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Sallyoo

@sallyoo.bsky.social

London born, long term resident in Italy. Was an architect, once, but not in the way you'd think! Serious interests are many, but often political. Silly interests are cats and Formula 1!

created September 30, 2023

655 followers 897 following 4,634 posts

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Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

That's a useful rabbit hole to go down! Borrow? Sorrow? I see someone has suggested Gomorrah, so maybe a 'dialect' word ending ..ah might be a lead? Is it a Scottish artist perchance?

1/9/2025, 8:12:15 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Hah! I have listened to a few of those, but in daylight hours - otherwise I wouldn't get past the first sentence. Excellent work.

1/9/2025, 8:04:35 PM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social)

Good effort by newbie contestants Lincoln University, winning their first round in #UniversityChallenge

1/9/2025, 8:01:04 PM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social)

I'm very bad at sleeping, and often use a podcast as a lullaby. Last night was a major fail, @techwontsave.us kept me awake for far too long! Tonight I shall try Quiet Riot from @sturdyalex.bsky.social, no disrespect to the content, but his voice is wonderfully soporific.

31/8/2025, 9:40:17 PM | 3 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Well that's probably a good idea, akin to calling an Ambassador in for a talking to - but it's kind of arm's length criticism, isn't it? Get in there and ask awkward questions of Starmer and Lammy, and have a go at finding out what the Tories think about the brutality.

31/8/2025, 6:37:00 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social)

This is a particularly interesting episode of this podcast - it ranges way beyond fossil fuels into some fascinating observations on wider geopolitical issues.

31/8/2025, 12:54:14 PM | 5 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

If 'celebrity magazines' in Italy are anything to go by there is a great passion for reading stories about British Royals - usually complete fantasies! One recent regret is that my hairdresser doesn't get these fanzines any more, since all of her clients have phones.

31/8/2025, 8:54:06 AM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

I was living in Italy, and I didn't hear any sympathy from my Italian friends who simply told me 'Your Queen's died'. (I did explain!)

31/8/2025, 8:43:25 AM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

The least insane think that vested interests in oil/gas/coal are behind the hoax, and that those parties stand to gain money. How they imagine that they themselves stand to gain is beyond me.

30/8/2025, 10:19:51 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Looks a bit like AI for turtles!

30/8/2025, 9:21:24 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

📌

29/8/2025, 4:40:03 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social)

I have given up doomscrolling tonight to enjoy my thunderstorm.

28/8/2025, 11:28:04 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Shades of David Attenborough's scorpion tattoo missing a couple of legs!

27/8/2025, 9:50:41 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social)

#Newsnight has the increasingly middle aged Sebastian Payne trying, without conviction, to argue against Ed Davey boycotting the Trump State visit. Good on Ed for his stance on this.

27/8/2025, 9:43:48 PM | 6 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

That cat does look determinedly sturdy! None of this woke yoga stuff thank you very much.

27/8/2025, 7:27:44 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Young black kitten stretched out on a white sheet in a somewhat ungainly pose which I am pretending is yoga!
27/8/2025, 7:26:01 PM | 24 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

I think you are too optimistic. This meme that Ukraine is the aggressor isn't limited to Trump, and quite probably has taken root among the American public. I haven't seen much kickback in the US media.

27/8/2025, 6:12:17 PM | 8 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

I'm rather beginning to suspect that Farage or A.N.Other decreed that no further mention of that phrase would sully the BBC's feeds.

26/8/2025, 6:58:56 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social)

I'm a bit surprised that amongst all the negative comments about Reform's immigration ideas, I haven't noticed anyone quaking at the description of asylum seekers as "fighting age men". (Yusuf, 3 times on the Today programme.) An XL Bully whistle.

26/8/2025, 6:43:56 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Oh well spotted - although that colourful octopus seems to have some Lego like characteristics!

26/8/2025, 5:35:25 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

But we never hear WHY did the commercial interests get away with this silencing. Lead, sugar, (arguably) oil are not high value commodities - are their advocates simply venal?

25/8/2025, 10:37:46 PM | 4 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Soylent Green vibes coming through strongly!

25/8/2025, 9:50:07 PM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

He definitely parked that balloon more skillfully than I manage with my car!

25/8/2025, 9:48:39 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social)

That reconstruction of the Piper Alpha explosion (just finished on BBC2) was very interesting and well made.

25/8/2025, 9:04:09 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

🥴Maybe a bit of overthinking going on here!

25/8/2025, 7:10:22 PM | 5 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Badfinger vibe there ...

25/8/2025, 7:08:25 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social)

The world is shit, and Trump and Putin have convinced us that they are so dangerous that any disagreement is fatal for the world. That's not true of Netenyahu, so why is he getting away with his obscene butchery unchastised?

25/8/2025, 6:56:21 PM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Blue Heron Farm (@blueheronfarm.bsky.social) reposted

I'm at the Daiso, anyone need fucked up socks?

Two bizarre pairs of partial socks. One are like toe socks with the top of the toe cut off but also it doesn't go around your heel and the other is just around the heel but with your skin touching the shoe.
25/8/2025, 6:34:38 PM | 142 6 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

"Mittens on kittens" to quote a line from a famous song!

25/8/2025, 6:44:53 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Yeah but - as in so many medieval, even Renaissance buildings, that window isn't positioned sensibly in relation to the staircase, (unless you're a fan of Hopper!)

24/8/2025, 10:12:48 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

FUNEX?

24/8/2025, 10:09:11 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

I have a friend who clearly overbought stuff from that catalogue, so every Christmas I am blessed with a little blast from the past, and no clue as to what to do with it!

24/8/2025, 10:05:10 PM | 4 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social)

2025 expressions on the faces of these putti.

24/8/2025, 10:02:22 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

So this 'event' is about 90 minutes away (I think). Not too long to stay up!

24/8/2025, 9:55:50 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

If my personal experience is anything to go by, this (not only social) media 'flooding of the zone' discourages me from posting here on Bluesky, or more broadly taking any interest in anything. The tactic is an effective silencer.

24/8/2025, 9:53:04 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

That the polluting/hazardous industries are located in disadvantaged communities is true the world over. The bit I don't understand is that those same disadvantaged are encouraged to scream for those industries to return if they are taken away.

24/8/2025, 9:46:54 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Been there, done that!!

24/8/2025, 8:01:12 PM | 3 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

And sometimes the one you are most reluctant to 'adopt' turns out to be the most wonderful cat you've ever known!

24/8/2025, 7:58:44 PM | 4 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Oh wow - that one is going to need some feeding up, but you will feel so rewarded for your care.

24/8/2025, 7:56:15 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Don't you have any German oligarchs with a nice Schloss to offer?

24/8/2025, 7:36:51 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

ChatGPT is taking the piss naming the octopus Octavia ...

24/8/2025, 7:34:01 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Oh yes - this happened frequently in Italy (though I haven't seen it recently), and you often get the new name and at the same time the previous name. Not only for the reason that the old name was 'inappropriate', just progress in politics. (@nickwhithorn.bsky.social)

23/8/2025, 9:34:46 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

As well as getting my usual 'like', which doesn't seem enough, I'd like you to know how interesting I find your posts. Especially those like today's which show us less well known paintings.

23/8/2025, 7:08:50 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Street names are fascinating, Italy does them particularly well and I'll often look up a name to see 'what he did' to get honoured in this way. Close to me we have via Sputnik, and via Yuri Gagarin - I didn't need Wikipedia for those!

23/8/2025, 6:53:26 PM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social)

When are they going to announce that Lucy Connolly is going to appear on Strictly Come Dancing?

23/8/2025, 6:39:38 PM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

I hear Venezuela is on high alert!

22/8/2025, 6:48:19 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Vance is even appearing neck tie less in solidarity ... or?

22/8/2025, 6:46:14 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Cofveve (? maybe I have the speling incorrect!)

22/8/2025, 6:45:09 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Look at the contrast in body language and presentation on show here - Vance waiting smartly/smugly in the wings while Long Red Tie has been forgotten. Trump is looking derelict.

22/8/2025, 6:44:05 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social)

Radio 4 has offered me 2 straight hours about women's rugby.

22/8/2025, 9:57:30 AM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

If you study the ingredients on most pet foods you'll also find sugar added to these.

22/8/2025, 9:33:25 AM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

I don't understand this argument - surely the parents don't taste the over sugared baby food, any more than pet owners taste the cat food? It has to be the sugar industry pushing their evil product to the manufacturers for profit.

22/8/2025, 9:30:16 AM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social)

Wordle 1,524 4/6* ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨 ⬜⬜🟨⬜🟨 ⬜🟨🟩⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Happy about this one, I had failed miserably yesterday.

21/8/2025, 10:19:55 AM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

What confuses me (and I think you allude to it when you note that no application for a 'change of use' had been made, or been seen to be necessary) is why this case has jumped out of planning law into injunction stuff determined by a 'higher court'.

20/8/2025, 10:19:46 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

But who could resist his wonderful gingerness?

20/8/2025, 9:59:47 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

The Food Programme is consistently excellent. It's probably ignored by too many who think it's about cooking - but it's often a deep dive into the politics of food in every sense.

20/8/2025, 9:56:36 PM | 4 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

And the distraction of re-inventing the wheel is just that - a distraction.

20/8/2025, 9:42:48 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Trump might fancy that. Lock it up safely!

20/8/2025, 9:38:58 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social)

Oh what fun - desperate for rain, and sitting in the middle of three thunderstorms, counting the time lapse between lightning and thunder, in four languages! We managed English and Italian fine, struggled momentarily with 7 in French, failed after 11 in German, and couldn't get beyond 3 in Russian.

20/8/2025, 9:34:07 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

But also, particularly for the gardening feed 🌱 a mention of your location (in your bio perhaps) is really helpful! There are two hemispheres on this earth, and seeing deep winter pics in my midsummer, without understanding they are from a NZ user, gets confusing.

19/8/2025, 10:42:13 PM | 8 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

The notion of 'the common good' sacrificed to a minuscule saving of public expenditure.

19/8/2025, 10:20:34 PM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

That site failed me on first sight. Why'd I want to join some Scandi outfit? (I never use Arial!)

19/8/2025, 10:17:40 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

AI has become a nonsensical 'branding tool', applied to perfectly respectable, well researched and implemented machine learning. It isn't "AI" which is interpreting medical imaging usefully, it's slowly and carefully peer reviewed image recognition.

19/8/2025, 10:13:09 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Also the Building Research Establishment (although that was privatised in 1997), governments of whatever hue never learn.

19/8/2025, 10:02:35 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

I predict it will be replaced by an assertion that China has made all this climate change stuff up in order to corner the market in renewables. (Or is this already an opinion?)

19/8/2025, 9:14:22 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

You'll perhaps find the prog a bit upbeat and heartening (aka woke), but it's a million miles away from the attitudes of Epping.

19/8/2025, 7:32:45 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

But at the same time it should be given the opportunity to have a ruling opinion through a planning appeal process, which (and I have only read The Standard story) it seems has been denied.

19/8/2025, 7:19:23 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

There was a really good Radio 4 programme about how awful hotels are for asylum seekers. It was from Glasgow, and quite possibly was The Food Programme - I'll try to track it down.

19/8/2025, 7:07:06 PM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

It will be an interesting planning appeal. I was involved with an ex military site which had been sold off to a developer, and we successfully argued that the NAAFI building should be accepted as a pub .

19/8/2025, 7:00:56 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

"I have heard" that they have bred the bitterness out of them, so the soaking is apparently not necessary these days. I cut them into very thin slices and burn them on the barbecue, which avoids the sliminess which I associate with them and don't like.

18/8/2025, 7:32:56 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Time for a trip to your nearest recycling centre?

18/8/2025, 12:43:03 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

It's not as if the olive tree gives up its oil voluntarily, like rubber!

18/8/2025, 12:38:10 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Birkenstocks are still expensive - so much so that I noticed someone sporting a rip-off version yesterday! (Very good rip-off, just that the brand name was embossed on the outer side, rather than the more discreet inner side favoured by the brand - plus a bit of inappropriate Chinese glitter.)

17/8/2025, 10:13:58 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social)

A reminder that Part 2 of the BBC Radio 4 "Hershey's Hiroshima" is airing this afternoon at 3pm. If you didn't hear Part 1 (from last Sunday) there is time to listen to it.

17/8/2025, 12:21:42 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

The sort of children (including myself) who connected with the Woodcraft Folk didn't need the 'permission' of their parents.

17/8/2025, 9:53:09 AM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Wordle 1,520 3/6* ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜🟨🟩⬜🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Better today - I had missed one earlier in the week which was the start of a bad day!

17/8/2025, 8:16:55 AM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

I'd happily write something to entice foreign visitors about galleries, museums, castles, stately homes and inland countryside - but even Grok is going to struggle with Mablethope.

16/8/2025, 7:11:34 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social)

This episode of Annika on BBC One tonight sounds promising, although I'm wondering whether the script was invented by AI. 😊

image
16/8/2025, 6:11:25 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

They have been selling these in Italy for a couple of years. They are completely 'plug and play' so when you move apartment you simply take it with you like a bit of furniture!

16/8/2025, 3:50:03 PM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Titanic laissez faire.

15/8/2025, 7:04:59 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reposted

This podcast is completely mindblowing - it challenges everything you thought was 'agreed'. I encourage everybody from whatever political persuasion to listen to it. Also a shout out to the 'Disorder' podcast which hosted it (at least that's where I found it).

14/8/2025, 11:32:37 PM | 0 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social)

This podcast is completely mindblowing - it challenges everything you thought was 'agreed'. I encourage everybody from whatever political persuasion to listen to it. Also a shout out to the 'Disorder' podcast which hosted it (at least that's where I found it).

14/8/2025, 11:32:37 PM | 0 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

I am not an American citizen, and while I am not averse to Gov Newsom's position, I am unconvinced that this form of 'tweet' is useful.

14/8/2025, 11:20:11 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

There is a road sign (of course, not familiar to British drivers) which warns you if this nowadays extremely rare rule applies to the road which you are on in Italy. Don't you have this in France?

image
13/8/2025, 9:46:54 PM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

That's an opinion close to my heart. Doncha find that the most interesting company is always the smokers huddling outside!

13/8/2025, 9:39:23 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

The first thing I pick up if A&E is going to be involved is a book, or two, to be on the safe side.

13/8/2025, 11:55:22 AM | 3 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

It would get closer if the fines were bigger. You get £50 for doing 35 in a 30 limit, so I'd up that to £250 at least!

11/8/2025, 6:47:12 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

I think Part 2 is likely to be even more harrowing.

11/8/2025, 6:43:25 PM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social)

This is a tremendous representation of a historic piece of journalism, certainly worth an attentive listen.

11/8/2025, 6:12:58 PM | 7 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

It could be seen as a bit Trumpian - just a way of swelling the coffers of the treasury!

11/8/2025, 6:09:36 PM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Striking parallels with Trump.

8/8/2025, 10:40:07 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

I could not dispute any of that. My 'special area' of interest is the Farnese Pope dynasty in the Renaissance, and they were nepotistic tyrants - but without them having commissioned dodgy types like Micheangelo I'd never have heard of them.

8/8/2025, 10:26:11 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

I really couldn't say! I suppose it comes down to whether you buy the tub of 'cacio e pepe sauce' in Waitrose or Lidl 🤔

8/8/2025, 1:57:06 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Very true. I once ate in a vegan restaurant with a marvellous kitchen, and they had made a pasta and 'seafood' dish which had really salty pistacchios playing the part of mussels very successfully.

8/8/2025, 12:39:46 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

The waiter should ideally be named Giuseppe! And cacio is a generic name for cheese, whereas the currently cited essential of it being pecorino (which is a sheeps' milk cheese) is imprecise. Do not challenge me on this irrelevancy, I am capable of surviving a captcha.

7/8/2025, 10:32:13 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

That is one of the things which Bluesky gets (maybe got) close to replicating with its Feeds. The well curated Feeds are still rather engaging, but quite a few have been abandoned.

7/8/2025, 10:27:25 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

It's what AI understands as 'tea'!

7/8/2025, 10:21:30 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

Oh I agree! I just hope that whoever is the British ambassador has the nous to entertain the poor sod charged with complaining with some Port infused Stilton.

7/8/2025, 10:10:16 PM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

I hear that the Americans make tea in a microwave ...

7/8/2025, 10:02:49 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture Sallyoo (@sallyoo.bsky.social) reply parent

But the delightful theatre of a restaurant serving this dish at the table - the hot pasta thrown into a hollowed out wheel of pecorino cheese, shuffled around with pepper, and flourished onto the plate by a beautiful waiter! Defo no cream required.

7/8/2025, 10:01:42 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view