Polly Mackenzie
@pollymackenzie.bsky.social
Co-founder and CEO, Zinc Innovation Partners - helping turn science into real-world change. Fomerly Demos, UAL, MMHPI, No10. Adviser at Future Governance Forum, Family Business UK, Door10 Recruitment. Writes at https://howtorunacountry.substack.com/
Freelance web designer thought it was a good idea to AI me into a suit. So very wrong.
October 14, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Freelance web designer thought it was a good idea to AI me into a suit. So very wrong.
Great to be back in the studio at Times Radio recording How to Win an Election after the summer break. Got to talk about missions, scandals and most importantly of all - which Prime Minister would be best to go swimming with…
September 4, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Great to be back in the studio at Times Radio recording How to Win an Election after the summer break. Got to talk about missions, scandals and most importantly of all - which Prime Minister would be best to go swimming with…
I was explaining to my mother that my children are fussy and all like different cakes. So she made all three to welcome them.
August 29, 2025 at 5:10 PM
I was explaining to my mother that my children are fussy and all like different cakes. So she made all three to welcome them.
View in the other direction
August 11, 2025 at 10:36 AM
View in the other direction
Intrigued by this graffiti in the harbour of Carrickfergus.
August 11, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Intrigued by this graffiti in the harbour of Carrickfergus.
My son loves adding new keyboards so I often find myself typing things I don’t understand
July 28, 2025 at 7:18 PM
My son loves adding new keyboards so I often find myself typing things I don’t understand
Rare wildlife caught on the trail at dawn
July 28, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Rare wildlife caught on the trail at dawn
Today I foraged some blackberries and made three and a half jars of this delicious gloop. The real question is how much if any will be left by the end of the month?
July 24, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Today I foraged some blackberries and made three and a half jars of this delicious gloop. The real question is how much if any will be left by the end of the month?
Pollys of the world, unite!
July 16, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Pollys of the world, unite!
I know AI slop posts are old hat, but there's something particularly grating about the assumption that I'm not looking for something specific. Mush by default, even when there's an obvious alternative.
July 14, 2025 at 11:18 AM
I know AI slop posts are old hat, but there's something particularly grating about the assumption that I'm not looking for something specific. Mush by default, even when there's an obvious alternative.
First foraged blackberries of the season and some amazing tiny plums from my morning walk.
July 4, 2025 at 5:38 AM
First foraged blackberries of the season and some amazing tiny plums from my morning walk.
No idea what the genesis or purpose of this list was.
July 2, 2025 at 10:49 AM
No idea what the genesis or purpose of this list was.
Tidying up old folders and found this optimistic post-2015 timetable for delivering Lib Dem successes in the Second Coalition. Sometimes it feels like I did more post-election planning that year than Labour managed before 2024.
July 2, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Tidying up old folders and found this optimistic post-2015 timetable for delivering Lib Dem successes in the Second Coalition. Sometimes it feels like I did more post-election planning that year than Labour managed before 2024.
I love how much the bees in my garden love this plant
June 29, 2025 at 2:41 PM
I love how much the bees in my garden love this plant
Pretty proud of this. Now it just needs to survive a journey to the O2 in a gazillion degree heat.
June 21, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Pretty proud of this. Now it just needs to survive a journey to the O2 in a gazillion degree heat.
Taken my smallest child to the caf for his birthday lunch. Can’t beat a menu like this.
June 20, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Taken my smallest child to the caf for his birthday lunch. Can’t beat a menu like this.
Is there anything more joyfully silly as Mills and Boon historical romance covers? I want to read them ALL!
June 18, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Is there anything more joyfully silly as Mills and Boon historical romance covers? I want to read them ALL!
Cheerful sight at stansted this morning.
June 17, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Cheerful sight at stansted this morning.
I wrote this poem when I was 11, having been stuck for hours until my mum said “a rebel is a pebble”. I remember everyone being very pleased with it, and my teacher insisting it went in the school magazine. Found it again today. It isn’t, in fact, very good.
May 24, 2025 at 10:44 PM
I wrote this poem when I was 11, having been stuck for hours until my mum said “a rebel is a pebble”. I remember everyone being very pleased with it, and my teacher insisting it went in the school magazine. Found it again today. It isn’t, in fact, very good.
Actually stopped on tower bridge to let a boat through. Never happened to me before!
March 26, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Actually stopped on tower bridge to let a boat through. Never happened to me before!
Guys: I have been behind the hoardings of the new Elephant and Castle town centre to visit the new UAL building and it is all going to be awesome. (RIP the lovely bowling alley though.)
March 13, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Guys: I have been behind the hoardings of the new Elephant and Castle town centre to visit the new UAL building and it is all going to be awesome. (RIP the lovely bowling alley though.)
Sometimes* kids are awesome
*mostly
*mostly
March 1, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Sometimes* kids are awesome
*mostly
*mostly
