Pat Blair
@patblair.bsky.social
30 years in med journalism: Writer, editor, host to refugees. Loves family, travel, wine and decent interesting people. Interested in health (mental and otherwise), politics and random subjects. In no party but not keen on political extremists.
Having done jury service twice - once on three short petty crimes, and once on a three-week fraud case - I found the engagement by fellow jurors good and fair. They brought a wide range of experiences and addressed the evidence thoughtfully.
December 29, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Having done jury service twice - once on three short petty crimes, and once on a three-week fraud case - I found the engagement by fellow jurors good and fair. They brought a wide range of experiences and addressed the evidence thoughtfully.
Reposted by Pat Blair
Now there's a decent couple. Unlike the present two in the White House. America, how could you be so obtuse?
Good wishes to the Obama family.
Good wishes to the Obama family.
Merry Christmas! Michelle and I hope you have a wonderful holiday filled with light and joy.
December 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Now there's a decent couple. Unlike the present two in the White House. America, how could you be so obtuse?
Good wishes to the Obama family.
Good wishes to the Obama family.
For those who don't know: Norway also sends one to Scotland, and it stands proudly in the centre of Edinburgh. Some years back, it was decided to source that tree from Scotland but it is still a gift of friendship from Noway to Scotland.
Every year, people mock this tree. But I love it anyway.
It reminds us that if we stand together in tough times, we can overcome anything.
Merry Christmas from my family to yours. 🎄✨
It reminds us that if we stand together in tough times, we can overcome anything.
Merry Christmas from my family to yours. 🎄✨
December 24, 2025 at 4:43 PM
For those who don't know: Norway also sends one to Scotland, and it stands proudly in the centre of Edinburgh. Some years back, it was decided to source that tree from Scotland but it is still a gift of friendship from Noway to Scotland.
A shell company with ties to Israel exploited desperate Palestinians and facilitated their forced evacuation from Gaza, charging them large sums of money to covertly exit the country in what may be an official plan to ethnically cleanse the territory. [Al Jazeera investigation]
December 23, 2025 at 11:18 PM
A shell company with ties to Israel exploited desperate Palestinians and facilitated their forced evacuation from Gaza, charging them large sums of money to covertly exit the country in what may be an official plan to ethnically cleanse the territory. [Al Jazeera investigation]
Well worth the time spent listening.
Introduction to a series by Tomasz – a note left by some Russian on his car window in Helsinki was the birth of his fundraiser for Ukraine | Tomasz Oryński @orynski.eu
A Polish drunk driver helped make a Russian’s wish come true
Introduction to a series by Tomasz – a note left by some Russian on his car window in Helsinki was the birth of his fundraiser for Ukraine
bylines.scot
December 15, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Well worth the time spent listening.
Teach them instead. We don't ban kids from crossing roads, we teach them how to do it safely.
Lemmings.
Will other countries follow Australia’s social media ban for under-16s?
December 13, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Teach them instead. We don't ban kids from crossing roads, we teach them how to do it safely.
I'm not computer illiterate. However, having spent 3 mornings grappling with a bank online, something that would have taken an hour at the outmost in a walk-in branch, I do wonder how blind and partially sighted people cope with the current lack of service by financial institutions. Damn them all.
December 11, 2025 at 3:08 PM
I'm not computer illiterate. However, having spent 3 mornings grappling with a bank online, something that would have taken an hour at the outmost in a walk-in branch, I do wonder how blind and partially sighted people cope with the current lack of service by financial institutions. Damn them all.
Accounts for that money should be open to public scrutiny. And for all former PMs.
December 8, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Accounts for that money should be open to public scrutiny. And for all former PMs.
Interesting that there have been around 14 arrests already after the Hong Kong building fire, all within days. Meantime, there have been no arrests after the Grenfell tower-block fire in London eight years ago.
December 1, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Interesting that there have been around 14 arrests already after the Hong Kong building fire, all within days. Meantime, there have been no arrests after the Grenfell tower-block fire in London eight years ago.
Life is extraordinary. Yesterday, I did a small good deed for someone. Today, at a mini-market, a man - never seen him before - paid my bill before I could get my debit card out. How kind, though I didn't really need it.It's true: what goes around, comes around. We need to spread more good deeds.
November 30, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Life is extraordinary. Yesterday, I did a small good deed for someone. Today, at a mini-market, a man - never seen him before - paid my bill before I could get my debit card out. How kind, though I didn't really need it.It's true: what goes around, comes around. We need to spread more good deeds.
It's not clear why booking has been introduced. Some councils use proof of residence (council tax bill), fair enough. But personal/vehicle details? More a deterrence than encouragement. Will I book? Unlikely. Just break things up and put in general rubbish.
Now have to book to use recycle centre, both personal and vehicle details equired. I sense they dont realise this will deter more from using 'the dump' a more commonly used phrase, but will create more flytipping. Just saying 🤷♀️
November 28, 2025 at 6:52 PM
It's not clear why booking has been introduced. Some councils use proof of residence (council tax bill), fair enough. But personal/vehicle details? More a deterrence than encouragement. Will I book? Unlikely. Just break things up and put in general rubbish.
Reposted by Pat Blair
I guess the brave BBC will be sandblasting Orwell's "If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear" off the front of Broadcasting House?
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 10:28 AM
I guess the brave BBC will be sandblasting Orwell's "If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear" off the front of Broadcasting House?
If it is true that Trump allegedly knew about the girls and asked Ghislaine Maxwell to stop, why didn't Trump act to expose it? Was it only because Epstein had money and rich or influential contacts, things that Trump seems to admire?
Just a question,
Just a question,
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 17, 2025 at 2:19 PM
If it is true that Trump allegedly knew about the girls and asked Ghislaine Maxwell to stop, why didn't Trump act to expose it? Was it only because Epstein had money and rich or influential contacts, things that Trump seems to admire?
Just a question,
Just a question,
Where can I find good satire programmes these days?
November 15, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Where can I find good satire programmes these days?
Could never really see the point of them, TBH. Just a Tory indulgence.
November 15, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Could never really see the point of them, TBH. Just a Tory indulgence.
Three main topics: education, health and employment.
They make some very valid points from their perspective. How many MPs are listening?
They make some very valid points from their perspective. How many MPs are listening?
Why has so little been said about the Youth Parliament debating today in the House of Commons? It includes representatives from the British Overseas Terrorities and Dependencies as well as from around the UK. These young people are impressive.
November 6, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Three main topics: education, health and employment.
They make some very valid points from their perspective. How many MPs are listening?
They make some very valid points from their perspective. How many MPs are listening?
Why has so little been said about the Youth Parliament debating today in the House of Commons? It includes representatives from the British Overseas Terrorities and Dependencies as well as from around the UK. These young people are impressive.
November 6, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Why has so little been said about the Youth Parliament debating today in the House of Commons? It includes representatives from the British Overseas Terrorities and Dependencies as well as from around the UK. These young people are impressive.
When the dribbling stops and before it starts again.
November 3, 2025 at 1:49 PM
When the dribbling stops and before it starts again.
One reason why BBC news programmes have lost the trust of so many people. And why, perhaps, so many good journalists have abandoned the BBC and moved elsewhere.
November 3, 2025 at 1:38 PM
One reason why BBC news programmes have lost the trust of so many people. And why, perhaps, so many good journalists have abandoned the BBC and moved elsewhere.
Sheer admiration for the training and professionalism of all those who rose to the occasion with speed in dealing with the effects of the train knife attack: railway staff, train driver and comptroller; police officers and paramedics; NHS staff treating the injured. Makes one proud to be British.
November 3, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Sheer admiration for the training and professionalism of all those who rose to the occasion with speed in dealing with the effects of the train knife attack: railway staff, train driver and comptroller; police officers and paramedics; NHS staff treating the injured. Makes one proud to be British.
Isn't it time the Met Police actually showed its face on Bluesky? No posts at all.
November 2, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Isn't it time the Met Police actually showed its face on Bluesky? No posts at all.
Reposted by Pat Blair
The Reform leader is unveiling legislation to leave the ECHR.
His arguments are wrong – and that move would be a disaster. Here are the facts:
https://goodlaw.social/ngjm
His arguments are wrong – and that move would be a disaster. Here are the facts:
https://goodlaw.social/ngjm
Nigel Farage is wrong about the European Convention on Human Rights | Good Law Project
The Reform leader is unveiling legislation to leave the ECHR. His arguments are wrong – and that move would be a disaster.
goodlaw.social
October 29, 2025 at 12:58 PM
The Reform leader is unveiling legislation to leave the ECHR.
His arguments are wrong – and that move would be a disaster. Here are the facts:
https://goodlaw.social/ngjm
His arguments are wrong – and that move would be a disaster. Here are the facts:
https://goodlaw.social/ngjm
I tred, I really did but however much Ms Badenoch wags her finger and waves her arms about, she is still better muted during PMQs.
October 29, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I tred, I really did but however much Ms Badenoch wags her finger and waves her arms about, she is still better muted during PMQs.
Typical Farage. Planting a seed in the hope it will grow.
Nigel Farage has accused the mayor of London and the Metropolitan Police of "denying" the existence of grooming gangs in the capital. [BBC]
If he knows something, he should report it to police. If he doesn't, he should stop stirring.
Nigel Farage has accused the mayor of London and the Metropolitan Police of "denying" the existence of grooming gangs in the capital. [BBC]
If he knows something, he should report it to police. If he doesn't, he should stop stirring.
October 27, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Typical Farage. Planting a seed in the hope it will grow.
Nigel Farage has accused the mayor of London and the Metropolitan Police of "denying" the existence of grooming gangs in the capital. [BBC]
If he knows something, he should report it to police. If he doesn't, he should stop stirring.
Nigel Farage has accused the mayor of London and the Metropolitan Police of "denying" the existence of grooming gangs in the capital. [BBC]
If he knows something, he should report it to police. If he doesn't, he should stop stirring.