Thread by @NicolaJames007

Some of you know me from my phone-melting, slightly anarchic, light relief threads. Although they appear flippant, there is a very serious idea and a lot of work behind them.
#BrexitIsPersonal 1/21

After a few months of spending all day, every day, taking abuse from leavers & feeling ground down by the negativity & repetition, I knew that I needed a break. I started to set up threads, had fun & felt better. I wondered, if others needed a break, too. #BrexitIsPersonal 2/21

At 1st it was chaotic, but it's grown into something far more organised. There's a group of regulars, who want to be tagged into every new thread. There is no tagging w/o permission, as we all got blocked by William Shatner in a tragic tagging accident. #BrexitIsPersonal 3/21

There's no debate on the thread. At 1st this was intended to mean no brexit debate - stray trolls are ignored, muted or we #BlockLikeAShat (see 3 ⬆️). In general, though, we avoid all debate, as the thread was intended as a sanctuary for weary remainers #BrexitIsPersonal 4/21

The thread's given me many friends. Yes, actual friends, some of whom I've even met in real life. It's also given me belly laughs, support & the strength to carry on. My regulars are my 'butterflies' - I herd them. They make the effort worthwhile. #BrexitIsPersonal 5/21

For months I naively assumed that we were in our own little world. Then, when I met 1 of my Twitter heroes @GuitarMoog I felt compelled to explain my thread & was amazed to discover that he's 1 of our silent readers, who pop by when they need a pick-me-up #BrexitIsPersonal 6/21

Anyone & everyone's welcome on the thread, if they don't tag &/or debate - even, shock horror, leavers. We've had leavers, who've joined in & I believe it's a good way to connect & stop regarding each in an abstract, generalised way #BrexitIsPersonal 7/21

I've worried that ppl will see me as flippant & not know how seriously I take the fight to stop brexit, esp as satire is usually my 'weapon' of choice. However, I think most of us know that there's more than 1 way to skin a brexit & reach leavers. #BrexitIsPersonal 8/21

My personal reasons for hating brexit are well known, but for those who don't know: under current proposals I won't be able to return to the UK with my EU spouse & may have to renounce my UK citizenship to stay living here. I didn't get a vote. #BrexitIsPersonal 9/21

That I may be shut out of my own country breaks my heart, but seeing it destroyed for no good reason, only bad ones, is unbearable. I can't just sit behind my keyboard & tweet, even if I've a lovely spot from which to democratically overthrow stuff #BrexitIsPersonal 10/21

In Nov 2017 a protest was being organised in London for 11th Dec. In a conversation with my friend @grrrahh he talked about being annoyed he couldn't get there from his home in France. Somehow that turned into organising our own sister event in Brussels #BrexitIsPersonal 11/21

In just 2.5 wks we organised the event & even got wonderful speakers incl @natalieben @jonworth @ottocrat & @GuitarMoog. We also spoke & told our own personal stories. Suprisingly our open mic idea was a big success & confirmed for us that #BrexitIsPersonal 12/21

That day we recruited @GuitarMoog into the team & decided that this needed to be more than a 1 off event. So I spent Dec setting up the Final Say For All Foundation & even longer proving to the bank that I'm not a criminal #BrexitIsPersonal 13/21

You can read about us on our website: finalsayforall.eu .What I've discovered when talking to leavers in rl, is that most don't know about disenfranchised UK cits & they certainly don't understand the ramifications. Their reaction is always emotional #BrexitIsPersonal 14/21

Our aims are to get a final say for all & make as many ppl as possible aware of the personal impact stories of brexit. Our focus has been on UK in the EU, b/c that is what we are, but we also want to highlight the personal impact on EU27 & UK in UK #BrexitIsPersonal 15/21

My Twitter name, Bloke from Barnsley, was a gift from a bot, but I've grown to love it for many reasons, not least the irony. Sadly, I've never been to Barnsley, but, if we raise enough money, that'll be the 1st place we go to converse with ppl #BrexitIsPersonal 16/21

So why this thread? Well, I need your help. I don't have a vote, have been silenced & ignored by the UK gov. I'm not rich & so far I've used my savings to pay for various foundation set up costs, my part in a legal challenge & to attend marches #BrexitIsPersonal 17/21

If you've ever read my thread & been cheered up or got a boost from it, or if it made you feel as if there is still some lightness in the dark, please consider supporting us in our serious endeavours - you can donate from as little as £1 up to ??? #BrexitIsPersonal 18/21

Yes, I make jokes, but I'm VERY serious about achieving our aims.As fellow board members, @MintyTeaboy & @grrrahh, will confirm, when I've a goal, I really am a "bl**dy difficult woman".Visit our website finalsayforall.eu for details.
#BrexitIsPersonal 19/21

None of this can do this alone and I have been very lucky to have met some wonderful, funny, intelligent and dedicated people. I know that, if we work together and support each other, we can stop brexit. #BrexitIsPersonal 20/21

Finally the @FinalSayForAll team:
@MintyTeaboy @grrrahh @GuitarMoog @ProperCharly @justinbellinger @IncorrectEn @IAmMardikins @ColonelEscargot @john196201 @blueunicornmoon @MaldenSaboteur @FirehorseP @eu_lover @Sillyshib @Dimigaza
ALL worth following ❤ #BrexitIsPersonal End

For reasons that are too complicated to explain (I'm an idiot) I managed to forget to list one of the Final Say For All team members: my friend @Dogtrouser_PI . Thank you for allthe lattes and the *screams* ❤❤❤