Cheers Bryony, thank you for those kind words, I appreciate that.

Cheers Lou, those are very kind words. Appreciate it!

Cheers pal, I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed our interactions and your content and likewise your expertise. I’ll try tae keep a hand in but I need tae get oan wae my life, pay the bills. I don’t think anything could stop me writing, I struggle with it bc of all this. But I’ll get back tae it.

Manchester University Press - Agents of European overseas empires Agents of European overseas empires - Browse and buy the Hardcover edition of Agents of European overseas empires by Elodie Peyrol-Kleiber

Now that @bsky.app have pinned tweets, high time for self-promotion of book that came out earlier this year w/Elodie Peyrol, Agnes Delahaye, and Bertrand Van Ruymbeke from @manchesterup.bsky.social : manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526167330/

Cheers Linsey, appreciate that

Thanks Lou, I kent ye’d be behind me. Really appreciate that mate, one day I’ll buy ye a pint.

Appreciate that Aaron, I feel for the newer tutors as well. I’ve at least had the benefit of the stability for 3 year.

Knowledge of your country’s history or history in general should not be gatekeepit behind a bloody paywall. University is still an expensive endeavour and its becoming moreso, walled off behind rising living costs and lack of funding.

History changed my life, it changed my perspectives!

Finally, I really feel for my students. The OU courses at Dundee provided people with working commitments and disabilities an alternate pathway into Higher Education. I had a similar path into HE, starting at foundational courses after flunking my Highers. Those paths are increasingly disappearing.

Appreciate that man!

Cheers man, aye it’s honestly so wasteful, like I kent how bad it wis but I always thought we could turn it around.

Cheers Karen, appreciate that.

Cheers Lee, aye I used tae hink we could save it, now I jist don’t know.

Anyway, the only reason I’m so sore about this is, I enjoyed teaching and, if I can venture tae say, I was guid at it! I’ve enjoyed working with all my history colleagues at Dundee and none of the above is directed at them - they’ve been nothing but great. Logging off. #Scottishhistory #17thc

Honestly, the UCU is one of the least disciplined unions I have ever seen in my puff. The leadership could do with reading some Jimmy Reid, learn what a union is actually for.

And not just by Dundee (twice, as I taught in-person and then was not offered the chance to apply again) but by St Andrews. This sector has nae future if the majority of us cannae even earn a pittance in it. Largely permanent colleagues were sympathetic but I saw a lack of solidarity from others.

The reality is, if you are a working class person without the financial means tae stick it in the sector you’ve a snowball’s chance in hell of lasting. I feel quite sore about the whole thing, feels like I was used up for my teaching skills until I was surplus tae requirements.

#Scottishhistory

Well, that’s that. After a mere three years in UK HE, I’ve finally lost my last job - a casual zero hours (and for the last year) contract-less job working at the University of Dundee providing OU online courses. I’d like to say I’m surprised but the writing has been on the wall for some time #17thc

I’m afraid I can’t do that, Jeff.

Also the fifth chapter of my thesis uncovers more about the fiscal-military state of the Scottish Williamites and the considerable investment and expansion of the re-established Scottish standing army from 1689-1691.

kar.kent.ac.uk/93139/

You can find out more in my chapter for Monarchy and the Court (Brill).

brill.com/edcollchap/b...

Also whilst there were English regiments at Killiecrankie, the majority of the Williamite forces in Scotland were Scottish regiments, paid for by the Scottish Parliament with some assistance from the Crown in London. There were also regiments in Dutch pay, the Scots-Dutch Brigade - they were crucial

Certainly ‘Glorious’ if you’re a Whig or Williamite but even then the Revolution of 1688 had far reaching and violent consequences beyond England. In Ireland and Scotland, it acted as the catalyst for bloody and costly civil wars as well as threatening the stability of the new regime in England.

The peerless Galt authored Ringan Gilhaize which features the lives of three Scottish Protestants from the Reformation to the Revolution. The concluding chapters take place during the Highland War (1689-1691) and features the Battle of Killiecrankie as its climax. A phenomenal historical novel!

It's now just one week until our Call for Papers closes - have you got your abstract in?

We welcome online and in-person papers relating to the Highlands - or Highlanders - and Britain since 1725. Please send your abstract (150-300 words) to highlandsconference@gmail.com by 5th May!

Happy Konigsdag tae all my Dutch followers! Wish I was there, mibbe next year!
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🧡🇳🇱

My barber has been exponentially improved by this new member of staff

Painting is Lieutenant John Turnbull (1782), NMS.

One of the Scots-Dutch returnees upon the Brigade’s disbandment.

#c18 #Skystorians #earlymodern
#17thc #JacobiteStudies #Scottishhistory

Been a busy month thus far, working away on another chapter and the usual marking but also secured two job interviews for the end of the month (outwith academia) and been working on a really exciting postdoc fellowship application. It’s on the diaspora and got some big Scots-Dutch elements, so 🤞

Does anyone have a successful AHRC Catalyst Bid application they might be willing to share with me? #AcademicSky #MedievalSky #EarlyModern