An evening with MaxMara 🔥 And yes, the girl on the door did mistake me as one of the models.

I usually don’t mind the odd work email on holiday. But on day one? After three handovers? It took all I had not to respond whilst at the beach that I grew up on 🇬🇷

Here’s to becoming Account Director at Chelgate 🥂 Celebrating the only way I know how.

Thanks to all at @angliaruskin.bsky.social for having me last weekend for Starmer Year One. Despite the nerves, I loved presenting on Chelgate’s perspective of how Labour have performed in their first year in office. Also, great to reunite with a few familiar faces!

When work give you the perk of a spa day at the Shard. Also, shout out to the pool guy who got this in one take. Mainly because he has to take the exact same picture for around 200 different women each and every day.

Being listed second to @timbale.bsky.social here is slightly terrifying, but I promise to do my best, despite being amongst such cleverness. Do join us on 14th June at ARU, Cambridge for ‘Starmer Year One’ www.aru.ac.uk/news/starmer...

Looking forward to this! 👇

When you’ve had a rough night but still manage to rock up for work looking sensational 🤍

Husband was very much like “I don’t understand why you need to go back so urgently, but whatever. So long as you come back de-stressed, ok?!?” The book is hilarious, I haven’t laughed so much in years, and fair to say that he (and work tbf) will be THRILLED at my new zen ness 🇬🇷

The pre turning 34 look ✨

It’s really, really, tough being a female academic. I never quite managed it myself. But Lise Butler is a wonder and someone I will always admire. If my future publications are anywhere near her calibre then that would be more than something. I know who I want to be when I grow up! 🫶

Celebrating 10 years of the Mile End Institute at QMUL as one of their Honorary Fellows. I had the best time reuniting with old faces; being back on the academic circuit is always a lot of fun. And when it comes to serious political engagement, the MEI really do it well. Here’s to the next 10! 🎉

I don’t think it will ever leave me, but I do think speaking up about this is majorly important. Thanks to Adam Ball who was a fabulous presenter to interview me on all things Anorexia. I wish I’d got help way back when. You can hear me from 2:12:45.

Recently, a colleague mentioned that my thinness had been raised as a concern by a Director who doesn’t know my history. I took that as a major compliment. It’s been far from a linear ride, but it’s been particularly tricky lately to the point where I’ve lost a stone. The struggle is real #EDAW

Husband was working tonight so he let me go out with his best friend instead. And, actually, we had a fabulous time! Happy Valentine’s all! 🤍

This month marks 50 years since Thatcher became Leader of the Opposition, which is quite the date for a scholar like I! Loved kicking off the celebrations at the Carlton Club today with my colleague Nick Wood-Dow. I imagine this is going to be quite the month for me! 🥂

Now and then people complement me on what I’m wearing, but never before has a man apologised for doing so and asked “am I allowed to say that?”. Until yesterday. So here’s to a new timeless favourite… The Duchess of Edinburgh Look ✨

“So does this mean I’m now Director of Crisis Management, then?” “Well, erm. You will be ‘directing’ our Crisis Management division, yes. But we are going to hold your hand quite a bit at first, ok?” Woohoo! Cheers to that! 🥂

This wasn’t how I’d planned to kick start 2025. But thanks to all #NHS staff who’ve looked after me this week. From 111, to A&E, to UTC, I can’t thank you enough for being there. I was seen almost instantly times. Rough ride, but finally home, resting & recovering 🫶

He’s not on here, but shout out to Prof. Jim Tomlinson and his new book, out today. I’m a huge fan of his work (he’s also the only academic who managed to save Chapter 4 of my PhD), so I really can’t rate him highly enough!

When the BBC asked “could we have a picture of you holding the letter?” it took 2 hours and 256 takes to achieve it. If anyone didn’t know that I was an expert on Thatcherism & the US, they sure as hell do now! Thanks to everyone who has engaged with this, it means the world ✨

Madness! Thanks to everyone who has read/listened 🥹

There was this, too. But since the last one went viral, this one’s staying private.

Guys I’ve just remembered that I actually have ANOTHER Carter note, which he sent three years later. Hold tight whilst I dash over to my parents to find it!

Thanks to the BBC who have really gone all out with this. I never imagined this would take off in the way it has and the fact that my work is getting seen to this extent blows my mind. I spent a long time researching that trip in 1977, which is where the thesis first began.

In case you missed it, you can hear me chatting to BBC Oxford about all things Carter, Thatcher and *that* letter here from 1:43. Sophie couldn’t have been more excited and gave me plenty of time to chat!👇

Someone’s pointed out that I addressed him as ‘Mr’ rather than ‘President’ and admittedly that was a mistake on my part and one reason why I thought I’d never hear back, and yet…!

In case you’re up early (ish), you can catch me on BBC Radio Oxford this morning at 7:40am discussing all things Thatcher, Carter and their not-so Special Relationship. Do tune in! 📻

I’m quite emotional about all this tonight, as you might expect. @gsoh31.bsky.social wasn’t just my supervisor, I see him as co-author of the book. I couldn’t have done what I’ve done without him leading me every step of the way 🥹

It continues. If you’d like more of my Thatcher-Carter insight (and of course you do!), tune in to BBC Oxford at 7:40am tomorrow, or catch us on catch up! 📻

If you think the Carter letter is exciting, wait till you hear what his VP Walter Mondale had to say about her (which will be revealed in the book!). He didn’t hold back. The gloves were off!

I remember being massively impressed when Dr Stacey, then taking her PhD with me as supervisor, got a reply from President Carter... that showed a lot of class. RIP.

Thank you. But I must say @dremilystacey.bsky.social is the real expert on that visit and their relationship: as this extraordinary note from her research shows… bsky.app/profile/drem...

To anyone interested, I’ll be on the BBC’s Jeremy Vine show at midday today discussing Thatcher, Jimmy Carter and *that* letter. Do tune in! 📻

Very generous, thanks Nigel. *That* trip in 1977 will forever hold a very special place in my heart.

When I was a PhD student, I wrote to President Carter asking of his relationship with Thatcher. It was a long shot & never in a million years did I believe he’d respond. He will forever be my favourite historical source & a President that I can’t not admire. I’ve read everything he’s ever said #RIP

Winter in Reiss ✨

Farewell, Mauritius. You were everything I’d dreamed off whenever I imagined what paradise looked like. I doubt I’ll ever be fortunate enough to see you again, so thanks for an incredible two week whirl. This was the trip of a lifetime that I shall never forget ✨

Morning, Mauritius ☀️

Mauritius is quite glorious.

Of all the things I can’t eat at 6pm on a Saturday night it’s probably this. But happy to discover that things seem to be improving!

Flashback to half a decade ago when I helpfully discovered that word had got round and my students were airdropping filtered pics of me across their iPhones.

Brighton in November.

Ok let’s kick things off with the best outfit purchase I’ve ever made. As I think this week has shown, I’m fiercely proud of my academic work and if I sense it’s being undermined in any way then I will speak up. I’m just as proud of how clothes can transform my strength & mindset each and every day.

“Don’t get all dramatic about it, just breathe,” said Dad. The moral of this story is not open a bottle of champagne on a Sunday night unsupervised. To those who left X a while back, you’ll be unsurprised to find that my life remains just as chaotic as ever!