I have (in a moment of organisational brilliance not seen since giving birth) succeeded in booking travel to and accommodation in York for me and our 6yo in February half-term. We have 3 days: activity recommendations, please.

This is a good scale for how I feel about Christmas prep. Currently at 5.

Our 6yo “whammed” us at supper via Siri-controlled Apple Music. Grr. We responded with a series of seriously cheesy Christmas hits from decades past. #Whamageddon

After 200+ applications and numerous first and second round interviews, my husband is starting a new job later this month. It’s been one heck of a process and learning curve…and not one I want to repeat any time soon.

Do not skip the alt text. 10/10 recommend.

Say it isn’t so! Gardies (properly The Gardenia, a kebab shop) has closed after 76 years. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It’s been a very quiet birthday this year. Stress over husband’s lack of job in a horribly tough job market combined with a disgusting cold means I’m opting for an official birthday at some other time. Lego building and Kung Fu Panda films for the win.

We’re rewatching Fake or Fortune and have just encountered the episode about a scene in Venice. We had to stop in fits of giggles when the Christie’s archivist revealed the seller to be Major Gubbins. Not just Mr Gubbins but Major Gubbins. 😂

I am so confused. I usually wfh Tuesdays and Wednesdays (and some Thursdays). This week has been turned inside out due to onsite meetings and duty rota-ing so I’m wfh tomorrow. I’ve confused myself (today is *not* Friday) and most of my colleagues, too.

A great opportunity for a future archivist!

Summer holidays… tired son snuggled up for a snooze while the rain chucks down outside. Husband upstairs up-skilling and applying for new jobs (redundancy confirmed yesterday). Not exactly the sunny, happy holidays we had all imagined.

This is one of the best ideas I've heard in ages.

An interesting but, I think, partially misguided paper looking at occupations’ vulnerability to AI. It has ‘archivist’ in its top 40 most vulnerable. But this is because it has determined that archivists primarily ‘gather information’. 1/2

With husband soon to be made redundant, he has been applying for new jobs with my help. Thankfully there are lots for him but jeez, the job market it tough at the moment! I’ve been learning how to engage with AI to assist with cover letters and tweaking his CV - absolutely fascinating (and scary).

It’s nearly the end of term! We’re staggering towards tomorrow 3.10pm. Last Squirrels session of the year is now done. Everyone is rather demob happy (no, not demon happy, autocorrect!), including parents and teachers.

Which ninnies thought that a district Squirrel campfire would be a good idea in late June?! Sure, it didn’t rain on us but we were far too hot, too! Let’s try that again… in the dark and cold next year.

One of those days, I guess 😢. Fabulous day for me at work (a fabulous intro day for 10 people potentially interested in a career in archives), a great day for LO (school outing to Woburn Safari park), and a pants day for my husband (placed at risk of redundancy).

All of today’s readers have gone but I’m not yet leaving the invigilation desk…and the air con! One of the many blessings of being an archivist.

Welcome to the archives.

Husband is on a health drive so asked an AI to come up with a healthy supper based on fridge contents: scrambled eggs (minus milk and fat) w peas, spinach, and raw (?!) carrot. Rubbery, bland and odd texture combo. Let’s give that a 2/10 (at best).

Simon Reeves’ new Scandinavia adventure series has reminded us that we’ve twice tried to go on a Hurtigruten voyage up the Norwegian coast (prevented by family ill-health both times). Now we discover they have a Young Explorer programme and sea eagle safari so it’s edging up our family shortlist.

And the weather says “welcome to half-term holidays”. Rain forecast every. single. day. after a long dry patch.

In trying to use up incredibly over-ripe bananas and surplus yoghurt I found a delicious-sounding recipe. So of course I made Nutella banana bread during my morning tea break. I wonder how much will be left by tomorrow…?

My baby* has outgrown the smallest size on his bed and with it his cotbed duvets and bedding. We’ve extended the bed (thanks, IKEA) but he’s now using full-size single bedding. I’m boggled and slightly sad. He’s delighted. *yes, I know he’s not actually a baby at 5.5yo but he always will be to me.

Much excitement here as we appear to have a honeybee nest/swarm in the garden. I had to retreat from hanging out laundry in my lunchbreak as the garden filled with a loud hum and lots of flying insects. Swarm collector on way to investigate!

I’ve been offline completely for the last 48hrs. What did I miss? In related news, Squirrel family camp was (mostly) amazing and we’re all shattered, little one from attending, me from organising, and husband from being a fabulous dogsbody.

Squirrels is absolutely amazing and gives little people so many new experiences/opportunities but it does reduce birthday party ideas! We regularly light fires, toast marshmallows, do scavenger/bug hunts, camp, build dens, do experiments and crafts. What do we do for a 6yo birthday party?!

Home, at last, having battled traffic clear across the country. Final Easter chocolate tally for our little one is 2 large Lindt bunnies, 3 tiny Lindt bunnies, 2 medium eggs, 19 tiny eggs, and 3 cute chocolate animals. We bought none of it. I think we’re set until Christmas!

Me after tangling with the Scouts DBS system for the nth time today and still not being able to see the checks I requested.

After a busy day at work, including mentoring a volunteer for part of the day, I got home to work on Squirrel admin and was told that I’ve been awarded my Wood Badge (award for completing my learning)! LO is in bed, admin is (mostly) done so it’s time for pizza and Prosecco. 🎉🍾

That strange noise you hear is archivists screaming while simultaneously banging their heads on their desks at the concept of 'permanent modern digital records'.

Our 5yo son has taken to watching Stanley Tucci’s Italian show before bed. I’m hoping it’ll rub off and he’ll become more adventurous in eating and travelling. He declared tuna and pesto pasta delicious this evening so🤞.

Happy Mothering Sunday, mums. So far I’ve been woken up at 5.30am (old time), faced tantrums about a t-shirt (he splopped breakfast on it), and had to ask for a cup of tea. Hope the day improves or I’m heading back to bed.

Growing up I read stories of early Friends being arrested and Meeting Houses being broken into. That was in c17. That this could happen today is horrific. What is wrong with our country?

Proud Mummy/Squirrel team lead moment today: little one was asked to name animals starting with c and then z and if you had the same as someone else, you were out. Everyone else went for cat or crocodile, then zebra. Not him. Caracal followed by zorilla. 😂 He won that game hands down.

I confess I really hadn’t paid attention to, or been aware of, the development of the Records in Contexts standard (the ICA’s replacement for ISAD(G), ISAAR(CPF), ISDF and ISDIAH) but now I have engaged with it, I’m really excited as it seems a great development. There’s a new 2 hour webinar up.

As we remember the start of Covid five years ago, it seems apt that today I have catalogued a very small collection of Covid-related signs from the Churchill Archives Centre (CCAR 999/7).

Back in from an evening teaching ten Scouts how to prep wool, spin (wheel and drop spindle) and then weave. I got a bonus of a bag of fleece to take home with me to continue, too!

My first manager (20yrs ago) was a bully and would call me in for meetings without indicating what they were about. Today a senior colleague asked to meet me in-person w. my manager: my anxiety hit the roof until the purpose of the meeting was clarified. Tell people what meetings are about, folks!

True, but I am hoping that the hand-sewn remnants-fabric Highway Rat costume will make it back and be re-used as dress up.

Off to bed after an evening sewing most of a Highway Rat costume for World Book Day. Here’s hoping he still wants to go to school as that on Thursday!

It must be said I didn’t have teach how to make friendship bracelets on my 2025 bingo card. Ffriends and I figured out how ourselves so writing it all down (with diagrams) 20+ years later was quite tricky.

we told everyone to learn from history and they said 'no stop doing that'

Do I know any archivists based in/near Nottingham or Derby, who could potentially show an interested 6th former around? Or host work experience/shadowing/volunteering?

Nap-trapped again. 😍🥰 So happy as I thought we’d had our last contact nap years ago. Exhausted due to school and an awful cold.

In keeping track of everything in little one’s diary, I lost sight of the fact that it’s 14 February tomorrow. Husband has just volunteered to go out for tonight’s supper…and his Valentines card. At least he’ll be sure to like it…

One of the sadder stories connected with my village but good came of it in the end…

Hi BlueSky! We're Churchill Archives Centre & we provide a home to the papers of politicians, civil servants, social scientists, campaigners, journalists, military leaders, & scientists from the Churchill era & beyond. Follow us to find out about our collections, events, projects, & more.

Having been unexpectedly asked to speak at an inter-College event on DSARs in February, I’m drafting my presentation at home while listening to The Longest Johns. Trying to avoid letting shanty/sailing references creep in.

Holding our Friends in the US in my thoughts and the Light as they try to do what they can.