Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
@hennystdave.bsky.social
Organic gardener, bird watcher including surveying for BTO, butterfly surveying for Butterfly Conservation. Professionally in resilience where I still sit on British and International committees (Organisational, Energy and Infrastructure Resilience)
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
Number crunching: Telegraph editorial columns in December highlighting ‘the unreliability of social media’ v corrections the Telegraph has had to publish so far this year due to inaccurate reporting
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
December 27, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Number crunching: Telegraph editorial columns in December highlighting ‘the unreliability of social media’ v corrections the Telegraph has had to publish so far this year due to inaccurate reporting
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
Fournier Street and the reflection of Christ Church Spitalfields, London - December 2025
December 27, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Fournier Street and the reflection of Christ Church Spitalfields, London - December 2025
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
Parents & anyone else up early on Christmas morning: there’s a bright pass of the International Space Station over the UK, just after 6.15.
Well, I say it’s the ISS. Could be Santa heading home…
Exact timings for where you are at www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary....
Well, I say it’s the ISS. Could be Santa heading home…
Exact timings for where you are at www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary....
ISS - Visible Passes
Satellite predictions and other astronomical data customised for your location.
www.heavens-above.com
December 24, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Parents & anyone else up early on Christmas morning: there’s a bright pass of the International Space Station over the UK, just after 6.15.
Well, I say it’s the ISS. Could be Santa heading home…
Exact timings for where you are at www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary....
Well, I say it’s the ISS. Could be Santa heading home…
Exact timings for where you are at www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary....
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
If over the xmas holidays you need help with a broken washing machine or other broken appliance. Do download the iFixit App and use the new FixBot to help you repair the problem. Its really quite useful! It even has useful suggestions to resolve family arguments (not really).
December 23, 2025 at 12:54 PM
If over the xmas holidays you need help with a broken washing machine or other broken appliance. Do download the iFixit App and use the new FixBot to help you repair the problem. Its really quite useful! It even has useful suggestions to resolve family arguments (not really).
A very gloomy day. Little Egret by the weir, mixed flock of Blue and LT Tits with a couple of Goldcrests. Merlin reckoned Firecrest but since I can’t hear them and couldn’t see one this may have been an illusion. Song Thrush singing loudly brightening the day #essexbirding
December 23, 2025 at 11:32 AM
A very gloomy day. Little Egret by the weir, mixed flock of Blue and LT Tits with a couple of Goldcrests. Merlin reckoned Firecrest but since I can’t hear them and couldn’t see one this may have been an illusion. Song Thrush singing loudly brightening the day #essexbirding
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
It's also the first time since 2010-11 that England have taken all 20 wickets in a Test in Australia while the series was still live - although they've done so in dead rubbers on a couple of more recent occasions.
December 22, 2025 at 10:44 PM
It's also the first time since 2010-11 that England have taken all 20 wickets in a Test in Australia while the series was still live - although they've done so in dead rubbers on a couple of more recent occasions.
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
Most Tests played in an away country without ever being on the winning side:
17 JE Root in Australia
15 Kapil Dev in Pakistan
14 Mushtaq Mohammad in England
12 BE Congdon in England
12 Intikhab Alam in England
12 BA Stokes in Australia
12 DL Vettori in Australia
17 JE Root in Australia
15 Kapil Dev in Pakistan
14 Mushtaq Mohammad in England
12 BE Congdon in England
12 Intikhab Alam in England
12 BA Stokes in Australia
12 DL Vettori in Australia
December 22, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Most Tests played in an away country without ever being on the winning side:
17 JE Root in Australia
15 Kapil Dev in Pakistan
14 Mushtaq Mohammad in England
12 BE Congdon in England
12 Intikhab Alam in England
12 BA Stokes in Australia
12 DL Vettori in Australia
17 JE Root in Australia
15 Kapil Dev in Pakistan
14 Mushtaq Mohammad in England
12 BE Congdon in England
12 Intikhab Alam in England
12 BA Stokes in Australia
12 DL Vettori in Australia
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
Andy Flower and Rishabh Pant are the only keepers to score a hundred in each innings in a Test. The nearest misses are:
APE Knott 101 & 96
JL Smith 184* & 88
T Taibu 85* & 153
Sarfaraz Ahmed 78 & 118
A Flower 74 & 129
MJ Prior 73 & 110*
AT Carey 106 & 72
MJ Prior 71 & 103*
#cricketcounts
APE Knott 101 & 96
JL Smith 184* & 88
T Taibu 85* & 153
Sarfaraz Ahmed 78 & 118
A Flower 74 & 129
MJ Prior 73 & 110*
AT Carey 106 & 72
MJ Prior 71 & 103*
#cricketcounts
December 22, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Andy Flower and Rishabh Pant are the only keepers to score a hundred in each innings in a Test. The nearest misses are:
APE Knott 101 & 96
JL Smith 184* & 88
T Taibu 85* & 153
Sarfaraz Ahmed 78 & 118
A Flower 74 & 129
MJ Prior 73 & 110*
AT Carey 106 & 72
MJ Prior 71 & 103*
#cricketcounts
APE Knott 101 & 96
JL Smith 184* & 88
T Taibu 85* & 153
Sarfaraz Ahmed 78 & 118
A Flower 74 & 129
MJ Prior 73 & 110*
AT Carey 106 & 72
MJ Prior 71 & 103*
#cricketcounts
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
It's an amazing feat of customer service that, when asked to find table seats for an adult and two children, the Avanti seat-picker *always and without exception* puts us in three separated non-table seats with an empty table nearby. Is this some form of satire on modern parenting?
December 22, 2025 at 12:12 PM
It's an amazing feat of customer service that, when asked to find table seats for an adult and two children, the Avanti seat-picker *always and without exception* puts us in three separated non-table seats with an empty table nearby. Is this some form of satire on modern parenting?
Lo for the tiding of the long night moon,
Let the sunrise call about the morning soon,
Short is the biding of the fading light,
Sing for the coming of the longest night.
The Halsway Carol
Seemed apt for Winter Solstice
Let the sunrise call about the morning soon,
Short is the biding of the fading light,
Sing for the coming of the longest night.
The Halsway Carol
Seemed apt for Winter Solstice
December 21, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Lo for the tiding of the long night moon,
Let the sunrise call about the morning soon,
Short is the biding of the fading light,
Sing for the coming of the longest night.
The Halsway Carol
Seemed apt for Winter Solstice
Let the sunrise call about the morning soon,
Short is the biding of the fading light,
Sing for the coming of the longest night.
The Halsway Carol
Seemed apt for Winter Solstice
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
Commentatorballs: collecting the very best of the wisdom of pundits. These are all real quotes from real commentators.
Watch ‘An Evening with Private Eye 2025’ in full, on Private Eye’s YouTube channel now.
Watch ‘An Evening with Private Eye 2025’ in full, on Private Eye’s YouTube channel now.
December 21, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Commentatorballs: collecting the very best of the wisdom of pundits. These are all real quotes from real commentators.
Watch ‘An Evening with Private Eye 2025’ in full, on Private Eye’s YouTube channel now.
Watch ‘An Evening with Private Eye 2025’ in full, on Private Eye’s YouTube channel now.
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
Trail hunting ban
Our Labour government are to start work on delivering more manifesto promises, with the publication of the new animal welfare strategy tomorrow.
It is exected to include a ban on trailing hunting across England & Wales along side many other measures to protect animals.
1/3
Our Labour government are to start work on delivering more manifesto promises, with the publication of the new animal welfare strategy tomorrow.
It is exected to include a ban on trailing hunting across England & Wales along side many other measures to protect animals.
1/3
December 21, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Trail hunting ban
Our Labour government are to start work on delivering more manifesto promises, with the publication of the new animal welfare strategy tomorrow.
It is exected to include a ban on trailing hunting across England & Wales along side many other measures to protect animals.
1/3
Our Labour government are to start work on delivering more manifesto promises, with the publication of the new animal welfare strategy tomorrow.
It is exected to include a ban on trailing hunting across England & Wales along side many other measures to protect animals.
1/3
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
Change seems unimaginable at first.
And then, suddenly, it doesn’t. It’s just “normal”.
And then, suddenly, it doesn’t. It’s just “normal”.
I lived thru the end of public smoking. Early in my career I presented to city councils who were smoking, in front of audiences who were smoking.
Smoking in restaurants, airplanes, hospitals…
All of that seems insane now, but it was very controversial when we DID change it.
We CAN change things.
Smoking in restaurants, airplanes, hospitals…
All of that seems insane now, but it was very controversial when we DID change it.
We CAN change things.
It’s crazy that people used to be able to just smoke cigarettes wherever they wanted
December 20, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Change seems unimaginable at first.
And then, suddenly, it doesn’t. It’s just “normal”.
And then, suddenly, it doesn’t. It’s just “normal”.
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
Some proposed climate “solutions” just don’t stack up against an objective, evidence-based perspective.
That’s why the Drawdown Explorer calls these “Not Recommended” climate solutions.
That’s why the Drawdown Explorer calls these “Not Recommended” climate solutions.
December 20, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Some proposed climate “solutions” just don’t stack up against an objective, evidence-based perspective.
That’s why the Drawdown Explorer calls these “Not Recommended” climate solutions.
That’s why the Drawdown Explorer calls these “Not Recommended” climate solutions.
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
A mega beachcombing find on Vatersay yesterday: a PRICKLY PALM seed from the West Indies, only the 13th record for NW Europe. Coincidentally, the 1st and 2nd records were both from Barra in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. #beachcombing
December 20, 2025 at 4:50 PM
A mega beachcombing find on Vatersay yesterday: a PRICKLY PALM seed from the West Indies, only the 13th record for NW Europe. Coincidentally, the 1st and 2nd records were both from Barra in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. #beachcombing
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
Huge ruZZian successes in two pictures
Gains in 1 year: 0.69% additional territory
So much winning… 😏🤷♂️
Gains in 1 year: 0.69% additional territory
So much winning… 😏🤷♂️
December 20, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Huge ruZZian successes in two pictures
Gains in 1 year: 0.69% additional territory
So much winning… 😏🤷♂️
Gains in 1 year: 0.69% additional territory
So much winning… 😏🤷♂️
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
Military analysts in 2025--The Russian military has adapted and pressed forward inexorably and will soon take Pokrovsk.
Historians in 2055. The Russian military campaign of 2025 was one of the most self-destructive in modern military history.
Historians in 2055. The Russian military campaign of 2025 was one of the most self-destructive in modern military history.
December 20, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Military analysts in 2025--The Russian military has adapted and pressed forward inexorably and will soon take Pokrovsk.
Historians in 2055. The Russian military campaign of 2025 was one of the most self-destructive in modern military history.
Historians in 2055. The Russian military campaign of 2025 was one of the most self-destructive in modern military history.
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
400,000 households receiving housing support will be be better protected from rogue landlords!
After a successful trial in 3 areas, 41 local authorities across England will now be empowered to better protect their local communities against landlords...
1/2
After a successful trial in 3 areas, 41 local authorities across England will now be empowered to better protect their local communities against landlords...
1/2
December 20, 2025 at 5:31 PM
400,000 households receiving housing support will be be better protected from rogue landlords!
After a successful trial in 3 areas, 41 local authorities across England will now be empowered to better protect their local communities against landlords...
1/2
After a successful trial in 3 areas, 41 local authorities across England will now be empowered to better protect their local communities against landlords...
1/2
Two old walkers trying to shake off the after effects of Flu had a nice stretch around Wormingford this morning. Orange Peel Fungus caught our eye, as did these trees appearing from the early fog. Redwings, Yellowhammers of note. #essexbirding
December 20, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Two old walkers trying to shake off the after effects of Flu had a nice stretch around Wormingford this morning. Orange Peel Fungus caught our eye, as did these trees appearing from the early fog. Redwings, Yellowhammers of note. #essexbirding
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
📈#IFSSatStat: Core funding for English councils in the most-deprived tenth of areas will increase by 15.4% above-inflation on average over the next three years. The least-deprived tenth will see almost no real-terms growth, even if they put up council tax by the maximum.
December 20, 2025 at 9:15 AM
📈#IFSSatStat: Core funding for English councils in the most-deprived tenth of areas will increase by 15.4% above-inflation on average over the next three years. The least-deprived tenth will see almost no real-terms growth, even if they put up council tax by the maximum.
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
And to add yet more context to undermine the idea that REFUK are taking over:
December 19, 2025 at 5:21 PM
And to add yet more context to undermine the idea that REFUK are taking over:
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
Perhaps there should be a small fee for every time you post a screenshot on Bluesky of some bullshit happening on X. Like the original 10p carrier bag charge, it wouldn't be prohibitive but it would make you think, hang on, do I have to do this?
December 19, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Perhaps there should be a small fee for every time you post a screenshot on Bluesky of some bullshit happening on X. Like the original 10p carrier bag charge, it wouldn't be prohibitive but it would make you think, hang on, do I have to do this?
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
"So it's like the Olympics but only for ex-British Empire countries, aside from Rwanda because Paul Kagame, and we sort of kept it going because of the Queen and now no one wants to host it so the UK is now paying for Glasgow to do so."
"Oh right. Still, at least it's free sport on TV, right?"
"Oh right. Still, at least it's free sport on TV, right?"
December 19, 2025 at 1:14 PM
"So it's like the Olympics but only for ex-British Empire countries, aside from Rwanda because Paul Kagame, and we sort of kept it going because of the Queen and now no one wants to host it so the UK is now paying for Glasgow to do so."
"Oh right. Still, at least it's free sport on TV, right?"
"Oh right. Still, at least it's free sport on TV, right?"
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
ProTEct truSTed LocAL nEWS
This isn't even designed to wind people up and hope they share it. It's just an exploitation of Birmingham Live's privileged position on Google Discover/Apple News. The whole point is to deceive people into clicking. An industry built on total contempt for its audience.
This isn't even designed to wind people up and hope they share it. It's just an exploitation of Birmingham Live's privileged position on Google Discover/Apple News. The whole point is to deceive people into clicking. An industry built on total contempt for its audience.
Another datapoint for @jim.londoncentric.media's list of misleading Reach headlines:
"Alert for UK households buying Cathedral City cheese at M&S or Tesco"
The "alert" is that... other cheeses came out ahead in an independent taste test.
www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/sho...
"Alert for UK households buying Cathedral City cheese at M&S or Tesco"
The "alert" is that... other cheeses came out ahead in an independent taste test.
www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/sho...
Alert for UK households buying Cathedral City cheese at M&S or Tesco
A taste test has revealed Cathedral City is actually outscored by other varieties
www.birminghammail.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 1:26 PM
ProTEct truSTed LocAL nEWS
This isn't even designed to wind people up and hope they share it. It's just an exploitation of Birmingham Live's privileged position on Google Discover/Apple News. The whole point is to deceive people into clicking. An industry built on total contempt for its audience.
This isn't even designed to wind people up and hope they share it. It's just an exploitation of Birmingham Live's privileged position on Google Discover/Apple News. The whole point is to deceive people into clicking. An industry built on total contempt for its audience.
Reposted by Dave in Essex 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
