Sarah Oakes

@sarahoakeskraken32.bsky.social

A visually impaired writer and musician in love with krakens and science fiction. Pagan soul. Debut sci fi novel The Jewels of Inglorious Fortune on KIndle. https://youtube.com/@hitchinconcertband?si=Ta59n5Lsp-VwbIas

Today is world sight day and world octopus day, two major things in my life. Always been fascinated by the octopus and using it as a metaphor for my sight loss has helped me accept it and find the wonder within it. Still have challenges but doing alright. So celebrating today with a cup of coffee.

Really enjoying Maul Shadow Lord. Glad tney kept him being bad, hes one of the best villians. Fabulous music and story. And is the first star wars series in a while to have decent lighting instead of being shot in the dark.

I try to stay positive. But last night i had one of my worst rehearsals. A piece of music was too small to read. And i got frustrated. Proper meltdown, just afraid i wouldnt be able to play anymore, that sight is getting worse. On the plus side, it made everyone flock to help and make things bigger.

Might be working on writing something time travel based. Early days, but its fun so far. Always wanted to do something time travel themed, was what got me into sci fi with Doctor Who way back in 2005. As always, has a mythology spin, and some krakens.

A little bear figurine carved from amber some 6,000 years ago! 🐻❤️ Named ‘Słupcio’ (‘little guy from Słupsk’) through a children’s naming competition! A hole through its torso suggests it was worn or suspended from a cord, perhaps as a hunting amulet. 📷 National Museum in Szczecin #Archaeology

Photo by G. Solecki/A. Piętak of a small figurine of a bear carved out of amber between 9600 and 4100 BC. The amber is a deep translucent orange. The display lighting makes the amber glow. The bear's head is carved to show ears, mouth, nostrils and eyes. A hole runs through the bear's belly, suggesting it was threaded onto a cord. Dimensions: Length 10.2 cm, Height 4.2cm

It was discovered in Słupsk during peat mining in 1887. According to the museum catalogue record "Shortly after its discovery, the figure underwent conservation work to restore its original appearance as it was covered with a layer of dull patina from the exposure to the minerals contained in the peat. Already at that time, at the end of the 19th century, it was assumed the restoration had gone too far. The figure was stripped entirely of patina, the anatomical features of the animal were emphasised, the eyes and nostrils were sharply drawn, and the amber was carefully polished".

In 2013, a competition was organised by the Education Department of the National Museum in Szczecin, for children to choose a name for the bear. The winning name was 'Słupcio’, an affectionate diminutive meaning ‘little guy from Słupsk’.

Went to an awesome jazz concert last night and had so much fun. Really needed it, feel more rested than i have in weeks. Loved a trumpet and saxophone combination, with some stellar drums and an incredinle clarinettist. A great way to unwind and finish the summer.

The station's success was due to its orchard, they all eventually agreed. You couldn't get #fruit for lightyears around, except there. Berries, sure. You could grow berries in hydroponics. But fruit took trees. Ships struggled to keep even dwarf lemon trees alive. #vss365 (fruit)

Archaeologists have discovered 7000-year-old fishing traps in the inland mountains of southern Norway. Predating the introduction of farming, they indicate Mesolithic hunter-gatherers were already actively managing their environments. 🏺 #AntiquityThread 1/13 🧵

Above: 3D model of a wooden pole, broken and split in multiple places. Below: several partially excavated wooden poles, held upright by sediment.

- I don’t think humans respect our worldview, hooted the first owl. - I think it’s because we are always looking down on them, said the second. - So they think we have a bad altitude? - I guess we don’t peak their curiosity. - Our ideas are too lofty. - #Summit like that, yeah. #vss365

Had a really fun time at tomights summer concert, despite the heat. Had a blast playing Star Trek, some jazz, Leroy Anderson, John Williams and even the Mozart. Did really well, proving to myself im an awesome musician and impressing people.

A picture of me holding my clarinet and smiling at the camera, in a purple top with Hitchin Concert Band on it.

My voice shrinks. A bit. I often feel I #reveal too much. Walking. A place I've never been. I rehearse what to say. Something like hello. My heartbeat. Speeding up. Gulp. I don't know what the room expects. My hands. Useless. I falter in new spaces. #vss365

So today i managed to navigate the city i now call home by myself, and navigate a giant Tesco to find the items i needed. Did really well, proving that i can do things independently and didnt get overwhelmed. And thanks go to the lady who helped me find the strawberries!