I've been feeling really down recently. Went for a run in my lunch break which has helped. But, I decided whilst running to take a break from here for a bit. Hopefully be back in a few weeks. You can still find me by email if you need me.
Undergraduates studying history, you might find it instructive and interesting to watch Sir Olly Robbins testimony to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. There are things to be learnt about what gets written down in the archival record and what doesn't.
This combined with the culling of jobs essentially means we are facing an enormous hollowing out expertise in UK universities.
Raises hand tentatively: "Have we tried just training and hiring more teachers? We could pay them to work in disadvantaged areas?
Could that work?"
www.gov.uk/government/n...
We prefer ours.
What total bastards. I'm so sorry.
Hadn't thought about authors, although I always assumed authors have a different signature for book signing to the one for writing cheques!
I take all my notes on A4 with a fountain pen.
I regularly have to sign letters, forms, contracts, reports, registers, etc. But, perhaps not everyone does. Will we all end up doing what Russian peasants did and marking a cross?
Is the signature dying? I developed a signature to open a bank account and to write cheques. With everything going digital are the younger generations still forming a signature?
Wow, amazing few minutes of football coverage of BBC Radio York. Come on the Minstermen! You are nearly there!
There was a student sat on the train next to me using Chat-GPT to write a letter responding to an Academic Integrity hearing about using Chat-GPT in their work. I kid you not.
I will watch out of a sense of duty and habit, and will no doubt get hooked. But, I can't help wondering if it was just all designed to give my parents some peace and quiet. 2/2
The World Snooker Championship is as close to a civic religion as my family got. My parents watched religiously on TV. One of the few things we were allowed to watch during the day, curtains closed in hushed reverence. My grandparents, on both sides, similarly addicted. 1/2
The Mandelson vetting affair is fascinating. Mandelson's career was publicly available. Also, I'm prepared to make a small wager that Farage wouldn't pass Developed Vetting but he is regularly discussed as a potential future Prime Minister.
Good luck to the Minstermen and their supporters today #YorkCity
I walked past the Greggs opposite Newcastle central station on Wednesday. A member of staff was remonstrating and scuffling with a shop lifter who eventually gave back the food.
Went to cricket fielding practice with the bigger boys in the 1st and 2nd XIs tonight. Crumbs I'm getting old!
I'm so sad about all of this. It doesn't have to be like this. I know what Universities can be. I'm trying to do what I can in tiny ways, but it is a lot. I'm trying to hang on to the positives.
Making a note of this. One of my regular refrains is that evidence can't speak for itself, and it needs interpretation and explanation.
Nice obituary of Pete Duncan, the legendary scholar and teacher of Russian politics. Generations of students and colleagues benefitted from his kindness, his knowledge, and his academic rigour. A unique, and uniquely valuable, scholar. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...
The New Scientist has a series of articles about the Chornobyl for the 40th anniversary of the disaster. Behind a paywall but hoping these will appear in an issue, which can be accessed via the Libby App (from your local library or perhaps university)
www.newscientist.com/article/2520...
There is a lot in here for anyone involved in education. Very thought provoking. I particularly enjoyed: "Life isn’t a training for the future. It’s a game that’s already started, and time is running out."
www.theguardian.com/news/2026/ap...
The cover of Sinéad Morrissey's - Among Communists: A Memoir (2026)
Back cover of the book.
Just received a copy of my colleague Sinéad Morrissey's book "Among Communists: A Memoir". Sadly I missed the book launch (away on holiday), but I look forward to reading this.
The cover of Konstantin Paustovsky - The Story of a Life
Charity shop find of Konstantin Paustovsky "The Story of a Life", a book which I've consulted in libraries. Now have my own copy for £4!
Cat hiding in a tree.
Nice try! But, you have been spotted.
Given my declining hearing the clacking might be a problem! I've never been a fan of laptops in the seminar room. But, we don't have the autonomy to prevent the use of devices.
