Graham M.
@graham-m.bsky.social
Bread, jam and marmalade maker
Reposted by Graham M.
Reposted by Graham M.
As many of us begin Christmas meal prep, allow me to share the advice that my ER nurse sister puts in the chat every year:
A dropped knife has no handle. Jump away. Let it fall. You can pick it up and wash it.
A dropped knife has no handle. Jump away. Let it fall. You can pick it up and wash it.
December 24, 2025 at 6:31 PM
As many of us begin Christmas meal prep, allow me to share the advice that my ER nurse sister puts in the chat every year:
A dropped knife has no handle. Jump away. Let it fall. You can pick it up and wash it.
A dropped knife has no handle. Jump away. Let it fall. You can pick it up and wash it.
Reposted by Graham M.
Discworld QOTD, from The Wee Free Men
“‘What’s your name, pictsie?’ she said.
‘No’-as-big-as-Medium-Sized-Jock-but-bigger-than-Wee-Jock-Jock, mistress. There’s no’ that many Feegle names, ye ken, so we ha’ to share.’”
“‘What’s your name, pictsie?’ she said.
‘No’-as-big-as-Medium-Sized-Jock-but-bigger-than-Wee-Jock-Jock, mistress. There’s no’ that many Feegle names, ye ken, so we ha’ to share.’”
Discworld QOTD, from Snuff
"You should look for those who can’t believe that the law would ever catch them, who believe that they act out of a right that the rest of us do not have. The job of the officer of the law is to let them know that they are wrong!"
"You should look for those who can’t believe that the law would ever catch them, who believe that they act out of a right that the rest of us do not have. The job of the officer of the law is to let them know that they are wrong!"
Discworld QOTD, from I Shall Wear Midnight
"Witches knew that mysterious omens were around all the time. The world was always nearly drowning in mysterious omens. You just had to pick the one that was convenient."
"Witches knew that mysterious omens were around all the time. The world was always nearly drowning in mysterious omens. You just had to pick the one that was convenient."
December 24, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Discworld QOTD, from The Wee Free Men
“‘What’s your name, pictsie?’ she said.
‘No’-as-big-as-Medium-Sized-Jock-but-bigger-than-Wee-Jock-Jock, mistress. There’s no’ that many Feegle names, ye ken, so we ha’ to share.’”
“‘What’s your name, pictsie?’ she said.
‘No’-as-big-as-Medium-Sized-Jock-but-bigger-than-Wee-Jock-Jock, mistress. There’s no’ that many Feegle names, ye ken, so we ha’ to share.’”
Reposted by Graham M.
Gingerbread wedge tomb! Nicely done.
December 24, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Gingerbread wedge tomb! Nicely done.
Reposted by Graham M.
Unbelievably, #DuvetKnowItsChristmas generates such good will on social media that over the years we've raised somewhere approaching a quarter of a million quid for homeless charities. If you can spare a bob or two, sling some to Centrepoint, and here's the link: www.gofundme.com/f/duvet-know...
Donate to Duvet Know It's Christmas, 2025, organized by Rhodri Marsden
Unbelievably, it's the 15th year of this thing.
What is it?
Improbably, the nig… Rhodri Marsden needs your support for Duvet Know It's Christmas, 2025
www.gofundme.com
December 24, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Unbelievably, #DuvetKnowItsChristmas generates such good will on social media that over the years we've raised somewhere approaching a quarter of a million quid for homeless charities. If you can spare a bob or two, sling some to Centrepoint, and here's the link: www.gofundme.com/f/duvet-know...
Reposted by Graham M.
This here, a proud and upsetting member of His Majesty's Royal Navy, is Pollyanna the reindeer.
And for the avoidance of doubt, she's the one on the right of the photograph.
And for the avoidance of doubt, she's the one on the right of the photograph.
December 24, 2025 at 2:30 PM
This here, a proud and upsetting member of His Majesty's Royal Navy, is Pollyanna the reindeer.
And for the avoidance of doubt, she's the one on the right of the photograph.
And for the avoidance of doubt, she's the one on the right of the photograph.
Reposted by Graham M.
Okay, so at the request of the lovely @trance.bsky.social , I'm going to tell a story about what happens when a shitty person is "just joking", and then discovers there are consequences.
AKA That Time Kat Started An Antifascist Hallway Riot In The Third Grade.
Grab your beverage of choice.
AKA That Time Kat Started An Antifascist Hallway Riot In The Third Grade.
Grab your beverage of choice.
February 16, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Okay, so at the request of the lovely @trance.bsky.social , I'm going to tell a story about what happens when a shitty person is "just joking", and then discovers there are consequences.
AKA That Time Kat Started An Antifascist Hallway Riot In The Third Grade.
Grab your beverage of choice.
AKA That Time Kat Started An Antifascist Hallway Riot In The Third Grade.
Grab your beverage of choice.
Reposted by Graham M.
Note that Ryan's 'sweater' at the beginning is a classic Royal Navy cut rollneck jumper. Almost certainly a gift from his neighbour Vuce Admiral White.
They're immune to wind damage. Cozy af.
In the book, the Royal Navy (HMS Invincible) play a critical role which is cut from the film.
They're immune to wind damage. Cozy af.
In the book, the Royal Navy (HMS Invincible) play a critical role which is cut from the film.
My gift to you all this year is the news that The Hunt for Red October (which celebrates its 35 year birthday this year) is a Christmas movie.
Settle down for the story. Okay, two stories.
Settle down for the story. Okay, two stories.
December 24, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Note that Ryan's 'sweater' at the beginning is a classic Royal Navy cut rollneck jumper. Almost certainly a gift from his neighbour Vuce Admiral White.
They're immune to wind damage. Cozy af.
In the book, the Royal Navy (HMS Invincible) play a critical role which is cut from the film.
They're immune to wind damage. Cozy af.
In the book, the Royal Navy (HMS Invincible) play a critical role which is cut from the film.
Reposted by Graham M.
Letter to the FT that stingingly sums up Brexit and the shit creek we now find ourselves in.
A terrible idea (naive, prejudiced and uninformed) that has deeply divided us and left us poorer and less secure… but unwilling to face up to the damage we’ve done to ourselves. While the EU moves on.
A terrible idea (naive, prejudiced and uninformed) that has deeply divided us and left us poorer and less secure… but unwilling to face up to the damage we’ve done to ourselves. While the EU moves on.
December 24, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Letter to the FT that stingingly sums up Brexit and the shit creek we now find ourselves in.
A terrible idea (naive, prejudiced and uninformed) that has deeply divided us and left us poorer and less secure… but unwilling to face up to the damage we’ve done to ourselves. While the EU moves on.
A terrible idea (naive, prejudiced and uninformed) that has deeply divided us and left us poorer and less secure… but unwilling to face up to the damage we’ve done to ourselves. While the EU moves on.
Reposted by Graham M.
Reform UK are learning the hard way that it's easy to shout insults at the players from the touchline. Far harder to get up on the pitch and play. They've been an absolute disaster wherever they are elected.
December 24, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Reform UK are learning the hard way that it's easy to shout insults at the players from the touchline. Far harder to get up on the pitch and play. They've been an absolute disaster wherever they are elected.
Reposted by Graham M.
Sunset today 3.16pm.
Summer is coming. 🌞
Summer is coming. 🌞
#Orkney. 20th December.
Sunrise 9.03am
Sunset 3.15pm
Tomorrow is the #WinterSolstice. In 2 days the sunset will be a minute later than today. In 2 months it will be 2 hours later. By June we'll have 18 and a half hours of daylight in #Orkney. 💡
Sunrise 9.03am
Sunset 3.15pm
Tomorrow is the #WinterSolstice. In 2 days the sunset will be a minute later than today. In 2 months it will be 2 hours later. By June we'll have 18 and a half hours of daylight in #Orkney. 💡
December 22, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Sunset today 3.16pm.
Summer is coming. 🌞
Summer is coming. 🌞
Reposted by Graham M.
Britain's attitude towards the EU is of a guy who's dating a woman who wants marriage & kids, but he keeps offering her a "friends with benefits" relationship and is surprised she's not interested.
Apparently engaging with the EU is all about economics, while also avoiding freedom of movement. Sigh.
Anyone hoping to rejoin has a very very long wait.
Frankly, if you're a rejoiner over 50, I'd suggest taking up stamp collecting or bird watching instead. It'll be more fulfilling.
Anyone hoping to rejoin has a very very long wait.
Frankly, if you're a rejoiner over 50, I'd suggest taking up stamp collecting or bird watching instead. It'll be more fulfilling.
December 22, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Britain's attitude towards the EU is of a guy who's dating a woman who wants marriage & kids, but he keeps offering her a "friends with benefits" relationship and is surprised she's not interested.
Reposted by Graham M.
"... How I love thee, and thy sumptuous tarmac."
December 22, 2025 at 8:18 AM
"... How I love thee, and thy sumptuous tarmac."
Reposted by Graham M.
I've seen some people saying that the new SFWA rule on "AI" in the Nebulas will prevent people from being transparent about their LLM use. Newsflash: They wouldn't have been anyway. It would cost them readers. It would cost them votes. It would potentially cost them opportunities with publishers.
December 20, 2025 at 4:44 PM
I've seen some people saying that the new SFWA rule on "AI" in the Nebulas will prevent people from being transparent about their LLM use. Newsflash: They wouldn't have been anyway. It would cost them readers. It would cost them votes. It would potentially cost them opportunities with publishers.
Reposted by Graham M.
“The last-minute christmas rush at the bookshop.” - my latest cartoon for @theguardian.com books
December 21, 2025 at 4:02 PM
“The last-minute christmas rush at the bookshop.” - my latest cartoon for @theguardian.com books
Reposted by Graham M.
The starting point for a renewed agreement with the EU could be to apply the Windsor Agreement to the whole of the UK plus joining the customs union - that would allow goods to flow.
Then it would need sector by sector agreements on services
www.investni.com/internationa...
Then it would need sector by sector agreements on services
www.investni.com/internationa...
Northern Ireland’s unique GB and EU market access position
www.investni.com
December 21, 2025 at 3:04 PM
The starting point for a renewed agreement with the EU could be to apply the Windsor Agreement to the whole of the UK plus joining the customs union - that would allow goods to flow.
Then it would need sector by sector agreements on services
www.investni.com/internationa...
Then it would need sector by sector agreements on services
www.investni.com/internationa...
Reposted by Graham M.
Huh, non-Star Wars 70s SF really has dropped off the cultural radar, hasn’t it? They were still being shown late night in the 90s on tv when I was a kid, and you’d never call Soylent Green, Rollerball, One Boy and His Dog, Silent Running etc optimistic about the current trajectory
everything we see about the 1970s focuses on the flash and glitter of the decade. there isn't much media that centers on the stagflation of the decade and the collapse of the nation's industrial base. (one reason that SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER is still worth watching is it is *about* the latter)
December 20, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Huh, non-Star Wars 70s SF really has dropped off the cultural radar, hasn’t it? They were still being shown late night in the 90s on tv when I was a kid, and you’d never call Soylent Green, Rollerball, One Boy and His Dog, Silent Running etc optimistic about the current trajectory
Reposted by Graham M.
Born #onthisday in 1838, theologian and schoolmaster Edwin Abbott Abbott, who in 1884 published the remarkable Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions, perhaps the first ever example of “mathematical fiction”. More on the book here: https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/aspiring-to-a-higher-plane #OTD
December 20, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Born #onthisday in 1838, theologian and schoolmaster Edwin Abbott Abbott, who in 1884 published the remarkable Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions, perhaps the first ever example of “mathematical fiction”. More on the book here: https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/aspiring-to-a-higher-plane #OTD
Reposted by Graham M.
Boorman tells a story of meeting with Tolkien to discuss a “Lord of the Rings” adaptation and Tolkien bemoaning how things went wrong in England after the war and it took him a while to realise he wasn’t talking about WW2 but the Norman Conquest.
December 19, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Boorman tells a story of meeting with Tolkien to discuss a “Lord of the Rings” adaptation and Tolkien bemoaning how things went wrong in England after the war and it took him a while to realise he wasn’t talking about WW2 but the Norman Conquest.
Reposted by Graham M.
A few quick thoughts about this morning's decision. Don't believe the spin from various Russians & others: it's a big deal. The EU has now unambiguously demonstrated that it is able and willing to provide the external financial support Ukraine needs, for as long and as much as it takes. (1/N)
December 19, 2025 at 10:31 AM
A few quick thoughts about this morning's decision. Don't believe the spin from various Russians & others: it's a big deal. The EU has now unambiguously demonstrated that it is able and willing to provide the external financial support Ukraine needs, for as long and as much as it takes. (1/N)
Reposted by Graham M.
#RomanFortThursday
Photo of the north gate of Cardiff Roman fort.
#RomanBritain #Archaeology #History
Photo of the north gate of Cardiff Roman fort.
#RomanBritain #Archaeology #History
December 18, 2025 at 9:04 AM
#RomanFortThursday
Photo of the north gate of Cardiff Roman fort.
#RomanBritain #Archaeology #History
Photo of the north gate of Cardiff Roman fort.
#RomanBritain #Archaeology #History
Reposted by Graham M.
Not a prediction as such, but I think multi-speed Europe is becoming more possible as next phase of enlargement drags. It suits too many interests for something like this with the UK and outer-ring countries for a new model not to come into existence - caveat: what makes sense doesn't always happen.
Interesting article on whether folk in the UK should now be looking towards the Swiss model for EU relations - something that wasn't necessarily available a few years ago given EU attitudes, but might be now if UK folk are ready to make the effort. ukandeu.ac.uk/thinking-swi...
Thinking Swiss on the EU-UK reset - UK in a changing Europe
Matthew Harries reflects on the different models the UK could pursue in shaping its relationship with the European Union.
ukandeu.ac.uk
December 18, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Not a prediction as such, but I think multi-speed Europe is becoming more possible as next phase of enlargement drags. It suits too many interests for something like this with the UK and outer-ring countries for a new model not to come into existence - caveat: what makes sense doesn't always happen.
Reposted by Graham M.
The UK got 54.7% of its electricity generation from renewables in the third quarter of 2025. Though because nuclear and hydro generation was down year-on-year, gas generation was up.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6941a0...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6941a0...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
December 18, 2025 at 9:44 AM
The UK got 54.7% of its electricity generation from renewables in the third quarter of 2025. Though because nuclear and hydro generation was down year-on-year, gas generation was up.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6941a0...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6941a0...
Reposted by Graham M.
I'm sharing this here, as I have on Facebook and Instagram, but there's no account on here to share from, and I just think this is wonderful.
A really good balance of design and implementation, and appears to achieve everything it set out to do, and it *SO* appeals to my inner 'work nerd'.
A really good balance of design and implementation, and appears to achieve everything it set out to do, and it *SO* appeals to my inner 'work nerd'.
December 18, 2025 at 9:24 AM
I'm sharing this here, as I have on Facebook and Instagram, but there's no account on here to share from, and I just think this is wonderful.
A really good balance of design and implementation, and appears to achieve everything it set out to do, and it *SO* appeals to my inner 'work nerd'.
A really good balance of design and implementation, and appears to achieve everything it set out to do, and it *SO* appeals to my inner 'work nerd'.
Reposted by Graham M.
Which leaves us with the one solution I have seen so far that satisfies all three criteria: The reparations loan. It is a piece of genial policy work: It gives Ukraine quasi-cash as the loan only has to be repaid once Russia ends the war and to the extent that Russia pays reparations.
December 16, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Which leaves us with the one solution I have seen so far that satisfies all three criteria: The reparations loan. It is a piece of genial policy work: It gives Ukraine quasi-cash as the loan only has to be repaid once Russia ends the war and to the extent that Russia pays reparations.