Ally Lester
@cogenthippo.bsky.social
Writer of queer romance, often historical and/or paranormal. Reader, gardener, knitter, early tech adopter. Parent, spouse, disabled, carer. No longer keeps poultry. They/them. Also writes as Frances Fox. https://lnk.bio/gjD5 🏳️🌈 ✒️ 🏳️⚧️
Pinned
Ally Lester
@cogenthippo.bsky.social
· Mar 11
When I feel grim I try and practice gratitude for small things. Probably a thread.
Today I'm grateful for yesterday -- TC was on particularly good form and cheerful about a couple of things they've got going on. On-form teenagers are hilarious.
What about you?
Today I'm grateful for yesterday -- TC was on particularly good form and cheerful about a couple of things they've got going on. On-form teenagers are hilarious.
What about you?
Turkey and ham pie today. In other news I am beginning to look like a mince pie.
December 28, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Turkey and ham pie today. In other news I am beginning to look like a mince pie.
Reposted by Ally Lester
💯
This is just going to always be my go-to response to this kind of thing anthonymoser.github.io/writing/ai/h...
December 28, 2025 at 5:49 PM
💯
Reposted by Ally Lester
Here's a simple happiness hack:
Do something for someone that is truly altruistic. Do it in secret if you can, and take no credit, if you can manage that in a world that sees everything.
Do this as often as your circumstances allow, which may be once a year or once a day.
Try it and see.
Do something for someone that is truly altruistic. Do it in secret if you can, and take no credit, if you can manage that in a world that sees everything.
Do this as often as your circumstances allow, which may be once a year or once a day.
Try it and see.
December 28, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Here's a simple happiness hack:
Do something for someone that is truly altruistic. Do it in secret if you can, and take no credit, if you can manage that in a world that sees everything.
Do this as often as your circumstances allow, which may be once a year or once a day.
Try it and see.
Do something for someone that is truly altruistic. Do it in secret if you can, and take no credit, if you can manage that in a world that sees everything.
Do this as often as your circumstances allow, which may be once a year or once a day.
Try it and see.
Reposted by Ally Lester
The 2025 Top Ten Gay Romance anthology from JMS Books is out today, including the ten best-selling short stories of the year. Check it out!
www.jms-books.com/top-ten-gay-...
#mmromance #gayromance #booksky
www.jms-books.com/top-ten-gay-...
#mmromance #gayromance #booksky
December 27, 2025 at 3:15 PM
The 2025 Top Ten Gay Romance anthology from JMS Books is out today, including the ten best-selling short stories of the year. Check it out!
www.jms-books.com/top-ten-gay-...
#mmromance #gayromance #booksky
www.jms-books.com/top-ten-gay-...
#mmromance #gayromance #booksky
Reposted by Ally Lester
Popping in to say hope you are all enjoying these cosy days of lots of cheese, choklit and not knowing what day it is as much a Mouse is.
.
Ps if you got Yule money, mouse is looking for a shelf to cosy up on.
.
Ps if you got Yule money, mouse is looking for a shelf to cosy up on.
December 27, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Popping in to say hope you are all enjoying these cosy days of lots of cheese, choklit and not knowing what day it is as much a Mouse is.
.
Ps if you got Yule money, mouse is looking for a shelf to cosy up on.
.
Ps if you got Yule money, mouse is looking for a shelf to cosy up on.
Reposted by Ally Lester
Thread. Human connection is a necessity. It is one reason I’m not entirely anti-social media.
You get to read things like this.
You get to read things like this.
Thinking about how moving away from people-first is a growing trend, and how this is something quite important. It's been on my mind since my local McDonald's refurbished, and there's a reason for that.
December 27, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Thread. Human connection is a necessity. It is one reason I’m not entirely anti-social media.
You get to read things like this.
You get to read things like this.
Well. DOH.
The health service is being put at risk because overseas health professionals increasingly see the UK as an “unwelcoming, racist” country, in part because of the government’s tough approach to immigration
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Foreign medics shunning NHS because of anti-migrant rhetoric, says top doctor
Exclusive: UK now an ‘unwelcoming, racist’ country for overseas health workers, according to medical colleges leader
www.theguardian.com
December 27, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Well. DOH.
Reposted by Ally Lester
Honestly, if guys keep themselves clean, do a cool dance, and build a house for a lady - that's gotta work better than just dropping pickup lines en masse (pronounced on mass BTW) and playing the numbers game.
December 26, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Honestly, if guys keep themselves clean, do a cool dance, and build a house for a lady - that's gotta work better than just dropping pickup lines en masse (pronounced on mass BTW) and playing the numbers game.
Reposted by Ally Lester
Fun fact: Amelia Erhardt was a key contributor to the rise in popularity of the zip.
She was an early, prominent adopter.
She was an early, prominent adopter.
Behold the zipper’s first upgrade in over a century. YKK, the Japanese company that makes about half the world’s zippers, has created a zipper that removes the traditional fabric tape, creating a lighter, more flexible, lower-impact closure. buff.ly/5UV5gnr
#ShareGoodNewsToo
#ShareGoodNewsToo
The Zipper Is Getting Its First Major Upgrade in 100 Years
By stripping away the fabric tape that’s held zippers together for a hundred years, Japanese clothing giant YKK is designing the future of seamless clothing.
buff.ly
December 27, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Fun fact: Amelia Erhardt was a key contributor to the rise in popularity of the zip.
She was an early, prominent adopter.
She was an early, prominent adopter.
Bubble and squeak for breakfast.
December 27, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Bubble and squeak for breakfast.
"Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Building and Loan!"
December 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM
"Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Building and Loan!"
I may be having a fibro flare from yesterday's gluten. Despite this I cannot stop eating mince pies.
December 26, 2025 at 10:14 AM
I may be having a fibro flare from yesterday's gluten. Despite this I cannot stop eating mince pies.
Reposted by Ally Lester
Your internet gunkle is here to bring you gay tidings for the holidays.
My gift to you: the ebook or audiobook of Jack of Thorns, completely free for Christmas.
Merry Christmas. I love you. You're doing your best and it IS enough ❤️
Repost to spread joy.
shop.ravenswordpress.com/products/jac...
My gift to you: the ebook or audiobook of Jack of Thorns, completely free for Christmas.
Merry Christmas. I love you. You're doing your best and it IS enough ❤️
Repost to spread joy.
shop.ravenswordpress.com/products/jac...
Jack of Thorns
What do you do when a Celtic god rings your doorbell?
Laurence Riley is a San Diego florist whose ex won't leave him alone. Quentin d'Arcy is a British earl on the run from his own family. Despi...
shop.ravenswordpress.com
December 24, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Your internet gunkle is here to bring you gay tidings for the holidays.
My gift to you: the ebook or audiobook of Jack of Thorns, completely free for Christmas.
Merry Christmas. I love you. You're doing your best and it IS enough ❤️
Repost to spread joy.
shop.ravenswordpress.com/products/jac...
My gift to you: the ebook or audiobook of Jack of Thorns, completely free for Christmas.
Merry Christmas. I love you. You're doing your best and it IS enough ❤️
Repost to spread joy.
shop.ravenswordpress.com/products/jac...
Reposted by Ally Lester
Dear artists, especially those who are new here - PLEASE USE ALT TEXT IN YIUR ART POSTS.
1. It’s cool to make this site accessible
2. Many people mute those who don’t use alt text and you loose audience
3. Many (yours truly included) don’t repost art without alt text
4. Alt text is searchable
1. It’s cool to make this site accessible
2. Many people mute those who don’t use alt text and you loose audience
3. Many (yours truly included) don’t repost art without alt text
4. Alt text is searchable
December 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Dear artists, especially those who are new here - PLEASE USE ALT TEXT IN YIUR ART POSTS.
1. It’s cool to make this site accessible
2. Many people mute those who don’t use alt text and you loose audience
3. Many (yours truly included) don’t repost art without alt text
4. Alt text is searchable
1. It’s cool to make this site accessible
2. Many people mute those who don’t use alt text and you loose audience
3. Many (yours truly included) don’t repost art without alt text
4. Alt text is searchable
Reposted by Ally Lester
my baby cousin got me a biography of Lord Byron for Christmas, and the intro is like "through no fault of his own (it was the publisher's fault), the last major Byron biographer could not include any of the gay stuff, BUT I SHALL" thank u 4 ur service, Fiona MacCarthy, very excited to get into it
December 25, 2025 at 8:05 PM
my baby cousin got me a biography of Lord Byron for Christmas, and the intro is like "through no fault of his own (it was the publisher's fault), the last major Byron biographer could not include any of the gay stuff, BUT I SHALL" thank u 4 ur service, Fiona MacCarthy, very excited to get into it
Slept for a couple of hours. Woke up. Ate six mince pies with a cup of tea. Considering cheese.
December 25, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Slept for a couple of hours. Woke up. Ate six mince pies with a cup of tea. Considering cheese.
Vorkosigan saga by Lois McMaster Bujold.
The Saga of the Exiles by Julian May.
Tho 'live action' might be a challenge...
Tho 'live action' might be a challenge...
OK, less contentious post:
You've been placed in charge of a movie studio, and have an unlimited budget to adapt any work of your choosing that has never been made into a live-action TV series or film. What are you picking?
For me: PC Hodgell's Kencyrath Cycle and there's no close second
You've been placed in charge of a movie studio, and have an unlimited budget to adapt any work of your choosing that has never been made into a live-action TV series or film. What are you picking?
For me: PC Hodgell's Kencyrath Cycle and there's no close second
December 25, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Vorkosigan saga by Lois McMaster Bujold.
All time favourite. This is my 'mandatory dancing with Mr AL around the kitchen' song.
December 25, 2025 at 9:22 AM
All time favourite. This is my 'mandatory dancing with Mr AL around the kitchen' song.
Reposted by Ally Lester
Woman in the park: She was 96.
Her friend: 96. I guess she was ready to go.
Woman: Are you kidding? She ordered new curtains last week. When I called her and asked, ‘Are they nice?’ she said, ‘No they're not. I won’t use that company next time I need new curtains.’
Her friend: 96. I guess she was ready to go.
Woman: Are you kidding? She ordered new curtains last week. When I called her and asked, ‘Are they nice?’ she said, ‘No they're not. I won’t use that company next time I need new curtains.’
December 18, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Woman in the park: She was 96.
Her friend: 96. I guess she was ready to go.
Woman: Are you kidding? She ordered new curtains last week. When I called her and asked, ‘Are they nice?’ she said, ‘No they're not. I won’t use that company next time I need new curtains.’
Her friend: 96. I guess she was ready to go.
Woman: Are you kidding? She ordered new curtains last week. When I called her and asked, ‘Are they nice?’ she said, ‘No they're not. I won’t use that company next time I need new curtains.’
Reposted by Ally Lester
In my view these shocking numbers for homophobia and transphobia amongst Labour voters are, to a large extent the responsibility of the leadership of LGBT Labour over the last 5-6 years. There are a number of reasons why the LGBT Labour exec needs to be held accountable…
1/5
1/5
December 24, 2025 at 11:57 PM
In my view these shocking numbers for homophobia and transphobia amongst Labour voters are, to a large extent the responsibility of the leadership of LGBT Labour over the last 5-6 years. There are a number of reasons why the LGBT Labour exec needs to be held accountable…
1/5
1/5
Reposted by Ally Lester
This thread has been saved from the wastes of Twitter!
Go on; have a read, it’s a lovely Christmas Eve tale.
Go on; have a read, it’s a lovely Christmas Eve tale.
The most stressed out I've ever been about Christmas was when I was 16 and I got my first ever job, working at M&S in Dundrum. As soon as I started I kept hearing these myths about the Christmas Eve Waste Sale, where all the food that wasn't sold on the 24th was marked down 90%.
December 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM
This thread has been saved from the wastes of Twitter!
Go on; have a read, it’s a lovely Christmas Eve tale.
Go on; have a read, it’s a lovely Christmas Eve tale.
Reposted by Ally Lester
Hello, please repost for visibility.
Are you in or near Bury St. Edmunds this week?
Are you willing and able to do a favour for an internet person?
I'd really appreciate photos of the TK Maxx car park, whether during the day, or after dark (4pm lmao) to contest a parking invoice.
Are you in or near Bury St. Edmunds this week?
Are you willing and able to do a favour for an internet person?
I'd really appreciate photos of the TK Maxx car park, whether during the day, or after dark (4pm lmao) to contest a parking invoice.
December 24, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Hello, please repost for visibility.
Are you in or near Bury St. Edmunds this week?
Are you willing and able to do a favour for an internet person?
I'd really appreciate photos of the TK Maxx car park, whether during the day, or after dark (4pm lmao) to contest a parking invoice.
Are you in or near Bury St. Edmunds this week?
Are you willing and able to do a favour for an internet person?
I'd really appreciate photos of the TK Maxx car park, whether during the day, or after dark (4pm lmao) to contest a parking invoice.
We are about to have our Not-Christmas dinner and have invited our neighbour, who was bereaved a month after Mama died in May. I'm just doing a bit of last minute tidying. Everything is covered in dog hair. All three of them are on Turkey Duty.
December 24, 2025 at 12:48 PM
We are about to have our Not-Christmas dinner and have invited our neighbour, who was bereaved a month after Mama died in May. I'm just doing a bit of last minute tidying. Everything is covered in dog hair. All three of them are on Turkey Duty.
Reposted by Ally Lester
That 40% think Johnson would be fun, explains how he ever became PM. Personally I have always found him to be utterly repulsive. He epitomises everything I despise about the English elite. The "laughing boys" who get away with murder.
December 24, 2025 at 11:36 AM
That 40% think Johnson would be fun, explains how he ever became PM. Personally I have always found him to be utterly repulsive. He epitomises everything I despise about the English elite. The "laughing boys" who get away with murder.
Reposted by Ally Lester
My grandmother, who, upon reading my first #mmromance novel, said to me thoughtfully, “you know, this reminds me of some things I used to read, when I was younger” and now I have some questions about Young Grandma’s reading material & also how I might find these intriguing predecessors
#Smutcember
#Smutcember
Considering that many of you may be spending time with loved ones this month, #Smutcember:
Who among your friends and family has read your smut? Has it been a positive experience sharing it with them?
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
Who among your friends and family has read your smut? Has it been a positive experience sharing it with them?
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
December 24, 2025 at 6:39 AM
My grandmother, who, upon reading my first #mmromance novel, said to me thoughtfully, “you know, this reminds me of some things I used to read, when I was younger” and now I have some questions about Young Grandma’s reading material & also how I might find these intriguing predecessors
#Smutcember
#Smutcember