Louise Winters
@louisewinters.bsky.social
Mostly busy joyfully being alive. Rest: nudging past terror of getting it wrong.
Reposted by Louise Winters
New Home Office impact assessment finds that cutting skilled and social care visas will cost the UK up to £10 billion with a central estimate of -£5.4 billion.
It would be good if this got even a fraction of the coverage devoted to the endless debate about boats, flags and Turkish barber shops
It would be good if this got even a fraction of the coverage devoted to the endless debate about boats, flags and Turkish barber shops
December 9, 2025 at 2:36 PM
New Home Office impact assessment finds that cutting skilled and social care visas will cost the UK up to £10 billion with a central estimate of -£5.4 billion.
It would be good if this got even a fraction of the coverage devoted to the endless debate about boats, flags and Turkish barber shops
It would be good if this got even a fraction of the coverage devoted to the endless debate about boats, flags and Turkish barber shops
Today's #advent treat? I've saved opening a letter from a friend until I could sit and really enjoy reading it, undisturbed and with a cup of tea. Nice Christmas stamp on it too.
Some people are okay at letter writing. Some are excellent at it. Fiona is one of the excellent ones!
Some people are okay at letter writing. Some are excellent at it. Fiona is one of the excellent ones!
December 9, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Today's #advent treat? I've saved opening a letter from a friend until I could sit and really enjoy reading it, undisturbed and with a cup of tea. Nice Christmas stamp on it too.
Some people are okay at letter writing. Some are excellent at it. Fiona is one of the excellent ones!
Some people are okay at letter writing. Some are excellent at it. Fiona is one of the excellent ones!
Today's #advent treat was a meia de leite (coffee with milk) in one of my favourite cafes.
Back home after nearly a week in the UK and glad to have no more trips planned for a while!
Back home after nearly a week in the UK and glad to have no more trips planned for a while!
December 8, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Today's #advent treat was a meia de leite (coffee with milk) in one of my favourite cafes.
Back home after nearly a week in the UK and glad to have no more trips planned for a while!
Back home after nearly a week in the UK and glad to have no more trips planned for a while!
Today is a bank holiday in Portugal, and we had one last Monday. I approve of having a couple more bank holidays in December :)
December 8, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Today is a bank holiday in Portugal, and we had one last Monday. I approve of having a couple more bank holidays in December :)
Reposted by Louise Winters
"Loneliness does not come from having no people about one, but from being unable to communicate the things that seem important to oneself, or from holding certain views which others find inadmissible."
Carl Jung, “Memories, Dreams, Reflections”
Carl Jung, “Memories, Dreams, Reflections”
December 8, 2025 at 1:24 PM
"Loneliness does not come from having no people about one, but from being unable to communicate the things that seem important to oneself, or from holding certain views which others find inadmissible."
Carl Jung, “Memories, Dreams, Reflections”
Carl Jung, “Memories, Dreams, Reflections”
Reposted by Louise Winters
Reposted by Louise Winters
December 4, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Reposted by Louise Winters
Reform accepted £9 million from a former Boris Johnson backer & crypto-multimillionaire.
Today, Nigel Farage postures as a righteous defender of the same democracy he actively undermines.
Democracy should never be for sale. It's time for a cap on political donations.
Today, Nigel Farage postures as a righteous defender of the same democracy he actively undermines.
Democracy should never be for sale. It's time for a cap on political donations.
December 4, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Reform accepted £9 million from a former Boris Johnson backer & crypto-multimillionaire.
Today, Nigel Farage postures as a righteous defender of the same democracy he actively undermines.
Democracy should never be for sale. It's time for a cap on political donations.
Today, Nigel Farage postures as a righteous defender of the same democracy he actively undermines.
Democracy should never be for sale. It's time for a cap on political donations.
Today's #advent treat: taking a friend I've known for almost 20 years out for lunch :) Very lovely to catch up and I smuggled 2 pastel de nata out of Portugal for us to have with a coffee afterwards.
December 4, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Today's #advent treat: taking a friend I've known for almost 20 years out for lunch :) Very lovely to catch up and I smuggled 2 pastel de nata out of Portugal for us to have with a coffee afterwards.
Today's other win: told lovely, lively and completely-oblivious-to my-exhaustion-levels husband & adult step-children I needed to go home as they contemplated pudding at 10:15pm in a restaurant.
I didn't sit there smiling, pretending I wasn't seething, for another hour.
New ground for me.
I didn't sit there smiling, pretending I wasn't seething, for another hour.
New ground for me.
December 3, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Today's other win: told lovely, lively and completely-oblivious-to my-exhaustion-levels husband & adult step-children I needed to go home as they contemplated pudding at 10:15pm in a restaurant.
I didn't sit there smiling, pretending I wasn't seething, for another hour.
New ground for me.
I didn't sit there smiling, pretending I wasn't seething, for another hour.
New ground for me.
Today's #adventtreat - a cotton square scarf from Tizz's in Lewes, to wear landgirl style in my hair. Brightened my day no end, and had a lovely chat with the peeps in the shop.
December 3, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Today's #adventtreat - a cotton square scarf from Tizz's in Lewes, to wear landgirl style in my hair. Brightened my day no end, and had a lovely chat with the peeps in the shop.
Today's small advent treat - um pastel de nata com um cafe, on my way to the airport for a family visit.
Big kisses to the fabulous @emmachaplin.bsky.social for the idea of advent treats :) I was a bit rubbish and forgot yesterday, made sure I did it today.
Big kisses to the fabulous @emmachaplin.bsky.social for the idea of advent treats :) I was a bit rubbish and forgot yesterday, made sure I did it today.
December 2, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Today's small advent treat - um pastel de nata com um cafe, on my way to the airport for a family visit.
Big kisses to the fabulous @emmachaplin.bsky.social for the idea of advent treats :) I was a bit rubbish and forgot yesterday, made sure I did it today.
Big kisses to the fabulous @emmachaplin.bsky.social for the idea of advent treats :) I was a bit rubbish and forgot yesterday, made sure I did it today.
I love this mural in Tomar, on the side of the fire station. I walk past often and usually stop to look up.
Turns out it depicts Molly Williams, America's first Black, female firefighter, in 1818.
The mural was part of an art project in the town in 2019.
www.atlasobscura.com/places/molly...
Turns out it depicts Molly Williams, America's first Black, female firefighter, in 1818.
The mural was part of an art project in the town in 2019.
www.atlasobscura.com/places/molly...
November 30, 2025 at 7:01 PM
I love this mural in Tomar, on the side of the fire station. I walk past often and usually stop to look up.
Turns out it depicts Molly Williams, America's first Black, female firefighter, in 1818.
The mural was part of an art project in the town in 2019.
www.atlasobscura.com/places/molly...
Turns out it depicts Molly Williams, America's first Black, female firefighter, in 1818.
The mural was part of an art project in the town in 2019.
www.atlasobscura.com/places/molly...
Reposted by Louise Winters
"at the old pond
snow falls on Mandarin ducks
in twilight"
Basho Matsuo
(image: Jakuchu Ito)
snow falls on Mandarin ducks
in twilight"
Basho Matsuo
(image: Jakuchu Ito)
November 30, 2025 at 5:50 AM
"at the old pond
snow falls on Mandarin ducks
in twilight"
Basho Matsuo
(image: Jakuchu Ito)
snow falls on Mandarin ducks
in twilight"
Basho Matsuo
(image: Jakuchu Ito)
Reposted by Louise Winters
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 24, 2025 at 5:54 PM
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
Some moments of trying a new language are exhilarating! This morning I went to the Mercado and asked for:
duzentos grammes de arandos
(200g of cranberries)
and managed to tell the stallholder
[pointing at Xmas lights] é muito lindo
it is very pretty
Not perfect grammar but he appreciated it :)
duzentos grammes de arandos
(200g of cranberries)
and managed to tell the stallholder
[pointing at Xmas lights] é muito lindo
it is very pretty
Not perfect grammar but he appreciated it :)
November 29, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Some moments of trying a new language are exhilarating! This morning I went to the Mercado and asked for:
duzentos grammes de arandos
(200g of cranberries)
and managed to tell the stallholder
[pointing at Xmas lights] é muito lindo
it is very pretty
Not perfect grammar but he appreciated it :)
duzentos grammes de arandos
(200g of cranberries)
and managed to tell the stallholder
[pointing at Xmas lights] é muito lindo
it is very pretty
Not perfect grammar but he appreciated it :)
I will never tire of watching the sun come up over whichever country / town / patch of land I'm in.
November 27, 2025 at 7:38 AM
I will never tire of watching the sun come up over whichever country / town / patch of land I'm in.
Tomar has its own radio station, which I've started listening to while cooking dinner.
Music choices are variable!
Heard a beautiful folk song with gorgeous harmonies recently:
È tão grande, o Alentejo
It is so big, the Alentejo (or the river Tagus)
youtu.be/aFipQWNuSJI?...
Music choices are variable!
Heard a beautiful folk song with gorgeous harmonies recently:
È tão grande, o Alentejo
It is so big, the Alentejo (or the river Tagus)
youtu.be/aFipQWNuSJI?...
É Tão Grande o Alentejo
YouTube video by Buba Espinho
youtu.be
November 26, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Tomar has its own radio station, which I've started listening to while cooking dinner.
Music choices are variable!
Heard a beautiful folk song with gorgeous harmonies recently:
È tão grande, o Alentejo
It is so big, the Alentejo (or the river Tagus)
youtu.be/aFipQWNuSJI?...
Music choices are variable!
Heard a beautiful folk song with gorgeous harmonies recently:
È tão grande, o Alentejo
It is so big, the Alentejo (or the river Tagus)
youtu.be/aFipQWNuSJI?...
Crispy breadcrumbs everywhere!
Fallen back in love with my automatic bread maker since moving to Portugal. Loads of padarias selling lovely bread here in town, but it doesn't always make great toast.
In the villages, there'll be a bread delivery van that comes round around 8 or 9am.
Fallen back in love with my automatic bread maker since moving to Portugal. Loads of padarias selling lovely bread here in town, but it doesn't always make great toast.
In the villages, there'll be a bread delivery van that comes round around 8 or 9am.
November 22, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Crispy breadcrumbs everywhere!
Fallen back in love with my automatic bread maker since moving to Portugal. Loads of padarias selling lovely bread here in town, but it doesn't always make great toast.
In the villages, there'll be a bread delivery van that comes round around 8 or 9am.
Fallen back in love with my automatic bread maker since moving to Portugal. Loads of padarias selling lovely bread here in town, but it doesn't always make great toast.
In the villages, there'll be a bread delivery van that comes round around 8 or 9am.
Reposted by Louise Winters
So delighted to have this little poem appear in @ampoetryreview.bsky.social, alongside a handful of others! Much gratitude to the editors!
November 21, 2025 at 2:16 PM
So delighted to have this little poem appear in @ampoetryreview.bsky.social, alongside a handful of others! Much gratitude to the editors!
A nice thing about our local in Tomar: Santa Iria is our go to bar. Over the road is Tabernaculo do Rio, its been there years and has a rock night every Thurs.
Santa Iria closes on Thurs so as not to compete with the rock night. Also because I think Lorenco (owner) likes to go to the rock night ;)
Santa Iria closes on Thurs so as not to compete with the rock night. Also because I think Lorenco (owner) likes to go to the rock night ;)
November 21, 2025 at 9:10 AM
A nice thing about our local in Tomar: Santa Iria is our go to bar. Over the road is Tabernaculo do Rio, its been there years and has a rock night every Thurs.
Santa Iria closes on Thurs so as not to compete with the rock night. Also because I think Lorenco (owner) likes to go to the rock night ;)
Santa Iria closes on Thurs so as not to compete with the rock night. Also because I think Lorenco (owner) likes to go to the rock night ;)
I've been gently reproved for using the wrong greeting at the wrong time of day in Portugal.
Bom dia (lit. good day) is only for before lunch. Boa tarde means good afternoon.
An elderly neighbour took exception to me wishing him bom dia one afternoon. Wish I'd ...
(cont: 1/2)
Bom dia (lit. good day) is only for before lunch. Boa tarde means good afternoon.
An elderly neighbour took exception to me wishing him bom dia one afternoon. Wish I'd ...
(cont: 1/2)
November 18, 2025 at 8:04 PM
I've been gently reproved for using the wrong greeting at the wrong time of day in Portugal.
Bom dia (lit. good day) is only for before lunch. Boa tarde means good afternoon.
An elderly neighbour took exception to me wishing him bom dia one afternoon. Wish I'd ...
(cont: 1/2)
Bom dia (lit. good day) is only for before lunch. Boa tarde means good afternoon.
An elderly neighbour took exception to me wishing him bom dia one afternoon. Wish I'd ...
(cont: 1/2)
Many Portuguese people I meet are keen to help people learning the language. It's very lovely.
Been taught bits of vocab & grammar while in shops and restaurants. The other day I went to buy shoes and was taught the word for pair = pare. Also add "im" to make the opposite. A single shoe = impare.
Been taught bits of vocab & grammar while in shops and restaurants. The other day I went to buy shoes and was taught the word for pair = pare. Also add "im" to make the opposite. A single shoe = impare.
November 17, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Many Portuguese people I meet are keen to help people learning the language. It's very lovely.
Been taught bits of vocab & grammar while in shops and restaurants. The other day I went to buy shoes and was taught the word for pair = pare. Also add "im" to make the opposite. A single shoe = impare.
Been taught bits of vocab & grammar while in shops and restaurants. The other day I went to buy shoes and was taught the word for pair = pare. Also add "im" to make the opposite. A single shoe = impare.
Reposted by Louise Winters
Your weekend Umlaut: a single piece of neon divided in two with the help of black electrician’s tape.
November 15, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Your weekend Umlaut: a single piece of neon divided in two with the help of black electrician’s tape.