iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Bangor is always a beautiful part of this wee place, especially when the locals are out for a wee sunbathe. I love harbour seals, the world's cutest banana!

A sizable harbour seal resting on a small rock in the middle of the sea near the shore.

A sizable harbour seal resting on a small rock in the middle of the sea near the shore. From a different angle with more of the coastline in frame.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Another busy(ish) day, the begonia got a premium terracotta upgrade since it decided it was a good idea to outgrow its pot within two months. The umbrella tree cutting was dipped in rooting hormone and reunited with the mother plant. Well pleased with the results!

A photograph of multiple plant species (Umbrella tree, English ivy and Polka Dot Begonia) under a grow light

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Always lovely to see the local bug population out getting their scran along the laganside! Gotta say, the photo of the bee is some of my best photography work.

A close up photograph of a native honey bee hovering above some wild mustard.

A close up photo of a small white cabbage butterfly taking a break on a wild raspberry bush

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Every time I look at 'rare' plants, I take an incomprehensible amount of psychic damage at the costs for such a tiny plant; for example a tiny little monstera Thai c. (6cm about) could cost roughly 15 pounds. I've seen 40cm plants sell for 60+ (shown below)

A screen shot of a monstera Thai constellation on a pink background which is a variegated version of a monstera; it has the traditional monstera appearance with fenestrations but more white patches.

The screen shot also shows it is priced at £69.50

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

A bit of the ol' chop and prop, I was a bit scared to do it not gonna lie but no better time to do it than spring 😂 First big step to develop it into a bonsai 👀

A potted umbrella tree on a pebble tray which has been heavily pruned with the crown in a plastic water bottle wrapped with a green cloth

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Update: Top Shelf Plants The Living Stones have finally decided to make more dramatic splits and the Butterwort is starting to get its signature blush which you can achieve with high intensity light.

A small group of living stones in a grey pot with a custom succulent mix

A butterwort in an orange pot with a pure soil mix

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Will I ever be done getting plants? Probably not. Say hello to the newest addition to the shelf squad, Rhipsalis Cereuscula! Native to the tropical rainforests of Brazil and Uruguay.

A jungle cactus known as Rhipsalis cereuscula, which looks like a stalky succulent like cactus.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

It occurred to me I've actually posted very little of my artwork despite my bio saying I'm an artist. To be honest I haven't really had the time in the last year to sit and draw properly 😅 Here are some assorted Warhammer pieces and a singular star wars one!

A Nexu drawn in place of the nefarious angler fish meme

Necrons artwork featuring Necrons of different heights and colours with solid black shading work

A necron character design for a Warhammer RPG

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

I think one of my favourite things about spring so far has been watching this little guy throw out his carnivorous leaves again! Lots of carnivorous plants need a dormancy period to conserve energy for its next growth period, and there is a difference between the leaf types as illustrated below!

A close up photo of a mexican butterwort which is currently coming out of dormancy, there are green arrows pointing to the two different leaf types which are the winter Dormancy Leaf (non-sticky succulent stage) and Glandular Hair Carnivorous Leaf (Sticky active stage)

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Today is Rare Diseases Day. Approximately 110,000 people in Northern Ireland are living with a rare disease, which is about 1 in 17. In that group of 110,000 people, there are about 4,000 people in NI living with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome; a condition that personally affects me. 🧵

Rare disease day graphic that has overlapping side profiles with pink, dark blue, blue, yellow and green which says Rare Disease Day

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

That took way longer than expected, but after a labour of knee pain and love she's in her new glazed terracotta pot! Time to get a hot shower and order some scran.

A Monstera that has been recently repotted with a wooden trellis in a green glazed terracotta pot with a porcelain cat statue just off to the right. There are other plants in the photo such as Polka Dot Begonia and an umbrella tree.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Well, into the repotting trenches I go; update in half an hour to an hour.

A monstera near a trellis, with other gardening supplies around it in preparation for a spring repot

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Oh aye a wee begonia will do the indoor rainforest and my sanity well. Absolutely in love with how flashy she is! Hopefully I'll be blessed with flowers this summer.

A begonia maculata otherwise known as polka dot begonia amongst a few necron related items and other plants.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

What a good day for human rights in Gorton and Denton. This is the beginning of change and hope, let's keep it up! I can't express how over the moon I am this morning with the results 💚🌱 Keep Reform dinosaurs OUT!

Electoral results for Gorton And Denton:

Gorton and Denton
Green Gain

Majority: 4,402

Green 40.7% represented as a green bar
Reform 28.7% represented as a light blue bar
Labour 25.4% represented as a red bar
Conservative 1.9% represented as a darker blue bar
Other 3.3% represented as a grey bar

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Some Mental Health Services and GPs have already denied people care on the basis of their mental health, even if it's the dysphoria doing most of the work; it's happened to me and it's happened to others. There is already an issue with over diagnosis of EUPD and BPD in AFAB trans folks.

Cass Review screenshot that reads

Recommendation 2: Clinicians should apply the assessment framework developed by the Review’s Clinical
Expert Group, to ensure children/young people referred to NHS gender services receive a holistic assessment of
their needs to inform an individualised care plan. This should include screening for neurodevelopmental
conditions, including autism spectrum disorder, and a mental health assessment.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

These paintings had the two men posed in ways that were reserved for married couples, there have been many theories about them over the years being good friends or related in some way. Two men being so close, surely they're nothing more than good friends or relatives, right?

The embrace of khnumhotep and niankhkhnum depicted on their tomb walls which shows both men in a close nose touching pose, a pose reserved for depicting married couples.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Bonus: I now have a bundle of living stones, which lives on a shelf alongside the Butterwort under a much closer grow light to fill their brighter light quota. They look a bit weird but that's why I love 'em!

A small group of living stones which are a shade of dull bluish green and dappled with yellowish brown spots & a split up the middle.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Major set up adjustments! I've moved a few plants on to other people, due to the climate within the flat but I've jerry rigged a rail for the lights and implemented some Spanish moss for higher humidity locally (now at 60%). The lights + window will give them a huge boost during the warmer months

A Photo of a tropical plant set up with a Monstera, Umbrella Tree and Spanish Moss in a living room by a window

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

State sanctioned murder should never be the norm, and ICE funding expires on Jan 30th. Encouraging folks who live in the USA to take action and contact their elected reps to voice their concerns about supercharging ICE funds.

A screenshot of an Amnesty International USA resource which reads:

Refugee and Migrants Rights, U.S. Politics

Call 347-514-6400 Now to Urge Congress to Stop Billions of Dollars for ICE.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Of course I'm posting more pigeons! Wood pigeons, Love these little guys - their calls are so calming.

Wood pigeon amongst the foliage and trees to escape the rain, presumably.

Wood pigeon chilling on the back of a bench

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

More on winter birds, there's an amazing great tit population in botanic at the moment; so small and cute. And of course, a robin which are very fiercely territorial and a pigeon; one of my favourite birds.

A great tit sitting in a small branch surrounded by foliage

A common pigeon sitting on a stone surrounded by foliage with a gravel path in shot

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

The ballsiest beasties in botanic, I swear they've gotten more bold a pair of them followed me for a bit! You can see some of them have a slightly red colouration, which happens due to the interbreeding of red and grey squirrels (grey are considered invasive).

Grey squirrel sitting on a stone in botanic gardens

Grey squirrel with red mixed in on a tree in botanic with what looks to be a piece of food in its mouth.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

Me when the NISRA surveyor asks about environmental issues.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

If you're spending Christmas alone today and identify as LGBTQIA+, Causeway pride is hosting an online gathering. No one should have to spend today without people who see them for the wonderful human beings they are.

A Christmas themed graphic reading:

Are you LGBTQIA+ and spending this Christmas alone or with unsupportive family?

Join us for an online Christmas Day hangout from 2pm

DM the page or contact joinus@causewaypride.co.uk

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Get a load of this little guy! Cute but full of territorial rage. Beautiful colouration on this lil' one, spotted up at botanic station earlier on.

A robin sitting on a cracked concrete wall at a train station

The same robin sitting on the edge of the cracked concrete wall at a train station, but zoomed in.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance. It is a solemn day where we remember those we have lost this year and years past. An ever present reminder of the world we live in being unkind and inhospitable to trans people for a multitude of reasons.

A trans themed graphic about transgender day of remembrance emphasising to remember the names of the people we have lost this year alongside a list of a few of the names

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

Prokinetics are often used as a first-line treatment to help manage symptoms, but other people with gastroparesis who have more severe symptoms sometimes need surgical and more invasive interventions to stop malnutrition and weight loss from worsening. Functional gut disorders are common in EDS!

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

Gastroparesis is tough to live with, and it's a condition I have personal experience with. Gastroparesis is a frequently observed gut issue in people with EDS/HSD, and can show up alongside different forms of dysmotility encompassed under 'Pan-enteric Dysmotility'.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Say hello to the newest member of the indoor rainforest! I think I've started getting a bit of a hankering for carnivorous and fragile plants. This pitcher definitely ticks both those boxes! They have been banished to quarantine until I deem them safe enough to introduce to the rest.

A small Nepenthes Hookeriana carnivorous pitcher plant which is green and red sitting on a patterned desk

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

I was out most of yesterday with EDS support UK's NI branch as a member helping to raise awareness for Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Got talking to some wonderful people who wanted to learn more for their own benefit or their loved ones. EDS is still a mystery to most, these stalls make a difference!

An information and awareness stall in a shopping centre which has a blue table cloth, a Ehlers Danlos Support UK pop up banner behind the table with two people sat educating the public about Ehlers Danlos Syndromes.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

An Autistic Individual has been removed from his 'volunteering' role at Waitrose in Manchester after giving more than 600 hours of unpaid time over the course of four years. All because his family and support workers RIGHTFULLY advocated for him to be paid for his time. 🧵

A Facebook post from Tom's mum that reads:

💔 Our hearts are broken and we need to share this…

Our autistic son has been treated so unfairly, and we feel deeply let down.

For over four years, he’s been doing work experience at Waitrose & Partners store in Cheadle Hulme. Every week, for two full mornings, he worked so hard — emptying four or more cages of stock, stacking shelves, and helping wherever he could. He loved it there. The shop staff were absolutely amazing with him and made him feel part of the team. Many of them would say things like, “You work harder than some people who are paid to work here.”

He gave over 600 hours of his time — purely because he wanted to belong, contribute, and make a difference.

When we asked if there was any chance he could be offered just a few paid hours — not as charity, but as recognition for all the time, effort, and heart he’s given — we were shocked by how dismissive and cold the response was. The manager said, “We can’t just let him do his thing,” when that’s exactly what he’s been doing successfully for years.

Waitrose made no effort to make any reasonable adjustments for him — even though the Equality Act 2010 clearly states that employers must make reasonable adjustments for disabled people and that it’s unlawful to treat someone unfavourably because of their disability.

They told us he couldn’t be offered a job because he couldn’t “do the full role” — yet we know for a fact there are people in the same store being paid, and they aren’t able to do every part of the job either. How is that fair? How is that not discrimination?

After everything he’s done, there was no apology, no thanks, and no recognition for his commitment. Just silence.

He deserved better. He deserved kindness, respect, and the chance for all his hard work to mean something.

We’re sharing this because no one should be made to feel that their contribution doesn’t matter — especially someone who’s given so much of themselves for so long.

👉 Please share this post to help raise awareness about how autistic people are still being treated unfairly in the workplace.
Let’s stand together for fairness, inclusion, and respect for everyone — regardless of ability. 💙

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

I was gonna wait to set up the full spectrum lights until I got a hold of the standing rail for optimal easy adjusting, but the recent anticyclonic gloom called for desperate measures! They're particularly fussy when there's not enough light, just like me, but this'll do the job for now hopefully.

An Areca Palm, Mexican Pinguicula, Monstera, resurrection plant set up on a shelf and table near a window with a row of full spectrum grow lights set up above it as a temporary fixture.

There are a few post cards and art on the wall above the window and a necron warrior joytoy in amongst the plants.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Smart Crutches! The best crutch alternative I've come across for EDS in years. I finally got one gifted to me for my birthday and it arrived today. If you have the strength to use one and the means to get one; do it to save your joints from dislocating and fend off the arthritis for a lil longer!

A photograph of a bearded, buzz cut white person with tattoos and wearing black combat trousers and a tank top leaning on a purple smart crutch.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Waiting for another update on Translink's feasibility study for possibility reopening the international airport line like

Kermit the frog looking longingly out of a window with rain droplets on it

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

A bit of an out of the blue experience for me today, I was on the way to an appointment this morning and spotted a grounded young seagull by city hall; still there and more exhausted on my way home. Someone has been out to it and moved it to the memorial gardens to let it learn how to fly safely

Older fledgling seagull with it's wings spread slightly on a footpath

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Powerful crowd of happy customers from earlier.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

After watching the Black Guillemots I took a wee dander down to ormeau park to feed the local corvids their treat of sunflower hearts as always.

A hooded crow waiting his turn for sunflower hearts

A group of magpies and a hooded crow in ormeau park once again waiting to be fed

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

I've counted about six black gulliemots already, some of them look smaller than the others; I think these are chicks learning to be seabirds! They can be relatively uncommon, I feel so blessed today. Uppa urban and maritime wildlife!

Black gulliemot on the top corner of the bridge

Four other black gulliemots complaining about having to jump off into the water from a height.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

As part of Belfast Pride 2025, a friend of mine in the community is running an event for the Trans+ community. It can be tough navigating so many systems as a trans+ person, come along if you feel you could benefit from practical support from folks who understand. www.instagram.com/p/DLmkT48IQA...

A pink and blue gradient graphic for a trans support event during Belfast Pride 2025.

'Navigating Life As Trans A Practical Workshop Facilitated by Lauren Dempsey. Monday 21st July 19:00 (7pm)'

Belfast pride.com/transinfo

The Good Room, Bullitt Hotel Church Lane

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

See all you lovely folks heading to MEA Pride soon! Hate and Bigotry will never win ✊

A selfie of me holding up a non-binary flag, wearing a moth necklace, patterned blouse, mesh, flat cap and scarf.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

JK has called for her followers to photograph innocent trans people, post their images online and have them harassed by TERFS. It's against the law to go out and photograph someone they assume to be trans, and cis people will likely get caught up in the crossfire; again.

JK Rowling X post about photographing transgender people using public bathrooms and posting their photos online to harass and bully them.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

I was out for a dander with a mate of mine on part of the East Belfast Greenway which is always a treat, but I caught one of the best sunsets I've seen this year so far! Our summer skies are absolutely gorgeous, can't wait to get out to see more of it soon.

A long exposure photograph of a sunset over buildings in Belfast.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

Some selected oil pastel prints from The Golden Thread Gallery's workshop this morning! Lovely wee session, very relaxing and it's always great to try a new medium. Can't recommend their wee space enough, the arts are so important to our life and culture.

Oil Pastel Print, assorted swirling and spiral patterns with the Mourne Mountains. Rather Abstract. Uses Blues, reds, purples and blacks.

Simple print, using pink blue, green and white.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Manhole cover around Lanyon Place. This scarily smooth manhole is a HUGE slip risk for anyone. Mobility aids slip on it and it's poorly placed over a dropped curb in part of the tactile paving to aid our visually impaired folks in town navigate safely. What if a visually impaired person slipped?

A manhole cover placed within tactile paving very close to a dropped curb.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

Oh aye a wee trans In front of the new LGBT+ stained glass window in Belfast City hall, love to see it. The future is diverse 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

A photo of myself wearing my green Simpsons jumper in front of the new LGBT+ stained glass in Belfast City Hall

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

It was the pigeons in city centre yesterday, today it's a squirrel in botanic gardens! Surprised they were very chill eating next to me on the bench. Grey squirrels may be invasive and aggressive (in some situations) but they're absolutely adorable at times. Do I get my Disney Princess badge yet?

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Newest addition to the indoor garden! This is Dave, she is a Snowball Cactus (Mammilloydia candida)

A photo of a somewhat big snowball cactus (Mammilloydia candida) with another cactus and Necron joytoy figure next to it on top of a plastic tiered shelf.

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Faolán 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 @captainhookni.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

A great turn out yesterday with attendance in the thousands. It really goes to show the general public opinion does not reflect government bigotry. I was privileged to be one of the speakers to represent my community, this protest was only the beginning of more action. Keep fighting back! 🏳️‍⚧️

BBC NI news article screenshot about the trans rights rally and march on May 17th with a headline reading 'Thousands attend trans rights rally in Belfast city centre' with a photo from the front of the march with the event speakers holding a banner that has the progressive pride flag saying 'NO GOING BACK!'

A photo of me wearing sunglasses, a non-binary flag as a cape whilst holding a glass of wine, relaxing after a day of being loud for human rights.

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