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Christopher Hobday

@chrishob.bsky.social

1.2K followers 1.2K following 1.4K posts

Old, Woke, Lefty widower. Anti-growth, supports Greenpeace, XR, hates Tories, Big Oil and Brexit. Likes jazz and poetry. Self-êxiled in France since 2020. RLS.

Posts Replies Media

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Friday evenings some english speaking immigrants (I reject the term ex-pats) meet for apero at a resto in the lovely Provençal town I now think of as home. All men. An American friend (AF) said “I’ve heard from FC. He and his wife are on their way from the US. He should be joining us next week.” ME; Is he the one I have been told is a Trump supporter?. AF; I know he is strongly anti-abortion but we don’t talk politics. ME; I will find out. AF; How? ME; I will fucking ask him. I was deliberately late the following friday and when I arrived FC was there at the far end of the table. I worked my way up the table, shaking hands uand exchanging pleasantries until I reached FC, who offered an outstreched hand and a broad smile. I déclined his hand. ME; I have been told you are a Trump supporter. Is this true? Table fell silent. FC; I am a Republican. ME; Not the question. Are you a Trump supporter? Yes or no will do. FC; (now in feeble voice) Sometimes. ME; I take that as a yes. I will not share a table with a Trump supporter. Auidible gasps from around the table. I didn’t leave but took a small table near the door so that everyone entering and leaving would pass me. The pretty young waitress asked why I was sitting alone. I explained. “Bravo” she said and shook my hand. Some drifted between my table and the main table, seemingly sympathetic to my stance but unwilling to lose their place at the other table. We are in dangerous times. There is no longer a middle ground. Time to choose a side.

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

At a pavement table at my favourite bistrot/bar as afternoon light is fading. Not nearly as sinister as I appear. It must be the Ricard.

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

I was trying to assemble a more or les érudite thought about the abyss into which we are all stareing and suddenly dogs came to mind. I am not fond of dogs. I prefer the aloof contempt of a cat to the slobbering adoration of a dog. Dogs come in two sorts. Those who are traîned by loving people tend to treat strangers as potential friends. Then there are the scrapyard dogs who are treated badly and regard every stranger as an enemy while loyal to their tormentor.

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

I was trying to assemble a more or les érudite thought about the abyss into which we are all stareing and suddenly dogs came to mind. I am not fond of dogs. I prefer the aloof contempt of a cat to the slobbering adoration of a dog. Dogs come in two sorts. Those who are traîned by loving people tend to treat strangers as potential friends. Then there are the scrapyard dogs who are treated badly and regard every stranger as an enemy while loyal to their tormentor.

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Hate Speech

I hate seing women and chidren being maimed and slaughtered.
I hate Genocide
I hate ethnic cleansing
I hate the use of fear and hunger as a weapon
I hate the use of food and water as bait in a human trap
I hate the dehumanisation of people, whatever their race or religion

If this is hate speech then I am guilty of it. If having a shred of humanity is a crime then I am also guilty of that.
But the true guilt lies with those who have the power to stop such evil and who, by not using that power, are complicit. And I hate that too.

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Brunch with friends last Autumn: or was it the one before? The bread was organic, wholewheat, sourdough, warm from the oven. You need a break. How about a week or so in Provence? Guaranteed no monkey business as (1) I am 80 and (2) I am already romantically involved. I have lots of American friends here, all of whom despise Trump. A mad idea, I know, but we only have one life. Let me know if interested, Happy to discuss openly or by DM if you prefer.

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

A deluded Trump, inspired by Putin, dreams of territorial expansion, while the USA is shrinking into itself, as all empires eventually do, like collapsing stars. Once the USA is no longer seen as a reliable ally, protector or even business partner, what is it for? Trump’s USA is collapsing under the weight of contradictions. Build walls to keep foreigners out while contemplating invading neighbours. Devalue the dollar while maintaining the dollar as a réservé currency. Repudiate science if it is inconvenient. The old world is dying and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters.
Love and strength to Resisters

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Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

To a MAGAmaniac you and I are Communists. I have at various times in my life been seen as a centre-left moderate and a Lefty extremist. I haven’t changed. The centre has moved. But I am done with modération insofar as it is synonymous with compromise. As in “On the one hand we have Right and on the other Wrong. Can we compromise on something in-between?” Even though that is what we do every day, accepting a bit of the unacceptable just to get by, to avoid casing offence, to not disturb the universe.

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

Only sending pic because all text is less restrictive.

Democracy is a nice idea but voting systems often mean that a party can gain absolute power with a minority of votes cast and the wishes of those who supported the defeated party can be ignored. I have sometimes floated the idea, much to the alarm of friends, that we might dispense with élections and political parties and instead appoint représentatives at random from the général population, much as we appoint people to jury service. To those who argue that your ordinary Joe will not have the éducation, expérience or knowledge to make informed décisions on matters of National importance, I offer the example of the Trump administration.

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

Ce samedi 18 janvier, et tout au long de la semaine du Forum à Davos (du 20 au 24 janvier), nous nous unissons avec d’autres groupes à travers le monde pour tracer une #RedLineToBillionaires.[1]

I draw the Red Line against super-rich greed!

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

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1. None
2. Ancient. Awaiting results of carbon dating
3; Shortish
4. Yes please
5. See 4
6. see 4
7; no
8. Lots
9. Prefer alcohol
10. The Right Wing
11. Cats.
12; Nothing noticable
13. Catch 22
14. None
15. Are you kidding?
16. Lots, mostly jazz.
17. No Kids
18. French
19. Both
20. Body and Soul by Sinatra
21. Yes
22. Rugby
23. I dont give a shit
24. See 23
25. My lover
26. Anywhere with my lover
27. Still to come
28. NO
29. Staying alive
30. Politics/Economics/Environment
31. Golf
32. Flowers of the Spring
33. Seeing my lover
34. Anywhere with my lover
35. 5 yrs, where I am now; 10 yrs, possibly dead
36. Twitter turned to shit

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Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

“We are not here in this world to find elegant solutions, pregnant with initiative, or to serve the ways and modes of profitable progress. No, we are here to provide for all those who are weaker and hungrier, more battered and crippled than ourselves. That is our only certain good and great purpose on earth, and if you ask me about those insoluble economic problems that may arise if the top is deprived of their initiative, I would answer 'To hell with them.' The top is greedy and mean and will always find a way to take care of themselves. They always do.”

― Michael Foot

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

Brunch in Provence. Me sharing a plate of huitres with some pals.

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Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

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Cafe La Place, last Summer. Looking a bit sad but just thoughtful. Bon courage with the rôle.

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

One of the last pics I took from the terrace of my former home in Wales before leaving for France for good. I have traded a beatiful view for a better life. Life is for living. Views are just for looking at. And I still have the picture.

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 03/11/2024

Street cafe in Provence for a pre-diner Pastis

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 03/11/2024

Street cafe in Provence

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 22/10/2024

When Farage came to my old town. I followed his every move with my flag and this was the pic that appeared in the local paper. He doesn't look happy.

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 18/10/2024

Me on the other side of the table

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 17/10/2024

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 07/10/2024

000

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 06/10/2024

Can't explain.

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 23/09/2024

For the final book I whittled my choice down to 3 and can't décide so here are the 3. I can cheat too.

This, for putting complex concepts in easily understandable terms.

This for making leading-edge science accessible to mere mortals like me. Rovelli has the mind of a scientist and the heart of a poet. After leading the reader along a path that questions the nature of observable reality and even time itself, he concludes with "Our reality is tears and laughter, gratitude and altruism, loyalty and betrayal, the past which haunts us and serenity."

This, because I am from the part of the world where the book is set. And I remember the Aberfan disaster. A pub I used to fréquent was just a few miles from the school where all those children were killed. The mines have gone but the scars remain.

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 21/09/2024

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 20/09/2024

000

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 19/09/2024

Book#17

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 18/09/2024

Where is book #16? You OK after the oral? Here's mine.

Sometimes made me laugh out loud.

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 17/09/2024

I was going to post Handmaid but you got there first. I seem to have missed a day so here's two. An interesting exercise.

A troubling read

Plus ça change

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 15/09/2024

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 14/09/2024

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 13/09/2024

000

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 12/09/2024

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 11/09/2024

Book#9

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 10/09/2024

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 09/09/2024

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 08/09/2024

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 07/09/2024

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 05/09/2024

I am short, she is tall. I am old, she is young. She was my French teacher. I so enjoyed our time together. So, I like to think, did she.

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 04/09/2024

They have monopolised everything that it is possible to monopolise; they have got the whole earth,the minerals in the earth and the streams tha water the earth. The only reason they have not monopolised the daylight and the air is that it is not possible to do so. If it were possible to construct huge gasometers and to draw together and compress within them he whole of the atmosphere, it would have been done long ago, and we should have been compelled to work for them in order to get money to buy air to breathe.

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 03/09/2024

duckduckgo.com?q=Catch-22%2...

Christopher Hobday @chrishob.bsky.social · 02/09/2024

Cafe de la Place, Provence.