Nicky

By the way, don't try sending me messages on Bluesky.
Ironically I am too old to faff around with their age vetification thing, so I can't see messages here.
Email me?
Or comment on a post?
Or try Mastadon - I think that still works

And the 1970s series The Six Wives of Henry 8th includes the important point that Anne of Cleves' brother was trying to use the marriage treaty to get Henry to join his war against the Emperor.
Henry would possibly still have divorced Anne, but Cromwell wouldn't have lost his head if not for that

Rewatching some old historical dramas, and being boggled by how much the modern narrative on Henry VIII focuses on his sex life as his sole motivation.
Whereas "A man for all seasons says Wolsey fell primarily because he was trying to become pope ( which he was)

My son is 30.
How did that happen?
#IHaveABusPass

Decorated xmas tree

Slightly sad to be taking down the decorations.
Holidays seem to have flown by.

Bliadhna Mhath Ùr!
Happy New Year.
We had a few people round for drinks, then went out to see the fireworks. There were some new ones that had looked like creepy hands, which was weird and cool.
Two of the 4 kids managed to stay awake for them.

I'm adding crisps to my list of things not to put in orders of shopping for delivery.
Three multipacks put at the bottom of the tray under tins and bottles... sigh...
I long ago gave up on ordering any fresh produce because they kept sending short dated stuff.

Hopefully nobody wants to send me messages through Bluesky?
It's currently demanding age verification, which sounds like a trick to get hold of ID.
I can be reached on Discord, Whatsapp, text and email.

We bought a couple of bird feeders as presents for A's (indoor) cat.

Taking the kids to IKEA so that R can tidy the flat.
Oldest demolished a portion of meatballs, and now they're playing with the toy kitchen.
I have coffee

Lisbon is like the 1970s : really salty food and the waiter argued with me when I tried to order a beer.

I still buy my kids (and their partners) advent calendars.
Grandchild (aged 4) : "Where's mine?"
Me: "Your Mum and Dad buy yours."
Grandchild: "Cool"... then negotiates with parents for going to the shops this weekend to choose one.
Husband: "Where's mine?"
Me: "Ask your Mum."

Bus stop leaning at about 45 degrees

You're drunk Bus Stop. Go home... :-)

Can we extend the firework ban to include not selling eggs to teenagers in October?
... have just got up early on a Sunday morning to clean eggs off the windows of a disabled person's flat.

I have a terrible pain in all the diodes down my left hand side.
... pulled the muscles by coughing.

Taking down my hood in the rain to show the nervous woman ahead of me on the path that I'm not a bloke...
Sigh.
I also slowed my pace to create a bit of distance when I realised she was looking back nervously and speeding up herself

Treatment of trans people risks breaching ECHR, UK warned A European human rights watchdog has warned Britain’s treatment of trans people could breach the ECHR

The Commissioner for human rights for the Council of Europe warns that Britain’s treatment of trans people could breach the ECHR

Signs that I may be a Goth : Xmas shopping in the Halloween section.

Okay, so in the unlikely event that I was ever hanging up a union flag, I would have no idea which was supposed to be the top, but the Lion Rampant really ought to be obvious

I have applied for my bus pass. With the usual bad language caused by stupid online systems that don't really work with a desktop computer.
Hopefully that's sorted out and I never have to reapply

3 people next to Eric Morecambe statue

Guess where we are?

The chip shops here close at 9pm on Friday.
#NoLongerInACity

Fireworks in daylight, apparently

Ready for the demo at noon

One issue is that 'futile cases' might include sexual assault cases. The police are already reluctant to prosecute there, and hardly need more encouragement to ignore victims.
The general principle is good though.

Poster advertising Kentwell Hall

I'm a poster girl...

Woman sitting by a fire

This weekend I am babysitting at a LARP event.
Having finished babysitting the grandkids, I am now babysitting the fire while everyone else is off fighting

Traffic queue ahead

Older grandchild (4) just wrote their name for the first time in a Fathers' Day card for Grandpa

Bus took a wrong turn... oops.
It then did a 3 point turn on Lothian Road...