Faffing-with-cyanotypes-as-a-minor-distraction attempt two

Going to work I got into the habit of nodding to this pigeon mug, left each day on a bench by the office. The spot on the bench varied, once or twice money was left on top. The mug has been missing since new year. This week it reappeared in slightly tea stained glory, a low key moment of #TinyJoys

'Tis the season

OK, English-speaking folks, I'm trying to think of a nice, short-ish poem for my adult audience. I thought of Wordsworth's Daffodils, or of Frost's Road not taken, but if you had to choose one poem for a French audience with an intermediate level, what would be your pick?

Have typically picked the time of the year with least sun to start playing around with cyanotypes at home

Here to share more about our work celebrating the craft and graft of framework knitting, plus our new programme of events, workshops and exhibitions coming up in 2026.

Feet up, cat installed, that'll do for today.

Back to 'Coal Country'... Exploring the Miners' Hall, Barnsley, with the @sslh.bsky.social

Have bought a chocolate log, some tangerines and a poinsettia and am counting that as Christmas shopping done

Hi everyone! As some of you may know, our organisation, YHP, is focused on the promotion of the scholarship of Black British History. We have some amazing projects which we can't wait to share with you next year. But the research, editing etc. for these projects are done on a volunteer basis.

Also if you're a fan of surprises in estate agent photies I commend this one to your attention www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/1...

Useful archival cataloguing term found

One for #HisMed #HistSTM #EnvHis #MiningHeritage and #MiningHistory

The reason why I now know (1) what filter keys are and (2) how to turn them off so that I can use the keyboard again.

Having my DIY skills assessed after reattaching the wardrobe door

Busy woman, Miss Todd.

Name of the week goes to:

#MondayMotivation from today's freshly catalogued archives

Statement of health policy, 1957. Literally the only document in the archive file with a cigarette burn.

If you can get there, thoroughly recommend a visit - an outstanding building crammed with history

In today's unexpected NUM find, a magazine featuring the launch of Mr Kipling in 1967 through "Shock Troops" "in the Van of the Cake Revolution" (or six blokes in branded suits brandishing platters of cake) ...

Got the scruffy cat cardigan out from the wardrobe for the first time in months...

Week off ✔️ Bakery ✔️ Bread pudding the size and weight of a house brick ✔️

I have questions about archive distance courses and/or part time UCL MA course. If anyone are happy to talk to me as employer/student/mentor of such undertakings (or can point me in the direction of friendly people) please let me know. I am on a fact finding mission.

Got distracted whilst looking for early 20th century sound effects. Can we use this for a 1926 British soundscape? No. Do I want to shoehorn it in regardless? Clearly, yes. www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

Cryptic folk horror road sign season is here again...

Have spent part of today listening to a small but enthusiastic group of children singing 'Happy Ice Cream to Me' to the tune of 'Happy Birthday to You' and this will now be stuck in my head for the rest of the weekend, if not forever.

Tagging @mininghistory.bsky.social for this one in case not previously encountered: front page of The Miner, 1969, highlighting two members of NUM head office staff, originally from Biafra and Kenya, on conference duty in Blackpool. Cataloguing spot from earlier today.

Cat is going through a Francis Bacon phase

May have done extra takes just to stay in the cold

New digitised resource! Yorkshire Miners, 1811-1945: 98 documents online in full at wdc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/coll... Includes leaflets, pamphlets, photographs and our earliest surviving branch membership records. More to be added in the next 12 months!

Opting to use my #ChEUROty2025 team pick as an excuse for cake. Hoping for a win but, if not, there is pastry.

1949. When it was decided that the best way to teach children road safety was by colouring in pictures of demonic toys.

Less than 10 minutes into the MRC #ChEUROty2025 derby match v. @anoldhand.bsky.social and I've opted to open the geographically appropriate wine Força, Força, Portugal! ( and #PUSB ) 🇵🇹

Nearly

Fan on table: helping. Cat on knee: not helping.

This sounds like either a threat or a Richard Osman novel

Have spent a brief period today not sitting down and this is apparently completely unacceptable.

On to the important archives now

Petition to save Bangor University's Archives and Special Collections www.change.org/p/save-your-...

Interested in digital heritage and community engagement WE ARE RECRUITING Mining Landscapes Ecomuseum are looking for a student or recent graduate to join the team over the summer (full time paid role) for info and how to apply see www.mining-landscapes.org/news Closing date fast approaching 4 June

Tuesday.

Norfolk Record Office appear to have found an archive with the dark power to summon silverfish

Minutes into a train journey from London after doing a thing and already regretting not buying something involving pastry

Holiday reading is up to the usual uplifting standard this week

658 boxes done, now to move on to the big bit of the collection...

Unexpected appearance of a squirrel drey in the trees beyond the back garden, revealed when squirrel junior shot up a branch before being loudly wrestled back into the nest by squirrel parent

Looking forward to this! Time to develop 15/20 minutes worth of coherent thoughts on history from below, 'shadow' archives mirroring those destroyed in repression, and recordkeeping mixing bureaucracy, resistance and community pride