I don't think much else has happened since I was last here... New job (start that in a few weeks). Got tipsy & entered a triathlon. Gunner still very cute. Dog tax below. Think that's everything up to date 😂

A little piece of Falkirk in Antigua #GunneryIsFunnery 🇦🇬🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I do have questions about this, as somebody who hails from Somerset, the land of Cheddar...

Shirley Heights was, like most of the forts in Antigua, built as part of the British defensive network protecting Antigua (in this case English Harbour). It functioned as both a signal station and an artillery position. Today it is known for weekly Thursday/Sunday sunset parties.

Also need to get the sap out of the way and hype up my wonderful boyfriend, who booked us a meal in the historic buildings of Nelson's Dockyard because he knew I'd want to go 🥹 Felt a little like walking straight into my own footnotes, or eating in a very aesthetic archive… with cocktails ⚓️🇦🇬

Also had a lovely visit with the Royal Naval Tot Club of Antigua & Barbuda. The Tot Club meets every evening at 18:00. Notices & then a reading from Royal Navy history pertinent to that day, followed by a naval toast, which is of course different for each day of the week, & ofc one to HMTK ⚓️ 👑

Fort James was built in the early 18th century to defend St John’s against possible French incursions. The fort formed part of a wider network focused towards controlling both naval access and commercial movement within one of the Leeward Islands’ key anchorages. Cat tax included 🐱

Fort Barrington. Constructed in 1779 to defend the western entrance to St John's Harbour, the fort was previously known as Goat Hill Fort, Cripplegate Batter & Queen's Battery before being renamed in honour of Admiral Samuel Barrington, Commander-in-Chief of the Leeward Islands Station

Nelson's Dockyard. This was a pilgrimage for me, as it would be for any naval historian, I suspect. Between 1784 and 1787, a young Horatio Nelson spent time here, enforcing the Navigation Acts and protecting commercial interests in the Caribbean.

We then drove over to Devil's Bridge (which reminds me a lot of the limestone formations at Portland Bill). The bridge’s natural arch was formed by thousands of years of waves battering the cliff 🌊

Started off with a trip to Betty's Hope - Antigua's first sugar plantation. It was also one of the largest rum producing works, and is now preserved as a monument to the slaves who worked there. Apparently many people don't take the time to visit but we felt like it was incredibly important to.

Where to start...? I won an IG competition for a holiday to Antigua last year... those things aren't all scams, apparently... ... so we recently spent a week at Blue Waters 🌸🌺 Many rum punches consumed.

I'm back I'm back. I've been using threads because it's really nice and it's also fun and I kind of forget that this place exists but I'm back l, probably temporarily, while I remember it exists 😂

WINTER Term Card: We are excited to share our seminar schedule for next term! Our slate of speakers cover a range of #18thc British history topics. Registrations are now open (with paper abstracts) at the link below 👎 @ihr.bsky.social @ihrlibrary.bsky.social www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

A cloudy night here in Somerset but the sky delivered 🥰

I love tiktok history creators... You didn't casually 'discover' the train at Wadi Rum 😂 it's one of the biggest tourist traps in Jordan. I just casually discovered leftover Christmas chocolate in my cupboard which I also knew was there

Best lil sticker anyone could have ever bought me 😂

Glorious

📣 We’re hiring! The History of Parliament are seeking a Research Fellow for our House of Lords 1660-1832 project. @georgianlords.bsky.social We’re looking for a historian with a PhD in 18thC British political or cultural history to join our expert team. 🔗 Details below: #AcademicJobs #HistoryJobs

It's been almost a year since I left to do some lecturing around Antarctica and South Georgia, and it still doesn't feel real that I got to be there. Not sure if I will ever make it back but I hope so...

I did promise Gunner content now I'm here... 🐾

Making the jump from X as it becomes more of a cesspit. Keeping it active as I get requests for talks / history work there but time to start posting here and Threads (more likely there as I remember it exists and love it 😂)

I know I have a lot of people on here who have completed PhDs so I would appreciate the input from you if I may. A lil thread... When I started there was an understanding with work that if I worked duty weekends I would get days back in lieu from my day job. These would be PhD days but

Finished my lil goblin. Looks like a rainbow vomited on it 🌈 😂 The biggest thing I've painted so a bit of a learning curve 🎨 @roguehobbies.bsky.social

To the innermost heart of their own land they are known as the stars are known to the night; As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, moving in marches upon the heavenly plain, as the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness To the end, to the end, they remain...

Autumn walks with my best boy 🍂🍁🍃🐾

the National Trust said it’s an unprecedented year for acorns and I love this for him

After the 220th anniversary of Trafalgar, I'm thinking of the little girl taken to see HMS Victory & bought a book on Nelson. 27ish years later I've lectured internationally, including Antarctica & the Falkland Islands. I've delivered talks for the Royal Navy & taught at the US Naval Academy 🧵

Okay I'm finally watching Master & Commander 4K UHD and my heart is happy.

9 years ago today. Time doth fly.

The sighs emitted by this dog. Surrounded by toys, 3-4 walks a day, all the snacks, has claimed most of the household furniture as his own, and contributes nothing to the mortgage or bills... What ails you, my little freeloader? Cruelly dragged from Greece as a stray to live a life of hardship 🙄

Popped down to see Trafalgar being played by the Naval Wargames Society ⚓️ All figures by @warlordgames.com bar 2 on the table. I should probably finish painting and rigging mine at some point...

Watery environments don't usually mix well with libraries, but we've found a way to make it work! "Decks and Wrecks: a Voyage through Maritime Art and Archaeology" is now available for you to peruse on the ground floor.

Every time you use stupid ChatGPT, a thing that I once saw get a long multiplication sum wrong, it uses ten times as much electricity as searching the same thing on Google and the server cooling systems mean each use consumes half a litre of water.

Happy #WorldAnimalDay! There were a few animals on the Mary Rose, some invited, others no so much... maryrose.org/blog/the-ani...

Find yourself someone who knows you're having a chaotic awful work day already and deliveroos you snacks 😂💕🥰

Considering dropping out of my PhD to do a law conversion. I've been thinking about it for quite a few years but after speaking to solicitors this week, I think I've reached the point where my career is no longer a challenge / I need it to be. Have any of you have done a conversion / SQEs recently?

Feels a bit early in the day to be posting this, but if I'm spending the morning with 18th-century sex therapist & supposed 'Prince of the Quacks' Dr James Graham then so can you 🍆

Listening to happy sappy romantic Taylor Swift when you're happy and sappy is a vibe 🥰🫠💕

Someone suggested perhaps the cat I saw earlier is a gingeranium 🌸

@kejamieson.bsky.social explained you should never leave a debutante unaccompanied near this fella coz he'll have his way in no time at all.* You should definitely book onto a tour from KJ and @alexchurchill.bsky.social if you like history, boats & shit-talking bout Henry 8. *I have Paraphrased.

Off to Pompey to see @alexchurchill.bsky.social and @kejamieson.bsky.social talk about Lady Hamilton's lover (and possibly a ship or two). Huzzah!

Tuesday night baking sesh

Pre gym snack of pickled onion monster munch and some smarties. Follow me for more healthy living tips

Having an emotional roller coaster of a day because my uncle has died, which I'm incredibly sad about, but I also just won a holiday to Antigua. In addition, work is incredibly stressful today so my brain is a mess. I am mostly just venting at the internet because I need to get it out somewhere

I love my part of the world @kejamieson.bsky.social

Gift label done correctly ✔️ 😂

Boy offered up the suggestion of British tapas for dinner tomorrow night. What are we including in British tapas nowadays, beyond turkey dinosaurs obvs 🦕😂