Some exciting news! Following the retirement of our Heritage Services Manager at the end of October, I am pleased to announce that I am now moving into an acting-up role until March. I start on Monday! I am looking forward to the new challenge, and very grateful for the opportunity.

Absolute cheek of this girl to want cuddles after a scare this afternoon that left me crying thinking I'd never see her again and made me late to a Cathedral event. (She had discovered the mechanics of a sofa in the basement and had hidden there, not even answering to Dreamies rustling)

#ConfinedCocktails in someone else's house this evening. Would rather in my own, but there we go. There are cats in both places, at least. (Although mine are better)

A well deserved Pinot Grigio (and an Asahi, and excellent Wagamama with a friend) to celebrate End Point Assessment project submission day. Two weeks until live assessment! The last three weeks have been an absolute slog, thanks to all who have supported! #Apprenticeship

Found myself in this rather terrifying situation today - a rare occasion where the crucifer joins the clergy in vestment wearing and feels rather on display

#caturday and #confinedcocktails combined. Chocolate orange Baileys (yum) and the best face ever

💗

A play in two acts

Really enjoyed the last couple of evenings volunteering at @gloucestercathedral.org.uk for @luxmuralis.bsky.social Poppy Fields. This evening I got to witness 1700 separate "wow" faces as people moved into the Nave from the Quire for the final space of light and sound.

Did a cultural thing today and attended Classic FM Live at the Royal Albert Hall.

In the quiet coach of the train. Not sure why I bother.

And joined without much hesitation by the most beautiful thing I have ever seen... #girlcat

The worst thing about going on holiday is leaving my two beauties. The day I collect them is always a happy day.

I've been on holiday for two weeks. I swear by my Skechers for walking around cobbles, up steps, etc.I wore only my sturdy Skechers due to needing to pack light and my slip-ins are getting worn (not great with slippery things). Just popped the slip-ins back on for a walk and oh how I've missed them.

Me at 11am, after walking around for a bit: "I've realised my plantar faciitis isn't so bad recently, I've hardly noticed pain in ages" Me at 10pm, 30,000 steps in the same shoes later:

how does one get up and do the practical things when one is in this situation? #catsky #trappedundercat

Why aren’t Police Records in England & Wales covered by the Public Records Act? We've been campaigning on this since 2012 - blog for more info: www.campaignforrecords.org/blog/why-arent-police-records-covered-by-the-public-records-act #publicaccountability of interest @andyburnham.bsky.social ?

Well, that's going to give me nightmares for some time. Thank you, A46. This is why I drive on the motorway to and from work now, and why I really really hate driving at night.

Thank you for good wishes for yesterday. I can't say more at this time, but it came good! I look forward to saying more when I can. It wasn't an interview for a new job 🤣

I'm more nervous than I should be for something tomorrow morning so would appreciate kind thoughts.

#HeritageOpenDays open event at @heritagewshc.bsky.social so I've dug out this beauty

Made the mistake of popping into a pet shop earlier so now Him and Her have a brand new licky fish, which they are each rather uncertain about.

I'm trying to drink less and becoming partial to non alcoholic beer. Today was an Absolute Day when often I would get home and crack open a craft beer. Instead...Punk AF. Clear headed, if tired, will I be tomorrow.

I would just like to remind you that my girl is SO PRETTY

Today has been odd. My lovely Dad died in October 2009 (was it really that long ago?!) and his ashes were buried. Today, after 18 months of back and forth between various organisations and families of 5 individuals, he and four others have been moved to a different part of the churchyard.

OK, it's been nearly 60 days, I didn't know how long I would be off caffeine for, but I had a tea this afternoon, and then I went to a cafe and had a flat white, it was nice so I had another, so I'm now back on it. What I must not do is reintroduce it to any sort of routine, particularly morning.

Now she is clearly under much stress so is using the #Ancestry stress ball today. Poor love. @araukie.bsky.social

@araukie.bsky.social conference last week was wonderful but the unexpected win is the fact that the torch in a case that I brought back from #Ancestry has not only intrigued the OH but more importantly has become a pillow for the dearest #girlcat

When I ask #boycat if he's handsome

Saturday evenings of choice: watching TV, lying on sofa, holding paws with #boycat

There is ZERO reason why anyone travelling on public transport should be watching videos on their phone without headphones. Oh wait, sorry. He IS wearing headphones. But they're not connected to his phone so he's watching the videos extra loud because he can't hear them through his headphones.

I've had a few months off and am back for conference reasons. What have I missed, Bluesky?

I'll be off socials again for Lent this year. It was very refreshing to do it last year.

Started the new cross stitch until my eyes stopped being able to see the difference between the colours! #daffodils #StDavidsDay #spring #monthlyflower

This evening I am going to have an evening to myself with some ARA board prep, two cats, Jonathan Creek and some chip shop chips. Hoping cross stitch can replace the ARA prep before I fall asleep.

My cat loves Marmite, and I love my cat.

A wonderful Wednesday celebrating our fantastic #volunteers with Cllr Sven Hocking @wiltscouncil.bsky.social A special shout out to Wiltshire Family History Society who've completed transcribing the county's parish registers. #familyhistory #genealogy #archives #heritage #cake

I tell my cat “I know” when she meows at me but if I’m being honest? I don’t always know

I've been a flautist for about 30 years, adding piccolo 8 years ago(ish). I love playing the flute, and I'm not bad at it, but there has been an itch that needed scratching for a VERY long time so today I had my first trombone lesson.

Haven't done #selfcare posts in a while but I do attempt it daily. Today I am in a coffee shop with the largest Americano I can find, with a book, deliberately early to meet some good friends. But the hour of alone is so fulfilling.

Off alcohol for a month in between plans with friends on 5 Feb / 6 Mar, so #confinedcocktails this evening is my final @taskmaster.tv beer, the alcohol free Slap and Tong (note the bee). I'm not a huge fan of alcohol free versions of alcohol but it's nice to feel like I'm drinking real beer.

coffee coffee light me up coffee love you in my cup coffee boost my will to live please my brain is just a sieve give me all the lightning bolts want to feel the sparks & jolts feeling it lighting up my head I'll love you until I'm dead coffee I know you love me 14th time I've had to pee

Today I found a very large paper clip

Book 5 of 2025 has been the best so far, although everything I've read has been good. But there's something about realising you're going to bed early so you can read before you go to sleep, that shows you this is a brilliant book. My first book by Lisa Jewell and not my last. #booksky

Great day at the Choosing History event at Swindon Central Library @swindoncouncil.bsky.social for students thinking of studying history at GCSE & A-Level. #careers #history #heritage #archives #conservators

Been a bit rubbish with logging my reading the last couple of weeks - in that time I have finished both of these - the ever enjoyable Richard Osman "The Bullet That Missed" and, to contrast, my third book by Ragnar Jónasson "Nightblind".