Two weeks to go before I run the #vitality10k for @adoptionuk.bsky.social who are working hard to enhance support for adoptees through childhood and into adulthood. Read my story and, if you can, sponsor me here 2025vitalitylondon10000.enthuse.com/pf/polly-pen...

I feel absolutely thrilled to be in the Times, writing about two heroes: my fathers. #adoption

www.thetimes.com/article/8f54...

My latest piece for @adoptionuk.bsky.social on terminology and the importance of adoptee autonomy. Please read and share! www.adoptionuk.org/blog/adoptio...

Happy Silly Hat Day to me.

Last Wednesday I passed my Doctoral viva, almost 43 years to the day after my parents took me home, having been warned I’d be “educationally subnormal”. #adoption

Fellow anxiety sufferers can probably relate: everything is going well at the moment yet I’m feeling almost on the verge of panic over impending, anticipated disaster, whatever that disaster may be. It feels there are loose ends I have no power to tie up. #mentalhealth #anxiety

Agencies within the Trump administration have flagged hundreds of words to limit or avoid, according to a compilation of government documents. These terms appeared in government memos, in official and unofficial agency guidance and in other documents. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

player.captivate.fm/episode/1fd2...

Very pleased with how this came out as at the time I was worried at how it would sound and a bit overwhelmed by it. Always a pleasure to work with @AdoptionUK on getting adoptee voices out there. Please have a listen and share!!

We’re at Center Parcs. Just listened to two people in Guest Services trying to get a refund for some bread rolls they’d left out which had been eaten by a deer. Guest Services were gently reminding them they’d chosen to holiday in a forest, and forests have wildlife.

Today I finally wrote the Acknowledgments section of my thesis, which will be ready to submit once I’ve figured out the formatting (which is harder than the degree itself.) I had so many wonderful people to thank that it’s made me quite tearful! #doctorallife

A lovely chap called Rick did my blood test at @RoyalFreeNHS this morning and deserves a shout-out! Turned out to be a nice positive start to my Friday.

Jealous Trump Throws Own State Funeral To Upstage Carter’s
theonion.com/jealous...

Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, rejected several of President-elect Trump’s assertions about her country and joked that the U.S. should be called “Mexican America” after Trump said the Gulf of Mexico should be renamed the Gulf of America.

I’d like to see a Venn diagram of people who claim they voted Brexit to “take back control” and those who are cheering on Musk’s suggestion that the US should invade the UK to “liberate” it.

For anyone who’s taken up swimming as a New Year’s resolution, here are some (mainly UK) suggestions of where to swim: tuesdayinbucharest.wordpress.com/2024/12/07/s...