Mark Norman
@mark60.bsky.social
Teacher (primary school), NW England: here for climate justice, the nature crisis, education, active travel, allotment chat and … Norwich City FC.
Last day of October and there are still loads of orange calendulas flowering at the allotment. Great for late season hover flies and other insects.
November 1, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Last day of October and there are still loads of orange calendulas flowering at the allotment. Great for late season hover flies and other insects.
I’m pleased to see a rise in union membership but the headline is very misleading. Look at the data and you see that more people joined a union in the week of the local elections compared to earlier weeks or the average for 2025 so far. This doesn’t mean that the total membership increased by 200%!
June 20, 2025 at 7:20 AM
I’m pleased to see a rise in union membership but the headline is very misleading. Look at the data and you see that more people joined a union in the week of the local elections compared to earlier weeks or the average for 2025 so far. This doesn’t mean that the total membership increased by 200%!
I am reading this on a long train journey and am delighted to discover you have an account on Bluesky!
February 16, 2025 at 12:46 PM
I am reading this on a long train journey and am delighted to discover you have an account on Bluesky!
Shrinkflation: box of chocolate truffles, literally half full. Weight correct - just over 200g.
January 20, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Shrinkflation: box of chocolate truffles, literally half full. Weight correct - just over 200g.
Lindow Moss, Cheshire, UK
January 19, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Lindow Moss, Cheshire, UK
Snowdrops here in Cheshire too.
January 17, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Snowdrops here in Cheshire too.
This book by @rianeeisler-cps.bsky.social had a big effect on my thinking:
January 1, 2025 at 10:14 PM
This book by @rianeeisler-cps.bsky.social had a big effect on my thinking:
Maybe I'm starting to get the hang of growing oca at the allotment at last. I tried a different method this year: grew them in homemade compost held within old upturned bottomless galvanised buckets. Harvested 15th December. This lot came from just 4 small tubers.
December 18, 2024 at 7:33 PM
Maybe I'm starting to get the hang of growing oca at the allotment at last. I tried a different method this year: grew them in homemade compost held within old upturned bottomless galvanised buckets. Harvested 15th December. This lot came from just 4 small tubers.
It’s 3rd November and the borage and calendula at the allotment are still flowering profusely (NW England).
November 3, 2024 at 2:37 PM
It’s 3rd November and the borage and calendula at the allotment are still flowering profusely (NW England).
‘Fraid so. Screenshot from Met Office website (Manchester area):
October 25, 2024 at 7:14 AM
‘Fraid so. Screenshot from Met Office website (Manchester area):
Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #2,765,153!
September 17, 2024 at 8:06 PM
Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #2,765,153!
In Britain we have a great online retailer called Hodmedods who sell a wide range of UK-grown beans and grains. They have loads of recipes for pulses on their website too. Check them out at hodmedods.co.uk
August 13, 2024 at 6:11 AM
In Britain we have a great online retailer called Hodmedods who sell a wide range of UK-grown beans and grains. They have loads of recipes for pulses on their website too. Check them out at hodmedods.co.uk
This book was published in 1987, yet is startlingly relevant to today’s crises. Riane Eisler superbly charts human cultural evolution and articulates the need to move from a ‘dominator’ culture back towards a ‘partnership’ model. Recommended for anyone concerned about the future of humanity.
August 12, 2024 at 4:35 PM
This book was published in 1987, yet is startlingly relevant to today’s crises. Riane Eisler superbly charts human cultural evolution and articulates the need to move from a ‘dominator’ culture back towards a ‘partnership’ model. Recommended for anyone concerned about the future of humanity.
Very few blackcurrants on my bushes at the allotment this year. Usually they crop so well that we can make wine once we have frozen enough for eating. Has anybody else had a disappointing yield this year?
July 27, 2024 at 12:55 PM
Very few blackcurrants on my bushes at the allotment this year. Usually they crop so well that we can make wine once we have frozen enough for eating. Has anybody else had a disappointing yield this year?
Ridiculous electoral system. Labour have about 200 more seats from a 1.4% increase in vote share. We need #FairVotes.
July 5, 2024 at 7:36 AM
Ridiculous electoral system. Labour have about 200 more seats from a 1.4% increase in vote share. We need #FairVotes.