Helen Johanna
@helenjohanna.bsky.social
Grew up in north London, moved to Central Bedfordshire. Mum of 12-year-old boy. Paramedic. Labour voter. I like American dramas, wine, Arsenal, betting on football, and bingo. Happy for others' opinions to differ from my own. (FYI I'm @blamhappy on X.)
X has become a massive right wing cesspit, but this place still isn't busy enough for my liking.
December 7, 2025 at 11:47 PM
X has become a massive right wing cesspit, but this place still isn't busy enough for my liking.
Retirement age should be 50. I'm basing this on my own experience of facing work on a Monday morning.
September 15, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Retirement age should be 50. I'm basing this on my own experience of facing work on a Monday morning.
Reposted by Helen Johanna
Isn't it funny that those who complain vociferously about others not speaking English are often the same people who are barely able to form a cogent sentence themselves.
July 31, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Isn't it funny that those who complain vociferously about others not speaking English are often the same people who are barely able to form a cogent sentence themselves.
Reposted by Helen Johanna
If I were involved in this, I would be asking questions about their conduct in this matter and looking over old communications to see if they have induced people to not place valid claims in liquidation by making promises about their future conduct, which may in fact create a legal obligation.
June 1, 2025 at 2:23 PM
If I were involved in this, I would be asking questions about their conduct in this matter and looking over old communications to see if they have induced people to not place valid claims in liquidation by making promises about their future conduct, which may in fact create a legal obligation.
Reposted by Helen Johanna
So, I think it's time I begin, in detailed specifics, talking about the mess that is Unbound / Boundless as a book publisher, in essence stealing most of a years royalties from me and many other authors, as a result of poor financial decisions, and legal BS.
Please read and share this thread.
Please read and share this thread.
May 31, 2025 at 9:33 AM
So, I think it's time I begin, in detailed specifics, talking about the mess that is Unbound / Boundless as a book publisher, in essence stealing most of a years royalties from me and many other authors, as a result of poor financial decisions, and legal BS.
Please read and share this thread.
Please read and share this thread.
Reposted by Helen Johanna
Isn’t this a case of “our laws” being applied correctly but to the “wrong type of person”?
If this sentence had been applied to a “hate preacher” promoting jihad online then I doubt there would have been any comment from the usual suspects other than “why was it only 31 months?”
If this sentence had been applied to a “hate preacher” promoting jihad online then I doubt there would have been any comment from the usual suspects other than “why was it only 31 months?”
June 1, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Isn’t this a case of “our laws” being applied correctly but to the “wrong type of person”?
If this sentence had been applied to a “hate preacher” promoting jihad online then I doubt there would have been any comment from the usual suspects other than “why was it only 31 months?”
If this sentence had been applied to a “hate preacher” promoting jihad online then I doubt there would have been any comment from the usual suspects other than “why was it only 31 months?”
Reposted by Helen Johanna
The last Conservative government, in which Kemi Badenoch was happily a minister for most of her time in parliament, passed multiple laws restricting freedom of speech (especially online), assembly and protest – without any objection from her.
June 1, 2025 at 7:58 AM
The last Conservative government, in which Kemi Badenoch was happily a minister for most of her time in parliament, passed multiple laws restricting freedom of speech (especially online), assembly and protest – without any objection from her.
Reposted by Helen Johanna
Two uncomfortable truths with the Lucy Connolly story:
1. Suspect the right are missing how deeply authoritarian the British public are. They tend to *like* these laws and sentences.
2. Most of the British political class liked them too, until they were applied to a middle class white woman.
1. Suspect the right are missing how deeply authoritarian the British public are. They tend to *like* these laws and sentences.
2. Most of the British political class liked them too, until they were applied to a middle class white woman.
June 1, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Two uncomfortable truths with the Lucy Connolly story:
1. Suspect the right are missing how deeply authoritarian the British public are. They tend to *like* these laws and sentences.
2. Most of the British political class liked them too, until they were applied to a middle class white woman.
1. Suspect the right are missing how deeply authoritarian the British public are. They tend to *like* these laws and sentences.
2. Most of the British political class liked them too, until they were applied to a middle class white woman.
Reposted by Helen Johanna
In late November 2024 I was owed close to £7,000 in royalties for book sales by Unbound. That payment did not surface.
In early December, it was made clear Unbound had fucked up majorly, they could not afford to pay author royalties.
In early December, it was made clear Unbound had fucked up majorly, they could not afford to pay author royalties.
May 31, 2025 at 9:33 AM
In late November 2024 I was owed close to £7,000 in royalties for book sales by Unbound. That payment did not surface.
In early December, it was made clear Unbound had fucked up majorly, they could not afford to pay author royalties.
In early December, it was made clear Unbound had fucked up majorly, they could not afford to pay author royalties.
Reposted by Helen Johanna
For those who care:
Unbound (my original publisher) went into administration in March, owing me about £8k.
Boundless (basically the same managers) "bought" Unbound for almost nothing, including all its stock of books and publishing rights.
Boundless then sent promises to pay what Unbound owed.
Unbound (my original publisher) went into administration in March, owing me about £8k.
Boundless (basically the same managers) "bought" Unbound for almost nothing, including all its stock of books and publishing rights.
Boundless then sent promises to pay what Unbound owed.
May 30, 2025 at 11:43 AM
For those who care:
Unbound (my original publisher) went into administration in March, owing me about £8k.
Boundless (basically the same managers) "bought" Unbound for almost nothing, including all its stock of books and publishing rights.
Boundless then sent promises to pay what Unbound owed.
Unbound (my original publisher) went into administration in March, owing me about £8k.
Boundless (basically the same managers) "bought" Unbound for almost nothing, including all its stock of books and publishing rights.
Boundless then sent promises to pay what Unbound owed.
Reposted by Helen Johanna
In other news, if any publisher wants to take over a really good medieval action-thriller novel with lots of queer romance, hey, SCOTTISH BOY is a proven seller even with zero marketing
May 30, 2025 at 12:45 PM
In other news, if any publisher wants to take over a really good medieval action-thriller novel with lots of queer romance, hey, SCOTTISH BOY is a proven seller even with zero marketing
Reposted by Helen Johanna
May 25, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Reposted by Helen Johanna
The mantra that the NHS just needs to cut “bureaucracy” to spend more on “frontline staff” is so unthinking. There will need to be extra investment in management/admin (eg new IT) in order to increase productivity.
May 9, 2025 at 5:22 AM
The mantra that the NHS just needs to cut “bureaucracy” to spend more on “frontline staff” is so unthinking. There will need to be extra investment in management/admin (eg new IT) in order to increase productivity.
BILL GATES: “The picture of the world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children is not a pretty one.”
@financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/bdd9...
@financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/bdd9...
May 9, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Reposted by Helen Johanna
BREAKING: The constitutional crisis has arrived. We knew it was coming, just not when.
April 25, 2025 at 2:43 PM
BREAKING: The constitutional crisis has arrived. We knew it was coming, just not when.
I need to look up Rice and Lewis-Skelley's accents. I'm from London myself and very much estuary, but I can't quite work out their accents!
April 16, 2025 at 9:11 PM
I need to look up Rice and Lewis-Skelley's accents. I'm from London myself and very much estuary, but I can't quite work out their accents!
This big nasal spray story seems a bit wacko to me. Should we make everything prescription only just in case people decide not to follow the instructions on the packet?!
April 16, 2025 at 6:07 PM
This big nasal spray story seems a bit wacko to me. Should we make everything prescription only just in case people decide not to follow the instructions on the packet?!
Reposted by Helen Johanna
Are Muslims really banning dogs in parks? 🤔
Let’s look at this perfect example of how rage baiting works, and how disinformation spreads, sticks, and fuels division, even years after being debunked…
🧵1/22 (1/1)
Let’s look at this perfect example of how rage baiting works, and how disinformation spreads, sticks, and fuels division, even years after being debunked…
🧵1/22 (1/1)
April 13, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Are Muslims really banning dogs in parks? 🤔
Let’s look at this perfect example of how rage baiting works, and how disinformation spreads, sticks, and fuels division, even years after being debunked…
🧵1/22 (1/1)
Let’s look at this perfect example of how rage baiting works, and how disinformation spreads, sticks, and fuels division, even years after being debunked…
🧵1/22 (1/1)
Reposted by Helen Johanna
Sadly it isn't just anti-vaccination. The rise of the 'conspiracy theory', in general, is the scourge of the social media age. It is gossip, given Internet anonymity credence. If we had responsible social media owners, we might tackle it, but.....?!?
March 17, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Sadly it isn't just anti-vaccination. The rise of the 'conspiracy theory', in general, is the scourge of the social media age. It is gossip, given Internet anonymity credence. If we had responsible social media owners, we might tackle it, but.....?!?
Reposted by Helen Johanna
5 years ago, I was hopeful that the vaccine we were all wishing for would put the (what I considered fringe) anti-vaccine movement to bed… Boy oh boy!
March 17, 2025 at 7:50 PM
5 years ago, I was hopeful that the vaccine we were all wishing for would put the (what I considered fringe) anti-vaccine movement to bed… Boy oh boy!
Reposted by Helen Johanna
Photo of the Day.
Allies.
Allies.
March 2, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Photo of the Day.
Allies.
Allies.
Reposted by Helen Johanna
The diplomacy of Starmer has been a shining light today. Trouble is we need America but not Trump.
March 2, 2025 at 9:49 PM
The diplomacy of Starmer has been a shining light today. Trouble is we need America but not Trump.
Reposted by Helen Johanna
They are arguing, endlessly, that illegally inciting acts of terror online is ‘free speech’ while silencing dissent, targeting journalists & telling an invaded ally what he is & is not allowed to say during a live television broadcast are all fine.
March 1, 2025 at 9:30 AM
They are arguing, endlessly, that illegally inciting acts of terror online is ‘free speech’ while silencing dissent, targeting journalists & telling an invaded ally what he is & is not allowed to say during a live television broadcast are all fine.
Reposted by Helen Johanna
Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir
Prime Minister of Iceland 👏
Prime Minister of Iceland 👏
March 1, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir
Prime Minister of Iceland 👏
Prime Minister of Iceland 👏
Reposted by Helen Johanna
Mean while, Trump is asking why Ukraine attacked Russia’s drone with a hospital.
February 28, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Mean while, Trump is asking why Ukraine attacked Russia’s drone with a hospital.