Rob Galpin
@robgalpin.bsky.social
Writer, gardener and conservationist. Lots of interests and endlessly distracting hobbies like music, literature, nature writing and poetry. North-east England.
Blogging at https://burnedge.wordpress.com
Poems at https://write.as/robgalpin
Blogging at https://burnedge.wordpress.com
Poems at https://write.as/robgalpin
Reposted by Rob Galpin
A key New Labour figure; one of the noisier People’s Vote ringleaders and plainly the driving force behind the bullshit and shenanigans within the Labour Party, 2018-19. A guy who can justly claim to be one of the main actors in making things the way they now are www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Mandelson accuses European leaders of ‘histrionic’ reaction to Trump’s Greenland stance
Article by former British ambassador to US is likely to be seen as criticism of Keir Starmer
www.theguardian.com
January 8, 2026 at 10:56 AM
A key New Labour figure; one of the noisier People’s Vote ringleaders and plainly the driving force behind the bullshit and shenanigans within the Labour Party, 2018-19. A guy who can justly claim to be one of the main actors in making things the way they now are www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Couple of cartoon moments out there wheeling my bike but no broken bones
#wallsend #northtyneside #icy
#wallsend #northtyneside #icy
January 8, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Couple of cartoon moments out there wheeling my bike but no broken bones
#wallsend #northtyneside #icy
#wallsend #northtyneside #icy
Reposted by Rob Galpin
I can't access my DMs on this milky mayonnaise-too-spicy website without verifying my age but because this government is so inconsistent with it's authoritarianism I can merrily head over to Twitter The Website Formerly Known As Twitter and look at child abuse images all day unfettered.
January 8, 2026 at 10:29 AM
I can't access my DMs on this milky mayonnaise-too-spicy website without verifying my age but because this government is so inconsistent with it's authoritarianism I can merrily head over to Twitter The Website Formerly Known As Twitter and look at child abuse images all day unfettered.
Reposted by Rob Galpin
One of the things this video shows is how people use bikes to aid walking, or develop a kind of hybrid cycle-walk to safely make progress. Dutch bikes (upright, easy to put feet down) particularly allow for people to make decisions that feel safe, especially on corners and junctions.
Take a moment, put this video up on your largest screen, and enjoy the calm that is people moving through their city in exceptional weather.
A new @bicycledutch.bsky.social video. ❄️
A new @bicycledutch.bsky.social video. ❄️
Commuting in the snow (Utrecht, Netherlands)
YouTube video by BicycleDutch
youtu.be
January 7, 2026 at 9:10 AM
One of the things this video shows is how people use bikes to aid walking, or develop a kind of hybrid cycle-walk to safely make progress. Dutch bikes (upright, easy to put feet down) particularly allow for people to make decisions that feel safe, especially on corners and junctions.
Reposted by Rob Galpin
All those people who were yelling "there's no problem with NATO" after Zack pointed out that with Trumpmerica in it, there IS a problem with NATO ... can you see it, yet?
Denmark tells Trump to stop threatening to seize Greenland ft.trib.al/Gzzizn9
Denmark tells Trump to stop threatening to seize Greenland
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says US has no right to annexe the Arctic island
ft.trib.al
January 6, 2026 at 10:48 AM
All those people who were yelling "there's no problem with NATO" after Zack pointed out that with Trumpmerica in it, there IS a problem with NATO ... can you see it, yet?
Reposted by Rob Galpin
You know when we said it was a bad idea to put these people in charge of all our NHS data?
Palantir co-founder says it exists to kill communists.
January 6, 2026 at 10:12 PM
You know when we said it was a bad idea to put these people in charge of all our NHS data?
climb
the ice path
to the arboretum
in the snow
the larch flame
is
extinguished
—
old snow
trodden
to ice
at night
you retreat
to soup
wavering
sobriety
#poetry
the ice path
to the arboretum
in the snow
the larch flame
is
extinguished
—
old snow
trodden
to ice
at night
you retreat
to soup
wavering
sobriety
#poetry
January 6, 2026 at 6:26 PM
climb
the ice path
to the arboretum
in the snow
the larch flame
is
extinguished
—
old snow
trodden
to ice
at night
you retreat
to soup
wavering
sobriety
#poetry
the ice path
to the arboretum
in the snow
the larch flame
is
extinguished
—
old snow
trodden
to ice
at night
you retreat
to soup
wavering
sobriety
#poetry
Reposted by Rob Galpin
Just checking with how Starmer's crusade to ban apps that produce deep fakes is going
January 6, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Just checking with how Starmer's crusade to ban apps that produce deep fakes is going
Reposted by Rob Galpin
BBC journalists have been banned from describing the kidnapped Venezuelan leader as having been kidnapped.
The BBC News Editor has sent this to BBC journalists.
The BBC News Editor has sent this to BBC journalists.
January 5, 2026 at 1:19 PM
BBC journalists have been banned from describing the kidnapped Venezuelan leader as having been kidnapped.
The BBC News Editor has sent this to BBC journalists.
The BBC News Editor has sent this to BBC journalists.
#poetry friends - I'm looking for recommendations for some handsome and recent pamphlet publications. Particularly anything handmade, beautiful, minimalist, letterpress etc #PromptCombo #PoemsAbout
January 5, 2026 at 12:46 PM
#poetry friends - I'm looking for recommendations for some handsome and recent pamphlet publications. Particularly anything handmade, beautiful, minimalist, letterpress etc #PromptCombo #PoemsAbout
Reposted by Rob Galpin
You'll be amazed to hear that on the stock market
Chevron ⬆️9%
Halliburton ⬆️10%
Exxon ⬆️4%
ConocoPhillips ⬆️8%
Chevron ⬆️9%
Halliburton ⬆️10%
Exxon ⬆️4%
ConocoPhillips ⬆️8%
January 5, 2026 at 10:33 AM
You'll be amazed to hear that on the stock market
Chevron ⬆️9%
Halliburton ⬆️10%
Exxon ⬆️4%
ConocoPhillips ⬆️8%
Chevron ⬆️9%
Halliburton ⬆️10%
Exxon ⬆️4%
ConocoPhillips ⬆️8%
Reposted by Rob Galpin
burnedge.wordpress.com/2026/01/04/f...
New blog post, first in a while. This is a little more diary-like than in the past, which may be the way forward as I work more on various garden / allotment projects
#Allotments #Gardening #Wildlife #NatureWriting #WildlifeGardening #BlogPost
New blog post, first in a while. This is a little more diary-like than in the past, which may be the way forward as I work more on various garden / allotment projects
#Allotments #Gardening #Wildlife #NatureWriting #WildlifeGardening #BlogPost
Full moon and dead hedge
These last few nights the moon has looked incredible through the dark trees in the allotments. Watching and recording the final, almost imperceptible waxing, over three or four nights, is something…
burnedge.wordpress.com
January 4, 2026 at 10:57 AM
burnedge.wordpress.com/2026/01/04/f...
New blog post, first in a while. This is a little more diary-like than in the past, which may be the way forward as I work more on various garden / allotment projects
#Allotments #Gardening #Wildlife #NatureWriting #WildlifeGardening #BlogPost
New blog post, first in a while. This is a little more diary-like than in the past, which may be the way forward as I work more on various garden / allotment projects
#Allotments #Gardening #Wildlife #NatureWriting #WildlifeGardening #BlogPost
#PromptCombo #NightFall @dragonslayerma.bsky.social #imagist
a short one from the snowy north-east - HNY all
a short one from the snowy north-east - HNY all
January 5, 2026 at 10:01 AM
#PromptCombo #NightFall @dragonslayerma.bsky.social #imagist
a short one from the snowy north-east - HNY all
a short one from the snowy north-east - HNY all
Reposted by Rob Galpin
Buckle up cos we're in for a truly epic round of equivocation, prevarication & nuancing the fuck out of this illegal action from Britain's pundits
BREAKING: Keir Starmer says he needs to "establish all the facts" before commenting on the capturing of Venezuela's President by the US
"What I can say is that the UK was not involved in any way in this operation"
"What I can say is that the UK was not involved in any way in this operation"
January 3, 2026 at 12:48 PM
Buckle up cos we're in for a truly epic round of equivocation, prevarication & nuancing the fuck out of this illegal action from Britain's pundits
burnedge.wordpress.com/2026/01/04/f...
New blog post, first in a while. This is a little more diary-like than in the past, which may be the way forward as I work more on various garden / allotment projects
#Allotments #Gardening #Wildlife #NatureWriting #WildlifeGardening #BlogPost
New blog post, first in a while. This is a little more diary-like than in the past, which may be the way forward as I work more on various garden / allotment projects
#Allotments #Gardening #Wildlife #NatureWriting #WildlifeGardening #BlogPost
Full moon and dead hedge
These last few nights the moon has looked incredible through the dark trees in the allotments. Watching and recording the final, almost imperceptible waxing, over three or four nights, is something…
burnedge.wordpress.com
January 4, 2026 at 10:57 AM
burnedge.wordpress.com/2026/01/04/f...
New blog post, first in a while. This is a little more diary-like than in the past, which may be the way forward as I work more on various garden / allotment projects
#Allotments #Gardening #Wildlife #NatureWriting #WildlifeGardening #BlogPost
New blog post, first in a while. This is a little more diary-like than in the past, which may be the way forward as I work more on various garden / allotment projects
#Allotments #Gardening #Wildlife #NatureWriting #WildlifeGardening #BlogPost
Full moon and dead hedge
These last few nights the moon has looked incredible through the dark trees in the allotments. Watching and recording the final, almost imperceptible waxing, over three or four nights, is something I've never really done before. Course if you take a photo of the moon in…
These last few nights the moon has looked incredible through the dark trees in the allotments. Watching and recording the final, almost imperceptible waxing, over three or four nights, is something I've never really done before. Course if you take a photo of the moon in…
Full moon and dead hedge
These last few nights the moon has looked incredible through the dark trees in the allotments. Watching and recording the final, almost imperceptible waxing, over three or four nights, is something I've never really done before. Course if you take a photo of the moon in the dusky sky, it looks like nothing more than an out of place street lamp, high up a phantom hill.
burnedge.wordpress.com
January 4, 2026 at 10:40 AM
Full moon and dead hedge
These last few nights the moon has looked incredible through the dark trees in the allotments. Watching and recording the final, almost imperceptible waxing, over three or four nights, is something I've never really done before. Course if you take a photo of the moon in…
These last few nights the moon has looked incredible through the dark trees in the allotments. Watching and recording the final, almost imperceptible waxing, over three or four nights, is something I've never really done before. Course if you take a photo of the moon in…
Reposted by Rob Galpin
The Duke of Westminster’s Estate, Forest of Bowland, 1989, photo by Fay Godwin.
January 4, 2026 at 9:18 AM
The Duke of Westminster’s Estate, Forest of Bowland, 1989, photo by Fay Godwin.
Snow in the allotments still coming thick and fast. The chickens aren’t happy #allotments #snow #crabapples #wallsend #northtyneside
January 3, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Snow in the allotments still coming thick and fast. The chickens aren’t happy #allotments #snow #crabapples #wallsend #northtyneside
Reposted by Rob Galpin
“A decent man” does not apologise for ripping off Enoch Powell, then rescind the apology and say that he meant it. And that’s before we get into criminalising protests against the genocide you are complicit in.
![Dominic Sandbrook in the @thetimes:
'For me, however, the figure [Keir Starmer] most resembles is Edward Heath — another dogged, decent man utterly overwhelmed by the pace of events, another plodding managerialist who totally failed to capture the public mood...'](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5hyjbx4hnlxe5il24ydnn4sr/bafkreihqqd7rnbtsowtbfsn7guxyoor4adb7n37shu7izpx5lydp3ydg7y@jpeg)
January 2, 2026 at 12:43 PM
“A decent man” does not apologise for ripping off Enoch Powell, then rescind the apology and say that he meant it. And that’s before we get into criminalising protests against the genocide you are complicit in.
Reposted by Rob Galpin
I’m old enough to remember Sir Keir bounding across the House to shake old Nige’s hand and do a big show of matey civility politics. I watched his Enoch Powell speech, saw the billowing sixty foot flags, listened to Mahmood’s migration crackdown announcement. But sure, the Greens
December 31, 2025 at 2:53 PM
I’m old enough to remember Sir Keir bounding across the House to shake old Nige’s hand and do a big show of matey civility politics. I watched his Enoch Powell speech, saw the billowing sixty foot flags, listened to Mahmood’s migration crackdown announcement. But sure, the Greens
Reposted by Rob Galpin
Wishing all those #promptcombo #poemsabout #bskypoetry #poetrycommunity #poets a joyful & rewarding #NewYear #Sylvester #NeuJahr
My #100th #poem this year!
#newpoem / #photography:
©Jan Peters/Solivagant Wisdom, 2025
#yews #eternity #nature #trees #life #death #renewal #graveyard #churchyard
My #100th #poem this year!
#newpoem / #photography:
©Jan Peters/Solivagant Wisdom, 2025
#yews #eternity #nature #trees #life #death #renewal #graveyard #churchyard
December 31, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Wishing all those #promptcombo #poemsabout #bskypoetry #poetrycommunity #poets a joyful & rewarding #NewYear #Sylvester #NeuJahr
My #100th #poem this year!
#newpoem / #photography:
©Jan Peters/Solivagant Wisdom, 2025
#yews #eternity #nature #trees #life #death #renewal #graveyard #churchyard
My #100th #poem this year!
#newpoem / #photography:
©Jan Peters/Solivagant Wisdom, 2025
#yews #eternity #nature #trees #life #death #renewal #graveyard #churchyard
Pollarded willow -> dead hedge in the allotments. Nice to get something productive done in the hols. The non-path side is (long term) going to be a wildlife garden
#allotments #gardening #wildlifegardening
#allotments #gardening #wildlifegardening
December 31, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Pollarded willow -> dead hedge in the allotments. Nice to get something productive done in the hols. The non-path side is (long term) going to be a wildlife garden
#allotments #gardening #wildlifegardening
#allotments #gardening #wildlifegardening
Reposted by Rob Galpin
It’s incredibly dangerous, obviously malicious stuff. It’s only a hop, skip and a jump from this, to: “extremist” ethnic populations protesting is intimidating and threatening Britons; “extremists” voting is threatening democracy; “extremists” being here at all is a threat to all white people.
December 30, 2025 at 9:54 AM
It’s incredibly dangerous, obviously malicious stuff. It’s only a hop, skip and a jump from this, to: “extremist” ethnic populations protesting is intimidating and threatening Britons; “extremists” voting is threatening democracy; “extremists” being here at all is a threat to all white people.
Very quiet morning. A far off child crying "help, help" resolves to be a cat wanting in
December 30, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Very quiet morning. A far off child crying "help, help" resolves to be a cat wanting in