I'm currently dealing with this problem with my parents. It's hard to explain that no I don't want that random china thing that my great grandmother had as I'd never use it, and I don't need a particular piece of furniture because I already have one in my own home But I did accept these bottles

The butterflies were being super helpful for this morning's count; a Speckled Wood and a White both flew into the house as a reminder to me to go out and count the back garden. Then I saw these three who provided a reminder of the value of dandelions in a garden

Very exciting spot this morning; the elusive puddle. Not seen round here for many weeks now. With changing climate will be increasingly rare in summer and swarming in uncontrollable numbers in winter

Loving when the feed presents certain stories next to each other. Criticism of windmills (I'm not going to even get into what a windMILL does vs a turbine) from someone whose country is experiencing a resurgence in leprosy to the extent it may be becoming endemic

It's raining!!!

As a vegan, I get really annoyed at people telling me I'm putting farmers out of business. No! I still eat food that a farmer grows, just not in animal form. And for parts of my diet I can tell you exactly where the food was grown in the UK, and sometimes the farm name too

While the vegetables in the garden may be unhappy at how dry it is, the stone fruit and my tiny apple tree (and the crabapple trees too) are all very happy in this weather 🌱

This is utter genius

Currently reading up on optimal use of 1 fan to cool a house. Until now I have used closed windows and curtains/blinds method only, but am trying a fan for maximum nighttime temperature lowering for the following day's comfort

Still angry? You bet I am. Totally unnecessary damage to the country and so many people. Advance notice of sweary alt text

Showing a pretty clear upward trajectory in just my lifetime. What am I doing to take action on climate change? Vegan, solar PV on home, no flying for personal reasons (sadly have had to for work) e-bike rather than car, guerilla tree planting. Still not enough though... #ShowYourStripes

"If we sit and stare at the god of the kitchen long enough eventually the roast potatoes cooling on its top will fly into our mouths" Sometimes they sit and stare at the cooker for over 10 minutes

Breakfast in the garden accompanied by a good dog (not begging for once), swifts and sparrows The other good dog has already gone back upstairs to bed after his 6,500 steps and breakfast (This may all be due to terribl3 canine behaviour from 04.30am onwards when they both decided to get up and play)

If there's anyone who could use these cast-off dragonfly larval skins (for teaching, art projects etc), please get in touch. I've had at least 12 emerge from my pond in the last few days and the wind has blown them off the reeds onto the lawn they are so light - I'd love them to have further use

Popped into the garden for my mid morning break and spotted this beautiful #dragonfly that is so shiny and bright that I think it has just eclosed (but having problems with its abdomen - maybe damaged a segment?) Spotted 6 empty larval skins around the pond that were not there 2 days ago #UKWildlife

The dogs have learned the art of begging Unfortunately they've not quite worked out WHO to deploy this tactic on. The cooker, where the leftover roast potatoes were cooling, is stone-hearted and cannot be convinced. 10 mins spent sitting facing it while I was in the other room yielded nothing

These are not #DogsAtPollingStations. In fact these are dogs who are upset I didn't take them to vote (that or they are 36 mins early alerting me to their tea-time)

Lovely sight along Wykebeck on this morning's dog walk

Another great part of my job is the people I meet. Recently it was Artist and Art Psychotherapist Thamina Begum, and tonight I went to the opening of her exhibition - complete with edible installation! Fantastic exhibition absolutely rooted in the local community exploring identity and belonging

First Holly Blue of the season just spotted dancing and taking a breather in the garden #UKWildlife #Butterflies

Nice bit of guerilla tree planting to get the Easter Bank holiday weekend off to a good start. Fabulous weather to be out and about! (I can't help but wonder how much of a nicer place the UK would be if everyone who hung a flag had planted a tree or litter picked instead)

It's only mid-March and my far from optimally aligned solar PV panels have powered the washing machine, the dishwasher, everything else in the house all day, filled up my battery for tonight/tomorrow and are now sending excess energy into the grid What's not to love about renewables?

Purple sprouting broccoli going well in its 2nd year of production (I left many heads on the plant last year to provide a pollen source in the garden, hence why this years heads are interspersed with seed heads) 🌱

On the same date at last year, frogspawn appears in the pond! #UKWildlife

Breakfast jelly lottery; Opened Guelder Rose jelly lid and the smell of feet was too much. Lid back on, back to the cupboard*. The Crabapple jelly was nice, if a bit rubbery (losing moisture?) Now on slice number 2 of bread with the Blackerry and Apple jelly *probably been happening since 2021

We're here! @leedsgreenparty.bsky.social here in Gorton & Denton with feet on the ground for the last weekend before polling day

I can almost hear the home battery purring with delight at the boost it's getting from the solar panels. After weeks of rain everything is making the most of this delicious sunshine

3 weeks ago I was leafleting in snow. Last week I was leafleting in rain. Today I was leafleting in sunnies! Lovely day to be out spreading Green messages. I'm very lucky to be able to leaflet with @mothinali.bsky.social and hear locals telling him the difference a Green Councillor has made to them

Bit of a milestone today; 50th pint of blood donated. Being vegan for a decade doesn't seem to have been a problem. As a post-donation treat I am having crisps AND biscuits!