Just realised I should post this on the #TeaUp tag, what?

You will never guess what has happened. (I promise I gave the Louvre 2.5 hours. Oof it is a hard work place. But good to see the David exhibition, which was the plan.)

Popping out to the bakery for viennoiserie is always a joy in this area. It isn't Montmartre but it isn't so far at all.

I have been accompanying a chilly Paris with podcasts on French themes. The most unexpectedly fascinating? @garlicandpearls.bsky.social on the Orsini bomb attack (scroll back, it's from January). Made in Birmingham, for Italian nationalists, in Paris. Includes train hijinks on my commuter line.

The UK-wide panel renewed accredited status for an additional 5 archives: Historical England Archive, Historic Environment Scotland Archive, Tameside Archives, @natlibscot.bsky.social & @suffolkarchives.bsky.social Read more: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/f... (2/2)

Congratulations to: Hackney Archives, Marx Memorial Library, Powys Archives @mediamuseum.bsky.social, @paulmelloncentr.bsky.social & @yorkminster.bsky.social Archives on achieving Archive Service Accreditation for the first time! (1/2) 📷 The Chapter of York, Photographer: Peter Li

Meant to say, this is Cèpe et Figue in Cour du Commerce St André, somewhere I can only ever locate via a Maison Larnicol beside the entrance on the Boul St Germain. 18Euro 2 course lunch. I had smoked straciatella with potimarron squash; duck bits a l'orange (plat du jour) and also apple tart. Oops.

Okay. I am going to the Louvre tomorrow. (They have an exhibition on.) A few months back I did *my* favourite things in the Louvre (the medieval, the Flemish and German, the applied arts, the Nike). So. What do you love in the Louvre? What should I head for (that ideally isn't the hell of crowds)?

It is a foul day to be put. But I've been at Cluny and now I am having lunch in a small place I really like that may now be slightly too popular and well priced for its own good. Ten minutes since the doors open and most tables are full.

#UnconfinedWalks for a lazy supper Thursday.

Attn @melindahaunton.bsky.social and others, another teas-from-the-garden workshop coming up: history.rcp.ac.uk/event/teas-g...

We’re delighted to announce the latest recipients of Research and Innovation Grants! Congratulations to Chief Archivists in Local Government Group (within @araukie.bsky.social) & @kresenkernow.bsky.social Read more here: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sec... 📷 Kresen Kernow

Meanwhile, I am in a very nice restaurant, a long term fave. They do an excellent prix fixe 2 course lunch of classics. Today, simply everyone is having the soup. #SoupTweets

Been to Notre Dame. Will report properly later but hurrah all round. #UnconfinedWalks

I am going to have a cold damp holiday with an extremely random set of activities based in whatever was bookable ten days back. But I'm glad to be here. 20000 Parisian steps of #UnconfinedWalks so far. And yes, that is sunshine. Briefly.

I mean. Starting France properly. (In my defence, it's pissing down and I have time to kill.)

Well. Alea jacta est. Or at least I'm in the tunnel.

I've mentioned this quietly, but - since the summer my hobby has been making this ambitious murder mystery podcast. A story. Narrated by me, with a mouthwatering cast. Partly interactive. Trailer is coming tomorrow but if you like the sound of this, please follow @murderbastard.bsky.social.

Sometimes I think I'm doing okay with all this but I am almost hysterically anxious at what's going to go wrong because I'm going two hours away to France. Also, I don't know if it's cloudflare or what, but I can't book Notre Dame, and I quite wanted to see it. Drat.

To mum, briefly, for #UnconfinedWalks because I'm not going to be there for a few days.

Today started with two lengthy meetings, from 8am. Both useful, not trivial. I do wish one hadn't discussed how hard it is to get down to sustained work though because... oof. The amount of assessment I've done ahead of a few days off is basically zero.

It's that week again, when all the new intake at Lowestoft's Benjamin Britten Academy get to visit the Red House and find out about their town's most famous native. A busy week for us all but immensely rewarding: with luck they leave here with a sense of ownership about heritage and the arts.

We’re shaping the future of our training programme for the archive sector and we want your input! This focus group is your opportunity to share ideas and influence the topics that matter most to you and your colleagues. Register today: www.eventbrite.com/cc/focus-gro... (1/2)

Oh my god I'm on episode 8 of All Her Fault and I can't. 😮 No spoilers. But also. WHOA. WHOAWHOAwhoaWHOA.

Have done this and spent a nice few minutes writing about what I like to read. Only to be wholly stumped by the "do you prefer milk or dark chocolate" question. I'm not sure I have a preference these days. I like good of either one. It's been a long day.

So I did do #UnconfinedWalks but it was fraught on the way out (to meet the gas board at mum's, v bad) and quite briskly on the way home (her loo is now set up with many disability aids I try not to disturb by actually using it). So these are feet in Waiting for the Gas Man phase. (It's sorted now.)

If anyone is not aware that John Finnemore has a substack, please can I direct you to its new post? I have had quite a complicated day, and I haven't even got a paid sub to read all this and I already feel substantially better. open.substack.com/pub/johnfinn...

#YayAdvent Posted! Will check in on discord later.

Hello all, the Oxfordshire History Centre is now on Bluesky!

By and large, the art historians I enjoy are basically historians of the material and visual. But I'm listening to a lecture by a proper old schooler* tonight and she just said "This chap, it's wonderful how the portraitist caught his look of worry." That chap is Oliver Cromwell. Seems relevant.

At some point, I stopped posting meals. But this one is interesting (from Polska recipe book, sort of). I've been a bit low on greens lately, but this is doing some heavy lifting on that front.

The stunning Georgian interior of St Deiniol’s, Worthenbury has a complete set of original 18th-century box pews, an elegant triple-decker pulpit, and a grand west gallery. 1/7

Suitably bleak #UnconfinedWalks. I think next week's holiday will require a Big Coat, unfortunately. I flail hideously getting my holiday handbag over that coat in a rush. For eg museum security. They have been known to laugh.

Why do I always remember to take a pic of my #YayAdvent unwrapped (for a record) but not wrapped until it's all hopelessly bundled into the parcel? Derp. Anyway. To post, tomorrow

Was intending to have my first mince pie of the season with this #TeaUp but the new chap on the till was so, so confused by my order of a breakfast tea ("With a fried egg? Strawberry jam?") that I had mercy and am sticking to the tea.

#ConfinedCocktails in someone else's house this evening. Would rather in my own, but there we go. There are cats in both places, at least. (Although mine are better)

The Big Green Books Advent Calendars are a hit! I've now sold eleven of them! I'll send you 4, 6 or 12 surprise books, personally chosen just for you, to unwrap on the run up to Christmas Available for ALL ages. INFO HERE. www.biggreenbookshop.com/simon-likes-... Sharing is caring (thanks).

Not to mention the barely-there sight of Southwark. Look at what isn't there! Basically everything!

Cheers to efforts to relax, much deserved #ConfinedCocktails

Cheers to the best glassware in #ConfinedCocktails

Cheers to absolutely delicious out and about #ConfinedCocktails

Cheers to gainful cuisine and taking an aptly-timed break #ConfinedCocktails

Finished the tea, so here is a photo of my archive move instead. Last couple of weeks have been moving and unpacking, plus new volunteers, plus eldest getting a car, plus birthday week. Been busy

Cheers to drinking exactly what you feel like (and to splendid mugs) #ConfinedCocktails

Cheers to all manner of remembrance, and to fried beans supporting #ConfinedCocktails

Sante! Cheers to Norman themed #ConfinedCocktails

Cheers to tiramisu in lieu and to health info for stuff we all should know apparently #ConfinedCocktails

Cheers to alllll the book purchasing #ConfinedCocktails (Which reminds me, it is the annual Shedunnit podcast pledge drive. Would anyone like a free membership to their book club for one year? Extra content, and plenty of suggestions to read if you like that kind of inspo. I have one to donate.)

Cheers to delicious Chinese evenings, after hard work with The Public #ConfinedCocktails

Cheers to lovely Beverley and pottering #ConfinedCocktails