Lydia Massiah
@lydiamassiah.bsky.social
Writer, wanderer, wonderer, always curious to learn more. Knows a smattering about much, but not much about anything.
Worried about biodiversity loss. What's happening is one big horror story.
Worried about biodiversity loss. What's happening is one big horror story.
Homemade mince pies, the rich shortcrust pastry made with ground almonds, butter & lemon zest. Last year I didn't get to do anything Christmassy so it feels a privilege to be able to make treats for Christmas this year.
December 9, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Homemade mince pies, the rich shortcrust pastry made with ground almonds, butter & lemon zest. Last year I didn't get to do anything Christmassy so it feels a privilege to be able to make treats for Christmas this year.
Quite impressed with myself:
a) that I've made a wreath this early rather than Boxing Day
b) that it looks half-decent
It's just bits from the garden secured around a homemade wire frame with florist wires. How long it'll last in these winds - or just generally - I don't know!
a) that I've made a wreath this early rather than Boxing Day
b) that it looks half-decent
It's just bits from the garden secured around a homemade wire frame with florist wires. How long it'll last in these winds - or just generally - I don't know!
December 9, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Quite impressed with myself:
a) that I've made a wreath this early rather than Boxing Day
b) that it looks half-decent
It's just bits from the garden secured around a homemade wire frame with florist wires. How long it'll last in these winds - or just generally - I don't know!
a) that I've made a wreath this early rather than Boxing Day
b) that it looks half-decent
It's just bits from the garden secured around a homemade wire frame with florist wires. How long it'll last in these winds - or just generally - I don't know!
Reposted by Lydia Massiah
I’ll never forget the look of hatred Nigel Farage had for me at school, simply for existing
I’ll never forget the look of hatred Nigel Farage had for me at school, simply for existing
The Reform UK leader doubts people can recall their abuse from years ago. I’ve never forgotten his – it felt malicious
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:20 PM
I’ll never forget the look of hatred Nigel Farage had for me at school, simply for existing
Just spent 20 v pleasant mins on the phone chatting about newts, fish, bats, otters, nightjar & much else to the guy ringing about picking up my broken down car. Can't remember how we got off the topic of engines but it was great to share wildlife enthusiasm
Have tips now on where to find bullheads
Have tips now on where to find bullheads
December 3, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Just spent 20 v pleasant mins on the phone chatting about newts, fish, bats, otters, nightjar & much else to the guy ringing about picking up my broken down car. Can't remember how we got off the topic of engines but it was great to share wildlife enthusiasm
Have tips now on where to find bullheads
Have tips now on where to find bullheads
I love long novels. If I've committed to learning about characters & their lives, a new place & even a new time, I like to stay with them a while.
I've been re-relishing A S Byatt's Possession recently. What other long novels are favourites?
I've been re-relishing A S Byatt's Possession recently. What other long novels are favourites?
December 3, 2025 at 7:26 AM
I love long novels. If I've committed to learning about characters & their lives, a new place & even a new time, I like to stay with them a while.
I've been re-relishing A S Byatt's Possession recently. What other long novels are favourites?
I've been re-relishing A S Byatt's Possession recently. What other long novels are favourites?
Reposted by Lydia Massiah
8. Anyway, please remember, amid all the noise about the prisons crisis, that it is caused not by rising crime or rising population. It is caused by rising demands from people who do not represent this country and do not have our interests at heart. Thank you. 8/8
November 13, 2025 at 6:59 AM
8. Anyway, please remember, amid all the noise about the prisons crisis, that it is caused not by rising crime or rising population. It is caused by rising demands from people who do not represent this country and do not have our interests at heart. Thank you. 8/8
Reposted by Lydia Massiah
1. Placing these two graphs side by side shows why we have a prisons crisis. They can also be seen as a kind of Authoritarianism Index, showing the trend in state attitudes.
On the left is the Crime Survey for England and Wales.
On the right is the UK prison population.
🧵1/8
On the left is the Crime Survey for England and Wales.
On the right is the UK prison population.
🧵1/8
November 13, 2025 at 6:54 AM
1. Placing these two graphs side by side shows why we have a prisons crisis. They can also be seen as a kind of Authoritarianism Index, showing the trend in state attitudes.
On the left is the Crime Survey for England and Wales.
On the right is the UK prison population.
🧵1/8
On the left is the Crime Survey for England and Wales.
On the right is the UK prison population.
🧵1/8
Reposted by Lydia Massiah
Still thinking of this!
November 6, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Still thinking of this!
1. A little addendum to the bureau story:
The lady I bought the bureau from took all my finds to show her uncle (their original owner)in his care home. Though suffering from dementia he kept saying 'How lovely' as he was reunited with all his lost treasures,obviously delighted.
But the photo...
The lady I bought the bureau from took all my finds to show her uncle (their original owner)in his care home. Though suffering from dementia he kept saying 'How lovely' as he was reunited with all his lost treasures,obviously delighted.
But the photo...
October 27, 2025 at 1:02 PM
1. A little addendum to the bureau story:
The lady I bought the bureau from took all my finds to show her uncle (their original owner)in his care home. Though suffering from dementia he kept saying 'How lovely' as he was reunited with all his lost treasures,obviously delighted.
But the photo...
The lady I bought the bureau from took all my finds to show her uncle (their original owner)in his care home. Though suffering from dementia he kept saying 'How lovely' as he was reunited with all his lost treasures,obviously delighted.
But the photo...
The pumpkin display at Tyntesfield (National Trust) is stupendous!
🎃 🎃 🎃
🎃 🎃 🎃
October 25, 2025 at 9:48 PM
The pumpkin display at Tyntesfield (National Trust) is stupendous!
🎃 🎃 🎃
🎃 🎃 🎃
Reposted by Lydia Massiah
Here’s fun: just bought this old painting from a charity shop as I liked the style & pensive expression.
After I paid, the lady at the till told me the person who donated it said they think it’s is maybe of the guy those books by the door are about.
As I left, I looked at the books: it’s John Buchan
After I paid, the lady at the till told me the person who donated it said they think it’s is maybe of the guy those books by the door are about.
As I left, I looked at the books: it’s John Buchan
October 24, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Here’s fun: just bought this old painting from a charity shop as I liked the style & pensive expression.
After I paid, the lady at the till told me the person who donated it said they think it’s is maybe of the guy those books by the door are about.
As I left, I looked at the books: it’s John Buchan
After I paid, the lady at the till told me the person who donated it said they think it’s is maybe of the guy those books by the door are about.
As I left, I looked at the books: it’s John Buchan
Blackening Waxcaps at their orange stage 🧡🖤
Ashton Court, Bristol
Ashton Court, Bristol
October 23, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Blackening Waxcaps at their orange stage 🧡🖤
Ashton Court, Bristol
Ashton Court, Bristol
A daisy's last hurrah under a lowering sky, before the clocks go back this weekend for winter.
October 20, 2025 at 5:19 PM
A daisy's last hurrah under a lowering sky, before the clocks go back this weekend for winter.
Reposted by Lydia Massiah
Today I am mostly thinking about the popular inter-war literary genre 'animal stories written by fascists'. Join me.
October 14, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Today I am mostly thinking about the popular inter-war literary genre 'animal stories written by fascists'. Join me.
There are different types of Amanita in a small space of this beech wood. The Blusher (Amanita rubescens) is clearest when it blushes, but they can be just brown & white so I'm guessing all of these are Blushers. Some are huge! There are also Fly Agarics (more Aminita types). #MushroomMonday
October 13, 2025 at 12:18 PM
There are different types of Amanita in a small space of this beech wood. The Blusher (Amanita rubescens) is clearest when it blushes, but they can be just brown & white so I'm guessing all of these are Blushers. Some are huge! There are also Fly Agarics (more Aminita types). #MushroomMonday
Amethyst Deceiver on a fallen beech leaf. The beauty in our woods right now💜🤎
#MushroomMonday
#MushroomMonday
October 13, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Amethyst Deceiver on a fallen beech leaf. The beauty in our woods right now💜🤎
#MushroomMonday
#MushroomMonday
Beautiful Fly Agarics in vast numbers on Exmoor today. This birch grove led us astray as we wandered from one scarlet patch to another through the birch trees until we had lost the path. A peaceful, enchanted-feeling place.
October 11, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Beautiful Fly Agarics in vast numbers on Exmoor today. This birch grove led us astray as we wandered from one scarlet patch to another through the birch trees until we had lost the path. A peaceful, enchanted-feeling place.
I'm not used to seeing waxcaps in woods but Horner Wood on Exmoor had amazing fungi today. These Parrot Waxcaps were a treat!
October 11, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I'm not used to seeing waxcaps in woods but Horner Wood on Exmoor had amazing fungi today. These Parrot Waxcaps were a treat!
Summer's over but my pots haven't got the memo. The one with white cosmos, vanilla-scented nemesia, magenta geraniums, trailing bacopa & a deep purple aeonium is at it's best ever! Except the cosmos, all the plants survived last winter outside! The other pot has purple salvia, verbena & petunia 💜🤍🩷💚
October 10, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Summer's over but my pots haven't got the memo. The one with white cosmos, vanilla-scented nemesia, magenta geraniums, trailing bacopa & a deep purple aeonium is at it's best ever! Except the cosmos, all the plants survived last winter outside! The other pot has purple salvia, verbena & petunia 💜🤍🩷💚
Buddy and Poppy ready for their walk. The pillow wasn't originally for them but they're enjoying the extra comfort 😄
October 9, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Buddy and Poppy ready for their walk. The pillow wasn't originally for them but they're enjoying the extra comfort 😄
Reposted by Lydia Massiah
This could be a long and rambling thread. Be patient with me.
I bought an old mahogany bureau on Ebay. I didn't really want a bureau as we're meant to be downsizing, but it was a beautiful piece & obviously very old. Google lens suggests the brass chased handles are Queen Anne. That's 1702-1714 😯
I bought an old mahogany bureau on Ebay. I didn't really want a bureau as we're meant to be downsizing, but it was a beautiful piece & obviously very old. Google lens suggests the brass chased handles are Queen Anne. That's 1702-1714 😯
October 4, 2025 at 10:40 AM
This could be a long and rambling thread. Be patient with me.
I bought an old mahogany bureau on Ebay. I didn't really want a bureau as we're meant to be downsizing, but it was a beautiful piece & obviously very old. Google lens suggests the brass chased handles are Queen Anne. That's 1702-1714 😯
I bought an old mahogany bureau on Ebay. I didn't really want a bureau as we're meant to be downsizing, but it was a beautiful piece & obviously very old. Google lens suggests the brass chased handles are Queen Anne. That's 1702-1714 😯
Reposted by Lydia Massiah
Treasure hunting again on the magical Quantock Hills, a very good year for fungi 😀 #quantockhills #ukfungi
October 6, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Treasure hunting again on the magical Quantock Hills, a very good year for fungi 😀 #quantockhills #ukfungi
Continuing the theme of love for things that are looking a bit battered:
this morning an end-of-season worse-for-wear Small Copper butterfly flew across my path & landed on a similarly coppery autumn leaf 🍂 copper & russet shades in perfect partnership.
What more evocative symbol of the season?
this morning an end-of-season worse-for-wear Small Copper butterfly flew across my path & landed on a similarly coppery autumn leaf 🍂 copper & russet shades in perfect partnership.
What more evocative symbol of the season?
October 6, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Continuing the theme of love for things that are looking a bit battered:
this morning an end-of-season worse-for-wear Small Copper butterfly flew across my path & landed on a similarly coppery autumn leaf 🍂 copper & russet shades in perfect partnership.
What more evocative symbol of the season?
this morning an end-of-season worse-for-wear Small Copper butterfly flew across my path & landed on a similarly coppery autumn leaf 🍂 copper & russet shades in perfect partnership.
What more evocative symbol of the season?
This could be a long and rambling thread. Be patient with me.
I bought an old mahogany bureau on Ebay. I didn't really want a bureau as we're meant to be downsizing, but it was a beautiful piece & obviously very old. Google lens suggests the brass chased handles are Queen Anne. That's 1702-1714 😯
I bought an old mahogany bureau on Ebay. I didn't really want a bureau as we're meant to be downsizing, but it was a beautiful piece & obviously very old. Google lens suggests the brass chased handles are Queen Anne. That's 1702-1714 😯
October 4, 2025 at 10:40 AM
This could be a long and rambling thread. Be patient with me.
I bought an old mahogany bureau on Ebay. I didn't really want a bureau as we're meant to be downsizing, but it was a beautiful piece & obviously very old. Google lens suggests the brass chased handles are Queen Anne. That's 1702-1714 😯
I bought an old mahogany bureau on Ebay. I didn't really want a bureau as we're meant to be downsizing, but it was a beautiful piece & obviously very old. Google lens suggests the brass chased handles are Queen Anne. That's 1702-1714 😯