Petra Boynton
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petraboynton.bsky.social
Petra Boynton
@petraboynton.bsky.social
2.8K followers 3.2K following 3.8K posts
#Safety and #wellbeing advocate and creator of the #PEEPSS Model.
Social Psychologist. #Methodologist. Sometime #AgonyAunt. Advice giving as praxis. Critical #MentalHealth. Lives by the sea.
Come for a #ResearchTip, maybe ask a question, stay for cat pics
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petraboynton.bsky.social
A pink background with the text '1 in 3 staff are at risk of probably clinical depression' in the top left corner. In the top right corner is the logo for the charity 'Education Support' and below it reads 'Teacher Wellbeing Index 2025'.
November 18, 2025 at 11:35 AM
petraboynton.bsky.social
Still ridiculously mild here but very foggy this morning so Small Son and I went out to feed our resident evil friends. I think they were expecting us....
A large tree that's losing its leaves has a number of jackdaws perched on the branches and a squirrel mid-way climb down the tree's trunk. The tree is surrounded by fallen leaves and behind it there are four, smaller ever green trees and behind them a bright red tree who has yet to lose its leaves. The handfuls of monkey nuts I'd thrown to our friends aren't visible in the picture, but that's the reason all the wildlife is there.
November 15, 2025 at 1:17 PM
petraboynton.bsky.social
Happy Halloween for those who celebrate it. I'm in the middle of decorating for tonight and hoping the rain stays away.
A drawing of a witch standing on a broomstick holding reins connected to a black cat who's steering the broom. The witch and cat fly between tall trees where a full moon peeks through and an owl flies below. The witch has on a light blue dress and gold cape that billows behind her, along with her long black hair. She has on a pointed hat and there's a small bat beside her.
October 31, 2025 at 12:07 PM
petraboynton.bsky.social
Big Son's brought me home a surprise to go with my lunch.

As someone who never sees her name on anything it's quite the novelty. But we're both agreed that's how capitalism sucks you in 😉
Big Son's holding a small bottle of coke in his hand. The bottle has a red lable with the Coca Cola logo and my name - Petra - written in black, outlined in white.
October 22, 2025 at 12:52 PM
petraboynton.bsky.social
We did it! Small Son and I started at 4pm this afternoon and walked just over 4 miles to raise money for The Miscarriage Association. We're just off our £500 target so if you could help with a final donation for a very good cause we'd be delighted.
www.justgiving.com/page/p-boynt...
A blue t shirt with the Miscarriage Association's name and logo, along with 'Memory Walk' in big white letters and the caption 'remembering the tiny lives lost too soon' next to a silver shooting star. Beside it is a collection box and fundraising target sheet. Small Son points to the start and end points of our 4 mile walk, shown on a notice board that highlights the route of the coastal walk we took this afternoon. Behind him is the harbour mouth, where the tide is going out.
October 12, 2025 at 6:50 PM
petraboynton.bsky.social
Practical help for you and your community in frightening and dangerous times

nostartoguideme.com/practical-he...
Two Black women hold hands with one holding the other's hand in both of hers as a sign of support and care.
October 2, 2025 at 2:28 PM
petraboynton.bsky.social
A spoof awareness advert aimed at protecting young people from the dangers of philosophy. In image one five teens sit together, reading books, with the caption 'one in five teenagers will experiment with philosophy'. In image two a young woman looks thoughtful with the caption 'doubting is a gateway to thinking. Stop it before it starts'. Next a father and son have a heart to heart chat with Dad saying 'I found copies of Kant in your room. I'm concerned'. In the fourth image a young woman clutches her head, with the caption 'parents who use logic will raise kids who use logic'. In the fifth image a worried Mum challenges her daughter 'you've been doing thought experiments, haven't you?' And in the final photo a young man wearing jeans and a baseball cap sits on some stairs with the caption 'learn to recognise the early warning signs'.
September 21, 2025 at 7:15 PM
petraboynton.bsky.social
Each September we make a window display for the start of the school year to wish pupils good luck. It's lovely to hear the reactions of children and adults passing by as they notice the toys and their messages. The lion and tiger were made for me by my granddad so they're always special guests.
A painted lion wearing glasses and a tiger with a long neck tie sit beside a Black doll who wears a red dress and holds a large red heart. The lion's perched on a sign that reads 'keep smiling' and above are speech bubbles saying 'do your best' and 'have a great day at school'. A toy brown orangutan and white bear sit together in the window with speech bubbles above them that read 'you got this!' and 'good luck'.
September 3, 2025 at 5:05 PM
petraboynton.bsky.social
The words 'Happy September' appear in orange above a photo of a misty autumn scene with a lake surrounded by green trees and grasses that are starting to turn yellow and orange.
September 1, 2025 at 12:56 PM
petraboynton.bsky.social
Please indulge me in a proud mum moment as Big Son received some fantastic A level results this week.
A* in history
A* in politics
A in philosophy

He's not applied to university yet as will be earning some money first, but he's hoping to study history.

I am over the moon happy for him.
Big Son has short, light brown hair and wears glasses. He is dressed in a black waterproof coat and is standing, smiling, with his thumb up in front of a very large and powerful waterfall.
August 16, 2025 at 1:57 PM
petraboynton.bsky.social
1 July and my new diary begins today. I wonder what adventures and opportunities lie ahead?
A bright pink A5 2025/6 diary rests diagonally on a dark blue A4 2024/5 diary.
July 1, 2025 at 5:13 PM
petraboynton.bsky.social
Degree announcements are starting to be shared and it's important to remember among the rightfully earned celebrations will be those who're really struggling with results that aren't what they hoped for.

What help does your institution offer students who're disappointed or distressed?
A window covered in condensation where someone has written the word 'hope' inside a heart. A blurry background can just be viewed behind the steamed-up window.
June 24, 2025 at 10:29 AM
petraboynton.bsky.social
18 June is Autistic Pride Day.

Here's to you if you're recently diagnosed, thinking 'maybe I might be....', or have always known.

For all of you who'll just be getting on with a regular day. Or thinking 'urgh, no thank you'. Or are powering up to be flamingly and fabulously autistic.
The rainbow infinity symbol made up of different colour and size dots.
June 18, 2025 at 8:11 AM
petraboynton.bsky.social
Off to #DocFest today, hosted by #GuildHE.

There's a very varied programme, great for #postgrads at all levels guildhe.ac.uk/ghe-research...

I'll be focusing on wellbeing and I'm taking these friendly fidgets with me in case some #PGRs in attendance want to give them a good home 😀

#AcademicSky
A group of multi coloured 3D printed fidget toys sit on a red book next to a gold pen and blue pencil case. There's a purple dinosaur, grey koala, beaver, giraffe, bright green crocodile, a panda, bee, bluebird, some kind of unicorn, and a highland cow. What might be an orange pterodactyl perches on the top of the pencil case.
June 10, 2025 at 9:44 AM
petraboynton.bsky.social
It's national hug your cat day!

I have hugged one of my cats and I have not hugged the other. Can you guess which? And why?
Melody, black, brown and cream tortoiseshell cat sits daintily next to a sign that reads 'manager of the universe'. The useless black cat is sitting in a fabric tub next to a radiator with his mouth wide open like the massive tool he is.
June 4, 2025 at 4:55 PM
petraboynton.bsky.social
There are few nicer things on a rainy and gloomy day than updating slide decks.

And key to all good presentations is asking yourself "does this need more cats?"
A Louis Wain illustration of a black and orange striped mother cat looking somewhat frazzled as she holds three lively kittens. Two are blue and one is orange and black like mum.
June 3, 2025 at 12:10 PM
petraboynton.bsky.social
Spending the weekend finishing my new support programme for next academic year 'Rejection sensitivity and the PhD'.

For PGRs struggling with perceived or actual rejection and who may be ND or disabled in other ways, are sick, or have current or past trauma.

What would you like to be included?
A shape sorting game has a red star, green cross, red oblong and a green disk all slotted into their respective holes. A large blue block is shoved into a round, small hole that it does not fit. Beside the image the text reads 'Rejection sensitivity and the PhD'.
May 24, 2025 at 12:02 PM
petraboynton.bsky.social
You wait ages for a hag stone to turn up then two arrive at once. A couple of treasures from my lunchtime walk today that I hope bring you a bit of joy.
I'm holding a large stone between my thumb and middle finger. The stone has a hole through the middle of it you can partially see through, except a small pebble is stuck in it. You can see the sky as I hold up the stone and behind the sea and shore are shining, just out of focus. I'm holding a smaller stone up to the sky so the sun shines through it. You can see the blue of the sky and sea through the hole in the stone and below is the blurry shoreline.
May 13, 2025 at 6:53 PM
petraboynton.bsky.social
#VEDay Remembering my two dapper grandfathers.

The one on the left saved his chocolate rations to bring home to his family but gave it away to French children instead as he couldn't bear to see them hungry. The one on the right was a lifelong anti-fascist and would want you to continue the fight.
A portrait photo of my Grandfather who wears his army jacket and cap on a jaunty angle on his head, showing his dark, black hair. He has dark eyes and a moustache and looks seriously into the camera. My maternal Grandfather has slicked back short hair and is smiling at the camera while walking along wearing high waisted trousers and an open-necked short sleeved shirt.
May 8, 2025 at 6:29 PM
petraboynton.bsky.social
ps. here I am in my final year at uni. I'm making meals either for some community meeting, or my friends who weren't able to cook for themselves by that point. Any essays due will be done, but last minute, averagely.
I'm about 20 in this photo. I'm a young white woman with brown hair tied back in a red scarf. I'm wearing a black vest and blue jeans with a gold beaded necklace. I'm standing in a small, galley kitchen cutting vegetables for salad beside pots of veggie bakes ready to go into the oven.
May 7, 2025 at 3:34 PM
petraboynton.bsky.social
It's the 1 May.

Happy #InternationalWorkersDay

Remember we are always #StrongerTogether
A black and white woodcut print by artist Ricardo Levins Morales that shows a woman working at a loom with the text 8 hours for work. Then someone sleeping in bed with the words 8 hours for rest. And a couple enjoying being on a row boat in a lake with '8 hours for what we will' written by it.
May 1, 2025 at 6:14 AM
petraboynton.bsky.social
Oh yes, here are some I made earlier.

A1 #LTHEChat
A selection of five vanilla and chocolate cakes decorated with rainbows, butterflies, flowers and silver and purple sprinkles. All placed on a brightly patterned plate, these were for the Pride bake sale and lasted about 30 seconds.
April 30, 2025 at 7:19 PM
petraboynton.bsky.social
11.15am this morning. I heard them long before I saw them. The Swifts are back!
A slide showing the dates of arrival of the Swifts to my Sussex coastal town. On the right is a map showing their migration route and on the left the following dates: 30 April 2025 5 May 2024 1 May 2023 7 May 2022 5 May 2021 6 May 2020 12 May 2019 6 May 2018 6 May 2017 5 May 2016 7 May 2015 15 May 2013 30 April 2012
April 30, 2025 at 10:59 AM
petraboynton.bsky.social
Also, if you walk across the valley from the tiny Good Shepherd in Lullington to St Michael and All Angels Church in Berwick you'll enjoy a treat if you go inside, courtesy of the Bloomsbury artists. My favourite is Vanessa Bell's Nativity. The Cricketer's Arms next door's a lovely pub too.
A scene of The Nativity painted on the wall of Berwick Church by Vanessa Bell. Mary holds baby Jesus in a Sussex barn while cattle, sheep and a donkey look on with two shepherds and local children behind. It's a mix of the old nativity story with the baby and his mother (Bell's daughter Angelica), and modern people living locally (the shepherds are actual shepherds too, both had been disabled through accident or injury).
April 26, 2025 at 2:24 PM
petraboynton.bsky.social
Here are some of the left behind things we found on our last visit. An old nest and an egg shell. There were stones and flowers too, we added some of our own. It's a lovely walk and there are several small and very lovely churches to visit in the area (even if you're a bunch of unbelievers, like us)
A picture of Lullington's Good Shepherd Church, said to be the smallest in Sussex. It's very tiny but the outer foundations are still visible. It is built of flint, with an open door and a red tile roof and a white, small steeple. Outside (also shown in this photo) people leave things on the graves and foundation walls. A small nest, an old eggshell, nestled among the moss and flint.
April 26, 2025 at 2:09 PM