Alison M

There's a green dress that features heavily in the plot - one of the characters is wearing it during a key scene and it returns as a motif throughout, iirc

Absolutely. Strategically important and also, imo, a soft power win.

I guess modern languages don't attract nearly as many overseas students as other disciplines. From what I hear, even Oxbridge colleges are struggling with recruitment so they seem to be soft targets for cuts. It's such an awful loss though. Such a rich and rewarding field to study.

The Department of Languages at @heriotwattuni.bsky.social is facing serious cuts with a proposal to make 11 of its staff redundant, stop offering undergraduate Chinese and German and eliminate intercultural studies courses.

Please sign this petition: heriotwatt.web.ucu.org.uk/2026/02/05/s...

Scots is fine when describing a culture, it's being called "Scotch" we don't like. And your point is still valid. He can fuck right off.

Currently in the Glasgow microseason: "Light rain turns to rain so heavy there's a puddle at the bottom of my bag".

Can highly recommend the London Transport Museum with small boys.

I absolutely adore Little My, especially when she makes the ice skates out of kitchen knives.

The roots of an old tree that looks extremely like the feet of an ancient troll.

If this tree is not heading off somewhere once nobody's looking, then I don't know what's going on here.

Google ad during the rugby: "if your friend asks you a question and your phone knows the answer, shouldn't it just answer?"

No, no it very much should not.

Yes of course. As I say, we shouldn't be complacent about what's happening. However, it's also true that very many people in that age group are a *lot* more media savvy than their parents and grandparents.

Shall we go to Monaco and see how many of Mr Ratcliffe's neighbours are native Monegasques and how many are tax-avoiding millionaires?

Also, up here in Scotland, 16 year-olds have had the vote in local/Scottish government elections for a while, and the sky hasn't fallen in yet. Let's see what May brings. They might just save us from Reform.

I don't think we should be complacent about the dark forces that are pushing the Reform agenda, but these things come and go. I have two Gen Z kids and prefer to be more optimistic about their generation's ability to effect change.

Women 16-24 are the most left leaning segment of the population, followed by left-leaning men. So although what you say is true, it's also perhaps being a bit overblown in the media (shock)

Notice we never have an "open debate" about whether tax payers money should be put aside for badly run businesses. I'd love a fucking debate about about that.

Lol. If there's one place that's been "colonized by immigrants" in recent history, it's Monaco.

I read an interesting article about how Fennel rather skates over the more unsavoury aspects of the novel - racism, principally, but also abuse. The more so by casting Heathcliff as a white man and Edgar as a person of colour. I guess there's a world where Edgar is the "goodie" but still...

I saw the trailer at the cinema a few weeks ago and it looked absolutely diabolical. I don't much like the book either so I guess I'm not the right demographic for this one.

I walked past our local outdoor nursery today (freezing cold, raining) and the genius teachers had dug a tiny hole full of muddy water and the little goblins were queuing up to jump in that. Absolutely filthy from head to foot and having the time of their lives. Looked like fun, in the right gear.

What is this "sun" of which you speak, asks a viewer in Scotland.

I actually love February. I used to hate it too, but now I focus on the coming back to life, the birdsong starting, the frogs, the crocuses and snowdrops, the daylight, and now that I write that down I sound like Mary bloody Poppins but anyway.
Looking after toddlers is energy sapping.

Can you get Small Prophets (BBC)? It's Mackenzie Crook's new series and it's absolutely joyful. It may be a distraction rather than a cure but still.

Turns out the "I've done my research" crew don't actually understand how to do research.

Small Prophets. What a delight ♥️.

a woman wearing a red vest is making a funny face Alt: a woman with a horrified face

My British face

It's very lovely.

"one of whom" = enthusiastic small child, obvs

I've been following a transatlantic rowing race and last week one guy arrived, after 55 days at sea, and getting stuck by winds in the latter stages, to be greeted by his family, one of whom had been given an air horn. All you need after 3000 miles of rowing, an air horn directly in your face.