I'm indescribably proud to have graduated with a PhD in Conservation and Restoration yesterday evening, in the beautiful surroundings of Lincoln Cathedral, watched over by @uolhumanities.bsky.social colleagues, and alongside @uolconservation.bsky.social students. A perfect day, that I'll treasure.

What a brilliant first day at the @womenshistnet.bsky.social conference! 👏 Thanks to those who came to hear me speak about the Hussey sisters this morning - it was a privilege to tell you their story♀️ Thanks also to the WHN team for trusting me to chair an excellent panel on visual arts 🎨

I see your Picasso potato, @lyndaskipper.bsky.social and raise you a French bean growing through a hole in a leaf. @jimchesh.bsky.social

What do an elephant, teacake, and a conference have in common? 🐘🍫 🧑‍🏫 Find out in a new blog by students Amy and Anna! history.lincoln.ac.uk/2025/08/13/f... @uolhumanities.bsky.social @jimchesh.bsky.social @lyndaskipper.bsky.social @icontextilegroup.bsky.social 📸 National Trust Images/Jon Scrimshaw

⚠️ Job Alert ⚠️ ❓ Collections Assistant 📍 Welbeck Abbey, Worksop 🗓️ Closes 26 August 2025 🔗 www.welbeck.co.uk/collections-... #conservation #culturalheritage #heritage #conservationjobs #heritagejobs #museumjobs

I'd like to congratulate myself (and BBC Good Food) on a very fine plum cake. Recommended if you're still trying to use your harvest up, @jimchesh.bsky.social @lyndaskipper.bsky.social

In my next life I'd like to be symmetrical, so I don't have to trace off pattern pieces twice and make adjustments to each side separately 🤬

⚠️ Job Alert ⚠️ ❓ Scientific Cataloguers 📍 Historic Royal Palaces 🗓️ Closes 18 August 2025 🔗 hrp.tal.net/vx/lang-en-G... #conservation #culturalheritage #heritage #conservationjobs #heritagejobs #museumjobs #conservationscience #heritagescience

Graduation place, gowning, and photography arranged for 15 Sept 🎉 Floppy hat here I come! Hope you've registered, @lyndaskipper.bsky.social & @jimchesh.bsky.social - this is a celebration of your hard work, too!

⚠️ Job Alert ⚠️ Closes on Monday, so don't delay! ❓ Assistant Conservator 📍 National Library of Scotland 🗓️ Closes 21 July 🔗 nls.current-vacancies.com/Jobs/Advert/... #conservation #culturalheritage #heritage #conservationjobs #heritagejobs #libraryjobs #library #bookconservation #paperconservation

⚠️ Job Alert ⚠️ ❓Tapestry Conservation Intern 📌 Historic Royal Palaces 🗓️ Closes 28 July 2025 🔗 hrp.tal.net/vx/lang-en-G... #conservation #culturalheritage #heritage #conservationjobs #heritagejobs #museumjobs #textileconservation #tapestry #tapestryconservation

A bit of industrial heritage today at Papplewick Pumping Station. Each of these beams weighs 13 tonnes, but the grace of their movement is hypnotic.

Tea with Charlotte Hayes of Covent Garden in my garden this afternoon. Because even though I've completed my PhD I'm not ready to leave the 18th century. #CoventGardenLadies #Harlots #18thcentury #georgian #history #skystorian

I'm really looking forward to presenting one of the stories that didn't make it into my thesis at this event. Registration is free, open to everyone, and the event is wholly online!

Fruit from the allotment + supermarket rewards voucher = free jam 😋🫙

Huge kudos to Jannik Sinner for helping to pack Dmitrov's bag after he was injured, and for treating his belongings with such careful respect. It really is the simple things that matter. #Wimbledon #BBCSport #Tennis

Yesterday's rain made weeding the allotment squash patch and planting out gherkins so much easier (if muddier) this morning. The leeks and baby corn planted before the heatwave are looking OK too. Hope your plot also enjoyed the weather @jimchesh.bsky.social @isochesh.bsky.social ☔🌱

I really enjoyed learning about Raku ceramic techniques today, with friends. The second (white) pot is partially decorated with fur from our pet ferret, Diesel ❤️

I'm on leave at the moment (and also don't work on Fridays) so I won't be on strike tomorrow, but solidarity with my colleagues who are. Having had confirmation of my PhD award from Lincoln just today, I'd like to feel confident of being able to continue using it after September.

The big fan is keeping the ferret cool, sooo...

Welcome to summer. We had cookies, but they've melted 🥵 #notglasto

⚠️ Job Alert ⚠️ ❓ Heritage Assistant 📍 North Kesteven District Council 🗓️ Closes 30 June 2025 🔗 jobs.n-kesteven.gov.uk/nkclive_webr... #conservation #culturalheritage #heritage #conservationjobs #heritagejobs #museumjobs

⚠️ Job Alert ⚠️ ❓ Project Conservator (Hill House) 📍 National Trust for Scotland 🗓️ Closes 29 June 🔗 www.nts.org.uk/volunteering... #conservation #culturalheritage #heritage #conservationjobs #heritagejobs #museumjobs

If anyone was thinking of doing a 10 hour day at work and an open evening with a full-on cold, my advice is: don't. Thanks to my colleagues and visitors for kindly tolerating my sniffing and coughing though!

Revisiting gender theory in the early throes of a cold was not on my bingo card for this weekend. But the thesis corrections need to be done, so on I go 🤧 #PhD #phdlife #research #academicsky #skystorians

Back at Doddington Hall today, for the first time since passing my #PhD viva, to give our @uolconservation.bsky.social postgraduate students a personalised, end of year tour of this very special country house ❤️ @jimchesh.bsky.social @uolhumanities.bsky.social

Beautifully executed lace ruff. From my visit to The Harley Foundation, Welbeck yesterday.

I had no idea what my first non-working and non-PhD'ing day would involve when I woke up this morning. But I definitely didn't have seeing a Lely and a Michaelangelo on my bingo card! 🤯 Oh, and there was tapestry too 😁

Behind the Glass: a Conservation Exhibition by final year BA(Hons) Conservation of Cultural Heritage students 🗓️ 2-13 June 📍 University of Lincoln 🎟️ No booking necessary 💷 Free entry 🔗 lncn.ac/behindglass @jimchesh.bsky.social @uolhumanities.bsky.social @lincolnmedieval.bsky.social

Sunny Sundays are for mills a-milling, and swans a-swimming. Idyllic lunchtime at Lincolnshire's only working watermill.

First day back at work, post-PhD - cards and gifts from friends and students 💛🥹 1️⃣ Fizz was non-alcoholic 2️⃣ Choice of 'vase' was between the jug or a conical flask. What can I say. It's a conservation thing.

I'm incredibly proud to confirm that I've passed my #PhD Viva today with minor corrections. I'd like to thank my examiners, @historymatt.bsky.social, Mary Brooks, and Erin Bell, for a robust but friendly experience, and for their very positive feedback about my thesis and Viva performance. #PhDone

#PhD #phdlife #research #viva #vivacountdown 📷 The Fountain tapestry, Yellow Bedroom, Doddington Hall.

So many things I want to be able to say, and can't find the words for. So I'll just settle for thank you. To every single person who has made this possible, in ways large and small. #PhD #phdlife #research #viva #vivacountdown 📷 The Boat Scene tapestry, Yellow Bedroom, Doddington Hall

Where it all started. #PhD #phdlife #research #viva #vivacountdown 📷 Documenting the Yellow Bedroom tapestries, Doddington Hall

Rolling into 3 days to go with the world's most disdainful peacock. Swipe to see the vibrant colours of the reverse side. #PhD #phdlife #research #viva #vivacountdown 📷 The Courting Couple tapestry, Holly Bedroom, Doddington Hall

The nerves are well and truly kicking in now. #PhD #phdlife #research #viva #vivacountdown 📷 The Falconer tapestry, Holly Bedroom, Doddington Hall.

I wish I was as relaxed as this chap, this bank holiday weekend. #PhD #phdlife #research #viva #vivacountdown 📷 The Hunter tapestry, Holly Bedroom, Doddington Hall

#PhD #phdlife #research #viva #vivacountdown 📷 The Bagpiper [and his dancing dog] tapestry, Holly Bedroom, Doddington Hall.

#PhD #phdlife #research #viva #vivacountdown 📷 The Courting Couple, Holly Bedroom, Doddington Hall

#PhD #phdlife #research #viva #vivacountdown 📷 The Trojan Horse tapestry, Yellow Bedroom, Doddington Hall

9️⃣ #PhD #phdlife #research #viva #vivacountdown #PhNearlyDone 📷 The Seated Lady [Helen of Troy] tapestry, Yellow Bedroom, Doddington Hall.

It's the final countdown #PhD #PhDLife #academicsky #VivaCountdown

Happy Easter

Them: How's your Viva prep going? Me: Well, I've got the hoarding of aesthetically pleasing stationery part down... #PhD #phdlife #academicsky

In the second wave of significant staff cuts and course closures, #ucu will be demanding #nocompulsoryredundancies www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

How visible should repairs to #textile garments be in a #museum setting? Have your say in student Alexandra's dissertation survey. Open to everyone. No conservation knowledge needed. forms.office.com/pages/respon... #conservation #heritage #textileconservation #visiblemending #visiblerepair

Hello beautiful.

In an emergency meeting today, #UCU #Lincoln members voted overwhelmingly to declare a dispute with University of Lincoln employers over their refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies in 2025.

Hi there, fuzzy bumble-butt 🐝