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jskucha.bsky.social
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This week's episode is from our 26th county - Somerset.

Episode 244 - Rocky West Somerset beach (31 mins)

An empty beach. An empty landscape. Under October blue skies.

> bit.ly/LenLil1
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December 16, 2025 at 1:41 AM
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For better or worse, public figures are judged when they die — their character, contributions, beliefs. It's undeniable that millions have mourned Rob Reiner's tragic death, celebrating his talent and contributions. I suspect when a certain public figure kicks the bucket, sentiments wont be the same
December 15, 2025 at 9:26 PM
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Many countries *still* offer Covid vaccines to a wider high-risk / Clinically Vulnerable group.

Including:
🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇸🇪 🇳🇱 🇮🇪 🇩🇰 🇳🇴 🇫🇮
🇧🇪 🇨🇭 🇮🇹 🇮🇱 🇲🇽 🇵🇭 🇦🇺 🇳🇿 🇸🇬 🇨🇳

The UK government is quietly failing us!

4/
December 15, 2025 at 7:21 PM
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Took time off this afternoon to visit this OUTSTANDING photography exhibition in Edinburgh. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’ve got a couple of weeks left to stoke your revolutionary fervour ✊
#Resistance

www.nationalgalleries.org/exhibition/r...
Resistance | National Galleries of Scotland
★★★★ 'Resistance is a worthwhile, important show.'The Scotsman Conceived by acclaimed artist and filmmaker, Steve McQueen, Resistance explores how acts of protest have shaped life in the UK and the po...
www.nationalgalleries.org
December 15, 2025 at 10:14 PM
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My youngest daughter is running the London marathon in 2026. She’s raising money for #SaintFrancisHospice who are looking after me and supporting my family. Any donation, whatever the amount, would be amazing. These guys (and my daughter) are superstars! Thank you.
#LondonMarathon
#BreastCancer
TAMARA’S RUNNING THE LONDON MARATHON 2026 !!!
It’s my second official marathon, but the most meaningful. This time, I’m running through my home city for someone so incredibly special to me: my darling Mum. I’m proud to be supporting Saint Francis
2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com
December 15, 2025 at 6:50 PM
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The UK has 160 black professors (25% are women) out of a total of 22,885.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) offers funding opportunities, 81% of awards go to white applicants, 1% to black.

The statistics are likely to discourage black scholars from pursuing academic/science careers.

Need action.
December 15, 2025 at 7:08 PM
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1. As a result of the current high prevalence of influenza and the accompanying media coverage of the spread of the disease, I've been asked about mitigations by a number of friends who take *no precautions against SARS-CoV-2*. A few observations regarding these conversations:
December 15, 2025 at 1:01 PM
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You are ABSOLUTELY NOT going to regret listening to this bird:
A male rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in winter plumage.

Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.

A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
December 6, 2025 at 5:10 PM
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GIVE AWAY! // AKA WE DID IT AGAIN!

Since The Night Guest is coming out in paperback we decided to try to gift another copy bitten by Uggi. And it went … a little *too* well. (See picture 🧵)

Like and share this post and on December 30th I will select a winner and send them this teeth marked copy!
December 15, 2025 at 1:49 PM
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Overheard in the supermarket. Two teenagers.
1: 'Where's Dad?'
2 (with ineffable weariness): 'In the cheese aisle, having the time of his life.'
December 15, 2025 at 11:35 AM
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And in response to headlines like "there is no need for masks", here is the 1 minutes from my interview where I discuss basic preventative measures (including masks!).

Also note that NHS stats like A&E and Ambulance waits are lower than same time 3 years ago, even with earlier flu wave.
December 15, 2025 at 12:18 PM
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Rob Reiner: the guy who directed that film you love. A short piece about one of the greatest runs of terrific movies from any director in the history of cinema.

thecritic.co.uk/than...
December 15, 2025 at 10:37 AM
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Horrible news all over the place at the moment so how about a totally inconsequential conversation? I’m cooking Xmas dinner this year and have had various food requests from family members including onion rings. I’ve never heard of this being a Xmas thing. What are your unusual Xmas food traditions?
December 15, 2025 at 11:01 AM
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Thought the boiler was acting up, making strange sounds. But no, it’s my neighbour out in his front garden - in the pouring rain! - playing the bagpipes. That’s dedication.
#bagpipes
December 15, 2025 at 10:26 AM
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Yesterday we had some unusual, festive visitors who stopped off at the library on their way to work! 🦌🦌

This is Aztec and Jelly, the Cairngorm Reindeer, on their way to meet Christmas shoppers at William Shearer's wonderful shop in Kirkwall.
December 15, 2025 at 10:55 AM
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mixed use, walkable neighborhoods. rome, 1967
December 15, 2025 at 12:03 AM
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Squirrels Survive Winter without hibernating! They bury nuts, seeds & fungi in many spots to find later & build insulated nests (dreys) from twigs, leaves & moss, often sharing them with other squirrels for warmth, they sleep more but don't enter the deep metabolic state of hibernation. #squirrels
December 15, 2025 at 7:25 AM
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Shocked by the awful death of Rob Reiner. I spoke with him for over an hour last night. We talked about his work and his plans for the future. I always enjoyed his company. We met at his Dad's in 1975. Last thing he said to me was "See you next year.." Such a terrible end. Such a sweet man.
December 15, 2025 at 6:26 AM
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Today’s new post - The Greshams of Norfolk and London. An influential 16th century family who have left their mark on the London of today alondoninheritance.com
December 14, 2025 at 8:47 AM
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BREAKING: Australian police say the two gunmen involved in the Bondi shooting were a father and son.

- A 50 year-old who had a licence for 6 firearms and is now dead.

- His 24 year-old son remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition.
December 14, 2025 at 8:33 PM
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Last minute pre-Christmas self-promotion: The Haunted Wood has been named top non-fiction paperback of the year in The Times (and in the Guardian’s top 30). So feel free to buy a copy for a loved one…
The 31 best paperbacks of 2025
From prizewinners and heartbreakers to comedies and tragic true stories, here’s what our critics most enjoyed this year
www.thetimes.com
December 14, 2025 at 7:04 PM
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"Fun & joy are very powerful political forces & not ones the left are terribly used to dealing with"

The final print edition of Byline Times may be my favourite of the year. What is the 'politics of feeling' & why does it matter?

Plus 'A Red Top Christmas Carol' with a Mr Murdoch & his 3 Spirits 👇
December 13, 2025 at 12:38 PM
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I've been a professional photographer for many years. I've taken tens of thousands of photos and even sold several.
This is my favourite ever photo: Mum and Dad (no longer here), my nephew and my cousins' kids.
December 14, 2025 at 7:31 PM
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A very good thread.
Few thoughts on the "Polish exodus" from the UK.

1. It's not an 'exodus', it's a slow drip. We're fine, thanks.
2. Migration is really complicated.
3. The absolute cheek of the very same media attacking Poles for years lamenting their departure.
4. What you can do?

THREAD 🧵
December 14, 2025 at 7:32 PM
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Belarusian protest leader Maria Kolesnikova said she did not regret anything as she spoke after her release.

She was released along with 122 other prisoners after more than five years in prison for opposing Belarus's President Alexander Lukashenko jrnl.ie/6903521
Freed Belarus protest leader Maria Kolesnikova says she doesn't 'regret anything'
Over 120 prisoners were freed under a deal brokered by the US.
jrnl.ie
December 14, 2025 at 8:04 PM