Hammered again and it’s only a Tuesday

I liked this obviously.

I am excited to announce that I will be talking about my adventures in search of Roman Scotland at the Boswell Book Festival @bozzybookfest.bsky.social at Dumfries House on Sunday 10th May. In person or online tickets available here: shorturl.at/qjcGm #RomanFortThursday

Vessel, Mexico, ca. 1200-1500.

Who needs the Oscars when you can take the train to Kyiv? 🇺🇦 Thanks for choosing Kyiv, Sean Penn. Welcome back.

Looking forward to Tom Graham's LFG talk 'Discovering and Reinstating Lime Finishes on a C19th Frome House.’ I'm keen to see and hear about Tom's project because if there are two things that strike a chord with me, it is basing lime work on evidence and for home owners to have a go themselves.

Our Claire gets wed in Dunkeld tomorrow during storm Dave. I hope she has her duffel coat and big pants. All our love ❤️

So in two weeks they’ve nicked 11 pairs of glasses and this is my revenge on a truly miserable day yesterday. I love that they are trying to shelter under a root while I’m trail building. Of course I relented when got home.

Further to my post yesterday, Historic England have agreed to increase the online number to 700 so you can still get a ticket for What's the Point Two 2026, but don't mess about becasue they'll be gone in a flash. See you there.

What's the Point Two 2026 'Lime Finishes in a Changing Climate', York on the 14th of April, the LFG collaboration with Historic England, all the in person tickets are sold out & there 7 online places left. If you are planning on joining us do please get a wiggle on and book now. lnkd.in/eYhFa2Ny

ROCK ART as knowledge - as it should be portrayed! NT rock art thousands of years old sheds new light on the mysterious Tasmanian tiger theconversation.com/nt-rock-art-...? "These variations ... more likely they relate to different ways paintings were used to pass on information about the animal."

Me on holiday in Conge, Aoste, Italy. Fab scenery, great food and company, and everyone loved my wit and interesting stories.

Tuesday

Spanish Gothic figures in the Burrell Collection.

Tanker heading through the Strait of Fortrose this morning,.

Anyone else dry orange peel for firefighters? Our Simon thinks I am getting weirder by the day.

This just seems such a long time coming. Cold wind though.

Years ago my pals G&P wanted to buy a house in Ross-shire and I told them about a Nissen house that was for sale near Tain. P did her snooty "I'm not living in one of those" thing then cried because she thought it was so beautiful. Of course they bought it and have lived there happily since.

The extraordinary 16th century Willington stables and dovecote, Bedfordshire 🤩

Me now that Brent crude oil is up 50%

This is Mitri, an overseer of scribes in Egypt. This extraordinary statue was found in his tomb. He leans forward as if to speak with you, but it’s his eyes that startle. Lined with copper, the irises are grey rock crystal, which appear a piercing blue in photos 🕰️c2300BC 🏛️📷Egyptian Museum, Cairo

Reaching for the heavens. 12thC vs 21stC. #Siena #photography

We went hear the Fergus McCreadie Trio at the Resolis Hall last night and it was mesmerising. Playing in Sterling this coming week and elsewhere. I can’t recommend them enough.

The wonderful Mary Beard, as ever highlighting all the commonplace details of Roman life across a vast social spectrum, but in this instance missing what matters to all of us at Lime Finishes Group. #Tellyarchaeology Have a good weekend all.

Our LFG/Historic England symposium in York on the 14th of April is fully booked (in person). You can still book online, but get your skates on because it is limited to 450 and we are on about 400 now.

Nothing beats the sheer determination of pregnant women to eat eat ice cream. My young pal in Portsoy.

Coronation of the Virgin (detail) c. 1295-1300 CE Over 725 years old! 🤔 I like the flying angels with censers. Carved pine wood - painted, silvered & gilded. Originally in parish church of Villeneuve (Aosta) Now in Palazzo Madama, Turin, Italy #Medieval #Woodensday #WoodcarvingWednesday

Given the state of things, I am hardly surprised.

Europeans when asked to unblock the Strait of Hormuz:

Happy #StPatricksDay! Here is some beautiful Connemara Marble to bring you luck! #decorativestone #lapidary #jewellery

Far be it from me to brag, but I present you with my sourdough loaf, which frankly sublime.

Emma Barnett on Today now 👌

Phwoar! Pocklington near York. Exposed brickwork we can all admire

I like the sound of the sheets flapping and drying on the line behind me

Just thinking about the Trump administration seizing control of the worlds greatest oil reserves prior to launching the attack on Iran 🤔

My book launch @ Scottish Maritime Museum 7 March. I know most friends on here are nowhere near the West of Scotland, but my talk will be recorded & on Youtube early next week. If you can attend in person (so I am not talking to an empty room......), book here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/talk-and-b...

💯 Up for this.

I know it’s very niche, but this is the stuff that I find thrilling 😂 Some excellent remnants of plaster at Houghton House, Bedfordshire ❤️

A 15th century palace in Cremona with some fabulous limewashes and other artistic delights @limefinishes.bsky.social

This illustrates why I stopped contracting- 14 years to install the utility sink. But it was cheap. My plumber mate Bob (under sink) let me have the taps for £40, sink is Ikea, the flagstone was kicking around and the woven stuff from the garden. Limey stuff B&Q. Pigments are leftovers.

There’s a real sense of calm and serenity in the architecture of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Harlton, Cambridgeshire - even just in little snippets of it, like this 🥰

This was great.

At the dawn of the fourth anniversary of the start of Russian war in Ukraine, all that the Slovakian PM is concerned about is when the russian oil supplies through Ukraine will be reinstated. Fico is a Putin enabler. Utterly shameful. #SlavaUkraini 🇺🇦

Our Ross is getting on with his Mam's house.

My new book is being launched on 7th March at the Scottish Maritime Museum with a talk and signing. www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org/event/talk-a...

Thanks to all those who have submitted abstract/summaries for What's the Point Two 2026 on the 14th of April in York. Booking is now live here: lnkd.in/eex5Rg4w but do get a wiggle on because in person places are limited and are going like hot cakes – you can come along online as well.

Some of the wonderful 14th century domestic wall paintings that cover the interior of Longthorpe Tower, Peterborough…complete with birds and bunnies (top left)! 🥰

Calling @jamestaite.bsky.social this is in Fife. You can see the droved surface on the raised margin and the broaching on the tail. In this example the droved surface has lost its functional purpose, but the tail has not. You can also see how the margin is supposed to cast a shadow onto the harl.