I've got an urge to re-read The Porcupine by Julian Barnes sometime soon

Great opportunity for visiting fellowships from @camglamresearch.bsky.social as part of the Natural History Humanities research programme. Call now open, with three sandpits coming up where you can find out more. Plz share!

Looks like Lynley's going to be another game of spot the east coast locations.

2/2 We are now tendering a contract up to £60k for this framework to be trialled in the context of higher education. See more here www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/sche...

1/2 Last year we published a measurement framework for social and cultural infrastructure developed by @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk… www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/value-o...

Bouge de là!

We are looking for a project manager for our new Global Economic Transformation initiative at Harvard. Please spread the word. Details here. careers.harvard.edu/job/project-...

Delighted to welcome @drbethkitson.bsky.social to the @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk. Beth will be working with me on questions of knowledge transfer and strengthening our connections with policymakers and academics. Look out for a blog in the next week or two with more on our planned approach

Remembering a #SnowDay from the early 2000s. We were living in Saffron Walden and it was impossible to get out of the town, so we walked to Audley End House, hopped the fence, and spent the day wandering around the snow covered gardens in blissful solitude.

Back to work. Here's to a positive 2026

We've had another go over night here. If you've had snow or it's turned to ice, I'd love to hear your views about clearing it.

Can't quite believe it's only a couple of months since I was at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Only makes me think of one thing.

There's a lad on the local news for running six half marathons in 24 hours. Not sure why he didn't just run three marathons.

Call it a New Year's resolution. Withdraw your consent. Get the fuck off that fascist, noncing site.

'Typefaces are infrastructure.' Discuss.

Really nice example of the way in which the perceived value of social and cultural infrastructure changes over time.

🌟New Year exciting new OA paper🌟 doi.org/10.1080/0076... from myself @hcaatedinburgh.bsky.social, @shakenbeck.bsky.social & TC O'Connell @cam-archaeology.bsky.social "Large-Scale Isotopic Data Reveal Gendered Migration into Early Medieval England c ad 400–1100" using #isotopes & #aDNA🧵⬇️ 1/

Beautiful photography #WildLondon

Protect David Attenborough at all costs

For anyone else trying to avoid the Sound of Music, how about reading about the musical nuns of the Alpha boys school run by the Sisters of Mercy in Kingston, Jamaica? So many musical alumni, they have their own radio station. More below 👇 1/2 www.alphaboysschoolradio.com/about-absr

New year's day confession - I have never watched the Traitors. Is it worth investing my time in it now?

Really nice example of the way in which the perceived value of social and cultural infrastructure changes over time.

Anyone else interested in a Ghost Writers on the Cam walk?

I'm thinking of scheduling some "Ghost Writers on the Cam" walks for the spring: c.2hr walking tours of Cambridge visiting sites associated w/ writers of the supernatural and their stories. Likely dates: Mar 21, 22, 28, 29, Apr 3, 4. Let me know below if y're interested and genuinely likely to come

#OTD 1801, the Act of Union with Ireland came into force, establishing the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Irish MPs and Peers joined the 1796 Parliament, creating the first UK Parliament. Read more about the Act👇

2025 has been book-ended by loss so glad to see the back of it. Here's to the promise of the new year.

Is it?

This is a very difficult time of year for many people. 23 years ago I lost my sister to suicide 💔 I think about her every day. If you are struggling please reach out to someone ❤️ #SuicidePrevention #Samaritans Please call 116 123 ❤️

Re-sharing Ian Jack's Granta essay on our fascination with the Titanic seeing as it seems to be part of this year's Christmas TV schedules. granta.com/leonardos-gr...

Delighted my piece on how to finance infrastructure without unnerving the bond market made the @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk top 5 blog reads in 2025! www.linkedin.com/feed/update/... Unless the Chancellor changes course, the next wave of new towns and regional transport systems will not be built.

Today seems to have been the day when the calisthenics ads emerge from hibernation.

Blue bins tomorrow.

The winner of the 2025 Enlightened Economist book prize (ie. my top choice among the econ and econ-adjacent books I read this past 12 months): www.enlightenmenteconomics.com/blog/index.p...

We're at the measuring the length of the kitchen tongs stage of what I believe is known as betwixmas. You?

Perfect for the Christmas /new year gap.

Going through a bit of a civil war / republic phase and enjoyed this. It feels relevant to a number of current policy challenges - Brexit, extremism, Devo etc etc

Thinking of my dad on the feast day of St John. Whilst we were all enjoying the leftovers, he'd be getting into his scarlet finery to head in for dinner at St John's, Cambridge. He'd always need a bracing walk in the morning after.

Interesting piece re: heritage-led local regeneration, specifically West Yorkshire mills, and this caught my attention: "... since its foundation as a "club mill" by a weavers' collective in 1829." Can anyone recommend further references/resources re: 'club mills'? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Very excited to see that @lbflyawayhome.bsky.social is bringing her collection of Ladybird books to the village. www.staplefordgranary.org.uk/whats-on/eve...

My great uncles served in the same regiment as Henry 'Tarka the Otter' Williamson. 111 years ago they were busy fraternising with the German troops in the trenches opposite. www.henrywilliamson.co.uk?view=article...

Squeezy mayonnaise bottles are taking the principle of 'Mr Colman's share' just one step too far in my opinion.

The cricket might be a bit iffy, but the writing about the cricket is giving me a good chuckle.

First snowdrops out at Wandlebury.

Proper Christmas thread.

Christmas is hard for many. The years roll, the ghosts at the table increase. We’re haunted by the absence of voices, of laughter engines who drank and ate with us. This can be day of remembrance rituals. For what it’s worth, Hooklanders near and far are in my candles today. Be gentle on yourselves.

Reminds me of my mum in the days before unleaded petrol making three years worth of Christmas puddings and storing the spares in the garage.

Woken up earlier this morning by a pair of magpies taking it in turns to drop a walnut on the roof. Happy Christmas!

My FESTIVE FAMILY PUZZLER 2025 is now available - the perfect answer for all your Christmas quizzing needs. It's the quiz where no-one needs to know the answers... open.substack.com/pub/markeast...