Following this evening's hunt through my butterfly book to work out the copper coloured butterfly we saw yesterday (don't think it's that one, can't remember any spots), my regular reminder to myself TO TAKE A PHOTO NEXT TIME!

T'is Autumn. Amazing colours.

Proper news! www.bbc.com/news/article...

Doesn't this little chap look happy in the autumn sunlight

We need to get more people into city centres. Also, we know the public transport round here is crap, so let's only let people pay for parking by having to download an app, require them to register, type in a number to find the car park, add their car reg and credit card via a smart phone.

Just back from a visit to Falkland (in the Kingdom of Fife, rather than somewhere in the middle Atlantic). Possibly one of the most loveliest places I know. Why more people don't visit is beyond me. Google Falkland Palace and you'll see what I mean.

I have told my mother that it is a legal requirement that she has to eat at least one form of Tunnocks confectionery and 1 piece of shortbread when she comes to visit. I think she might believe me.

I'm going to assume that The Guardian is using AI to make its editorial choices. One that is based on clicks. It just keeps publishing articles on the same things. Just regurgitated articles berating Starmer, yet another 3 the rise of right wingers and then some random fashion article.

Am I the only one who would gladly sign up to a conference that doesn't want to discuss how AI is going to solve everything? Or doesn't actually discuss AI at all. It's become the salted caramel of the management world.

ESPC uncomfortable tower house bathtub of the day

Monday night’s 1990 space-university soap Jupiter Moon episode: Columbus University is to be stripped for parts to keep another research ship going, against the posh new VC’s wishes. Tuesday morning: Greenwich and Kent universities announce a ‘merger’. Uncanny.

Colleague has just explained to me the process for appointing Chairs of Court (Council over the border) in Scotland👀And then they told me it is a process defined under the 2018 HE Act 👀👀

I have now caught up on last night's #SewingBee. Oh, that's a plot twist and a half.

Reckon this will be the first of many large uni mergers over the next few years. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Has anyone ever heard of putting Worcester Sauce on chips? I was offered it as an option in Berlin, the waitress said 'because I was English'. I'm still very bemused (it works, by the way)

Oh, interesting timing for this to land. Transparency programme looking at how institutions use QR (you could, of course, start by looking at what the TRAC data is telling you) www.ukri.org/councils/res...

Look, could you say which unis stories like this are about instead of just posting the pictures. Because otherwise, it's just a really depressing pub quiz round.

Hands up, who can see the RSS Discovery arriving into port from their office (actually, I can see the original and the 2012 one, lucky me)

Currently eating some delicious leftovers from an aubergine dish from Sabrina Ghayour's Persiana cookbook. No idea if what I have produced would pass muster for anyone from that region, but one of those meals where you look at your empty plate and wish there was some more.

BBC news is a hot mess these days. First news item is 1000 migrants crossing the channel on the new HO ministers first day, which then turned into a clip from Farage wanting more big names to defect as he needs people with experience. No mention of other reshuffle changes?

Customer feedback this week; ‘Please can you get some more diversity at the National Trust by encouraging more hot men to visit.’ Ideas for how we do this v welcome. Nothing too racy please - we are the National Trust not the National Tryst.

Only Murders in the Building has just appeared on ITV3. I can see why it won awards and the lead actors look to be having a blast.

My local chippie offers a single or a fish supper. The supper option involves 2 pieces of fish. I'm still slightly bemused every time (and don't ask me what the white pudding supper is, I'm not sure I want to know)

That tracks. #cats #catmemes

Babe, new candidate for "most unfathomable spatial comparison" just dropped.

Everyone with the internet has access: it's free to read.

My experience of the last few months has done nothing to shake my belief that anyone saying to me 'surely it can't be that hard to...' has clearly never tried to tackle the problem themselves.

Well, isn't today the gift that keeps on giving. It started off with my colleague breaking their key in their office and in retrospect that was the high point. Thank god I've got a team round me that's kept my spirits up today, because I've needed it.

Sigh. So no guidance for 3 months but no extension 2029.ref.ac.uk/news/pause-t... Current REF Managers....

Autumn's rocked up quickly and somewhat unexpectedly today. Honestly, my fingers were twitching over the central heating button earlier this evening.

I'm sorry, I've been writing at REF again. I tried really hard not to be cynical and write something quite factual. I think I managed that, but yes, agree with Glen, something has to give.

It is very clear now that Research Excellence Framework 2029 cannot go ahead with all its intended changes. For a start, lots of the sector 'getting' the cash simply won't exist to spend it. In my view a pause and rethink are required. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Does anyone have any further information on how the UKRI Local Innovation Partnerships Fund is going to work in practice? Are they giving the funds to the region to allocate, or will the funds be ring fenced to those applying from a particular region? Pre announcement is out but it's quite vague.

I can

Ever wanted to see the Fernsehturm’s disco ball naked? You have now. #berlin

Ok, new idea for a niche tourist information list. Places you can take your more elderly parents/grandparents where it's relatively flat, parking near by as they aren't so good on their legs these days, not too large, decent loos and more importantly a good cafe.

I won't spoil it either. Worth a look!

This one is only for Blueskyers of a certain age.

Was the Dundonian poet McGonagall really the worst poet in History? Tim Harford's Cautionary Tale about their life was excellent (with added bonus for me of listening to it whilst looking at the silvery Tay and the rail bridge). No argument about the poems btw.

I am trying to write something about the current situation with REF without being either snarky, tetchy or sarcastic. Given my natural style is to be Little Miss Cynical, this might be harder than I thought.

Who's on BlueSky AND associated with a museum, gallery or heritage site in Leeds (UK)? I'd very much like to connect with such people! #museum #museums #gallery #galleries #heritage

Tree-planting event in what was the Berlin Wall death strip and is now Mauerpark, April 1, 1990 — photo by Gerd Danigel

We only rate dogs. This is an albino Snuffleupagus. Please have some respect for this institution and only send dogs. Thank you… 13/10 (IG: georgietheafghan)

Marcel Krueger takes a ride on the U6 to explore Berlin’s GDR-era “ghost stations" www.slowtravelberlin.com/a-trip-throu...

Dachshund Lovers ❤️❤️ #dachshund #dachshunds #pets

If you are in the Dundee area and at a loose end, a reminder that the Dundee Uni DJCAD Masters degree show is on this week. Short walk up the hill from the V&A. Some really interesting stuff, especially the medical and forensic art work.

The problem with most restructures is that they’re top down. They too often start with a partial exec perspective that determines the shape of the organisation, partiality, a perspective that proceeds from the imagination rather than reality. 1/

Norwegian home invasion.

I'm currently having a rather lovely time on holiday in Berlin visiting my brother. It's been so good to get away from work and the stress that's been going on since, well this time last year. Only plus thing, can't read the full story.