Mary Wombat
@littlemavis.bsky.social
UK. English. Northern. Old, grumpy, opinionated lefty Yorkshirewoman. Passionate about fairness. Retired scientist, admin person, IT bod, teacher.
Well, it was a daft decision
Manchester-London 7am train will now carry passengers after outcry over regulator’s decision
Manchester-London 7am train will now carry passengers after outcry over regulator’s decision
Avanti service was to be pulled from timetable from mid-December but would have still run because of needs out of Euston
The express Manchester-London 7am Avanti service will take passengers after all, after the rail regulator conceded defeat in the face of public outcry over a ruling that would have left it running as an empty “ghost train” each day.
The 7am train, the only service linking the cities in under two hours, was set to be axed from the passenger table from mid-December – but would, as the Guardian reported on Saturday, have kept running empty from Piccadilly each day so it could run morning trains back out of Euston. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Well, it was a daft decision
Reposted by Mary Wombat
Today has been a long day. Waiting in because I wasn't sure visits had been postponed plus waiting to hear from M if he would be coming home (& when). Not able to settle to doing anything useful and too late, miserable & dark to go out anywhere.
And it isn't even half past 3 yet
And it isn't even half past 3 yet
December 1, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Today has been a long day. Waiting in because I wasn't sure visits had been postponed plus waiting to hear from M if he would be coming home (& when). Not able to settle to doing anything useful and too late, miserable & dark to go out anywhere.
And it isn't even half past 3 yet
And it isn't even half past 3 yet
We've not really had actual daylight today
December 1, 2025 at 3:17 PM
We've not really had actual daylight today
It's very wet & windy here. I do t know what the wi d is doing g but I can hear a sort of hum. Last storm 2 (small) trees came down in the woods.
December 1, 2025 at 2:45 PM
It's very wet & windy here. I do t know what the wi d is doing g but I can hear a sort of hum. Last storm 2 (small) trees came down in the woods.
So. For lunch. Instant noodles or last night's left over veg fried up? Maybe with an egg?
December 1, 2025 at 1:12 PM
So. For lunch. Instant noodles or last night's left over veg fried up? Maybe with an egg?
Of course, the only surprising thing about Gillis joining Reform is that we all thought he'd done that ages ago
Like all those times when a death is announced and we all thought they were already dead
Like all those times when a death is announced and we all thought they were already dead
December 1, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Of course, the only surprising thing about Gillis joining Reform is that we all thought he'd done that ages ago
Like all those times when a death is announced and we all thought they were already dead
Like all those times when a death is announced and we all thought they were already dead
Musing on the tendency of people to tap on the door rather than ring a doorbell. This can be an issue in old houses with thick walls. And what happens if you have one of those camera doorbells and you live in a terrace that opens straight onto the street rather than having a front path/drive?
December 1, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Musing on the tendency of people to tap on the door rather than ring a doorbell. This can be an issue in old houses with thick walls. And what happens if you have one of those camera doorbells and you live in a terrace that opens straight onto the street rather than having a front path/drive?
Can someone explain to me, as if I were really dim, why people retiring before they are too decrepit to enjoy their retirement means a "loss to the economy" and why that matters anyway.
An estimated £31bn per year is lost to the economy from people retiring before 66.
So what can be done - and are there any productivity lessons that might be equally applicable to the rest of us?
Featuring the sardine-commute and the ballet-to-cyber pipeline...
www.newstatesman.com/business/wor...
So what can be done - and are there any productivity lessons that might be equally applicable to the rest of us?
Featuring the sardine-commute and the ballet-to-cyber pipeline...
www.newstatesman.com/business/wor...
Would anyone work if they didn’t have to?
We need to get creative with how to encourage people to work
www.newstatesman.com
December 1, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Can someone explain to me, as if I were really dim, why people retiring before they are too decrepit to enjoy their retirement means a "loss to the economy" and why that matters anyway.
Right. I've found the instructions for our coffee machine. I'm going in
December 1, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Right. I've found the instructions for our coffee machine. I'm going in
Waiting for
Michael to message saying if/when he's being sent home
Sick person in bed upstairs to emerge or ask for something
A visit from someone (an occupational therapist?) who was due at 10:30 (I think) but may have postponed because of M being in hospital
A delivery this pm of some "equipment"
Michael to message saying if/when he's being sent home
Sick person in bed upstairs to emerge or ask for something
A visit from someone (an occupational therapist?) who was due at 10:30 (I think) but may have postponed because of M being in hospital
A delivery this pm of some "equipment"
December 1, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Waiting for
Michael to message saying if/when he's being sent home
Sick person in bed upstairs to emerge or ask for something
A visit from someone (an occupational therapist?) who was due at 10:30 (I think) but may have postponed because of M being in hospital
A delivery this pm of some "equipment"
Michael to message saying if/when he's being sent home
Sick person in bed upstairs to emerge or ask for something
A visit from someone (an occupational therapist?) who was due at 10:30 (I think) but may have postponed because of M being in hospital
A delivery this pm of some "equipment"
Heard from Michael. All going well ATM & they expect to discharge him today.
December 1, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Heard from Michael. All going well ATM & they expect to discharge him today.
What's this "headroom" people are talking about re the budget?
December 1, 2025 at 9:45 AM
What's this "headroom" people are talking about re the budget?
This morning I have to collect a prescription, take some stuff to the recycling & be here for a possible visit by... someone, can't remember who, at 10:30. Wonder if I can fit in a coffee
December 1, 2025 at 7:49 AM
This morning I have to collect a prescription, take some stuff to the recycling & be here for a possible visit by... someone, can't remember who, at 10:30. Wonder if I can fit in a coffee
Somewhere we acquired a footbath. You put warm water in & plug it in & it massages your feet (allegedly)
It sounds a nice idea but we've never used it & it takes up a lot of room.
I'm taking it to the recycling centre
It sounds a nice idea but we've never used it & it takes up a lot of room.
I'm taking it to the recycling centre
December 1, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Somewhere we acquired a footbath. You put warm water in & plug it in & it massages your feet (allegedly)
It sounds a nice idea but we've never used it & it takes up a lot of room.
I'm taking it to the recycling centre
It sounds a nice idea but we've never used it & it takes up a lot of room.
I'm taking it to the recycling centre
Good morning Bluesky
December 1, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Good morning Bluesky
I'm supposed to be cleaning the bath nit being depressed by impending fascist governments
November 30, 2025 at 1:04 PM
I'm supposed to be cleaning the bath nit being depressed by impending fascist governments
Of course the people formulating these policies will be wealthy enough not to be too damaged by a Reform government. It's the poor buggers who vote them in who'll be further impoverished & eventually killed off when they can't afford food or healthcare
This is the most alarming story I’ve read today. Giving up the fight before it’s started
November 30, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Of course the people formulating these policies will be wealthy enough not to be too damaged by a Reform government. It's the poor buggers who vote them in who'll be further impoverished & eventually killed off when they can't afford food or healthcare
#SundayPixBelovedCritters
If memory serves we started this all off with wedding photos. I wonder if any of them are still there on Twitter
If memory serves we started this all off with wedding photos. I wonder if any of them are still there on Twitter
November 30, 2025 at 10:28 AM
#SundayPixBelovedCritters
If memory serves we started this all off with wedding photos. I wonder if any of them are still there on Twitter
If memory serves we started this all off with wedding photos. I wonder if any of them are still there on Twitter
Reposted by Mary Wombat
Christmas sorted. Prints, homewares, cards and t-shirts inspired by midcentury design, music and architecture. Designed in Manchester. Made in the UK. gailmyerscough.co.uk
November 30, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Christmas sorted. Prints, homewares, cards and t-shirts inspired by midcentury design, music and architecture. Designed in Manchester. Made in the UK. gailmyerscough.co.uk
Nylon shower curtains always say iron after washing so they are moderately waterproof. If all you had to do was pick up an iron & iron them that would be easy but getting out the iror, fi ding an extension lead then hauling the ironing board out of a cupboard & erecting it takes bloody ages
November 30, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Nylon shower curtains always say iron after washing so they are moderately waterproof. If all you had to do was pick up an iron & iron them that would be easy but getting out the iror, fi ding an extension lead then hauling the ironing board out of a cupboard & erecting it takes bloody ages
Right up & showered. Just need to get dressed now. Also need to wash shower curtain & mat
(adds to ever-growing list)
(adds to ever-growing list)
November 30, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Right up & showered. Just need to get dressed now. Also need to wash shower curtain & mat
(adds to ever-growing list)
(adds to ever-growing list)
Even when the room isn't cold my tea seems to cool down much faster than usual just now. Is it me that's slowing down or entropy speeding up?
November 30, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Even when the room isn't cold my tea seems to cool down much faster than usual just now. Is it me that's slowing down or entropy speeding up?
Got a cup & tea and a toasted teacake, hung up the washing I should have hung up last night, sorted the next load of washing. On with the motley (look it up, it's a nice phrase with interesting origins)
November 30, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Got a cup & tea and a toasted teacake, hung up the washing I should have hung up last night, sorted the next load of washing. On with the motley (look it up, it's a nice phrase with interesting origins)
Good morning Bluesky
November 30, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Good morning Bluesky