iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 23/10/2026

A really phenomenal night last night. A huge thank you to the team who pulled together the Mercury Awards and the fringe over the past week. For a second year in a row the blossoming Newcastle & North East music scene was put on the map. All great nominations, tho Raye was a very deserving winner

A photograph of the Mercury Award Newcastle stage. The arena is bathed in blue lights.

A photograph of the Mercury Award Newcastle stage, Raye is singing on stage and is on the large screen to the left. The arena is bathed in red lights.

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 21/10/2026

My breakfast this morning included these bad boys 🙈😅

A photo of a box of dutch pink aniseed sprinkles.

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 17/10/2026

I would buy some land, build my own eco brutalist house, grow fruit and vegetables throughout the year and run a cookery school for people to come, cook and socialise.

A photo of an eco brutalist house taken from Google (caveat, the image could be AI generated).

There is a brick tiled floor, with a concrete bench to the left hand side. Then there is a full wall of angled glass. There are growing beds throughout the brutalist concrete property.

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 16/10/2026

I proudly joined colleagues, fellow councillors and others today. Wearing red to shoe that here in Newcastle, racism has no place in this city. #ShowRacismTheRedCard

A group of people wearing red, stood in front of a big red ‘show racism the red card’ flag

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 16/10/2026

Whilst people are all cutting down trees, paving over their gardens and laying fake lawns. We are going in the complete opposite direction. After I’ve found time to plant these, we will have gone from one tree when we purchased our house, to 15 trees, 50 hedge plants & beds of perennials.

A photograph of some mature trees in buckets.

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 11/10/2026

Dinner tonight was hake topped lentils with a lactofermented pepper and chorizo sauce.

A black plate with a bright orange sauce on. In the middle is some puy lentils and on top of this is a pan fried hake fillet

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 10/10/2026

I spent hours stood watching wind turbines turning in the sky, lit up by the aurora! It was an absolutely magical night.

A photo of the aurora with wind turbines on the horizon. The aurora is green and red, with stars in the sky behind it

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 10/10/2026

Currently can faintly see the aurora out the kitchen window!

A screenshot of the aurora app. The current disturbance level is 648.8nT

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 08/10/2026

Now we have solar and batteries, is that currently the house is costing us less than 4p/kWh to run. If we had both the battery+current tariff since install, our entire heating and hot water demand since Dec 24 would have cost us a total of £191 🤯 but is probably even less due to export and PV.

Total electricity since 10 Dec 2024
Electricity in - 4791 kWh
Heat output - 20763 kWh
(Combined heat and hot water) Seasonal Coefficient of Performance - 4.33

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 08/10/2026

Our heat pump is perfectly sized for the heat loss of our property. Meaning it just purrs away in the background silently keeping our house a steady temperature all year round.

A scatter graph. X axis is inside minus outside temperature in kelvin.

Y axis is mean heat output in kW

There is a positive correlation of blue dots.

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 08/10/2026

Absolutely loving the new @openenergymon.bsky.social UI. Well done @trystanlea.bsky.social and @glynhudson.bsky.social. Still can’t get over the fact our air source heat pump has run at 471% efficiency for heating over the last year! A huge testament to having a good installer.

A screenshot of an open energy monitor dashboard for an air source heat pump.

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 07/10/2026

Tonight Reform voted to abstain from a motion rejecting the great replacement theory, rejecting attacks on the RNLI and other charities (despite some wearing RNLI lapel pins 🙄), to stand up for our status as a City of Sanctuary and to condemn anti-immigrant and anti-refugee rhetoric.

A photograph of the voting across the chamber in Newcastle City Council. 41 of the chamber voted for, 20 voted to abstain.

The other votes out of the 78 which weren’t cast were either people being absent or an error with the voting system.

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 07/10/2026

Well I’ve marked my Dott on the map! 10 minute cycle from home to the city centre. Took a lovely sunny cycle through Wingrove and Arthur’s Hill, down to St James’ and then along Gallowgate. 50p cheaper than the bus at standard price, and this journey was actually only £1 with a week long pass.

A person wearing a shirt, holding a helmet in their hand.

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 04/10/2026

The look of someone who scavenged in the garden yesterday, hit the jackpot with cat poo but is now feeling sorry for herself and regretting her poor life choices. 😅

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 03/10/2026

Two phenomenal and incredibly simple dishes by Nigel Slater Ive had this week. Potatoes with tahini and thyme (vegan) www.eatyourbooks.com/library/reci... And baked onions with taleggio sauce (vegetarian) www.theguardian.com/food/2019/ja... Both I would highly recommend.

A photo of two whole baked onions in a bowl, with a yellow cheese sauce underneath

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 02/10/2026

Just seen an old couple driving their car through Weetslade Park. Casually following the satnav. 🤯 they would have had to drive through these barriers to get there. Do people not ever stop to question whether they should actually be driving where they are driving?

A photo of the entrance to Weetslade Country Park. There is a bollard missing which would normally prevent people driving.

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 01/10/2026

Or these 🤷‍♂️ Of course it’s always the handful of bikes which are the problem. Never the 2ton metal boxes left on the pavement.

A red car parked on a street corner on the pavement

A car parked on the pavement having crossed double red lines to get there.

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 30/09/2026

Yeah - the only minor frustration I have is the fact that you have to be on the app to be able to see the start and end. There is also 'no cycle' zones across the city which cut out the battery assist functionality. So hopefully we don't get people cycling bikes in random places.

A screenshot of the Dott Bikes app - the red zones on there are no cycle zones.

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 30/09/2026

Crumble has been out exploring the city and has seen some Dott bikes out in the wild. Should the first phase go well, we will then be slowly expanding to allow all residents to benefit from this!

A black and white dog sat in front of a teal Dott Bike

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 30/09/2026

It's been difficult to keep this properly under wraps but I can now finally talk about this! Today Dott bikes have launched a new cycle hire scheme in Newcastle - providing residents a proper alternative to car use within the City. We have taken learnings from previous schemes (eNeuron and Mobike)

A photograph of a teal and red Dott bike positioned under the Father Tyne sculpture.

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 27/09/2026

I’m quite happy with this reverse seared porchetta. 🤤🤤🤤

A rolled porchetta sat on a wooden board

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 26/09/2026

This is what we are up against. It’s why I’ve always said the under 16 social media ban doesn’t go far enough. We shouldn’t be banning it for children, we should be properly regulating it for everyone. This is scary. How do we fight this?

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 23/09/2026

Last night I made the most addictive dip ever - the North African dish matbucha. Takes a good two and a half hours to make. But by god it’s worth the wait. Slowly cooked peppers and tomatoes with garlic and chilli, evaporating off the water. Then you add olive oil and confit for another hour. 🤤🤤🤤

A pot of matbucha (a pepper and tomato dip, slow cooked with garlic and chilli) then confit in olive oil.

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 23/09/2026

We have the laws. We should be using them. The far-right racist maybe should have thought twice about attempted murder at seas.

A screenshot of the Piracy Act 1837, chapter 88

2 Punishment of piracy when murder is attempted.

Whosoever, with intent to commit or at the time of or immediately before or immediately after committing the crime of piracy in respect of any ship or vessel, shall assault, with intent to murder, any person being on board of or belonging to such ship or vessel, or shall stab, cut, or wound any such person, or unlawfully do any act by which the life of such person may be endangered, shall be guilty of felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable to imprisonment for life.

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 22/09/2026

Today is #WorldCarFreeDay and instead of taking the bus into the Civic as I would normally do, I have instead walked from our home in West Fenham to the City centre. 45 minutes door to door. The weather today is beautiful. I had the pleasure of speaking to a few people walking along the way.

A photo of a man with a rucksack on, he is wearing a yellow lanyard and green glasses.

A man stood outside Newcastle Civic Centre, he is wearing a rucksack, yellow lanyard and green glasses

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 19/09/2026

A glorious afternoon out delivering the next batch of @libdems.org.uk Focus for our ward. Had some lovely conversations and picked up a few bits of casework. 👍

A man in a yellow jumper with a rucksack on. He is holding a Lib Dem Focus leaflet

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 18/09/2026

First TV interview of the year this week. In one of my favourite places in Newcastle - Grainger Market. The Everyday Histories exhibition tells the stories of the people who have traded here over the past 200 years and made the market what it is today. www.bbc.com/news/article...

A photograph taken behind a videographer and an interviewer. They are in a glass roofed covered market

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 13/09/2026

She’s still got the hematoma, but she’s been out all day. She’s now conked out again

A black and white dog, laid on a red vintage rug

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 13/09/2026

A fab day out at the Great North Run! Crumble had fun on the beach. Saw the red arrows and then stood cheering everyone on by The Nook.

A black and white dog with red harness on stood on the beach.

A black and white dog with red harness on sat on a concrete path

The red arrows flying in formation just above a hedge. They are flying left to right in an arrow formation trailing red white and blue smoke behind them

Two people stood next to the barriers at a running event. A black and white dog is laid out on the floor

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 12/09/2026

Yup! She seems happy enough as she is, but she’s definitely struggling with her ear. This was her earlier playing in the meadow.

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 12/09/2026

Crumble seems to be pretty chilled tonight. She’s dosed up on prednisolone currently as we try to get rid of her aural hematoma 😢

A dog on a sofa. She is laid out horizontally and looks very comfortable.

A laptop is in the foreground

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 11/09/2026

Looks like we fixed at just the right time! 🙃 But it does highlight how volatile the energy markets are at the moment, how the quicker we can roll our renewables the better. I recognise the privilege in being able to own our house and afford to electrify everything.

A screenshot of an intelligent octopus go 12 month fixed tariff.

Our night rate is 3.99p and our day rate is 27.99p.

The standing charge is 58.90p.

It runs to the 10th April 2027

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 11/09/2026

Yesterday I had the opportunity to participate in a round table discussion on how we can support SMEs and better develop our workforce for a future with AI. One phrase I thought pertinent was AI shouldnt be seen as purely driving efficiency but instead, providing the tools to drive effectiveness.

A booklet on a table.

The cover says ‘building the digital workforce: supporting SMEs in the Age of AI’

This was a QA North East policy round table

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 10/09/2026

I'm not ashamed to say that I have had suicidal thoughts at times. Suicide sadly can affect any of us. Raising awareness & through talking about it we can reduce the stigma and help people who are struggling. In doing so, we can help to lower the instances of suicide around the world. #WSPD2026

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 10/09/2026

Another Reform councillor has gone - Cllr Astley has left Reform and now sits as an independent after his abhorrent racist words in the chamber last week. His political history is chequered to say the least: Reform>Homeland>Reform>Independent. Racism of any kind has no place in this City.

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 06/09/2026

My favourite National Trust place is Cragside.

A photo of Cragside with trees and two bridges in front

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 05/09/2026

Despite last nights atrocious sleep I still managed to get 6th place on this mornings very rainy #Parkrun.

A photo looking down at a hand holding a 6th place parkrun token. In the background is a pair of wet running shorts and two grey trainers

A selfie taken by a man wearing green. Next to him is his husband, in a teal running vest. Both are smiling

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 03/09/2026

KLM should do a collab with Burger King and call it the KLM City Whopper 🤣 Courtesy of @xanderbur.bsky.social

A klm city hopper plane sat on the runway

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 31/08/2026

Out on a ward walk with the Crumb this morning. We found a whole list of issues ranging from flytipped garden waste, to broken bus shelters to untaxed cars. Now time for a coffee and to report all of these so they get sorted. #LibDem #Councillor

A photo of a black and white dog on a lead, she is looking back at the camera

Some flytipped garden waste mixed with kids ball pool balls

A photo of a bus shelter with a broken window

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 30/08/2026

Interesting. Our neighbours have commented on how nice it looks. But I deliberately mow the edge once a fortnight to keep it looking deliberate. This was middle of the year

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 30/08/2026

Had to laugh at this knowing how good the Dutch roads are 🤣

A rural road supposedly at a border between the Netherlands and a neighboring country. The foreground road is cracked and crumbling, while farther ahead the Dutch side appears smooth and well maintained, with a distinctive red bicycle lane.

A brick farmhouse, hedges, and trees line the road.

The text above reads: “There are no more borders in the European Union. However, you will always know where the Netherlands begins.”

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 29/08/2026

Can you guess where I left the grass uncut since January? First and possibly only cut done of the year for this patch. It’s got lots of patches underneath so I’ve sprinkled some fresh yellow rattle in there to sit over winter ready for next year when we do it all again.

A photo of a lawn. There is a circle in the middle which is yellow. The surrounding grass is green

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 28/08/2026

We’re taking the climate emergency seriously at NCC. Hoping for a good turn out of councillors and staff at this screening of the @nebriefing.bsky.social

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 28/08/2026

Another day, another piece of flytipping reported in a ward that isn’t mine. If only the elected Green Party representatives for this ward cared about doing their job properly, rather than it being picked up by me as a Lib Dem councillor from a ward across town. 🙄

A photo of a trolley full of flytipped carpet waste

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 27/08/2026

Thankfully the rain has held off so far with tonight’s door knock in the Throckley, Walbottle and Newburn by-election.

A selfie of a man wearing black, with a yellow Lib Dem badge on

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Cllr Owen Burbidge 🔶 @oburbidge.eurosky.social · 27/08/2026

Being a councillor doesn’t stop just at my ward boundary. Out today on polling day in Throckley and I’ve already reported two loads of fly tipping. This is the difference between the Lib Dem’s and Reform. We don’t do things just for likes and social media presence.

Some flytipped wood stood next to a fence

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