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madhmstr.bsky.social
“Don't waste hate on pink geranium.” Professional aunt. Trans rights are human rights. Posts about black cats, picture books, and random other stuff. 5th generation Pākehā Aucklander, of UK heritage.
16,909 posts 1,427 followers 3,339 following
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🧵Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand: A couple (50s?) are pulling faces at each other over their coffees, making each other laugh. Meanwhile, a nearby small human (4?) is wearing a magnificently judgemental expression. These grownups are being unnecessarily silly and it's NOT correct. (1)

submitted 31 minutes ago • 1 comment

Today on the blog I wrote up my reactions to the recent yougov poll asking Americans what they know about medieval history. (TL/DR more than they used to, less than I'd like. I am medium mad.) going-medieval.com/2025/04/30/o...

submitted 4 hours ago • 23 comments

If you ran the govt like a business, you'd a) treat borrowing as a business-as-usual way of operating, rather than something to be avoided, b) you'd borrow for investments on their merits, rather than wait for cash to be available, c) you wouldn't cut core capacity in response to short-term shocks.

submitted 21 hours ago • 6 comments

People Watching: World Dance Crew Championship opening ceremony, Manukau, Sunday night

submitted 1 day ago • 4 comments

It's been a long (nearly) 4 weeks. Hopefully, Jasper will keep her in bed.

submitted 13 hours ago • 5 comments

Choose 20 paintings that have stayed with you or influenced you — one painting per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just paintings. #blueskyartchallenge #art #painting Baby Jesus, from Julie Vivas The Nativity.

submitted 13 hours ago • 0 comments

The amazing Katherine Applegate purchased 500 copies of Ruthie Rose's Big Idea, one for every 4th grader we met today! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, @kaaauthor.bsky.social!

submitted 18 hours ago • 1 comment

It took me a very long time to learn "do your best" does not mean "give 100% effort even at the expense of your physical or mental health" or "give A+ effort even when it is clearly not appreciated or valued". Sometimes doing your best is heating up a can of soup and going to bed early.

submitted 19 hours ago • 43 comments

Very early #OnThisDay, 30 April 1944, New Zealander Nancy Wake parachutes into occupied France to be a courier for the Special Operations Executive. Nick-named 'the white mouse' by the Gestapo, she is never captured. She died in 2011. #WomenInHistory 🗃️ #History #WomensHistory #WorldWar2 1/2

submitted 18 hours ago • 4 comments

Word got back to Aunty Marama that we can have nice things here. Ka pai then whānau: #ToitūTeTiriti #HokiWhenuaMai #LandBack #FreePalestine #TiakinaTeTaiao #EndPoverty #ClimateJustice #ManaMokopuna #TransAreTaonga and get your mammograms please ok Aunty will visit here more. Love you bye.

submitted 19 hours ago • 14 comments

Well now. Mum was so determined to be home she hid her weakness from them all. It's taken all 3 of us, and her sitting on her walker like a wheelchair, to get her the ~5 metres from the car to bed. Including rests to get up the 2 steps to the deck.

submitted 19 hours ago • 4 comments

Whether you're new to sleuthing or not, here are the top tips for getting to know your #MWSecretSantaAoNZ giftee and discover what might bring them joy. Many accounts are full of gems of information about them. And make sure the elves can DM you with any questions your Santa might have.

submitted 21 hours ago • 1 comment

This thread, guys, THIS We don’t have to be ageist or ableist to want to know how things are working and how they will or could work again

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

i go back to this again but the female resistance fighters that lured nazis back to their houses and stabbed them in the neck with screwdrivers weren’t talking about it down at the pub they just flirted and stabbed dudes in the neck with screwdrivers

submitted 20 hours ago • 8 comments

Read this in one of those old 1930s Pathé cinema News voices: "Driver, if you spot a time traveller on one of your trips, report them to your local Temporal Law Enforcement bureau!"

submitted 21 hours ago • 4 comments

So, we're waiting for the doctors. They were here, but Mum was in the loo. She had another fall this morning, trying to going to the loo herself. She says she understands, but she keeps doing it.

submitted 22 hours ago • 2 comments

Choose 20 paintings that have stayed with you or influenced you — one painting per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just paintings. #blueskyartchallenge #art #painting @whaeavee.bsky.social is first up! www.instagram.com/reel/DG7JUee...

submitted 1 day ago • 1 comment

I have waited my whole life, for this moment....

submitted 2 days ago • 741 comments

If you do nothing else this week, be kind to someone you see struggling. We're all going through it, there is so much going on, kindness is needed more than ever. Being kind is a revolutionary act. And it's cool. Be cool.

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

I check the little screen, I check the big screen, I check the watch screen, I check the tablet screen. I check the screen that reminds me of the good times, I check the screen that reminds me of the better times.

submitted 1 day ago • 171 comments

for centuries there have been stories by Māori about a green glow from the forest floor, which were written off as superstition because no Europeans ever saw them ... it turns out there's a bioluminescent fungi, mycena roseoflava, whose dim glow can't usually be seen due to light pollution.

submitted 1 day ago • 14 comments

Who's a knitting enthusiast? I tried years ago but I was rubbish at it! Should I try again? Here's a knitting twist on the Greek myth of the Minotaur... I'd love to illustrate a non-fiction book of Greek myths! #kidlituk #nonfiction #greekmyths

submitted 2 days ago • 1 comment

Sharing so I remember to do this later. (Currently on the drive to visit Mum in hospital. In theory, for the last time!)

submitted 1 day ago • 1 comment

Highlight on Monday was... SibL & one of their grandchildren visited. SibL, afterwards: did you see G'ma rolling her eyes? Child: I heard it!

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

GUYS!!! GUYS!!!! GUYS!!!!! Mum is coming home tomorrow!!!!! That's 4-weeks, minus 1 day since her stroke. Life is going to be interesting, judging by her refusal to allow us to help, or use her walker, even while she's in hospital - while watched by nursing staff.

submitted 1 day ago • 10 comments