Roy Dickinson
@rjohndickinson.bsky.social
Brit proudly helping to build the EU.
ECFIN. EBRD. Ukraine. Choirs. Running. Food. 🇪🇺🏳️🌈
ECFIN. EBRD. Ukraine. Choirs. Running. Food. 🇪🇺🏳️🌈
I am greatly enjoying Apple translate’s joyous triumph, as it detects it as Spanish and translates it into impeccable French (Where for “impeccable“ you should read, well, something quite different)
October 30, 2025 at 8:47 PM
I am greatly enjoying Apple translate’s joyous triumph, as it detects it as Spanish and translates it into impeccable French (Where for “impeccable“ you should read, well, something quite different)
Those Wikipedia editors are no slouches, though….
October 30, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Those Wikipedia editors are no slouches, though….
So!! In #running news, i am home and showered and fed and watered (or rather, wined) from today’s exertions and can report on the results.
It’s called getting your excuses in early, 😆, but let me post a screenshot of the elevation of the course.
It’s called getting your excuses in early, 😆, but let me post a screenshot of the elevation of the course.
October 26, 2025 at 6:53 PM
So!! In #running news, i am home and showered and fed and watered (or rather, wined) from today’s exertions and can report on the results.
It’s called getting your excuses in early, 😆, but let me post a screenshot of the elevation of the course.
It’s called getting your excuses in early, 😆, but let me post a screenshot of the elevation of the course.
The station looks at its best in the dark with its gothic cathedral vaults 😀
October 26, 2025 at 6:41 AM
The station looks at its best in the dark with its gothic cathedral vaults 😀
Thank goodness for the clock change! Up and about very early to get to the starting line for the #Lisbon half marathon! Feeling good, slept well. Fingers crossed!
October 26, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Thank goodness for the clock change! Up and about very early to get to the starting line for the #Lisbon half marathon! Feeling good, slept well. Fingers crossed!
We start in the middle of the Vasco da Gama bridge at 9.20am.
But the only way to get there is on special shuttle buses that depart from a railway station in the north east of Lisbon at …. 6.30am.
So I have to leave the hotel at 5.30 and have stretched and had breakfast in good time before that
But the only way to get there is on special shuttle buses that depart from a railway station in the north east of Lisbon at …. 6.30am.
So I have to leave the hotel at 5.30 and have stretched and had breakfast in good time before that
October 25, 2025 at 11:15 AM
We start in the middle of the Vasco da Gama bridge at 9.20am.
But the only way to get there is on special shuttle buses that depart from a railway station in the north east of Lisbon at …. 6.30am.
So I have to leave the hotel at 5.30 and have stretched and had breakfast in good time before that
But the only way to get there is on special shuttle buses that depart from a railway station in the north east of Lisbon at …. 6.30am.
So I have to leave the hotel at 5.30 and have stretched and had breakfast in good time before that
So I have been to the expo to collect my bib and other race paraphernalia for tomorrow’s #Lisbon half marathon!
At this point, very excited and full of anticipation.
The logistics however are challenging.
At this point, very excited and full of anticipation.
The logistics however are challenging.
October 25, 2025 at 11:15 AM
So I have been to the expo to collect my bib and other race paraphernalia for tomorrow’s #Lisbon half marathon!
At this point, very excited and full of anticipation.
The logistics however are challenging.
At this point, very excited and full of anticipation.
The logistics however are challenging.
#lisbon is atmospheric and autumnal this morning. Good for the marathon runners who are about to set off on their 42,2k 🤯
I’m here for the half marathon tomorrow when it’s forecast to be a bit warmer and more humid.
I’m here for the half marathon tomorrow when it’s forecast to be a bit warmer and more humid.
October 25, 2025 at 7:28 AM
#lisbon is atmospheric and autumnal this morning. Good for the marathon runners who are about to set off on their 42,2k 🤯
I’m here for the half marathon tomorrow when it’s forecast to be a bit warmer and more humid.
I’m here for the half marathon tomorrow when it’s forecast to be a bit warmer and more humid.
So, in #running news, it is now a couple hours under a week to go to the #Lisbon half marathon! This time next Sunday I shall be getting back to the hotel for a shower, a nice little snooze and anticipating the slap up feast (or gruel, depending on the outcome of the race…) to come 😆😋
October 19, 2025 at 11:12 AM
But I dunno…. Do I *need* a pie that makes me wee? 😆
October 17, 2025 at 6:54 PM
But I dunno…. Do I *need* a pie that makes me wee? 😆
Two weeks to go to the #Lisbon half marathon!
This last week was peak load week, and wasn’t the toughest that coach Kris has ever given me, but on the other hand tough enough to make me yearn for the taper to begin. 55k overall and a 2k swim.
This last week was peak load week, and wasn’t the toughest that coach Kris has ever given me, but on the other hand tough enough to make me yearn for the taper to begin. 55k overall and a 2k swim.
October 12, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Two weeks to go to the #Lisbon half marathon!
This last week was peak load week, and wasn’t the toughest that coach Kris has ever given me, but on the other hand tough enough to make me yearn for the taper to begin. 55k overall and a 2k swim.
This last week was peak load week, and wasn’t the toughest that coach Kris has ever given me, but on the other hand tough enough to make me yearn for the taper to begin. 55k overall and a 2k swim.
Oh, dearest AI: please never change. This is unimprovable, especially the censorship of “gay bar” into “restaurant”. And why has an article become “a speech”?
October 7, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Oh, dearest AI: please never change. This is unimprovable, especially the censorship of “gay bar” into “restaurant”. And why has an article become “a speech”?
So, in #running news, after a summer of seemingly constant injury, I’ve managed 7 weeks of fairly serious training and have my next race in my sights. Just three weeks to the Lisbon half marathon!
I am not as fit as I was in the spring when I did a PB in Zürich but I’m looking for a good run.
I am not as fit as I was in the spring when I did a PB in Zürich but I’m looking for a good run.
October 5, 2025 at 12:12 PM
So, in #running news, after a summer of seemingly constant injury, I’ve managed 7 weeks of fairly serious training and have my next race in my sights. Just three weeks to the Lisbon half marathon!
I am not as fit as I was in the spring when I did a PB in Zürich but I’m looking for a good run.
I am not as fit as I was in the spring when I did a PB in Zürich but I’m looking for a good run.
I can never hear the ending of that Gorecki Totus Tuus (just on BBC Radio 3) without also hearing the introductory bars of Bernstein’s Maria from West Side Story.
It improves the Gorecki enormously once you hear it, and you will never be able to unhear it now 😆🎶
It improves the Gorecki enormously once you hear it, and you will never be able to unhear it now 😆🎶
October 5, 2025 at 5:34 AM
I can never hear the ending of that Gorecki Totus Tuus (just on BBC Radio 3) without also hearing the introductory bars of Bernstein’s Maria from West Side Story.
It improves the Gorecki enormously once you hear it, and you will never be able to unhear it now 😆🎶
It improves the Gorecki enormously once you hear it, and you will never be able to unhear it now 😆🎶
Thirty years ago to the day… I became a probationary EU civil servant and began a professional life mainly here in Brussels, but also 4 years in Kosovo, 4 years in Palestine and a year in Athens, which has been a remarkable journey and a fantastic opportunity to work for the people of Europe 🇪🇺
October 1, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Thirty years ago to the day… I became a probationary EU civil servant and began a professional life mainly here in Brussels, but also 4 years in Kosovo, 4 years in Palestine and a year in Athens, which has been a remarkable journey and a fantastic opportunity to work for the people of Europe 🇪🇺
The post is currently vacant, though
September 29, 2025 at 8:45 AM
The post is currently vacant, though
Much earlier, in one case.
September 16, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Much earlier, in one case.
Sunday long run means pancakes for breakfast 😋
(Yes: I wonder why the fork is on the wrong side too…)
A second course of Greek yoghurt, oats, apple and various seeds to follow. And more coffee.
(Yes: I wonder why the fork is on the wrong side too…)
A second course of Greek yoghurt, oats, apple and various seeds to follow. And more coffee.
September 14, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Sunday long run means pancakes for breakfast 😋
(Yes: I wonder why the fork is on the wrong side too…)
A second course of Greek yoghurt, oats, apple and various seeds to follow. And more coffee.
(Yes: I wonder why the fork is on the wrong side too…)
A second course of Greek yoghurt, oats, apple and various seeds to follow. And more coffee.
I mean, it’s *absolutely* not the main point, and I’m currently on leave and therefore not doing this for work 😀 but it’s worth saying that the President of the European Commission is absolutely rocking the « strong leader » look here. Great colours. Minimal cool jewellery. Hair and makeup real.
September 1, 2025 at 8:19 PM
I mean, it’s *absolutely* not the main point, and I’m currently on leave and therefore not doing this for work 😀 but it’s worth saying that the President of the European Commission is absolutely rocking the « strong leader » look here. Great colours. Minimal cool jewellery. Hair and makeup real.
Is that some growth in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me?
September 1, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Is that some growth in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me?
In none of them is the official name of the Court the equivalent of « European Court of Justice ». It is not it’s name in any language. Check it.
The Court delvers judgment on EU law. EU law is developed in areas in which the Treaty confer competence on the EU.
The Court delvers judgment on EU law. EU law is developed in areas in which the Treaty confer competence on the EU.
August 30, 2025 at 5:14 AM
In none of them is the official name of the Court the equivalent of « European Court of Justice ». It is not it’s name in any language. Check it.
The Court delvers judgment on EU law. EU law is developed in areas in which the Treaty confer competence on the EU.
The Court delvers judgment on EU law. EU law is developed in areas in which the Treaty confer competence on the EU.
Things have correct names.
That people commonly use incorrect names is not in dispute. But if people insist on using incorrect names then there will be misunderstandings.
That people commonly use incorrect names is not in dispute. But if people insist on using incorrect names then there will be misunderstandings.
August 29, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Things have correct names.
That people commonly use incorrect names is not in dispute. But if people insist on using incorrect names then there will be misunderstandings.
That people commonly use incorrect names is not in dispute. But if people insist on using incorrect names then there will be misunderstandings.
What I *can* report, though, is that last night’s Ottolenghi green beans recipe was almost as delicious cold today as it was warm yesterday. It was a *lot* of faff, but given that it will feed either i) a dinner party one evening or ii) me for a couple of days it enters the repertoire.
August 20, 2025 at 5:58 PM
What I *can* report, though, is that last night’s Ottolenghi green beans recipe was almost as delicious cold today as it was warm yesterday. It was a *lot* of faff, but given that it will feed either i) a dinner party one evening or ii) me for a couple of days it enters the repertoire.
Well, it’s marinaded and - one of my least-favourite words - spatchcocked quail tonight.
Spatchcock. I mean who thought up that word. Eeek.
Spatchcock. I mean who thought up that word. Eeek.
August 20, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Well, it’s marinaded and - one of my least-favourite words - spatchcocked quail tonight.
Spatchcock. I mean who thought up that word. Eeek.
Spatchcock. I mean who thought up that word. Eeek.