iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Opened a book to prepare for a seminar and this fell out of it. The bookmark I was given by the cathedral scribe when I became a chorister. 26 years ago is a long time!

Winchester cathedral bookmark with Thomas’ name and “Chorister September 2000” written on it.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

New ordinands on their first residential, and graduates being licensed as Readers in the Diocese of Canterbury. It’s been a good weekend at St Augustine’s!

New readers being licensed at Canterbury

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Before and after. A plant that was not thriving and was fleeing the neighbour’s tree cover has been removed, and about 4 wheelbarrows of passion flower that had infested the rest of the garden has been chopped back. Now surveying the drought damage in the back of the garden. 🌿

Garden without massive echium (formerly centre)

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Please pray for us at St Augustine’s as we welcome new students for induction days and study skills sessions over the next two weeks. And pray for the admissions staff still receiving applications! And for those applying to be our new full time tutorial colleague! @churchofengland.org

A crowd of students and staff on the lawn in front of West Malling Abbey.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

As someone #actuallyautistic and also as a theologian, I have made my opposition to assisted dying quite public, sharing many of the concerns of the Archbishop of Canterbury. But many of those who voted against it did so for very different reasons. Expect reworked “safeguards” in the next round.

Excerpt from BBC news website including comment by three labour MPs who voted against the bill. “They add that "none of the relevant royal medical colleges, professional groups or experts" will attest to the safety or workability of the bill.”

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Your regular reminder that limiting children's social media access and "giving parents control" does not necessarily make children safer. Only 33% of those abused before 18 report that it was strangers. Of those who report non-contact abuse before the age 18, only 14% report it happening online.

Where respondents specified their relationship
(if any) to the people who had sexually abused
them in childhood, 14% identified a friend,
11% a friend of the family, 8% another relative,
and another 8% a neighbour. Then-current and
previous boyfriends/girlfriends/partners were
identified by 8% and 7% of these respondents
respectively, while a third (33%) said a stranger
had been involved, mainly in relation to non-
contact abuse. A higher proportion of male
respondents (12%) than female respondents
(4%) said they had been sexually abused by
someone in a position of trust, while abuse
by a current or previous partner was more
commonly described by female respondents
(9% and 8% respectively) than by male
respondents (2% and 2%).

Source: https://www.csacentre.org.uk/app/uploads/2026/07/The-scale-and-nature-of-child-sexual-abuse-2026.pdf p.7

Child sexual abuse in the respondent’s own
home or someone else’s was common,
particularly in relation to rape or penetrative
abuse :39% and 55% respectively of
respondents who had experienced this
category of abuse said it had happened in
these locations. Among respondents who had
experienced non-contact abuse, 34% said it
had happened in a public place and 14% said
it had been online.

Source: https://www.csacentre.org.uk/app/uploads/2026/07/The-scale-and-nature-of-child-sexual-abuse-2026.pdf p.7

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Total banger at evensong today. The only annoying thing about officiating is that you have to maintain some sort of decorum whilst screaming this schmaltz! A happy feast of St Bartholomew to one and all! ⚓️✝️

Jerusalem the Golden from the New English Hymnal

Last verse of Jerusalem the Golden from the New English Hymnal

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Is it wrong to say that I am really excited to read this book?

David Fraser, Law After Auschwitz: towards a jurisprudence of the Holocaust

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Congratulations to Rhine as he takes up his teaching post at the College of the Transfiguration! Please pray for Rhine, for his family, and for his new students and colleagues in Makhanda!

Rhine Koloti, Secretary of Yat

We are proud to celebrate with Rhine Koloti on his recent appointment as a Lecturer at the College of the Transfiguration, South Africa.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Retreat day required, so began it with pancakes, and then more of von Balthasar’s Theodrama IV (rage!), and then trying to make some headway with Klempff’s arrangements of Bach chorale preludes. Both examples of turning something lovely and life-giving into a lot of shouty hard work.

Excerpt from von Balthasar’s Theodrama IV, in which he throws a tonne of shade at Rahner in very rude fashion. DONT YOU HURT MY KARL!

Kempff’s arrangement of Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring, which is great fun once under the fingers but murder up to that point

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

The passion flower has decided to slip the surly bonds of earth and punch the face of God. It is the gardening equivalent of an overstimulated toddler refusing to go to bed.

Garden with passion flower on the left climbing up a tree, and an arrow about 5 metres up pointing to the passion flower tendrils.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Brought it with me for the office, but might as well get the benefit on the journey!

John Behr’s “John the Theologian and his Paschal Gospel” on a train carriage table, with a desktop fan behind it.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

I can finally say that, in a sense, I have been on the Shinkansen. @railwaymuseum.bsky.social

Evan and thomas in front of the nose of the Shinkansen

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

The kids from the church primary school have made an excellent sign for the motorists who drop people off at the church centre. However, given that this is the view from my desk, I also feel duly spiritually chastened.

Cheery primary school designed sign next to a row of parked cars (left). The sign reads, “STOP IDLING”

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

8 years a priest today. Gosh I was young. And I still haven't forgotten Bishop Christine having to prod my face when I was having a little moment so that I would stick out my hands for her to anoint them.

Bishop Christine of Newcastle anointing Thomas' hands.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

This is a public service announcement. At the Horniman Museum in London, there is a Walrus that was taxidermied by Victorians who had never seen a Walrus, and who thought that its skin was taught rather than wrinkly, and I think it is one of the most wonderful things ever. That is all.

A walrus overstuffed so that its body is absolutely PHAT.

Source: https://www.horniman.ac.uk/story/ever-wondered-how-to-lift-a-one-ton-walrus/

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Ordination service 4/6 for this year done. A joy to support Rev Emily-Grace Sainsbury and Rev Phil Burns. And I have finally got to Guildford Cathedral, which is glorious and well worth the mountain climbing.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Two of those pictured here are saints. St Teilo (cranium and all!), pray for us.

On the left, Jarel. In the centre, the cranium of St Teilo set into a silver cup, in a tabernacle with a red background. On the right, me.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Its been a really hard week. So I woke up today, wrote 1700 words about shame, pickled a cucumber and made aaaaaall the mint in our garden into a single bottle of toothpaste… err… cordial. Ive always been scared of cordial, and now I have defeated it!

Blue saucepan filled with green frothy liquid

Dark green liquid in a glass bottle with other bottles and cooking utensils behind. Blue and white Portuguese patterned background. To the right, a black hob.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Compline begins at the final ordained ministry student residential at St Augustines. Superb that we have each been handed prayer cards of St Boniface.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

From the House of Bishop of the CofE's January minutes. Did the Bishop who raised this point believe: (a) that all LGBTQIA+ people are currently excommunicate, or; (b) that the sacrament of baptism administered to LGBTQIA+ people in the name of the Trinity has hitherto been of no effect?

4.7 In the opening debate on the motion, members raised the following points:
4.7.1 That the Bishops of Sheffield and Oxford should be thanked for their work on the statement which was now in a stronger place;
4.7.2 It was possible that there would be those who could not support the statement or the ideas within it. But it provided a basis for moving forward together;
4.7.3 That the process had involved bishops engaging in a process to allow LGBTQI+ members into the community of the Church;

Source: https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/hb26m1-14-january.pdf

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

My office at the start of the day. Could be worse. I think the experimental and more merciless prune on the Rosebush this year has worked!!!

Laptop in the fore, with a white mug and glass of drink to right. At the top a rosebush in full bloom on the left, and on the right a bay tree.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

The book of the Bank Holiday. Total delight. Really sweet, really good writing of neurodivergent characters. Like a revivifying swim for the heart.

Jamie D’Amato, The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood and Boyfriends, narrated by Michael Crouch

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

The roses are awake. Not bad for rescues from wasteland being bulldozed. 🌱 #bloomscrolling

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Travelled hundreds of miles. Saw the first steam locomotive in Germany, lovingly preserved at the DB Museum. Realised it was made in Newcastle. Don’t feel cheated.

Adler, the first steam locomotive in Germany

The plate of the Adler:
RobT Stephenson and CompY
ENGINEERS
Newcastle Upon Tyne

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Catholic churches, lutheran churches, and sausage. Lots of sausage. Amidst the Frankfurters and Nurembergers, it would be rude not to.

Evan and Thomas in front of the ceiling of the residence, Würzburg

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

In the absence of a church to clean, Holy Saturday garden cleaning is happening instead. And very prayerfully. ⚓️ 🌱 Particularly praying for #CofEpeeps as the great feast of Easter approaches.

Yellow tulips in foreground, open shed in background on right, plans on left.

A garden in gentle disarray, open shed on right

Purple and yellow tulips in foreground right, path and front door in background

Many pots with different plants in, garden furniture and beds of plants around the outside, in disarray.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Signs you live in a multi-priest household. ⚓️ #CofEpeeps And yes, holy week stops for birthday lunch. Although it is dairy and wheat free, so some might call it penitential.

A birthday cake, centre, on a blue plate, with six big candles in a row, and two smaller ones on front, as an altar.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

There we go. One of our former students is officially in post. Time for the tutors to crack on with the marking avalanche from the next generation of St Augustine’s students! ⚓️ #CofEpeeps

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

I have a new asparagus fern for my desk. And I need a name for it. It could be called Augustus, because that name is comically inappropriate for it. Or possibly Annunciata because today is the feast of the #Annunciation. Any suggestions? #CofEpeeps 🌱 ⚓️ #wearthebadge

Asparagus fern in a white pot, with wooden russian doll with Hodegetria on it, and blue candle to the right, and Society of Catholic Priests prayer top right.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

On this your feast, Holy Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, pray for us. Holy Aidan, Holy Bede, Holy Hilda, Holy Godric, and all the saints of Northumbria, pray for us, and for the Bishops and people of Durham and Newcastle. @helenannhartley.bsky.social

The shrine of St Cuthbert (feretory) at Durham Cathedral

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Back to the desk as the last week of the term begins.

Cyprian of Carthage letters on a book stand bottom left. Plants trailing down from top left. Society of catholic priests prayer in a frame centre. Computer monitor on right with lecture slides. Computer keyboard bottom right.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

The pincer movement of generous nuns and generous students has utterly defeated the aspiration to diet at St Augustine’s. This is lenten #theology in action! Asceticism #CofEpeeps style! ⚓️

A tea tray laden with biscuits and cake on the right

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

I generally worry that I haven’t planted enough Hyacinths, but this cluster around the front door is bliss. The smell! 🌿🌱

Many white and blue hyacinths in pots and in beds, with Narcissi beginning to get going as well.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

The Allister Heath headline generator is very funny.

Fake news headline generated by auto generator ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY IS MORE POWERFUL THAN ANY ELECTED GOVERNMENT Alistair Heath, the telegraph

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

Pray for Brs Leo, Jude and Thomas Aidan as they begin their noviciate with the Society of St Francis. #CofEpeeps ⚓️✝️

Picture of three franciscan novices in brown habits with white ropes, with the novice guardian and minister behind them.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

I'm not sure the accessibility software is being helpful, since my role involves overseeing the training of lay ministers for several dioceses, and it consistently transcribes "lay ministers" as "lame ministers". If it gets me fired, to who do I send the bill? ⚓✝️

Excerpt from screenshot

...ents for lame ministers are co...

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

A surprise and much needed day off has occasioned some much needed garden TLC. I am still astounded how short the winter is in this little walled space. Spring is already marching on! And the red rose we pinched from a building site has survived its untimely transplant! 🌱

Fennel to the left, rose thyme to the right foreground, daffodils preparing to bud on the right centreground, a bay tree top centre, and a shed top left.

A narcissuels flower, white with yellow anthers.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Genuinely delighted by our students’ willingness to throw themselves into Trinitarian theology this week. Also delighted by the freedom to teach with a whiteboard.

A white board covered in theological scribbles

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

If I wave a magic wand or a class 2 relic at the pile of books and hope, the lecture slides on Christology will magically appear, right? Right?

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

I have three classes of students for doctrine this term. Monday’s group came up with interesting answers to the introductory question, “What is doctrine used for in your church?” Let’s see how tonight’s group compare.

A white piece of paper with various theological words written on it in green ink.

+ Undertand God | 2relationhip with.
WORSHIP.
Oriestate in world. word of God
Belieg Follon Giou
Constitutes Church.
Politics. Motivate Action &;
Conte Cl

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

It is such a pleasure to be together for Matins and Mass as we never get to do this usually!

Interior of St Mary Abbots Church with Evan in the pulpit.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

I know it's only an introductory lecture on the Trinity. But Sonderegger is SO COOL... and it is good for students to be able to see a lecturer just being totally giddy for the beauty of another person's theological writing. ✝️⚓

3 - Holiness is Trinity

‘… The Presence of the Holy One discloses sin and blessing, but even more, the searing Fire of Holiness teaches the silence in which every mouth is stopped. … The Lord’s Presence, His smoke-filled Glory, consumes any voice by the heavenly beings who can but cry, “Holy!” … Silence is the Presence and the sign of Presence of the Holy Triunity, the Majesty of the One God.
Holiness is Trinity. That is the central claim of Christian Triune monotheism. We do no speak first and principally the Triune Names – Father, Son, Spirit – when we speak of Trinity. … Rather, we begin with holiness. We stand before the Holy One, in life and in intellect: Holiness commands all. These terms of art in the dogma of Trinity – hypostasis and ousia … must be encountered in the Mystery of Holiness or not at all.’
Katherine Sonderegger, Systematic Theology, Vol 2: The Trinity, pp.2-4.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

The library update continues. This booklet wasn’t written as long ago as you’d have hoped. I’m still not sure, but I think the cabbage is meant to represent a disabled person. #theosky

Grove pastoral book cover. “God’s special people: ministry with the handicapped” with a picture of a cabbage, with a question mark above it, and above that a crown.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

Got my favourite theological cartoon into a lecture for next term! Modern evangelicalism and its schisms and CofE evangelicalism's divisions only make sense in the context of the American 1920s protestant schism about whether biblical literalism was necessary to prevent all the other steps. ✝️⚓

Theological Liberalism (Protestant)
1. Crisis of scientific criticism (evolution)
2. If that isn’t necessary for faith, then what else isn’t necessary?
3. Split in protestant theology in North America (Princeton schism et al.)

On right a cartoon of three academics going down some stairs into darkness, entitled "The Descent of the Modernists". On the stairs are written, descending,
Christianity
Bible not infallible
Man not made in God's image
No miracles
No virgin birth
No deity
No atonement
No resurrection
Agnosticism
Atheism

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

Spent the day being priestly for my family. A good way to spend a Sunday now I’m an academic priest again. ⚓️✝️

Background: grey train table. Left: silver oil stock and purple stole with Cuthbert cross in gold and red. Right: book: Jean Daniélou, The Theology of Jewish Christianity

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

Both Evan and I served curacies in churches dedicated to St Nicholas of Myra. A happy St Nicholas day to one and all (complete with lipstick!) And blessings upon @newcastlecathedral.bsky.social and St Mary & St Nicholas Spalding. #CofEpeeps ⚓✝️

Icon of St Nicholas of Myra, gesturing to Christ top right, with Newcastle Cathedral bottom right.

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Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈 @thomasmsharp.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Took him to see some Christmas lights. Every year I want to go and see the Christmas lights and we haven’t had time or the energy. Now we do. Yaaay!

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