Alastair Meeks
@alastairmeeks.bsky.social
Lawyer, writer, Zedra
Pinned
How men are
How men are I am fortunate enough to have a river view from my flat. I look out onto the Pool of London, that part of the river Thames that was foundational for London itself. Stretching from Wapping ...
medium.com
I've put together, hesitantly, some thoughts about men. Please do read and respond, even if you strongly disagree. There has been too much silence from men and this needs at least to be discussed.
medium.com/@alastair-me...
medium.com/@alastair-me...
I've just placed a small bet on David Lammy for next PM on Betfair at 100 (99/1).
He's Deputy PM. He may not be an obvious choice but he shouldn't be that much of a longshot.
He's Deputy PM. He may not be an obvious choice but he shouldn't be that much of a longshot.
November 28, 2025 at 9:43 PM
I've just placed a small bet on David Lammy for next PM on Betfair at 100 (99/1).
He's Deputy PM. He may not be an obvious choice but he shouldn't be that much of a longshot.
He's Deputy PM. He may not be an obvious choice but he shouldn't be that much of a longshot.
I remembered Kate Bush’s Flower Of The Mountain earlier today, and now you should too.
Dreamlike.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO9m...
Dreamlike.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO9m...
Flower Of The Mountain (2018 Remaster)
YouTube video by Kate Bush - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:41 PM
I remembered Kate Bush’s Flower Of The Mountain earlier today, and now you should too.
Dreamlike.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO9m...
Dreamlike.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO9m...
Sigh. Two eBay packages, each with three glasses in, arrived today. One breakage in one, all three in the other were chipped and not as described. So, 2 satisfactory goods out of 6 received.
Chances of a successful remediation from eBay?
Chances of a successful remediation from eBay?
November 28, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Sigh. Two eBay packages, each with three glasses in, arrived today. One breakage in one, all three in the other were chipped and not as described. So, 2 satisfactory goods out of 6 received.
Chances of a successful remediation from eBay?
Chances of a successful remediation from eBay?
I'm not a fan of the triple lock but if we have to have it, this is reasonable. These are the pensioners who need the help.
Interesting - the Chancellor tells @martinlewis.moneysavingexpert.com that those receiving only the state pension won’t pay income tax even when the pension passes the (frozen) income tax threshold. So in effect the income tax threshold will newly rise by the triple lock, for some not all pensioners
November 28, 2025 at 9:07 AM
I'm not a fan of the triple lock but if we have to have it, this is reasonable. These are the pensioners who need the help.
Reposted by Alastair Meeks
Suspect a weird side effect of this policy is a lot of people who’ve imagined house price growth to be continuing at 2000s era rates will discover to their shock and dismay that it hasn’t been, and their home hasn’t gone up in value like they thought.
November 27, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Suspect a weird side effect of this policy is a lot of people who’ve imagined house price growth to be continuing at 2000s era rates will discover to their shock and dismay that it hasn’t been, and their home hasn’t gone up in value like they thought.
Idly wondering whether the rightwing press's rekindled enthusiasm for Kemi Badenoch is in part a consequence of a sense that Nigel Farage isn't safe to back wholeheartedly.
November 27, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Idly wondering whether the rightwing press's rekindled enthusiasm for Kemi Badenoch is in part a consequence of a sense that Nigel Farage isn't safe to back wholeheartedly.
Reposted by Alastair Meeks
Nano Banana Pro also seems to be good at moving the camera when recreating images, which can add a false sense of authenticity to sets of images, for example:
November 27, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Nano Banana Pro also seems to be good at moving the camera when recreating images, which can add a false sense of authenticity to sets of images, for example:
Reposted by Alastair Meeks
Simple answer - equity release! I know that people need to choose their company carefully but if the woman is 'elderly' and has a house worth over £2 million, then she can free up plenty of money and stay in her house for the rest of her life.
November 27, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Simple answer - equity release! I know that people need to choose their company carefully but if the woman is 'elderly' and has a house worth over £2 million, then she can free up plenty of money and stay in her house for the rest of her life.
Just the latest budget for managed decline.
And serious centrists wonder why populists at both extremes are doing so well.
And serious centrists wonder why populists at both extremes are doing so well.
November 26, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Just the latest budget for managed decline.
And serious centrists wonder why populists at both extremes are doing so well.
And serious centrists wonder why populists at both extremes are doing so well.
And vice versa.
I think a government in a stronger political position would have been prepared to be bolder at the moment.
November 26, 2025 at 12:54 PM
And vice versa.
Reposted by Alastair Meeks
I think a government in a stronger political position would have been prepared to be bolder at the moment.
November 26, 2025 at 12:51 PM
I think a government in a stronger political position would have been prepared to be bolder at the moment.
Reposted by Alastair Meeks
One impact I think it might have is to solidify the concept of ‘anyone but Farage’ tactical voting, which could harm Reform significantly in electoral terms, even if it doesn’t touch his base.
November 26, 2025 at 9:52 AM
One impact I think it might have is to solidify the concept of ‘anyone but Farage’ tactical voting, which could harm Reform significantly in electoral terms, even if it doesn’t touch his base.
Now there's some sad things known to man, but ain't too much sadder than the words: "X would like to recall the message".
November 26, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Now there's some sad things known to man, but ain't too much sadder than the words: "X would like to recall the message".
More than a year ago.
This govt looks like it will fail because of squeamishness. It is confronted by many major chronic problems.
eg
1) It needs to tax more and quickly, with some inevitable rough edges
2) It needs to ungum planning, with some very visible losers
3) It needs to tackle the broken media landscape
1/2
eg
1) It needs to tax more and quickly, with some inevitable rough edges
2) It needs to ungum planning, with some very visible losers
3) It needs to tackle the broken media landscape
1/2
November 26, 2025 at 8:11 AM
More than a year ago.
It looks like Nigel Farage is going to have to find a rather better line than "it's a smear".
November 26, 2025 at 8:07 AM
It looks like Nigel Farage is going to have to find a rather better line than "it's a smear".
Reposted by Alastair Meeks
This is an excellent piece of work. It is a playbook of vexatious litigation. It’s written for the leaseholders in the case reported by @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social but it is useful for anyone facing lawfare. www.facebook.com/100064191813...
Councillor David Grant
Its Been a Leasehold/Mr. Milne day today. If your worried after receiving his threats, residents in sheffield have compiled a factsheet to try to help. they are really gathering pace in Sheffield...
www.facebook.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:18 AM
This is an excellent piece of work. It is a playbook of vexatious litigation. It’s written for the leaseholders in the case reported by @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social but it is useful for anyone facing lawfare. www.facebook.com/100064191813...
Reposted by Alastair Meeks
NEW: More questions about the long-term effects of GLP-1 weight loss drugs as new research finds people with higher muscle mass showed less brain ageing.
Many users of GLP-1s such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro shed muscle mass at the same time as they lose fat.
www.ft.com/content/b735...
Many users of GLP-1s such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro shed muscle mass at the same time as they lose fat.
www.ft.com/content/b735...
Muscly people show slower brain ageing, study finds
Research highlights possible drawback of muscle mass loss through use of GLP-1 anti-obesity drugs
www.ft.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:52 PM
NEW: More questions about the long-term effects of GLP-1 weight loss drugs as new research finds people with higher muscle mass showed less brain ageing.
Many users of GLP-1s such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro shed muscle mass at the same time as they lose fat.
www.ft.com/content/b735...
Many users of GLP-1s such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro shed muscle mass at the same time as they lose fat.
www.ft.com/content/b735...
Reposted by Alastair Meeks
Do read the whole judgment. The circumstances of the feud (both being enthusiastic participants) are central to the findings. Paras 114-125 set this out in detail.
You can still disagree with the decision. I don't think you can fairly describe it on its facts as stupid or biased.
You can still disagree with the decision. I don't think you can fairly describe it on its facts as stupid or biased.
Here's an excerpt from the judgment. You can read the whole thing (or a summary) here: www.judiciary.uk/judgments/r-...
November 25, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Do read the whole judgment. The circumstances of the feud (both being enthusiastic participants) are central to the findings. Paras 114-125 set this out in detail.
You can still disagree with the decision. I don't think you can fairly describe it on its facts as stupid or biased.
You can still disagree with the decision. I don't think you can fairly describe it on its facts as stupid or biased.
Reposted by Alastair Meeks
The amount of sweat and tears being shed you might think it was the third Greek bailout, rather than a relatively small adjustment with a large number of levers available to the chancellor
November 25, 2025 at 4:34 PM
The amount of sweat and tears being shed you might think it was the third Greek bailout, rather than a relatively small adjustment with a large number of levers available to the chancellor
I suppose the plus side of all the pre-budget briefing is that my expectations have been managed so that I'm braced for rock bottom in terms of competence and likely economic effects.
November 25, 2025 at 4:29 PM
I suppose the plus side of all the pre-budget briefing is that my expectations have been managed so that I'm braced for rock bottom in terms of competence and likely economic effects.
Do read the whole judgment. The circumstances of the feud (both being enthusiastic participants) are central to the findings. Paras 114-125 set this out in detail.
You can still disagree with the decision. I don't think you can fairly describe it on its facts as stupid or biased.
You can still disagree with the decision. I don't think you can fairly describe it on its facts as stupid or biased.
Here's an excerpt from the judgment. You can read the whole thing (or a summary) here: www.judiciary.uk/judgments/r-...
November 25, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Do read the whole judgment. The circumstances of the feud (both being enthusiastic participants) are central to the findings. Paras 114-125 set this out in detail.
You can still disagree with the decision. I don't think you can fairly describe it on its facts as stupid or biased.
You can still disagree with the decision. I don't think you can fairly describe it on its facts as stupid or biased.
Today would have been my grandfather's 113th birthday (he died 30 years ago). One of his finest moments was when he announced that when giving his weight he needed to take off a stone for his bones.
November 25, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Today would have been my grandfather's 113th birthday (he died 30 years ago). One of his finest moments was when he announced that when giving his weight he needed to take off a stone for his bones.
Bluesky today feels exceptionally scratchy. Not sure why. Maybe it's a late November vibe.
November 25, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Bluesky today feels exceptionally scratchy. Not sure why. Maybe it's a late November vibe.
Reposted by Alastair Meeks
Yes, it's why while I think criticism from Gauke and others wasn't off base I think they are missing how Centrist inability to generate hope means their cries of "but Truss! But bond markets!" over time won't be enough to contain populist waves
November 25, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Yes, it's why while I think criticism from Gauke and others wasn't off base I think they are missing how Centrist inability to generate hope means their cries of "but Truss! But bond markets!" over time won't be enough to contain populist waves