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Mark Young

@markyoung23.bsky.social
167 followers 139 following 360 posts

Arsenal fan with a love of Astronomy, Sports, Politics, Body Language, WWE & Ghostbusters. Hidden Disability, Rare Disease & Mental Health Advocate. Member of Crohns & Colitis UK. Living with Colitis, PSC, Liver Cirrhosis & Long Covid.

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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
This was the conclusion of last years IBD U.K. report into IBD care in Northern Ireland. A year later there’s been no movement on making care better for people diagnosed with IBD in NI, our clinics remain understaff with long waiting lists. It’s does make you question how useful Stormont really is
The time to act is now. The Northern Ireland Executive and HSC must prioritise working with clinicians, people with IBD and IBD charities to improve IBD care in Northern Ireland now and in the future.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
Fantastic to see a little squirrel sitting on the Kells postbox this morning. Yet another fantastic knitted design by the Kells & Connor Knit and Natter members.
A knitted squirrel on top of a postbox A knitted squirrel on top of a postbox
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
Ted Lasso thinking.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
The #LoveYourLiver roadshow is visiting Stormont today, Belfast tomorrow & Coleraine on Thursday. If you are in any of these areas call in & get some liver health information.
The image is a promotional poster for the British Liver Trust's "Love Your Liver Roadshow" in 2025. The background features a pink gradient with the British Liver Trust logo and the "Love Your Liver" slogan prominently displayed. On the left side, there is a photo of a group of people standing in front of a building with a green dome, holding signs that read "Free liver health check and scan" and "I support early diagnosis." The group includes individuals in blue shirts and others in formal attire. To the right, a schedule lists the roadshow locations and dates: Enniskillen Town Centre (Monday, 15th September), Stormont Buildings (Tuesday, 16th September), Belfast City Hall (Wednesday, 17th September), and Coleraine Town Centre (Thursday, 18th September). The Liver Support Group logo is also visible in the top left corner.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
To everyone getting their A-Level results today. Regardless of what results you receive remember you are so much more than a single set of results & your future is still to be written. Always be compassionate with yourself.
A-level Results Day Reminders:
- Your grades do not define you or your future. (Pink sticky note)
- Your mental health is more important than your results. (Green sticky note)
- No matter what happens, you are always enough. (Yellow sticky note)
- You did your best, be proud of yourself! (Blue sticky note)
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
The local trees are showing the love this morning.
Two trees that look like they are hearts
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 09/08/2025
A morning out of the house while attempting to fill in my first application form in 21 years 😱
Tim Horton’s in Ballymena
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Another fantastic knitted postbox topper by the Kells & Connor Knit and Natter club.
A picture of a postbox surrounded by black railing.
The postbox featured a knitted topper of two figures.
The figure on the left is holding a surf board & the other figure is holding an ice lolly.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
Day 3 of the SuperCup NI in Kells
The Al Jazira Club changing room sign & the SuperCup NI tournament handbook.Linfield players on the pitch in Kells
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
The first few days of helping out at the SuperCup NI
SuperCup NI programme & passCrusaders v Ross CountyThe pitch at kellsThe tournament handbook & programme
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
I had to buy this weeks Ballymena Guardian. There was a story about a troublemaker I needed to read @aaron-skinner.bsky.social 😉
The front page of the Ballymena Guardian
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
Such tragic news this morning about Diogo Jota & his brother André Silva. My deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates & @lfcr.bsky.social Penafiel supporters as they come to terms with this news.
Sky news headline about Diogo Jota being killed in a car crash
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
In a world full of small minds and loud mouths, be the reason someone still believes in kind hearts, beautiful souls and good energy. Never stop being a good person.
In a world full of small minds and loud mouths, be the reason someone still believes in kind hearts, beautiful souls and good energy.
Never stop being a good person.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 29/06/2025
The image shows a collection of matchsticks arranged on a white background. On the left side, there are five matchsticks, with the top three appearing burnt at the tips. On the right side, there are ten matchsticks, all with pink tips, arranged in a slightly uneven line. One matchstick is noticeably shorter than the others, standing out in the middle of the row.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Good luck to everyone involved in the first @meapride.bsky.social this weekend. I hope the events & parade go well over the next few days.
Logo of Mid & East Antrim pride
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
Some positive Wednesday advice
The image features an inspirational quote by Steve Maraboli: "Today's a new day. It's your day. You shape it. Don't let it be shaped by someone else's ignorance or fear." The text is overlaid on a photo of a hand holding a cup of coffee, with a bracelet visible on the wrist.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
New week positivity
May your week be filled with good thoughts, kind people & happy moments.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 22/06/2025
A weekend spent celebrating what should of been mum’s 75th birthday. Instead it’s our first without her.
My mum standing at a wooden arch
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
A beautiful picture from Ballycastle this morning. Picture shared by @loveballymena.online
The image depicts a stunning coastal scene at sunrise. The sky is filled with dramatic clouds, painted in vibrant hues of orange, pink, and purple, with rays of light breaking through. The beach features a pebbled shoreline with waves crashing gently against it. In the background, there are white houses with dark roofs, nestled near a cliff or hill, and a pier extends into the sea. The overall atmosphere is serene and picturesque.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
New week motivation
The image features an inspirational quote by Michael Ealy: "I know it's Monday, but it's also a new day, a new week — and in that lies a new opportunity for something special to happen." The background shows a person standing on a mountain peak, overlooking a vast landscape with mountains and a city in the distance, set against a serene sky.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
The Kells & Connor Knit & Natter club have been busy making a new knitted scene for the village postbox.
Four knitted figures sitting round knitted picnic foodA knitted picnic scene A knitted picnic scene
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
Finally got my hands on one of the new CadburyUK’s White Dipped Twirl at @diamondsnews.bsky.social. That’s Saturday night’s treat sorted.
A cadburys white dipped twirl in front of a steering wheel.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
I’m hard to believe that’s it’s already 3 months since my mum passed away. I hope to carry on her legacy of selflessly helping others & I hope to make her proud every single day. Love you mum & I miss you every single day.
A picture of My mum and myself in Dublin
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
Let’s start this new week on a positive footing.
Monday reminders:

I can do it.
I DON’T have to please everyone.
I am allowed to take a break.
I am stronger than my excuses.
When in doubt, coffee.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 01/06/2025
First attempt at making caramel squares. ❌ the biscuit base was too dry
Caramel squares on a plate
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 31/05/2025
Today is the Ballymena Show. We are taking my elderly neighbour who hasn’t missed a single show since he was born. I on the other hand have never been & don’t know what to expect.
An image for the Ballymena show
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Today was a long overdue return to the Causeway hospital. It wasn’t easy but I needed to go back & personally thank the nurses who looked after my mum. They gave mum incredible care for the last month of her life & I wanted to express my gratitude to them for doing that.
Entrance to the Causeway HospitalEntrance hall of the Causeway Hospital
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
Giving me the all clear yesterday. The nodules are caused by my liver cirrhosis & are called Regenerative nodules with are thankfully benign. Thank you to everyone who messaged since Thursday. Apologies for my quietness but obviously it’s been a concerning few weeks
Message received on encompass yesterday
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
Important information for anyone with #IBD #Crohns #Colitis currently taking Mercaptopurine medication. There has been a recall of Mercaptopurine 50mg tablets. The medication manufacturer & batch number are included in the attached picture. So check your medication.
The image is a medicine recall notice from Crohn's & Colitis UK. It alerts about a recall of Mercaptopurine 50mg tablets from Aspen Pharma Trading Limited, specifically batch P00103384. There is a red triangle with an exclamation mark indicating the urgency of the recall.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
Found a Krispy Kreme doughnut cabinet in the Applegreen near Templepatrick 😍
3 Krispy Kreme doughnuts in a krisp Kreme box
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
Today was one of the toughest experiences I’ve ever had in hospital. Now to sit & wait for the scan results to arrive back. It’s safe to say I’m done with 2025.
Entrance to the MRI in the RoyalArtwork display in the Royal
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
Frustrating to see yet more broken glass all over the footpaths this morning, especially since it’s was only cleaned up a few days ago. Yet again it’s in an area where people walk their pets & children play.
Broken glass on the pavementMore broken glass on the pavementGlass broken across the pavement.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
Posting this to counter the bile I’ve heard today.
The image features a red, heart-shaped background with a quote in white text: "I hate when people say, 'You don’t owe anyone anything.' Actually, no, I think as a bare minimum we owe each other basic human kindness and respect." The quote is attributed to Hazel Satija. The background appears to be a textured, handwritten letter with pieces of tape at the corners, and the website "tinybuddha.com" is visible in the bottom right corner.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
Today is #WorldIBDDay & it’s important to continue raising awareness of #crohns #colitis. This years theme is courage & for me courage is summed up by people living with IBD facing their symptoms each morning but still being after to get up & face the day. #CourageLooksLikeThis
The image is a promotional graphic for World IBD Day on May 19, 2025, supported by Crohn's & Colitis UK. It features a world map in the background with text that reads: "I’m supporting WORLD IBD DAY" and includes the website "crohnsandcolitis.org.uk". The date "19 MAY 2025" is highlighted in cyan, and there’s a small purple heart with a wavy line at the bottom right.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
This afternoon we have been up tidying around the graveyard & mums grave. The plan was then to go home & have a barbecue but as per usual it’s been a disaster. Firstly there was no gas & then it turns out we left the baps in the shop this morning. It was decided Burger King was a lot less hassle.
A Burger King bag sitting on a living room table
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Enjoyable first tractor rally in Kells
A blue tractor
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
Had an afternoon in the local countryside. The Hawthorn trees are impressive this year. They look like they are covered in fresh snowfall there’s so many flowers. Sometimes the best thing you can do is to surround yourself with nature & we are lucky to have some beautiful scenery around Kells
A green field surrounded by Hawthorn trees.
There is also a lovely cloudless blue sky
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
Sadly yet another health scare has raised its head over the past week & is meaning I’ll have to take a step back from several groups/parties I have been a part of.
Walking away is not a loss; it's a step toward something better.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
Decided to start the day by attempting to understand what is actually going on…… One conclusion I’ve already reached is that the extreme wealth & grandeur of religion is grotesque.
The movie Conclave on my tv
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
The Kells & Connor Knit and Natter group have the villages ready for the VE Day commemorations.
The image shows a knitted display featuring three figures dressed in military uniforms, likely representing soldiers from different eras, standing on a green base adorned with red poppy flowers. The figures are saluting, and they are positioned in front of a banner with a Union Jack design and the text "80 YEARS," suggesting a commemoration, possibly of a significant wartime anniversary like VE Day or VJ Day. The background includes a brick wall and a fence.The image shows a knitted display featuring three figures dressed in military uniforms, likely representing soldiers from different eras, standing on a green base adorned with red poppy flowers. The figures are saluting, and they are positioned in front of a banner with a Union Jack design and the text "80 YEARS," suggesting a commemoration, possibly of a significant wartime anniversary like VE Day or VJ Day. The background includes a brick wall and a fence.The image shows a knitted display featuring three figures dressed in military uniforms, likely representing soldiers from different eras, standing on a green base adorned with red poppy flowers. The figures are saluting, and they are positioned in front of a banner with a Union Jack design and the text "80 YEARS," suggesting a commemoration, possibly of a significant wartime anniversary like VE Day or VJ Day. The background includes a brick wall and a fence.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 04/05/2025
Good luck to everyone running today’s Belfast City marathon for a wide range of charities. Especially to those running for Crohns & Colitis UK, PSC Support & RVH Liver Support Group.
Belfast city marathon logo
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 03/05/2025
Important lesson learnt after 15 hours in A&E…….. If you’re having issues breathing don’t always blame it on hayfever.
A box of Budesonide medication.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
May is #StrokeAwarenessMonth & every day during May,240 people will wake up to the life-changing impact of a stroke. Sadly one of my elderly neighbours suffered one late last year & it resulted in a major negative impact on her health. Let’s support @thestrokeassoc.bsky.social in raising awareness
An image saying “ Join me in supporting Stroke Awareness Month this May.”
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Today starts #MSAwarenessWeek Let’s all join together this week to help support people living with MS get talking about the challenges they face everyday & help raise awareness of the disease. #MSConversation
MS Awareness Week
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 27/04/2025
Good luck to everyone taking part in todays London Marathon & raising important funds for numerous charities across the UK. Personally I want to thank the runners raising funds for Crohns & Colitis UK and PSC Support UK. Two incredible charities that have both had a massive impact upon my life.
London marathon 2025
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 27/04/2025
What a beautiful afternoon it was yesterday.
A picture of a few clouds in the sky above trees and a field.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
A Hen has joined the Easter bunny in Kells over the Easter period.
A knitted hen and Easter bunny on top of a postboxA knitted hen and Easter bunny on top of a postbox
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
A beautiful Easter Tuesday morning in Kells.
The image shows a community center named "Kells & Connor Community Centre" with a beige exterior and a modern roof structure. It is situated in a parking lot with white lines marking parking spaces. In the background, there are residential houses, a playground with red climbing equipment, and a grassy area. The sky is clear and blue with some wispy clouds.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 20/04/2025
Have a joyful Easter Sunday & may it bring light to your path all year long. 2025 has had a tough start but I want to take a moment just to thank everyone. Thank you for checking in, keeping my family in your thoughts & all the messages/well wishes. Happy Easter & thanks.
A light blue background with the text "HAPPY EASTER" in large white letters. Surrounding the text are Easter-themed elements, including bunny ears, decorated Easter eggs, green leaves, and small yellow dots.
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Mark Young @markyoung23.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
The Easter bunny & a few friends have arrived in Kells. Another fantastic knitted display by the Kells & Connor Library Knit and Natter group.
A red postbox is decorated with a crocheted Easter-themed topper. The topper features a green base with yellow chicks, a bunny in a blue jacket, a large pastel egg, and small baskets with colorful eggs. The postbox has a sign indicating collection times: Monday to Friday at 3:15 PM and Saturday at 11:45 AM. The background shows a brick wall and a black metal fence.
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