Outside a building site, a big, tattooed builder asks to say hello to my puppy. I say, ‘Sure.’ He ruffles her tiny head with his huge hand. She loves it, leaning towards him. He says, in a deep, cigarette-rasped voice, ‘If I had a dog, I’d want it to be just like her.’

A range of summer bedding including geraniums, osteospermum, alyssum and junior plugs.

The nursery version of “I only went in for one thing.” So excited to pot these up. #SmallJoys

There’s a recognized pattern in autism that doesn’t get talked about enough.

It’s called perseveration.
It means the mind continues to return to the same thought…

As a late diagnosed Autistic, this sort of information helps me understand my thoughts and emotions through an appropriate lens. And gives me permission to be kinder to myself. 2/2

Thank you so much for this thread! 🧵
The information about “replaying conversations, holding onto unresolved interactions not being able to “drop” something”, along with the rumination and distressing thoughts is SO useful. 1/2

Yes, I love them so much. I greet them like old friends when they pop up every year. I adore perennials.

I’m so glad! I was reading your other posts and it sounds like you’ve really been through it. Please accept a virtual hug and keep us updated on the rhubarb. 💛

Pink dicentra or bleeding heart in the garden. Pink and white heart shaped flowers curve on long stems.

Bleeding heart in the spring garden.
#SmallJoys

This may be the most quintessentially British post I’ve ever seen and it’s glorious. Gill, you sound absolutely wonderful and I’m sure your rhubarb is too!

What a beautiful picture. The colours are sumptuous!

You're not going to fail.

You're going to figure it out.

An excited dog sits next to a scowling cat in a bicycle basket.

“This is awesome! Don’t you think this is awesome? So awesome!”

“You are SO immature.”

An image of a vampire standing at the door way and in a speech bubble says"Can I come in?" A blonde lady who appears to be wearing a white nightgown answers with a speech bubble." I don't know, can you?" Text then reads: Cursing quietly, the vampire backed away, foiled yet again by the english teacher's pedantry.

This is the sort of discrimination ducks face on a daily basis...

And yet the world just looks away & walks on by

A chonky tuxedo cat sits on my knee while I am on a swing seat. He is looking out at his garden.

A spring evening on the swing seat with Gilly. #Cats #CatsOfBluesky #TuxedoCats #SmallJoys

A chonky tuxedo cat with half a tail lies at full stretch on the lawn.

Happy #Caturday from Gilly and his magnificent whiskers.
#Cats #CatsOfBluesky #TuxedoCats

Delighted that #TheNewsQuiz is back on #R4

Stopping to admire the small, beautiful things on my nature walk.

A photo of the sun setting behind a flowering Japanese weeping cherry tree

Wisdom is better than intelligence, but without kindness, neither one of them matter much in the grand scheme of things. #nature #bloomscrolling #sunset #photography #karma

I cannot fathom how someone could do that without leaving a note or door knocking. It’s basic courtesy to respect other people’s property.

Given the choice of laugh or cry, sometimes you’ve just got to laugh.

Stunning! I love this time when the blossom is in its full glory. I look forward to more pictures. 🙂

Painting of a flowing stylised plant in purple against a white background

Botanical inspired watercolours by contemporary artist Sally Ann Langley #WonensArt

It’s happened again……

Go with it. Hopefully you’ve had a good weep at home. We carry such a huge amount of stuff with us: thoughts, memories, fear and self criticism. Add in anxiety, overthinking and overwhelm, and sometimes the geyser is going to blow. Hope you’re feeling a bit better now. . 💛🫂

That’s so lovely. The squirrels in my garden are still very skittish.

A large Sundance bush with lime green leaves, covered in clusters of tiny white flowers.

A close up of a clump of tiny white flowers on a sundance shrub.

In full bloom. 💛
#SmallJoys

Pink blossom in full flower on a tree with a bright blue sky behind.

The blossom is everywhere!
#SmallJoys

A sleeping chonky tuxedo cat on the top of a sofa, his paws all a dangle.

Night night, sleep tight.

I recently watched “Gone” on ITV and thought it was a really good drama. It’s not very cheerful but is a strong story, really well acted.