Not much sleep due to all the helicopters passing overhead. They should put that on the Life in the UK test. What is likely to keep you awake at night in the UK? - the dogs that everyone is obsessed with - a fleet of military helicopters - wondering why the psychopathic Henry VIII is so popular

Evening dress, House of Worth, France, 1882 A lot going on with this one. I'm very fond of the draping of fabric across the skirt - that's a lovely effect. And the silk flowers are wonderfully well preserved. Really beautiful design element. #fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet

Playing Street Fighter is basically my main hobby, but these early numbers are just really bad for the scene. There are so many good fighting games out there that I wish people would try! Having one company or franchise dominate any industry is rarely a good thing.

Ball gown, British, Madame Elise, 1880 I am super tired so words are not flowing. But look, this is a very nice dress. The silk rose bouquet is really lovely against the gold trim, right? Madame Elise really knew what she was doing. #fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #ootd #TheMet

It is way beyond time that every nation blacklisted the US, as we've done for Russia. Wouldn't do much, but we just cannot accept this.

This video essay from Frank Cifaldi at the Video Game History Foundation is superb. Covers the launch and legacy of the NES in the US, 40 years ago. Really fascinating, compelling stuff. #Nintendo @frankcifaldi.bsky.social @gamehistoryorg.bsky.social youtu.be/uJvpRGibFhg?...

Got a lovely present from my family - the new Sunmi album. If you're not familiar with #kpop albums, they're really extravagant. Collectible cards, posters, photography books, etc. This one is great, and Sunmi's music is awesome (sort of Sophie Ellis Bextor vibe). #Christmas #heartmaid #sunmi 1/2

Merry Christmas to those celebrating! 🎄☃️ I recorded a short guided meditation for anyone who might need a bit of quiet time to themselves today. Enjoy 🙂 #yoga #relaxation #witchsky youtu.be/SFqzoAhVNW8?...

Evening dress, Liberty and Co, Britain, 1880s Breath-taking example of a neoclassically draped dress. The designers were interested in reviving classical Greek forms, and it really shows! Amazing colour too. #fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet

Child's dress, USA, 1879 Worn by Mina, aged 6 and a half, for a party. It was once pink (visible on the rear image), but has faded with time. There's a photo of Mina on The Met website: www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti... #dresshistory #fashionhistory #fashionsky #TheMet

Did a Tarot version of the Grand Tableau for midwinter last night. I'm still learning so it was quite hard to analyse, but a really interesting exercise. #witchsky #tarotsky #solstice

My group asked me to record a Yoga Nidra meditation, so here we are. Enjoy! If you're not familiar, Nidra is a deep relaxation, best practiced tucked up in the dark under lots of blankets. So an ideal #solstice practice 🌌😴 #witchsky #yoga #visualisation #meditation youtu.be/hMgH3XS7BzM?...

This song by i-dle always makes me think of the solstice. It has a lot of language about the return of fire and light, and a really enchanting, witchy sound, especially the chorus. Really lovely song. Thought #witchsky folks might be interested 🔥🔥🔥 1/2 www.youtube.com/watch?v=miU4...

This is so depressing. To hell with Microsoft.

Ball gown, British, Madame Elise, 1875 I posted another Madame Elise a few days ago, but this one is even better. The red is so rich and luxurious! Its such a gorgeous dress I would 100% nick it if I saw it in the museum. #fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet

I'm 28 years late to the party, but this game is so much fun #Darkstalkers #vampiresavior #BBHood

Day dress, France, 1872 This beautiful thing was likely worn to afternoon receptions. The cotton is quite textured, almost rough to my eyes. And yet the dress speaks of real luxury: delicate pattern, lace edging, porcelain buttons. Really lovely. #fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet

Another meditation - posting these once a week. Today is a little more directive, asking you to actively work with your breath and attend to the body, before settling into awareness. I welcome any thoughts on this or other videos! #meditation #yoga #breath #dhyana youtu.be/NYrpHhN0Z3Y?...

I'm slowly improving. The initial MR drop was so overwhelming that I just gave up on the idea that I could play Dhalsim at all. But I picked him up again recently and am gradually getting it together. #streetfighter #masterrank #dhalsim #fgc youtu.be/s3tC4fhc4dE

Evening dress, American, 1872 This is cool. The owner, Amelia Beard, wore it as a bridesmaid dress in 1862, then altered it into its current form at short notice to wear to a party. I love this story. She had some skills!! #fashionsky #dresshistory #fashionhistory #TheMet

Parasol, American, 1870 This is gorgeous, and apparently useless for sun protection (tiny too - its <60cm wide). But it looks lovely. Unusually, its heavily beaded, and has a collapsible handle so it could be used as a large fan. #fashionsky #fashionhistory #TheMet #notsurethiscountsasfashion

Somehow, Skyrim returned Just like Palpatine, this thing just keeps coming back and I find myself playing it again. #ElderScrolls #Skyrim

A short guided meditation today - 12 minutes. I think this one is suitable even if you've never practiced meditation before, and should hopefully be quite relaxing. Give it a try and let me know what you think! #meditation #yoga #antarmouna #breathing #EldenRing youtu.be/jtt45hgvW80?...

One of the first cases following the Supreme Court’s decision on the definition of sex under the Equality Act has found it didn’t decide which changing room a trans person should use. Reflections on the Peggie case by a specialist discrimination law KC: https://goodlaw.social/32xs

Glad to see we have officially pulled out of Eurovision. I feel that these past few years have really killed the contest. Whatever values it might have stood for are long gone.

Ball gown, London, 1870s This is a hell of a dress! The designer, Madame Elise (Elizabeth Jaeger) did designs for the Princess of Wales, and when she stopped dressmaking she wrote books and articles on fashion/textiles. Her stuff is pure awesome. #fashionsky #fashionhistory #TheMet #dresshistory

Another government review with the conclusion built in from the start? Streeting scares me. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Fancy dress costume, House of Worth, France, 1870 This is an authentic Turkish woman's outfit, repurposed by the House of Worth for fancy dress. The trousers are original, but the bodice was completely altered into the current form-fitting style. #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet #fashionsky

A simple guided relaxation here, trying to help the listener be centred in the present moment. I'd intended it to be shorter (I will do short ones!), but seemed to have more to say when it came to it. Comments or questions welcome. #meditation #relaxation #yoga #bodyscan youtu.be/1b0l5yoC5FU

A lovely version of Tifa's theme from Final Fantasy 7, arranged and performed by Grazia Pizzuto. This tune makes me feel actual human emotions every time (I'm very bad at labelling emotions, but I'm definitely feeling something). #finalfantasy #tifa #finalfantasyvii youtu.be/lvMDci8lyQs?...

Wedding dress, Ireland, 1870 I didn't expect to find Irish stuff! And its definitely not what my ancestors were wearing out in Roscommon, but it is seriously beautiful. An incredible, delicate design that also looks completely modern. #Fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet 1/2

Holy fucking shit this is a *real* image from a *real* (presumably peer-reviewed) paper in [Nature] Scientific Reports. How many people had to sign off on this figure? The editor, one hopes, the reviewer(s)? The copy editor? What had to happen for THIS to get published?

New #meditation video: a guided relaxation followed by some pointers towards pure awareness. I'm thinking about a more structured approach to these meditations, that might help beginners. But if there's anything you'd like me to focus on, please just ask. #yoga #EldenRing youtu.be/3BOqW2UDLHE?...

Ball gown, Emile Pingat, Paris, 1864 Another #Pingat, and this one is something else. Would you be able to sit down, go to the loo or do handstands? No. Would you look better than everyone else in the room? Yes. Love it. #fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet

This world is pretty beautiful

Coat, 1860-96, Emile Pingat, Paris I'm not a fan of this style, but my kid loves it and its very impressive, so here we are. Pingat was a really big deal - but I don't think he had a successor and so he's seems to have been forgotten. #fashionsky #dresshistory #fashionhistory #TheMet #MaisonPingat

I'm keenly feeling how long its been since I last played Final Fantasy 8. If you weren't aware, everyone* agrees that its the best FF game, and also one of the best games ever. *me

Another guided meditation, this time focusing on connecting more closely with the breath. I really need to get my audio sorted, and I guess someday I'll have to stop using footage from #EldenRing as background. But that is not today. #meditation #relaxation #breathwork youtu.be/PbN-Nv5tkyU

Worn #onthisday in 1984 by Glenda Jackson in the title role of Jean Racine's play "Phaedra" when it premiered at the Old Vic in London. Director Philip Prowse designed the costumes; one critic complained that the actresses looked "as if they were trapped in ornate gas balloons." #OTD 📷 V&A Museum

If you ignore expert advice and cause tens of thousands of deaths, I really think you should be tried for murder. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Peignoir, American, 1860 I had to look up what a peignoir is to be honest. But this is gorgeous. Imagine being so fancy that this is your dressing gown? I wonder what the rest of her wardrobe looked like... #fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet

Cotton dress, European, 1860 I'm London-bound today, so perhaps I should wear something nice like this for the occasion. Not quite sure I'd fit through the door of the train carriage though. Main takeaway from this dress - extremely cute buttons. #fashionsky #dresshistory #fashionhistory #TheMet

I've been in the NHS for less than ten years, and am now entering my third major government-mandated reorganisation. Do you know which health service has not changed at all in that time? The playmobil hospital. They know what they're doing, and they're not even real.

Really enjoyed this video from the Victoria & Albert museum in London. A brief history of #Tarot cards. youtu.be/bd6GRXPD0Fw?...

A fifth character in Master rank - pleased with that. I wanted to learn the Modern control scheme, which I've mostly avoided, and Zangief is a good fit for it. Really fun character in this scheme. One button level 3 is funny every time 😁 #streetfighter #sf6 #cviper youtu.be/gq1Obk2W6Ws

New meditation up today - a simple body scan followed by a silent meditation. There are better meditation teachers out there, but I think I'm the only one who also posts about fighting games and historic fashion. So, you know, support the weirdos please. #meditation #yoga youtu.be/6UIVWssFVNU?...

Ball gown, 1860, 'probably American' I really love how museums stage historic fashion. This one is great - the bows at her wrists; the matching headpiece; the casually held fan. Its a lovely effect and really draws out the character of the dress. #fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet

Continuing my no-levelling run at Dark Souls 3, and I hit a major roadblock. Here is my 99th attempt at the Dancer of the Boreal Valley 😭 #darksouls #darksouls3 #sl1 #soullevel1 #onebros youtu.be/AxjxPoxQYD4?...

Wedding dress, American, 1859 Time for something nice. Another wedding dress today, in beautiful golden silk. The style is typical of the time, but I really love the detail of lace and fringing on the sleeves & bodice - gives a wonderful delicacy. #fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet

FGC folks - this is who bought EVO, runs the Esports World Cup, and is throwing obscene amounts of money at Fatal Fury / SNK games. We cannot support this. Few things in this world are untouched by evil, but this is a very unambiguous case for a boycott. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...