Lucy B

https://mastodon.org.uk/@linuxlucy

Tech. Cycling. Nature.

Mostly posting wildlife photos.

Based in Manchester, UK

Blog: https://linuxlucy.dev
GitHub: https://github.com/lucyb
Instagram: https://instagram.com/linuxlucy

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Last Notes

2024-10-12 12:20:23

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yes, absolutely. It does move the focus on to blaming individuals rather than the more systemic problems. It also ignores disabled people who are unable or unwilling to drive, which is increasingly an issue as boomers get older. Disabled people are more than one single group.
I truly believe that effective active travel infrastructure benefits everyone, esp disabled and I've seen just this while visiting the Netherlands (for example).

2024-10-12 10:48:22

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Reducing distance driven and reducing car ownership helps disabled people by:
1. Reducing traffic for when they do need to drive somewhere.
2. Giving them more options for using public transport, by making it more reliable, frequent, cheaper and accessible.
3. Making it possible to walk places again, by freeing up pavements & making roads safer to cross.
4. Creating cycling infrastructure that allows disabled people to use bikes, e-bikes, trikes, e-trikes, wheelchairs & mobility scooters.
2/2

2024-10-12 10:47:16

Recently, I've seeing posts by folks on both sides of the Atlantic about how they feel upset as a disabled person by the push to get people to reduce their driving. I don't fully understand why. No one, except trolls, is talking about banning all cars, but we urgently need to reduce the amount we use private motor vehicles in order to tackle climate change.
Disabled people are a fundamental part of the solution and I'm not sure how that message is being lost.
1/2
#ActiveTravel

2024-10-06 20:34:27

Bearded reedlings (aka bearded tits).
It must be autumn if these guys are out! I've been wanting to see these birds for ages and finally this weekend I was able to travel up to Leighton Moss to see them.
#Birds #BirdPhotography #LeightonMoss #BirdsOfMastodon #Nature #NaturePhotography #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife
https://cdn.mastodon.org.uk/media_attachments/files/113/262/365/594/045/302/original/6dd7fb9100b104df.jpg

2024-10-02 13:12:11

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oh fantastic. It looks lovely up there today. Do you know if the closure will extend to the weekend? I love cycling up there but have never stopped to take photos because I'm always worried someone's going to come speeding around a corner.

2024-10-01 18:16:01

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"In that single quarter, the number of serious casualties or fatalities dropped 23% in Wales, while for Great Britain as a whole it’s taken a decade to achieve a similar figure – 28%."
Road deaths are a political choice.

2024-09-28 18:02:44

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while I agree that we need more people with decency and principles in politics, Rosie Duffield is sadly not one of them. She's a TERF with close ties to JKR.

2024-09-20 09:55:04

Rook.
It was a pleasure to see these birds up close by the visitors' centre. I think most people walked straight past them, but they're lovely birds.
July 2024, Slimbridge WWT, UK.
#Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdsUK #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife #corvid
https://cdn.mastodon.org.uk/media_attachments/files/113/169/265/937/738/037/original/56d54b7340a86579.jpg

2024-09-16 12:23:33

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to clarify a point, under UK law someone is considered to have "made indecent images" just by receiving digital copies, which is the case for Edwards. He wasn't being prosecuted for taking photographs and he asked for "nothing underage". Obviously he acted illegally and appallingly, however the law is potentially misleading here.

2024-09-15 17:14:48

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thank you! The right most feather image is mine, but the one next to it belongs to another workshop attendee. I have a small collection of bird feathers, so I took them along. It turns out that patterns are captured much better than the fine detail.

2024-09-15 16:14:05

I had great fun at a cyanotype workshop yesterday. It was hard work, but I've got lots of great images and it's given me lots to think about in terms of my photography.
The process itself is relatively straightforward and doesn't require a darkroom, but there's lots of trial and error, with a certain amount of precision. It's done by mixing together two chemicals to produce light sensitive paper. Objects are then placed on the paper while it's exposed to UV.
#photography #cyanotype
https://cdn.mastodon.org.uk/media_attachments/files/113/142/401/265/319/191/original/aaea860cfd17a7ec.jpg
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2024-09-11 12:14:37

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iirc that place was how you ended up in your current job ☕.

2024-09-11 11:50:52

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oh no, that's a real shame 😔

2024-09-07 19:07:30

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Of course, this trip would have been nicer without the inevitable train delays 😞. I don't think I've managed a single journey this year without abandoning it before reaching Piccadilly. Particularly annoying in this case because I didn't actually want to go to Piccadilly, but my local train line has been partially closed since Easter. I guess that was the one trip over the Pennines I'll manage this year, because it's unlikely to reopen soon and the alternatives are too much hassle. 🚂

2024-09-07 15:43:04

Sheffield.
Visited Art in the Garden today. Had nice food and saw a variety of art.
#sheffield
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2024-09-06 17:45:27

Herring gull and coot chick.
When I was at #slimbridge a few weeks ago, I witnessed a herring gull swoop down onto a coot's nest and pluck out a chick. It then carried off the baby coot and stopped in front of a group of visitors, myself included and swallowed the chick. It was very sad to watch, but unfortunately chicks are frequently predated by a variety of animals.
July 2024, Slimbridge WWT, UK.
#Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdsUK #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife
https://cdn.mastodon.org.uk/media_attachments/files/113/091/816/078/212/349/original/a541cff9a684287d.jpg
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2024-09-01 17:03:37

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walk-in centres are no good for x-rays, I thought? A GP will be able to make a referral to x-ray without needing to wait in A&E though.
Agree that it's definitely worth getting professional advice. Even if it's "only" inflammation rather than cracked, it's worth getting diagnosed and treated properly. Ibuprofen is good for a couple of days, but there are better options out there, and while it's good for inflammation it may slow bone repair.

2024-08-31 14:58:07

Juvenile grey heron.
No notes.
August 2024. Stockport UK.
#birds #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfMastodon #Nature #NaturePhotography #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife
https://cdn.mastodon.org.uk/media_attachments/files/113/057/203/764/322/913/original/c3d115892e45da92.jpg

2024-08-29 20:38:05

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that's horrible, I'm sorry. it's been bad in East Manchester recently too. I don't know what it is about this time of year but I'm not looking forward to the next couple of months (it normally gets too cold for them by December).
We also have the same problem with the discriminatory gates that only keep out legit walkers/cyclists (and cops).

2024-08-22 19:42:03

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Pigeon.
My laptop is back and mostly working. Meanwhile, I think the local pigeons have had an upgrade. This fancy individual recently graced our local park, for reasons I don't understand. Although, looking at the weather forecast I'm sure they'll be off home soon.
Editing might be a bit funky, but I've changed editing software and it'll take a while to get up to speed.
Stockport, UK.
#birds #birdsUK #Nature #Pigeon
https://cdn.mastodon.org.uk/media_attachments/files/113/007/348/076/647/567/original/71a14a08c31829b7.jpg

2024-08-16 11:02:16

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I chose the earliest stop, because the later I leave it the more likely it becomes that there's a delay that means I miss the connection. I view the connection at the riskiest part of the journey and so prefer to get it over with sooner.

2024-08-13 18:39:55

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thank you. It's the Packet House in Worsley, Salford. It's an 18th C building that was used to collect payment for use of the Bridgwater canal. It's a really nice area too, but it's across the city from where we live and the cycling infrastructure just isn't in place to get us there easily. The route we took was nice, but very poor surfaces, lots of glass and either too busy or too quiet.

2024-08-13 12:18:13

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that's frustrating! I look forward to the thread when you feel up to it. I enjoy visiting Marple but it has some scary roads that must be really difficult if you live there and want to get to the shops or the station.

2024-08-11 17:29:15

Went on a little trip today. 50km cycled in total. I was reminded why I don't go along that section of the Bridgwater canal very often. It's a pity because it's worth the journey. I'd love for Manchester to have some road route options too, especially on days like this.
🚴‍♀️
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2024-08-10 07:45:53

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an ex-colleague of mine wrote this blog post, so that her and the team could get better at pairing. It might have some useful advice:
https://hatwell.github.io/tips-for-remote-pairing/

2024-08-06 12:37:27

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Wait, a branch line in the north west has improved?! That's good to know for when I complain to my MP. My local branch line has been getting steadily worse and has seen a partial closure for much of this year, which means there are journeys I've just not been able to take.

2024-08-06 12:36:08

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work journeys are a bit different and I can see how WiFi is useful there. Most of my trips are UK only and for complicated reasons not all of my work journeys are paid for. In particular, peak time fares, which are required to get anywhere in time for meetings, are horrendous (yes, there's split ticketing etc but it shouldn't be needed).

2024-08-06 11:37:14

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definitely controversial! The exorbitant cost is the biggest blocker, closely followed by the lack of trains (long distance or otherwise, since you need to be able to get to the long distance train in the first place), in my opinion.
Pendolinos have other issues too, such as the nausea inducing tilt and the smell. Although I admit the cramped seating is a big problem on all UK trains except GWR and the East Coast service.

2024-08-04 20:39:16

My laptop has died, so I'm not going to be editing any photos until Dell fix it (my next laptop will be user serviceable). Fortunately, I have lots in the archives. Here's a fairly recent one of a Mallard duckling.
Stockport, UK. June 2024.
#Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfMastodon #Nature #NaturePhotography #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife
https://cdn.mastodon.org.uk/media_attachments/files/112/905/659/159/759/570/original/65dcd939527c7b1d.jpg

2024-08-03 10:19:19

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I have these IKEA drawers. The cables in them are a mess. Thank you for the tip!

2024-08-02 11:37:31

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that's actually a police matter, because it's a dangerous obstruction. Does your local police force allow you to report motoring offenses online? If not you could try reporting via 101.
Of course, whether they'll bother doing anything is another matter, but good luck.

2024-07-30 19:24:04

WalkRideGM, who campaign to make active travel possible in Manchester, have launched their own podcast🎙️.
I'm looking forward to hearing how they're keeping up the pressure on local councils for more school streets, prioritising pedestrians on pavements, usable cycle routes and more.
#ActiveTravel #BikeToot
https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2389456.rss

2024-04-11 19:38:01

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In addition to the books you're getting on Sunday, I recommend taking a look at this book. As it's focusing on budget recipes they have very few ingredients, which makes it good when you're just starting out. It's also got an excellent list of the things you need to kit out a kitchen.
You only need a saucepan for making soup, even a blender of any kind is optional just as long as you don't mind it being a bit chunky.
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/253666/a-girl-called-jack-by-monroe-jack/9780718178949