@WHATSFORDlNNER That looks almost awesome, all that’s missing is an extra sausage, an extra hash brown, an extra fried egg and a portion of fried mushrooms 🍄🟫
On 27th August 2015, The Shepherd's Crown, the last book Sir Terry Pratchett completed before he died, was published.
To mark the ten year anniversary, we have a message from Rob Wilkins:
Rest in peace, Patricia Routledge 🙏🏻
In memory of her, I encourage everyone to read these words of hers from February last year.
Whether young or old, you're bound to get something out of it.
*****
"I’ll be turning 95 this coming Monday. In my younger years, I was often filled with worry — worry that I wasn’t quite good enough, that no one would cast me again, that I wouldn’t live up to my mother’s hopes. But these days begin in peace, and end in gratitude.
My life didn’t quite take shape until my forties. I had worked steadily — on provincial stages, in radio plays, in West End productions — but I often felt adrift, as though I was searching for a home within myself that I hadn’t quite found.
At 50, I accepted a television role that many would later associate me with — Hyacinth Bucket, of Keeping Up Appearances. I thought it would be a small part in a little series. I never imagined that it would take me into people’s living rooms and hearts around the world. And truthfully, that role taught me to accept my own quirks. It healed something in me.
At 60, I began learning Italian — not for work, but so I could sing opera in its native language. I also learned how to live alone without feeling lonely. I read poetry aloud each evening, not to perfect my diction, but to quiet my soul.
At 70, I returned to the Shakespearean stage — something I once believed I had aged out of. But this time, I had nothing to prove. I stood on those boards with stillness, and audiences felt that. I was no longer performing. I was simply being.
At 80, I took up watercolour painting. I painted flowers from my garden, old hats from my youth, and faces I remembered from the London Underground. Each painting was a quiet memory made visible.
Now, at 95, I write letters by hand. I’m learning to bake rye bread. I still breathe deeply every morning. I still adore laughter — though I no longer try to make anyone laugh. I love the quiet more than ever.
I’m writing this to tell you something simple:
Growing older is not the closing act. It can be the most exquisite chapter — if you let yourself bloom again.
Let these years ahead be your TREASURE YEARS.
You don’t need to be famous. You don’t need to be flawless.
You only need to show up — fully — for the life that is still yours.
With love and gentleness,
Patricia Routledge
*****
Once more, rest in peace. 🤍
Things I know about Angela Rayner:
- she’d never use tax payers money to heat stables
- she’d never say ‘let the bodies pile high’
- she’d never owe £5m to HMCR
- she’d never watch tractor porn
- she’d never lie to the King/prorogue Parliament
She’s 1 of the good ones.Keep her!
Angela Rayner is one of the great British political figures of our time.
Generations will grow up with stronger rights at work and in new homes because of her vision and leadership.
I know she will continue to stand at the front of the fight for social justice in this country.
I am absolutely incandescent with rage that @AngelaRayner has been hounded out of office by the right-wing cunts of the UK media.
She was an amazing role model and proved that with ability and hard work you can reach the pinnacle of success.
Shame on the right-wing media cunts.
While @AngelaRayner falls on her sword for tax evasion, it's revealed @Nigel_Farage is using a private company to reduce HIS tax bill on his @GBNews media appearances & other outside employment.
Should he resign too?
Now ask Nigel about #FarageTax@Nigel_Farage put his Clacton house in to his girlfriend Laure's name, avoiding tens of thousands of pounds like Rayner.
But he won’t tell you that.
He already has a property worth about £1m in the village of Downe in Kent, as well as two houses in Lydd-on Sea in the same county, which are owned through his company, Thorn in the Side. He also has property in Tandridge in Surrey.
As Farage already owns other properties, the purchase of another residential property in his name would have resulted in a higher rate of stamp duty being charged.
The duty would have been 10% rather than the 5% rate.
There's also the fact Nigel's done tax avoidance schemes before:
https://t.co/mLk0mXjttz
And this one revealed today:
https://t.co/aB3Bia9iXq
#RUK25 #ReformUK25 #FarageTax
Right wing media has had it in for @AngelaRayner from the start - they couldn’t bear a working class woman being so powerful & dynamic. She made a mistake & has paid heavily for it. Hope she’ll return at some point in the future - our politics needs more voices like hers
A Stockport girl with minimal educational achievements.
Still talks in a working class accent.
Worked as a minimum wage carer.
Managed to make it to deputy PM on her own merits.
That’s why they seek to rubbish her.
She doesn’t fulfil their warped standards.
I support her 100%.