Helena
@midnightsheep.bsky.social
Welsh. European. Migrant.
Still lurking.
More detailed lurking coming soon.
Still lurking.
More detailed lurking coming soon.
This is "Fog in Channel: Continent cut off", train edition
December 30, 2025 at 2:28 PM
This is "Fog in Channel: Continent cut off", train edition
And let’s face it, one word choice or the other has always got primacy. What you’re objecting to is the switch.
December 26, 2025 at 3:07 PM
And let’s face it, one word choice or the other has always got primacy. What you’re objecting to is the switch.
It’s not delegitimising English, or monoglot English-speaking Welsh, I don’t think, but I suppose it is co-opting terms into some sense of separate, Welsh-specific identity that you may be unhappy with, and are probably correct in seeing as a sort of land-grab through language. Is that fair?
December 26, 2025 at 3:05 PM
It’s not delegitimising English, or monoglot English-speaking Welsh, I don’t think, but I suppose it is co-opting terms into some sense of separate, Welsh-specific identity that you may be unhappy with, and are probably correct in seeing as a sort of land-grab through language. Is that fair?
I think that’s why it’s a very imperfect analogy. Both names retain validity and acceptability, even if the primary name is switched.
I do think there is a growing trend to Welsh-identifying through increased use of Cymraeg, that doesn’t mean Welsh and “the Welsh” are implied to be synonymous.
I do think there is a growing trend to Welsh-identifying through increased use of Cymraeg, that doesn’t mean Welsh and “the Welsh” are implied to be synonymous.
December 26, 2025 at 3:05 PM
I think that’s why it’s a very imperfect analogy. Both names retain validity and acceptability, even if the primary name is switched.
I do think there is a growing trend to Welsh-identifying through increased use of Cymraeg, that doesn’t mean Welsh and “the Welsh” are implied to be synonymous.
I do think there is a growing trend to Welsh-identifying through increased use of Cymraeg, that doesn’t mean Welsh and “the Welsh” are implied to be synonymous.
I think of it as not entirely dissimilar to the issue of deadnaming people. Not an exact parallel, but a useful way, perhaps, to consider it?
December 26, 2025 at 2:19 PM
I think of it as not entirely dissimilar to the issue of deadnaming people. Not an exact parallel, but a useful way, perhaps, to consider it?
The names for the place where you live is about more than some strict chronology of terms, surely? To give primacy to the Welsh over the English here is about the right to self-representation, including a tradition of using Welsh, regardless of the “historical record“ (written record, I assume?)
December 26, 2025 at 2:15 PM
The names for the place where you live is about more than some strict chronology of terms, surely? To give primacy to the Welsh over the English here is about the right to self-representation, including a tradition of using Welsh, regardless of the “historical record“ (written record, I assume?)
Also enraging: stupid, pointless micro pockets. I’ve enlarged my share of those.
Everything must either have pockets or, at a pinch, if otherwise perfect, I’ll see if I can drop in what I call “feral pockets“. I swear doing only this would make a good tailoring business for someone (not me).
Everything must either have pockets or, at a pinch, if otherwise perfect, I’ll see if I can drop in what I call “feral pockets“. I swear doing only this would make a good tailoring business for someone (not me).
December 20, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Also enraging: stupid, pointless micro pockets. I’ve enlarged my share of those.
Everything must either have pockets or, at a pinch, if otherwise perfect, I’ll see if I can drop in what I call “feral pockets“. I swear doing only this would make a good tailoring business for someone (not me).
Everything must either have pockets or, at a pinch, if otherwise perfect, I’ll see if I can drop in what I call “feral pockets“. I swear doing only this would make a good tailoring business for someone (not me).
Thanks for your patience!
PS: With your other hat on - I've finally found a way to stop the crows descending and inhaling two dozen fat balls a day in my garden. And the answer is, very simply, peanuts! Man, they love those.
PS: With your other hat on - I've finally found a way to stop the crows descending and inhaling two dozen fat balls a day in my garden. And the answer is, very simply, peanuts! Man, they love those.
December 19, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Thanks for your patience!
PS: With your other hat on - I've finally found a way to stop the crows descending and inhaling two dozen fat balls a day in my garden. And the answer is, very simply, peanuts! Man, they love those.
PS: With your other hat on - I've finally found a way to stop the crows descending and inhaling two dozen fat balls a day in my garden. And the answer is, very simply, peanuts! Man, they love those.
I think I was tanged up in "standard of care in DK" which doesn't include vaccination of neonates against Hep B, so basically, yeah - I think it's the precise definition around "standard of care" that escaped me. The *ethics* seem obvious, but the formal framework to define that was less clear.
December 19, 2025 at 6:53 PM
I think I was tanged up in "standard of care in DK" which doesn't include vaccination of neonates against Hep B, so basically, yeah - I think it's the precise definition around "standard of care" that escaped me. The *ethics* seem obvious, but the formal framework to define that was less clear.
I think my confusion is somewhere around standard of care, yes. Essentially, you're saying that it's an absolute? Once we know, we know? So if, say, we know that with disease prevalence X, as applies in G-B, it's a known, clear good to vaccinate neonates, then that's what should be done, end of.
December 19, 2025 at 6:53 PM
I think my confusion is somewhere around standard of care, yes. Essentially, you're saying that it's an absolute? Once we know, we know? So if, say, we know that with disease prevalence X, as applies in G-B, it's a known, clear good to vaccinate neonates, then that's what should be done, end of.
Sorry if I’m being dim. (And understand if you don’t have time to clarify for randos online.) it just feels (to said rando) that the profile of the traveller group is so different, it’s not obvious.
Still totally repugnant to withhold treatment that you know would be beneficial in that other case.
Still totally repugnant to withhold treatment that you know would be beneficial in that other case.
December 19, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Sorry if I’m being dim. (And understand if you don’t have time to clarify for randos online.) it just feels (to said rando) that the profile of the traveller group is so different, it’s not obvious.
Still totally repugnant to withhold treatment that you know would be beneficial in that other case.
Still totally repugnant to withhold treatment that you know would be beneficial in that other case.
That part I get. I’m curious about vaccinating travellers vs neonates. It doesn’t feel like an intuitive comparison in the context of assessing childhood vaccination programme, which this is supposedly about? (Maybe studying HBV in DK/US since DK offers an unproblematic control *would* make sense?)
December 19, 2025 at 8:49 AM
That part I get. I’m curious about vaccinating travellers vs neonates. It doesn’t feel like an intuitive comparison in the context of assessing childhood vaccination programme, which this is supposedly about? (Maybe studying HBV in DK/US since DK offers an unproblematic control *would* make sense?)
I’m disgusted for sure, and not here to defend the decision (also absolutely agree that they’d make different choices in other public health conditions). It’s not totally clear to me (total layperson here!) why vaccination of travellers is a more relevant comparison with newborns. Can you explain?
December 19, 2025 at 6:21 AM
I’m disgusted for sure, and not here to defend the decision (also absolutely agree that they’d make different choices in other public health conditions). It’s not totally clear to me (total layperson here!) why vaccination of travellers is a more relevant comparison with newborns. Can you explain?
That said, TIL that Hep B isn’t IN the Danish childhood vaccination schedule 😳 so I suppose it’s not actually below the domestic standard of care. (In fact, I learned a lot of things about Danish vaccination policy that don’t entirely surprise but do somewhat shock me.)
December 18, 2025 at 10:27 PM
That said, TIL that Hep B isn’t IN the Danish childhood vaccination schedule 😳 so I suppose it’s not actually below the domestic standard of care. (In fact, I learned a lot of things about Danish vaccination policy that don’t entirely surprise but do somewhat shock me.)
I'm afraid he's right, you know
December 18, 2025 at 4:28 PM
I'm afraid he's right, you know
Barry looks quite a lot like Gareth
December 16, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Barry looks quite a lot like Gareth
Yep. This is how some of us end up entangled in unresolvable bureaucratic limbo. It’s never good to be the edge case!
December 16, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Yep. This is how some of us end up entangled in unresolvable bureaucratic limbo. It’s never good to be the edge case!
Which becomes a problem when your other nationality doesn’t allow name changes🤬
December 16, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Which becomes a problem when your other nationality doesn’t allow name changes🤬
Also, can someone explain to me:
a) watch this podcast on video (like radio, isn’t it a thing to listen to while you’re doing something else?)
b) live shows?????
a) watch this podcast on video (like radio, isn’t it a thing to listen to while you’re doing something else?)
b) live shows?????
December 16, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Also, can someone explain to me:
a) watch this podcast on video (like radio, isn’t it a thing to listen to while you’re doing something else?)
b) live shows?????
a) watch this podcast on video (like radio, isn’t it a thing to listen to while you’re doing something else?)
b) live shows?????
A lot of British ones do this too. It seems to correlate with getting big. I assume they assume that they themselves are the magic sauce that people want more of, and oblige the fans. Who knows: maybe they’re right. But not for me. There’s only so much fast-forwarding I’m prepared to do.
December 16, 2025 at 7:45 AM
A lot of British ones do this too. It seems to correlate with getting big. I assume they assume that they themselves are the magic sauce that people want more of, and oblige the fans. Who knows: maybe they’re right. But not for me. There’s only so much fast-forwarding I’m prepared to do.
Loved yours! I hate when a podcast gets too cosy and becomes increasingly about the interactions between hosts. The more banter, the more likely they are to do “a bit”, the less interesting it gets. There needs to be a good dynamic, sure, but I want it in the background. I *came* for the content.
December 16, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Loved yours! I hate when a podcast gets too cosy and becomes increasingly about the interactions between hosts. The more banter, the more likely they are to do “a bit”, the less interesting it gets. There needs to be a good dynamic, sure, but I want it in the background. I *came* for the content.
Agreed. This is what makes me queasy whenever I see any variant of "I came here illegally aged 11 and now I'm a heart surgeon in the NHS". It all fuels the narrative of the Good Immigrant vs the unwashed, ragtag others, nourishing the quiet racism of people who say, "but I don't mean *you*"
December 8, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Agreed. This is what makes me queasy whenever I see any variant of "I came here illegally aged 11 and now I'm a heart surgeon in the NHS". It all fuels the narrative of the Good Immigrant vs the unwashed, ragtag others, nourishing the quiet racism of people who say, "but I don't mean *you*"
Fun factoid: every post-War banknote ever issued continued to be legal tender until they were all swept away in one giant tidying up exercise in May. Up until then, you could still use your birthday money from 1953 or whatever. That really would have confused me at the Red Cross shop 🤯
December 6, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Fun factoid: every post-War banknote ever issued continued to be legal tender until they were all swept away in one giant tidying up exercise in May. Up until then, you could still use your birthday money from 1953 or whatever. That really would have confused me at the Red Cross shop 🤯
Needless to say, my Danish bank has never even considered offering us a chequebook and I have no idea if they still exist here. That said, I barely recognise any of the physical money, I see so little of it*
*even now, volunteering in a charity shop. Cash? Yeah, sure, we can manage that.
*even now, volunteering in a charity shop. Cash? Yeah, sure, we can manage that.
December 6, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Needless to say, my Danish bank has never even considered offering us a chequebook and I have no idea if they still exist here. That said, I barely recognise any of the physical money, I see so little of it*
*even now, volunteering in a charity shop. Cash? Yeah, sure, we can manage that.
*even now, volunteering in a charity shop. Cash? Yeah, sure, we can manage that.
I used to pay my milkman with a cheque until I left the UK in 2018. But the last few chequebooks were *all* milk, milk, milk, so I think that's an edge case. I should ask the former neighbour if that’s still how they’re paying.
December 6, 2025 at 9:03 AM
I used to pay my milkman with a cheque until I left the UK in 2018. But the last few chequebooks were *all* milk, milk, milk, so I think that's an edge case. I should ask the former neighbour if that’s still how they’re paying.