I’ve done jury duty before. Trial lasted 9 weeks and was quite complex. One thing I found was the decision was really made by just 2 or 3 people, with the majority easily swayed by those stronger personalities.

star at 3 billion years old: i have so much light and warmth to share star at 12 billion years old: when i finally get to die im taking all of you with me

Been working on this painting of Pip over the past couple of weeks and i reckon only got a few more hours left.

Something ancient and wonderful for the weekend! 🤩 The world’s oldest known sculpture of a horse! This tiny figurine was carved from mammoth ivory by an Ice Age artist some 40,000 years ago! 📷 by me #Archaeology

Recently digitised - near Ismailia in Egypt in October 1940 French Spahis (North African light cavalry) exercise their horses for British War Office cameraman Gerald Massy-Collier. #filmcataloguing #history #ww2 Full film: IWM AYY 59-1/ www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you've been to: - Paul Simon & Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Regina Spektor - Manic Street Preachers (x11.. ha!) - Paul Weller - Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers

The Curtis Yarvin quote ‘The neat thing about primary sources is it only takes one to prove your point’ has turned me to stone 💀 @iandunt.bsky.social @dorianlynskey.bsky.social

As an old cavalry trooper, this story resonated with me. #ifyouaintcav #fwwhist

Did I buy this giant Moomin for me or my son? Me. It’s for me.

Managed to do an hours work on Phd source compilation stuff whilst baby was asleep on me, better than nothing I suppose!!

👀

Petition for the BBC to stop spending money on Mrs Brown’s Boys and make more episodes of the Sky at Night instead.

The outpouring of love and support we’ve had after the loss of our lovely Pip has been so heartening. As our vet said; she was ‘a horse in a million’. Majestic, gentle yet spirited, powerful and very intelligent. Thank you everyone for your kind messages.

A couple of weeks back I joined my fellow BSMF scholars at a Royal reception to mark VJ Day 80 where I met Ron Gumbley who flew spitfires over Arakan. He roared with laughter when I told him by Dad described flying the Spit as *leans in* ‘the dog’s bollocks’. I didn’t tell Her Majesty that bit.

🥹

In my experience, people serve in the military because they WANT to be boots on the ground when it is required. Blimey, the pearl clutches are out in force today!

Oh we’re still having the ‘women who don’t breast feed don’t love their children as much’ debate are we. Cool cool.

If I were the chancellor I would be bold: raise the lower & higher rate tax thresholds and increase income tax. But that won’t happen.

To everyone who has sent me a friend request on Facebook - I only set up an account to help with search for horse for my Mum, as the equine community seems to live on there. After that I’ll be deleting my account.

Recently digitised - October 1940; at Shoeburyness Barracks in Essex, new soldiers are trained to drive a lorry while towing a 6-inch howitzer. Filmed by F K Carver for the War Office Film Unit. #history #ww2 #filmcataloguing Full film: IWM AYY 43 / www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

“Science, my lad, is made up of mistakes, but they are mistakes which it is useful to make, because they lead little by little to the truth.” ― Jules Verne, A Journey to the Center of the Earth

@lmbd1418.bsky.social backyardhistory.ca/f/hooves-her...

Sad to hear about Jimmy Cliff. Such an influential musician.

Pleasantly surprised that since having Ted 14 weeks ago, I haven’t felt the need to increase my antidepressant dosage but I’m getting used to the anxiety that comes with having a child. Today is one of those days where it’s a little tougher than normal.

I wish Black Friday hadn’t come to the UK, it’s a load of old tosh.

We at The WFA have launched our PhD Grant Scheme for 2025. The grant is open to doctoral students researching ANY aspect of the First World War. Where will our grant take you? See website for full details 👇🏻 www.westernfrontassociation.com/latest-news/... #Fwwhist #phdchat

Ukraine to receive unspecified guarantees:

In a world of miserable companies and people who are horrible to work with, I want to praise my publishers @ospreypublishing.bsky.social for being bloody fantastic. The whole team are so kind, supportive and knowledgeable; it’s been such a pleasure working with them on Jungle Commandos.

Rode Max today, my first time back at the yard after the horrendous events of last week. We are so very lucky to be at such a wonderful place, the owners put the most gorgeous flowers out for Pip 🥺

Sharks are one of my favourite creatures. They’re incredible. Another fact that blows my mind: their teeth are constantly replaced like a conveyor belt - they go through 1000s in a lifetime.

Right that’s it. First fire of the season, it’s officially cold.

Have the Labour Party got an in house historian? Because after listening to @iandunt.bsky.social @dorianlynskey.bsky.social Origin Story recent episodes it’s clear they REALLY need one. I’m not volunteering, but you know, proves the value of knowing your history etc beautifully.

Walked 3.5 miles today. Came across many twatty drivers. Including this parking.. honestly folks, don’t park over the pavement on a main road - it’s really not cool.

Random fact: I’ve been watching endless episodes of ‘Allo ‘Allo over the past few days and just read that Jack Haig (Leclerc) was offered the role of Corporal Jones in Dad’s Army before Clive Dunn but turned it down.

Went to collect our darling Pippi today. 😢 So very sad, but glad she is home, safe with our other boys and girls. How lucky we were to know and love her, Gizmo and Moomin 🩷

The tears keep coming. Just keep thinking if we hadn’t given her the arthramid injections she’d still be here. It’s the pits 😞. Our beautiful Big Hoof deserved so much more.

11 years today. We got married the same year that Pip came to us. I couldn’t have got through this week without my partner in crime.

Pip has been cremated. My heart breaks for my lovely Mum, Pip was her heart horse and they were meant to grow old together. To lose her at 16 after getting through her recent surgery so well feels so unjust. The pain of losing a horse you have bonded with on such a deep level is indescribable.

‘Somewhere in time's own space There must be some sweet pastured place, Where creeks sing on and tall trees grow - Some paradise where horses go, For by the love that guides my pen I know great horses live again.’

I feel consumed by grief and the cruelty of life. Seeing the months of stress and dedication of my parents to getting Pip through so much, allowing themselves to finally hope and the unbounded love they had for her torn down in 24 hours and it ending like this is unbearable.

Thank you everyone. Came hope late and did ironing etc till 2am. Just cannot believe this has happened. Seeing her lying down, head flat on the floor was just awful. It’ll haunt me. We could see in her eyes she had given up. She deserved so much more life, she was so special.

We are all utterly heartbroken. Goodbye our darling Pip, you fought so hard, it is all so unfair 💔

At risk of sounding desperate (also, WHY ARE ALL THE JOURNOS STILL ON X) - if you're a TV / history writer or podcaster and fancy doing something on Season II of #AThousandBlows and the true history of 1880s boxing and boxers, get in touch. Disney PR aren't likely to put me forward for things again.

Horrific day. Pip went down in her stable and couldn’t get back up. Had to dismantle the stable, fire brigade, Essex animal rescue blue lighted it all the way from Chelmsford, managed to get her up eventually. She is now colicking slightly we think. Going to be a long night.

This week is our 11th anniversary. ‘Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going.’ - Tennessee Williams

It is ‘that’ time of year again! Tickets for our annual ‘Trenches by Twilight’ event are now on sale. Hear the story of the 1914 Christmas Truce with Taff Gillingham as we make our way through the Trenches by the light of our lanterns. 10th-13th December. For tickets: www.greatwarhuts.org/events

The Castello, an Italian WW1 machine gun position on Costabella Ridge in the Dolomites.

My grandfather was in the Bedfordshire Yeomanry and was a horseman though the war. From his diary I know where he was at various times, but not what was going on in the war there! He spent quite some time in Palestine and was injured while there.

Posted this photo yesterday, but this is my grandpa, Tommy, on his army horse, Joey, which he bought at war’s end. Tommy was an artillery officer who loved horses- he got the MC for saving his brigade’s horses in 1918. Difficult to imagine the daily carnage among the animals on the front lines.

Fun fact: I once called him a disgrace on Question Time