YourAverageJoe

This anti-BBC rhetoric reminds me of the anti-EU stuff.

Destroy the BBC and the cultural damage will be on a par with the economic damage that leaving the EU has done.

#MarkMyWords

#R4Today #LBC #bbc5live

St Peter's Church, Folkington, in daylight (photo taken at 15:01).

St Andrew's Church, Jevington, lite only by a bright bike light (photo taken at 17:30).

Screenshot, from ride with GPS, showing the route and ride profile.

I was out on the bike yesterday, ticking of a few more Grade I LBs, around Polegate.

The take home from that, doesn't it get dark quick on roads without any street lights these days?

It certainly made that East Dean road climb feel dodgy, with its impatient drivers.

#ListedBuildingsTour

Does anybody argue that "car violence" is acceptable?

Collisions occur because of the way people drive. Change this and the numbers will reduce.

And your last point is bizarre. "Not anti car" ≠ "pro violence". There's a mass of middle ground between these two points.

Are there any social media sites less divided than X/Twitter and Bluesky?

It feels like, X/Twitter is too far Right and Bluesky, too far Left, for me.

I really miss those balanced debates, of the past, I used to have...

Block early and often is not a great mantra to follow, imho.

To avoid arguments that end up like this, how about acknowledging, cars have a place, but not to the extent people think?

One can still own a car, without having to use it for every journey.

Let's be pragmatic about it, eh?

I'd change the argument to focus on journeys.

Not every journey needs a car, even if some do.

Long term, better to wean people of their car use gradually, than expecting them to go cold turkey overnight.

It's the anti diet argument. Gradual is more successful than sudden.

There are times when violence may be necessary... Like when defending yourself.

Rather than telling people they never need to drive, I believe, they need to shown how unnecessary it is, for them, to drive as much as they do.

Reduction comes before elimination.

A footpath, covered in leaves, pictured today, Saturday Nov 8th 2025.

The same footpath, covered in leaves, pictured Sun Nov 2nd 2025.

Footpath, cleared by myself of leaves, pictured Sun Nov 2nd 2025.

It looks a revisit is needed...

It may seem pointless, with so many leaves still to fall, but clearing them is quite therapeutic... It also provides you with a good workout, if you want to give it a go.

#BalaamWoodLNR

Something that's hit home, for me, recently... Feet do shrink as you get older.

I've been a size 13 for the majority of my life and have never had a problem with socks... Until recently.

Old ones felt loose. New ones did too. Bought size 12 and voila.. They fit snuggly.

BBC Sounds - Forgiveness: Stories from the Front Line - Available Episodes Listen to the latest episodes of Forgiveness: Stories from the Front Line on BBC Sounds.

These tales of forgiveness, on #Radio4, are quite hard hitting...

Today's episode, Marie, is about a driver that killed two whilst using his phone at the wheel.

Could you forgive this?

I'm not sure I could.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand...

I've another scenario for you to consider... An argument over weed smoking gets out of hand.

Eyewitnesses can, and often do, get the facts wrong. Until the police come out with more details, I'm taking all reports with a pinch of salt.

Hopefully, lessons will have been learned from this experience...

A warning for those who use the @a38cycleway.bsky.social in Birmingham... Please ride and cycle to the conditions.

There's a lot of wet and mashed up leaves along this route, so it's important to keep your speed under control...

Don't go be like this pair of fools... #Cycling

Education secretary accuses Reform of 'Victorian era' pupil plan Bridget Phillipson responds to a Reform council's plea over the distances pupils walk to school.

If it was proposed, by any other party than #Reform, that 8yo can walk 5 miles to school, I'm sure we'd hear more about.

Other than the BBC, I've not seen/heard this raised anywhere.

Have you?

Cc: @mrjamesob.bsky.social

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Hagley Road Have your say around improving transport on Hagley Road.

hagleyroad.commonplace.is

I have taken the plunge, today, and spent £100 worth on a computer mouse...

I get a load of Argos gift cards through work, but I'm always reluctant to spend, as I can buy, most of the things that interest me, far cheaper elsewhere.

Can someone explain why this is ridiculous (as I know it is)?

Thanks

Thank the Tories for keeping Robert Jenrick out of high office Shadow justice secretary’s comment about not seeing a ‘white face’ shows he does not understand integration

Anyone in any doubt that Robert Jenrick has been using skin colour to judge people "not British" should read these forensic critiques from @stephenkb.bsky.social & @sathnam.bsky.social

www.ft.com/content/f588...

www.thetimes.com/life-style/c...

A reminder for those who believe the train is the best option for intercity travel... Nightmares can occur here too.

"Like" is the one for me, with my big thumb.

Seeing that heart turn read, on a post I've not read, makes me panic a little.... Have I just liked a post from a racist patriot??

(More of an issue over there than here, thankfully.)

Why do I hear more about what Andy Street, the former Mayor of the West Mids, thinks about things, than what Richard Parker, the current mayor of the West Mids, thinks?

Sure, this is a Tory party issue, but what about JLR?

Richard Parker's PR is terrible...

A footpath covered in fallen acorns.

Another #DogWalkingThought...

Given the billions of acorns that fall, why don't I see more oak seedlings?

I've an oak tree in my garden and I frequently have to pull up seedlings, but I never see any, anywhere else...

Is it time for active travel advocates to change their approach to conversion?

It seems to me, repetitive arguments about how bad one is for owning a car, is not aiding the switch.

Couch to 5k takes 9 weeks.
People are not going to give up their cars overnight. Thinking they will is delusional.

How long had you owned your car before getting rid of it? Was it a gradual reduction in use that led you to sell up, or some other reason?

How much of a rational conversation can one have on this subject?

Harsher penalties are definitely needed, when it comes to driving offences, but they also need to be enforceable and respected.

If 5 year bans are ignored now, I'm sure, default, lifetime bans will be too.

It would be interesting to see (and I might have a go at this later) what is the breakdown, of the reported offences, that miss the 14 day deadline?

This may be true, on the streets, but what about the ballot box? That's what concerns me.

Google's AI is incredible. It recommended me a book - English Parish Churches: A guide, by Graham Parry - outlining why it would suit my needs, which sounded spot on... Until I went find it.

It's never been published... GP has written a lot on the subject though, hence the "misattribution".

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Another #Wordle word I've never come across before... Ruining my reputation, almost.