Suz MacLeod
@firmlyaground.bsky.social
Brit (Grade B). Boatperson. Musician. Metaphorist. Snarkophile. Anomalous. Retired Cat Herder and Lost Cause Technician. Culturally incoherent and proud of it.
Sorry: can’t follow you (back) if I can’t see some posts of yours.
Sorry: can’t follow you (back) if I can’t see some posts of yours.
I doubt the NYT could get away with obscenities in the current climate!
December 12, 2025 at 1:53 PM
I doubt the NYT could get away with obscenities in the current climate!
This *means* something.
December 12, 2025 at 1:52 PM
This *means* something.
As long as it’s acorn coffee.
December 12, 2025 at 8:48 AM
As long as it’s acorn coffee.
Phil briskly supplied two guesses; I topped it off.
Done.
And so to porridge.
Wordle 1,637 3/6*
⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛
⬛⬛⬛🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Done.
And so to porridge.
Wordle 1,637 3/6*
⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛
⬛⬛⬛🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
December 12, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Phil briskly supplied two guesses; I topped it off.
Done.
And so to porridge.
Wordle 1,637 3/6*
⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛
⬛⬛⬛🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Done.
And so to porridge.
Wordle 1,637 3/6*
⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛
⬛⬛⬛🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
They should all just join the Greens, yes.
There’s a lot of falsehood around for sure. Truth and truthfulness just aren’t as widely or as firmly valued as they once were, and venal media have far too much influence.
There’s a lot of falsehood around for sure. Truth and truthfulness just aren’t as widely or as firmly valued as they once were, and venal media have far too much influence.
December 11, 2025 at 9:29 PM
They should all just join the Greens, yes.
There’s a lot of falsehood around for sure. Truth and truthfulness just aren’t as widely or as firmly valued as they once were, and venal media have far too much influence.
There’s a lot of falsehood around for sure. Truth and truthfulness just aren’t as widely or as firmly valued as they once were, and venal media have far too much influence.
Are you trying to persuade me to join YourParty? Make an example of me? Honestly, I’m not worth the candle. I’m retired and literally of no consequence. Less than that, in one sense. A liability!
I applaud your enthusiasm, loyalty, good intent. How can I help?
I applaud your enthusiasm, loyalty, good intent. How can I help?
December 11, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Are you trying to persuade me to join YourParty? Make an example of me? Honestly, I’m not worth the candle. I’m retired and literally of no consequence. Less than that, in one sense. A liability!
I applaud your enthusiasm, loyalty, good intent. How can I help?
I applaud your enthusiasm, loyalty, good intent. How can I help?
When you put it like that it seems unfair, yes. I agree. On the positive side, all those of us fools who went with Starmer only to find he was a dead loss who only won by default now have to eat our own hearts out while you get to say you told us so.
That’s all I can offer. Would you have more?
That’s all I can offer. Would you have more?
December 11, 2025 at 8:49 PM
When you put it like that it seems unfair, yes. I agree. On the positive side, all those of us fools who went with Starmer only to find he was a dead loss who only won by default now have to eat our own hearts out while you get to say you told us so.
That’s all I can offer. Would you have more?
That’s all I can offer. Would you have more?
Facts matter. The fact is that JC proved unable to get himself elected PM. He was outgunned, stabbed in the back, so unfair.
As a political leader you have to be able to get people who are iffy about you to warm to you. Win enough of them over. JC was unable to.
Now tell me how I’m mistaken.
As a political leader you have to be able to get people who are iffy about you to warm to you. Win enough of them over. JC was unable to.
Now tell me how I’m mistaken.
December 11, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Facts matter. The fact is that JC proved unable to get himself elected PM. He was outgunned, stabbed in the back, so unfair.
As a political leader you have to be able to get people who are iffy about you to warm to you. Win enough of them over. JC was unable to.
Now tell me how I’m mistaken.
As a political leader you have to be able to get people who are iffy about you to warm to you. Win enough of them over. JC was unable to.
Now tell me how I’m mistaken.
It’s all water under the bridge now. I’ve seen this absolute numbers argument for JC before. I’ve seen it convincing me that Leave outnumbered Remain by squillions too. It changes nothing. It’s the path not taken. It’s just too bad.
December 11, 2025 at 8:32 PM
It’s all water under the bridge now. I’ve seen this absolute numbers argument for JC before. I’ve seen it convincing me that Leave outnumbered Remain by squillions too. It changes nothing. It’s the path not taken. It’s just too bad.
This is the resentment, Captain E. I must have had a couple of dozen convos with people decidedly pro Corbyn, quite decent convos until I trip some wire or summat and then I’m an idiot, or a dupe, or failed in some doltish way that only a crypto-Tory would. JC had a crack at it and missed 🤷♀️
December 11, 2025 at 6:46 PM
This is the resentment, Captain E. I must have had a couple of dozen convos with people decidedly pro Corbyn, quite decent convos until I trip some wire or summat and then I’m an idiot, or a dupe, or failed in some doltish way that only a crypto-Tory would. JC had a crack at it and missed 🤷♀️
Corbyn was so unelectable that he didn’t get elected.
Also true: what you said about Starmer!
Also true: what you said about Starmer!
December 11, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Corbyn was so unelectable that he didn’t get elected.
Also true: what you said about Starmer!
Also true: what you said about Starmer!
Jeremy Corbyn engendered fierce loyalty among many and bitter, bitter resentment that he was shafted/treated so badly/accused of this and that. It’s all moot. Water under the bridge. He’s already history. YourParty is already a shambles. They warned us about Starmer. Sure. Ship still sailed.
December 11, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Jeremy Corbyn engendered fierce loyalty among many and bitter, bitter resentment that he was shafted/treated so badly/accused of this and that. It’s all moot. Water under the bridge. He’s already history. YourParty is already a shambles. They warned us about Starmer. Sure. Ship still sailed.
Not charisma, valuable though that is. Specifically, it’s humour—including the ability to laugh at oneself (Corbyn can’t, and neither I think can Starmer)— that I’m convinced any UK politician at the highest level must have at their disposal to handle opponents, the outside world, and media.
December 11, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Not charisma, valuable though that is. Specifically, it’s humour—including the ability to laugh at oneself (Corbyn can’t, and neither I think can Starmer)— that I’m convinced any UK politician at the highest level must have at their disposal to handle opponents, the outside world, and media.
Yep. I’m through with Labour, really.
December 11, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Yep. I’m through with Labour, really.
It’s the ‘Forever Young’ Syndrome.
December 11, 2025 at 12:58 PM
It’s the ‘Forever Young’ Syndrome.
Conjure up an image of Corbyn in your mind. Supporters will have no problem. The rest of us… mine might be the man looking me straight in the eye, frowning, spelling out some huge incontrovertible truth yet making me feel like I’m going to be put in detention then sent by handcart to Hell.
December 11, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Conjure up an image of Corbyn in your mind. Supporters will have no problem. The rest of us… mine might be the man looking me straight in the eye, frowning, spelling out some huge incontrovertible truth yet making me feel like I’m going to be put in detention then sent by handcart to Hell.
Fair enough. The other factor I mentioned was *humour*. I don’t mean the crooked grin easily summoned when he’s among friends. I mean the self-deprecating humour, the ‘what am I like?’ wackiness that non-Brits often allude to. The Python effect. The Johnson factor, even. Humour that *wins over*.
December 11, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Fair enough. The other factor I mentioned was *humour*. I don’t mean the crooked grin easily summoned when he’s among friends. I mean the self-deprecating humour, the ‘what am I like?’ wackiness that non-Brits often allude to. The Python effect. The Johnson factor, even. Humour that *wins over*.
Tories currently have nothing but “Same as Reform, only respectable.” Heck, why not pivot to “Start down the long hard road to accession. We’re Brits, by God and St George—we’re up to it!”? Someone has to.
December 11, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Tories currently have nothing but “Same as Reform, only respectable.” Heck, why not pivot to “Start down the long hard road to accession. We’re Brits, by God and St George—we’re up to it!”? Someone has to.
Phil logged one letter and I carved out a respectable four. Respectability, like consistency, isn’t so bad. Sound. Almost heroic.
He squinted at my ageing iPhone. “
“Oh, very meta!” said he drily.
“Above and beyond!” said I, preening myself. Another victory feather in the cap of Hubris.
He squinted at my ageing iPhone. “
“Oh, very meta!” said he drily.
“Above and beyond!” said I, preening myself. Another victory feather in the cap of Hubris.
December 11, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Phil logged one letter and I carved out a respectable four. Respectability, like consistency, isn’t so bad. Sound. Almost heroic.
He squinted at my ageing iPhone. “
“Oh, very meta!” said he drily.
“Above and beyond!” said I, preening myself. Another victory feather in the cap of Hubris.
He squinted at my ageing iPhone. “
“Oh, very meta!” said he drily.
“Above and beyond!” said I, preening myself. Another victory feather in the cap of Hubris.
Case within case within case?
December 10, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Case within case within case?