Steve Tilley
@s1eve.bsky.social
Retired clergyman. Generalist. Centre left politics; centre liberal theology. Baggies and Bears
Pinned
Steve Tilley's Christmas Blog
An archive of Christmas newsletters
stevetilleychristmas.blogspot.com
Our annual #Christmas letter is published today. Roll with it. Don't try to understand too hard:
stevetilleychristmas.blogspot.com/2025/.
If anyone needs help with the pirate jokes spend three minutes listening to this Andy Hamilton sketch. You'll thank me:
youtu.be/XKv5ulewTO4?...
stevetilleychristmas.blogspot.com/2025/.
If anyone needs help with the pirate jokes spend three minutes listening to this Andy Hamilton sketch. You'll thank me:
youtu.be/XKv5ulewTO4?...
Reposted by Steve Tilley
this is the greatest feeling, when the cord box proves its utility to a family member
December 20, 2025 at 6:35 AM
this is the greatest feeling, when the cord box proves its utility to a family member
Reposted by Steve Tilley
'Farm on a Hillside,' (1914) is a superb piece of pictorial design by John Nash. He typically used trees to articulate space and unify a painting in an overall pattern; the clarity of drawing and controlled use of colour add to this painting's appeal.
December 19, 2025 at 3:08 PM
'Farm on a Hillside,' (1914) is a superb piece of pictorial design by John Nash. He typically used trees to articulate space and unify a painting in an overall pattern; the clarity of drawing and controlled use of colour add to this painting's appeal.
Tense battle as to whether the delayed 1652 from the west expected 1658 gets on the single track section before the on-time 1659 from the east
December 19, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Tense battle as to whether the delayed 1652 from the west expected 1658 gets on the single track section before the on-time 1659 from the east
Absence of drivers means arriving in Bristol late and leaving early for our pre-Christmas catch up with family
December 19, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Absence of drivers means arriving in Bristol late and leaving early for our pre-Christmas catch up with family
I find #WorcestershireParkway the most depressing place to occupy an hour when your train is cancelled. No properly indoor waiting space at all. Even the piano seat was occupied
December 19, 2025 at 11:05 AM
I find #WorcestershireParkway the most depressing place to occupy an hour when your train is cancelled. No properly indoor waiting space at all. Even the piano seat was occupied
May we stop saying iconic for a few months please #bbcr4today
December 18, 2025 at 9:01 AM
May we stop saying iconic for a few months please #bbcr4today
Reposted by Steve Tilley
This is an illustration from our book The Cell, written by the brilliant Ben Martynoga. We had to fight a bit to keep this drawing, because it was felt it didn't represent a broad range of women. It does raise interesting points.
I created it by assuming a generation would be 30 years.
I created it by assuming a generation would be 30 years.
![Excerpt from our book The Cell.
Text:
Even the egg cell that started it all came from another cell: one in your (biological) mother’s body. And the cells in her body started out as cells in your grandmother’s body, and so on, further and further back in time. Every family is different. This is just how one baby’s family line might look
[Drawing of a line of women zigzagging into the distance, going back in time as shown by their outfits]
The text continues:
The line stretches all the way back to Luca – the ancestor we all have in common. Being able to reproduce by dividing one cell into two was Luca’s superpower, of course, and nowadays, biologists have a name for that process . . .](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:syuzldzqctz7e4syg7iivjt5/bafkreicypsgp3redh2ceb6nbtgknxzyjuj6wxocihcswz46cjc5n6plvsy@jpeg)
December 17, 2025 at 12:14 PM
This is an illustration from our book The Cell, written by the brilliant Ben Martynoga. We had to fight a bit to keep this drawing, because it was felt it didn't represent a broad range of women. It does raise interesting points.
I created it by assuming a generation would be 30 years.
I created it by assuming a generation would be 30 years.
An important part of Christmas shopping is a beer and a decent lunch. Thanks #ProsperoLounge #StratfordUponAvon
December 17, 2025 at 12:30 PM
An important part of Christmas shopping is a beer and a decent lunch. Thanks #ProsperoLounge #StratfordUponAvon
Reposted by Steve Tilley
Goals.
Man answering his phone on the train: Yes? Correct, I’m not at work (pause) I’m not going to answer that because I am not at work today. No, you’re going to have to ask someone who is. Goodbye.
December 17, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Goals.
Anyone out there got any views about which newspaper has the most deserving Christmas Appeal this year?
December 15, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Anyone out there got any views about which newspaper has the most deserving Christmas Appeal this year?
New TV Frame art for December
December 14, 2025 at 9:45 PM
New TV Frame art for December
Hey #booksky what’s the one book everyone says you should have read by now but you never got round to, or couldn’t get through? Mine’s Lord of the Rings
December 14, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Hey #booksky what’s the one book everyone says you should have read by now but you never got round to, or couldn’t get through? Mine’s Lord of the Rings
Kiva is an easy way to make a real difference to someone's life. Will you join me in helping change lives with small loans:
www.kiva.org
www.kiva.org
Make a loan, change a life | Kiva
Kiva is the world's first online lending platform. For as little as $25 you can lend to an entrepreneur around the world. Learn more here.
www.kiva.org
December 14, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Kiva is an easy way to make a real difference to someone's life. Will you join me in helping change lives with small loans:
www.kiva.org
www.kiva.org
Reposted by Steve Tilley
🗣️ ⏱️90’+4 FT: Super result, Robins well played with a clean sheet
⚽️ @EveshamUnitedFC 3-0 @TauntonTownFC
(Barlow 27' Steele 29' Hutt 45'+1)
Att: 329
📆 Sat 13 Dec 🏆 @SouthernLeague1
🔴⚪️#TheRobins
⚽️ @EveshamUnitedFC 3-0 @TauntonTownFC
(Barlow 27' Steele 29' Hutt 45'+1)
Att: 329
📆 Sat 13 Dec 🏆 @SouthernLeague1
🔴⚪️#TheRobins
December 13, 2025 at 5:48 PM
🗣️ ⏱️90’+4 FT: Super result, Robins well played with a clean sheet
⚽️ @EveshamUnitedFC 3-0 @TauntonTownFC
(Barlow 27' Steele 29' Hutt 45'+1)
Att: 329
📆 Sat 13 Dec 🏆 @SouthernLeague1
🔴⚪️#TheRobins
⚽️ @EveshamUnitedFC 3-0 @TauntonTownFC
(Barlow 27' Steele 29' Hutt 45'+1)
Att: 329
📆 Sat 13 Dec 🏆 @SouthernLeague1
🔴⚪️#TheRobins
My home for the next three hours #ChristmasFair #CofE
December 13, 2025 at 10:29 AM
My home for the next three hours #ChristmasFair #CofE
Our annual #Christmas letter is published today. Roll with it. Don't try to understand too hard:
stevetilleychristmas.blogspot.com/2025/.
If anyone needs help with the pirate jokes spend three minutes listening to this Andy Hamilton sketch. You'll thank me:
youtu.be/XKv5ulewTO4?...
stevetilleychristmas.blogspot.com/2025/.
If anyone needs help with the pirate jokes spend three minutes listening to this Andy Hamilton sketch. You'll thank me:
youtu.be/XKv5ulewTO4?...
Steve Tilley's Christmas Blog
An archive of Christmas newsletters
stevetilleychristmas.blogspot.com
December 12, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Our annual #Christmas letter is published today. Roll with it. Don't try to understand too hard:
stevetilleychristmas.blogspot.com/2025/.
If anyone needs help with the pirate jokes spend three minutes listening to this Andy Hamilton sketch. You'll thank me:
youtu.be/XKv5ulewTO4?...
stevetilleychristmas.blogspot.com/2025/.
If anyone needs help with the pirate jokes spend three minutes listening to this Andy Hamilton sketch. You'll thank me:
youtu.be/XKv5ulewTO4?...
Today marks a huge personal milestone in the life of our small household of regular gym users – there is insufficient laundry of one type in the basket to make a washing load necessary
December 12, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Today marks a huge personal milestone in the life of our small household of regular gym users – there is insufficient laundry of one type in the basket to make a washing load necessary
Reposted by Steve Tilley
See No Evil review – this delicate documentary about an Anglican’s child abuse is deeply harrowing
See No Evil review – this delicate documentary about an Anglican’s child abuse is deeply harrowing
It’s humbling to witness the eloquence and dignity of these survivors as they talk about their experiences with John Smyth – possibly the most prolific serial abuser ever associated with the Church of England
www.theguardian.com
December 11, 2025 at 12:34 AM
See No Evil review – this delicate documentary about an Anglican’s child abuse is deeply harrowing
See No Evil, Down Cemetery Road and Shetland is a pretty bleak evening’s viewing
December 11, 2025 at 8:13 PM
See No Evil, Down Cemetery Road and Shetland is a pretty bleak evening’s viewing
Reposted by Steve Tilley
The algorithms are making it a lot harder to spread the word about these online talks. Although numbers are still reasonable, it would be a great help if folk were able to give the 30 December event a quick share 🙂
Booking available here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/buildings-...
Booking available here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/buildings-...
December 11, 2025 at 8:03 PM
The algorithms are making it a lot harder to spread the word about these online talks. Although numbers are still reasonable, it would be a great help if folk were able to give the 30 December event a quick share 🙂
Booking available here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/buildings-...
Booking available here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/buildings-...
Reposted by Steve Tilley
I get that the worst parts of the “cancel culture” era were not great, but maybe now that we seem to have lost any real form of social sanction for truly blatant racism, misogyny, homophobia etc, commentators who spend all their time railing against it could admit they had their priorities wrong?
December 11, 2025 at 11:23 AM
I get that the worst parts of the “cancel culture” era were not great, but maybe now that we seem to have lost any real form of social sanction for truly blatant racism, misogyny, homophobia etc, commentators who spend all their time railing against it could admit they had their priorities wrong?
In the face of opposition which goes:
You must do something (you do)
Not that, it won’t work (it does)
You should do more of it (you do)
You should have done it faster
You must do something (you do)
Not that, it won’t work (it does)
You should do more of it (you do)
You should have done it faster
#ToPonder
SEVEN STEPS TO STAGNATION
1. We have never done it that way
2. We are not ready for that
3. We are doing OK without that
4. We tried it once
5. It costs too much
6. That is not our responsibility
7. It wouldn't work for us
SEVEN STEPS TO STAGNATION
1. We have never done it that way
2. We are not ready for that
3. We are doing OK without that
4. We tried it once
5. It costs too much
6. That is not our responsibility
7. It wouldn't work for us
December 11, 2025 at 8:54 AM
In the face of opposition which goes:
You must do something (you do)
Not that, it won’t work (it does)
You should do more of it (you do)
You should have done it faster
You must do something (you do)
Not that, it won’t work (it does)
You should do more of it (you do)
You should have done it faster
December 9, 2025 at 7:28 PM
I have now verified my Apple Pay cards in the digital wallet on my new phone by removing them and putting them back in again whilst on hold to a broad scouser at the bank call centre. Pleased with myself
December 9, 2025 at 1:36 PM
I have now verified my Apple Pay cards in the digital wallet on my new phone by removing them and putting them back in again whilst on hold to a broad scouser at the bank call centre. Pleased with myself
After three security questions, an agreement to be surveyed and a multiple choice menu I was told ‘You are trying to reach a department that is currently closed’. Well done Lloyds Bank. Peak enshittification
December 8, 2025 at 7:02 PM
After three security questions, an agreement to be surveyed and a multiple choice menu I was told ‘You are trying to reach a department that is currently closed’. Well done Lloyds Bank. Peak enshittification