Didn’t Max Porter write a book about this?

Aidan O’Brien@aidanobrien.bsky.social · 16h ago

First, you tell me to get a hobby; now it's an “appropriate hobby”.

Given the eye-watering fares for the existing, subsidised-to-the-hilt Anglo-Scottish Caley, the starting fares for a Scotland-Continent version, with all the additional track and Tunnel access fees, security/customs infrastructure, new stock and servicing infrastructure, don't bear thinking about.

Jon Worth@jonworth.eu · 16h ago

Forget it. The Caledonian Sleeper is not going to run through the Channel Tunnel An independent Scotland joining the EU and Schengen is more likely than this! A #CrossChannelRail quick rant jonworth.eu/forget-it-th...

Starting this one in a receptive frame of mind #booksky #reading

Given that I once lived in France for 2 years, I don’t know why I’m only learning this today (quite painfully 🙉, we were sitting right next to the Mairie). Apparently in place since 1948.

In a week when sleeper trains from Scotland to Europe are mooted, there’s also this very interesting interview with one of the founders of European Sleeper news.stv.tv/scotland/wor...

Transport bosses to explore future Caledonian Sleeper services to Europe

Direct sleeper services linking Scotland and mainland Europe are being explored in a new study

news.stv.tv

The Man in Seat 61@seatsixtyone.bsky.social · 6d ago

An interview with Chris Engelsman, one of the founders of @EuropeanSlpr: Some key background to ES's aims and future here... back-on-track.eu/in-conversat...

👋🏼 to les édimbourgeois past. Once the “College des Escossois”, now a Dominican convent and/or Catholic school of some sort. I don’t think those are thistles above the door, but there are two saltires above the central window. No mention that James II 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 was also James VII 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Shakespeare and Company now has a bouncer at the door, a cordon of several metres, and a queue of about 50 avid readers lining la rue de la bûcherie. A tour guide is telling its history in Spanish with a 🎤 & 🔈 It’s a self-declared No Photo Zone, so here’s the wall instead. #booksky #hypertourism

There’s a party going on in my pollinator garden. Guara, Russian Sage, Allium, Echinacea. #allotment #gardening #pollinators

If you see this, quote the energy you bring to Bluesky

Big Bearded Bookseller@bigbeardedbookseller.com · 2d ago

If you see this, quote the energy you bring to Bluesky

The metro station where we boarded, and the one where we alighted. #Paris #ligne14

A friend had kindly lent me his pass to Kew Gardens, & while I let myself get dragged on a hot, dusty quest to the Emirates instead 🙄, I’d read this beautiful story by VW in advance. The music in these words.. which current writers have mastered the art of the paragraph? Genuine Q. #reading #booksky

Indeed — it’s not just about getting to net zero, but getting to net zero as soon as possible. I’ve found this is often a point where people finally realise the sheer urgency of addressing climate change. simonleewx.com/2026/06/24/n...

Kees van der Leun@sustainable2050.bsky.social · 3d ago

The nasty little thing with climate change is that the situation progressively gets worse as long as we emit greenhouse gases, and that is irreversible. So there's no happy message "Let's bring emissions to zero and then everything will be alright" Nope, everything will be worse than it is now. 1/

New post just out: "Burnham's first mistake" Splitting 14 year olds into academic and vocational paths seems intuitive. But it's a terrible idea that risks increasing inequality, and closing down options for the young people that need them most. (£/free trial) open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/b...

Burnham's first mistake

The problem with his education plan

open.substack.com

squareword.org 1643: 7 guesses 🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟨🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 #squareword

Excited to be working on a commission with Inch Cape Wind Farm to create a set of legacy images to adorn the walls of their Montrose operations base - capturing beautiful visual reminders of Scotland’s ongoing energy transition. Last night's sunset was a wee bit delicious. #Renewables

I did think the humidity felt higher than the 61% forecast by the Met Office 🪭 🤞

Jim Pickard@pickardje.bsky.social · 6d ago

clouds

I wish I could take some of the energy and industriousness I feel on the streets of London, and pour it into a beautiful blue glass bottle, which I could unstop and carefully sip from whenever I needed it

This & all the comments. Perhaps Burnham could look at the Scottish model of free personal care for the elderly?

Otto English@ottoenglish.bsky.social · last wk.

My mother had Alzheimer's, and it lasted a decade. That wilderness she descended into was made far worse by a state that essentially said "good luck" and "goodbye" having to navigate care and selling her house and worrying that we'd run out of money to finance it all. If anyone can fix it, good.

squareword.org 1641: 7 guesses 🟩🟩🟨🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟨🟨🟨🟨 #squareword #squareword1641

Àite far nach urrainn dhuibh a ràdh tuilleadh nach deach Gàidhlig a bhruidhinn an seo a-riamh: The Shard 😈 Tha e mìorbhaileach an seo agus tha mòran chànanan gan bruidhinn an seo #tùrBhabheil

06:00 this morning. Loch Shieldaig.

We passed under the Albert Bridge in an Uber Clipper tonight, and I liked seeing the figure of Architecture with a model of St Paul’s cupped in her hands thetidalthames.com/2022/02/06/t...

Will Jennings📉🗳️@drjennings.bsky.social · last wk.

Which is your favourite London bridge?

Does anyone remember Paterson? 2016. My first encounter with the brilliant Adam Driver and I thought it was *amazing*!

Jesse Hawken@jessehawken.bsky.social · last wk.

Studio execs are going to want to adapt more poems for the big screen now

Still enjoying this:

Helen O'Hara@helenlohara.bsky.social · last wk.

It's compelling!

EXC: The firm behind the tax-evading gift shops at 109 Princes Street failed to secure building warrants before re-fitting the site. An application was made in August 2025 - a year after the shops opened. @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2641539...

Tenant at site of Princes Street fire did not have building warrants

Beginning work without a building warrant is a criminal offence and may result in a fine of up to £5,000.

heraldscotland.com

Then & now. The Courtauld Institute:

When the story of why humanity didn't stop climate change is written, it will feature front pages like this. Even as the skies blacken with climate change-induced wildfires, right wing media continue their relentless crusade against measures to tackle it.

Clapham Common at 9am. Length of the grass makes me slightly nervous

Perhaps I should move over to Musk’s X-space this week, so I can counter 💧his disinfo with tales of cleanliness, free public transport for children, cheap frictionless travel and Rasta joy. And that’s just in the first hour.

We arrive Euston Station. I’m trying hard to be bright and cheerful, if not perky, as the fire alarm went off twice in the night 🥱, but first thing child says is that the concourse would be perfect for a game of football ⚽️. Which in fact it would! It’s very warm!