Some very good news to "Drive the Cold Winter Away" and look forward to next year when "Sumer is icumen in" and @shrewsburyfolk.bsky.social 2026 delights us yet again. :)

Some old 'balls history you may find enlightening in a lovely short thread by Thames Mudlarker @lizanderson.bsky.social

@themontgomerycanal.org.uk Ah now, such waterways memories for those of us of a certain age. ;)

@garius.bsky.social Might be one to circulate to your history/computer games followers? The BBC report on the Pictish life games idea swivel to book is interesting: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

pixelsonapage.bsky.social Not sure if you follow these jolly fellows & so might have seen this already, a 3 post thread on their events for the coming season in Kent:

A long Memory Lane of #BBC listening & watching for many of us, thank you @mitchbenn.bsky.social and as Cathy says, give it a watch too:

Haven't come across such a padded sampler before and am presuming all the lovely crochet and cream threadworm was done by Annie Parker too. Such a glorious gift for the chaplain.

@rozesall.bsky.social Great writing on the historic longevity of the spindle here in England, and how its continuity can be seen if you know where to look. :)

@legolostatsea.bsky.social ...though only whimsy but also a lesson in random litter picking. ;)

@sgdesigns.bsky.social A lovely 5 post thread, pics & short vid, of historical railway magic running on the rails today inc the new build replica of the first steam train now carrying passengers. :)

@catsofyore.bsky.social Good news story in Shropshire UK, one of the UK Cats Protection charity branches now has a permanent shop after loosing their stall space in the local undercover market. Even more local good work in www.cats.org.uk cat care can happen! www.shropshirelive.com/news/2025/11...

@shrewsmorris.bsky.social Lovely Morris Sides goings on in Aotearoa New Zealand, reminds me of all the #Morris teams and the annual parading through Shrewsbury and the Shrewsbury Folk Festival site @shrewsburyfolk.bsky.social Bells, sticks, hankies, ribbons & garlands mean fun & friends forever! :)

@museumbums.bsky.social Am imagining the poster of this opinion must be a longtime follower of your good works on here and elsewhere. :)

@sheepio.bsky.social Lovely short thread here on animals receiving Dickin medal & awards for service in wars, & postbox toppers, with the purple poppy for their remembrance.

Wonderful news, a new female mate for Barti beaver at Dyfi #DyfiOspreyProject. Be splendid to see them feeding on vegetable treats when the DOP live cameras are switched on next season. Will be hundreds of very happy Dyfi Osprey fans around the world too. beavertrust.org/london-beave...

@lipotidae.bsky.social This too, from another brilliant @theguardian.com cartoonist of many years, he just does Saturday & the odd other weekday one now. He has a website of his many satirical books and cartoon works.

Another splendidly on target @bjennings90.bsky.social Opinion cartoon.

@shrewsburyfolk.bsky.social Splendid sharing of an equally splendid example of what makes #ShrewsburyFolkFestival such a top tier Folk event. Don't know if @matthewbannister.bsky.social and the @folkonfoot.com team have ever had the pleasure of visiting SFF. :)

@genevievetudor.bsky.social Wonderful start for the returning BBC Radio 3 series The Song Detectorists starting on Monday 20th :) @matthewbannister.bsky.social

@lbflyawayhome.bsky.social Well just look at that magnificent oft seen in Ladybird Books basket on the table. Highly appropriate in an historic setting. :)

@themerl.bsky.social This Country Diary about the continuity of a traditional event was a joy to read and am guessing you have some of the farming equipment mentioned in the piece on display in the Museum, either actual, model or in picture form. :)

@nicolawriting.bsky.social Second post, note there is a link at the bottom of the EDFSS article to the academic paper which is available online I believe. :)

@nicolawriting.bsky.social Just in case you're not aware of this excellent collaboration am linking 2 posts on this splendid piece of research, the 2nd post has information & link for a trailer of the film being shown at the International Festival of Romani Film AKE DIKHEA? on Saturday 11 October.

@lizanderson.bsky.social Thanks to your postings, way back on t'other place, I recognised what these were. Another lovely little thread from MAH. :)

@iwa-uk.bsky.social Such a lovely depiction of two 'Idle Women' when they we actually able to have a little rest time. :)

@wowhaus.bsky.social A great thread of pictures of the furnished interior for your delectation. :)

@drrachelclarke.com How heartening to read such positive news on a specific palliative care need being addressed. :)

@fakehistoryhunter.net A colourful scene to cheer your day, and hurrah for all involved in ongoing folk traditions. :)

@catsofyore.bsky.social These two post from our National Trust explain why there is always a handsome marmalade & white 4 paws cat in residence at this special NT property. :)

@lemoustier.bsky.social This thread of posts from the Vagina Museum on the abject failings of ChatGP followed your earlier interesting posts here on academia using the same. Total failure to generate anatomically correct pregnancy images and labels even when correctly prompted!

@shrewsmorris.bsky.social Looks like absolutely first rate advice for his primary hobby suggestion. :)

Wonderful end of season blog from the splendid Dyfi #Osprey Project on the successful raising & fledging of 3 offspring & the marvellous upgrade plans happening for their 24/7 live broadcasting of the nest & surrounds plus new facilities at the Dyfi Centre next year. Hope DOP sign up on here too. :)

@churchcat.bsky.social Just in case you've not perused this online today, you're mentioned & quoted on the Tim Dowling piece in The Guardian, a quick link to the quote from the writer here: profile.theguardian.com/user/id/1085...

@lightacandle.bsky.social & @linda2.bsky.social A brilliant updating of this classic by McNeice and free to read even if you're not subscribed to his substackthingy.

@garius.bsky.social & @dreadships.bsky.social Blackburn Aircraft of West Dunbartonshire post war construction work. Fascinating that on checking street view around the area lots of these prefabs still remain in various states of external modernisation eg insulation. Might be the most colourful. :)

@lizanderson.bsky.social Interesting short piece on using shore finds for you, if you've not seen it already. :)

A superb duo from the mastery of @martinrowson.bsky.social Part 2

A superb duo from the mastery of @martinrowson.bsky.social Part 1

South Shropshire, where the history and now expansion of environmental recovery and protection is welcome good news and rightly celebrated.

@rosamundi.bsky.social A thread on Scotland Cricket historical stuff now being archived. Very remiss of me in that I never think of cricket being a sport played in Scotland.

@museumbums.bsky.social Quite an arresting sight for members of the congregation sat below in quiet contemplation. Apotropaic bums, a new category for your listings?

@catsofyore.bsky.social Thanks to your informative posts I've learnt much about how this illness is treatable. This is a very special boy, he's receiving the best of care and has many of us fans here watching his progress from tiny kittenhood. :)

Matthew Webb and his splendid achievements were humorously celebrated by Sir John Betjeman in his poem The Shropshire Lad and performed by him on his 1974 fun LP Banana Blush with music by the great Jim Parker. www.youtube.com/watch?v=72O4...

Live to your laptop/phone/tv news - as Oysterband play, for almost the last time ever on their final tour, catch the while you can @shrewsburyfolk.bsky.social festival. :)

@themerl.bsky.social Oh my, it's the trouser wearing chicken in action! Now having flashbacks to when your splendid old manuscript page border drawing of a chicken wearing trousers was the SM hot news, fun times back then! :)

@sheepio.bsky.social Did this one make it to your timeline, what a brilliant way to be present at the protest and also fool the law. :)

Some smile raising moves on a sunny day from a great place. :)

Listen up and do what they suggest folks:

Well look you here, some positively good news for Folk folk musicians, artists and fans in UK & Ireland. A new Folk Album of the Year Award is launching this year with the award ceremony happening next March. Check the info below:

@nadim.computer Just in case this hasn't crossed your timeline already, a thread with link to the published paper, by Tom Lehrer mathematician and comedic musical genius. My family had all his albums back then. :)