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R. P. Whaite

@rpwhaite.bsky.social
310 followers 720 following 84 posts

priest, collaboration & solidarity in DioceseNCL / moves🚲 @bromptonbicycle.bsky.social & in de bakfiets / kneels w/Paulinus @newcastlecathedral.bsky.social & elsewhere / Stopfordian / cries@sport, esp. @ManUtdfc.bsky.social / He\Him

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Reposted by R. P. Whaite
Helen-Ann Hartley @helenannhartley.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
In Byker today at St Michael’s church / home of the Lighthouse project, reflecting with urban and estates clergy. Good to be here in this transformed space 🙏
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Helen-Ann Hartley @helenannhartley.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Everlasting God, you sent the gentle bishop Aidan to proclaim the gospel in this land: grant us to live as he taught in simplicity, humility and love for the poor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy feast of St Aidan of Lindisfarne 🫶🙏
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Grace Thomas @gracerethomas.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
I can't put into words my thoughts and feelings about the headline this evening other than to say how absolutely awful and heartbreaking it is Rest in peace Jason Arday
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Memento Mori Kira @kmaustinyoung.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
There’s a rider in the women’s pro peloton with the last name “Paternoster,” and every time the announcers say it, my brain immediately goes “Lord’s Prayer.”
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Alison Stenning @alisonstenning.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Sunset over Tynemouth Longsands -
The sun setting in the background, with dunes, Tynemouth outdoor pool, and Longsands beach.
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Charlotte Lydia Riley @lottelydia.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
*sucks teeth* sorry, mate, think you’ll find that’s a structural Jesus
A corner stone in an old school building; GLORY BE TO GOD ST GEORGE THE MARTYR
SCHOOLS
FOR 200 GIRLS & 200 INFANTS
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JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF BEING
THE CHIEF CORNER STONE
ЕРH. 11.20.
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
I know this is doing the rounds, including appearance in The Wall Street Journal, but friends at Mockingbird (@toddbrewer.bsky.social) have underlined the implicit theology of humans, and how we value work, with clarity: mbird.com/week-in-revi... This is Gospel as the long summer holidays begin
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Rebekah Higgitt @rhiggitt.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
"Museum professionals worry that these tools will spout inaccuracies and bias or flatten interpretation to gimmickry, undermining museums as a trusted source of knowledge." They do indeed, plus the poor cognitive outcome, cultural homogenisation and environmental impacts.
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
A day full of memories and the privilege of sharing worship on my 11th anniversary of priesting with @ruthh.bsky.social’s parishes in west Newcastle. Beautiful cycle to and from too.
Rather warm clergyperson taking a selfie in a church vestry whilst wearing a white cassock alb and green chasuble. Photograph composed of lots of smaller, lower resolution, photos of people celebrating after an ordination Illustrated and decorated card with the words of the annunciation in calligraphy Commemorative plate marking date and place of priesting ordination. The plate has the logo of the parish I was assistant curate in.
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Today is for the "to do" list, but the accompanying reading & listening has a Juneteenth flavour to it w/ @okwonga.bsky.social on the latest @stadio.football episode & reading sent by college of canons colleague @newcastlecathedral.bsky.social Dr Kelly Brown-Douglas: religionnews.com/2026/06/18/1...
religionnews.com
161 years after Juneteenth, there is unfinished work of freedom
(RNS) — The forces that threaten freedom continually take new forms.
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
This is the content I am here for today (Dies Sanctissimi Corporis et Sanguinis Domini Iesu Christi) and, as usual, did not know I needed it until Giacomo said/sung it…🎶🧌👹🎶…🍞🍷
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Kevin Hargaden @kevinhargaden.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
The Irish Times asked me to put a bit of a response together to the Pope's so-called 'AI encyclical'
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The Living Church @livingchurch.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
The Rt. Rev. Vicentia Kgabe, Bishop of Pretoria, preached that the priesthood is “not a reward, or a spiritual achievement,” but “an invitation into servanthood.” #Anglican #News livingchurch.org/news/news-anglican…
livingchurch.org
Botswana Ordains 14 Women as Priests - The Living Church
The Rt. Rev. Vicentia Kgabe, Bishop of Pretoria, preached that the priesthood is “not a reward, or a spiritual achievement,” but “an invitation into servanthood.”
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Kara N. Slade @karanslade.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
Here’s the text of the encyclical: www.vatican.va/content/leo-...
vatican.va
Encyclical Letter of His Holiness Leo XIV Magnifica Humanitas (15 May 2026)
ENCYCLICAL LETTER MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV ON SAFEGUARDING THE HUMAN PERSON IN THE TIME OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE [ Multimedia ] ___________________________
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Roopika Risam @roopikarisam.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
In Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo apologizes for the Doctrine of Discovery, which sanctioned colonialism & slavery, to talk about AI. Here, I thought I went off the rails in Data Empire, where I insist the Doctrine of Discovery is critical to the history of data’s power www.vatican.va/content/leo-...
vatican.va
Encyclical Letter of His Holiness Leo XIV Magnifica Humanitas (15 May 2026)
ENCYCLICAL LETTER MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV ON SAFEGUARDING THE HUMAN PERSON IN THE TIME OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE [ Multimedia ] ___________________________
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Prof. Anthea Butler @antheabutler.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
In the interest of being a good professor, if you want to read the pertinent sections of Magnifica Humanitas on slavery, the "apology" and the implications for AI, skip to sections 172-181 of the Encyclical.
vatican.va
Encyclical Letter of His Holiness Leo XIV Magnifica Humanitas (15 May 2026)
ENCYCLICAL LETTER MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV ON SAFEGUARDING THE HUMAN PERSON IN THE TIME OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE [ Multimedia ] ___________________________
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Prof. Anthea Butler @antheabutler.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
I know some of y'all are in your feelings pro and con about the encyclical but let me just say getting a Pope to admit the church was complicit and needs to be on the right side of an issue is huge for an institution responsible for a lot of really bad things.
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
Yesterday’s vestry prayer. Entering into Pentecost after the manner of Pope Leo in the Easter season, and on the eve of Magnifica Humanitas
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Anne M. Carpenter @catholickungfu.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
Quoting Gaudium et Spes (Vatican 2), sounding like the Didache. I am vibrating.
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Alison Stenning @alisonstenning.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
This is also a generation whose entire lives have been lived in austerity, with playgrounds, youth services, libraries, community centres, high streets, etc. disappearing and disinvested. That doesn’t get a mention in this report on Milburn’s review. And even covid seems a bit of an afterthought.
news.sky.com
UK faces 'economic catastrophe' unless it adapts to young people 'rewired by smartphones'
Almost one million young people are not in employment, education or training - with a new report claiming social media is contributing to declining mental health, poorer sleep and lower levels of conc...
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Matthew Holehouse @matthewholehouse.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
It is a "boost for Burnham", but it's much more a boost for the principle that if you stick to a regional growth strategy for 30+ years you can see productivity and living standard improvements at the end of it. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
independent.co.uk
Manchester sees biggest rise in living standards in boost for Burnham
The share of underprivileged inner-city neighbourhoods across the country has fallen significantly since 2010, driven by changes in big cities – such as Manchester, Liverpool and London
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
“Leave us not orphans…let thy Spirit, bringing peace to the world, manifest…” Vida Dutton Scudder (1861-1954) and the Sarum Rite for Ascensiontide and the ‘stormy present’
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
prayers with colleagues from NCL diocese and the cloud of witnesses at Gaberone Cathedral tomorrow for the ordination of 14 deacons as priests in God’s church. These are the first Anglican women to be ordained in Botswana, so if you’re the praying sort do pray for them 🙏🏻 ⚓️
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
⛅️ Today, Thursday 14 May, is Ascension Day. Join us at Newcastle Cathedral for a Choral Eucharist this evening at 6pm as we celebrate the ascension of Jesus into heaven, forty days after his resurrection: newcastlecathedral.org.uk/event/festal-choral-eucharist-ascension-day

The scene is central to Leonard Evetts’ vibrant stained glass window in our Chapel of the Ascension, which was installed in 1962 to commemorate the Cathedral’s survival during the Second World War.The figure of Jesus in stained glass, wearing a red robe, being drawn upwards into heaven (we imagine) with the assistance of two angels reaching towards his outstretched armsJesus is disciples stood in a huddle, gazing upward toward the figure of Jesus ascending towards the embrace of heavenly angels above. The apostle Peter stands in the foreground of the huddle holding some keys.
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Leonie V. Hicks @lvhicks.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
So here is the ex-twitter thread I promised on Julian. 1/ Today is the the feast of Mother Julian of Norwich, a patron of the anxious and those with poor mental health. The two are connected for me and so forgive me while I make some personal observations about life, mental health and Julian.
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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
One of the things that worries me about the kind of dramatic electoral shift we are seeing here is that there are going to be a heck of a lot of new councillors with no real experience or understanding of what local government actually entails, and a lot of expertise and institutional memory lost.
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Those of you who have known me in recent years know that papal AF1 drip is something I have been waiting for…
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Sigh. Forgot my contribution earlier to #bikesatpollingstations - sorry all. Here is a cargo bike prior to a visit to a polling station today
Long base Dutch cargo bike with a red frame and a red cover over the cargo box section. The bike is positioned in a yard with its back wheel towards a white garage. The bike is positioned on sand coloured paving slabs.
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deadmanrunning1.bsky.social @deadmanrunning1.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Cycling on the north east's wagonways continues to be a terrible experience in late spring.
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Scott Gunn @scottagunn.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
Easter Day at Christ Church, New Haven. It’s still smoky. ⚓️
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Randy Browne @randybrowne.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
Excellent news for the field www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo...
ucl.ac.uk
UCL History Secures $575k Grant for Caribbean Enslaved People Database
A $575,000 grant from a North American funder will support the development of a database of enslaved people at the UCL Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery (CSLBS).
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
Χριστὸς ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη! Christus resurrexit! Resurrexit vere! Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
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Tony (Soft on Crime) @adalehunt.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Hell accepted a body
THE PASCHAL HOMILY OF ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
Is there anyone here who is a devout lover of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival.
Is there anyone who is a grateful servant?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!
Are there any now weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!
If they have toiled from the first hour, let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour, let them with gratitude join in the Feast!
And the one that arrived after the sixth hour, let them not doubt; for they shall have sustained no loss.
And if any have delayed until the ninth hour, let them not hesitate; but let them come too.
And the one who arrived only at the eleventh hour, let them not be afraid by reason of their delay.
For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to the one who comes at the eleventh hour, as well as to the one who toiled from the first.
To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.
He accepts the work as he greets the endeavor.
The deed He honors and the intention He commends.
Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!
First and last alike receive your reward; rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!
You that have kept the fast, and you that have not, rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!
Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted oneLet no one go away hungry; partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of God's goodness!
Let no one grieve at their poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that they have fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.
He destroyed Hades when he descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.
Isaiah foretold this when he said,
You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below.
Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar, because it was mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it was destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar because it is now made captive.
Hell took a body, and it discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?
Christ is risen, and you, O death, are annihilated!
Christ is risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead; for Christ, having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
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To him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen!
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★
자
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Rev David Casey OPA @dpcasey74.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Do you work wonders for the dead? * will those who have died stand up and give you thanks? Will your loving-kindness be declared in the grave? * your faithfulness in the land of destruction? Will your wonders be known in the dark? * or your righteousness in the country where all is forgotten?
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Holy Saturday
A black and white print that represents the body of Jesus lying in a tomb after the first Good Friday. The image has the body with one arm hanging down from the plinth on which the body has been placed. Most of the image is made of linen cloths pulled in different directions over the corpus. The image is one in the sequence of stations of the Cross created alongside poetry of music for Newcastle cathedrals jagged edges project. The project uses work from survivors and victims of church based abuse to reflect on the traditional stages of Christ betrayal, arrest, trial, torture, and death - https://www.newcastle.anglican.org/jagged-edges/
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
This section of Levertov lands differently (again) this Holy Saturday. The harrowing as a discernment of the depths of divine compassion, including those left bereft of human care, is focussed by the inclusion of the figure of “Didmas” - poets.org/poem/ikon-ha...
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Good Friday, 3rd April 2026 St Hilda’s Marden, North Tyneside
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
I first used this in a corona-tide liturgy for Good Friday 5 years ago. Margaret (the visual artist and co-author) offered the digital images from the book for use in parishes. Her engravings, with the prayers and reflections of Professor Sonderegger remain piercingly relevant
Front cover of a book. The bottom half is a deep blood red colour the top half a black-and-white engraving of Jesus Christ looking down from the cross. In the centre of the cover there is the title of the book: praying the stations of the Cross, finding Hope in a weary land
The opening page of a meditation for passiontide entitled passion meditations in word, image, and songA black-and-white engraving of Jesus being consoled by a woman. The woman is in black and has a head scarf on. Jesus is injured, is weary, his face shows the marks of tears. His hands are also chained up.A page of text, including a prayer, a reflection and a congregational chance for use in reflecting on the stations of the cross
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Newcastle East Deanery (esp. Byker / Walker) has been a place of hospitality during this Lent and Passiontide. I’m looking forward to beginning the Triduum at Walker Parish Church (ChCh) tomorrow evening, 7pm
View eastwards in Walker Parish Church, Newcastle. The Nave is flanked by two projector screens with a slide welcoming people to Sunday worship on the Third Sunday in Lent. The interior is whitewashed walls, with bare stone pillars. The floor is green carpeted with chairs in rows. A wooden engraved sign, on an a-frame plinth. It welcomes visitors to Walker parish church, indicating regular service times. There is a simple cross carved at the bottom of the sign. Black sprayed graffiti on a whitewashed wall outside of church. There is a circular black and white image depicting the silhouette of the church bell tower. Above the image is the name of the church Christ Church. Below it is the local Geordie phrase “wor church” Photograph of the front of an altar at the east end of a church. The front of the altar is carved oak, decorated with gold. The carving depicts vines and other plant motifs set in a cross shape. At the crossing of the cross there is a gold carved image of a sail boat. This is a common motif of the original port of Tyne at Newcastle. Either side of the cross are two angels standing.
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
19.03.26 - Joseph of Nazareth Josephine Yu “prayer to st Joseph: for the restless” - josephineyupoet.com/prayer-book-...
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
Mothering Sunday in the Diocese of Newcastle featuring an invitation to share in the hospitality of one the mother churches of the diocese at St Mary’s, Holy Island
Dark wooden bench set against a tower made of brick. The bench is carved with the words be known and truly seen, yet loved. The bench is located in the south west corner of holy Island.Contemporary drawing of a female duck with a duckling on her back. The image has intersecting vertical and horizontal lines with diagonal lines added as if the duck were being drawn as an architectural feature. There is a small mole shell in the bottom right hand corner of the image. Both duckling and female duck have corona around the tops of their heads as if they were saints. The image is found in the English heritage museum at the priory on Holy Island.
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
My “nearly” namesake seems cool. Maybe that’s what not spelling our name with an “h” gets you?!? Much to ponder…
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Dr Jo Kershaw @mthrjo.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
Awake, and judge all the nations; ♦ show no mercy to the evil traitors. They return at nightfall and snarl like dogs ♦ and prowl about the city. They pour out evil words with their mouths; swords are on their lips; ♦ ‘For who’, they say, ‘can hear us?’
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Marcus Krueger @trustedsystem.eurosky.social · 14/02/2026
Best Summary of the #bm100
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Charles, OFM Cap. @frcharles.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Annual reminder if God forbid you are thinking about it, giving up coffee for Lent is presuming to choose a penance for everyone around you.
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R. P. Whaite @rpwhaite.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
One for @stadio.football listeners ahead of the World Cup later this year.
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Radio Lento @radiolento.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Happy birthday @nationaltrust.org.uk - 131 years old today. Thank you for looking after the quiet places as well as the grand ones.
National Trust sign at Brickyards Alum Quarry in North YorkshireNational Trust sign at Long Mynd, ShropshireNational Trust sign at Lyme Park, Derbyshire
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@Julianshea.bsky.social @julianshea.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Comedy is all about timing. In this case, 3 decades.
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Sam Wilson @samwilson.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
Popping back onto Bluesky to note something. This evening, at the youth club I run, I discovered the song “What Did the Fox Say” is older than many of the young people we have with us. Obviously, that makes me feel ancient. But that also means there are young people who…
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