valerie.bsky.social
@valeriea.bsky.social
Formerly defence/war studies, Specialist Adviser to Commons Committee on Defence/author/ adult literacy. Now retired from all these - devoting my time to art, gardening, choir, chat and worrying about the state of the world.
Snow. After an autumn that s been extraordinarily mild so far, suddenly we have snow
November 19, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Snow. After an autumn that s been extraordinarily mild so far, suddenly we have snow
This popped up on my FB feed from 10 years ago - both animals now sadly gone, but I still love the photo
November 17, 2025 at 5:44 PM
This popped up on my FB feed from 10 years ago - both animals now sadly gone, but I still love the photo
In just over an hour, here we go!
For Butterflies and Skylarks in Wales/Hereford/the Borders - come and join us next Saturday for some wonderful music!
November 15, 2025 at 5:52 PM
In just over an hour, here we go!
Sorry, I deleted the post - decided I wasn't sure about the poster - MH problems? but I have reported it as a fake account.
November 12, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Sorry, I deleted the post - decided I wasn't sure about the poster - MH problems? but I have reported it as a fake account.
Reposted by valerie.bsky.social
"Those who launched the latest attack on the BBC have close ties to the MAGA movement, from Friends of Trump like Farage and former Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson to others with links to the US Christian Nationalist organisation the Heritage Foundation."
It’s bigger than you think.
The Far Right Hits The BBC
The assault on free media gathers pace
chadbourn.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:51 PM
"Those who launched the latest attack on the BBC have close ties to the MAGA movement, from Friends of Trump like Farage and former Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson to others with links to the US Christian Nationalist organisation the Heritage Foundation."
I really hope that in suitably diplomatically phrased language, the BBC (and the Government) will tell him to fuck off. what the Panorama programme did was wrong, but I really don't want Trump telling us how to run our media - at least any more than he already is.
November 10, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I really hope that in suitably diplomatically phrased language, the BBC (and the Government) will tell him to fuck off. what the Panorama programme did was wrong, but I really don't want Trump telling us how to run our media - at least any more than he already is.
The far right will never be satisfied. The BBC publicly announced that it was going to give them more airtime and their response has been to attack it more intensely. Just as every step the government makes to limit immigration leads to more extreme demands.
Appeasement doesn’t work.
Appeasement doesn’t work.
November 10, 2025 at 2:40 PM
The far right will never be satisfied. The BBC publicly announced that it was going to give them more airtime and their response has been to attack it more intensely. Just as every step the government makes to limit immigration leads to more extreme demands.
Appeasement doesn’t work.
Appeasement doesn’t work.
I've just been introduced to Volbeat (not in person, sadly) Love the energy and the lead singer's voice...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v2J...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v2J...
Volbeat - Seal The Deal
YouTube video by VolbeatVEVO
www.youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:14 PM
I've just been introduced to Volbeat (not in person, sadly) Love the energy and the lead singer's voice...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v2J...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v2J...
I thought it was going to be Downtown. This is much better!
November 9, 2025 at 7:09 PM
I thought it was going to be Downtown. This is much better!
Nighty night Ash, sleep well.
November 8, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Nighty night Ash, sleep well.
For Butterflies and Skylarks in Wales/Hereford/the Borders - come and join us next Saturday for some wonderful music!
November 8, 2025 at 6:52 PM
For Butterflies and Skylarks in Wales/Hereford/the Borders - come and join us next Saturday for some wonderful music!
Sometimes it feels as though Wales is invisible. If there had been flooding like this in England, with a major incident declared by the Fire Service, it would have been all over the news
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...
Fire crews rescue drivers from cars and Welsh rivers near bursting point
There are over 50 flood alerts and warnings in place on Welsh rivers
www.walesonline.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Sometimes it feels as though Wales is invisible. If there had been flooding like this in England, with a major incident declared by the Fire Service, it would have been all over the news
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...
Reposted by valerie.bsky.social
The far right wing are going to hate that this👇🏼hero who saved many lives on the train is not White Anglo-Saxon who was wrapped in a St George’s flag..
So do make sure they find out eh 😉
So do make sure they find out eh 😉
Samir Zitouni the rail worker credited with saving multiple lives during mass stabbing on a train, “critically unwell“ in hospital is who Farage/Reform/Lowe & Tory Katie Lam would deport..
Lucy Connelly convicted for race hate is what right wing view as a hero
He saved lives she wanted them taken❗️
Lucy Connelly convicted for race hate is what right wing view as a hero
He saved lives she wanted them taken❗️
Train hero who saved passengers during attack named
The rail worker credited with saving multiple lives is named as Samir Zitouni.
www.bbc.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:51 AM
The far right wing are going to hate that this👇🏼hero who saved many lives on the train is not White Anglo-Saxon who was wrapped in a St George’s flag..
So do make sure they find out eh 😉
So do make sure they find out eh 😉
Minute Cryptic - 1 November, 2025
"Seductive, romantic guy dumped after ‘mid’ sex" (6)
🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (86,268 solvers so far).
www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...
"Seductive, romantic guy dumped after ‘mid’ sex" (6)
🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (86,268 solvers so far).
www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...
Minute Cryptic
Solve a clue with a hidden meaning
www.minutecryptic.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Minute Cryptic - 1 November, 2025
"Seductive, romantic guy dumped after ‘mid’ sex" (6)
🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (86,268 solvers so far).
www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...
"Seductive, romantic guy dumped after ‘mid’ sex" (6)
🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (86,268 solvers so far).
www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...
Reposted by valerie.bsky.social
Media all over Rachel Reeves story today @mrjamesob.bsky.social whereas still not even a peep over the Nathan Gill conviction. I think taking bribes from Russians is slightly more serious than forgetting to get a license.
October 30, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Media all over Rachel Reeves story today @mrjamesob.bsky.social whereas still not even a peep over the Nathan Gill conviction. I think taking bribes from Russians is slightly more serious than forgetting to get a license.
Turns out that the suspected basal cell carcinoma on the tip of my nose isn't - it's most likely "harmless sun damage" that can be treated topically. 🙂Optician has also given me an all clear - just need to sort out the sciatica...
October 30, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Turns out that the suspected basal cell carcinoma on the tip of my nose isn't - it's most likely "harmless sun damage" that can be treated topically. 🙂Optician has also given me an all clear - just need to sort out the sciatica...
Reposted by valerie.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Reposted by valerie.bsky.social
Has anyone seen @themeadhallbard. (Bardy)
It looks like he’s deleted his account? I know he said he’d had enough the other day and he’s struggled with stuff lately but I didn’t think he would go through with it.
@wulfhelm.bsky.social
It looks like he’s deleted his account? I know he said he’d had enough the other day and he’s struggled with stuff lately but I didn’t think he would go through with it.
@wulfhelm.bsky.social
October 19, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Has anyone seen @themeadhallbard. (Bardy)
It looks like he’s deleted his account? I know he said he’d had enough the other day and he’s struggled with stuff lately but I didn’t think he would go through with it.
@wulfhelm.bsky.social
It looks like he’s deleted his account? I know he said he’d had enough the other day and he’s struggled with stuff lately but I didn’t think he would go through with it.
@wulfhelm.bsky.social
Reposted by valerie.bsky.social
It is embarassing not to see the BBC pulling up Reform leaders claiming that Nathan Gill was just some fan who got photos taken with Farage - he was an MEP for them & their leader in Wales while taking cash from Russia to act against the UK! Literally the very basics of your job to point this out
October 10, 2025 at 2:32 PM
It is embarassing not to see the BBC pulling up Reform leaders claiming that Nathan Gill was just some fan who got photos taken with Farage - he was an MEP for them & their leader in Wales while taking cash from Russia to act against the UK! Literally the very basics of your job to point this out
Exactly this. Trump could have put the same pressure on Netanyahu months ago.
We now know that any time he wanted Donald Trump could have rung Benjamin Netanyahu and ordered him to stop the destruction of Gaza. He chose not to. Imposing a peace at the barrel of a gun after laying waste does not deserve a Nobel prize.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'They've destroyed everything': Palestinians return to devastation in Gaza City
Those returning say they are driven by desperation rather than confidence that it is safe.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 11, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Exactly this. Trump could have put the same pressure on Netanyahu months ago.
This. What ignorance Badenoch displays!
Calling English a 'rip-off degree' is one of the most blatant exhibitions of personal barbarism I've ever seen. You've demonstrated nothing but the poverty of your own mind.
October 8, 2025 at 11:08 AM
This. What ignorance Badenoch displays!
Went to see GP this morning feeling slightly foolish, because it's just about a tiny spot on the tip of my nose. Turns out it's not foolish - it's a basal cell carcinoma, which is treatable and not life threatening - but shows how important it is to get skin lesions investigated!
October 7, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Went to see GP this morning feeling slightly foolish, because it's just about a tiny spot on the tip of my nose. Turns out it's not foolish - it's a basal cell carcinoma, which is treatable and not life threatening - but shows how important it is to get skin lesions investigated!