Ann
@historyannics.bsky.social
spins plates - SEND - history and politics - photos, usually of the sea - powered by coffee and crisps
Reposted by Ann
Back last year, I wrote a piece about how Tim Walz and his family’s embrace of Gus offered a template for how parents of neurodivergent kids could embrace their loved ones. Thinking about that now as Trump’s supporters are hurling the r-word at the Walz family.
www.ms.now/opinion/msnb...
www.ms.now/opinion/msnb...
What anxious parents of neurodivergent children can learn from Tim and Gwen Walz
The Walz family’s words and their embrace of their son may seem utterly unremarkable. But that’s the point.
www.ms.now
December 7, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Back last year, I wrote a piece about how Tim Walz and his family’s embrace of Gus offered a template for how parents of neurodivergent kids could embrace their loved ones. Thinking about that now as Trump’s supporters are hurling the r-word at the Walz family.
www.ms.now/opinion/msnb...
www.ms.now/opinion/msnb...
The weekend started on Friday, with a trip to Winchester Christmas Market. Saturday and today have been about finding a balance between Christmas, work, and jobs around the house.
December 7, 2025 at 6:43 PM
The weekend started on Friday, with a trip to Winchester Christmas Market. Saturday and today have been about finding a balance between Christmas, work, and jobs around the house.
Reposted by Ann
This is great, and much misunderstood
The feedback John refers to in his article from his recent book tour - about autism not being linear - is an issue many autistic people wish was understood widely. It’s recognised by the best of autism specialists but not understood by many in media, govt or GPs etc. Think ‘spidergram’ not line 😊👇
December 7, 2025 at 3:53 PM
This is great, and much misunderstood
Reposted by Ann
I honestly don’t understand why any real soccer fan would want to go to this World Cup.
But if you do, check out this thread so you are prepared for the costs.
But if you do, check out this thread so you are prepared for the costs.
As Trump and Infantino work the red carpet, bragging about setting records for ticket prices.
(video below)
Lets break down what “record prices" really mean for football fans and host countries.
An important thread.
1/10
(video below)
Lets break down what “record prices" really mean for football fans and host countries.
An important thread.
1/10
December 7, 2025 at 1:44 PM
I honestly don’t understand why any real soccer fan would want to go to this World Cup.
But if you do, check out this thread so you are prepared for the costs.
But if you do, check out this thread so you are prepared for the costs.
Reposted by Ann
Latest from me: on overdiagnosis, a craze/bandwagon the govt is indulging by commissioning an official review, complete with the clunky blurring of mental illness & neurodivergence www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The right’s callous overdiagnosis bandwagon is rolling. Wes Streeting should not be on it | John Harris
Thankfully, we now know more about conditions such as autism and ADHD. The health secretary must not be part of this attempt to turn back the clock, says Guardian columnist John Harris
www.theguardian.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Latest from me: on overdiagnosis, a craze/bandwagon the govt is indulging by commissioning an official review, complete with the clunky blurring of mental illness & neurodivergence www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Ann
If you want to know what's going really badly wrong with SEND (and much else in education) in England, just note that the Gove -Gibbs -Wilshaw -Spielman -Oliver falsehood that the "best" schools are those with the "best" academic outcomes has been accepted as fact by our media.
December 7, 2025 at 1:14 PM
If you want to know what's going really badly wrong with SEND (and much else in education) in England, just note that the Gove -Gibbs -Wilshaw -Spielman -Oliver falsehood that the "best" schools are those with the "best" academic outcomes has been accepted as fact by our media.
Reposted by Ann
My Irish grandfather unloaded ships, built Manchester Airport, made chains for Manchester's machines all of his working life. Fuck Labour.
You only have to go back a few generations in my family to find Irish people forced to leave their homeland because British colonialism manufactured a famine and made it impossible to stay. It destroyed the region I descend from.
It's the literal reason I'm English.
It's the literal reason I'm English.
This is so disgusting.
December 7, 2025 at 12:58 PM
My Irish grandfather unloaded ships, built Manchester Airport, made chains for Manchester's machines all of his working life. Fuck Labour.
Reposted by Ann
When I arrived in the UK 25 years ago I had a job at a university that paid £21k. I could barely make ends meet but I worked hard and eventually I succeeded. I guess this Labour government considers young broke hardworking me a “taker”?
Fuck this.
Fuck this.
December 7, 2025 at 11:50 AM
When I arrived in the UK 25 years ago I had a job at a university that paid £21k. I could barely make ends meet but I worked hard and eventually I succeeded. I guess this Labour government considers young broke hardworking me a “taker”?
Fuck this.
Fuck this.
Reposted by Ann
Attacking Reform & Farage but not what this Labour government is doing is sheer hypocrisy
Their entire strategy rests on mainstreaming far-right discourse and ideas
Besides, believing there is a tight border between the mainstream and extreme is naive at best
The lesser of two evils is still evil
Their entire strategy rests on mainstreaming far-right discourse and ideas
Besides, believing there is a tight border between the mainstream and extreme is naive at best
The lesser of two evils is still evil
December 7, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Attacking Reform & Farage but not what this Labour government is doing is sheer hypocrisy
Their entire strategy rests on mainstreaming far-right discourse and ideas
Besides, believing there is a tight border between the mainstream and extreme is naive at best
The lesser of two evils is still evil
Their entire strategy rests on mainstreaming far-right discourse and ideas
Besides, believing there is a tight border between the mainstream and extreme is naive at best
The lesser of two evils is still evil
Reposted by Ann
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 Ann
I understand fully, and still, this is so sad. My first memory of football is watching Mexico ‘86 with my grandad. These corrupt pieces of shit have sucked all the joy out of it.
December 5, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I understand fully, and still, this is so sad. My first memory of football is watching Mexico ‘86 with my grandad. These corrupt pieces of shit have sucked all the joy out of it.
Reposted by Ann
What I find incredible and I had to pinch myself when I was reminded of it... was that Russia Today CONTINUED to broadcast in the UK after the Skripal attack. Seriously what the fuck was going on there?
December 5, 2025 at 1:11 PM
What I find incredible and I had to pinch myself when I was reminded of it... was that Russia Today CONTINUED to broadcast in the UK after the Skripal attack. Seriously what the fuck was going on there?
Reposted by Ann
"Europe’s leaders privately warned that the United States may be preparing to pressure Ukraine into territorial concessions without offering real security guarantees." Their only clue was absolutely everything the Trump administration have been saying and doing since 20 January.
December 5, 2025 at 6:51 PM
"Europe’s leaders privately warned that the United States may be preparing to pressure Ukraine into territorial concessions without offering real security guarantees." Their only clue was absolutely everything the Trump administration have been saying and doing since 20 January.
Reposted by Ann
This is apparently the American President on whose leadership the new US National Security Strategy is dependent
December 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM
This is apparently the American President on whose leadership the new US National Security Strategy is dependent
Reposted by Ann
Starting to suspect FIFA might not be an entirely reputable organisation.
December 5, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Starting to suspect FIFA might not be an entirely reputable organisation.
Reposted by Ann
I don't care if you think that AI can do some really nifty things. It's being rammed down our throats by obscenely wealthy men who are also, obviously, both dangerously right-wing and mentally unstable, and no rational society should be allowing that to happen. End of discussion.
December 5, 2025 at 2:14 PM
I don't care if you think that AI can do some really nifty things. It's being rammed down our throats by obscenely wealthy men who are also, obviously, both dangerously right-wing and mentally unstable, and no rational society should be allowing that to happen. End of discussion.
Reposted by Ann
I may not be the most festive person going, but know it can be a tough time for many people. If you can help support organisations supporting others please do, and, if you need support, hopefully some organisations below can help.
This is far from comprehensive so please do add more at the end. 👇
This is far from comprehensive so please do add more at the end. 👇
December 2, 2025 at 9:53 AM
I may not be the most festive person going, but know it can be a tough time for many people. If you can help support organisations supporting others please do, and, if you need support, hopefully some organisations below can help.
This is far from comprehensive so please do add more at the end. 👇
This is far from comprehensive so please do add more at the end. 👇
Reposted by Ann
This. And it’s a pattern, which is a problem.
Other striking thing, certainly from @rachelsylvester.bsky.social’s fascinating write up this morning, is the absence of the PM’s voice or thoughts in the process. If it was there, it doesn’t seem particularly explicit
Other striking thing, certainly from @rachelsylvester.bsky.social’s fascinating write up this morning, is the absence of the PM’s voice or thoughts in the process. If it was there, it doesn’t seem particularly explicit
• I think the "DID SHE LIE?!" discourse slightly misses the broader point.
ie. This all adds to the credibility worries - already a strong impression among investors: no clear strategy, reactive, bad at communicating?
ie. This all adds to the credibility worries - already a strong impression among investors: no clear strategy, reactive, bad at communicating?
November 30, 2025 at 10:49 AM
This. And it’s a pattern, which is a problem.
Other striking thing, certainly from @rachelsylvester.bsky.social’s fascinating write up this morning, is the absence of the PM’s voice or thoughts in the process. If it was there, it doesn’t seem particularly explicit
Other striking thing, certainly from @rachelsylvester.bsky.social’s fascinating write up this morning, is the absence of the PM’s voice or thoughts in the process. If it was there, it doesn’t seem particularly explicit
Reposted by Ann
And on a personal note I can't explain enough how deeply hurtful it can be to hear someone going to extreme lengths to basically say to me "My kid isn't like your kid. They're better."
November 30, 2025 at 12:41 PM
And on a personal note I can't explain enough how deeply hurtful it can be to hear someone going to extreme lengths to basically say to me "My kid isn't like your kid. They're better."
Lovely late afternoon walk by the sea. I liked the mix of colours in the sky.
November 29, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Lovely late afternoon walk by the sea. I liked the mix of colours in the sky.
Reposted by Ann
Top headline on Radio 4 just now: "The government is being pressed to explain the real costs of taxis for asylum seekers".
There's clearly some misuse of money going on here, but is this genuinely THE most important thing happening in the world today?
There's clearly some misuse of money going on here, but is this genuinely THE most important thing happening in the world today?
Radcliffe and Maconie on BBC 6 music is one of my favourite things
Having it interrupted by breathless news bulletin telling me ‘government has banned taxis for asylum seekers’ *really isn’t*
New lines like ‘Home Office spent £1k over weekend on taxis’ would struggle to make a local newspaper
Having it interrupted by breathless news bulletin telling me ‘government has banned taxis for asylum seekers’ *really isn’t*
New lines like ‘Home Office spent £1k over weekend on taxis’ would struggle to make a local newspaper
November 29, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Top headline on Radio 4 just now: "The government is being pressed to explain the real costs of taxis for asylum seekers".
There's clearly some misuse of money going on here, but is this genuinely THE most important thing happening in the world today?
There's clearly some misuse of money going on here, but is this genuinely THE most important thing happening in the world today?
Reposted by Ann
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
November 27, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
Reposted by Ann
Fewer workers. Fewer international students. More people leaving.
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK net migration falls sharply with drop in arrivals for work and study
Provisional figures for net migration to the UK show levels dropped to 204,000 in the year to June 2025.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Fewer workers. Fewer international students. More people leaving.
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Had a lovely time @oakgrovecollege.bsky.social watching students perform during their Shakespeare afternoon. It was fantastic. Our special school demonstrating that drama is accessible for all. You would have loved it, @stephenunwin.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Had a lovely time @oakgrovecollege.bsky.social watching students perform during their Shakespeare afternoon. It was fantastic. Our special school demonstrating that drama is accessible for all. You would have loved it, @stephenunwin.bsky.social
Reposted by Ann
universities got a tiny fee rise that was immediately wiped out by the national insurance raises. they used international student fees to subsidise capped domestic fees and now that’s going to be taken away too. universities are going to collapse and thousands of jobs will go with each collapse.
November 23, 2025 at 11:07 PM
universities got a tiny fee rise that was immediately wiped out by the national insurance raises. they used international student fees to subsidise capped domestic fees and now that’s going to be taken away too. universities are going to collapse and thousands of jobs will go with each collapse.