This is better. The trees have started to come into leaf.

Four cards showing primroses at the woodland edge.

Today's cards. Primroses bank.

@secretedinburgh.bsky.social Many thanks for the repost. Not all the things in the book are secret, of course, but some are not well known.

Great!

Thanks very much. Your good opinion is worth a lot.

@jennycooper.bsky.social Many thanks for the repost. 🙂

One of my advertising slogans for this book is "Not just the same old stuff". Here is a blog-post about a bit of Edinburgh history I wrote a few years ago that bears out my claim. #Edinburgh @secretedinburgh.bsky.social

georgehharris.blogspot.com/2017/05/hist...

I wrote "The Truth about Referendums" more than ten years ago. I see no reason to change it. #Referendums #Democracy #LessonsofHistory

georgehharris.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-...

Photo of a chess board with models of household goods such as a stove, lamp and chair for chess pieces

Chess Set, 2005 by Rachel Whiteread #WomensArt

A wooden toy horse on for wheels. Its surface bears incised vertical lines, chips, cracks from age. There is hole in the head, likely for attaching a string to pull it along.

Adorable wooden horses on wheels were pulled around by little ones in the past, too. A timeless reminder that play has been part of the human experience for millennia.

From Egypt, Roman period, 30 BC-150 AD.

📷 Julia Thorne/Manchester Museum

🏺

Stained glass artwork featuring a sitting hare among grasses depicted on green panels of glass

English stained glass artist Ann Sotheran, 'Isa's hare' (2011) #WomensArt

Wordle 1,744 4/6

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Pleasing to get par.

@rodmannix.bsky.social Many thanks for the repost. You can guess it was lovely email to read.

Watercolour of black chick, running to the left, with one leg stretched back and one lifted from the ground as it runs forward. Plumage fluffy and black, with short stubby yellow beak and dark brown eye. Shadow on the ground beneath.

#ArtDD2026
Baby water rail

I've *still* never seen a water rail 😕 & had no idea their chicks were coal-black😍

(From 📷 by Cefin once on here.)

@saocousins.bsky.social @holnicotenh.bsky.social @stevecobbin.bsky.social @andykaitken.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @indikon.eurosky.social 🦉🪶

I gave a friend the book for a little birthday present. The reply included: "We've both had a few chuckles... We do enjoy your prose, not least because your gentle humour is evident throughout." 🙂

Basic history essay-writing advice Every exam board publishes its mark schemes on-line. The candidate who wants to do well should study those mark schemes, because differ...

And here is one on essay-writing. (Much my most popular blog-post). Note the important point that every board's marking approach is different, but the basics remain. @nexuseduk.bsky.social @htenuk.bsky.social @newtscotland.bsky.social
georgehharris.blogspot.com/2014/02/basi...

With decades of teaching, marking and examining behind me, I think my advice on preparing for history exams is worth a look. Two blog-posts. Here the one on revision> @nexuseduk.bsky.social @htenuk.bsky.social @newtscotland.bsky.social

georgehharris.blogspot.com/2014/03/hist...

I gave a friend the book for a little birthday present. The reply included: "We've both had a few chuckles... We do enjoy your prose, not least because your gentle humour is evident throughout." 🙂

Wordle 1,743 5/6

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Step by step.

... Also I would say "I came to Scotland with my family from London in 1973. When did yours come?" and we usually found 1973 was about the middle of the range. Everyone's stories were interesting. No pressure AT ALL to say more than they wanted.

Maybe include pupils' family history? When I did peoples of Scotland with P7 (Angles, Picts, Britons, Norse etc) I would say "Well, I could play rugby for Scotland (residence), England (birth) or Ireland (2 grandparents) and so start a chat. Also...

New to me! I wonder if, though less good for prodding it's better for digging. A sideways scoop.

Right. I'll keep cudgellng my brain, but probably won't succeed.
Of course you'll find Roman and early medieval immigration in Rosemary Sutcliff, but that may be too early for you. Though her optimism about eventually integration after many troubles might be relevant.

#WorldTheatreDay 🎭 Mosaic depicting theatrical masks of Tragedy and Comedy. 2nd century AD, from Rome.

Palazzo Nuovo, Musei Capitolini, Rome.

I'm sure there must be good reading for that age on the Highland Clearances, but I can't think of one.

Was his name Ozymandias?

I've done several blog-posts about Edinburgh. Here's one. It might make you think my new book was worth a look. @secretedinburgh.bsky.social @thecockburn.bsky.social (Someone much more expert than me has pointed out one gross error in these verses)
georgehharris.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-...

MA Scholarship Award for scholars of colour. In 2026, we plan to offer two scholarships of £4,000 each, to contribute to the costs of postgraduate study. This scholarship is open to candidates studying on either a full time or a part time basis. Apply by 15 July 2026

rensoc.org.uk/apply/schola...

##birdoftheday. This carrion crow swooped down within minutes of bird seed scattering. Shortly after two more arrived and mutual abuse was cawed.

@secretedinburgh.bsky.social Many thanks for the re-post. Isn't Edinburgh a wonderful place!