Christine
@cebythesea2.bsky.social
Former teacher, now online tutor supporting ND, SEN, EAL students across the curriculum. Cat sitter to slow travel with chronic illness. She/her
Waiting to board the Genoa - Palermo ferry. Security have told us foot passengers that we can’t possibly board in case we have to wait outside as we will freeze. It’s 7C with no noticeable wind. My coat is open. How did I survive getting buses & trains all those years on the North Kent coast?! 😂
January 8, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Waiting to board the Genoa - Palermo ferry. Security have told us foot passengers that we can’t possibly board in case we have to wait outside as we will freeze. It’s 7C with no noticeable wind. My coat is open. How did I survive getting buses & trains all those years on the North Kent coast?! 😂
Reposted by Christine
From the archive: The mystery of Dick Whittington’s stone in Highgate
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...
The mystery of Dick Whittington’s stone in Highgate
Up on Highgate Hill can be found an old stone, Dick Whittington's stone, surrounded by an old fence, with a cat sitting on top.
www.ianvisits.co.uk
December 23, 2025 at 12:15 PM
From the archive: The mystery of Dick Whittington’s stone in Highgate
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...
Nostalgic image for me as I worked round the corner while at university in the ‘90s and always happy to see it’s still there brightening this lovely set of terraced streets
December 19, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Nostalgic image for me as I worked round the corner while at university in the ‘90s and always happy to see it’s still there brightening this lovely set of terraced streets
Reposted by Christine
Reposted by Christine
New post just out:
"The Overshoot"
Net migration is collapsing, and will fall further over the coming years. We could even have net emigration.
What does that mean for the country and the political narrative as we head towards the next election?
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"The Overshoot"
Net migration is collapsing, and will fall further over the coming years. We could even have net emigration.
What does that mean for the country and the political narrative as we head towards the next election?
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
The Overshoot
What happens to politics, and the country, as net migration collapses?
open.substack.com
December 16, 2025 at 8:46 AM
New post just out:
"The Overshoot"
Net migration is collapsing, and will fall further over the coming years. We could even have net emigration.
What does that mean for the country and the political narrative as we head towards the next election?
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"The Overshoot"
Net migration is collapsing, and will fall further over the coming years. We could even have net emigration.
What does that mean for the country and the political narrative as we head towards the next election?
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
Reposted by Christine
I cannot believe we are back in the world of "cultural relativity" when we are talking about child abuse.
www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...
Last week I was hearing direct from African women about the work they are doing on the ground to end FGM. Listen to African Women!
www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...
Last week I was hearing direct from African women about the work they are doing on the ground to end FGM. Listen to African Women!
Criticism of FGM based on ‘western sensationalism’, say academics
The authors of an article in the British Medical Journal proposed replacing ‘female genital mutilation’ with ‘female genital practices’ to avoid stigmatisation
www.thetimes.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:32 AM
I cannot believe we are back in the world of "cultural relativity" when we are talking about child abuse.
www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...
Last week I was hearing direct from African women about the work they are doing on the ground to end FGM. Listen to African Women!
www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...
Last week I was hearing direct from African women about the work they are doing on the ground to end FGM. Listen to African Women!
Reposted by Christine
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
December 7, 2025 at 8:31 AM
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
Reposted by Christine
Looking Forward to trying this with a bunch of 14 year-olds next time I teach static electricity.
December 6, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Looking Forward to trying this with a bunch of 14 year-olds next time I teach static electricity.
Reposted by Christine
Okay @erinbiba.bsky.social it’s time for my second-most anticipated annual thread: Cats in Christmas Trees (and Battling Menorahs). Starting off strong with Donut.
December 3, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Okay @erinbiba.bsky.social it’s time for my second-most anticipated annual thread: Cats in Christmas Trees (and Battling Menorahs). Starting off strong with Donut.
Reposted by Christine
Currently dorking out over this graph about child mortality with my brother. Just mind boggling to take in.
December 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Currently dorking out over this graph about child mortality with my brother. Just mind boggling to take in.
Reposted by Christine
Zipcar's UK closure is devastating loss to shared economy, and to those of us who used it to avoid ever owning a car.
UK's low VED (annual car tax), hidden subsidies for residential parking and TfL's ambivalence to car sharing all take share of blame.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
UK's low VED (annual car tax), hidden subsidies for residential parking and TfL's ambivalence to car sharing all take share of blame.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Zipcar, world’s biggest car-sharing company, to close UK operation
Move by firm, owned by US group Avis Budget, will remove access to shared fleet across London at end of year
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Zipcar's UK closure is devastating loss to shared economy, and to those of us who used it to avoid ever owning a car.
UK's low VED (annual car tax), hidden subsidies for residential parking and TfL's ambivalence to car sharing all take share of blame.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
UK's low VED (annual car tax), hidden subsidies for residential parking and TfL's ambivalence to car sharing all take share of blame.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Christine
Is it milk?
A handy guide to measuring like a Brit.
A handy guide to measuring like a Brit.
November 18, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Is it milk?
A handy guide to measuring like a Brit.
A handy guide to measuring like a Brit.
Reposted by Christine
dystopian ass weather report
Chicago may experience less tear gas use as Operation Midway Blitz winds down. Cold and wet weather reduce effectiveness, while wind adds unpredictability.
Wind, cold temps can change the impact of tear gas and pepper balls, experts say
chicago.suntimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:40 PM
dystopian ass weather report
Saving this to read in detail later, including the discussions in the comments… the very fact research is happening is reassuring
Medical Republic: 'Fibromyalgia finally gets a genetic fingerprint'
'Additionally, certain risk loci overlapped with long covid (BPTF) and ME/CFS (OLFM4, RABGAP1L/GPR52), two poorly characterised disorders, albeit with different lead variants.'
www.medicalrepublic.com.au/fibromyalgia...
'Additionally, certain risk loci overlapped with long covid (BPTF) and ME/CFS (OLFM4, RABGAP1L/GPR52), two poorly characterised disorders, albeit with different lead variants.'
www.medicalrepublic.com.au/fibromyalgia...
Fibromyalgia finally gets a genetic fingerprint - Medical Republic
A massive global study links the chronic pain condition to 26 genes associated with brain signalling, marking a turning point in understanding its biological roots.
www.medicalrepublic.com.au
November 15, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Saving this to read in detail later, including the discussions in the comments… the very fact research is happening is reassuring
Reposted by Christine
I’ve retweeted a few posts from this but the whole thread is excellent! I remember realising how awful and prevalent the Romani racism was when I moved back to England when I was 13. And so little of that has changed!
When people say that Wuthering Heights doesn't have anything to do with race or that no film has engaged with race, what they mean is that for them Romani people do not count and they also haven't been paying attention. I'm going to share a little material from a recent talk. Content note: racism 1/
November 14, 2025 at 9:45 AM
I’ve retweeted a few posts from this but the whole thread is excellent! I remember realising how awful and prevalent the Romani racism was when I moved back to England when I was 13. And so little of that has changed!
A long read but as a UK teacher this is such a surprise to read - phonics research is ignored and the elementary school teacher says she wasn’t trained to teach reading! My 20 yr ago Primary PGCE had multiple gaps but not in teaching reading strategies or other essentials of initial learning!
how did i go so long not knowing we were literally teaching people to read wrong. i knew something wasn't right but jesus christ www.apmreports.org/episode/2019...
How a flawed idea is teaching millions of kids to be poor readers
For decades, schools have taught children the strategies of struggling readers, using a theory about reading that cognitive scientists have repeatedly debunked. And many teachers and parents don't kno...
www.apmreports.org
November 12, 2025 at 7:42 AM
A long read but as a UK teacher this is such a surprise to read - phonics research is ignored and the elementary school teacher says she wasn’t trained to teach reading! My 20 yr ago Primary PGCE had multiple gaps but not in teaching reading strategies or other essentials of initial learning!
Reposted by Christine
Great thread. The 90s had much more violence, including terrorist attacks on a regular basis. Ten people being stabbed was still newsworthy, but just one story among many. Today, the UK is much safer and the Huntingdon stabbings stand out more.
It’s fascinating comparing the front page coverage of the Huntingdon train attack (below) with how the British press treated another case 30 years ago.
I’m referring to the 1995 Netto supermarket attack in Birmingham in which a man stabbed 10 people, killing one of them.
I’m referring to the 1995 Netto supermarket attack in Birmingham in which a man stabbed 10 people, killing one of them.
November 4, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Great thread. The 90s had much more violence, including terrorist attacks on a regular basis. Ten people being stabbed was still newsworthy, but just one story among many. Today, the UK is much safer and the Huntingdon stabbings stand out more.
Reposted by Christine
"I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain." This James Baldwin quote is hitting harder than ever.
November 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM
"I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain." This James Baldwin quote is hitting harder than ever.
Reposted by Christine
This remains the funniest way to hear about an internet outage, though.
October 20, 2025 at 8:41 AM
This remains the funniest way to hear about an internet outage, though.
Well this was interesting… as were the adhd, masking and burn out screens….
With the masking scores I got it’s really no surprise that pretty much my entire life has been in burn out….
With the masking scores I got it’s really no surprise that pretty much my entire life has been in burn out….
Ppl who read about a Autistic trait often don’t have *context* & ask:
“that sounds like something everyone does, doesn’t that mean everyone’s Autistic?”
1st, having a *single* Autistic trait doesn’t mean a person is Autistic.
2nd, we recommend you take the RAADS-R test if want larger context.
“that sounds like something everyone does, doesn’t that mean everyone’s Autistic?”
1st, having a *single* Autistic trait doesn’t mean a person is Autistic.
2nd, we recommend you take the RAADS-R test if want larger context.
RAADS–R | Embrace Autism
The RAADS–R is a questionnaire designed to assist clinicians with the diagnosis of autistic adults who often “escape diagnosis” due to a subclinical level presentation.
embrace-autism.com
October 18, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Well this was interesting… as were the adhd, masking and burn out screens….
With the masking scores I got it’s really no surprise that pretty much my entire life has been in burn out….
With the masking scores I got it’s really no surprise that pretty much my entire life has been in burn out….
Reposted by Christine
There is evidence supporting this globally already. When you repeat far right framing you end up normalising it. We're seeing same thing with Labour pandering to the far right, and how they're actually helping Reform gain support with their rhetoric and policies.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
German far right setting agenda as opponents amplify its ideas, study finds
Normalisation of far-right stances likely to affect success of such parties at ballot boxes across Europe, say researchers
www.theguardian.com
October 18, 2025 at 6:30 AM
There is evidence supporting this globally already. When you repeat far right framing you end up normalising it. We're seeing same thing with Labour pandering to the far right, and how they're actually helping Reform gain support with their rhetoric and policies.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Reposted by Christine
Kanchha Sherpa helped Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary summit Everest in 1953.
Kanchha Sherpa, last member of first Mount Everest expedition, dies at 92
Kanchha Sherpa helped Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary summit Everest in 1953.
bit.ly
October 17, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Kanchha Sherpa helped Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary summit Everest in 1953.
In the words of Benjamin Zephaniah:
October 16, 2025 at 8:12 PM
In the words of Benjamin Zephaniah:
Reposted by Christine
The Israelis tortured Greta Thunberg and the other flotilla activists attempting to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza during their five days of detainment. It doesnt take much to imagine how much worse the Palestinians being held in Israel are being treated www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/25...
Greta Thunberg: “They kicked me every time the flag touched my face”
– Greta Thunberg on her days in Israeli captivity Beating, kicking, and threats of being gassed in cages. Greta Thunberg and several others from the flotilla ar
www.aftonbladet.se
October 16, 2025 at 12:31 AM
The Israelis tortured Greta Thunberg and the other flotilla activists attempting to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza during their five days of detainment. It doesnt take much to imagine how much worse the Palestinians being held in Israel are being treated www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/25...