Margaret Nelson 🌦
@flashmaggie.bsky.social
Old, knackered. Cloud-spotter and dendrophile. Suffolk UK.
"The cure for boredom is curiousity. There is no cure for curiousity."
- Dorothy Parker.
"The cure for boredom is curiousity. There is no cure for curiousity."
- Dorothy Parker.
Went to the sleep clinic yesterday for a new CPAP machine mask. The machine pumps air into my lungs while I'm asleep, or I stop breathing. Came home, fell asleep in my chair for several hours, and woke still exhausted. A combination of ME and sleep apnea does this.
Hoping the new mask helps.🤞
Hoping the new mask helps.🤞
February 17, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Went to the sleep clinic yesterday for a new CPAP machine mask. The machine pumps air into my lungs while I'm asleep, or I stop breathing. Came home, fell asleep in my chair for several hours, and woke still exhausted. A combination of ME and sleep apnea does this.
Hoping the new mask helps.🤞
Hoping the new mask helps.🤞
In October 1962 we really were afraid of nuclear war. I was in North Wales, where my boss's wife had stocked up on whitewash snd brown paper, for the windows. When the youngest child came into the kitchen and asked about a bright light in the sky, she panicked, thinking Liverpool had been bombed.
February 16, 2026 at 10:22 AM
In October 1962 we really were afraid of nuclear war. I was in North Wales, where my boss's wife had stocked up on whitewash snd brown paper, for the windows. When the youngest child came into the kitchen and asked about a bright light in the sky, she panicked, thinking Liverpool had been bombed.
5/5 During their leisure time, and while working from home, 21st century businessmen and politicians can wear what they like, including T-shirts and jeans for both sexes, but some are more daring and shed convention altogether.
It'd be good to see more men like this.
Ditch the dark suits!
It'd be good to see more men like this.
Ditch the dark suits!
February 15, 2026 at 6:46 PM
5/5 During their leisure time, and while working from home, 21st century businessmen and politicians can wear what they like, including T-shirts and jeans for both sexes, but some are more daring and shed convention altogether.
It'd be good to see more men like this.
Ditch the dark suits!
It'd be good to see more men like this.
Ditch the dark suits!
4/5 By the 19th century men were very drab, still with the stiff collars and dark clothes.
February 15, 2026 at 6:46 PM
4/5 By the 19th century men were very drab, still with the stiff collars and dark clothes.
3/5 In the Regency period male clothing became more tailored, less colourful. You may remember Colin Firth as Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.
There were still some curls but hair was short. Shirt collars were stiff.
There were still some curls but hair was short. Shirt collars were stiff.
February 15, 2026 at 6:46 PM
3/5 In the Regency period male clothing became more tailored, less colourful. You may remember Colin Firth as Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.
There were still some curls but hair was short. Shirt collars were stiff.
There were still some curls but hair was short. Shirt collars were stiff.
2/5 In the early 18th century affluent men wore coloured silks and satins, frills, high heeled shoes, fancy garters, long curly wigs and make-up.
Male fashion became gradually more plain from here on.
Male fashion became gradually more plain from here on.
February 15, 2026 at 6:46 PM
2/5 In the early 18th century affluent men wore coloured silks and satins, frills, high heeled shoes, fancy garters, long curly wigs and make-up.
Male fashion became gradually more plain from here on.
Male fashion became gradually more plain from here on.
🧵 1/5 I feel sorry for men when I see photographs like this, of men all herded together in uniform.
Mark Twain wrote, "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society."
These men do have influence, but are literally all buttoned up. I wonder what they wear when off duty?
Mark Twain wrote, "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society."
These men do have influence, but are literally all buttoned up. I wonder what they wear when off duty?
February 15, 2026 at 6:46 PM
🧵 1/5 I feel sorry for men when I see photographs like this, of men all herded together in uniform.
Mark Twain wrote, "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society."
These men do have influence, but are literally all buttoned up. I wonder what they wear when off duty?
Mark Twain wrote, "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society."
These men do have influence, but are literally all buttoned up. I wonder what they wear when off duty?
I did some supply teaching. Being able to draw the children proved useful, as I'd bribe badly-behaved ones to calm down with the promise of a portrait to take home to Mum.
February 14, 2026 at 5:17 PM
I did some supply teaching. Being able to draw the children proved useful, as I'd bribe badly-behaved ones to calm down with the promise of a portrait to take home to Mum.
I did that. It's why I couldn't afford a yacht.
February 14, 2026 at 12:52 AM
I did that. It's why I couldn't afford a yacht.
No, I'm not giving a Valentine's gift to my cat.
I haven't given her Christmas or birthday presents either. She's a cat!
I haven't given her Christmas or birthday presents either. She's a cat!
February 13, 2026 at 9:22 PM
No, I'm not giving a Valentine's gift to my cat.
I haven't given her Christmas or birthday presents either. She's a cat!
I haven't given her Christmas or birthday presents either. She's a cat!
2/3 "There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and ...
February 12, 2026 at 2:08 PM
2/3 "There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and ...
🧵 Today is #DarwinDay.
Charles Darwin was born on this day in 1809.
He ended his treatise on the evolution of life on Earth, which had previously been explained as God's creation, with the following words:
Charles Darwin was born on this day in 1809.
He ended his treatise on the evolution of life on Earth, which had previously been explained as God's creation, with the following words:
February 12, 2026 at 2:02 PM
🧵 Today is #DarwinDay.
Charles Darwin was born on this day in 1809.
He ended his treatise on the evolution of life on Earth, which had previously been explained as God's creation, with the following words:
Charles Darwin was born on this day in 1809.
He ended his treatise on the evolution of life on Earth, which had previously been explained as God's creation, with the following words:
From The Times:
"The president has demanded that Democrats approve the renaming of Penn station and Dulles airport before he unfreezes the money for the New York to New Jersey project."
Next he'll want to rename America. Trumpomania would be especially appropriate.
"The president has demanded that Democrats approve the renaming of Penn station and Dulles airport before he unfreezes the money for the New York to New Jersey project."
Next he'll want to rename America. Trumpomania would be especially appropriate.
February 6, 2026 at 10:47 PM
From The Times:
"The president has demanded that Democrats approve the renaming of Penn station and Dulles airport before he unfreezes the money for the New York to New Jersey project."
Next he'll want to rename America. Trumpomania would be especially appropriate.
"The president has demanded that Democrats approve the renaming of Penn station and Dulles airport before he unfreezes the money for the New York to New Jersey project."
Next he'll want to rename America. Trumpomania would be especially appropriate.
A lovely landscape by one of the Ladybird artists - February Day by Rowland Hilder (1905-1993).
I especially like the piles of cumulus clouds.
I especially like the piles of cumulus clouds.
February 6, 2026 at 2:15 PM
A lovely landscape by one of the Ladybird artists - February Day by Rowland Hilder (1905-1993).
I especially like the piles of cumulus clouds.
I especially like the piles of cumulus clouds.
I've read posts on social media reminiscing about when milk was delivered in bottles. Some people don't seem to realise that it still is. However, having an insulated milk box prevents this from happening.
February 6, 2026 at 12:33 PM
I've read posts on social media reminiscing about when milk was delivered in bottles. Some people don't seem to realise that it still is. However, having an insulated milk box prevents this from happening.
It's been a wet year so far in the UK.
There are holes in the sky
Where the rain gets in
But they're ever so small
That's why the rain is thin.
- Spike Milligan
There are holes in the sky
Where the rain gets in
But they're ever so small
That's why the rain is thin.
- Spike Milligan
February 5, 2026 at 6:54 PM
It's been a wet year so far in the UK.
There are holes in the sky
Where the rain gets in
But they're ever so small
That's why the rain is thin.
- Spike Milligan
There are holes in the sky
Where the rain gets in
But they're ever so small
That's why the rain is thin.
- Spike Milligan
A new version of the irresponsible fathers who'd drink their wages away on a Friday night, when their children were sent to beg them to go home.
February 4, 2026 at 1:20 PM
A new version of the irresponsible fathers who'd drink their wages away on a Friday night, when their children were sent to beg them to go home.
Ah, those were the days!
January 31, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Ah, those were the days!
Found on Facebook today.
From a Ladybird book.
“Starlings are flying in converging flocks towards their roosting place”
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
(What to Look for in Winter, 1959).
Painter and illustrator Charles Tunnicliffe (1901-1979) had a prodigious output, and all high quality.
From a Ladybird book.
“Starlings are flying in converging flocks towards their roosting place”
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
(What to Look for in Winter, 1959).
Painter and illustrator Charles Tunnicliffe (1901-1979) had a prodigious output, and all high quality.
January 30, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Found on Facebook today.
From a Ladybird book.
“Starlings are flying in converging flocks towards their roosting place”
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
(What to Look for in Winter, 1959).
Painter and illustrator Charles Tunnicliffe (1901-1979) had a prodigious output, and all high quality.
From a Ladybird book.
“Starlings are flying in converging flocks towards their roosting place”
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
(What to Look for in Winter, 1959).
Painter and illustrator Charles Tunnicliffe (1901-1979) had a prodigious output, and all high quality.
The view from my bedroom window this morning, lesser spotted Orange Tree Surgeons wrestling with my ash tree. Now that it's been repollarded the garden will be lighter, but I'll miss all that green.
January 30, 2026 at 6:35 PM
The view from my bedroom window this morning, lesser spotted Orange Tree Surgeons wrestling with my ash tree. Now that it's been repollarded the garden will be lighter, but I'll miss all that green.
That's sad.
There are some beautiful Elms just outside the village which have escaped disease too.
There are some beautiful Elms just outside the village which have escaped disease too.
January 28, 2026 at 1:33 PM
That's sad.
There are some beautiful Elms just outside the village which have escaped disease too.
There are some beautiful Elms just outside the village which have escaped disease too.
My cleaner saw Elsa Lanchester as the Bride of Frankenstein on my wall and asked if it was me! I should be flattered I suppose.
The horror film 'Bride of Frankenstein' was made in 1935. She was meant to be the bride of Frankenstein's monster, but didn't take to him at all, which was rather sad.
The horror film 'Bride of Frankenstein' was made in 1935. She was meant to be the bride of Frankenstein's monster, but didn't take to him at all, which was rather sad.
January 28, 2026 at 1:27 PM
My cleaner saw Elsa Lanchester as the Bride of Frankenstein on my wall and asked if it was me! I should be flattered I suppose.
The horror film 'Bride of Frankenstein' was made in 1935. She was meant to be the bride of Frankenstein's monster, but didn't take to him at all, which was rather sad.
The horror film 'Bride of Frankenstein' was made in 1935. She was meant to be the bride of Frankenstein's monster, but didn't take to him at all, which was rather sad.
Thanks to Facebook I've discovered an artist I hadn't heard of before, John Aldridge RA (1905-1983), who taught at The Slade.
This landscape from 1947 was probably painted near Great Bardfield in Essex, where he lived. It's lovely.
This landscape from 1947 was probably painted near Great Bardfield in Essex, where he lived. It's lovely.
January 27, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Thanks to Facebook I've discovered an artist I hadn't heard of before, John Aldridge RA (1905-1983), who taught at The Slade.
This landscape from 1947 was probably painted near Great Bardfield in Essex, where he lived. It's lovely.
This landscape from 1947 was probably painted near Great Bardfield in Essex, where he lived. It's lovely.
I think I read somewhere a couple of days ago that Trump thought the Roman Empire existed fairly recently, which wouldn't surprise me.
He has been compared to Caligula, who told a captain in the Praetorian guard that he sounded like a girl, and the Praetorian killed him.
He has been compared to Caligula, who told a captain in the Praetorian guard that he sounded like a girl, and the Praetorian killed him.
January 25, 2026 at 6:09 PM
I think I read somewhere a couple of days ago that Trump thought the Roman Empire existed fairly recently, which wouldn't surprise me.
He has been compared to Caligula, who told a captain in the Praetorian guard that he sounded like a girl, and the Praetorian killed him.
He has been compared to Caligula, who told a captain in the Praetorian guard that he sounded like a girl, and the Praetorian killed him.