Franca
@applefranca.bsky.social
Live in Edinburgh, like dressmaking, knitting, active travel, Eurovision and coffee. Scottish Government researcher working on children and families. 🏴 🇩🇪 🇱🇺
I still write an occasional personal blog like it's 2005: www.applefranca.com
I still write an occasional personal blog like it's 2005: www.applefranca.com
Trial run for a Christmas present I am definitely not going to be making in time #garmentsewing
Peppermint Samford Set Kids Hack — apple franca
Ellis has asked for some satin traditional pyjamas with a notched collar for Christmas. It was surprisingly hard to find a kids pattern in that style, and it doesn't help that Ellis is too tall for mo...
www.applefranca.com
December 21, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Trial run for a Christmas present I am definitely not going to be making in time #garmentsewing
Did the Christmas food shop first thing this morning, got there while it was still quiet and paid with mostly nectar points. Was dreading so this is a massive win!
December 20, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Did the Christmas food shop first thing this morning, got there while it was still quiet and paid with mostly nectar points. Was dreading so this is a massive win!
Big I was never fired, I quit energy
meanwhile, the Twitterati are calling for a ban on all travel from Europe
December 19, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Big I was never fired, I quit energy
Fingers crossed. Shouldn't ever have been voted for, particularly in such financially constrained times, but I'll take it
#BraidsEstate
👍 Council quite right to put this scheme on pause pending case against Cllrs Marie-Clair Munro (Con) & Neil Ross (LD)
It should then be scrapped, and traffic filters retained, to keep the quiet area for N-S *and* E-W 🚶👩🦼🚲 movement with no need for the controversial 🚲 lane
@edi.bike
👍 Council quite right to put this scheme on pause pending case against Cllrs Marie-Clair Munro (Con) & Neil Ross (LD)
It should then be scrapped, and traffic filters retained, to keep the quiet area for N-S *and* E-W 🚶👩🦼🚲 movement with no need for the controversial 🚲 lane
@edi.bike
🚨Braids Estate update - I believe pausing the implementation of this scheme is the right thing to do at this time. We will have to wait until after the Standards Commission hearing in March before deciding what the next steps are.
www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinbur...
www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinbur...
December 18, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Fingers crossed. Shouldn't ever have been voted for, particularly in such financially constrained times, but I'll take it
Reposted by Franca
Today's #UnexpectedEbayFind in this button badge featuring "Peter Puddock", the one-time mascot of Edinburgh's Royal Commonwealth Pool (aka The Commie) 🐸🎀🏊, created as a result of a 1987 competition by Edinburgh District Council...
December 14, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Today's #UnexpectedEbayFind in this button badge featuring "Peter Puddock", the one-time mascot of Edinburgh's Royal Commonwealth Pool (aka The Commie) 🐸🎀🏊, created as a result of a 1987 competition by Edinburgh District Council...
I've just downloaded a search engine and a maps off this list. Changing my email is more effort than I can deal with just now, but these two you can get started with straight away.
December 14, 2025 at 8:09 AM
I've just downloaded a search engine and a maps off this list. Changing my email is more effort than I can deal with just now, but these two you can get started with straight away.
Younger son is rewatching Emily in Paris for the new episodes coming out in the other room and actually it's pretty good. In the first series all the French people speak English to each other for no reason, but later it does actually have substantial chunks of dialogue in French in a realistic way
December 13, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Younger son is rewatching Emily in Paris for the new episodes coming out in the other room and actually it's pretty good. In the first series all the French people speak English to each other for no reason, but later it does actually have substantial chunks of dialogue in French in a realistic way
Listened to the Luxembourg songs. I usually have a strong preference for songs in French, but the female fronted one is pretty boring and the male fronted one I don't like at all.
This one is my favourite youtu.be/hVoCZ1mziA8
This one is my favourite youtu.be/hVoCZ1mziA8
Irem - Bad Decisions (Hush Hush) (Official Luxembourg Song Contest 2026 Lyric Video)
YouTube video by Eurovision Luxembourg
youtu.be
December 12, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Listened to the Luxembourg songs. I usually have a strong preference for songs in French, but the female fronted one is pretty boring and the male fronted one I don't like at all.
This one is my favourite youtu.be/hVoCZ1mziA8
This one is my favourite youtu.be/hVoCZ1mziA8
I'm sorry, what? This is a safeguarding risk how exactly?
December 12, 2025 at 6:00 AM
I'm sorry, what? This is a safeguarding risk how exactly?
In which we now have a teenager
December 11, 2025 at 9:56 PM
In which we now have a teenager
Reposted by Franca
I just feel Martin Green needs to sort out his tone because the vibe keeps changing. Either you are "it's just 5 countries who will be back next year. No biggie 🤷" or it is "I hear you. I see you. I feel you. I AM YOU! 🕊️"
Flip flopping feels even more disingenuous. You made your choice. #Eurovision
Flip flopping feels even more disingenuous. You made your choice. #Eurovision
📝 Eurovision Director Martin Green has published a letter to the Eurovision fans
"We will ensure that all participating broadcasters respect the rules of the competition and if they don’t you have a personal pledge from me, we will not tolerate it and call it out"
"We will ensure that all participating broadcasters respect the rules of the competition and if they don’t you have a personal pledge from me, we will not tolerate it and call it out"
December 11, 2025 at 7:48 PM
I just feel Martin Green needs to sort out his tone because the vibe keeps changing. Either you are "it's just 5 countries who will be back next year. No biggie 🤷" or it is "I hear you. I see you. I feel you. I AM YOU! 🕊️"
Flip flopping feels even more disingenuous. You made your choice. #Eurovision
Flip flopping feels even more disingenuous. You made your choice. #Eurovision
'We will call out anyone breaking the rules' but according to them Israel didn't break any rules, so that means effectively nothing
📝 Eurovision Director Martin Green has published a letter to the Eurovision fans
"We will ensure that all participating broadcasters respect the rules of the competition and if they don’t you have a personal pledge from me, we will not tolerate it and call it out"
"We will ensure that all participating broadcasters respect the rules of the competition and if they don’t you have a personal pledge from me, we will not tolerate it and call it out"
December 11, 2025 at 12:59 PM
'We will call out anyone breaking the rules' but according to them Israel didn't break any rules, so that means effectively nothing
Doing their bit for the tourism industry I see
Bat shit crazy.
US plans to start checking tourists social media.
It will be "mandatory" to hand over the social media info, including email addresses & phone numbers used in the last five years, as well as the names, addresses, numbers, & birthdays of family members.
news.sky.com/story/us-pla...
US plans to start checking tourists social media.
It will be "mandatory" to hand over the social media info, including email addresses & phone numbers used in the last five years, as well as the names, addresses, numbers, & birthdays of family members.
news.sky.com/story/us-pla...
US plans to start checking all tourists' social media
The potential social media mandate being proposed by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) would apply to anyone visiting, whether they require a visa or not.
news.sky.com
December 10, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Doing their bit for the tourism industry I see
I've just tentatively taken some steps into (very narrowly) using ai at work, and then I see something like this and I'm back to I can't wait for this all to implode
Now imagine sharing your private fantasies with what you believe is a bot that cannot judge or remember. Just that, on the other side, is a man in a one-room home in Nairobi, pretending to be an AI companion.
That man is Michael, and this is his story: data-workers.org/michael/
That man is Michael, and this is his story: data-workers.org/michael/
The Emotional Labor Behind AI Intimacy, by Michael Geoffrey Asia.
Imagine confiding your most private fantasies to what you believe is an unfeeling algorithm that cannot judge or remember. Now imagine that on the other side of that conversation is a man sitting in a...
data-workers.org
December 10, 2025 at 6:58 AM
I've just tentatively taken some steps into (very narrowly) using ai at work, and then I see something like this and I'm back to I can't wait for this all to implode
I initially thought this (when works being carried out on cycle patches there is a signed safe alternative) was a thing that's been delivered, and was ready to get excited about Paris traffic planning all over again.
But it's just a demand. A good one though!
But it's just a demand. A good one though!
🎄 Jour 9 🎄
➡️ Vous êtes-vous déjà fait envoyer au milieu du flux de voitures, sans information, sans alternative, à cause de travaux dans Paris ? Nous, tout le temps ! 🙄
➡️ Vous êtes-vous déjà fait envoyer au milieu du flux de voitures, sans information, sans alternative, à cause de travaux dans Paris ? Nous, tout le temps ! 🙄
December 10, 2025 at 6:51 AM
I initially thought this (when works being carried out on cycle patches there is a signed safe alternative) was a thing that's been delivered, and was ready to get excited about Paris traffic planning all over again.
But it's just a demand. A good one though!
But it's just a demand. A good one though!
Reposted by Franca
I'm sorry but a country where the legislature sells jerk seasoning as gift shop tat is not one where the engines of multiculturalism can be rolled back to 1948
December 8, 2025 at 11:33 AM
I'm sorry but a country where the legislature sells jerk seasoning as gift shop tat is not one where the engines of multiculturalism can be rolled back to 1948
INTENTIONAL POTHOLES
Tired: flat streets
Wired: Speed humps, tables, etc
Inspired: Speed *dips*, because modern clearance and suspension makes taking speed bumps at speed no big deal, but dips still make drivers worry they'll damage their car, and that has the highest level of encouraging compliance
Wired: Speed humps, tables, etc
Inspired: Speed *dips*, because modern clearance and suspension makes taking speed bumps at speed no big deal, but dips still make drivers worry they'll damage their car, and that has the highest level of encouraging compliance
December 8, 2025 at 12:43 PM
INTENTIONAL POTHOLES
Still not watching it, still enjoying hearing about all the ridiculousness
second hand
second hand
First time we’ve seen blocking in six episodes. Tells you something. #GameOfWool
December 7, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Still not watching it, still enjoying hearing about all the ridiculousness
second hand
second hand
Reposted by Franca
The DESC system in Scotland is in place. It's a waste of time. Police still need to visit and you're still dependant on those particular officers actually giving a toss. Sometimes you never hear from them again.
There is NO road justice in Scotland. ☹️
road.cc/content/news...
There is NO road justice in Scotland. ☹️
road.cc/content/news...
Are cyclists in Scotland any closer to being able to submit dangerous driving footage to an online police portal?
After years of delays and inaction, cyclists in Scotland feel left behind England and Wales and fear the lack of an online reporting portal has put lives at risk
road.cc
December 7, 2025 at 4:48 PM
The DESC system in Scotland is in place. It's a waste of time. Police still need to visit and you're still dependant on those particular officers actually giving a toss. Sometimes you never hear from them again.
There is NO road justice in Scotland. ☹️
road.cc/content/news...
There is NO road justice in Scotland. ☹️
road.cc/content/news...
I am fascinated by the many names of this thing. I would call it a French exit, not an Irish one. And I know it's called an English exit in France
100% correct about the value of the ‘Irish exit’. It always amazes me when people leaving early insist on making it extremely clear that they are leaving early. No one cares! Just go.
It’s work party season — here’s a survival guide on.ft.com/3Kv91S4 #FTEdit
December 6, 2025 at 11:42 AM
I am fascinated by the many names of this thing. I would call it a French exit, not an Irish one. And I know it's called an English exit in France
I may just channel all my Eurovision energy into Melfest instead. National Final season is the best time anyway, and at the time of the year you need it most
December 5, 2025 at 7:34 PM
I may just channel all my Eurovision energy into Melfest instead. National Final season is the best time anyway, and at the time of the year you need it most
Reposted by Franca
Windows Open Simultaneously 1st Part, 3rd Motif by Robert Delaunay, 1912
https://botfrens.com/collections/212/contents/137706
https://botfrens.com/collections/212/contents/137706
December 4, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Windows Open Simultaneously 1st Part, 3rd Motif by Robert Delaunay, 1912
https://botfrens.com/collections/212/contents/137706
https://botfrens.com/collections/212/contents/137706
Hahahaha my most played songs. Eurovision supremacy
December 2, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Hahahaha my most played songs. Eurovision supremacy