ValGal234
@calliope91.bsky.social
Reposted by ValGal234
Never let the cynics and naysayers grind you down. You CAN have it all at once.
January 5, 2026 at 9:05 AM
Never let the cynics and naysayers grind you down. You CAN have it all at once.
Reposted by ValGal234
Substack is like a superficially groovy mind cult that wants to trap you forever. "Stay with us," it says, "and you will be one of the Saved. We will look after you. Of course, you ARE free to leave at any time if that is what you choose*."
"* But you're going to get charged a shitload of money."
"* But you're going to get charged a shitload of money."
This (which has happened to me yet again today) is a deeply deeply unfair part of the Substack system, and a huge barrier to anyone thinking of moving their newsletter away from Substack, and more people should be talking about it. substack.com/home/post/p-...
An Explanation (Which I Would Be Very Grateful If You Took The Time To Read)
What follows is a minor modern horror story.
substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:51 AM
Substack is like a superficially groovy mind cult that wants to trap you forever. "Stay with us," it says, "and you will be one of the Saved. We will look after you. Of course, you ARE free to leave at any time if that is what you choose*."
"* But you're going to get charged a shitload of money."
"* But you're going to get charged a shitload of money."
Reposted by ValGal234
Me, talking about my book collection: "This is getting out of f***ing control. I need to do some pruning."
Me, several hours later, possessing 000000000000000.1% fewer books: "Ok, that was good. It's important to be brutally honest sometimes about the possessions you actually need."
Me, several hours later, possessing 000000000000000.1% fewer books: "Ok, that was good. It's important to be brutally honest sometimes about the possessions you actually need."
January 5, 2026 at 10:54 AM
Me, talking about my book collection: "This is getting out of f***ing control. I need to do some pruning."
Me, several hours later, possessing 000000000000000.1% fewer books: "Ok, that was good. It's important to be brutally honest sometimes about the possessions you actually need."
Me, several hours later, possessing 000000000000000.1% fewer books: "Ok, that was good. It's important to be brutally honest sometimes about the possessions you actually need."
Reposted by ValGal234
Reposted by ValGal234
Might actually do this in summer, around the paperback launch of Everything Will Swallow You. See how it works out. Got my eye on this salt bin on Steep Hill in Lincoln in particular. Optimum spot for a launch, if you ask me. Historical and arty yet also a little gritty.
January 5, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Might actually do this in summer, around the paperback launch of Everything Will Swallow You. See how it works out. Got my eye on this salt bin on Steep Hill in Lincoln in particular. Optimum spot for a launch, if you ask me. Historical and arty yet also a little gritty.
Reposted by ValGal234
This is CRAZY. Some guy actually took the fictional psych-folk album I made up completely in my head in my novel and recorded it in real life: rjmckendree.bandcamp.com/album/wallfl...
January 5, 2026 at 1:10 PM
This is CRAZY. Some guy actually took the fictional psych-folk album I made up completely in my head in my novel and recorded it in real life: rjmckendree.bandcamp.com/album/wallfl...
Reposted by ValGal234
January 7, 2026 at 3:23 AM
Reposted by ValGal234
This is what happens when you have an anti vaxer with half his brain missing as health minister.
Authorities at the CDC are now calling this year’s flu season “moderately severe,” with an estimated 11 million illnesses in the U.S. so far.
Flu May Be At Highest Rate On Record—With 5,000 Deaths As Vaccinations Have Lagged Behind Previous Years
Authorities at the CDC are now calling this year’s flu season “moderately severe,” with an estimated 11 million illnesses in the U.S. so far.
www.forbes.com
January 6, 2026 at 8:28 AM
This is what happens when you have an anti vaxer with half his brain missing as health minister.
Reposted by ValGal234
Wise old horticultural woman I met: “If you find a rabbit’s foot and tickle the leaves of your tomato plant with it your tomatoes will grow faster.”
Me: “Interesting. I might try that.”
Next-door’s rabbit, the following day: “Stop that, and put me the fuck down. I did not consent to this.”
Me: “Interesting. I might try that.”
Next-door’s rabbit, the following day: “Stop that, and put me the fuck down. I did not consent to this.”
January 6, 2026 at 8:41 AM
Wise old horticultural woman I met: “If you find a rabbit’s foot and tickle the leaves of your tomato plant with it your tomatoes will grow faster.”
Me: “Interesting. I might try that.”
Next-door’s rabbit, the following day: “Stop that, and put me the fuck down. I did not consent to this.”
Me: “Interesting. I might try that.”
Next-door’s rabbit, the following day: “Stop that, and put me the fuck down. I did not consent to this.”
Reposted by ValGal234
We leave the house for two hours and there he is, completely baked, upside down on the sofa, listening to psychedelic rock music.
January 6, 2026 at 2:22 PM
We leave the house for two hours and there he is, completely baked, upside down on the sofa, listening to psychedelic rock music.
Reposted by ValGal234
Five years ago today, Donald Trump incited a violent mob to attack the Capitol in a last-ditch effort to cling to power after losing a free and fair election. January 6 was not a protest that got out of hand — it was an attempted coup, carried out in plain sight.
January 6, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Five years ago today, Donald Trump incited a violent mob to attack the Capitol in a last-ditch effort to cling to power after losing a free and fair election. January 6 was not a protest that got out of hand — it was an attempted coup, carried out in plain sight.
Reposted by ValGal234
Write the book you would like to see someone pull from a higgledy piggledy pile in a secondhand shop 63 years after your death and say, "This looks fucking weird. I think I will buy it for Joan."
January 6, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Write the book you would like to see someone pull from a higgledy piggledy pile in a secondhand shop 63 years after your death and say, "This looks fucking weird. I think I will buy it for Joan."
Reposted by ValGal234
Reposted by ValGal234
Schumer really needs to be replaced as leader.
We do not need, and this moment won't survive "I am disappointed."
That's all he can muster, and it makes him the wrong person to lead the opposition to fascism. For the good of the country, he needs to step aside and let a brawler take his place.
We do not need, and this moment won't survive "I am disappointed."
That's all he can muster, and it makes him the wrong person to lead the opposition to fascism. For the good of the country, he needs to step aside and let a brawler take his place.
January 6, 2026 at 10:35 PM
Schumer really needs to be replaced as leader.
We do not need, and this moment won't survive "I am disappointed."
That's all he can muster, and it makes him the wrong person to lead the opposition to fascism. For the good of the country, he needs to step aside and let a brawler take his place.
We do not need, and this moment won't survive "I am disappointed."
That's all he can muster, and it makes him the wrong person to lead the opposition to fascism. For the good of the country, he needs to step aside and let a brawler take his place.
Reposted by ValGal234
Remember how you felt 5yrs ago today. Remember the anger, the sadness, & the fear you felt 5yrs ago today. And use that anger, sadness & fear to motivate you to do all you can to help defeat Trump & his party this November. Tonight’s video. Have a watch.👇 open.substack.com/pub/socialco...
WATCH: Never. Ever. Forget.
I will never get over it, and neither should you
open.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 1:55 AM
Remember how you felt 5yrs ago today. Remember the anger, the sadness, & the fear you felt 5yrs ago today. And use that anger, sadness & fear to motivate you to do all you can to help defeat Trump & his party this November. Tonight’s video. Have a watch.👇 open.substack.com/pub/socialco...
Reposted by ValGal234
This is what we want from Democrats. Fix shit. Fight for all of us. More of this
Zohran just went out and fixed the Williamsburg Bridge bike entrance. Just did it. No faffing, no nonsense. Bam. Fixed.
January 6, 2026 at 7:43 PM
This is what we want from Democrats. Fix shit. Fight for all of us. More of this
Reposted by ValGal234
I made a choice to stay offline as much as possible today. I read some RPGs, finished building a LEGO set, played some video games, I walked my dog twice.
You know what I'm going to say: it was a great choice, with no downside. I highly recommend it.
You know what I'm going to say: it was a great choice, with no downside. I highly recommend it.
January 5, 2026 at 1:20 AM
I made a choice to stay offline as much as possible today. I read some RPGs, finished building a LEGO set, played some video games, I walked my dog twice.
You know what I'm going to say: it was a great choice, with no downside. I highly recommend it.
You know what I'm going to say: it was a great choice, with no downside. I highly recommend it.
Reposted by ValGal234
OK FOR CHRIST'S SAKE WE GET IT. YOU WOULD RATHER NOT BE UNLUCKY.
January 4, 2026 at 5:55 PM
OK FOR CHRIST'S SAKE WE GET IT. YOU WOULD RATHER NOT BE UNLUCKY.
Reposted by ValGal234
Bit of an intro to me, and my writing, for new followers: www.tom-cox.com/about/
January 4, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Bit of an intro to me, and my writing, for new followers: www.tom-cox.com/about/
Reposted by ValGal234
11. They can turn an ordinary railway underpass into a psychedelic experience.
bsky.app/profile/dj-a...
bsky.app/profile/dj-a...
11. 'Lichen Railway Is Closed In Beeching Cuts But Lysergic Snot Underpass Stands The Test Of Time'.
January 4, 2026 at 8:53 PM
11. They can turn an ordinary railway underpass into a psychedelic experience.
bsky.app/profile/dj-a...
bsky.app/profile/dj-a...
Reposted by ValGal234
10. No wall that isn't blotched with lichen could ever be any kind of match for a wall that is blotched with lichen.
January 4, 2026 at 8:52 PM
10. No wall that isn't blotched with lichen could ever be any kind of match for a wall that is blotched with lichen.
Reposted by ValGal234
January 4, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Reposted by ValGal234
8. They will outlast technology and are more beautiful than anything it could come up with, in its wildest dreams.
bsky.app/profile/dj-a...
bsky.app/profile/dj-a...
Perhaps the big question is, when all is said and done: Of all the phenomenal technological progress that has occurred during the last couple of centuries, has any of it awarded us anything even half as thoroughly fantastic as moss?
January 4, 2026 at 8:49 PM
8. They will outlast technology and are more beautiful than anything it could come up with, in its wildest dreams.
bsky.app/profile/dj-a...
bsky.app/profile/dj-a...
Reposted by ValGal234
7. They are much cheaper and prettier than the Christmas decorations you get in the shops.
bsky.app/profile/dj-a...
bsky.app/profile/dj-a...
January 4, 2026 at 8:49 PM
7. They are much cheaper and prettier than the Christmas decorations you get in the shops.
bsky.app/profile/dj-a...
bsky.app/profile/dj-a...
Reposted by ValGal234
You know it's fucking cold on the moor when the trees start wearing their thermal leggings.
January 4, 2026 at 8:48 PM