Kate Morley

The first UK opinion poll conducted following the Green Party’s win in the Gorton And Denton by-election is quite something:

Reform: 23% (-1)
Green: 21% (+4)
Labour: 16% (-2)
Conservative: 16% (-2)
Lib Dem: 14% (=)

“The Greens are now the most popular party in all age categories under 50. Some 49% of 18-24 year olds would back the Greens, as well as 27% of 25 to 49-year-olds.”

Source: YouGov poll for Sky News: https://news.sky.com/story/greens-overtake-labour-in-sensational-poll-13514420

From our Sugar & Sloth calendar, as if anyone on the fediverse needs a reminder:

I often see people posting Nikita Gill poems here, so let me share a little story.

Her poem ‘For Her’ is one of my favourites, and I told her that it can always bring me to tears, and I realise she didn’t have women like me in mind when she wrote it (as I’m trans), but I hope she didn’t mind me seeing myself in it and sharing the experience.

Her reply: “I wrote this for all women, so this poem is absolutely for you!” 🥹

No, I’m not “addicted” to procrastination: I can start whenever I want

RE: @katemorley@hachyderm.io

Disappointing update: @sarble@mefi.social has pointed out that these ghost signs are modern fakes: https://bl.ag/faux-ghostsigns-for-ballymore/

Clare and I went on an impromptu tour of London infrastructure today after unexpectedly ending up at Dishoom Canary Wharf due to a power cut at the Kensington branch.

A ten-minute walk from Canary Wharf took us to the Temple Of Storms (officially the Isle Of Dogs Pumping Station), a grade II* listed building constructed in 1988. While I’m not generally into postmodern architecture, it’s refreshing to see a modern industrial building that isn’t just a metal and concrete box.

Back in 2019 when we put down fake grass carpet in our office meeting room, I suggested we write messages to the future on the floorboards. Now we’re moving to a new office the fake grass has been pulled up, revealing this message I wrote when I was struggling through the early stages of my transition.

Hey Past Kate,
It really did.
— your future self

It’s only a single council by-election, but Tuesday’s Green gain from Reform feels symbolic — the Greens received 44% of the vote, Reform 35%, and the traditional parties only 19% between them: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y2j42dgy5o

I was devastated when I missed the spectacular aurora a couple of years ago. We were travelling to Scotland at the time, but had stopped off overnight near Manchester, and from our hotel just south of a motorway the sky was just a yellow glow of light pollution. The next day on Skye (and on Mastodon) it was all anyone was talking about.

I’m delighted to say that last night I finally saw the northern lights for the first time in my life, aged 42, from the balcony of our flat in the far south west of England.

Know your Star Trek phenomena:

Plasma storm: Something colourful is shaking the ship

Gravimetric distortion: Something heavy is shaking the ship

Subspace anomaly: Something invisible is shaking the ship

This piece of abstract art is called ‘Bluey’

Despite the devastating Supreme Court ruling and the looming prospect of a bathroom ban in the UK, overall 2025 was a good year for me, both personally and professionally:

By the start of the year, three months after the operation, I was getting more mobile again. Not having any surgery this year meant I could actually take time off for enjoyable things. As well as a two-week break in Berwick and Skye, me and Clare visited London ten times (including several trips to Kew Gardens and maybe twenty Dishoom breakfasts).

I saw Chris Bush’s incredible play Otherland (twice). Its powerful depiction of the almost spiritual side of being trans gave me the final push I needed to accept that going stealth is not the goal, and I started talking openly about my experiences. Despite the Supreme Court ruling a few weeks later, I have no regrets. Attending the subsequent trans rights protest outside parliament was an emotional experience: I’d never seen so many other trans people (and allies) before.

I made some time for hobbies. We went to a queer poetry workshop at @vagina_museum@masto.ai. I learnt to identify native trees by their twigs and leaves. I read about twenty books. I listened to music, and found two new artists I really love — RØRY and SkyDxddy — who we saw in concert in November. I finally found an open world game that I could enjoy without getting stressed out (Assassin’s Creed Odyssey), and played a few cosy games too.

I’m exercising regularly, and doing yoga every evening. I’ve lost 7kg over the year and, in combination with the operation, that means I’m finally happy with my body shape. I’ve found clothes that suit me, from long skirts to bootcut trousers to a couple of designer dresses that give me a real feeling of gender euphoria.

We finished the management buyout, which means that after eighteen years working there I’m now a 30% owner of my company. In December I finished the two-year project to rewrite our content management with an emphasis on performance, and I announced it in the keynote at our conference, no longer feeling too nervous about public speaking. (We’re launching “the world’s fastest websites” on 5th January.)

Finally, I quit LinkedIn and Instagram. It’s Fediverse-only for me now.