Free online attendance at The Fantasy Summer School 2025, organised by the University of Oxford, and Bloomsbury Publishing, that brings together the expertise of scholars, publishers working with fantasy authors. Link here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/oxford-blo... Please share :)

In the spirit of the External Examiners' JISCMAIL list, which has today reached new levels of social etiquette, I think we should all adopt this kind of robust communication style when dealing with the irritation of unnecessary reply-alls.

Today the university advertised my current job by accident to the entire staff. Can't make this stuff up.

Attending yet another emergency Senate this morning. Curious if Wales Online will be providing a live feed.

Always good to get the important updates about the university from the university - oh sorry, I meant the Western Mail. www.walesonline.co.uk/news/educati...

I'd really like to gather up all the elitist and unkind words we've encountered from admissions tutors while supporting adult learners with non-traditional educational backgrounds and then publish them. It wouldn't be pretty, but it would be so satisfying.

Beautiful round-up of our annual Awards Ceremony at Cardiff University's Division of Lifelong Learning, celebrating our spectacular students and staff. I love working here - it really is the kind of place where lives are transformed through the power of education ❤️

Look @learncardiff.bsky.social - our prospectus out in the wild (well, Penarth station haha).

Signing certificates ahead of our annual Awards Ceremony at @learncardiff.bsky.social this coming Friday - it's so wonderful to celebrate adult learning and all our students' fabulous achievements. ❤️

Another blistering critique of senior management at Cardiff University: "...if we continue on this trajectory, we risk becoming a country that cannot afford to teach its own language, support its own culture, or train enough professionals to run its public services." nation.cymru/opinion/wels...

Researching the history of Cardiff University's Lifelong Learning provision, which has also included the last time cuts were made to humanities. The gist seems to be (a) tutors' rights were improved & pay went up so (b) the university cut off its nose to spite its face and made everyone redundant.

Encountered some interesting wording recently - "holding the tariff", "not softening" when it comes to entry grades. A university that is only interested in la crème de la crème has lost its way. A university that doesn't adapt to support "non-traditional" students is, quite simply, elitist.

Added some of my non-fiction to my website, in case you're interested in that sort of thing: jlgeorgewrites.wordpress.com/non-fiction/

What does this mean for the most vulnerable students and areas, such as lifelong learning and foundation years? The way we protect (or don't) these areas speaks volumes for our trajectory as a sector.

I'm reading a book (The Lost Bookshop) where a character stumbles into a library and ends up with a load of information about adult education & going to university as a mature student. Reminds me of finding a leaflet about Oxford University's Dept of Continuing Education c.2001 in Cowley Centre.

Not my university sending out feel good news stories via the alumni newsletter and forgetting I also work in the midst of this shit storm. How many of those good news graduate stories will come from other institutions in the future because we've cut our degrees to the bone?

Some voices are voicier than others. I don’t like to criticise fellow professionals but for the university body for Welsh universities to be saying *nothing* about the unfurling catastrophes is a total abdication of responsibility. #Cardiff #Wales www.uniswales.ac.uk/voice-univer...

Only 12 signatures needed for 1,800 in the Save the Latin Excellence Programme Petition. Have you signed and supported Latin in state schools? Sign at chng.it/tSYnmxZ4Rd

Been feeling very dispirited this week with work, having spent a lot of time advocating for mature students and not feeling heard. While the future might include shiny things that don't exist yet, we must keep nurturing what's in front of us, especially the most disenfranchised groups. (1/3)

Question for writers out there, specifically those with experience pitching a short story collection anchored by a novella: How did you approach writing a pitch for it? Individual pitches for each story? A longer pitch for the novella followed by general mention of the stories? Something else?

Me: FFS why is my f-ing monitor off and my laptop battery not charging GRAGHHHHH {Minutes pass, swearing continues} Also me: ahhhhh...

I did not do this graffiti in a friend's toilet but I may have aided and abetted the culprit. It's impossible not to with this brand.

My work wellbeing app says this today. I'm currently suffering from insomnia (again) exacerbated by... the stress of work. There's another wellbeing app that's available but only the first 1000 to sign up can have it.

Did you know there’s a site to search for starter packs of people to follow? Built by @mubashariqbal.com blueskydirectory.com/starter-pack...

Be warned - I am both grumpy and on a bus (because my train was cancelled. The bus likely won't get me there any quicker than the *next* train, but that might have been cancelled anyway.) UGGHHHHH.

ICYMI we’ve launched a new beta tool using HESA data to track if university departmental closures are leading to geographical ‘cold spots’ for the availability of particular social science/humanities/arts subjects www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/policy-and-r...

@lucyvandrew.bsky.social yay you are here! 💕

English: Shared Futures UK’s largest English Studies conference…creative writing,language,linguistics & literature - academics, teachers, policy-makers…celebrate strengths,tackle shared challenges,imagine a new future for English Studies across sectors & beyond! www.englishsharedfutures.org/cfp

On Monday, Book at Bedtime features five short stories by me, separate but interconnected, one each night over the week. Hope you enjoy :)

By refusing to understand the gravity of the situation in UK Higher education, politicians are encouraging it to continue, at speed. Expect multiple big cuts and redundancy announcements per week in the run up to Christmas.

I have a shit ton of stuff to do and I don't want to do any of it, thank you. I will, instead, have crumpets. . . . I ate them before I could take a picture. They were delicious.

I've been itching to get the stair carpet cleaned in my new place. I've had a first go with my glorious new toy (a humungous Vax with multiple attachments) and it's definitely looking a lot less filthy. I'm so boring. 😂😂😂

This is Daisy. She is very old, can't see or hear very well, but will respond to the sound of a packet of crackers being opened three rooms away with spectacular levels of speed and agility. Sometimes she comes to Teams meetings with me, improving aforementioned meetings immensely.

After this week, I'm mildly regretting not following up with the headhunter who wanted me to interview for a director role in lifelong learning. Admittedly, it was in Mexico, which is a little tricky to commute to from Wales.

Agree 💯

Had a handful of homophobic/transphobic messages here today because I’ve created a Starter Pack supporting LGBTQIA+ writers. Please follow and share this pack to help keep Bluesky the positive place it promises to be. go.bsky.app/UD2Hf7W

Ooh delicious and just what I needed - a hot cup of nothing. (I forgot to put in the coffee.)

When I completed my PhD no one warned me I would spend half my academic life re-entering my password and authenticating my existence.

I swear if I have to authenticate one more bloody time on the university systems, I shall scream. Yes It Is F***ING Well Me Once Again. Also I forgot the number to enter.

Ah @plashingvole.bsky.social all is well with the world now I realise you're on here 😊 it's almost like The Good Old Academic Days™️ on twitter before that twat ruined it.

This article mentions that ancient languages at Cardiff Uni have been scrapped. They have, within the School structure, but we've picked them up & relaunched Ancient Greek and Latin as online options within Lifelong Learning. I couldn't let these vital learning opportunities die. shorturl.at/8YtGz

I saw a post recently that linked to an overview of closures and restructures in UK higher education but I couldn't remember if it was on here, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Now I've tracked it down, I'm resharing for everyone's doom scrolling. qmucu.org/qmul-transfo...

Pumpkin carving with fizzy wine.

And please take note of the differences between post-92 and pre-92 departments. The cuts in the former, which traditionally are stronger on widening participation in all its forms, are truly devastating. We are losing expertise, specialism and opportunties for students at an alarming rate. 1/

Me [after reading countless pages of guidance in one of my external examiner roles]: help, I don't understand how to claim my pay. Is it automatic or is there a form? University: read the FAQs Me: I did! University: t u m b l e w e e d [Months pass] Bank: hello, you have £££ Me: still baffled

I told my mother that she should stop reading this newspaper years ago. Every so often she finds things to order via the Weekend Magazine. Can't wait to tell her about the added extra she's going to get with her skirt...

Train Etiquette part 406: When the train is busy, move your f*cking bag off the seat.

It was my 45th birthday on Sunday. My youngest (12) decided to present me with this. It's a good job we have a similarly mischievous sense of humour 😂

Royal Holloway is offering 10 PhD scholarships right now, on projects with 'social purpose'. One of them could work with me on how creative methods can enhance intergenerational connections (a project I would *love* to supervise), so please re-post widely as it's a very short deadline!