Mary K Marshall
@marykm.bsky.social
IT app.Tester, community gardener 📚🐛,🔔ringer, Quaker.
🙂Amy Holmes is still working for the local BBC. 😢She doesn't feel comfortable on SM anymore. Her coverage of the Mid beds by-election was quite good.
BBC News - Bedford Borough Council asks for £55m to tackle budget shortfall - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News - Bedford Borough Council asks for £55m to tackle budget shortfall - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Bedford Borough Council asks for £55m to tackle budget shortfall
The council requests to borrow the money to help tackle a multimillion-pound funding shortfall.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 10:52 PM
🙂Amy Holmes is still working for the local BBC. 😢She doesn't feel comfortable on SM anymore. Her coverage of the Mid beds by-election was quite good.
BBC News - Bedford Borough Council asks for £55m to tackle budget shortfall - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News - Bedford Borough Council asks for £55m to tackle budget shortfall - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
🤔I wonder if they can help us at our Quaker Meeting Peace Garden/ Burial Ground ?
To my knowledge it has never had any chemicals used on it....
We just tidy it, keep the trees from bothering the neighbours and cut the grass....
Would be nice to monitor what's using it as a home🤔
To my knowledge it has never had any chemicals used on it....
We just tidy it, keep the trees from bothering the neighbours and cut the grass....
Would be nice to monitor what's using it as a home🤔
The Biological Recording Company and Barnet Council are offering Barnet residents and volunteers a range of free natural history training courses and events, both online and in-person.
Barnet Natural History Training
The Biological Recording Company and Barnet Council are offering Barnet residents and volunteers a range of free natural history training courses and events, both online and in-person.
biologicalrecording.co.uk
January 3, 2026 at 9:25 PM
🤔I wonder if they can help us at our Quaker Meeting Peace Garden/ Burial Ground ?
To my knowledge it has never had any chemicals used on it....
We just tidy it, keep the trees from bothering the neighbours and cut the grass....
Would be nice to monitor what's using it as a home🤔
To my knowledge it has never had any chemicals used on it....
We just tidy it, keep the trees from bothering the neighbours and cut the grass....
Would be nice to monitor what's using it as a home🤔
Reposted by Mary K Marshall
Best take so far. Venezuela has long deserved liberation from Maduro’s ghastly regime. I shed no tears for him. The question is, will it lead to a democratic transition, or regional chaos, and even more upheaval for the long suffering Venezuelan people? I hope the former but fear the latter.
Maduro is a brutal and oppressive dictator of Venezuela.
Trump has no legitimate legal basis for military action against Venezuela under United States or international law.
Both of those facts are simultaneously true.
Trump has no legitimate legal basis for military action against Venezuela under United States or international law.
Both of those facts are simultaneously true.
January 3, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Best take so far. Venezuela has long deserved liberation from Maduro’s ghastly regime. I shed no tears for him. The question is, will it lead to a democratic transition, or regional chaos, and even more upheaval for the long suffering Venezuelan people? I hope the former but fear the latter.
Reposted by Mary K Marshall
Completely and absolutely agree, the message Trump’s actions in Venezuela sends to Russia and China is that anything goes, international law be damned. Russia and China will act aggressively no matter what, but this adds cover to their agendas on Ukraine and Taiwan.
Nigel Farage expresses support for Trump's "unorthodox" breach of international law - on grounds that they may "make China and Russia think twice"
But the main impact on Russia and China will be to help them to legitimise aggression in cases like Ukraine and Taiwan, citing Trump/US as analogous.
But the main impact on Russia and China will be to help them to legitimise aggression in cases like Ukraine and Taiwan, citing Trump/US as analogous.
January 3, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Completely and absolutely agree, the message Trump’s actions in Venezuela sends to Russia and China is that anything goes, international law be damned. Russia and China will act aggressively no matter what, but this adds cover to their agendas on Ukraine and Taiwan.
A kind person put a bin for spare dog toys at the place people park to take their dog for a quick walk.
However, it filled with water, a bit of litter and a few🐕💩 bags🤢
So we've poured the icy water down the drain & put the litter & poo bags in the neighbouring correct litter bin.
However, it filled with water, a bit of litter and a few🐕💩 bags🤢
So we've poured the icy water down the drain & put the litter & poo bags in the neighbouring correct litter bin.
January 3, 2026 at 2:19 PM
A kind person put a bin for spare dog toys at the place people park to take their dog for a quick walk.
However, it filled with water, a bit of litter and a few🐕💩 bags🤢
So we've poured the icy water down the drain & put the litter & poo bags in the neighbouring correct litter bin.
However, it filled with water, a bit of litter and a few🐕💩 bags🤢
So we've poured the icy water down the drain & put the litter & poo bags in the neighbouring correct litter bin.
Reposted by Mary K Marshall
The morning after the night before...
Photo: Tamsin Holmes
Photo: Tamsin Holmes
January 1, 2026 at 9:30 AM
The morning after the night before...
Photo: Tamsin Holmes
Photo: Tamsin Holmes
🎵🔔🎶Rung the old year out ½ muffled then the new year in 🎶🔔🎵 at St. Mary's in #Hitchin.
Traditional nibbles & a little champagne to toast "happy new year" & added another cork to the line on the peal sign
Traditional nibbles & a little champagne to toast "happy new year" & added another cork to the line on the peal sign
January 1, 2026 at 12:53 AM
🎵🔔🎶Rung the old year out ½ muffled then the new year in 🎶🔔🎵 at St. Mary's in #Hitchin.
Traditional nibbles & a little champagne to toast "happy new year" & added another cork to the line on the peal sign
Traditional nibbles & a little champagne to toast "happy new year" & added another cork to the line on the peal sign
With 🇵🇸🇮🇱 being ever present and adding to the weight Sudan, DR Congo
You feel just as those early Quakers in Hitchin did.
The silent anguish of the heart
You feel just as those early Quakers in Hitchin did.
The silent anguish of the heart
"A little while and these Peculiar People are lost to view in the confusion of the Civil War. Unable to be 'at unity' with either side in the shedding of human blood, they experienced, nevertheless, in the silent anguish of their hearts,"
Page 25 A Mirror for the Society of Friends, Reginald Hine
Page 25 A Mirror for the Society of Friends, Reginald Hine
December 19, 2025 at 8:27 AM
With 🇵🇸🇮🇱 being ever present and adding to the weight Sudan, DR Congo
You feel just as those early Quakers in Hitchin did.
The silent anguish of the heart
You feel just as those early Quakers in Hitchin did.
The silent anguish of the heart
"A little while and these Peculiar People are lost to view in the confusion of the Civil War. Unable to be 'at unity' with either side in the shedding of human blood, they experienced, nevertheless, in the silent anguish of their hearts,"
Page 25 A Mirror for the Society of Friends, Reginald Hine
Page 25 A Mirror for the Society of Friends, Reginald Hine
December 19, 2025 at 8:23 AM
"A little while and these Peculiar People are lost to view in the confusion of the Civil War. Unable to be 'at unity' with either side in the shedding of human blood, they experienced, nevertheless, in the silent anguish of their hearts,"
Page 25 A Mirror for the Society of Friends, Reginald Hine
Page 25 A Mirror for the Society of Friends, Reginald Hine
At the Marshals meeting for the local hospice 🎄Christmas 🚜 tractor run fundraiser.
Organisers young lad bags himself the biggest piece of chocolate cake!
🤔 Reminds me of chocolate cake bribery to visit grandma.... It was so boring🥱 at her house!
Organisers young lad bags himself the biggest piece of chocolate cake!
🤔 Reminds me of chocolate cake bribery to visit grandma.... It was so boring🥱 at her house!
December 14, 2025 at 2:24 PM
At the Marshals meeting for the local hospice 🎄Christmas 🚜 tractor run fundraiser.
Organisers young lad bags himself the biggest piece of chocolate cake!
🤔 Reminds me of chocolate cake bribery to visit grandma.... It was so boring🥱 at her house!
Organisers young lad bags himself the biggest piece of chocolate cake!
🤔 Reminds me of chocolate cake bribery to visit grandma.... It was so boring🥱 at her house!
🤔Random settings are disappearing.... I thought it was an accidental tap or click but now a parameter was removed from one of my view only test ids.😠
Not only that it SHOULD have showed up in the Audit 😕
Not only that it SHOULD have showed up in the Audit 😕
December 11, 2025 at 5:12 PM
🤔Random settings are disappearing.... I thought it was an accidental tap or click but now a parameter was removed from one of my view only test ids.😠
Not only that it SHOULD have showed up in the Audit 😕
Not only that it SHOULD have showed up in the Audit 😕
Twas a dark & stormy night.... 🤔Good thing enough ringers turned up for these good souls to be confirmed by the Bishop
December 7, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Twas a dark & stormy night.... 🤔Good thing enough ringers turned up for these good souls to be confirmed by the Bishop
Reposted by Mary K Marshall
We're not the only ones who have enjoyed the magic of autumn. These dogs have been immersed in the nature around them, too.
📷: Rupert; Bo by Sally-Anne Crane; Winnie by Claire Richards; Lola
📷: Rupert; Bo by Sally-Anne Crane; Winnie by Claire Richards; Lola
November 30, 2025 at 8:00 AM
We're not the only ones who have enjoyed the magic of autumn. These dogs have been immersed in the nature around them, too.
📷: Rupert; Bo by Sally-Anne Crane; Winnie by Claire Richards; Lola
📷: Rupert; Bo by Sally-Anne Crane; Winnie by Claire Richards; Lola
I'm helping someone who is struggling to get fit after a stroke. She overdid the exercise this week so asked me to shop for her. Eating & digestion has been a problem too. Last week she chose some tinned items. I added more to the list.
😯Phone call... She was really 🙂
😯Phone call... She was really 🙂
November 16, 2025 at 8:31 PM
I'm helping someone who is struggling to get fit after a stroke. She overdid the exercise this week so asked me to shop for her. Eating & digestion has been a problem too. Last week she chose some tinned items. I added more to the list.
😯Phone call... She was really 🙂
😯Phone call... She was really 🙂
Come and show support to the refugees they said. Ware something colourful they said.
I wasn't going to say anything....
I wasn't going to say anything....
November 6, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Come and show support to the refugees they said. Ware something colourful they said.
I wasn't going to say anything....
I wasn't going to say anything....
George Fox asked Friends (Quakers) to be patterns, be examples and walk cheerfully over the world.
It's behaviour that counts not who you are! At least that's how it used to be....
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It's behaviour that counts not who you are! At least that's how it used to be....
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I’m a veteran Traitor - this is why the celebrity Faithfuls are so utterly shambolic | Paul Gorton
More so than ever before, the contestants seem unable to actually look at one another’s behaviour, and I think I know why, says former Traitors contestant Paul Gorton
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:05 AM
George Fox asked Friends (Quakers) to be patterns, be examples and walk cheerfully over the world.
It's behaviour that counts not who you are! At least that's how it used to be....
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It's behaviour that counts not who you are! At least that's how it used to be....
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Thus we are betrayed!
"are not looking at what people are doing; they’re looking at who they are."
We don't need further proof than the current incumbent in the US Whitehouse.
Trump is being betrayed by Putin. Trump is ignoring Putins behaviour.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
"are not looking at what people are doing; they’re looking at who they are."
We don't need further proof than the current incumbent in the US Whitehouse.
Trump is being betrayed by Putin. Trump is ignoring Putins behaviour.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I’m a veteran Traitor - this is why the celebrity Faithfuls are so utterly shambolic | Paul Gorton
More so than ever before, the contestants seem unable to actually look at one another’s behaviour, and I think I know why, says former Traitors contestant Paul Gorton
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Thus we are betrayed!
"are not looking at what people are doing; they’re looking at who they are."
We don't need further proof than the current incumbent in the US Whitehouse.
Trump is being betrayed by Putin. Trump is ignoring Putins behaviour.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
"are not looking at what people are doing; they’re looking at who they are."
We don't need further proof than the current incumbent in the US Whitehouse.
Trump is being betrayed by Putin. Trump is ignoring Putins behaviour.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
What is inclusion? Sweeping the leaves
1) Making it safer to cross the road 🙂
2) So those unable to lift their feet high enough, with walkers, in wheelchairs, with sticks & crutches don't drag muck & rubbish into churches, shops & homes.
1) Making it safer to cross the road 🙂
2) So those unable to lift their feet high enough, with walkers, in wheelchairs, with sticks & crutches don't drag muck & rubbish into churches, shops & homes.
November 1, 2025 at 5:20 PM
What is inclusion? Sweeping the leaves
1) Making it safer to cross the road 🙂
2) So those unable to lift their feet high enough, with walkers, in wheelchairs, with sticks & crutches don't drag muck & rubbish into churches, shops & homes.
1) Making it safer to cross the road 🙂
2) So those unable to lift their feet high enough, with walkers, in wheelchairs, with sticks & crutches don't drag muck & rubbish into churches, shops & homes.
Reposted by Mary K Marshall
Subtext: voting for the National Trust’s own recommendations over resolutions and candidates is the way to ensure that the Restore Trust ‘astroturf mob‘ with their vested interests do not get their feet in the door. Opaquely-funded, ‘grassroots’-my -arse individuals with furtive, anti-wokery intent.
October 24, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Subtext: voting for the National Trust’s own recommendations over resolutions and candidates is the way to ensure that the Restore Trust ‘astroturf mob‘ with their vested interests do not get their feet in the door. Opaquely-funded, ‘grassroots’-my -arse individuals with furtive, anti-wokery intent.
Reposted by Mary K Marshall
One vital reason to vote in the National Trust elections and for the NT endorsed candidates. We can't risk the Restore Trust candidates getting any influence on it.
October 20, 2025 at 2:25 PM
One vital reason to vote in the National Trust elections and for the NT endorsed candidates. We can't risk the Restore Trust candidates getting any influence on it.
There's been a butterfly in my home office up on the wall near the top of the shelves. It's been there since May or June and I didn't disturb it so there's a bit of dust & cobwebs in that corner.
Today it was fluttering at the window so I let it out.
Tried to ID it 🙄to many are brown & orange!
Today it was fluttering at the window so I let it out.
Tried to ID it 🙄to many are brown & orange!
October 24, 2025 at 1:04 PM
There's been a butterfly in my home office up on the wall near the top of the shelves. It's been there since May or June and I didn't disturb it so there's a bit of dust & cobwebs in that corner.
Today it was fluttering at the window so I let it out.
Tried to ID it 🙄to many are brown & orange!
Today it was fluttering at the window so I let it out.
Tried to ID it 🙄to many are brown & orange!
Autumn leaves fall🍁🍂 Meeting house paths need sweeping so those with walking aids, arriving in wheelchairs, kids in pushchairs and on scooters don't trail damp leaves indoors.
Those on the grass & under the trees we leave for the fun of leaf kicking🙂
Those on the grass & under the trees we leave for the fun of leaf kicking🙂
October 18, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Autumn leaves fall🍁🍂 Meeting house paths need sweeping so those with walking aids, arriving in wheelchairs, kids in pushchairs and on scooters don't trail damp leaves indoors.
Those on the grass & under the trees we leave for the fun of leaf kicking🙂
Those on the grass & under the trees we leave for the fun of leaf kicking🙂
We tidied the garden & welcomed our visitors. We put out food rescued goodies & gave an occasional tour.
Our Meeting turned our burial ground into a peace garden. In it is a sculpture "unity" it's the only public sculpture in #hitchin. I spoke for erecting it during austerity. 100% worth it!
Our Meeting turned our burial ground into a peace garden. In it is a sculpture "unity" it's the only public sculpture in #hitchin. I spoke for erecting it during austerity. 100% worth it!
So much going on... It's making me wonder if we will get any sponsored Bikers or Hikers visiting our MH raising money for the Historical Churches Trust this year..
bedshertshct.org.uk/bike-n-hike/
bedshertshct.org.uk/bike-n-hike/
September 13, 2025 at 8:24 PM
We tidied the garden & welcomed our visitors. We put out food rescued goodies & gave an occasional tour.
Our Meeting turned our burial ground into a peace garden. In it is a sculpture "unity" it's the only public sculpture in #hitchin. I spoke for erecting it during austerity. 100% worth it!
Our Meeting turned our burial ground into a peace garden. In it is a sculpture "unity" it's the only public sculpture in #hitchin. I spoke for erecting it during austerity. 100% worth it!
I've always struggled to find the right words and often what I say is a bit.... Off?..
Strangely some of my improvised attempts hit a cord. Later, others say them and it's just a bit weird! Seems I can't go viral here but I can IRL... Odd!
Strangely some of my improvised attempts hit a cord. Later, others say them and it's just a bit weird! Seems I can't go viral here but I can IRL... Odd!
September 12, 2025 at 3:13 PM
I've always struggled to find the right words and often what I say is a bit.... Off?..
Strangely some of my improvised attempts hit a cord. Later, others say them and it's just a bit weird! Seems I can't go viral here but I can IRL... Odd!
Strangely some of my improvised attempts hit a cord. Later, others say them and it's just a bit weird! Seems I can't go viral here but I can IRL... Odd!