Rachel
@justrachel75.bsky.social
Slightly muzzy, slightly forgetful, somewhat alternative, somewhat political, chronically ill & disabled, and always totally me ... (cis, ace-het, she/her)
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Rachel
@justrachel75.bsky.social
· Feb 17
In no particular order, my #ChronicIllness 'interesting times' curse manifests as #MECFS #Fibromyalgia #Anxiety #Depression (wouldn't you?) #PCOS #Hypermobility #Autism #ADHD #PTSD #Gallstones #Type2Diabetes #HidradenitisSuppurativa #Arthritis and now introducing #Menopause (good news at last!) :P
When a loved food is 'improved' :( #Kelloggs #AllBran Just opened a new box and thought 'that looks different', tried to eat it and it's foul - then realised there was a new recipe flash on the box. Changed so much it's not the same cereal. Now have lost a rare cereal which didn't trigger my #IBS :(
January 13, 2026 at 2:01 PM
When a loved food is 'improved' :( #Kelloggs #AllBran Just opened a new box and thought 'that looks different', tried to eat it and it's foul - then realised there was a new recipe flash on the box. Changed so much it's not the same cereal. Now have lost a rare cereal which didn't trigger my #IBS :(
Finally managed a shower and hairwash last night (first since 14 Dec), woke at a reasonable time, feeling reasonably able, opened the curtains to white stuff and instantly cancelled my plans to go outside. Ho hum, luckily it isn't time sensitive or a medical appt #MECFS #Fibro #ChronicIllness #snow
January 5, 2026 at 10:47 AM
Finally managed a shower and hairwash last night (first since 14 Dec), woke at a reasonable time, feeling reasonably able, opened the curtains to white stuff and instantly cancelled my plans to go outside. Ho hum, luckily it isn't time sensitive or a medical appt #MECFS #Fibro #ChronicIllness #snow
Reposted by Rachel
Reposted by Rachel
#GVerse via @chariselee.bsky.social
Incredible interpretation of popping, hip hop freestyle and art of ballet‼️ Yo-Yo Ma and Lil Buck - The Swan
Incredible interpretation of popping, hip hop freestyle and art of ballet‼️ Yo-Yo Ma and Lil Buck - The Swan
January 3, 2026 at 3:06 AM
#GVerse via @chariselee.bsky.social
Incredible interpretation of popping, hip hop freestyle and art of ballet‼️ Yo-Yo Ma and Lil Buck - The Swan
Incredible interpretation of popping, hip hop freestyle and art of ballet‼️ Yo-Yo Ma and Lil Buck - The Swan
Eight! Eight xmas cards and envelopes! That's all it took to send my back and hips into spasms and cramp my hand/arm to the shoulder - and that's with the soft but chunky grip pen too *sighs* #Hypermobility #Fibromyalgia #MECFS
December 14, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Eight! Eight xmas cards and envelopes! That's all it took to send my back and hips into spasms and cramp my hand/arm to the shoulder - and that's with the soft but chunky grip pen too *sighs* #Hypermobility #Fibromyalgia #MECFS
#Shrinkflation, we all know it's happening. Here's one I'd not noticed before. We use refillable advents, I have 3 kids, so 75 little foil covered chocs. I used to be able to get that from 6-8 nets, or 3 of the little Aldi drums. This year I needed 4 drums ( the nets are emptier too). Prices up tho
December 6, 2025 at 1:53 PM
#Shrinkflation, we all know it's happening. Here's one I'd not noticed before. We use refillable advents, I have 3 kids, so 75 little foil covered chocs. I used to be able to get that from 6-8 nets, or 3 of the little Aldi drums. This year I needed 4 drums ( the nets are emptier too). Prices up tho
In other words, they're going to teach #CriticalThinking - you know, that skill people generally learn when they study the humanities, languages, arts ... those 'low value' subjects various governments have been cutting the funding of for years ...
School pupils are to be taught how to tackle conspiracy theories, spot 'fake news' & root out misinformation. The Daily Mail, ajudged by Wikipedia to be an unreliable new source, is furious. You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to work out why.
November 5, 2025 at 4:35 PM
In other words, they're going to teach #CriticalThinking - you know, that skill people generally learn when they study the humanities, languages, arts ... those 'low value' subjects various governments have been cutting the funding of for years ...
Reposted by Rachel
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 170: Words matter. Words are the conduit for ideas. Words can affect the way your readers see the world; how they behave; how they relate to others. Every political movement, every religion, philosophy, war, began with ideas, translated into words. Use them wisely.
September 18, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 170: Words matter. Words are the conduit for ideas. Words can affect the way your readers see the world; how they behave; how they relate to others. Every political movement, every religion, philosophy, war, began with ideas, translated into words. Use them wisely.
#UK Anyone noticing #DairyProducts going up significantly? Mostly shop online at Asda, and in the last month or so their own brand yogurt, ice cream etc has gone up 20-30%, lactose free milk (99p/L) has gone (next cheapest 1.35/L at M's). Guessing it's animal feed/bad harvest? Cereal/bakery next?
September 13, 2025 at 12:13 PM
#UK Anyone noticing #DairyProducts going up significantly? Mostly shop online at Asda, and in the last month or so their own brand yogurt, ice cream etc has gone up 20-30%, lactose free milk (99p/L) has gone (next cheapest 1.35/L at M's). Guessing it's animal feed/bad harvest? Cereal/bakery next?
Reposted by Rachel
Being pro-Palestinian liberation and anti-Zionism has nothing to do with religion to me.
It has everything to do with the systemic and state-sponsored oppression of a population... Illegal occupation... Famine... Genocide.
It has everything to do with the systemic and state-sponsored oppression of a population... Illegal occupation... Famine... Genocide.
September 7, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Being pro-Palestinian liberation and anti-Zionism has nothing to do with religion to me.
It has everything to do with the systemic and state-sponsored oppression of a population... Illegal occupation... Famine... Genocide.
It has everything to do with the systemic and state-sponsored oppression of a population... Illegal occupation... Famine... Genocide.
Reposted by Rachel
Reposted by Rachel
a university is not for generating profit, it provides cultural enrichment via weird little gremlin people who love visigoths or haikus, and very occasionally a scientist who figures out faster than light travel
August 12, 2025 at 9:54 AM
a university is not for generating profit, it provides cultural enrichment via weird little gremlin people who love visigoths or haikus, and very occasionally a scientist who figures out faster than light travel
Had my first 'talk over the disabled person' experience last weekend. Go to a museum with adult son, ask about carer tickets, and as soon as she realises he's the carer and I'm the disabled person, she directs everything else to him, despite me having started the convo, and holding the money *smh*
July 5, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Had my first 'talk over the disabled person' experience last weekend. Go to a museum with adult son, ask about carer tickets, and as soon as she realises he's the carer and I'm the disabled person, she directs everything else to him, despite me having started the convo, and holding the money *smh*
Reposted by Rachel
Funerals should just be car boot sales of all your stuff with a jacket potato and real ale stall, and everyone can wander round your stuff reminiscing about how weird you were, and wondering why you’ve so many sea-salt dispensers. The family can keep the money or donate it to charity.
June 25, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Funerals should just be car boot sales of all your stuff with a jacket potato and real ale stall, and everyone can wander round your stuff reminiscing about how weird you were, and wondering why you’ve so many sea-salt dispensers. The family can keep the money or donate it to charity.
Reposted by Rachel
Allowing assisted dying while savagely cutting PIP is telling disabled people they're allowed to die with dignity but not to live with dignity
June 20, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Allowing assisted dying while savagely cutting PIP is telling disabled people they're allowed to die with dignity but not to live with dignity
#LondonUnderground help please. Have to get from St Pancras to Waterloo on 27th and do not know the underground at all. Looks like KX Piccadilly, changing either at Leic Sq for Northern, or Picc Circus for Bakerloo are the options. Question is, are either better for mobility impaired? And returning?
June 18, 2025 at 2:16 PM
#LondonUnderground help please. Have to get from St Pancras to Waterloo on 27th and do not know the underground at all. Looks like KX Piccadilly, changing either at Leic Sq for Northern, or Picc Circus for Bakerloo are the options. Question is, are either better for mobility impaired? And returning?
A question for UK peeps - are all #SealifeCentre locations equal? I note that some have different pricing structures so assume there are differences. So, if you could visit just one, which would you pick? Can access Birmingham, London or Weymouth, maybe others. Adult(s) only, no kids to cater for.
June 15, 2025 at 4:04 PM
A question for UK peeps - are all #SealifeCentre locations equal? I note that some have different pricing structures so assume there are differences. So, if you could visit just one, which would you pick? Can access Birmingham, London or Weymouth, maybe others. Adult(s) only, no kids to cater for.
Quick question to #BookSky - is it me, or are there a lot more first person books coming out? And if so, why is that?
I'm finding even established authors who I've read for years switching over, and TBH (and I know this is personal), however good the story, I struggle to tune in to it.
I'm finding even established authors who I've read for years switching over, and TBH (and I know this is personal), however good the story, I struggle to tune in to it.
June 10, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Quick question to #BookSky - is it me, or are there a lot more first person books coming out? And if so, why is that?
I'm finding even established authors who I've read for years switching over, and TBH (and I know this is personal), however good the story, I struggle to tune in to it.
I'm finding even established authors who I've read for years switching over, and TBH (and I know this is personal), however good the story, I struggle to tune in to it.
Got one of those 'need to do SOMETHING!' mind-fidgits. Hate when they hit, usually means I spend money I shouldn't, eat food I shouldn't etc :( When I was young and healthy, I'd hit the rock/metal clubs and mosh it off, but that's physically not possible any more. #ADHD ?
May 31, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Got one of those 'need to do SOMETHING!' mind-fidgits. Hate when they hit, usually means I spend money I shouldn't, eat food I shouldn't etc :( When I was young and healthy, I'd hit the rock/metal clubs and mosh it off, but that's physically not possible any more. #ADHD ?
#pwME #Fibromyalgia How to get an accurate blood pressure reading when the cuffs cause major pain, even sometimes leave bruising? Opticians observed things that suggest blood pressure issues, headaches back it up, but GP says pressure in normal range (even though I know I'm naturally low pressured).
May 20, 2025 at 12:29 PM
#pwME #Fibromyalgia How to get an accurate blood pressure reading when the cuffs cause major pain, even sometimes leave bruising? Opticians observed things that suggest blood pressure issues, headaches back it up, but GP says pressure in normal range (even though I know I'm naturally low pressured).
It only hit me today, after seeing a post about how teens are calling grunge etc 'oldies' - they ARE oldies! To 2025's teen, they're the equivalent of 1990's teen (ie, me) listening to Bill Haley et al from 1955 (which, ok, I did/do, alongside Nirvana etc, but that's just me). Wow *sighs in 'old'*
May 11, 2025 at 12:08 PM
It only hit me today, after seeing a post about how teens are calling grunge etc 'oldies' - they ARE oldies! To 2025's teen, they're the equivalent of 1990's teen (ie, me) listening to Bill Haley et al from 1955 (which, ok, I did/do, alongside Nirvana etc, but that's just me). Wow *sighs in 'old'*
Just got my #PIP review decision - surprising as I've never not had to do the in-person bit before, but hey, small victories. Anyway, they've upheld the previous award for another 3 years (which means about 18mths, lets face it, before another review). Least I can breathe easier for a while again.
April 19, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Just got my #PIP review decision - surprising as I've never not had to do the in-person bit before, but hey, small victories. Anyway, they've upheld the previous award for another 3 years (which means about 18mths, lets face it, before another review). Least I can breathe easier for a while again.
Well, I tried my local library's digital service (BorrowBox) - sadly, of the many, many, many books on my kindle tbr, I could only find two titles, both 'celebrity' author pop-history books. None of the fiction or other factual at all. My reading lists aren't that obscure *sigh, shrug* I tried ...
April 7, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Well, I tried my local library's digital service (BorrowBox) - sadly, of the many, many, many books on my kindle tbr, I could only find two titles, both 'celebrity' author pop-history books. None of the fiction or other factual at all. My reading lists aren't that obscure *sigh, shrug* I tried ...
Taking money should be the last part of the equation, not the first - first you need to fix the NHS and social care and improve access (phys & finan) to, well, everything. Taking money from those most in need only makes their problems worse and makes it harder for those who might to work again.
“About 400,000 people are falling out of work due to sickness,” says Kendall. “The longer someone is signed off, the less likely they are to return.” Well, yes, because they’re sicker or disabled — not less willing. Illness and disability aren't a work ethic problem, Liz. #WelfareNotWorkfare
April 6, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Taking money should be the last part of the equation, not the first - first you need to fix the NHS and social care and improve access (phys & finan) to, well, everything. Taking money from those most in need only makes their problems worse and makes it harder for those who might to work again.
Going through a #PrincessAndThePea period - #fibromyalgia + #SensoryProcessing + a new lump in the mattress (that I can only feel if I lay on it, not if I feel by hand) = even worse sleep than usual *rolls eyes, tries to roll shoulders and back and neck but they're too stiff* Ouch
April 5, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Going through a #PrincessAndThePea period - #fibromyalgia + #SensoryProcessing + a new lump in the mattress (that I can only feel if I lay on it, not if I feel by hand) = even worse sleep than usual *rolls eyes, tries to roll shoulders and back and neck but they're too stiff* Ouch