Martin Grimshaw Has Long Covid
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thrivingplanet.bsky.social
Martin Grimshaw Has Long Covid
@thrivingplanet.bsky.social
3.2K followers 5.6K following 530 posts
Was: Facilitation & organisational culture nerd for do-gooders; climate & sustainability. Healthy, athletic; MTB, ski, mountaineering, outdoors. Everything on pause: Long Covid is brutal.

A lot funnier IRL

Lancaster, North West England (Plague Island). ⓥ
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thrivingplanet.bsky.social
Cumbrian Alps in full winter splendour a few days back.

I actually got a little sunburn, believe it or not.

Grisedale Pike circular, Lake District.
A photo of a group of trees laden with snow, with a blue sky and sunlight illuminating the scene. A photo of a figure ascending a snow covered mountain. High clouds give a flat light, giving the scene a monochrome feel with the person walking ahead almost a silhouette. A sunny view from a distance of a range of mountains (the Skiddaw massif, northern Lake District, with the Blencathra range behind), covered in snow. In the foreground is snow covered ground and forest, with some of the trees dusted white.
November 23, 2025 at 2:43 PM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
Ghosts of Halloween, their haunted screams begging to be released from this horror.

21st November, Cumbria.
A photo of a Halloween display still not removed three weeks later. Six squashes of various varieties sit around a plant pot in a pub garden at night, illuminated by the street lights. Two are intact but four are in stages of complete collapse, one has a gaping hole which could be a screaming mouth, two are just a flat pile of orange goo. A photo of a another Halloween display still not removed three weeks later. Six squashes of various varieties sit around a plant pot in a pub garden at night, illuminated by the street lights. One is intact but the rest are in stages of complete collapse, one has a monstrous deteriorating face, three are just a flat pile of orange goo.
November 23, 2025 at 11:45 AM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
Oh God, I've already failed at #Whamaggedon and it's still only November.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whamage...
An image taken from the early 80s music video for Last Christmas by Wham, in which an amazingly coiffured George Michael sits at the dinner table with friends in a chalet in Saas Fe. He's looking sultry holding a wine glass as he ignores the conversation to gaze across to Andrew Ridgeley's girlfriend, who he confessed to be in love with last Christmas.
November 22, 2025 at 12:19 PM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
Flashback to a stroll through the upper slopes of Mt Blanc, in the Alps.

Me & my Dad climbed it for his 70th birthday. Bit of a mountain adventure. Glaciers and seracs blow my mind every time.

#Mountaineering #Nature
A photo of a white snow slope punctuated by towering seracs - ice cliffs. Below them three small figures walk. Above a blue sky with faint clouds at altitude.
November 16, 2025 at 12:08 PM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
I've always been fascinated by root systems. These photos were taken by me this summer in the South Downs, Sussex.

Here the soil, geology and steep slope revealed an impressive and huge network around a family of mature beech.

#Ecology #Nature
A photo of an impressive system of tree roots that are visible protruding from the ground, emanating from the base of trunks and connecting the trees together and firmly to a steep slope. Green moss covers some of the wood, red brown leaves and soil carpet the ground and verdant trees are visible in the background. A photo of an impressive system of tree roots that are visible protruding from the ground, emanating from the base of trunks and connecting the trees together and firmly to a steep slope. Green moss covers some of the wood, red brown leaves and soil carpet the ground and verdant trees are visible in the background. A photo of an impressive system of tree roots that are visible protruding from the ground, emanating from the base of trunks and connecting the trees together and firmly to a steep slope. Green moss covers some of the wood, red brown leaves and soil carpet the ground and verdant trees are visible in the background.
November 15, 2025 at 12:45 PM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
This was me before #LongCovid.

I appreciate what I've lived, but I've lost so much.

bsky.app/profile/kinl...
A photo of 2 ski-mountaineers paused perpendicular to and looking down a terrifying looking steep and narrow slope, walled in by towering snow covered rock buttresses. Due to the light and conditions, the 2 skiers stand out in full colour in a landscape that looks monochrome with the light snow and dark rock. Picture taken in La Grave, French Alps.
November 8, 2025 at 3:55 PM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
I was surprised to find a load of stunning, colourful mushrooms in Surrey Hills #woodland in the middle of the August heatwave.

#FallenTrunkFriday ??

#FungiFriends #FungiFriday #Ecology
A large, striking, yellow-orange fungi droops from a moss coated fallen trunk on the woodland floor, carpeted with brown leaves. A large yellow-orange fungi fans out from a moss coated fallen trunk on the woodland floor, carpeted with brown leaves. The photo includes a person's foot for size comparison, which is dwarfed by the fungi. A burst of yellow-orange mushrooms bubbles out from the base of a moss coated trunk and the brown and green leaves on the woodland floor. A large yellow-orange fungi fans out from a moss coated fallen trunk on the woodland floor, carpeted with brown leaves, behind a drape of ivy.
October 17, 2025 at 12:44 PM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
I was surprised to find a load of stunning, colourful mushrooms in Surrey Hills #woodland in the middle of the August heatwave, including this great love heart.

Happy #FungiFriday !

🫶

#FungiFriends #Fungi #Ecology
A striking, pink-ish red fungi looks a bit like a love-heart, clinging to the dark bark of a tree. A deep red-ish orange fungi bubbles up from a fallen trunk. In the background a dog sniffles the brown leaves on the woodland floor. A striking, pink-ish red fungi looks a bit like a love-heart, clinging to the dark bark of a tree. Here the picture is zoomed out, revealing a spider's web on the trunk, and green and brown woodland in the background.
October 17, 2025 at 10:30 AM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
I see discredited Prof Paul Garner et al yet again barging into Guardian Letters on a tragic #Lymes story - why do @theguardian.com keep publishing their anti-science bullshit?

They'll never miss any inappropriate opportunity to leverage in their weird BPS beliefs on #LongCovid #MECFS.

Link below
A screenshot from the Guardian Letters page, the link to which is in the next post below, which reads " In the absence of clear explanations and effective solutions, it is entirely understandable that families may turn to a variety of for-profit, fringe medicine options. While Patrick’s faith and optimism may indeed help Milly recover, there is no reliable evidence linking a chronic Borrelia infection to her symptoms; and the effectiveness of long-term antibiotics has not been demonstrated. Milly’s exhaustion is typical of a group of conditions known as “persistent physical symptoms”. They arise when biological defence systems, evolved to keep us safe, go awry. Approaches that work for many are based on knowledge of how the brain, thoughts, feelings and activities interact. This knowledge is explained to patients in a dialogue, relating stressors to brain-generated danger signals; and this becomes integral to a negotiated, bespoke rehabilitation plan. This approach has been shown to be effective, including in two well-conducted, recent trials from Norway, one for people with the post-Covid condition, and one for people with “medically unexplained symptoms”. Unfortunately, it seems that Milly’s mind-body approach was implemented in a suboptimal way. This led her to feel responsible for her symptoms, rather than understand that they arise from the body’s natural responses. Such feelings of guilt can hinder recovery, and should have been carefully addressed. Prof Paul Garner Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Dr Maria Pedersen Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo Dr Alastair Miller Former lead, neurological infection service, Liverpool Royal University Hospital"
October 4, 2025 at 10:13 AM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
I said "Have you tried branching out?"

She said "You're barking up the wrong tree mate" and stormed off in disgust.

"I was only treeing to help" I mumbled after her.

[Photo take in the Surrey Hills, Aug '25]

#ThickTrunkTuesday #Trees #Ecology
A photo of an unusual tree with two large 'legs' encrusted in bark, where the original solid trunk is completely hollowed out and gone. The whole tree is supported by these two thin limbs of wood and bark, rising to a 'waist'. Higher up at 'shoulder' height, two 'arms' flail behind and above the trunk could be construed as a tall thin head, perhaps akin to an African figurative sculpture. The overall impression could be of a 'tree lady' (or maybe tree man) walking away, or possibly dancing. In the surrounding woodland the plentiful green foliage of shrubs and trees contrast with the brown wood and bark of this tree lady.
September 30, 2025 at 1:38 PM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
Crowdfunder launched for new radio station BrandB telling positive stories about the nature & climate emergencies alongside music. Based in Brighton, Sussex, England but with an international outlook.

Chuck in a few quid (or sponsor)?

#ClimateEmergency #Nature
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/launch-bra...
A stock image of happy looking people with their arms raised. They appear to be in a nightclub with low lighting and coloured lights in the background.
September 21, 2025 at 3:49 PM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
A screenshot of a weather forecast for the day broken down hour by hour, showing constant grey clouds and heavy rain all day and 'autumnal' temperatures, in North West England.
September 20, 2025 at 3:44 PM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
Adding to ^this thread^

If you think you recovered from your Covid infection(s), you probably haven't.

🚨There is only #LongCovid & asymptomatic Long Covid🚨

We're all on a spectrum of severity, from 'feel fine' to completely disabled.

www.healthrising.org/blog/2025/06...

@cortjohnson.bsky.social
A screenshot of the text from the article linked to here, taken from the Conclusion section. The text reads: "All in all, this most interesting study uncovered a couple of surprising things. Whether healthy or still ill, the brush with the coronavirus left quite a mark. Many of the same processes (very decreased tryptophan, monocyte activation, high levels of inflammatory lipid byproducts, altered metabolic gene expression, increased T-cell activation, increased oxidative stress) believed to underlie long-COVID pathology are present in recovered COVID-19 patients as well."
July 8, 2025 at 12:06 PM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
Flashback to climbing Corvus, a classic 'easy' Diff multipitch route in Borrowdale, Lake District, Cumbria.

More of an adventure and harder than I expected, not least due to rustiness, complete with sketchy descent in the dark.
A photo taken from the foot of a large grey crag, large cliffs interspersed with shrubs springing out from wherever they can. These 'awkward' spots are critical remnants of a much more abundant ecosystem, following many generations of deforested, overgrazed and depleted landscape, which give hope to the many who would like to see restoration and rewilding, and an ecology-led approach to grazing and land management. A thin red rope rises nearly vertically up through the rockface and a few pieces of 'protection', placed in small cracks and crevices for safety.
June 22, 2025 at 11:56 AM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
RIP Sly Stone, musical visionary, pioneer of the Funk, hero of black American culture.

Here's Questlove's tribute show for @worldwidefm.bsky.social celebrating his genius.

#SoulSky #MusicSky @gillespeterson.bsky.social

worldwidefm.net/episode/ques...
An iconic black and white profile photo of legendary black american artist Sly Stone, who has passed away. He's sporting a large afro, long sideburns, gold chain and gold vest.
June 10, 2025 at 2:17 PM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
I think we might need to upgrade this graphic from a decade ago.

#LabourAusterity #WelfareCuts #Disability #LongCovid #Eugenics

bsky.app/profile/samw...
A graphic from the early Austerity era of the Conservative government of Britain from 2010 onwards, which recreated the then Conservative Party logo as a warning triangle with a foot kicking a disabled person in a wheelchair off a jetty into the water. All in the Conservative light blue colour. It's a shocking image but a fair and accurate portrayal of the way the Tories targeted and punished the disabled, which subsequently led to much suffering and death.
March 26, 2025 at 1:36 PM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
Just a reminder to our American friends. In Britain recently we had a Prime Minister, Liz Truss, aka OMG Liz Fucking Truss or The Lettuce, who was so bad we got rid of her after 50 days.

Tbh we also had some other really shit ones who were harder to flush, but anyway that's my inspirational talk.
March 1, 2025 at 1:48 AM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
Art, satire, comedy, imagination is survival.

“That day, I learned something essential: We can only feel sorry for ourselves when our misfortunes are still supportable. Once this limit is crossed, the only way to bear the unbearable is to laugh at it.”

From Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
An image of a page in the graphic novel Persepolis, in which the main character gains an insight into surviving the Iranian regime, sharing the words: “We can only feel sorry for ourselves when our misfortunes are still supportable. Once this limit is crossed, the only way to bear the unbearable is to laugh at it.”
February 28, 2025 at 4:15 PM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
An image of unusual and stunning ice formations on rock at altitude, with feather-like patterns and waves. An image of unusual and stunning ice formations on rock at altitude, with feather-like patterns and waves. An image of unusual and stunning ice formations on rock at altitude, with feather-like patterns and waves.
February 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
Ice, ice, baby.

Lake District, Cumbria, NW England.
An image of unusual and stunning ice formations on rock at altitude, with feather-like patterns and waves. An image of unusual and stunning ice formations on rock at altitude, with feather-like patterns and waves. An image of unusual and stunning ice formations on rock at altitude, with feather-like patterns and waves. An image of unusual and stunning ice formations on rock at altitude, with feather-like patterns and waves.
February 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
Flashback to a bivvy camp sunrise (bivvy sac bottom of picture) in the Lake District, England.
A photo of a glorious sunrise illuminating golden clouds over a small lake (or tarn in local dialect), with a small island in the middle and green hills encircling it. At the bottom of the picture you can just make out a small 'bivvy' sleeping sack, like a micro tent.
February 4, 2025 at 10:37 AM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
I'm trying really hard to keep this spirit as much as I can.
A picture of a sign on a red brick wall background. At the top is a yellow triangle warning sign with exclamation mark. Underneath on a yellow background in bold letters it says "There may be trouble ahead". Below with white lettering on blue background the sign continues with the words: "All site visitors please note that while there is * Moonlight * Music * Love * Romance It is advised that you * Face the music * Dance" These are the lyrics to a famous old romantic song performed by Fred Astair in film and subsequently covered many times by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.
February 4, 2025 at 8:49 AM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
Been away, just checking in.

Has Trump renamed America Gilead yet?
A scene from the Handmaid's Tale, with a view looking out on the gardens streatching away from the Capitol building as the seat of power of the republic of Gilead. From behind we see the Commander and his wife in black suit with military epaulette over his shoulder, and she in long teal cloak. June stands between them in Handmaid uniform. They are addressing a crowd of Handmaids standing in a disciplined military style arrangement, with their heads lowered so that their white hats obscure their faces, with the great obelisk in Washington replaced by a giant cross.
January 31, 2025 at 11:03 AM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
Some welcome colour on a cold winter's day, in a scrap of local woodland in Lancaster, Lancashire UK.

#FungiFriends
Vibrant brown mushrooms emerge from a tree trunk on a cold grey day in the woods. Vibrant pale orange mushrooms emerge from a tree trunk on a cold grey day in the woods. Bright yellow mushrooms emerge from a tree trunk on a cold grey day in the woods. Bright yellow mushrooms emerge from a tree trunk on a cold grey day in the woods.
January 13, 2025 at 1:40 PM
thrivingplanet.bsky.social
Moss / lichen.
A photo of a patch light pink rock covered in multiple species of moss and lichen in greens, pink and grey.
December 30, 2024 at 6:37 PM