John

[Keira Connolly @keira_con]

Wise words

“My name’s Frank. I’m 64, a retired electrician.
Forty-two years I spent running wires through houses, fixing breakers, making sure people had light in their kitchens and heat in their winters. Never once did anyone ask me where I went to college. Mostly, they just wanted to know if I could get the power back on before their ice cream melted.

Last May, I was at my granddaughter Emily’s school career day. You know the drill — doctors, lawyers, a software guy in a slick suit talking about “scaling startups.” I was the only one there with a tool belt and work boots.

When it was my turn, I told the kids, “I don’t have a degree. I’ve never sat in a lecture hall. But I’ve wired schools, hospitals, and your principal’s house. And when the hospital generator failed during a snowstorm in ’98, I was the one in the basement with a flashlight, keeping the lights on for newborn babies upstairs.”

The kids leaned forward. They had questions — real ones. “How do you fix stuff in the dark?” “Do you make a lot of money?” “Do you ever get zapped?” (Yes, once, and it’ll curl your hair.)

When the bell rang, one boy hung back. Small kid, freckles, hoodie too big for him. He mumbled, “My uncle’s a plumber. People laugh at him ’cause he didn’t finish high school. But… he’s the only one in the family who can fix anything.”

I looked that boy in the eye and said, “Kid, your uncle’s a hero. When your toilet overflows at midnight, Harvard ain’t sending anyone. A plumber is.”

Here’s the thing nobody told me when I was young — the world doesn’t run without tradespeople. You can have all the engineers you want, but if nobody builds the house, wires the power, or lays the pipes, those blueprints just sit in a drawer.

We’ve made it sound like trades are what you do if you can’t go to college, instead of a path you choose because you like working with your hands, solving problems, and seeing your work stand solid for decades.

Four years after high school, some kids walk away with diplomas. Others walk away with zero debt, a union card, and a skill they can take anywhere in the world. And guess what? When your furnace dies in January, it’s not the diploma that saves you.

A few weeks ago, that same freckled kid’s mom stopped me at the grocery store. She said, “You probably don’t remember, but you told my son trades are important. He’s shadowing his uncle this summer. First time I’ve seen him excited about anything in years.”

That’s the part we forget — for some kids, knowing their path is respected changes everything. It’s not about “just” fixing wires or pipes. It’s about pride. Purpose. The kind that sticks with you long after the job’s done.

So next time you meet a teenager, don’t just ask, “Where are you going to college?” Ask, “What’s your plan?” And if they say, “I’m learning to weld,” or “I’m starting an apprenticeship,” smile big and say, “That’s fantastic. We’re going to need you.”

Because we will. More than ever. And when the lights go out, you’ll be glad they showed up.”

[Forresterbird @forresterbird]

The Band of the Coldstream Guards perform "Paranoid" by Black Sabbath at Changing of the Guard today. RIP Ozzy Osbourne, the "Prince of Darkness" #guard #kingsguard #ozzyosbourne #blacksabbath #paranoid #heavymetal #rockband #london #buckinghampalace 💂🤘🏽

[Mark Hammond @MarkHam80780803]

Spare a thought for Lee Anderson this Christmas, seen here playing on the far right wing.

[Аlex Hobson @AHobsonMedia]

If you’re drunk and need to get home, CALL A FUCKING UBER. Two kids are growing up without a dad, parents have lost two sons, & a sister now has to grieve the loss of her two brothers on her wedding day all because somebody decided to get behind the wheel drunk in 2024. Senseless

[Sunday League @SundayShoutsFC]

If Leo Messi did this, everyone would be in meltdown on Twitter. But because it's Postman Pat, no-one will say anything. 😂🔥

[Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 @DefenceHQ]

"Of the 130 lads in my company, only 19 of us made it home. In those desperate battles they gave their lives for the peace we enjoy today." 🕊️

#DDay80

[Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 @DefenceHQ]

We will remember them. #DDay80

[Betfred Super League @SuperLeague]

A #SuperLeague legend.

RIP Rob Burrow CBE.

[Andy Burnham @andyburnham]

The best of us, both of them. 😥

[Tides of History @labour_history]

It took just six seconds for Rob Burrow to create the moment that will live with rugby league fans forever….

Iconic 💕

[Sky Sports Rugby League @SkySportsRL]

Rob Burrow, a legend who will never be forgotten ❤️

[Interesting AF @interesting_aIl]

A lady working concert security tries to stop a guy walking backstage, not realising its Lamb of God vocalist, Randy Blythe. He's a complete gentleman about it.

[Fascinating @fasc1nate]

I thought this was going to go differently. https://t.co/kk3g34WMJI

[Norwich City FC @NorwichCityFC]

𝗔𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀, 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗯𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁.

Check in on those around you.

#WorldMentalHealthDay | #YouAreNotAlone | @samaritans

[John @Johnlee_91]

@whydougydoug @avatarrant Our team next year be like

[John @Johnlee_91]

@whydougydoug @avatarrant Legit, we're having a fire sale

[No Context Brits @NoContextBrits]

Happy birthday mate.

[John @Johnlee_91]

@whydougydoug @footballtweet You're asking me as though I know forgetting we've been in the championship for how long? 100mil is probably more than our club is worth

[Geraint Thomas @GeraintThomas86]

Well camp’s nearly over so it’s time to get in the festive spirit over the next few days. First up I’ve got a signed jersey to gift to someone to say thanks for all the support in 2022 - just retweet this post to enter 🎅 👌 🎁

#12daysofGmas