Auntie Syzygy
@auntiesyzygy.bsky.social
Hermit pensioner & forager. Former indexer.
Scottish Statehood, Greek & Greece, Bee Orchids & the Bronze Age.
Nobody should own land as if it was a thing.
Scottish Statehood, Greek & Greece, Bee Orchids & the Bronze Age.
Nobody should own land as if it was a thing.
Pinned
It occurs to me that, being newly here, I should maybe explain my name. It comes from Caledonian Antisyzygy - a perceived characteristic of Scots literature (and presbyterian theology) to see the bad in the good. I think we Scots tend to second-guess ourselves, and our lack of confidence hampers us.
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
#NotOnBBCNews
They have reported this but normally such allegations have to be investigated within a year of occurence so what's going to happen? I'm guessing nothing. Meanwhile it distracts from fascism allegations, taking Russian money, promoting Russian narratives and umpteen council scandals.
They have reported this but normally such allegations have to be investigated within a year of occurence so what's going to happen? I'm guessing nothing. Meanwhile it distracts from fascism allegations, taking Russian money, promoting Russian narratives and umpteen council scandals.
So, Farage who’d previously failed 7 times to be an MP, decided that in Clacton he’d rely on his old Brexit friends - cheating (and racism) - to get him his win.
With millions now pouring into Reform, it’s beyond time to properly investigate this grubby little man
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
With millions now pouring into Reform, it’s beyond time to properly investigate this grubby little man
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform campaign for Farage’s Clacton seat was a ‘juggernaut’, say candidates
Defeated Tory and Labour rivals describe force of Reform ‘machine’ as police assess claims of overspending
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:14 AM
#NotOnBBCNews
They have reported this but normally such allegations have to be investigated within a year of occurence so what's going to happen? I'm guessing nothing. Meanwhile it distracts from fascism allegations, taking Russian money, promoting Russian narratives and umpteen council scandals.
They have reported this but normally such allegations have to be investigated within a year of occurence so what's going to happen? I'm guessing nothing. Meanwhile it distracts from fascism allegations, taking Russian money, promoting Russian narratives and umpteen council scandals.
Orchid taxonomy fascinates me.
At first, I thought how odd that I don't know either of its parents, but looking it up I see that back in my day O. attaviria wd still be a fusca, and if we saw a polyxo we'd have named it as, idk, a scolopax.
So wonderful to be able to greet a bee orchid by name.
At first, I thought how odd that I don't know either of its parents, but looking it up I see that back in my day O. attaviria wd still be a fusca, and if we saw a polyxo we'd have named it as, idk, a scolopax.
So wonderful to be able to greet a bee orchid by name.
Greetings from Greece. I had an enjoyable weekend & Monday has begun brilliantly too! It is nice when good things happen, which leads me onto my #orchid #AdventCalendar post for today...
A lovely hybrid: Ophrys attaviria x Ophrys polyxo.
#OrchidsOfRhodes #RhodesOrchidOdyssey
A lovely hybrid: Ophrys attaviria x Ophrys polyxo.
#OrchidsOfRhodes #RhodesOrchidOdyssey
December 9, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Orchid taxonomy fascinates me.
At first, I thought how odd that I don't know either of its parents, but looking it up I see that back in my day O. attaviria wd still be a fusca, and if we saw a polyxo we'd have named it as, idk, a scolopax.
So wonderful to be able to greet a bee orchid by name.
At first, I thought how odd that I don't know either of its parents, but looking it up I see that back in my day O. attaviria wd still be a fusca, and if we saw a polyxo we'd have named it as, idk, a scolopax.
So wonderful to be able to greet a bee orchid by name.
ooh - intriguing
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Linguists start compiling first ever complete dictionary of ancient Celtic
More than 1,000 words used as far back as 325BC to be collected for insight into past linguistic landscape
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 10:32 AM
ooh - intriguing
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
Devastated at the loss of Martin Parr, one of the greatest photographers of our time & a peerless champion of photography. I commissioned him @bodleian.ox.ac.uk to document @ox.ac.uk which became an exhibition & photobook, & he came to open our Paddy Summerfield show just a few weeks ago. RIP Martin
December 8, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Devastated at the loss of Martin Parr, one of the greatest photographers of our time & a peerless champion of photography. I commissioned him @bodleian.ox.ac.uk to document @ox.ac.uk which became an exhibition & photobook, & he came to open our Paddy Summerfield show just a few weeks ago. RIP Martin
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
Alex Schwartz: Recent Attempts to Curb Judicial Power in the United Kingdom ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/12/08/a...
Alex Schwartz: Recent Attempts to Curb Judicial Power in the United Kingdom
The era of Conservative Party government from 2015–2024 was one of great constitutional turmoil in the United Kingdom. In addition to (and partly because of) the controversies surrounding the UK’s …
ukconstitutionallaw.org
December 8, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Alex Schwartz: Recent Attempts to Curb Judicial Power in the United Kingdom ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/12/08/a...
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
Happy 5th December, World Soils Day!!
Please take a moment to think about your local patch of soil - whether it's your garden, a local park or even a nearby forest. Is the soil is being looked after well there? If not, what can you do to protect it for future generations? 🧪🪱
#Soil #WorldSoilDay
Please take a moment to think about your local patch of soil - whether it's your garden, a local park or even a nearby forest. Is the soil is being looked after well there? If not, what can you do to protect it for future generations? 🧪🪱
#Soil #WorldSoilDay
December 5, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Happy 5th December, World Soils Day!!
Please take a moment to think about your local patch of soil - whether it's your garden, a local park or even a nearby forest. Is the soil is being looked after well there? If not, what can you do to protect it for future generations? 🧪🪱
#Soil #WorldSoilDay
Please take a moment to think about your local patch of soil - whether it's your garden, a local park or even a nearby forest. Is the soil is being looked after well there? If not, what can you do to protect it for future generations? 🧪🪱
#Soil #WorldSoilDay
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
December 1, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
"Wowsers!" is what I imagine Graham Goodfellow said when he found this beauty in West Sutherland this summer! This is the hybrid between Frog Orchid and Heath-spotted Orchid, Dactylorhiza x conigera - just the 6th record for B&I and a worthy Day 7 for my botanical #adventcalendar #wildflowerhour
December 7, 2025 at 9:52 AM
"Wowsers!" is what I imagine Graham Goodfellow said when he found this beauty in West Sutherland this summer! This is the hybrid between Frog Orchid and Heath-spotted Orchid, Dactylorhiza x conigera - just the 6th record for B&I and a worthy Day 7 for my botanical #adventcalendar #wildflowerhour
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
Day 7 of my #orchid #AdventCalendar
Good morning! Here's a few pics of one of my favourites found here, 𝘖𝘱𝘩𝘳𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢.
#OrchidsOfRhodes #RhodesOrchidOdyssey #GreekOrchids
Good morning! Here's a few pics of one of my favourites found here, 𝘖𝘱𝘩𝘳𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢.
#OrchidsOfRhodes #RhodesOrchidOdyssey #GreekOrchids
December 7, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Day 7 of my #orchid #AdventCalendar
Good morning! Here's a few pics of one of my favourites found here, 𝘖𝘱𝘩𝘳𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢.
#OrchidsOfRhodes #RhodesOrchidOdyssey #GreekOrchids
Good morning! Here's a few pics of one of my favourites found here, 𝘖𝘱𝘩𝘳𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢.
#OrchidsOfRhodes #RhodesOrchidOdyssey #GreekOrchids
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
Small windfall, hillside orchard in the Talysh Mountains. 🌱 #agriculture
December 7, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Small windfall, hillside orchard in the Talysh Mountains. 🌱 #agriculture
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
Elon Musk to EU Policy Maker Thierry Breton in 2022, "Anything my companies can do that will be beneficial to Europe, we want to do that"
From working with Europe in 2022 to wanting to abolish the EU in 2025
What changed?
From working with Europe in 2022 to wanting to abolish the EU in 2025
What changed?
December 7, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Elon Musk to EU Policy Maker Thierry Breton in 2022, "Anything my companies can do that will be beneficial to Europe, we want to do that"
From working with Europe in 2022 to wanting to abolish the EU in 2025
What changed?
From working with Europe in 2022 to wanting to abolish the EU in 2025
What changed?
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
Left: Netanyahu, "From the Jordan river to the Mediterranean sea, that will always remain in Israel's hands"
Right: Keir Starmer says the chant from the river to the sea is an anti-semitic chant
Right: Keir Starmer says the chant from the river to the sea is an anti-semitic chant
December 7, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Left: Netanyahu, "From the Jordan river to the Mediterranean sea, that will always remain in Israel's hands"
Right: Keir Starmer says the chant from the river to the sea is an anti-semitic chant
Right: Keir Starmer says the chant from the river to the sea is an anti-semitic chant
"The public realm wasn’t always run like this and it doesn’t need to be run like this in the future. It is killing us and it is killing our democracy and it should be stopped."
robinmcalpine.org/private-prof...
robinmcalpine.org/private-prof...
Private profit doesn’t make government more efficient | RobinMcAlpine.org
robinmcalpine.org
December 7, 2025 at 11:32 AM
"The public realm wasn’t always run like this and it doesn’t need to be run like this in the future. It is killing us and it is killing our democracy and it should be stopped."
robinmcalpine.org/private-prof...
robinmcalpine.org/private-prof...
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
‘It’s the shape of story across all ages and human cultures. You’re in a hole. Then you get out.’
The climate crisis hole is hot, dark and we’re still in it.
But Prof Jules Pretty describes how we’re beginning to get out. There is good news…
The climate crisis hole is hot, dark and we’re still in it.
But Prof Jules Pretty describes how we’re beginning to get out. There is good news…
After COP30, what now? It’s actually good news
It’s the shape of story across all ages and human cultures. You’re in a hole. Then you get out
eastangliabylines.co.uk
December 7, 2025 at 8:33 AM
‘It’s the shape of story across all ages and human cultures. You’re in a hole. Then you get out.’
The climate crisis hole is hot, dark and we’re still in it.
But Prof Jules Pretty describes how we’re beginning to get out. There is good news…
The climate crisis hole is hot, dark and we’re still in it.
But Prof Jules Pretty describes how we’re beginning to get out. There is good news…
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
Plant Evolution 3A - plants from an alien perspective
YouTube video by Catballers
youtu.be
December 6, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
Very chuffed to wear a berry crown in ceremony to celebrate 25 years since planting of A’Chraobh - a spiral woodland near Borgie in Sutherland with 18 species representing the Gaelic Ogham alphabet. Maybe the only such forest in the world. Short film coming soon.
December 6, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Very chuffed to wear a berry crown in ceremony to celebrate 25 years since planting of A’Chraobh - a spiral woodland near Borgie in Sutherland with 18 species representing the Gaelic Ogham alphabet. Maybe the only such forest in the world. Short film coming soon.
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
Partially sunken refugee dinghy discovered by freighter under Turkish flag, south off Ierapetra, Crete, near Chryssi island.
18 dead
www.news247.gr/ellada/trago...
18 dead
www.news247.gr/ellada/trago...
Τραγωδία με 18 νεκρούς μετανάστες σε ναυάγιο νότια της Κρήτης
Πολύνεκρη τραγωδία ανοιχτά της Κρήτης μετά τη βύθιση φουσκωτής λέμβου, στην οποία επέβαιναν 20 άνθρωποι.
www.news247.gr
December 6, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Partially sunken refugee dinghy discovered by freighter under Turkish flag, south off Ierapetra, Crete, near Chryssi island.
18 dead
www.news247.gr/ellada/trago...
18 dead
www.news247.gr/ellada/trago...
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
These are not normal times. We should expect more of this childishness.
Donald Trump just removed Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth from the list of free entry days at national parks.
They are being replaced with Trump’s birthday.
They are being replaced with Trump’s birthday.
December 6, 2025 at 6:47 PM
These are not normal times. We should expect more of this childishness.
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
Legendary architect Frank Gehry dead aged 96
December 5, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Legendary architect Frank Gehry dead aged 96
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
The Nobel Prize committee should announce the World Cup winner tomorrow
December 6, 2025 at 4:29 AM
The Nobel Prize committee should announce the World Cup winner tomorrow
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
As a former child refugee, Tom Stoppard knew the importance of learning a foreign language. We should congratulate those who come to this country and try to learn English - not stigmatise them.
www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
We should be grateful for lovers of language - wherever they learn
Among the tributes to playwright Tom Stoppard, who died last month aged 88, was an extraordinary story told by a profess...
www.holyrood.com
December 6, 2025 at 9:43 AM
As a former child refugee, Tom Stoppard knew the importance of learning a foreign language. We should congratulate those who come to this country and try to learn English - not stigmatise them.
www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
Wishing a very happy "Inexplicable German Wake Up To A Chocolate Santa And A Tangerine In Your Boot" Day to all those who celebrate.
December 6, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Wishing a very happy "Inexplicable German Wake Up To A Chocolate Santa And A Tangerine In Your Boot" Day to all those who celebrate.
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
There are, happily, options where the #OrchidsOfRhodes are concerned* - several of the 50+ species we find on Rhodes come in different colour morphs, like these two flavours of Dense-flowered Orchid.
*there is only one Orchids of Rhodes tour though: 😉
mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
*there is only one Orchids of Rhodes tour though: 😉
mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
December 6, 2025 at 9:20 AM
There are, happily, options where the #OrchidsOfRhodes are concerned* - several of the 50+ species we find on Rhodes come in different colour morphs, like these two flavours of Dense-flowered Orchid.
*there is only one Orchids of Rhodes tour though: 😉
mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
*there is only one Orchids of Rhodes tour though: 😉
mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
Reposted by Auntie Syzygy
When the Hills Wear Stripes | Walkhighlands: www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/when-th... @walkhighlands.co.uk
When the Hills Wear Stripes
Have you noticed stripey patterns on high hillsides? I’ve noticed a lot recently. That’s undoubtedly because I’m spending so much time in the Cairngorms these days, where such patterns are common, but...
www.walkhighlands.co.uk
December 3, 2025 at 9:49 PM
When the Hills Wear Stripes | Walkhighlands: www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/when-th... @walkhighlands.co.uk