David @mrdavid205 - Bluesky Profile

I can only offer my commiserations to you both. It's a horrible situation. I just hope that you take time for yourself to heal. Take care.

20.11.2025 15:00 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

Primary School Memories If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why? This prompt is one that I can remember getting in Primary School. What is it about the question that still fascinates so many adults? What would you ask someone who is in the history books? To be honest I can't really find any enthusiasm for meeting figures from history that I have read about.

Primary School Memories

If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why? This prompt is one that I can remember getting in Primary School. What is it about the question that still fascinates so many adults? What would you ask someone who is in the history books? To be honest I can't…

20.11.2025 07:39 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

What are Instincts? Do you trust your instincts? I would never trust my instincts as they have been wrong on so many occasions. I think that is partly down to being on the Autistic Spectrum. We don't tend to read people very well, so now my 'instinct' is to be incredibly wary of anyone new. We used to be told when I was growing up that if you were nice to other people then they would be nice to you.

What are Instincts?

Do you trust your instincts? I would never trust my instincts as they have been wrong on so many occasions. I think that is partly down to being on the Autistic Spectrum. We don't tend to read people very well, so now my 'instinct' is to be incredibly wary of anyone new. We…

19.11.2025 06:10 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

December Will be Magic Again What's your favorite month of the year? Why? It will surprise no one who has read this blog, even occasionally, to know that my favourite month of the year is December. As a Christmas fan, how could it not be? It is a month of anticipation and a month of magic. You have music that's different from any other time of the year.

December Will be Magic Again

What's your favorite month of the year? Why? It will surprise no one who has read this blog, even occasionally, to know that my favourite month of the year is December. As a Christmas fan, how could it not be? It is a month of anticipation and a month of magic. You…

18.11.2025 05:35 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Exploring by Instinct Rochester Christmas Lights 2025 What is your favorite place to go in your city? I live near Rochester, a city in Kent. Well, technically it's not a city anymore, but that was due to administrative incompetence, a sadly common element of modern life. Anyway, it has a Cathedral so it is, in ecclesiastical terms, a city and has been for about 1400 years.

Exploring by Instinct

Rochester Christmas Lights 2025 What is your favorite place to go in your city? I live near Rochester, a city in Kent. Well, technically it's not a city anymore, but that was due to administrative incompetence, a sadly common element of modern life. Anyway, it has a Cathedral…

17.11.2025 07:07 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

I love everything Christmas as you know so that sounds great! Hope you can find some clips of Julie Dawn Cole as Alice in Wonderland for the Woolworths advert!

16.11.2025 18:36 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Pardon our interruption...

My daughter, who used to work at Lego is selling some employee exclusive Lego sets. If you or anyone you know is interested in Lego please take a look at her seller page. Thank you. www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?s...

16.11.2025 18:34 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Don’t Trust your Gut What's the first impression you want to give people? I discount the first impression that anyone gives, for the simple reason that it is almost certain to be heavily curated to show the particular side of that person that they feel is to their advantage. Perhaps it's my innate distrust of human beings or the fact that I am on the Autistic Spectrum, but I don't believe that what you see is what you get.

Don’t Trust your Gut

What's the first impression you want to give people? I discount the first impression that anyone gives, for the simple reason that it is almost certain to be heavily curated to show the particular side of that person that they feel is to their advantage. Perhaps it's my innate…

16.11.2025 07:52 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

The Pull of Familiar Stories What book are you reading right now? There is no time of the year quite like Christmas. Those of us who celebrate it have our traditions, both personal and cultural, which mark the festive season. I have CDs I play, DVDs I watch and, books I read every year. My current book is always the one I start Christmas reading with in early or mid November.

The Pull of Familiar Stories

What book are you reading right now? There is no time of the year quite like Christmas. Those of us who celebrate it have our traditions, both personal and cultural, which mark the festive season. I have CDs I play, DVDs I watch and, books I read every year. My current…

15.11.2025 07:37 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

A Land Down Under If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? I have always loved Australia and always will. It is a country I have been lucky enough to have lived in for a couple of years in total. For that reason I know what the good and bad elements of living there are. The lifestyle is amazing, with the weather allowing you to be outside, generally on the beach for about 9 months a year, and the opportunities available to children in terms of sports and other pastimes are better than they are in the UK.

A Land Down Under

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? I have always loved Australia and always will. It is a country I have been lucky enough to have lived in for a couple of years in total. For that reason I know what the good and bad elements of living there are. The…

14.11.2025 09:31 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Amsterdam Discovery What's the coolest thing you've ever found (and kept)? I wouldn't say that anything I have found has been inherently cool, but one item I found in Amsterdam was definitely considered cool by my oldest daughter. We were on holiday in Amsterdam and walking along the bank of the Amstel River. We came across this bedraggled looking teddy bear that had been put on top of a wall.

Amsterdam Discovery

What's the coolest thing you've ever found (and kept)? I wouldn't say that anything I have found has been inherently cool, but one item I found in Amsterdam was definitely considered cool by my oldest daughter. We were on holiday in Amsterdam and walking along the bank of the…

13.11.2025 07:19 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

The Comfort of Repetition What part of your routine do you always try to skip if you can? I have a morning routine of sorts, but it's the nighttime routine that is the most important. It's what has given me the opportunity to relax and get a better quality of sleep. I listen to the Calm App, specifically the Daily Jay every night unless I have a trip to a play or a concert.

The Comfort of Repetition

What part of your routine do you always try to skip if you can? I have a morning routine of sorts, but it's the nighttime routine that is the most important. It's what has given me the opportunity to relax and get a better quality of sleep. I listen to the Calm App,…

12.11.2025 07:37 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

My Doctor Who Poster Who is the most famous or infamous person you have ever met? There was a time when I was an avid autograph hunter. I was pretty successful at it as well, collecting about 200 over the years, mostly by writing letters to the celebrities and sports people I wanted to add to my collection. Now, it's more difficult as a letter is much less likely to result in a signed photo.

My Doctor Who Poster

Who is the most famous or infamous person you have ever met? There was a time when I was an avid autograph hunter. I was pretty successful at it as well, collecting about 200 over the years, mostly by writing letters to the celebrities and sports people I wanted to add to my…

11.11.2025 08:14 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

My Companion What is good about having a pet? Albus has been with us 8 years now and is proof positive that cats are not these aloof creatures of popular imagining. Pretty much from the time we adopted him from Cats Protection he has been my companion, silent sounding board and occasional guest teaching assistant! He wants to be where people are, well people he knows anyway, and he is the most affectionate soul you could imagine.

My Companion

What is good about having a pet? Albus has been with us 8 years now and is proof positive that cats are not these aloof creatures of popular imagining. Pretty much from the time we adopted him from Cats Protection he has been my companion, silent sounding board and occasional guest…

10.11.2025 08:50 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

The Computer Age Name the most expensive personal item you've ever purchased (not your home or car). In terms of the proportion of an item's cost compared to my wages at the time, the most expensive item I ever bought was a ZX Spectrum 48k computer back in 1984. Clive Sinclair's company was at the forefront of the early home computer industry. At the time, the way to access computer games was through a connected cassette player which made a lot of high pitched beeping noises!

The Computer Age

Name the most expensive personal item you've ever purchased (not your home or car). In terms of the proportion of an item's cost compared to my wages at the time, the most expensive item I ever bought was a ZX Spectrum 48k computer back in 1984. Clive Sinclair's company was at the…

09.11.2025 07:46 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

A Late Adopter! What podcasts are you listening to? One habit I can't get into is listening to podcasts. I have tried with a couple of them recently, the first I have ever listened to, but I found them quite difficult to concentrate on, even when I was interested in the subject of the podcast. As I explained the other day, I am trying to control my screen time and one way I do that is to read.

A Late Adopter!

What podcasts are you listening to? One habit I can't get into is listening to podcasts. I have tried with a couple of them recently, the first I have ever listened to, but I found them quite difficult to concentrate on, even when I was interested in the subject of the podcast. As…

08.11.2025 07:16 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Primary School Discoveries What was your favorite subject in school? At St Andrew's Rochester, the one school I loved, I found real joy in learning. My favourite subject at the time was probably History. I was an avid collector of Ladybird Books but only the history ones. I remember, particularly, a fascination with Horatio Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar. As I mentioned in a recent blog I produced a 4 page newspaper about the event complete with adverts for a school project!

Primary School Discoveries

What was your favorite subject in school? At St Andrew's Rochester, the one school I loved, I found real joy in learning. My favourite subject at the time was probably History. I was an avid collector of Ladybird Books but only the history ones. I remember, particularly,…

07.11.2025 09:54 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

The Book of Dust Volume Three The Rose Field by Philip Pullman How do you manage screen time for yourself? I manage screen time by reading paperback books and, very occasionally, hardback books if they are very special. One such book is the final story from Lyra's universe. The first three books that make up the His Dark Materials trilogy were ones I read to my children. We followed the adventures of Lyra and Will to the surprisingly bittersweet end.

The Book of Dust Volume Three The Rose Field by Philip Pullman

How do you manage screen time for yourself? I manage screen time by reading paperback books and, very occasionally, hardback books if they are very special. One such book is the final story from Lyra's universe. The first three books…

06.11.2025 09:10 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Spend it Wisely Do you need time? I have a vague memory of seeing someone giving a TED Talk or something similar. He spoke about a person being given money at the start of each day which they had to use by the end. They couldn't save the money, so any not spent by the end of the day was taken from them. They could spend it on themselves or on others as they wished.

Spend it Wisely

Do you need time? I have a vague memory of seeing someone giving a TED Talk or something similar. He spoke about a person being given money at the start of each day which they had to use by the end. They couldn't save the money, so any not spent by the end of the day was taken from…

05.11.2025 07:16 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Good luck with that! What will your life be like in three years? There is a saying, 'God laughs at the plans of man' and whether you believe in God or you wish to substitute the word Universe, the basis of that saying is an obvious truth. At no point in my adult life have I ended up a 3 year period where I thought I would.

Good luck with that!

What will your life be like in three years? There is a saying, 'God laughs at the plans of man' and whether you believe in God or you wish to substitute the word Universe, the basis of that saying is an obvious truth. At no point in my adult life have I ended up a 3 year…

04.11.2025 08:59 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Childhood Reading Day Invent a holiday! Explain how and why everyone should celebrate. I was watching a Hallmark movie the other day called The Christmas Quest. They are films you can very easily take your brain out to watch and I frequently do! The film itself was a very different example of the genre, being set in Iceland and reflecting on the genuine Icelandic myth of the 13 Yule Lads.

Childhood Reading Day

Invent a holiday! Explain how and why everyone should celebrate. I was watching a Hallmark movie the other day called The Christmas Quest. They are films you can very easily take your brain out to watch and I frequently do! The film itself was a very different example of the…

03.11.2025 07:25 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Keeping it within Bounds What are your favorite websites? I have been spending a lot of time on my phone like the majority of the people in the world! When I was in full time work I had reasons to put the phone to one side. Over the last two months I have had to deal with my tendency to pick up my phone too much.

Keeping it within Bounds

What are your favorite websites? I have been spending a lot of time on my phone like the majority of the people in the world! When I was in full time work I had reasons to put the phone to one side. Over the last two months I have had to deal with my tendency to pick up my…

02.11.2025 07:42 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

The Past is Another Country A Time Vortex might look something like this. Is there an age or year of your life you would re-live? I have never understood why people would want to relive part of their lives. It's an idea that has so many problems. Let's take them one by one. First problem - Are you reliving this year with all the knowledge that you have now or simply being thrown back to the same time with the knowledge you had then?

The Past is Another Country

A Time Vortex might look something like this. Is there an age or year of your life you would re-live? I have never understood why people would want to relive part of their lives. It's an idea that has so many problems. Let's take them one by one. First problem - Are you…

01.11.2025 06:41 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Life After Full time Work Two Months On So, it's October 31 and I am marking two months since I finished full time year round teaching. Time to reflect on what I have achieved, learnt and thought. So, what have the last two months been like in terms of ticking off achievements or landmarks? Quite low key if I am being honest. I have ticked off the ambition of visiting the Stone Circle at Stonehenge and that was an amazing experience.

Life After Full time Work Two Months On

So, it's October 31 and I am marking two months since I finished full time year round teaching. Time to reflect on what I have achieved, learnt and thought. So, what have the last two months been like in terms of ticking off achievements or landmarks? Quite…

31.10.2025 11:22 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

The Sliding Doors Moment of World War I What historical event fascinates you the most? It won't surprise many regular readers of my blog that the historical event that fascinates me has something to do with Christmas! However, the real fascination lies in its immediate effects and its long term repercussions. The Christmas Truce took place in various places along the trenches of World War I between December 24 and 26 of 1914, the first Christmas of the war.

The Sliding Doors Moment of World War I

What historical event fascinates you the most? It won't surprise many regular readers of my blog that the historical event that fascinates me has something to do with Christmas! However, the real fascination lies in its immediate effects and its long term…

31.10.2025 08:46 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

A Matter of Taste What's something you believe everyone should know. The one thing that everyone should know is that there is no such thing as good taste and bad taste in terms of music, TV, Films or Books. Taste is personal. We often can't explain how or why a particular form of entertainment appeals to us, we just know it does. If someone else likes a particular artist or a particular writer that you can't abide, they don't have 'bad taste' and if they like the same artist or writer that you do, they don't have 'good taste'.

A Matter of Taste

What's something you believe everyone should know. The one thing that everyone should know is that there is no such thing as good taste and bad taste in terms of music, TV, Films or Books. Taste is personal. We often can't explain how or why a particular form of entertainment…

30.10.2025 07:54 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Retaining the Wonder Generated with AI from my prompt What does it mean to be a kid at heart? To be a kid at heart, as I most definitely am, isn't to look at everything with a kind of naive trust. It isn't to bury yourself in childhood and never emerge. It isn't to find the goodness in everything. It is the ability to retain the capacity for wonder.

Retaining the Wonder

Generated with AI from my prompt What does it mean to be a kid at heart? To be a kid at heart, as I most definitely am, isn't to look at everything with a kind of naive trust. It isn't to bury yourself in childhood and never emerge. It isn't to find the goodness in everything.…

29.10.2025 09:00 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Laying the Groundwork You have three magic genie wishes, what are you asking for? If I had three wishes I wouldn't seek to fast track myself and those I care about. So, a lottery win is off the table, however useful it might seem. If you know one thing from the stories about wishes it is that they come with catches. Think about the Monkey's Paw or King Midas!

Laying the Groundwork

You have three magic genie wishes, what are you asking for? If I had three wishes I wouldn't seek to fast track myself and those I care about. So, a lottery win is off the table, however useful it might seem. If you know one thing from the stories about wishes it is that they…

28.10.2025 08:27 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

A Guiding Light Describe a family member. My Grandmother, Grace Quinn, was born Grace Moon on January 29 1905. She was a very talented musician in her youth who played the violin to a very good standard. She was offered the opportunity to study the violin but that required a not insignificant financial input from the family. Unfortunately, she was from a working class family whose focus, as for so many at the time and since, was finding the money to put food on the table.

A Guiding Light

Describe a family member. My Grandmother, Grace Quinn, was born Grace Moon on January 29 1905. She was a very talented musician in her youth who played the violin to a very good standard. She was offered the opportunity to study the violin but that required a not insignificant…

27.10.2025 08:03 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Slow down! What is your favorite form of physical exercise? The phrase in the title and many other variations will be used when I am walking with other people! You see, to me the best form of exercise is quick walking and I actually find it way more tiring to walk slowly. There is a certain amount of exaggeration used when describing my walking and it used to be the source of some amusement at work when people saw me 'speeding' through the streets from London.

Slow down!

What is your favorite form of physical exercise? The phrase in the title and many other variations will be used when I am walking with other people! You see, to me the best form of exercise is quick walking and I actually find it way more tiring to walk slowly. There is a certain amount…

26.10.2025 06:48 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

David

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