I've just send off my PhD application. Must need my head examining, but 'sensible' has never been my motivation for studying! 😄

The Yorkshire Museum are crowdfunding to save a spectacular 1st century hoard, possibly associated with Carthimandua, to buy it for the museum and fund conservation - it would be brilliant to keep it in Yorkshire!

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-the-m...

The church up the road from me is ringing a peal this morning which will take them till lunchtime to complete. I have a pot of tea and am going to listen to the bells whilst reading The Nine Tailors and reflecting on how beautifully eccentric change-ringing is #TinyJoys

I just got the feedback for my MA dissertation, and tutors are the best! They said some very kind things (apparently I have 'a flair for putting an argument together') and I am currently a little teary and feeling like maybe I am a scholar after all #TinyJoys

Open University results day - I passed my #OUClassics MA with merit! Very happy 😊

As a university HR person who's currently considering applying to do a PhD I've been wondering about the references. What value do they add for prospective graduate students? Given that they add almost no value to job applications beyond fact checking, and can be anti-EDI very easily.

Okay, The Internet.... we need to talk...🤔

#MosaicMonday

Please can I be added? Currently contemplating a reception studies PhD on murder mysteries...

Photo shows a paperback book in the British Library Crime Classics series, with a dark green ribbon tied around it in a bow. The book is 'Murder in Venice' by E C R Lorac

@bertsbooks.bsky.social subscription delivery day is always exciting!

Well. Today I got the nerve up to ask a potential supervisor about a doctorate, and they said 'yes, that sounds really interesting, email me about your ideas.' Terrifying but also, hopeful... just need my #OUClassics MA result next month now!

I've just submitted my #OUClassics MA dissertation, I am both very relieved and slightly terrified... results day in December!

Perks of having academics in the family, just posted a draft of my dissertation for proofreading. Had a quick read before posting, I can see some issues and an odd typo, but but I don't think it's terrible

Got some tutor feedback on my #OUClassics dissertation today - OU tutors are the best! So constructive and helpful. Rewrites and edits for the rest of the month, the end is in sight!

First draft of my dissertation is written! Needs a proofread in a couple of days, then will send it to my tutor who will hopefully not think it's garbage. (I currently have no idea how good it is or whether it makes sense, brain is too fried from writing the thing!)

Photo shows a yellow sandy beach leading down to the sea, with a big blue sky above

After four years on a waiting list, today I got the keys to a jaunty red beach hut! It's very basic, just a shed, but has quite the view #TinyJoys

Just submitted a first draft of a chapter of my dissertation fir my tutor's feedback. Good luck to him, I'm not convinced it makes an awful lot of sense... but only 10,000 words to go!

Photo shows an old, rather shabby black typewriter in a display case

I'm at Cambridge uni library doing some MA work, as they have an exhibition about crime writing that's related to my topic and look, this is Agatha Christie's typewriter!

Photo shows a young brown rabbit sitting on a lawn, nibbling the grass

Campus bunny #TinyJoys

I'm counting votes on Thursday night, it would be great if they could bring some of them to the count as well, keep us entertained when it's 3am and everyone's flagging...

Photo shows three white, square tents with pointed roofs, in a courtyard surrounded by trees

You know it's International Medieval Congress time when the jousting tents are out on campus...

We fixed a broken, half-century old robot from 15 billion miles away using a radio and our monkey brains and that is goddamn amazing.

Photo shows the interior of a circular art deco library with white walls and wooden floors, desks and shelves set out like the spokes of a wheel. There are huge pillars supporting the roof and a chandelier hanging in the centre of the ceiling.

Went on a book raid to the library at work (dissertation reading pile is growing!) - it's easy to forget how beautiful the Brotherton is #TinyJoys

Photo shows a paperback book with and orange ribbon tied around it in a bow. The book is 'Lessons in crime: Academic mysteries' edited by Martin Edwards and is a collection of short stories.

It's @bertsbooks.bsky.social subscription day, hurrah! And a particularly good one for a person in academia, I may or may not be taking notes...

My dissertation title was approved! Now I just have to write the thing...

Buying new stationery is the correct way to start an MA dissertation, yes? Asking for a friend...

Just handed in my last assessed MA essay along with my dissertation propsal. It's a bit strange, hope my tutor likes the diss idea!

Today I took the afternoon off work and took a picnic and a book to the beach, just because it's a nice day. (Instead of writing my dissertation proposal but that can wait till the weekend! How hard can it be...) #TinyJoys

Photo shows an empty beach, with a strip of yellow sand, then the sea, then a blue sky above

Afternoon off work. And I had every intention of sitting down to write my dissertation proposal for my MA Classics with Open University. But am on the beach instead - thinking very hard about my dissertation, clearly...

Photo of Minimus, Minima and Silvius, the Latin mice, dressed as Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Yoda for Star Wars Day.

fabula murina (mouse story) CXLV
Minimus, Minima et Silvius diēs Bellorum Stellarum celebrant (Minimus, Minima and Silvius celebrate Star Wars day).
vis tecum sit! (May the Force be with you!)
#fabulamurina
#MayThe4thBeWithYou
#StarWarsDay

#TinyJoys getting home just before the rain starts