Gavin Atkin
@gmatkin.bsky.social
Trad-leaning folkie; in England; likes to understand the world; sings and (in no special order) plays duet concertina, fiddle, guitar, melodeon, tenor banjo etc.
Governments can improve people's lives, if they're clever and they wish to do so.
Governments can improve people's lives, if they're clever and they wish to do so.
So actual law breaking is less of an issue than unpopular policies driven by financial problems. I see.
November 24, 2025 at 4:29 PM
So actual law breaking is less of an issue than unpopular policies driven by financial problems. I see.
Also... The first job of a government is to protect its citizens, isn't it? And isn't that protection and general sorting things out what we think we pay taxes for? (I realise economists have their own answers I that question.)
November 23, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Also... The first job of a government is to protect its citizens, isn't it? And isn't that protection and general sorting things out what we think we pay taxes for? (I realise economists have their own answers I that question.)
WWII, I think. If you can conduct a war that involves everyone in a home population, you can create homes and lives fit for heroes, and it became normal for politicians to pursue that principle. It takes a generation or two to forget such habits of mind, but I that's what happened during the 80s.
November 23, 2025 at 10:30 AM
WWII, I think. If you can conduct a war that involves everyone in a home population, you can create homes and lives fit for heroes, and it became normal for politicians to pursue that principle. It takes a generation or two to forget such habits of mind, but I that's what happened during the 80s.
For myself, my maternal grandmother's maiden name was Eldred, and the Eldred claimed to be descended from Aethelred. Will that do?
November 16, 2025 at 3:15 PM
For myself, my maternal grandmother's maiden name was Eldred, and the Eldred claimed to be descended from Aethelred. Will that do?
I'm doubtful many descendents of Saxons at that time would be able to find documentary evidence. Descendents of Normans might be better equipped.
November 16, 2025 at 11:32 AM
I'm doubtful many descendents of Saxons at that time would be able to find documentary evidence. Descendents of Normans might be better equipped.
People arguing and shouting slightly robotically with RADA accents in an old form of English. It can take a while to get into...
November 14, 2025 at 6:51 PM
People arguing and shouting slightly robotically with RADA accents in an old form of English. It can take a while to get into...
Also: 'The cheese takes its name from the village of Stilton, now in Cambridgeshire, where it has long been sold, but cannot be made because it is not in one of the three permitted counties.'
November 8, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Also: 'The cheese takes its name from the village of Stilton, now in Cambridgeshire, where it has long been sold, but cannot be made because it is not in one of the three permitted counties.'
Also: 'The cheese takes its name from the village of Stilton, now in Cambridgeshire, where it has long been sold, but cannot be made because it is not in one of the three permitted counties.'
November 8, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Also: 'The cheese takes its name from the village of Stilton, now in Cambridgeshire, where it has long been sold, but cannot be made because it is not in one of the three permitted counties.'
'For cheese to use the name "Stilton", it must be made in one of the three counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire and use pasteurised local milk.' en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stilton...
Stilton cheese - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 8, 2025 at 11:46 PM
'For cheese to use the name "Stilton", it must be made in one of the three counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire and use pasteurised local milk.' en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stilton...
Liberation. Or Sundayification. Everyday is Sunday.
November 8, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Liberation. Or Sundayification. Everyday is Sunday.
I may have made that mistake.
October 27, 2025 at 3:52 PM
I may have made that mistake.
No. Because every day is Sunday.
October 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
No. Because every day is Sunday.
She should just join Reform now. It would be simpler and there would be less waiting.
October 2, 2025 at 11:46 PM
She should just join Reform now. It would be simpler and there would be less waiting.
Old fart here. There's another version?
October 2, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Old fart here. There's another version?
Clicks. Journalists and editors are measured on clicks. Trump gets clicks, and nonsense gets clicks. So we're drowning in drivel.
September 23, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Clicks. Journalists and editors are measured on clicks. Trump gets clicks, and nonsense gets clicks. So we're drowning in drivel.
And that arrived nearly two decades ago!
September 17, 2025 at 8:51 PM
And that arrived nearly two decades ago!
I'm still getting over salted caramel. Usually it comes with chocolate that's so strongly flavoured that the mild, soothing warmth of the caramel is lost.
September 17, 2025 at 8:49 PM
I'm still getting over salted caramel. Usually it comes with chocolate that's so strongly flavoured that the mild, soothing warmth of the caramel is lost.
This is the reason I've avoided walking groups. They tend to talk, and I just know some of what people say will be very troubling.
August 27, 2025 at 7:01 PM
This is the reason I've avoided walking groups. They tend to talk, and I just know some of what people say will be very troubling.
He's smooth and charming, but...
August 19, 2025 at 11:10 PM
He's smooth and charming, but...
Have a smallish flat telly. Rarely watch it. That's my recommendation.
July 31, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Have a smallish flat telly. Rarely watch it. That's my recommendation.