else - and when the lack of that medication causes irreversible lifelong issues up to and including death.
November 28, 2025 at 11:00 AM
There is simply no medical reason to take a person, cold-turkey, off of a medication they've been stable on for almost a decade, with no offer of anything else - and when the lack of that medication causes irreversible lifelong issues up to and including death.
Reposted by Fiona McLaughlin
Sorry, no, Motability was not about 'helping the most vulnerable' - it was about providing people who need modified vehicles modified vehicles!
November 26, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Sorry, no, Motability was not about 'helping the most vulnerable' - it was about providing people who need modified vehicles modified vehicles!
My mother also died with progressive supra nuclear palsy, but it never occurred to me that the word was at fault
There are some truly unhinged bits in the piece about Glasman, as to be expected when dealing with Glasman, but seriously what the actual? That's...one hell of a conflation of terminology.
November 23, 2025 at 4:51 PM
My mother also died with progressive supra nuclear palsy, but it never occurred to me that the word was at fault
Reposted by Fiona McLaughlin
For the avoidance of doubt I am more than happy for my taxes to go towards feeding kids and making life a little easier for parents
This is a better use of public money than... off the top of my head... RAF aircraft out of Cyprus circling over Gaza to identify more people for the IDF to murder.
This is a better use of public money than... off the top of my head... RAF aircraft out of Cyprus circling over Gaza to identify more people for the IDF to murder.
I hate to report that discourse on this is still happening and we live alongside people who would begrudge a tired mum space to get a nap in the morning.
Everyone responding to this sounds like my presbyterian grandma, "Awful good to yourself, aren't you?"
You're miserable but at least you feel morally righteous and you'll get your reward in heaven one day. Boring, miserable people.
You're miserable but at least you feel morally righteous and you'll get your reward in heaven one day. Boring, miserable people.
November 22, 2025 at 1:49 PM
For the avoidance of doubt I am more than happy for my taxes to go towards feeding kids and making life a little easier for parents
This is a better use of public money than... off the top of my head... RAF aircraft out of Cyprus circling over Gaza to identify more people for the IDF to murder.
This is a better use of public money than... off the top of my head... RAF aircraft out of Cyprus circling over Gaza to identify more people for the IDF to murder.
Reposted by Fiona McLaughlin
I do not care what any consenting adult of any gender configuration does sexually with other consenting adults, and also my God, could you sweaty freaks who tragically currently run the world be a little a more goddamned discreet about it?
November 18, 2025 at 2:32 AM
I do not care what any consenting adult of any gender configuration does sexually with other consenting adults, and also my God, could you sweaty freaks who tragically currently run the world be a little a more goddamned discreet about it?
Reposted by Fiona McLaughlin
Imagine fleeing for your life. Taking only your most precious, special, important things, stuffing them into a backpack and running for safety. And then when you get to safety, someone steals that backpack and calls it charity.
The absolute cruelty of this plan is astounding.
The absolute cruelty of this plan is astounding.
Govt minister Alex Norris is asked if the govt will take jewellery from people [fleeing war and persecution]. Norris says the govt won't be taking peoples wedding rings but they will seize assets.
November 17, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Imagine fleeing for your life. Taking only your most precious, special, important things, stuffing them into a backpack and running for safety. And then when you get to safety, someone steals that backpack and calls it charity.
The absolute cruelty of this plan is astounding.
The absolute cruelty of this plan is astounding.
Reposted by Fiona McLaughlin
What's from Chicago, hates Illinois Nazis, and is holy as fuck?
It's the Pope in 1982.
It's the Pope in 1982.
November 13, 2025 at 1:37 AM
What's from Chicago, hates Illinois Nazis, and is holy as fuck?
It's the Pope in 1982.
It's the Pope in 1982.
Reposted by Fiona McLaughlin
It is utter bullshit that the mistaken splicing of two bits of his January 6th 2021 speech on Panorama in October 2024 had any significant impact whatsoever on the reputation of Donald Trump in Britain, or globally, and the claim for $1 billion damages is bullshit and bullying by the US president
November 10, 2025 at 10:09 PM
It is utter bullshit that the mistaken splicing of two bits of his January 6th 2021 speech on Panorama in October 2024 had any significant impact whatsoever on the reputation of Donald Trump in Britain, or globally, and the claim for $1 billion damages is bullshit and bullying by the US president
There seems to be a lot to like about Polanski. If only he knew what he was talking about
November 10, 2025 at 10:45 AM
There seems to be a lot to like about Polanski. If only he knew what he was talking about
Reposted by Fiona McLaughlin
"Blood spilled in Sudan can be seen from space. Nobody can feign ignorance about what’s going on" [Guardian US]
November 4, 2025 at 9:54 AM
"Blood spilled in Sudan can be seen from space. Nobody can feign ignorance about what’s going on" [Guardian US]
An Education Minister who thinks education is not political but acknowledging a genocide is… The Israelis spent their money well 🙄
November 3, 2025 at 10:53 AM
An Education Minister who thinks education is not political but acknowledging a genocide is… The Israelis spent their money well 🙄
Reposted by Fiona McLaughlin
On average, about 5 people are killed and another 82 people are seriously injured on UK roads every day. Lets by all means take what happened on that train seriously, but let's not go mad treating public transport as if it's dangerous.
November 3, 2025 at 9:05 AM
On average, about 5 people are killed and another 82 people are seriously injured on UK roads every day. Lets by all means take what happened on that train seriously, but let's not go mad treating public transport as if it's dangerous.
Having a dodgy dad is one thing. Having a dodgy dad who brings Epstein & Maxwell to your 18th is a whole other issue
October 28, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Having a dodgy dad is one thing. Having a dodgy dad who brings Epstein & Maxwell to your 18th is a whole other issue
Reposted by Fiona McLaughlin
And people say the British press doesn't know anything about Ireland. They got this scoop, didn't they.
October 26, 2025 at 6:21 PM
And people say the British press doesn't know anything about Ireland. They got this scoop, didn't they.
😳😳
A deliberate snub from the government to the new head of state
A deliberate snub from the government to the new head of state
The Taoiseach is not coming to Dublin Castle for the official declaration of Catherine Connolly's victory in the presidential election.
Whether intended or not, it's going to look very confrontational for the head of government NOT to be there to congratulate the new head of state
Whether intended or not, it's going to look very confrontational for the head of government NOT to be there to congratulate the new head of state
October 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
😳😳
A deliberate snub from the government to the new head of state
A deliberate snub from the government to the new head of state
Reposted by Fiona McLaughlin
As someone from the North living the South, it can feel b othering that so much of the election talk is about appealing to Northern unionists and virtually no recognition of the ongoing trauma inflicted on Northern nationalists. Yet another day in the British state being denied justice.
Some people on this island are voting to elect their head of state
Others are digesting the fact that their state deployed paratroopers as peacekeepers - an oxymoron in itself, who killed children in broad daylight & then frustrated justice to the point that it was impossible. Such a stark contrast
Others are digesting the fact that their state deployed paratroopers as peacekeepers - an oxymoron in itself, who killed children in broad daylight & then frustrated justice to the point that it was impossible. Such a stark contrast
October 23, 2025 at 4:56 PM
As someone from the North living the South, it can feel b othering that so much of the election talk is about appealing to Northern unionists and virtually no recognition of the ongoing trauma inflicted on Northern nationalists. Yet another day in the British state being denied justice.
Reposted by Fiona McLaughlin
*Claudia leaves to place a phone call to secret tiebreaker Paloma Faith* #CelebrityTraitors
October 22, 2025 at 8:58 PM
*Claudia leaves to place a phone call to secret tiebreaker Paloma Faith* #CelebrityTraitors
Reposted by Fiona McLaughlin
I hope there are papers about this honestly. Herd mentality, normative enforcement, sincerity being treated as something to be distrusted, DELICIOUS #CelebrityTraitors
October 22, 2025 at 8:56 PM
I hope there are papers about this honestly. Herd mentality, normative enforcement, sincerity being treated as something to be distrusted, DELICIOUS #CelebrityTraitors
Reposted by Fiona McLaughlin
October is Black History Month in Ireland. To celebrate, I've created a list of '50 People of Colour, or of Minority Ethnic backgrounds in Ireland that could be your next guest speaker'. focusondiversity.ie/2025/10/16/5...
50 People of colour, or of minority ethnic backgrounds in Ireland that could be your next guest speaker – Part 1
It’s estimated that there are approximently 227,000 people in Ireland that identify as being a person of colour or being from minority ethinic background. This represents around 5% of Ireland…
focusondiversity.ie
October 21, 2025 at 12:40 PM
October is Black History Month in Ireland. To celebrate, I've created a list of '50 People of Colour, or of Minority Ethnic backgrounds in Ireland that could be your next guest speaker'. focusondiversity.ie/2025/10/16/5...
Reposted by Fiona McLaughlin
Watch Leonard & Hungry Paul!
I adored the book by Rónán Hession & am so delighted it’s been adapted for TV. It’s nothing like anything else you’ve seen or read. Gentle, funny, human, meandering…
I adored the book by Rónán Hession & am so delighted it’s been adapted for TV. It’s nothing like anything else you’ve seen or read. Gentle, funny, human, meandering…
October 20, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Watch Leonard & Hungry Paul!
I adored the book by Rónán Hession & am so delighted it’s been adapted for TV. It’s nothing like anything else you’ve seen or read. Gentle, funny, human, meandering…
I adored the book by Rónán Hession & am so delighted it’s been adapted for TV. It’s nothing like anything else you’ve seen or read. Gentle, funny, human, meandering…