Spoquey

@spoquey

"When a man lets things go so far that he is more than half a bicycle, you will not see him so much because he spends a lot of his time leaning with one elbow on walls or standing propped by one foot at kerbstones.” Flann O'Brien The Third Policeman

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Bluesky

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Spoquey@spoquey· 16h

I am busy embroidering you a comet for reinforcement. Should be ready by 2061….

Spoquey@spoquey· 1d

Courage, mon brave! Du sud de la France x

Black French bin liner embossed with Nigel Farage's initials. It contains his wriggling protests when he is cast aside by the electorate on 1" August.

Win, Count Binface, Win!!!

Spoquey@spoquey· 1d

Spoquey@spoquey· 5d

Without cheating post your lock screen.

Beautiful and eerie photograph of a local "flamant rose" taken by local ornithologist and naturalist Joseph Hiard, probably in the étangs of Leucate. He gave me permission to use it as my screen saver. Thanks JH!

Huge flocks of these flamingos feed around the coasts. Amn't I the lucky one?

Spoquey@spoquey· 24d

So true!

Spoquey@spoquey· 28d

I have to re-read my William Dalrymple book "The Golden Road", about India's influence on world trade. It is fascinating, especially the Buddhist influence. Football begone!

Spoquey@spoquey· Jul 13

Verify your age.

Every kid had one of these in their pencil case in the 1960s, 1970s and even 1980s. No kid had a clue how to use one. This is a slide rule, which we used to calculate mathematic stuff until around 1985, when you spoilt kids got your little Casio calculators.

Doubtless some kids still use them, like the ones that still use Nokia phones and continue to feed their Tamagotchis. I admire those people and salute them.

Spoquey@spoquey· Jul 7

I didn’t invent this, wish I had 😘

Spoquey@spoquey· Jul 6

This was the daily parking situation on Romford Road/Broadway, Stratford before I left in early 2025. I don't know if the new cycle lane along Romford Road has removed this monstrous motornormativity on display there.

Newham pavements with vehicles parked all over them by inconsiderate drivers. Drivers also park on the road, despite restrictions there. They know they will probably not get a ticket. This is Romford Road. Using a wheelchair or pushing a buggy? Tough luck mate.

Can't find a legitimate place to park your vehicles? Just park them on the pavement in the centre of Stratford instead. Here is a photo of two cars where drivers have just driven onto the pavement on Broadway and left their cars parked there.

A whole line of cars parked on the pavement by drivers on the Romford Road. The drivers seem to think that they own or can park on the pavement outside the shops on the road. This is not the case. Even if it were so, there is no dropped kerb access, so they are committing another offence to get to their parking spot. They will probably not get a ticket.

Spoquey@spoquey· Jul 5

Oh yes. XXX

The beach/sea view from my tent in the early morning, when I realise I have camped on an anthill and the Tremontane has blown up a gale.

The beautiful view of the sea. Turquoise and glorious.

Spoquey@spoquey· Jul 1

There will never come such a day, but sometimes the distractions can be a bit different.

Woman with her vehicle filled with helium party balloons obstructing her view, driving out of a side turning onto Romford Road. It was then I realised I had to get out of London.

Woman in her tiny car stopped at the traffic lights in Perpignan at the entrance to Clémenceau. Yes she is on her little phone, reading her emails. I was able to lean in and tap the screen for her. Well, I was on my bike so wanted her to be aware of her surroundings

Spoquey@spoquey· Jun 30

Thank you SO much... that all sounds amazing! I love the idea of the chefs coming to talk to me. I speak no Dutch whatsoever. But I will wear this badge that I have had from the 1970s. I know they will be très très sympa once they see this cheesy sign.

A badge I have had for a long time that says KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE DUTCH

It is alternately red, white and pale blue background but with white, red and blue and white text.

I suspect it is an advertising campaign of some sort, but I bought it from a second hand shop in France just before the woman closed her shop.

Spoquey@spoquey· Jun 29

That is quite like the little cabane I drew near my favourite mountain, the Canigou, here in France.

Le Canigou mountain, still with its snow but with spring flowers in the meadows in front. The little hut is there, waiting for the viticulteurs to start their work on the vineyards.

Spoquey@spoquey· Jun 25

As a 50-year long cyclist in London, England, having experienced many painful crashes with drivers over the years, I send you all the very best. I think of your Robyn, you and Rachel now and for always. xxx

A beautiful bunch of pink and white flowers xxx

Spoquey@spoquey· Jun 24

Has anyone mentioned n+1 to her yet?

Once you have one bike you can never have too many...three road bikes in the bedroom and two folding bikes in the living room. N+1 - unstoppable.

Spoquey@spoquey· Jun 24

Luckily the wife had just popped round to the drive-thru pharmacy.

Driver of this vehicle has just driven through the brick wall of this "Drive-thru Pharmacy"

Sorry I don't know who posted this on the internet or i would attribute it to them!

Spoquey@spoquey· Jun 23

The splendid Golden Road by @willdalrymple.bsky.social. "Quand Le Monde Dort" compiled by Francesca Albanese. "Lettres Parisiennes" by Nancy Huston and Leila Sebbar. And "Femme, Vie, Liberté" from Marjane Satrapi, who sadly died so young this month.

Amazing work by William Dalrymple about the influence of India on the rest of the world. One of my favourite parts is the tale of Xuanzang, a monk whose thirst for true knowledge takes him on a perilous journey of thousands of miles. But the whole work is rivetting.

Stories, voices and wounds from Palestine. Francesca Albanese mixes her voice with those of Palestinians living with the daily injustice they are suffering. Almost unbearable to read.

A compilation of the letters written between two women"étrangères en exil" and united by love of language.

Marjane Satrapi got together a whole group of talented people to compile their works to remember Mahsa Amini and other protesters in Iran. This is a very moving compilation of "bande dessinée" to explain the history of the protest movement.

Spoquey@spoquey· Jun 22

I have been observing this for over a year. Here's two lovely plants in my street in South of France, where the temperature soars and it seldom rains. They just take advantage of tiny splits in the drainpipes or drips from people's air con. Plucky survivors!

This little plant appeared on my street using the run-off from people's air conditioning in the flats above. It is a beautiful little creature. Undaunted by anything.

This lovely plant cascades about 20 feet opposite my apartment, all down the ancient drain pipe outside the building. I suppose there must be gaps or splits in the drain pipe due to it being very old. It is officially a "weed" but I think nobody would dream of getting rid of it.

Spoquey@spoquey· Jun 21

I found this rare book of his in the central library of Amsterdam, so every year I go there I go there and I sit and re-read it. It is an amazing non-fiction book of his.

Spoquey@spoquey· Jun 21

It is mullein time of the year in the UK. This enormous traditional medicinal plant grows over six feet high in scrubby grassland. You barely notice it, until it flowers around this time with a beautiful, wide triangular display of little yellow blossoms.

Mullein plants grow over six feet high. Its wide triangular green leaf stock is matched by the flowering triangular yellow blossoms that bloom at this time of the year. They are really handsome plants and when they catch the sunlight they really zing!!!

Spoquey@spoquey· Jun 20

Here is a wild orchid for you. Happy birthday to you and for all your next adventures xxx

A beautiful purple wild orchid, one of many growing along the cliff paths near Leucate La Franqui in the south of France. It is a bit out of focus because it was quite a windy day! The plant would not stay still.

Spoquey@spoquey· Jun 16

Snap! But in ginger x

Connie in anticipation of her puppicinno

Spoquey@spoquey· Jun 15

My tree hides an elephant behind it. Sri Lanka.

Nature park in Sri Lanka. Bright blue sky, brown earth and green grass. This one little tree on its own on the horizon has a little elephant hiding behind it. I swear to god. Just look at it for a few moments and you will see the shy little fella.

Spoquey@spoquey· Jun 12

Reminds me....

My bike is leaning up against the window of a café in Mula, Spain, waiting for me to go a nice long bike ride in the early morning sun.The curtain of the café is golden yellow and the silhouette of my bike shows clearly through. What a day to be in!

Spoquey@spoquey· Jun 11

Tomorrow she may find that bright scarlet lipstick, the one that takes two or more days to remove. But still... huge good fortune to you xxx

My lucky Chinese cat that waves its paw constantly (and makes a hell of a din) It is solar powered! They suggested just get used to it and so I have.

Spoquey@spoquey· Jun 9

Similar, but with electricity poles 🙂

Early morning dark sky with fantastic packed clouds like cotton wool. Seen from the train on the way to East Anglia. Electricity pylons on the horizon, and a morning sun trying to make its way up into the heavens.

Spoquey@spoquey· Jun 9

Reminds me of this little number from some years ago. Joint silver to Phelps - big deal. Gold medal and world record to a woman? Soz.

Huge bold letters "Phelps ties for silver in 100 fly".

Underneath it in little print "Ledecky sets world record in women's 800 freestyle".

Priorities hmmm.

Sorry I would attribute this cutting to the original poster of this if I new who it was. But am not attributing editorial style to Paul Newberry, who thought it fit to print in this manner.

Spoquey@spoquey· Jun 5

Triangles! The Shard.

The Shard in the distance, lit up one beautiful morning. The Thames is snaking around in the foreground

Photo taken from my office window on the Isle of Dogs.

Spoquey@spoquey· Jun 4

I just heard that Marjane Satrapi died. From the moment I read her beautiful "bande dessinée" Persepolis in 2000, through her films and her other works, until her work with other artists about Iran... well another gorgeous flame just left us xxx