Sally Richards
@sallyrichards4.bsky.social
Exploring spirituality and ageing, Russian language and art. Kindness and truth matter and so does social care reform.
Pinned
I found this🦔in 2016 at the prison camp museum Perm36. Already the work by Russian historians on political prisoners held there had been removed. We must not forget that history and truth matter.
Reposted by Sally Richards
Radio 4 is currently repeating this wonderful episode of In Our Time
BBC Radio 4 - Margery Kempe and English Mysticism share.google/9liBWxkcH4pC...
BBC Radio 4 - Margery Kempe and English Mysticism share.google/9liBWxkcH4pC...
BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, Margery Kempe and English Mysticism
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Margery Kempe, the medieval English mystic.
share.google
November 27, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Radio 4 is currently repeating this wonderful episode of In Our Time
BBC Radio 4 - Margery Kempe and English Mysticism share.google/9liBWxkcH4pC...
BBC Radio 4 - Margery Kempe and English Mysticism share.google/9liBWxkcH4pC...
Reposted by Sally Richards
"Bluntly, even in 2022 we only supported Ukrainians because they fought like heroes from Norse myth and got results. We didn’t support them because it was the morally right thing to do." @drjademcglynn.bsky.social smalldeedsbigwar.substack.com/p/circus
Circus
Amidst the absolute chaos of a Witkoff-stamped Russian psyop-as-peace plan, discussion is filled with anger at Washington and at Moscow.
smalldeedsbigwar.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:31 AM
"Bluntly, even in 2022 we only supported Ukrainians because they fought like heroes from Norse myth and got results. We didn’t support them because it was the morally right thing to do." @drjademcglynn.bsky.social smalldeedsbigwar.substack.com/p/circus
Just read Tove Janssen's The True Deceiver, a delightful and intriguing work. It resembles a fairy tale, I kept thinking of Sister Alyonushka and Brother Ivanushka, though the characters of Katri, Anna and Mats develop in more subtle and complex ways towards wholeness. sortof.co.uk/tove-jansson...
Tove Jansson | The True Deceiver — Sort of Books | An independent publisher of both original and classic fiction and non-fiction
In the deep winter snows of a Swedish hamlet, a strange young woman fakes a break-in at the house of an elderly artist in order to persuade her that she . . .
sortof.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Just read Tove Janssen's The True Deceiver, a delightful and intriguing work. It resembles a fairy tale, I kept thinking of Sister Alyonushka and Brother Ivanushka, though the characters of Katri, Anna and Mats develop in more subtle and complex ways towards wholeness. sortof.co.uk/tove-jansson...
Reposted by Sally Richards
Opinion: “More than ever before, we need British diplomats, spies and soldiers to speak the language of our adversaries. We need universities like Nottingham to be pumping out Russian and Mandarin graduates each year, to work across Whitehall.”
🖊️ Ian Proud
https://ow.ly/N6yw50XwM3X
🖊️ Ian Proud
https://ow.ly/N6yw50XwM3X
November 25, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Opinion: “More than ever before, we need British diplomats, spies and soldiers to speak the language of our adversaries. We need universities like Nottingham to be pumping out Russian and Mandarin graduates each year, to work across Whitehall.”
🖊️ Ian Proud
https://ow.ly/N6yw50XwM3X
🖊️ Ian Proud
https://ow.ly/N6yw50XwM3X
The alternative - dying in hospital is typically worse for the person dying and those supporting them and costly for the NHS. We need to fund hospice care!
Some 380 #hospice beds out of around 2,000 lie empty in England because of financial pressures..
Hospice UK told #BBC News this is up from 300 a year ago+illustrates the severe challenges facing the sector.
Beds are left empty to save money - since staffing and caring is costly.
Hospice UK told #BBC News this is up from 300 a year ago+illustrates the severe challenges facing the sector.
Beds are left empty to save money - since staffing and caring is costly.
Hundreds of hospice beds unused amid financial crisis
Some 380 hospice beds lie empty in England because of financial pressures, say bosses.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 9:35 AM
The alternative - dying in hospital is typically worse for the person dying and those supporting them and costly for the NHS. We need to fund hospice care!
Hoping that Lisa Nandy will take opportunity to appoint people with sound judgement and integrity to the BBC board, not people whose intention is to destroy the BBC
“a group of politically-appointed directors has forced the hand of Samir Shah,the chair, and the departure of the two most senior people in the organisation. Their resignations should be called out for what they are: political interference..”1/
The Observer view: political interference at the BBC | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Hoping that Lisa Nandy will take opportunity to appoint people with sound judgement and integrity to the BBC board, not people whose intention is to destroy the BBC
Reposted by Sally Richards
Looking forward to hearing Sholto Kynoch's reflections, so soon after the glorious Oxford International Song Festival. All welcome 8.15pm at St Andrew's Church, Old Headington @oldheadington.bsky.social @headingtonnews.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Looking forward to hearing Sholto Kynoch's reflections, so soon after the glorious Oxford International Song Festival. All welcome 8.15pm at St Andrew's Church, Old Headington @oldheadington.bsky.social @headingtonnews.bsky.social
Looking forward to hearing Sholto Kynoch's reflections, so soon after the glorious Oxford International Song Festival. All welcome 8.15pm at St Andrew's Church, Old Headington @oldheadington.bsky.social @headingtonnews.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Looking forward to hearing Sholto Kynoch's reflections, so soon after the glorious Oxford International Song Festival. All welcome 8.15pm at St Andrew's Church, Old Headington @oldheadington.bsky.social @headingtonnews.bsky.social
Reposted by Sally Richards
If you are in the Oxford area next Thursday, I’m giving a talk on the birds of the Lye Valley area. It’s a multimedia presentation (pictures and calls!) covering the resident and migratory birds recorded in this part of the city. See you there!
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#Oxonbirding
#Oxford
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#Oxonbirding
#Oxford
October 28, 2025 at 9:40 PM
If you are in the Oxford area next Thursday, I’m giving a talk on the birds of the Lye Valley area. It’s a multimedia presentation (pictures and calls!) covering the resident and migratory birds recorded in this part of the city. See you there!
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#Oxonbirding
#Oxford
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#Oxonbirding
#Oxford
Cashing in on social care......
November 6, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Cashing in on social care......
Reposted by Sally Richards
There’s no screening for ovarian cancer and it’s really difficult to spot: you can’t squidge your ovaries in the shower to check for lumps. Also it’s very good at masquerading at other things, like IBS and diverticulitis.
Please take a look at this list of symptoms - and share if you can.
Please take a look at this list of symptoms - and share if you can.
November 3, 2025 at 2:16 PM
There’s no screening for ovarian cancer and it’s really difficult to spot: you can’t squidge your ovaries in the shower to check for lumps. Also it’s very good at masquerading at other things, like IBS and diverticulitis.
Please take a look at this list of symptoms - and share if you can.
Please take a look at this list of symptoms - and share if you can.
I particularly enjoyed this episode. Also included informative review of 'Russia’s Turkish Wars. The Tsarist Army and the Balkan Peoples in the Nineteenth Century' by Victor Taki - many contemporary echoes
In Moscow's Shadows 222: Are We Seeing A New Putin?
A busy day yesterday meant I was able to record and upload, but not do the social media hype. Anyway, I consider how Putin may have changed over the past 7 years: welcome to 'Putin squared'
www.buzzsprout.com/1026985/epis...
A busy day yesterday meant I was able to record and upload, but not do the social media hype. Anyway, I consider how Putin may have changed over the past 7 years: welcome to 'Putin squared'
www.buzzsprout.com/1026985/epis...
In Moscow's Shadows 222: Are We Seeing A New Putin? - In Moscow's Shadows
The forthcoming release of the updated version of my WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT PUTIN gives me an excuse to consider whether and how Putin has changed since I originally wrote the book in 2018. My conclusi...
www.buzzsprout.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I particularly enjoyed this episode. Also included informative review of 'Russia’s Turkish Wars. The Tsarist Army and the Balkan Peoples in the Nineteenth Century' by Victor Taki - many contemporary echoes
Brave and unmissable - Mr Nobody Against Putin is a chilling insight into the indoctrination of Russian school children and the devastating costs of Putin's war on Ukraine. On BBC iPlayer
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Four - Storyville, Mr Nobody Against Putin
A Russian schoolteacher risks everything to expose rising militarism in his classroom.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 2, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Brave and unmissable - Mr Nobody Against Putin is a chilling insight into the indoctrination of Russian school children and the devastating costs of Putin's war on Ukraine. On BBC iPlayer
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Just think of the additional money making opportunities he could have as PM!
October 27, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Just think of the additional money making opportunities he could have as PM!
The ongoing abuse of human rights and the environment in #WestPapua is seldom reported. Research reported here of the involvement of UK companies in destruction of the World's third largest rainforest and enforced displacement of people. Investors take note!
theconversation.com/the-alleged-...
theconversation.com/the-alleged-...
The alleged British links to mass deforestation and displacement in a conflict few have even heard of
New report alleges British links to human rights and environmental crises in West Papua, Indonesia.
theconversation.com
October 11, 2025 at 2:03 PM
The ongoing abuse of human rights and the environment in #WestPapua is seldom reported. Research reported here of the involvement of UK companies in destruction of the World's third largest rainforest and enforced displacement of people. Investors take note!
theconversation.com/the-alleged-...
theconversation.com/the-alleged-...
Wonderful news. A courageous woman utterly committed to democracy and to the people of Venezuela
www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace...
www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace...
Nobel Peace Prize 2025
The Nobel Peace Prize 2025 was awarded to Maria Corina Machado “for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transi...
www.nobelprize.org
October 10, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Wonderful news. A courageous woman utterly committed to democracy and to the people of Venezuela
www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace...
www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace...
Reality dawns in Kent...
”Everyone thought we’d come in and there were going to be these huge costs we could cut away but there just aren’t,” said a third senior Reform cabinet member in Kent
Reform likely to raise Kent council tax after cost-cutting drive falters
Nigel Farage’s party promised to revive local authority finances by slashing wasteful spending
on.ft.com
October 6, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Reality dawns in Kent...
Reposted by Sally Richards
statistic of the day
September 23, 2025 at 3:21 PM
statistic of the day
Absolutely 👏👍 "Any co-opting or corrupting of the Christian faith to exclude others is unacceptable" It threatens the very soul of Christianity.
September 21, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Absolutely 👏👍 "Any co-opting or corrupting of the Christian faith to exclude others is unacceptable" It threatens the very soul of Christianity.
Yesterday saw the 144 uplifting Icons for Hope and Faith at Westminster Abbey. A powerful expression of the core Christian message of love and sacrifice for others. Here Julian of Norwich by Juliet Venter and St Francis by Otto Pang.
September 21, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Yesterday saw the 144 uplifting Icons for Hope and Faith at Westminster Abbey. A powerful expression of the core Christian message of love and sacrifice for others. Here Julian of Norwich by Juliet Venter and St Francis by Otto Pang.
Yes, this is certainly a positive development. Agree Government must hold firm against all attempts to water down.
Let's face it, it's not often I get to say nice things about what's happening in criminal justice. But the Sentencing Bill, up before the Commons today, is an exception! It's not perfect, but there's lots to like and the gov should hold firm against pressure to water down proposals. 🧵
The government is taking the right approach to sentencing reform | Institute for Government
There is a lot to welcome in the Sentencing Bill.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
September 16, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Yes, this is certainly a positive development. Agree Government must hold firm against all attempts to water down.
Reposted by Sally Richards
Q: Do you think it would've been fitting to lower the flags to half staff when Melissa Hortman, the Minnesota House Speaker, was gunned down by an assassin?
TRUMP: I'm not familiar. The who?
TRUMP: I'm not familiar. The who?
September 15, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Q: Do you think it would've been fitting to lower the flags to half staff when Melissa Hortman, the Minnesota House Speaker, was gunned down by an assassin?
TRUMP: I'm not familiar. The who?
TRUMP: I'm not familiar. The who?
Wonderful news! The first Thomas Denny window in Oxford
A new stained glass window by acclaimed artist Thomas Denny has been installed at Christ Church Cathedral, depicting the parable of the Prodigal Son. One of only a few UK stained glass painters, Denny has made some 50 windows for churches and cathedrals, including Hereford, Durham, and Gloucester.
September 15, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Wonderful news! The first Thomas Denny window in Oxford
Reposted by Sally Richards
Still absolutely nothing to say about far right thugs rioting and attacking the police while a US tech billionaire calls for a violent insurrection on our streets
September 14, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Still absolutely nothing to say about far right thugs rioting and attacking the police while a US tech billionaire calls for a violent insurrection on our streets