Arabella 🚚🇪🇺🏳️‍⚧️

Synopsis: Wife of David / Mother of cats / Driver of trucks / Socialist / Humanist / Anti-Monarchist / Pro EU /Identifies as European

Non-natal female

Header is a Seagull with wings outstretched, gliding across a grey sky.

#fedi22
#Trucker #cats #garden #cactus #books #SciFi #fantasy #ProgRock #vinyl #photography #trains #allotment

Learn more: https://portabellobelle.com/about

Website: https://portabellobelle.com/about/
Favourite.: A post I like, for reasons of my own.
Boost: A post I think other people should see
Location: East Lancashire, England, Europe.

Public Key

npub17pnns0kytgsvjpm0c682lucylccrm56dje3ve4slefyk0turhvqssrks9c

NIP-05 Address

arabellalovejoy_at_mastodonapp.uk@momostr.pink

Profile Code

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relay.nostr.band

relay.damus.io

Author Public Key

npub17pnns0kytgsvjpm0c682lucylccrm56dje3ve4slefyk0turhvqssrks9c

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Published at

2026-06-07T09:44:10Z

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Event JSON

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Last Notes

2026-05-25 05:15:00 UTC

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That is not my blue lorry.
But one of the few joys of driving left for me, is when I get to take my blue lorry to places like that.

2026-05-24 17:26:04 UTC

The #pond at the big #allotment is almost finished,it needs some finessing, but most of the plants are in and some are budding up nicely.
I'm especially happy with the two marsh pods I added at the margin, as last minute additions they were a little awkward to create, but I managed it without disturbing the water too much.
Last year, we rescued a plum tree, and a cherry tree, both had blossomed, and now there are tiny fruitlets on the cherry. We're not expecting a big harvest this year, as the trees still need to get properly established, but a few fruits will be a nice reward for giving them a lot of TLC
https://files.mastodonapp.uk/media_attachments/files/116/630/672/683/036/299/original/685b1c504c223bc9.jpg
https://files.mastodonapp.uk/media_attachments/files/116/630/673/299/279/301/original/125e0405931e2733.jpg
https://files.mastodonapp.uk/media_attachments/files/116/630/673/502/182/335/original/1617ec1f2d74bbea.jpg

2026-04-26 12:32:16 UTC

It's #InvasiveSpecies day at the #allotment.
1st and more easily dealt with is the Spanish Bluebell, which I figure I can just dig up, and replace with the native variety.
2nd is Marsh Horsetail, this is a nasty piece of work, it is everywhere I look.
So, is there a way to eradicate it that is
A) inexpensive, and
B) doesn't involve fighting a battle that will last the rest of my life?
#gardening

2026-03-22 14:11:53 UTC

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As we decided last week, I'm not an economist.
That said, I was pretty sure our economy would suffer as a direct result of Brexit, which is why I voted to stay.
As an aside: my boss and I talked about how we'd be voting in that referendum, and he went the wrong way, the business Has never been as prosperous as it was prr-brexit
He was the turkey that voted for Christmas.

2026-03-15 10:16:36 UTC

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Thanks for taking the time to help me with this, I feel like I understand more now.

2026-03-15 10:03:23 UTC

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Ah! Deep waters indeed.
But
The key is Objective Value, that's what I was looking for, clearly I won't find it!
Does that mean that if we were able to define an objective value, we would be able to put economics to bed, and as an example: a loaf would forever cost £1?

2026-03-15 09:30:08 UTC

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You can tell I'm not an economist :-D
Is it not the case tho' that a pound, any pound, anywhere in the UK, is worth the sane as any other pound, when compared to say a US Dollar, at a given point in time? (I know that's a lit of variables.)
Surely there must be a way of saying, this is the value of "currency A" which applies outside of market forces, or is it constantly varying? If there is no consistent value to a "tenner" why do will still call it that?
These are questions I feel like I need to have answers to, because I like certainty, and if I can't rely on what my bank statement tells me, how do I know what I can do today?

2026-03-15 09:06:17 UTC

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I'd happily live in a UK which was a full member of the EU.
I do though have an issue with the Euro, which is that it's not really a single currency, rather a group of currencies that shares a name. Like the Dollar in the USA, Australia, Canada etc.
Surely to be a single currency it would be worth the same in all the countries that use it, be regulated by a single authority, and possibly underwritten even a unified taxation structure.
I'm happy to be shown any error in my reasoning.

2026-03-14 11:11:21 UTC

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Plant it, and by autumn you'll have something yummy to eat

2026-03-02 06:30:33 UTC

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Isn't "Defensive Attack" an oxymoron?

2026-01-09 19:39:48 UTC

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Yes, but perhaps it should just be shut down, since it has no real value.
Also X's AI should not be called Grok in any event, because of what Grok actually means.

2025-11-02 09:00:08 UTC

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Would you recommend The Diplomat to someone who enjoyed The West Wing?

2025-09-07 06:53:44 UTC

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I remain convinced that economic growth, exponential or not, is in fact the problem, not the solution.

2025-08-26 05:57:50 UTC

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I have never understood the gander pay gap, there is no logic to it (yes, I know)
I work for a small company (around 70 employees.) which is 'gender blind' the same job attracts the same pay rate, regardless of gender.
I guess I'm lucky.

2025-08-20 05:59:37 UTC

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Taxation is too complex, and in some cases (Fuel duty, for example) contains hidden multipliers.
I favour simplicity, a simple system is less easily twisted by those who can afford 'good' accountants.

2025-07-10 06:02:00 UTC

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Not quickly enough.
Social housing is hard, millions need to be invested, and returns are low.
Even a not for profit has to have returns, to cover on-going costs, wages, maintenance, etc.
Part of the problem stems from Thatcher's sell off of social housing stocks, not so much the actual selling, more that the revenue was not used to replace the stock, like a shop selling all the bread, not ordering cake, and then wondering why there's no bread on the shelves.
Fixing the problem is going to require many things, time, money, legislation etc. and I'm not sure the current govt. is serious about housing at the social level, so I'm not holding my breath for a solution to the problem, and it absolutely is a problem, and is more likely a crisis.
***
As an aside, if the decline in global birth rate continues, it may solve the housing crisis by "natural wastage"

2025-06-26 05:47:22 UTC

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I don't understand why there has to be a consultation on "whether" surely it must be enacted, consult on "how" by all means, but doing this should just be a matter of course.

2025-06-23 05:58:56 UTC

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It's kinda hard to throw a country into jail.
Less difficult, but still not easy, is throwing the *errant* country's leadership into jail.
Short of a planetary police force (The Day the Earth Stood Still, anyone?) is there really, currently, any organisation which can hold state actors to account?

2025-05-01 05:48:58 UTC

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I've seen this, but not seen any source for it.
I certainly hope it is genuine.

2025-04-17 10:25:13 UTC

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That's not 90% of men are violent offenders, which seems to be what you're implying.
I think you should clarify...

2025-04-06 07:22:17 UTC

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I'm not sure the Labour Government is serious about anything that might actually benefit anyone.
I was going to say more, but then realised I don't need to.

2025-03-30 07:59:57 UTC

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Also, there is a side benefit, for His Ghastly Oranginess, that of reducing the effectiveness of those universities to educate.
We're all aware that properly educated people are a threat to tyranny, and #Trump is indeed a tyrant.

2025-03-28 16:35:02 UTC

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"At The Heart of the Court of the Tangerine Tyrant" sounds like the title of an epic Prog Rock track, one which lasts around 23' 47"

2025-03-22 11:09:47 UTC

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Your reply to Chris, points to some of my favourite soapboxes:
A Written constitution for the UK.
Abolition of the Monarchy.
Complete reform of the "upper" house
Electoral reform

2025-03-16 09:07:24 UTC

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Is it ineptitude though?
Or is it a deliberate undermining of the support for a part of the population that may be seen by some as a liability?
It's time to #TaxTheRich, #AbolishTheMonarchy, and create a #UniversalBasicIncome

2025-03-09 08:54:27 UTC

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Of itself, I don't think the right to buy is a bad thing.
The problem is that the revenue from it went to the central government, rather than being used to build new social housing stock, in the area from which it was derived.

2025-02-18 15:31:29 UTC

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This is wonderful.
I sometimes greyscale photographs in order to add something by taking away distraction, but this is a step beyond, taking it to a higher level. By. reduction, you have increased

2025-02-06 08:18:45 UTC

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I realise that I'm in a minority, but interest rate drops affect me more adversely than hikes.
I have no mortgage, or interest rate dependant lending, but I do have some (small) savings, if rates climb, my savings increase in quantitative terms, even if not in "real" value.

2025-01-14 13:58:17 UTC

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Here's what I said a little while ago: https://mastodonapp.uk/@ArabellaLovejoy/113746136282112830 it was tongue in cheek, but someone seems to have taken me seriously

2024-12-23 13:55:28 UTC

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In some ways the "origin story" is more compelling.

2024-12-14 11:47:28 UTC

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A combination of new recruits to the industry, skilled immigrants, and the builders we already have would solve workforce issues now, and in the long term.
However, as I see it, talking about building houses is one thing, getting them built is another.
It will need the will of local authorities, to push it forward, and a plan for the increase in demand on services that support a quality of life for the influx of people to those homes, and services.

2024-12-12 21:37:57 UTC

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Incredible, brave, and dignified lady.

2024-12-08 16:12:05 UTC

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As you have alluded to, elections are only won by obtaining votes, and so political folks need to appeal to "the many" and that makes it hard to stick to principles which may be less popular. 2/2

2024-12-08 16:11:44 UTC

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I want a politician, and his party to define their policies, and hold true to them.
Then, I'll find the one who most closely believes as I do, and vote for him/her.
I understand that we'll not agree on every point of policy, it's more like a friendship, than a marriage, and there will be areas where I may be able to compromise.
1/2

2024-12-01 11:02:49 UTC

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There was an interesting documentary about the humans involved in content moderation on BBC Radio 4, those guys get put through the mill doing that job, with little to no support, and earn very little.

2024-12-01 09:29:36 UTC

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Surely the answer is in The Algorithm.
If The Algorithm identifies something one likes, and amplifies it, can it not be taught that when something falls into the Harmful category, it should be de-amplified, or better still flagged, and reported to the local authorities, for where it originated.
Or am I being ridiculously simple?