Was so looking forward to the #SussexArchaeologicalSociety annual conference today. What a day to have The Cold from Hell. I don’t want to be That Person Who Turns Up with a Cold and Gives it to Everyone Else. I’m sure it’ll be great. So sorry to miss it.

“Titular dignity” ? Is that a euphemism for a lady’s undergarment, or a band I saw at the Half Moon, Putney, in 1986?

Evening all. I'm running a study day on Sat 13 Dec at Highgate Lit & Sci about 19th/early 20th century mental health history. We'll explore various diagnoses/labels plus the administration of ‘lunacy’ law and the private and public asylums in the London area. Now booking hlsi.org.uk/courses/day-...

It’s 6 November, and you know what that means, don’t you? YES, THAT’S RIGHT. It’s the 156th anniversary of the death of Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s pet wombat

I am SO not the target audience for the John Lewis ad. So I view it as mawkish pap, I’m afraid. Lovely for the menfolk to bond - it appears the women in the household are in the background laying the table. Nice to know they know their place.

The BBC is hailing “A highly unusual speech as Reeves lays Budget groundwork” Presented through the medium of interpretive dance?

Never dreamt I would spend so much time today trying to sort a massive jamb in my 50 year old sewing machine - and failing to fix it.

Gosh. Don’t think I’ve ever had so much attention here as I just have about a throw away remark about not using a knife to cut lettuce - don’t ask why, it’s a #TheArchers thing!

Once you see it, you can't unsee it.

Fascinating piece by @mattlodder.com in the latest #RHSGarden magazine about botanical tattoos.

Just how long does it take for one’s servant to pack one a bag and drive one to one of one’s brother’s houses?

THE ANDREW FORMERLY KNOWN AS PRINCE

Nobody had even heard of Katie Lam outside of Westminster until about two weeks ago. Literally all it takes to be considered "brilliant" and a "rising star" on the right of British politics now is just a willingness to say something slightly more racist than all of your competitors

For anyone who listened to “Fools Gold” on #BBCRadio4

When on earth did Yorkshire Puddings become “Yorkies”? A Yorkie is a chocolate bar, or a dog. Why does food have to be infantalised? - I’m looking at you, “roasties”.

OK #BBCRadio4 how about a rerun of After Henry as the 6.30 comedy? A tribute to Prunella Scales and, I suspect, an improvement on much of the current programmes pre- #TheArchers

Victorian attitudes towards birds of prey in the UK are fueled by sensationalist fear-mongering like this, published routinely by mainstream media. #RaptorResearch raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/28/a...

Fawlty Towers star Prunella Scales dies aged 93 So many happy memories. She was so accomplished- not just Fawlty Towers. Condolences to the family.

I wonder if @tds153.bsky.social will be getting @katrinanavickas.bsky.social on to #BBCStartTheWeek to talk about her new book?

I’m getting too old to remember things. Have I really had a GP health check every 5 years since I was 40? I reckon I’ve had 1 rather than 7. Do they not do them if they’ve had contact with you close to when the Heath check is done?

I do hope that Melvyn Bragg’s selection of his favourite #InOurTime is going to include the wonderful table-thumping Industrial Revolution episode where he got very angry at the idea that the IR wasn’t due to clever men in the north having clever ideas.

Tory MP who read Classics telling us how important doing technology and engineering degrees is so that people can get “relevant” jobs. Sounds a bit them and us to me.

Was Manchester really as segregated as Engels said? What kept the rich and poor apart.... if anything? My first article is out today in @historicaljnl.bsky.social and I'm so pleased to share it with you all! doi:10.1017/S0018246X25101246 @stjohnscollege.bsky.social @camunicampop.bsky.social

Just look at the orangey ooze! Blushing Rosetta fungus, as spotted by Caroline Westoll. Apparently 'growth will consume blades of grass and twigs'. Fungus really is endlessly fascinating. And sometimes a tiny bit scary!

Beautiful Italian scenery, exquisite clothes but what a pretentious series. Tedious time shifting. Using clever-sounding “tech” words in the hopes that the audience will be so baffled they’ll decide it MUST be fearfully clever. Don’t think I’ve got enough time to live to spend another hour on this.

😂

Can anyone tell me when “at pace” replaced “as quickly as possible” And why. I don’t think I came across it until the last couple of years.

And, @eicathomefinn.bsky.social wouldn’t it be lovely if an article about universities, just for once, DIDN’T use a stock photo of gowns and mortar-boards (particularly when the latter are thrown in the are.) I have (ahem) some degrees but have never been to a ceremony or dressed up. It’s so lazy.

God I hate musicals. Does that make me a bad person? (I also hate opera, if that makes it better.)

'View from Senate House Library' (2014) by Melissa Scott-Miller chrisbeetles.com/artwork/44604/view-from-senate-house-library

Join us in four weeks, on the 8th November at Sussex University, for a day of talks from leading archaeologists and historians on the origins of the Kingdom of the South Saxons. 1/4 sussexpast.co.uk/event/the-su...

The City of London in a picture. The medieval church tower of All Hallows Staining. An historic island amidst skyscrapers and construction. 🗃️

Alan Garner's Bronze Age shovel - found in the Alderley Edge copper mines in 1875, rediscovered by Alan in a dusty cupboard under his Primary School's stage, and since radiocarbon dated to 1750BC. One of many treasures in Manchester Museum - now massively revamped & European Museum of the Year.

Another history programme co-presented by an expert, & a “TV Personality”, presumably picked to be as ignorant of the topic as Jo(e) Public is assumed to be, so we won’t feel embarrassed by our ignorance? Give me archives etc. I don’t need someone whose role is to say “how awful” now & then.

Enjoying #AncientAutopsy on Cleopatra but rather distracted by the style, which appears to be an estate agent’s promo film selling an elegant house in lovely grounds with stunning glass extension.

Hard to imagine now but the #Brighton Grand Hotel must have looked like a skyscraper when it was first built in 1864. Designed by John Whichcord Jr. it towered over the rest of the seafront

Another evening of shouting at a drama “why are you even IN the police force? Everything you have to do is against your principles or views. Get out now.

Is this the first time a politician has made a speech accompanied by a ventriloquist’s doll in the form of a judge’s wig?

RIP John Woodvine… Persuasion 1995. #johnWoodvine

A couple of Arctic Skuas were bothering Sandwich Terns close in at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve this morning. Like they don't have enough to worry about, with a 4,000km journey to West Africa looming. #UKwildlife #Sussexwildlife @sussexwildlife.bsky.social #birds

It’s a shame that her voice makes her sound a) cross b) ”how can you be so stupid that I’m having to explain this to you?” c) we have lots of solutions but I can’t be bothered to explain them to you

Massive rabbit-hole #localhistory research envy: OH spots story in local Brighton paper about a bigamous marriage (in 1904) Decides to investigate -leads to tale of 2 London murders (one the Kennington Murderer) as well as the original bigamy story, and probable PTSD Tragic, but fascinating.

This, btw, is what ICE operating in US communities looks like. This is what Kemi Badenoch wants for the UK. Every single journalist and media outlet in the UK should play this clip to Badenoch and ask her why she wants this for the UK on our streets. bsky.app/profile/lord...

29 'missing' Hen Harriers & nearly 40 birds of prey poisoned, trapped or shot in Yorkshire Dales National Park since 2015. Not so much a National Park - more of a National Disgrace. #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #Ornithology #Yorkshire raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/04/2...

To stop brain atrophy, I think I shld try to find out more about AI (personal interest, not work-related.) Wondered if investigating it in context of #FamilyHistory might be interesting and useful. Any FH experts got suggestions about articles to read, tools to try? Any obvious pitfalls? Thanks

Yet another obit. of Patricia Routledge on #BBCr4 which ignored her splendid work as Kitty for Victoria Wood.

"She's the Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, Archbishop of Canterbury, but she's Mrs Mullally to you."

SHE HAS A NAME

Had Covid & flu jabs. Staff searching thro paper print outs for names, then a rifle through a stack of hand-completed forms to find your form. after jabs the finalform handed to s/one who types it into a computer. Oh, & 1st appt I could book online is in 2 wks. Brave new Wes Streeting digital NHS