@jane-n.bsky.social
And there’ll be a UN resolution to send a stiff letter.
January 3, 2026 at 10:43 AM
And there’ll be a UN resolution to send a stiff letter.
Wasnt Jeff Kennett behind that legislation? IIRC he was hoping to achieve the required time in office himself, but got unexpectedly booted at the next election!
January 2, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Wasnt Jeff Kennett behind that legislation? IIRC he was hoping to achieve the required time in office himself, but got unexpectedly booted at the next election!
Ah, Australia. But surely the best memorial ever to a former PM is the Harold Holt swimming pool. Guess how he died…
January 2, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Ah, Australia. But surely the best memorial ever to a former PM is the Harold Holt swimming pool. Guess how he died…
I’m so glad someone said this! I’m in my 60s and don’t feel particularly old, except when I see someone 25 years younger than me complaining about ageing!
January 1, 2026 at 7:48 PM
I’m so glad someone said this! I’m in my 60s and don’t feel particularly old, except when I see someone 25 years younger than me complaining about ageing!
I’ve had to bite my tongue at complaints about having little disposable income. Maybe you’d have a bit more spare cash if you didn’t send your kids to private school, live in a 5 bedroom house in Surrey and drive a Porsche? Grr.
January 1, 2026 at 1:28 PM
I’ve had to bite my tongue at complaints about having little disposable income. Maybe you’d have a bit more spare cash if you didn’t send your kids to private school, live in a 5 bedroom house in Surrey and drive a Porsche? Grr.
Friend’s kid had a meltdown in a store. An elegant older lady came up to them. Friend thought uh-oh, she’s going to yell at me for being a bad parent. But she said “I know how you feel, my kid used to do this. Ignore him and talk to me, and he’ll stop”. And he did! My friend was so grateful!
December 31, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Friend’s kid had a meltdown in a store. An elegant older lady came up to them. Friend thought uh-oh, she’s going to yell at me for being a bad parent. But she said “I know how you feel, my kid used to do this. Ignore him and talk to me, and he’ll stop”. And he did! My friend was so grateful!
I’m a member of the landed gentry so I don’t have a job, as such. Yes I am spending the Christmas break re-reading PG Wodehouse; what of it?
December 31, 2025 at 5:55 PM
I’m a member of the landed gentry so I don’t have a job, as such. Yes I am spending the Christmas break re-reading PG Wodehouse; what of it?
There’s definitely an expectation that people should want children. I always knew I didn’t want any. When I was young, some people said “you’ll change your mind later”, as if it was a silly adolescent mindset that I’d grow out of rather than a positive choice. I’m in my 60s now, and no regrets!
December 30, 2025 at 7:07 PM
There’s definitely an expectation that people should want children. I always knew I didn’t want any. When I was young, some people said “you’ll change your mind later”, as if it was a silly adolescent mindset that I’d grow out of rather than a positive choice. I’m in my 60s now, and no regrets!
Anyone looking for the full map or wondering who made it, it’s the work of Matt Brown and it’s here. open.substack.com/pub/londonis...
December 28, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Anyone looking for the full map or wondering who made it, it’s the work of Matt Brown and it’s here. open.substack.com/pub/londonis...
December 28, 2025 at 11:43 AM
This is very true. Even in areas which are much more directly HMT policy (eg tax), HMT officials don’t do the delivery. The slightly weird demarcation lines between HMT and HMRC do cause some confusion, which you don’t really get in DWP etc.
December 28, 2025 at 11:36 AM
This is very true. Even in areas which are much more directly HMT policy (eg tax), HMT officials don’t do the delivery. The slightly weird demarcation lines between HMT and HMRC do cause some confusion, which you don’t really get in DWP etc.
When my friend (British, uses the F-word all the time in everyday conversation) first met her American husband’s family, she horrified them with a casual “so I thought, what the fuck?”. It meant absolutely nothing to her, and her husband was used to it, but his parents were deeply shocked!
December 18, 2025 at 11:33 PM
When my friend (British, uses the F-word all the time in everyday conversation) first met her American husband’s family, she horrified them with a casual “so I thought, what the fuck?”. It meant absolutely nothing to her, and her husband was used to it, but his parents were deeply shocked!
If you haven’t already read these, I’d recommend the Thursday Next books by Jasper Fforde. The first in the series is The Eyre Affair. Hard to categorise: comic literary thriller/mystery/fantasy. Very clever and also very funny.
December 18, 2025 at 9:47 PM
If you haven’t already read these, I’d recommend the Thursday Next books by Jasper Fforde. The first in the series is The Eyre Affair. Hard to categorise: comic literary thriller/mystery/fantasy. Very clever and also very funny.
Should you ever wish to add libraries to your quirky social media interests, may I recommend bsky.app/profile/orkn... ?
bsky.app
December 18, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Should you ever wish to add libraries to your quirky social media interests, may I recommend bsky.app/profile/orkn... ?
Not quite! The Rutles did it first. In fact I think Rob Reiner acknowledged that Spinal Tap was partly inspired by The Rutles movie?
December 18, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Not quite! The Rutles did it first. In fact I think Rob Reiner acknowledged that Spinal Tap was partly inspired by The Rutles movie?
I got an unexpected tax bill a few weeks ago; it turned out that my bank had wrongly told HMRC about interest on my cash ISA (which of course doesn’t need to be declared because it’s a bloody ISA). Both bank and HMRC have assured me it will be fixed, but they’re taking their time about it!
December 17, 2025 at 6:36 PM
I got an unexpected tax bill a few weeks ago; it turned out that my bank had wrongly told HMRC about interest on my cash ISA (which of course doesn’t need to be declared because it’s a bloody ISA). Both bank and HMRC have assured me it will be fixed, but they’re taking their time about it!
I read it when it first came out. It might be a bit dated now (and some of the info is specific to Australia), but it's an enjoyable read!
December 17, 2025 at 12:42 PM
I read it when it first came out. It might be a bit dated now (and some of the info is specific to Australia), but it's an enjoyable read!
Up the Duff: The Real Guide to Pregnancy
Australian Kay Cooke gives you the up-to-date lowdown o…
www.goodreads.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:37 PM
This is such an incredible piece of work but it always makes me sad. There are so many that I missed hearing about (or forgot). Oh no, Loretta Swit!
December 16, 2025 at 9:06 PM
This is such an incredible piece of work but it always makes me sad. There are so many that I missed hearing about (or forgot). Oh no, Loretta Swit!
I know you’re joking but someone on here tried to argue this seriously with me a few months back. Not quite as extreme, but he genuinely thought that people should be willing to share accommodation for their whole lives, and that aspiring to have a home of one’s own was totally unreasonable. Sigh.
December 16, 2025 at 1:12 PM
I know you’re joking but someone on here tried to argue this seriously with me a few months back. Not quite as extreme, but he genuinely thought that people should be willing to share accommodation for their whole lives, and that aspiring to have a home of one’s own was totally unreasonable. Sigh.
For some light relief, have a look at this classic. It will make you smile if you watch to the end! youtu.be/0YM9Ereg2Zo?...
No Asians
YouTube video by geezer1977
youtu.be
December 15, 2025 at 7:37 PM
For some light relief, have a look at this classic. It will make you smile if you watch to the end! youtu.be/0YM9Ereg2Zo?...
Q: what did the man say when he saw a huge herd of elephants? A: oh look, there’s a huge herd of elephants.
What did the man say when he saw a huge herd of elephants wearing sunglasses? Nothing, because he didn’t recognise them.
What did the man say when he saw a huge herd of elephants wearing sunglasses? Nothing, because he didn’t recognise them.
December 15, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Q: what did the man say when he saw a huge herd of elephants? A: oh look, there’s a huge herd of elephants.
What did the man say when he saw a huge herd of elephants wearing sunglasses? Nothing, because he didn’t recognise them.
What did the man say when he saw a huge herd of elephants wearing sunglasses? Nothing, because he didn’t recognise them.
But what if the American tourist is (unknown to them) the long lost heir to the owner of the grand mansion, and his other family members find out? Have you considered that risk?
December 13, 2025 at 8:29 PM
But what if the American tourist is (unknown to them) the long lost heir to the owner of the grand mansion, and his other family members find out? Have you considered that risk?
While shepherds washed their socks by night all seated round the tub, the angel of the Lord came down and showed them how to scrub.
December 12, 2025 at 11:32 AM
While shepherds washed their socks by night all seated round the tub, the angel of the Lord came down and showed them how to scrub.
Even Peggie herself is now whining about how terrible the decision was and saying she‘s going to appeal it.
December 12, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Even Peggie herself is now whining about how terrible the decision was and saying she‘s going to appeal it.