michael
@parallelmotion.bsky.social
architect
less is more...more or less
less is more...more or less
As a student visited London in '91 and went to the South Bank primarily to see the National Theatre. The whole area felt very unloved and soulless, with hardly anyone about. Such a contrast to the lively cultural hub it's now become.
www.ft.com/content/93a0... Once reviled, now celebrated, London’s Southbank Centre is a genuine civic wonder.
Once reviled, now celebrated, London’s Southbank Centre is a genuine civic wonder
The cultural complex’s national importance has belatedly been recognised
www.ft.com
February 15, 2026 at 1:06 PM
As a student visited London in '91 and went to the South Bank primarily to see the National Theatre. The whole area felt very unloved and soulless, with hardly anyone about. Such a contrast to the lively cultural hub it's now become.
The best working life advice I've received was from my first boss who advised me that when writing any form of correspondence, to imagine it one day being read out loud in a court of law.
Ministers, advisers and civil servants are braced for political fallout from the impending release of tens of thousands of documents relating to the disgraced peer Lord Peter Mandelson and his appointment as UK ambassador to the US
www.ft.com/content/ffcc...
www.ft.com/content/ffcc...
Westminster fears release of ‘embarrassing’ exchanges in Mandelson data dump
Ministers, advisers and officials will see their communications about former peer’s appointment as UK ambassador released
www.ft.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:02 PM
The best working life advice I've received was from my first boss who advised me that when writing any form of correspondence, to imagine it one day being read out loud in a court of law.
Reposted by michael
My two things that are true at once:
1) starmer and his govt are not good at all, sometimes doing appalling things and deserve consequences
2) ALL of the alternatives at the moment are significantly to disastrously worse
Those are the options the country has and we can’t avoid choosing
1) starmer and his govt are not good at all, sometimes doing appalling things and deserve consequences
2) ALL of the alternatives at the moment are significantly to disastrously worse
Those are the options the country has and we can’t avoid choosing
So many people making excuses for Starmer's Labour totally fail to acknowledge that two things can be true at once:
1. The media environment Labour faces is impossibly hostile.
2. Labour's management of this situation is cowardly, feeble and generally hopeless.
1
1. The media environment Labour faces is impossibly hostile.
2. Labour's management of this situation is cowardly, feeble and generally hopeless.
1
February 10, 2026 at 12:17 PM
My two things that are true at once:
1) starmer and his govt are not good at all, sometimes doing appalling things and deserve consequences
2) ALL of the alternatives at the moment are significantly to disastrously worse
Those are the options the country has and we can’t avoid choosing
1) starmer and his govt are not good at all, sometimes doing appalling things and deserve consequences
2) ALL of the alternatives at the moment are significantly to disastrously worse
Those are the options the country has and we can’t avoid choosing
''Doubts surface at the BBC that the next series of The Traitors will be another huge ratings success''
The Global Counsel "Our People" page is like a relic of Stalin's purges.
February 6, 2026 at 2:25 PM
''Doubts surface at the BBC that the next series of The Traitors will be another huge ratings success''
Reposted by michael
Huge plaudits to @financialtimes.com which has led the way on exposing Mandelson and has also done great reporting on the corruption of Trump. What a contrast to @thetimes.com which did a soft interview with Mandy and has been hopeless on Trump
February 4, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Huge plaudits to @financialtimes.com which has led the way on exposing Mandelson and has also done great reporting on the corruption of Trump. What a contrast to @thetimes.com which did a soft interview with Mandy and has been hopeless on Trump
Reposted by michael
Some people think Trump's comments were a sort of tactic following the Davos climbdown. But I think his comments were actually just what they seem - freewheeling ignorance from an old man who is accorded Papal Infallibility by his followers.
bsky.app/profile/theg...
bsky.app/profile/theg...
Trump prompts outrage with claim Nato troops avoided frontline in Afghanistan
Trump prompts outrage with claim Nato troops avoided frontline in Afghanistan
UK MPs and veterans condemn US president’s comments and highlight his avoidance of military service in Vietnam
Donald Trump has provoked outrage among British MPs and veterans after claiming Nato troops stayed away from the frontline in Afghanistan.
The US president made his comments in an interview with Fox News in which he reiterated his suggestion that Nato would not support America if asked. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 23, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Some people think Trump's comments were a sort of tactic following the Davos climbdown. But I think his comments were actually just what they seem - freewheeling ignorance from an old man who is accorded Papal Infallibility by his followers.
bsky.app/profile/theg...
bsky.app/profile/theg...
Try '79, possibly the most eclectic year ever...post-punk/new wave, disco, ska/mod revival, early synth/electro & hip hop...and Art Garfunkel 🙃
#totp 1984 - the best year in pop? Me thinks aye.
January 17, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Try '79, possibly the most eclectic year ever...post-punk/new wave, disco, ska/mod revival, early synth/electro & hip hop...and Art Garfunkel 🙃
Reposted by michael
If you had stood in the election to be president of your student body, and lost, despite being the only candidate, you might conclude that politics wasn’t for you
January 15, 2026 at 5:26 PM
If you had stood in the election to be president of your student body, and lost, despite being the only candidate, you might conclude that politics wasn’t for you
Reposted by michael
Starting 2026 with a comfort food banger 😋
Happy new year everyone...
Happy new year everyone...
January 1, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Starting 2026 with a comfort food banger 😋
Happy new year everyone...
Happy new year everyone...
Have a very Merry Christmas...
December 25, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Have a very Merry Christmas...
Reposted by michael
Anyone who mocks it hasn’t seen it at night. It’s a 10/10.
December 24, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Anyone who mocks it hasn’t seen it at night. It’s a 10/10.
Reposted by michael
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 9:02 AM
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. 🎄✨
If you want to feel old like I do right now after reading this about Kylie getting the Christmas No.1
''Arriving 37 years after her first UK number one hit, I Should Be So Lucky...''
*Sobs quietly in corner*
''Arriving 37 years after her first UK number one hit, I Should Be So Lucky...''
*Sobs quietly in corner*
December 19, 2025 at 6:47 PM
If you want to feel old like I do right now after reading this about Kylie getting the Christmas No.1
''Arriving 37 years after her first UK number one hit, I Should Be So Lucky...''
*Sobs quietly in corner*
''Arriving 37 years after her first UK number one hit, I Should Be So Lucky...''
*Sobs quietly in corner*
December 19, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Reposted by michael
A lot of the family requesting books for Christmas presents. This website lets you order for home delivery, but you can nominate a local bookshop to register the sale/profit. So a huge range of books, delivered to your door, but helping keep your local highstreet bookshop going: uk.bookshop.org
Bookshop: Buy books online. Support local bookshops.
A better way to buy books online. Every purchase financially supports local independent bookshops.
uk.bookshop.org
December 8, 2025 at 4:43 PM
A lot of the family requesting books for Christmas presents. This website lets you order for home delivery, but you can nominate a local bookshop to register the sale/profit. So a huge range of books, delivered to your door, but helping keep your local highstreet bookshop going: uk.bookshop.org
Movie you've watched more than six times with a gif.
Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek) LOTR or Marvel
Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek) LOTR or Marvel
December 8, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Movie you've watched more than six times with a gif.
Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek) LOTR or Marvel
Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek) LOTR or Marvel
Reposted by michael
#KewGardens on a #BlueSky morning. For me, this place offers us one of the finest human tributes to what nature has given us. 🙏
December 2, 2025 at 3:50 PM
#KewGardens on a #BlueSky morning. For me, this place offers us one of the finest human tributes to what nature has given us. 🙏
Reposted by michael
Europe should give Ukraine the money right now, outright.
No ifs, no buts, no loans.
It’s the cheapest defence we will ever pay for; a loan will only store up trouble for decades; and it needs to be done with full democracy, making the case to voters to help them understand the threat we face.
No ifs, no buts, no loans.
It’s the cheapest defence we will ever pay for; a loan will only store up trouble for decades; and it needs to be done with full democracy, making the case to voters to help them understand the threat we face.
My press remarks in full here ↓
www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/informa...
www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/informa...
Informal Foreign Affairs Council: press conference by High Representative Kaja Kallas
Check against delivery! Good afternoon everybody, We just met with the EU Foreign Ministers in video format to discuss latest developments in ending Russia’s war. Foreign Minister Sybiha also joined u...
www.eeas.europa.eu
November 27, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Europe should give Ukraine the money right now, outright.
No ifs, no buts, no loans.
It’s the cheapest defence we will ever pay for; a loan will only store up trouble for decades; and it needs to be done with full democracy, making the case to voters to help them understand the threat we face.
No ifs, no buts, no loans.
It’s the cheapest defence we will ever pay for; a loan will only store up trouble for decades; and it needs to be done with full democracy, making the case to voters to help them understand the threat we face.
The Stone Roses - Fools Gold (Official Video)
YouTube video by StoneRosesVEVO
youtu.be
November 21, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Absolutely, integration is a two-way transaction, too often the onus is solely put on migrants...''why don't they integrate more!''...the host country has to want and encourage migrants to integrate and not put up barriers preventing them doing so.
The Government inherited an asylum system in meltdown, and had managed to at least get cases being processed again while ending the madness of the Rwanda plan. But the policies being announced today undermine all of that, making it harder for refugees to integrate and contribute to their communities
November 17, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Absolutely, integration is a two-way transaction, too often the onus is solely put on migrants...''why don't they integrate more!''...the host country has to want and encourage migrants to integrate and not put up barriers preventing them doing so.
An interesting aspect of platforms like this is watching in real time rarely used words suddenly become 'on trend'.
This week's offering - solipsism/solipsistic - aka selfish.
This week's offering - solipsism/solipsistic - aka selfish.
November 12, 2025 at 10:49 AM
An interesting aspect of platforms like this is watching in real time rarely used words suddenly become 'on trend'.
This week's offering - solipsism/solipsistic - aka selfish.
This week's offering - solipsism/solipsistic - aka selfish.
Reposted by michael
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
November 11, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
Reposted by michael
We will remember them, today and every day.
November 9, 2025 at 7:35 AM
We will remember them, today and every day.
In the absence of the UK Government & Prime Minister not having an official #bluesky account...
Elon Musk is deliberately using his platform to poison our politics and divide our country.
It's time for the government to wake up to the threat he poses to our democracy.
It's time for the government to wake up to the threat he poses to our democracy.
November 6, 2025 at 2:00 PM
In the absence of the UK Government & Prime Minister not having an official #bluesky account...