'A clear step change': European EV sales jump by over 50 per cent in March Over 224,000 battery EVs registered last month, as businesses and consumers respond to soaring oil prices

It's already destroyed a lot of fossil fuel supply, but the Iran War is shaping up to deliver the biggest destruction of fossil fuel demand in history. www.businessgreen.com/news/4528540...

I’ve said it before and I’ll no doubt say it again. Universities are roughly 1000 years old. They predate most operating models including capitalism and have lasted for a reason. Installing insecure, helpless managers who ape business methods results in bad businesses, not good universities.

I still use that essay to reach Eve of St Agnes

RIP Len Deighton, the greatest 20th c author of spy fiction and a brilliant chronicler of the absurdities, historical complexities, and political violence of espionage. He was a wonderful, thoughtful stylist as well.

Finally spring

The Susan Manning Memorial Lecture | English and Scottish Literature | Literatures Languages and Culture Join us in person for the Susan Manning Memorial Lecture 2026 by Professor Cedric Tolliver (University of Oklahoma), followed by a Q&A and reception.

Our annual Susan Manning Lecture is an exciting one this year. Cedric Tolliver will be speaking on African-American spy novels. Book here: llc.ed.ac.uk/english-lite... @uoe-llc.bsky.social

I remember that visit! A highlight of the summer.

Don’t go into the maze!

We are still at crocuses in Scotland. No daffodils yet

Princes, the dregs of their dull race, who flow
Through public scorn,—mud from a muddy spring.

Also wild scenes from the after party!

Scenes from a wonderful symposium at UC Cork and the launch of @claireconnolly.bsky.social ‘s brilliant book

Uses of Romanticism symposium at @ucc.ie opens with a poetry reading from the fabulous Maureen McLane.

Also 89% plant carton. Must be from his bean-rows.

Gotta love a hotel with Yeats on the bottled water

Really enjoyed the Bodleian’s informative Le Carre exhibition. Was pleased to note that The Author seems to have had no more idea about the plot of The Honourable Schoolboy than I do

Just renewed my Bodleian reader’s ticket and was chatting about the changes since my first ticket. The lovely librarian said “This will always be your home” and I nearly burst into tears!

William Blake’s illustration for “The Tyger” has what appears to be a dippy grin for some reason.

The wonderful thing about Tyggers
Is Tyggers are burning bright
Their tops are made out of rubber
In the forest of the night

What bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy,
Immortal hand or eye
Did frame the most wonderful thing about Tyggers,
Their fearful symmetry!

I'm an Anglo-Scot who has lived in Ireland and I'm here to tell you that I do not visit America to experience the joys of "English-Scotts [sic]-Irish" culture.

#FindsFriday
The Cairns Character!
Discovered in a pit at the #IronAge #Broch site of The Cairns on the island of South Ronaldsay, #Orkney. He or She was carved from a beach pebble around 2,000 years ago.

📸 mine

Just reread Silas Marner. Anyone thinking the humanities are a waste of time should read it and review their life choices.

Upcoming symposium: 'Uses of Romanticism' at University College Cork, 18-19 Feb 2026

This symposium will explore the uses and relevance of the term 'Romanticism'. More on the blog: www.bars.ac.uk/blog/?p=6312

Wonderful evening with @hebridesensemble.bsky.sociali and Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time, one of my favourite pieces. Amazing musicianship. We're also lucky to be able to hear contemporary music--I enjoyed Arthur Keegan's beautiful, atmospheric Quartet for the Start of Life.

Burns Night cocktails

Same. I saw it on a plane without any prior knowledge, and was thinking this is great social realism… What the hell? There are vampires! I thought it was great.

Save the Date: 14th International Walter Scott Conference in Edinburgh, 2027

Details on the blog: www.bars.ac.uk/blog/?p=6280

So looking forward discussing Romanticism with these fantastic people in beautiful Cork.

It’s Penguin Awareness Day which seems like a great excuse to post the greatest ever Wikipedia edit.

#Torywars

Uh-oh