#StormBran 6 hour power outage around the village & thankfully although pitch black was very pleased to get home after a hairy drive down from Biggar: lots of debris about. Apparently not long after I got back a tree fell down blocking the main road. Thankful for warmth of fireplace! Power back on.

Over the moon with some happy health news just received. Bouncing about the study full of joy and having the confirmation of what I'm doing in conjunction with medics is working. Huzzah! And, as ever, huge 'YAY' for our wonderful Scottish NHS❤️. #workinprogress #bestchristmaspresent ☺️

Fixed it for you. Idiots! If the exclusion is based on appearance then it will certainly impact cis folks as well as trans folks.

We're in the papers! Find out a wee bit more about the Library... @lhminerslibrary.bsky.social @scotnational.bsky.social #LibraryWithAltitude

After being available ahead pf print for a few months, my article 'Ecclesiastical Record Books and Political Legitimacy in Mid Seventeenth-Century Scotland' is now in the latest issue of "Journal of Ecclesiastical History". And it's open access! www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Coming up at @lhminerslibrary.bsky.social in early January 2026: our annual series of winter talks. Some dates for the diary. All welcome!!

Cracking conversation over carrot & coiander soup in a favourite place. While there, had a wee peek at what was on @damianbarr.bsky.social's bookshelf [great choices]. @natlibscot.bsky.social happy 100th.

A busy day of remembering today, finishing with the Remembrance service at Leadhills. (including some lovely Remembrance art work by the students of Leadhills Primary) #lestweforget

In September we ran our M*****Classes Lighting Design programme! 💡 Designed to support early-career lighting designers to gain confidence, learn new skills and build connection - Lighting Designer Emma Jones curated a series of brilliant workshops! 📝 1/3

A very cheerful afternoon in Leadhills, sharing the wee treasure that is the Miners' Library. Well done, all.

🍊 🦍 🇺🇸

Tonight's earworm... thanks Henderson @franniemunro.bsky.social 🐁 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj40...

And we'd love if you followed our brand new library bluesky account!! #LibraryWithAltitude

Sun 19 Oct, 2-6pm Fancy a Sunday drive? Leadhills Miners' Library open afternoon: find out more about this wee social history treasure & ways you could support it. On behalf of my fellow Trustees, we'd be delighted to see you. Please feel free to share this post/poster. Thanks! #LibraryWithAltitude

Ah, Diane Keaton... 😢

If you were so minded, & able to offer support: Stellar Quines is a feminist theatre company who create bold, inclusive performances that challenge inequality & spark change. Your support amplifies unheard stories, and seeks to build a more equal future for all. donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

A fun afternoon spent recording at Radio Scotland with the always fab Louise 😊

Winter Lecture Series: Finding Women in Scottish History Join us for a series of free, online lectures to explore sources of women's lived experience, intellectual and religious networks, and socio-political power in medieval and early modern Scotland. scottishhistorysociety.com/shs-winter-l...

Oh, Eamonn's wife is becoming ABC. Well done 'woman'... Seriously, @skynewsrss.bsky.social ??? #EverydaySexism Meanwhile, congratulations to Dame Sarah Mullally on news of her appointment.

Fun day at work, which included welcoming a new member to one of our wee rural schools. The Gruffalo has landed... 😊

Another glorious day, another day out in the big office. Southern Uplands... near Crawfordjohn

Out in the big office today and paused a moment to take in the view of the glen and the Clyde. Glorious autumn day in the Southern Uplands. Posted as a timeline 'breather' 😊

In the course of today's visits: met an adorable hedgehoglet named Maisie who sat on the kitchen table by my cuppa, occasionally adding a thoughtful snuffle to the conversation. Elsewhere, a chat about chickens & some philosophising on troublesome cocks. All in a day's work & it's great being back!

Post church morning tea surpise: the return of the Crawford (Crawfurd) Kirk communion pitcher from 1764. Apparently, someone in the village was doing a clear out of their house, came across it, & handed it in to an elder. How cool is that?!

Current state of play...

Currently working away to the sounds of gentle cat snores coming from the couch. It's quite soothing. Earlier had some side-eye from said cat who was only too aware that there was Medicine in her wet food. This was utterly shunned in preference for the bowl of dry kibble elsewhere. Oh, little cat.

Small house guest settling in with a little CatTV. Welcome, wee Bella😊

Call of the Mild Grate Expectations The Sword in the Scone Lady Chatterly's Mother The Handmaid's Tail

🤣

Just put in my application for the Wimbledon 2026 ticket ballot: and now, let the waiting commence! 🎾 #wimbledon

Rossini's Cat Duet has been the earworm of the day so far. Please... make it stop🐈🐈

Tonight: Ras el hanout chicken with a twist. And it's glorious. 8 portions left #batchcooking

Currently finding comfort in simple things to help centre the soul. The latest 'reset' has been the delight in rediscovering my joy for cooking: making meals not just for fuel but pleasure. Tonight: the most glorious stir-fry prawns in an improvised lemongrass sauce. Yum! #simplejoys #healthyfood

I was today years old when I learnt that a baby flamingo is a 'flamingling'. What a joyful word to say out loud - and also, a wee bit like the word banana, a word that can easily run away with itself☺️🦩🍌 h/t to @franniemunro.bsky.social

Finally discharged from hospital on Fri evening: now off for 4 weeks & in a 'wait & see' holding pattern. Meanwhile, being ministered to by wee white cat at a pal's place. She (cat) is sleeping so peacefully at my foot that I dare not move - her gentle way of enforcing bed rest?!🤣

Things I love: that the German word for bagpipes is dudelsack. Things I don't love so much: being back in hospital once again. Meh...🚑

Dad & his dad jokes strike again: Once upon a time there was a camel named Alfred with two humps. He married a camel named Marie who had one hump. As time progressed, they had baby boy born with no hump. They thought long & hard on a suitable name for their baby & finally decided on ... Humpfree 🙄

Our Summer Conference starts tomorrow! #EHSCon25 Make sure to register if you would like to come along and see our plenary lecture by Professor David Fergusson on Thursday 17 July at 2:00pm. All welcome! www.tickettailor.com/events/eccle...

Wrangling rogue lambs with 'escape from Colditz' ideas was not on my bingo card for the day. Shepherd duly arrived and a quality chat was had. Lambs safely home. 🐑🐑 #rurallife

We're over the moon to be part of Edinburgh Book Festival's Frankenstein Cabaret on the 23rd August! 💜 Featuring fabulous host and MC Mystika Glamoor; readings from Ever Dundas, Janette Ayachi, Harry Josephine Giles, and Kirstin Innes, as well as a performance from us! 🧟‍♀️ 🎟️ - buff.ly/HR9V1ZE

Amazing match. Brilliant play from both and certainly no cake walk for Aryna. High quality stuff and hope Emma can maintain this form. Wow. #Wimbledon

Through The Mud is BACK! 🔥 We are delighted to be touring this Autumn - starting at the Tron Theatre, 16th-18th Oct 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Against a stunning soundtrack of gospel & blues, Through The Mud explores what it takes to become a revolutionary. 🎟️ buff.ly/NFNFAI4 More dates soon...

Helped by a pal am downsizing the book collection; decluttering but also because I'll have to move back to a v small flat at some point & won't have an entire room to house books. Saying goodbye to some old, some odd, & some decidedly dusty friends! 2026 Christian Aid book sale will do well from me!

👏👏👏❤️ What a team, indeed.

Just switched off #BBCquestiontime - so utterly negative and depressing [also, why no Green rep, given there are more of them in Scotland than Reform?? Why are the Beeb continuing to platform them?]. The only positive shining light in the discussion has been @lesleyriddoch.bsky.social

A poem for times such as these... Hope as resistance.

An excellent lunch meeting with some #StellarQuines today. Some good, creative, reflective conversation. Cheers Barbie and @lesleyorr.bsky.social - great to see you both.

Earworms are so random. I have no idea why 'Zadok, the priest' (not forgetting Nathan, the prophet) is looping about my brain today... just that one line, around, and around, and around again.