What a fantastic book. Helm, you blew me away! 🥁

Here’s my review on goodreads: www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Wonderful evening at St Martin in the Fields listening to @hallierubenhold.bsky.social discuss a range of topics related to her books as part of “The Conversation” series. My main takeaway is the affection for London, its places and people that she has.

It was a privilege to speak at the “Charles Ignatius Sancho: A Black British Man of Letters and His Word” conference at @northeasternu.bsky.social London. Mark Martin ⭐️ chaired the roundatble superbly as we discussed Teaching Sancho and Black British History.

A brilliant session tonight on “Teaching Irish history in English schools” by @msquinnhistory.bsky.social. Jam packed with strategies and knowledge to make this possible. Thanks to the @histassoc.bsky.social NE network for putting it on.

On Friday I went to Pints & Ponytails. Not only did i pick up a great new skill, it also reaffirmed what great teaching looks like. Here are my thoughts. Huge shout out to @teacherhead and his work on Rosenshin

historyiseverystory.wordpress.com/2026/03/08/p...

A recommendation led me to Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney. There’s so much to like about this book, but the characters aren’t one of them. This is the books strength though. The lies we tell each-other and to ourselves.

Bonds of Blood and Duty by Jen A Egerton is my first foray into Romantasy. A fully realised fantasy world, but at the heart a tale of what a mother will do for their child and the folly of doubting her resolution. #romantasy

The Trees by Percival Everett. Incredible study of the racial legacy that America has wrought for itself. This book is very funny, very shocking and very scary.

All Consuming by Ruby Tandoh was such a fascinating insight into the impact of our evolving food culture on what we eat and why we eat it. So wry that I often felt I wasn’t cool enough to be reading it!

Simon Beale Simon Beale has 49 books on Goodreads

I’ve made a real effort in 2026 to read more widely. Here’s a a thread of my books of 2026. I’ve also joined good reads so please follow me on there to read in depth reviews…

www.goodreads.com/user/show/94...

Could not be prouder of how Florence & Felicity have grown into such kind, enthusiastic and thoughtful children. Four years old today!

Oh you’ve branded it!

Teach Environmental Histories network

Welcome to Teach Environmental Histories!

We are a network for those interested in exploring how history can help young people understand the climate & ecological emergency.
Talks, forums, classroom support & resources.

Click the link to learn more about us!

www.history.org.uk/secondary/ca...

Fantastic day having Matthew Green in to deliver a tour de force on the Restoration to Year 11. It was great to get a professional historian in so they could see a professional in action, weaving stories together and wielding their expert knowledge with such fluency.

Great revision session with Year 12. Chess challenge tests their knowledge and exam technique. Moving pieces requires factual recall, taking a piece requires giving their line of argument for an exam question.

Festive family fun. Chicken Berry Britannia Biryani, House black daal, Katchumber and Raita. All from the @dishoom.bsky.social cookbook. Followed by chocolate mousse from the The Devonshire in @thetimes.com

History and The Curriculum Review An extended version of a blog that features on the ReTeach website. No historian would overlook the 5th of November in their calendar but today it had that added significance of being the day the C…

I shared some thoughts to @reteachuk.bsky.social blog about the impact of the Curriculum Review for History departments. I’ve had a chance to reflect further and write it up. #historyteacher historyiseverystory.wordpress.com/2025/11/19/h...

So… on a day that the BBC is raising millions for Children in Need (which we shouldn’t need if the state could offer the right support) The President of The United States has confirmed he intends to sue the corporation for a billion. For the broadcast of HIS OWN WORDS. Madness.

Complex thinking posters for every lens of the approach. Some varied quotes covering a range of historical disciplines and periods. @helencarr.bsky.social @peterfrankopan.bsky.social @historyeats.bsky.social @hallierubenhold.bsky.social

Stage two of the complex thinking project is to have examples from historians own work to demonstrate to students what these look like. Here is the poster for “Contrast” using @sathnam.bsky.social work from Empireland.

Thank you!

Testing out some new posters around complex thinking. Please le me know what you would think and how you would tweak the visuals or message.

Wonderful evening at @britishlibrary.bsky.social listening to @drmirandakaufmann.bsky.social & Sudhir Hazareesingh discuss their new books as part of “Heiresses and Rebels:
Stories of Money, Exploitation and Resistance in Caribbean and Atlantic Slavery”.

Incredibly poor customer service from @britishgashq.bsky.social Been told I am £7,000 in debt despite being in credit in December of 2024. Raised a complaint 3 months ago, which got an initial response and gone nowhere. In mean time direct debit is now £815 (x3!). Any help to escalate further?

Please tell me @thehistoryguy.bsky.social has a plan for a special podcast recorded on board.

Oh wow! That will also be incredible

When a Viking longship docks in London, what history teacher wouldn’t want to climb aboard??? Thanks to the crew of Saga Farmann for being so hospitable and answering all my questions!

Apparently, the pencil-pushers at the Home Office also have no clue how prohibitively expensive it would be to be treated in the US without insurance. I've lived in the UK for 23 years, and I'm a citizen. Why am I being treated like a non-citizen?

Immigration Update: the Home Office asked me to provide documents re: my medical condition, which I did. A few hours later, they asked me to provide evidence for why I cant be treated in the USA.

Um...what? I'm a British citizen. Why am I not allowed to return home for my breast cancer care?

On World IVF Day I’m celebrating the science, alchemy and miracle that occurred to bring F&F into our lives. Fertility issues are a taboo that needs breaking. It’s not a guarantee (19 failed cycles) but it’s made parenthood possible for soo many more. #worldivfday