Sue Beesley
@suebeesley.bsky.social
Gardener. Occasional microlighter. SolarPV devotee since 2011. Heat pump nerd.... Also at @bluebellcottage.bsky.social. See also: www.bluebellcottage.co.uk
@vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu gets it right every time. Totally ignores all the noise around her and just presses steadily ahead with the right course of action, calmly explained and delivered.
Doing so would send a powerful signal ahead of the grim 4th anniversary of this war:
Our commitment to a free and sovereign Ukraine is unwavering.
if anything, it grows stronger day by day, month by month, year by year.
Our commitment to a free and sovereign Ukraine is unwavering.
if anything, it grows stronger day by day, month by month, year by year.
February 6, 2026 at 2:11 PM
@vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu gets it right every time. Totally ignores all the noise around her and just presses steadily ahead with the right course of action, calmly explained and delivered.
... one to watch... @stephengbyrne.bsky.social
I'm editing a book, part memoir, part art history, about the German artist Kurt Schwitters' last years in the English Lake District, and it's FANTASTIC. Not read anything like this in years and cannot wait until @littletollerbooks.bsky.social publishes it later this spring. More soon.
February 6, 2026 at 2:08 PM
... one to watch... @stephengbyrne.bsky.social
Artist Andy Goldsworthy on gathering gravestones: This is my best work yet. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Artist Andy Goldsworthy on gathering gravestones: This is my best work yet
For years he was overlooked by the art world - now he's been approached to create a piece for a new art prize.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 6, 2026 at 12:54 PM
What's maddening about the Mandelson/Starmer problem is that a fundamentally decent politician, whatever other weaknesses he has, could be ousted for the main reason that he was deliberately misled by charlatans and grifters who would happily see us robbed blind, and will if they get the chance.
February 6, 2026 at 12:21 PM
What's maddening about the Mandelson/Starmer problem is that a fundamentally decent politician, whatever other weaknesses he has, could be ousted for the main reason that he was deliberately misled by charlatans and grifters who would happily see us robbed blind, and will if they get the chance.
A wonderful and insightful background to my favourite book on nature and gardening, Claire Leighton's Four Hedges. Look for the delightful reprint by @littletollerbooks.bsky.social
Artist Spotlight: Clare Leighton and the Fine Art of Mass Reproduction
by Kristin Bluemel for the Rediscovering Art by Women blog
r-a-w.net/blog/clare-l...
by Kristin Bluemel for the Rediscovering Art by Women blog
r-a-w.net/blog/clare-l...
February 5, 2026 at 4:38 PM
A wonderful and insightful background to my favourite book on nature and gardening, Claire Leighton's Four Hedges. Look for the delightful reprint by @littletollerbooks.bsky.social
It is literally taking food out of kids mouths, or coats off their backs to pay for pints to be poured down someone's gullet.
"Let's put this another way: 5p off your pint but thousands of children go hungry"
www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/ref...
via @thelondoneconomic.bsky.social
www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/ref...
via @thelondoneconomic.bsky.social
February 4, 2026 at 5:26 PM
It is literally taking food out of kids mouths, or coats off their backs to pay for pints to be poured down someone's gullet.
Reposted by Sue Beesley
Can’t credit the author of this because I don’t know who. But very good little infographic. Worth sharing far and wide.
Farage is in trouble.
Farage is in trouble.
February 3, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Can’t credit the author of this because I don’t know who. But very good little infographic. Worth sharing far and wide.
Farage is in trouble.
Farage is in trouble.
Hell hath no fury like a decent man utterly betrayed by a 'friend'.
February 3, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Hell hath no fury like a decent man utterly betrayed by a 'friend'.
This is it, isn't it. Epstein was a kompromat collector for Putin. Much easier to send Russian girls to a luxury island than persuade the rich and famous to go to Moscow for honey traps. That's why Epstein had a full recording studio for everything... #thepennydrops...
I wonder how many in Congress grasp just how serious this is.
February 2, 2026 at 11:27 PM
This is it, isn't it. Epstein was a kompromat collector for Putin. Much easier to send Russian girls to a luxury island than persuade the rich and famous to go to Moscow for honey traps. That's why Epstein had a full recording studio for everything... #thepennydrops...
Reposted by Sue Beesley
I wonder how many in Congress grasp just how serious this is.
February 2, 2026 at 9:52 PM
I wonder how many in Congress grasp just how serious this is.
...the penny drops... Why persuade the world's rich and famous to go to Moscow to get kompromat on them when you can send Russian girls to a luxury island and pay a ruthless, scheming paedophile to get it for you? That's why Epstein obsessively recorded everything...
Agree. The fact that Epstein was probably running a honey trap operation for the KGB suggests (English understatement klaxon) the CIA were not up to their job.
February 2, 2026 at 10:56 PM
...the penny drops... Why persuade the world's rich and famous to go to Moscow to get kompromat on them when you can send Russian girls to a luxury island and pay a ruthless, scheming paedophile to get it for you? That's why Epstein obsessively recorded everything...
Selling confidential cabinet information to a third party is treacherous, treasonous behaviour. #Mandelson shouldn't just be thrown out of the HofL, he should be prosecuted.
February 2, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Selling confidential cabinet information to a third party is treacherous, treasonous behaviour. #Mandelson shouldn't just be thrown out of the HofL, he should be prosecuted.
£600k on eight free parking spaces, six reserved for Reform politicians, whilst removing free parking for junior Council staff.
Total snouts in troughs from Reform. www.lbc.co.uk/article/refo...
Total snouts in troughs from Reform. www.lbc.co.uk/article/refo...
Reform council spends £600k on eight free parking spaces for senior councillors | LBC
The majority of staff, who will not be able to use the free parking facilities available to their senior colleagues, will still be expected to pay to park every day
www.lbc.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 11:45 AM
. as per... @stephengbyrne.bsky.social
One of the realy interesting post-pandemic trends are 'people doing a thing that they clearly can't possibly be enjoying and ignoring everyone else urging them not to'.
‘It’s ridiculous’: publicans bemused by rise of single-file queues to get served
Bar owners say they struggle to dissuade people from forming a line as behavioural experts point to post-pandemic ‘new norms’
www.theguardian.com
January 31, 2026 at 8:21 PM
. as per... @stephengbyrne.bsky.social
I love everything about this story, not least the care and interest shown by the lorry driver.
In a remarkable story from Slovenia, a breeding pair of White Wagtails travelled all over the country in a lorry last summer, successfully raising young:
January 31, 2026 at 10:18 AM
For a few moments earlier today I thought just maybe the gvt wants to help us spot the difference between AI slop and useful AI applications. But no.. Turns out we (our gvt, that is) have been sold a means of harvesting our data and delivering nothing of use to anyone... Sloppy...
This thread is worth reading right to the end.
I think I might take one of these "under 20 minutes" AI skills courses the UK Govt. seems very keen on everyone doing and live-post it here... Maybe we can all learn something together! The press release sends me to aiskillshub.org.uk/aiskillsboost/ - let's go and see!
January 28, 2026 at 10:53 PM
For a few moments earlier today I thought just maybe the gvt wants to help us spot the difference between AI slop and useful AI applications. But no.. Turns out we (our gvt, that is) have been sold a means of harvesting our data and delivering nothing of use to anyone... Sloppy...
This. Tell your 60-69 Reform-voting pals, that Reform will get rid of the NHS and weaken state pensions, just at the point where they're going to most likely to start relying on them...
Reform MP Andrew Rosindell tells the BBC that he "would not object" to scrapping the NHS and replacing it with private insurance
January 25, 2026 at 11:23 AM
This. Tell your 60-69 Reform-voting pals, that Reform will get rid of the NHS and weaken state pensions, just at the point where they're going to most likely to start relying on them...
Noting the extreme cold in North America and E. Europe right now. A moment to reflect on how lucky we are, here in the UK, to benefit from the 'Gulf Stream', driven by low Arctic temperatures causing cold water to sink and pulling warmer water up from the Caribbean. For how much longer though....
January 24, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Noting the extreme cold in North America and E. Europe right now. A moment to reflect on how lucky we are, here in the UK, to benefit from the 'Gulf Stream', driven by low Arctic temperatures causing cold water to sink and pulling warmer water up from the Caribbean. For how much longer though....
It's legal to carry a concealed gun in Minnesota, isn't it? I mean, here in the UK, we think that's insanity, but in the US it's just fine, I gather. So how come '..he had a gun, which I removed from under his coat' is grounds for being shot dead?
January 24, 2026 at 6:55 PM
It's legal to carry a concealed gun in Minnesota, isn't it? I mean, here in the UK, we think that's insanity, but in the US it's just fine, I gather. So how come '..he had a gun, which I removed from under his coat' is grounds for being shot dead?
In his first collection in 11 years, the writer conjures his youth and family, elegises old friends, and hints at sensual memories ft.trib.al/iOruJBE
‘Poetry is my true métier’ — Blake Morrison on Afterburn
In his first collection in 11 years, the writer conjures his youth and family, elegises old friends, and hints at sensual memories
ft.trib.al
January 24, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Ah yes, Farage. Honest Nige, man of the people, solid, 'ornery bloke....
Farage has been touring Davos all week pledging to “fight the globalists” - all funded by a $10 billion trust run on behalf of an Iranian billionaire.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Nigel Farage’s trip to Davos hosted and paid for by family trust of billionaire
Trust says Reform UK leader was invited to WEF event by London-based venture capitalist as an honorary adviser
www.theguardian.com
January 23, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Ah yes, Farage. Honest Nige, man of the people, solid, 'ornery bloke....
Dear BBC - you run four major TV channels. Could you just please put 'TV schedule' on the home page on your website? It shouldn't take me ten minutes to find out what time a programme starts. Some of us still like to watch things when broadcast.
January 23, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Dear BBC - you run four major TV channels. Could you just please put 'TV schedule' on the home page on your website? It shouldn't take me ten minutes to find out what time a programme starts. Some of us still like to watch things when broadcast.
Phenomenal stuff....
Help us make hope normal again.
Join the Green Party now.
Join the Green Party now.
January 22, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Phenomenal stuff....
Look - Hamnet is a gorgeous film and I especially loved the scenes towards the end in The Globe. But... Echinaceas weren't introduced into the UK until the 18thC. And not just a glancing shot but white ones, in full view for several seconds, along with what I think was Primula vialii...>>
January 22, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Look - Hamnet is a gorgeous film and I especially loved the scenes towards the end in The Globe. But... Echinaceas weren't introduced into the UK until the 18thC. And not just a glancing shot but white ones, in full view for several seconds, along with what I think was Primula vialii...>>
.. @stephengbyrne.bsky.social Just in time....
Some breaking art historical news for you - a lost portrait of Robert Burns by Sir Henry Raeburn was unveiled today at the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh. It’s been missing for more than 200 years.
1/3
1/3
January 22, 2026 at 2:43 PM
.. @stephengbyrne.bsky.social Just in time....