Peter Sketch
@petersketch.bsky.social
Dragonfly-obsessed environmental consultant
Reposted by Peter Sketch
Hazel catkins and one tiny, red female flower, in a rare moment earlier this week when it wasn’t raining and the air was still. #Gloucestershire #wildflowerhour
February 8, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Hazel catkins and one tiny, red female flower, in a rare moment earlier this week when it wasn’t raining and the air was still. #Gloucestershire #wildflowerhour
The Rue leaved Saxifrage at a car park near our office isn't quite out yet. Lots of leaves, no flowers. #WildflowerHour
February 8, 2026 at 8:17 PM
The Rue leaved Saxifrage at a car park near our office isn't quite out yet. Lots of leaves, no flowers. #WildflowerHour
I spent Wednesday lunchtime plant hunting in Bristol and only found this single Hairy Bittercress plant. I think this is a new one for the fence line around my favourite building site. #WildflowerHour
February 8, 2026 at 8:14 PM
I spent Wednesday lunchtime plant hunting in Bristol and only found this single Hairy Bittercress plant. I think this is a new one for the fence line around my favourite building site. #WildflowerHour
Very little about for #WildflowerHour this week with all the rain. When it let up for a bit this morning there was lots of this by the pond with the boggy edges in the local park. Butterbur I think (I don't have my book with me).
February 8, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Very little about for #WildflowerHour this week with all the rain. When it let up for a bit this morning there was lots of this by the pond with the boggy edges in the local park. Butterbur I think (I don't have my book with me).
Reposted by Peter Sketch
February 8, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Reposted by Peter Sketch
I realise everything is absolutely awful, but the Winter Olympics is genuinely great and I also saw Marty Supreme this week (brilliant!), and I’m clinging to these tiny shards of joy
February 8, 2026 at 6:12 PM
I realise everything is absolutely awful, but the Winter Olympics is genuinely great and I also saw Marty Supreme this week (brilliant!), and I’m clinging to these tiny shards of joy
Reposted by Peter Sketch
I still think back to the “Andy Burnham should get back in his box because we’d lose Greater Manchester to Reform” briefings six months ago
Yes you might do (I’ve been among those agreeing) but how is this a useful thing for you to brief about your own party 🫠
Yes you might do (I’ve been among those agreeing) but how is this a useful thing for you to brief about your own party 🫠
February 8, 2026 at 6:20 PM
I still think back to the “Andy Burnham should get back in his box because we’d lose Greater Manchester to Reform” briefings six months ago
Yes you might do (I’ve been among those agreeing) but how is this a useful thing for you to brief about your own party 🫠
Yes you might do (I’ve been among those agreeing) but how is this a useful thing for you to brief about your own party 🫠
Reposted by Peter Sketch
Yes, god help we risk a floundering government that feels like no one is in charge.
February 8, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Yes, god help we risk a floundering government that feels like no one is in charge.
Reposted by Peter Sketch
strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is the worst basis for a system of government, except for all the others that have been tried from time to time
that lady in the pond in England was unfairly smeared
Plus I think more women should have swords.
February 8, 2026 at 6:07 PM
strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is the worst basis for a system of government, except for all the others that have been tried from time to time
Reposted by Peter Sketch
I do wonder about anyone who thinks McSweeney single-handedly won Labour its majority. They do realise they were up against a catastrophically unpopular government? The 2024 result was very much an underperformance against the fundamentals.
Not *all* Labour MPs wanted McSweeney out.
“Gutted about Morgan”, one texts.
“So many of us know he’s brilliant to work with, so exceptional at the bigger picture strategic thinking, relentlessly focused on the moving pieces… and credit him with winning the majority”.
“Gutted about Morgan”, one texts.
“So many of us know he’s brilliant to work with, so exceptional at the bigger picture strategic thinking, relentlessly focused on the moving pieces… and credit him with winning the majority”.
February 8, 2026 at 5:39 PM
I do wonder about anyone who thinks McSweeney single-handedly won Labour its majority. They do realise they were up against a catastrophically unpopular government? The 2024 result was very much an underperformance against the fundamentals.
Reposted by Peter Sketch
The oldest known image of an owl:
More than 30,000 years ago, someone skillfully scratched the figure of a long-eared owl (Asio otus) into the soft outer layer of the walls of Chauvet Cave, France. The owl is looking backward over their wings, head turned 180 degrees
carnegiemnh.org/ancient-owl-...
More than 30,000 years ago, someone skillfully scratched the figure of a long-eared owl (Asio otus) into the soft outer layer of the walls of Chauvet Cave, France. The owl is looking backward over their wings, head turned 180 degrees
carnegiemnh.org/ancient-owl-...
February 8, 2026 at 6:08 PM
The oldest known image of an owl:
More than 30,000 years ago, someone skillfully scratched the figure of a long-eared owl (Asio otus) into the soft outer layer of the walls of Chauvet Cave, France. The owl is looking backward over their wings, head turned 180 degrees
carnegiemnh.org/ancient-owl-...
More than 30,000 years ago, someone skillfully scratched the figure of a long-eared owl (Asio otus) into the soft outer layer of the walls of Chauvet Cave, France. The owl is looking backward over their wings, head turned 180 degrees
carnegiemnh.org/ancient-owl-...
Reposted by Peter Sketch
President Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian drones will start being manufactured in Germany from February as part of the export of Ukrainian defense technologies.
February 8, 2026 at 3:15 PM
President Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian drones will start being manufactured in Germany from February as part of the export of Ukrainian defense technologies.
Reposted by Peter Sketch
Well, this quote has aged interestingly.
Work and Pensions Secretary, Pat McFadden has claimed there would be “no point” in removing Morgan McSweeney “if the Prime Minister stays”.
“In fact, I think if the Prime Minister stays there, I don’t think that would make any difference at all,” he said.
“In fact, I think if the Prime Minister stays there, I don’t think that would make any difference at all,” he said.
February 8, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Well, this quote has aged interestingly.
Reposted by Peter Sketch
Nothing makes one prouder to be British than someone resigning in disgrace because we still understand both those words
February 8, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Nothing makes one prouder to be British than someone resigning in disgrace because we still understand both those words
Bye then. Shut the door on your way out. Don't come back.
February 8, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Bye then. Shut the door on your way out. Don't come back.
Reposted by Peter Sketch
Ex-Corbynites exuding schadenfreude at Starmer's self-inflicted disasters need to ask themselves why someone like Zack Polanski and before him Caroline Lucas when faced with the Labour establishment seems able to avoid all the traps that Corbyn and co so enthusiastically plunged into
February 8, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Ex-Corbynites exuding schadenfreude at Starmer's self-inflicted disasters need to ask themselves why someone like Zack Polanski and before him Caroline Lucas when faced with the Labour establishment seems able to avoid all the traps that Corbyn and co so enthusiastically plunged into
Reposted by Peter Sketch
Looking forward to the big rush of posters later replying to my Super Bowl shitposts to tell me they hate football.
Joke's on you: I've been a Giants fan for over twenty years. I hate football too.
Joke's on you: I've been a Giants fan for over twenty years. I hate football too.
February 8, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Looking forward to the big rush of posters later replying to my Super Bowl shitposts to tell me they hate football.
Joke's on you: I've been a Giants fan for over twenty years. I hate football too.
Joke's on you: I've been a Giants fan for over twenty years. I hate football too.
Reposted by Peter Sketch
the magic of the Muppets is that there are two fourth walls. they constantly break the one that reminds the audience they are performers. they NEVER break the one that reminds the audience they are puppets. this dynamic is the key to their entire comedy style
MY KIDS: so why are there muppets in the AUDIENCE
ME: THE CONCEIT!! IS THAT THEY'RE PUTTING ON A VARIETY SHOW!!! IN A WORLD WHERE MUPPET AND HUMAN COEXIST!!! YOU ARE WATCHING A DOCUMENTARY!! FILMED!! IN REAL TIME!!!
ME: THE CONCEIT!! IS THAT THEY'RE PUTTING ON A VARIETY SHOW!!! IN A WORLD WHERE MUPPET AND HUMAN COEXIST!!! YOU ARE WATCHING A DOCUMENTARY!! FILMED!! IN REAL TIME!!!
February 8, 2026 at 6:22 AM
the magic of the Muppets is that there are two fourth walls. they constantly break the one that reminds the audience they are performers. they NEVER break the one that reminds the audience they are puppets. this dynamic is the key to their entire comedy style
Anyone hoping to run for the leadership, if you want my vote your platform needs to include firing Shabana Mahmood. This is non-negotiable.
The Home Office now describes asylum seekers as "illegal immigrants [living in hotels]" with no reference to the reason that these people are in government-funded accommodation is that this government has taken & will process the asylum claim from them in 98-99% of cases of unauthorised entry.
February 8, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Anyone hoping to run for the leadership, if you want my vote your platform needs to include firing Shabana Mahmood. This is non-negotiable.
Reposted by Peter Sketch
A duck is part of the decoration around the initial-word panel marking the beginning of Torah portion Mishpatim (מִּשְׁפָּטִים)
#ParashahPictures
BL Add MS 15423; Pentateuch; 1441 CE-1467 CE; Italy (Florence); f.49v
#ParashahPictures
BL Add MS 15423; Pentateuch; 1441 CE-1467 CE; Italy (Florence); f.49v
February 8, 2026 at 9:26 AM
A duck is part of the decoration around the initial-word panel marking the beginning of Torah portion Mishpatim (מִּשְׁפָּטִים)
#ParashahPictures
BL Add MS 15423; Pentateuch; 1441 CE-1467 CE; Italy (Florence); f.49v
#ParashahPictures
BL Add MS 15423; Pentateuch; 1441 CE-1467 CE; Italy (Florence); f.49v
Reposted by Peter Sketch
Another thing. Trafficking, abuse, rape, prostitution, violence against women and girls has been known about for a long long time. Women have been campaigning against them for a long time. And too often powerful men have treated it as something to ignore or mention only when convenient.
February 8, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Another thing. Trafficking, abuse, rape, prostitution, violence against women and girls has been known about for a long long time. Women have been campaigning against them for a long time. And too often powerful men have treated it as something to ignore or mention only when convenient.
Not a long thread, but an important one.
Men saying *now* they have the women as their priority. No. It was a transaction - they knew #Mandelson friends with Epstein. They decided to risk a dodgy bloke who could swim with other dodgy blokes in the White House. Women weren’t the priority then. We rarely are unless it’s politically useful.
February 8, 2026 at 9:36 AM
Not a long thread, but an important one.
Reposted by Peter Sketch
The current fashion for leading a party or being talked about leading a party while vocally backing policies that are anathema to your voter base is truly bizarre.
February 7, 2026 at 7:12 PM
The current fashion for leading a party or being talked about leading a party while vocally backing policies that are anathema to your voter base is truly bizarre.
"Please don't throw me in the briar patch."
February 7, 2026 at 9:21 PM
"Please don't throw me in the briar patch."
