I've a classic September chaotic mix today of meeting incoming first year students, while also trying to finish marking MA dissertations before the new term starts. Both are exciting things, just a wish there was a bit more separation

I think my love affair with flat whites might be ending 💔

Finally have access to all my blackboards for this semester. Next challenge, making sure students are enrolled on them.

Also feeling very smug that I've not only submitted an abstract to TAG on time, but I've also booked a room at my favourite York pub with rooms for the princely sum of £45 a night.

A dissertation student stopped by to drop off some books I lent them. I'm so proud of him, he had a rough year but pulled off a cracking dissertation and submitted in time for autumn graduation! A nice little reminder before the dread kicks in that that is the point of all of this

Today in academia: pigeon eviction

In case you haven't spotted it: **Historical Association Bursary Scheme via @royalhistsoc.org ** Open to early career and mid-career applicants £1,500 research support to produce an article Deadline 15 August 2025 royalhistsoc.org/calendar/his...

If you are teaching a course that includes digital ethics, what are your go-to texts? I need a refresh of my reading list, and I'm looking for any recent papers that stand out

The FfWG (Funds for Women Graduates) Theodora Bosanquet Bursary is available to postgraduate women studying History or English Literature to finance up to 4 weeks of basic student accommodation in London during the summer of 2026 to support their research studies. www.ffwg.org.uk/grants/theod...

The building survey we funded of Leybourne, revealed that the castle was likely commissioned by a woman. She wasn't alone as @racheldelman.bsky.social explores in this blog from 2020 on Mary of Guelders and her commissioning of buildings including castles: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2020/10...

We're showing off our visualisation of Canterbury Castle today as part of Canterbury's Medieval Pageant. @katiemcgown.bsky.social @lvhicks.bsky.social @castlestudies.bsky.social

I've spent my whole career telling people that archaeology is not like Indiana Jones, while at the same time often watching 1 & 3 (largely, I think, to sing the theme tune) and I have never considered the point made in this thread. I'm seeing loads of archaeologists joking about the reboot >

One of the great placements we offered on Applied Humanities this year!

Research day, research day! I have 3 different castles papers to work on and need to figure out where to start

I wish people would just accept a correction in pronunciation and leave it be. "No it's not a spelling mistake" "Yes the O is silent" "It's Scottish actually", "Just call me Cat". Very few people use my real name because it's easier for me to give them a nickname than explain this every time.

Low key panicked when I saw how this thread started out.

This was a delightful update last night!

I’m still on the lookout for a paper on new work in castle studies for the session I have organised at Leeds next month. Get in touch if you have Qs! Please share, too!

Finished my last batch of marking early this morning, on to the final mopping up of late submissions and marksheets. I'd say research is imminent but there are some big admin jobs to negotiate before the end of next week. The hope is there though

I submitted an application for something today and the importance of having a person to remind you not to downgrade the work you've done is really important. Big love to @lvhicks.bsky.social in this case for reminding me "this is not the place to be modest"

We kicked off our first co-design workshop for the @castlestudies.bsky.social funded Visualising Canterbury Castle Project yesterday, bringing together Castle experts, game designers, medievalists, educators and heritage professionals to develop a digital model of the building.

Found this lovely chap when tidying up the garden today. I've tried to make a new home at the shady end of the garden and hope he sticks around

UK ARCHAEOLOGISTS Please sign this open letter to UK Archaeological associations to urge solidarity with trans archaeologists and action in light of the horrendous EHRC guidance: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Classroom teaching finished for the year! Onto crafting our paper for #CAA2025 next week, also thinking if I can sneak a Pickle photo in

I had my first experience of being an internal examiner for a PhD yesterday. It was wonderful being part of such an important day, and a great experience to see someone talk with such authority about their subject

A sunny day, perfect for drying pots outside and for Mother Nature to inspect the pots! Can you see what happened to my replica Roman Mortarium? 🏺

Excellent advice from Sarah here. Leaving my academic job last summer was such a good decision. It has been a huge mental and emotional shift that has taken a lot of processing, but I'm much happier as a result. If you're facing these hard decisions, you will find your way 💓

To put the nail in the head of a really crappy year, I've just discovered the ragdolls (they were strategically replaced when I wore them out) my mum made me growing up have clothes moth. Think I'm going to have to bury them, can't face the idea of throwing them out.

Are you interested in reshaping how we remember Glasgow’s history? Learn about the 1938 Empire Exhibition in Glasgow and tell us your stories & perspectives. We have a pair of workshops in Woodlands, Glasgow, 5-7.30pm, March 13th & 20th Find out more! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/empire-ret...

Think it might be a 3 screen kind of day. I'm going to redesign my L4 GIS tutorials, and already feeling 2 screens isn't going to do it

Green spaces group meeting this morning. Around the HE chaos at our Institution it's lovely to think about research opportunities and planning for a future

I must say Sainsbury's chocolate coated malted milk are inferior to Waitrose

In our latest round of grant awards we have awarded a record £42,000 to five applicants. To see what we have funded, including two excavations please go here: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2025/02...

I spent a day looking at landscapes and buildings near Scotney. It was lovely to go back to a place I didn't end up looking at as much as I'd wanted

A good critique from @chattyplatty.bsky.social here. It's really concerning to see the issues so clearly brushed over, and chatgbt used as a source... I can't see how AI will ever beat well researched and presented reconstructions. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Normally I approve of extra curriculars, but when they involve hammering shields in the terrace house next door I'm less convinced they're useful academically.

Wild experience this morning of a student listening to music in class. I feel like I've gone full school teacher for the first time ever!

We're in course redesign and encountering a sticking point. I'd love to know how your institution manages it: How do you deliver an MA dissertation for part time students. E.g. how do you split the credits over time? Half in trimester 3 and the other half in trimester 6? Or something else.

I dreamt last night I was working for an archaeological unit, it feels quite appealing at the moment. Grass is greener and all

Today's marking includes a smutty books podcast. My English L5's are a dream.

We have a PhD studentship available here at CCCU! Heritage aligned would be welcomed

Finally got myself organised to run to work (no 9am slot on a Tuesday this semester). Smugness slightly reduced by running into 4 colleagues before I'd got to a shower

Going to have to do a good chunk of marking this weekend. Fortunately the first batch were my MA students digital projects, which were appropriately fantastic so I'm not to frustrated. Not sure the pieces of critical reflection are going to be half as enjoyable

I doubt I'll ever not feel happy hearing William of Malmesbury cited: my little home town doesn't come up a lot in any other context.

Nobody has absentmindedly left their sense of smell at home. But our worlds have become less easily navigable by nose.

Is it possible to mark without a sweet treat?

I’d really love for the conclusions, that positive, domain authority-led comms is most impactful to be true, and I think there is some veracity to it, but it’s more complex than the sample allows. Which is also a flaw of computational/cultural evo research in archaeology in general.

The fact this appears just after that posting tells me we should change platforms for our public history content

Post meeting of doom debrief discussed alternative careers for historians: Teaching, only fans, romantasy writer, librarian roles were discussed. The winner for the group was Second hand bookshop owner. What's your dream alternative career should your current role not pan out?

Zoomed through Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe last night. Beyond the very personal nature of the text I found the discussions surrounding intersectional feminism (I hope this is the correct wording) very measured and articulated: balancing worries with lived experience.