Had a day out in that there London. Lee Miller exhibition at @tate.bsky.social Tate Britain, then saw Witness for the Prosecution at London County Hall. As it was peeing it down, decided to have dinner in town, where I did not need the Afogato, but I can't resist. Pics follow.

Here’s a poem called ‘Talking Down’.

Going to see a play later in the week, based on a book, which I have read before. Do I try and read the book again first, or just go with the flow. Oh! decisions...

This week's reading matter, 2 non-fiction. The Mushroom Tapes & The Secret Painter. Both quite different. Recommend the second over the former. helenruns.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/n... #booksky 📚

Success! Meeting done in 55 minutes! Hurrah. Just got minutes to write next.

An unusual Friday night in and watching old TotP. 1978 a bit early, 1989 more in my wheelhouse.

For the first time in a couple of years, I did 10 pressups in a row. Proper, on my toes pressups. Always good to prove that I'm not decrepit quite yet... #fitness #gymbunny

Simon @biggreenbooks.bsky.social, can you get this? Feel like pirates might be just what I need!

This week's finishes and an interesting evening out. helenruns.wordpress.com/2026/02/01/3... 📚

Ringing's made "interesting" when one of your bells is out of action. Ringing proceeded on a not at all true scale. Stedman, plain hunt, Bristol, Cambridge, little bob & stedman. Broken clapper unlikely to be back this week either.

My week in 3 paragraphs. helenruns.wordpress.com/2026/01/25/a...

Sunday morning started with remedial action to remove a broken clapper. Ringing down a silent bell was very wierd! Then little bob, Stedman, Cambridge, plain hunt, stedman and call changes. Finished by carrying the broken bits of clapper down the stairs and into a car. #BellRinging #oops

Branch AGM this afternoon. Head down, no jobs acquired. This is the church as I put stuff in the car after the meeting. #BellRinging

Flowers to brighten your day.

A saturday morning puzzle to wake up the brain.

Just held Management Review, this is my reward! Well maybe not all of it, got PT tonight!

Doing some stitching on a slightly late baby blanket. Watched "The Great Escaper" on the side Oh my. 😭😭😭😭. Genuinely excellent, with performances by Glenda Jackson & Michael Caine.

Sunday morning ringing comprised little bob, stedman, grandsire and call changes. Then coffee and ringing AGM. Head down, to avoid getting a job!

I had a surprise e-mail this morning, with high praise for my actions as secretary, a post I plan to resign in the summer. We get so used to only hearing negative feedback that this nearly reduced me to tears. Little late for new year resolutions, but mine is now to give praise more often. 🥹🙏

I can't promise to keep this up (see last year!), but I can start with week one's reading. 2 books, 2 quite different reactions. Edenglassie didn't float my boat. Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by @martinedwardsbooks.bsky.social fared much better helenruns.wordpress.com/2026/01/11/t...

Sunday morning ringing saw us attempt Cambridge, little bob Stedman and Bristol.

Not how I intended to spend saturday, car decided to throw a warning message, then die on the dual carriageway. Twice. Fortunately managed to get it restarted and to the local garage. Walking home, fortifed with coffee and cake.

Yes, that's fine.

Another wonderful #buyastrangerabook day offer for you. Having done a seasonal re-read of Small Things Like These over Christmas, @helenliz.bsky.social would like to buy one lucky person a book by its author Claire Keegan. Here's a selection. If there's one you'd like, get in touch. UK only

Ringing this morning featured Stedman (twice), rounds and call changes, Cambridge and Little bob. And I suppose the early alarm clock means we're sort of ready for back to work in the morning... 😫 #BellRinging

In 2025 I read 83 books. 31 were on audio. 14 were non-fiction 40 were written by women. The top 5 were The History of Women in 101 objects, Nutshell, Every Beautiful Thing, Small Things like these & Last Night at the Lobster.

Taking the christmas decorations down to the accompaniment of LiveAid. No cultural or weather mismatch here, none at all.

In an effort to not put on more weight, I've been trying to walk more. I've just cleared 4 million steps. Sounds like a lot when said like that. Something to build on in 2026.

This is in my lifetime, and I don't even feel that old. Important step to make. We now need to live up to its promise.

Today's top news. I've had congested ears for 10 days now, and have been in my own quiet bubble for over a week. Left ear has finally cleared, right still stuffed up. BUT it decided to clear while ringing. Bloody hell those bells were loud after a week of muffled hearing!!

Really productive afternoon with the ironing board and iplayer. Full marks to the show of Christmas videos. Singing along quite happily...

Some traditions have to be kept up. This was given to my Dad in 1952. Mum read it to us every year on Christmas Eve. And now I'm reading it to you. #Christmas #joinin

Channelling my (probably non-existant) Icelandic ancestors. Curled up on the sofa with hot chocolate, a book and the remains of the advent tin of chocs. Traditions are important, even if you borrow them from someone else. #chtistmas

I realise this is small potatoes in the face of what's going on in the world, but it's huge in our little corner of the planet. We've booked a holiday!! Our first foreign trip since 2017!!!! I will celebrate with a cup of tea and breaking into the Christmas chocolates!!!!!!

It's not often I get the domestic goddess outfit out, but today I have defrosted the freezer and made fish pies for the freezer. All to the accompaniment of Christmas hits. 🤶

Visiting the town of Beverley. I love that the building that houses the library, museum and art gallery is called the Treasure House.

Seeing the temperature has dropped, I've finally tackled the ironing mountain, which had reached Everest like proportions. Not finished, but it looks more like a foothill than a real peak now. Watched all episodes of Arts in Motion on the iplayer. Excellent series, if you get the chance to watch it

I am about to try to read what I suspect might be a rather dull book. The things I do for "fun".

Trip to our London office. Productive day. Also got my 10k steps done - in heels! 👠

@biggreenbooks.bsky.social I'm busy tomorrow, so before I forget, here's an early post for #buyastrangerabook day. I would like to offer anyone a copy of any of Penelope Fitzgerald's books. In April I read The Bookshop, a very sad tale. I grew up in a village like that depicted - I left!

This afternoon's efforts for the 80th anniversary of VE Day. With firing, because if is it's good enough for Westminster Abbey, it's good enough for us. #Bells #BellRinging #VEDay bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=...

Another brace of murder mysteries to conjure with. helenruns.wordpress.com/2025/05/01/m...

We need EVERYONE to see this advert for a Head of Operations at the Palace (£40-45k). Otherwise we might get some kind of numpty in charge. Please share. If we get 50 shares we'll post a video of #CuratorRob playing a hoover like a didgeridoo. hr.breathehr.com/recruitment/...

Books 26 & 27 finished and reviewed. helenruns.wordpress.com/2025/04/30/t...

Happy Hot Cross Bun day! Not religious, happy to eat the fun food - not doing the fasting thing. 😉

That annoying moment when a book you're reading makes reference to other books and you now have yet more books to read... 💙📚

More culture vulture tours. National Gallery and Elektra at the Duke of York theatre. helenruns.wordpress.com/2025/04/10/c...

Books 21 to 24 as a bundle, because life's been a bit busy recently. helenruns.wordpress.com/2025/04/09/a... The Colour: Rose Tremain The Acceptance World: Anthony Powell The Bookshop: Penelope Fitzgerald Notebook: @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social #books 💙📚

Alt Text BlueSky makes it really easy to add Alt Text to images, making it really easy to be inclusive. So just a word of warning, if you're not using it, I'm going to stop following you. If you're not taking that tiny step to include all your followers, you're not a nice person. Niceness matters.