Rachel Balmer
@rachbalmer.bsky.social
Labour staffer @ukparliament.parliament.uk | Podcast producer | London tour guide
Reposted by Rachel Balmer
📸 Love brutalist architecture as much as we do?
The Guardian is doing a call-out for photos of your favourite brutalist buildings worldwide: from well-known landmarks to hidden gems. Get to it!
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
The Guardian is doing a call-out for photos of your favourite brutalist buildings worldwide: from well-known landmarks to hidden gems. Get to it!
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
Share pictures and stories of your favourite brutalist buildings
We want to see people’s most loved brutalist buildings around the world and why people treasure them
www.theguardian.com
January 24, 2025 at 10:33 AM
📸 Love brutalist architecture as much as we do?
The Guardian is doing a call-out for photos of your favourite brutalist buildings worldwide: from well-known landmarks to hidden gems. Get to it!
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
The Guardian is doing a call-out for photos of your favourite brutalist buildings worldwide: from well-known landmarks to hidden gems. Get to it!
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
I know next to nothing about code but I enjoyed the effort this guy put in to prove a point about maps...if nothing else that it's probably fine that maps just show space, and not time?
A fun watch 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC2V...
A fun watch 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC2V...
I made maps that show time instead of space
YouTube video by Václav Volhejn
www.youtube.com
January 3, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I know next to nothing about code but I enjoyed the effort this guy put in to prove a point about maps...if nothing else that it's probably fine that maps just show space, and not time?
A fun watch 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC2V...
A fun watch 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC2V...
As a result - I genuinely find it quite difficult to stroll care-free down the Middle of Lidl.
Spent yesterday helping my dad (in his 80s, widower, dementia etc) get ready to move into sheltered accomm. He’s got a large house full of junk. But what struck me is the impact Lidl’s aisle of shite must have had on the country. An unbelievable quantity of bizarrely useless objects filling houses.
December 29, 2024 at 11:28 AM
As a result - I genuinely find it quite difficult to stroll care-free down the Middle of Lidl.
Encountered these fabulous roundel clocks at Wanstead tube station last night
December 18, 2024 at 12:13 PM
Encountered these fabulous roundel clocks at Wanstead tube station last night
This 'obsession with a local patch' is framed as a Bad Thing, despite the fact there's a direct link between action at a local level (potholes! can I get a GP appt! are my bins being collected!) and restoring trust in mainstream party politics.
Until recently, British members of parliament had a far looser relationship with their constituents than most enjoy today.
But with many MPs obsessed with their local patch, some detect a shortage of politicians capable of commanding the national stage, let alone international affairs.
But with many MPs obsessed with their local patch, some detect a shortage of politicians capable of commanding the national stage, let alone international affairs.
Britain’s Winston Churchill shortage
Westminster is becoming a local place for local people — and that means fewer star politicians.
www.politico.eu
December 18, 2024 at 9:53 AM
This 'obsession with a local patch' is framed as a Bad Thing, despite the fact there's a direct link between action at a local level (potholes! can I get a GP appt! are my bins being collected!) and restoring trust in mainstream party politics.
Reposted by Rachel Balmer
So scrutinising Amazon’s business practices at the business select committee today was quite something. No contrition for their lamentable safety record, no understanding of why their workers went on strike, incredible defensiveness on why they fought GMB union recognition in Coventry
December 17, 2024 at 7:38 PM
So scrutinising Amazon’s business practices at the business select committee today was quite something. No contrition for their lamentable safety record, no understanding of why their workers went on strike, incredible defensiveness on why they fought GMB union recognition in Coventry
Wondering if London's new Wednesday night benders are the real reason behind our long-standing productivity problem...
This is a must-read for the transport nerds by @jim.londoncentric.media
This is a must-read for the transport nerds by @jim.londoncentric.media
December 17, 2024 at 2:32 PM
Wondering if London's new Wednesday night benders are the real reason behind our long-standing productivity problem...
This is a must-read for the transport nerds by @jim.londoncentric.media
This is a must-read for the transport nerds by @jim.londoncentric.media
'Moving through the world like phantoms.'
I'm a bit late to Doppelganger by @naomiaklein.bsky.social but wow, I'm not sure I've seen a better way of describing all that we've lost by entering into this Faustian pact.
I'm a bit late to Doppelganger by @naomiaklein.bsky.social but wow, I'm not sure I've seen a better way of describing all that we've lost by entering into this Faustian pact.
December 12, 2024 at 10:01 AM
'Moving through the world like phantoms.'
I'm a bit late to Doppelganger by @naomiaklein.bsky.social but wow, I'm not sure I've seen a better way of describing all that we've lost by entering into this Faustian pact.
I'm a bit late to Doppelganger by @naomiaklein.bsky.social but wow, I'm not sure I've seen a better way of describing all that we've lost by entering into this Faustian pact.
Reposted by Rachel Balmer
Someone in the queue ahead of me just ordered a ‘Tiramisu Latte’ and how did we end up here guys
December 6, 2024 at 8:46 AM
Someone in the queue ahead of me just ordered a ‘Tiramisu Latte’ and how did we end up here guys
Reposted by Rachel Balmer
CAN’T REALLY IMAGINE A MIXED USE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OFFERING THE SAME VITALITY TO A CITY AS A TRADING MARKET WITH 800 YEARS OF HISTORY THOUGH.
November 27, 2024 at 6:14 AM
CAN’T REALLY IMAGINE A MIXED USE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OFFERING THE SAME VITALITY TO A CITY AS A TRADING MARKET WITH 800 YEARS OF HISTORY THOUGH.
hitting up your next party like Sedaris, asking everyone what colour their pencil case is
December 1, 2024 at 9:29 PM
hitting up your next party like Sedaris, asking everyone what colour their pencil case is
The light and shade of a day in Parliament, after a vote on one of the most momentous pieces of legislation in years.
'We're going to move on to the Ferrets bill now'
'We're going to move on to the Ferrets bill now'
November 29, 2024 at 2:32 PM
The light and shade of a day in Parliament, after a vote on one of the most momentous pieces of legislation in years.
'We're going to move on to the Ferrets bill now'
'We're going to move on to the Ferrets bill now'
Reposted by Rachel Balmer
Robert Jenrick is speaking but I don't see any reason to inflict it on you. Watching him grapple with issues of moral importance is like watching a mop try to use Windows 95.
November 29, 2024 at 1:13 PM
Robert Jenrick is speaking but I don't see any reason to inflict it on you. Watching him grapple with issues of moral importance is like watching a mop try to use Windows 95.
Everyone knows that the wonder of Civil Service 'Spring' is that it spans basically from mid-Feb to early July at a push
FT can reveal that the big spending review has been pushed back from the spring to June
(but Treasury still pretending that June is in the spring lol)
www.ft.com/content/edc2...
(but Treasury still pretending that June is in the spring lol)
www.ft.com/content/edc2...
Rachel Reeves pushes back multiyear UK spending review until June
Delay from planned spring 2025 Treasury announcement will extend period of uncertainty for government departments
www.ft.com
November 28, 2024 at 7:18 PM
Everyone knows that the wonder of Civil Service 'Spring' is that it spans basically from mid-Feb to early July at a push
Love that a significant part of this piece is just explaining what is and isn't a public holiday in Europe
“I was not happy,” recalls Dina. “But then I got a look at him. And I said ‘Okay…’”
A British guy crashed her Thanksgiving dinner. They’ve been married for over 20 years | CNN
When British vacationer Richard Steggall turned up uninvited to Dina Honour’s New York Thanksgiving party, the two bonded over a slice of pumpkin pie, kickstarting a transatlantic romance that’s still...
www.cnn.com
November 28, 2024 at 3:04 PM
Love that a significant part of this piece is just explaining what is and isn't a public holiday in Europe
Reposted by Rachel Balmer
Astonishing interview on R4Today between Justin Webb and new Oxford Chancellor William Hague. Webb thinks the biggest concern for students is cancel culture. From my experience (actual lecturer), it's the cost of living & the ongoing mental health disaster for young people. Neither were addressed
November 28, 2024 at 9:39 AM
Astonishing interview on R4Today between Justin Webb and new Oxford Chancellor William Hague. Webb thinks the biggest concern for students is cancel culture. From my experience (actual lecturer), it's the cost of living & the ongoing mental health disaster for young people. Neither were addressed
Sad news about the closure of Billingsgate and Smithfield. Secretly wondering whether the actual reason behind the decision is because the Corporation couldn't find a way around the 1247 Royal Charter of the Liberty of Havering, granted by King Henry III
Time marches on, I suppose, but the idea of Smithfield becoming a giant WeWork, or a collection of food vans with names like The Crazy Taco Bros, makes me want to eat my own hands.
Smithfield and Billingsgate Markets to close without replacement in 2028. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 27, 2024 at 10:39 AM
Sad news about the closure of Billingsgate and Smithfield. Secretly wondering whether the actual reason behind the decision is because the Corporation couldn't find a way around the 1247 Royal Charter of the Liberty of Havering, granted by King Henry III
Reposted by Rachel Balmer
absolute rollercoaster of a day. the CEO of pizza express, miranda pollo, rang up asking to speak to whoever did the bluesky tweets. i was over the road at bury food and wine buying a galaxy ripple but charlie (who had answered the phone) pretended to be me
i present.............. the "granchiera". for a £2.50 surcharge, any pizza can be upgraded into a granchiera; as with leggera, a hole is cut away from the centre, but into that hole, instead of salad, is placed a dressed Cromer crab
November 25, 2024 at 2:04 PM
absolute rollercoaster of a day. the CEO of pizza express, miranda pollo, rang up asking to speak to whoever did the bluesky tweets. i was over the road at bury food and wine buying a galaxy ripple but charlie (who had answered the phone) pretended to be me
There are only *seven* constituencies in the country where fewer than half want to legalise assisted dying, and none where opponents outnumber supporters. So if MPs were to vote in line with their constituents' views on Friday's assisted dying bill, all MPs would be voting FOR the bill.
Our MRP finds that there are only 7 constituencies in Britain where a majority are not in favour of legalising assisted dying. They are found in London & Birmingham, generally in younger constituencies with more people of faith. You can explore it at the link www.moreincommon.org.uk/assisted-dyi...
November 25, 2024 at 10:43 AM
There are only *seven* constituencies in the country where fewer than half want to legalise assisted dying, and none where opponents outnumber supporters. So if MPs were to vote in line with their constituents' views on Friday's assisted dying bill, all MPs would be voting FOR the bill.
Blitz with Saoirse Ronan was really excellent - and I genuinely love movies about London - but goodness me it added a level of jeopardy to the tube ride home last night
November 19, 2024 at 5:04 PM
Blitz with Saoirse Ronan was really excellent - and I genuinely love movies about London - but goodness me it added a level of jeopardy to the tube ride home last night
I live for this sort of stuff. Great interview by @jonnelledge.bsky.social with TfL's 'head of crayons'
Might make this a thread of free posts on the newsletter, because clicks and subscriptions makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
Here's my interview with the man in charge of the tube map, about the process of renaming the London Overground lines.
Here's my interview with the man in charge of the tube map, about the process of renaming the London Overground lines.
All change on the Overground
So how do you re-name and re-brand an entire operational urban rail network?
jonn.substack.com
November 18, 2024 at 9:03 AM
I live for this sort of stuff. Great interview by @jonnelledge.bsky.social with TfL's 'head of crayons'
quite a charming vignette
This is exactly how I had imagined the run-up to the mini Budget going
November 17, 2024 at 9:48 PM
quite a charming vignette
Reposted by Rachel Balmer
“Sometimes, paradise is a house.” @mscaitlinmoran.bsky.social isn’t wrong.
Column, on how I've unexpectedly found I now feel happy not so much in "nature", but in places where new houses are being built: www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
November 16, 2024 at 5:21 PM
“Sometimes, paradise is a house.” @mscaitlinmoran.bsky.social isn’t wrong.
how things are going over here
November 17, 2024 at 9:39 PM
how things are going over here
Usefully postponing the inevitable monopoly feud by at least three hours
Tár has just arrived on Netflix, officially making it a Christmas movie
November 17, 2024 at 9:34 PM
Usefully postponing the inevitable monopoly feud by at least three hours