(C)aroline Sam(P)son
@sampscaroline.bsky.social
Chair of Trustees: Archives West Midlands. Coventry City supporter. Interested in the natural world, astronomy, butterflies and moths. Trying to work out what I can do about climate emergency.
Some of the canals round here are closed to navigation due to low water levels. The Oxford Canal near us is open for now and it's great seeing people enjoying it. #UnconfinedWalks
#UnconfinedWalks along a different stretch of canal, accidentally locating the 'Brownsover Reservoir' which I'd encountered while doing local history research but not had time to locate. Satisfying. Water levels are low and everywhere is parched.
I've been round Dad's this pm helping with various jobs. One involved going into the garage infested with spiders the size of saucers that has terrorised me since childhood. I had to find the oil can that I had misplaced after a previous job. I survived. Drinking gin as a reward for being brave!
Today my Dad is reminiscing about the first time I saw the sea. Apparently I ran and sat in it. The cows along the Oxford Canal have clearly got the same idea and who can blame them. A cold shower will have to do me, sadly. #UnconfinedWalks
The number one reason children are drawn to and inspired by a Jodrell Bank visit is THAT IT IS A WORKING TELESCOPE. They get to meet scientists (like me!) and we all come together to adore the majestic creature that is the Lovell Telescope. 1/2
I'm absolutely devastated for colleagues at Jodrell Bank who found out this morning that funding for the UK's e-MERLIN radio telescope array will be terminated. This is a short-sighted move, to save a tiny fraction of the overall UK science budget. #SaveJodrellBank 🔭🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Jodrell Bank's Lovell telescope faces axe in science cuts, BBC understands
Astronomers warn it would tear the heart out of UK science, and leave a generation untrained.
bbc.co.uk
Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans@astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 3w ago“What will the Lovell Telescope discover/enable 20 yrs from now? I can’t tell you, and that’s the point. It will either be something extraordinary that none of us can yet predict, or we will defund it and leave Cheshire with a rusting monument to unfulfilled potential and discoveries never made.” 🔭🧪
Short-sighted, stupid cuts to the UKRI budget include shutting down Jodrell Bank, the icon of British astronomy. (Many other cuts too, including 20% to our brand new @vrubinobs.bsky.social). Interesting politically to shut down a major facility in...um..Manchester 🔭 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Jodrell Bank's Lovell telescope faces axe in science cuts, BBC understands
Astronomers warn it would tear the heart out of UK science, and leave a generation untrained.
bbc.co.uk
This is awful news, Jodrell Banks Lovell telescope is an iconic part of the UK's scientific development.
Mark Chadbourn@chadbourn.bsky.social · last wk.Terrible news.
Heartbroken and so angry to read of the proposed closure of Jodrell Bank. Its cost relative to the work it does and what it represents in terms of British resourcefulness and scientific prowess. Is peanuts. An absolute disgrace.
Terrifying to see wildfires raging through Scotland. The climate crisis isn't a distant threat - it's right here and right now. How many warning signs and alarm bells until Andy Burnham takes action to end oil and gas drilling?
Not a bad walk to the shops. Dappled shade, breeze and church bells all the way there and back.
It's gin o'clock due to a busy and productive day despite the heat. I hate being too hot at night but I also get bitten by every passing insect so it's a constant war of nerves about whether to have the windows open. We fitted a magnetic mesh today that looks as if it will work! #ConfinedCocktails
#UnconfinedWalks on a section of lush and verdant canal, unlike the scorched earth everywhere else round here.
In things I wish I hadn't seen, but now I have and you will too... New research published in the Journal of the Institute of Conservation recommends PPE for handling all red rot because of the risk of heavy metal contamination (lead, arsenic, cadmium). #GLAMS 📚 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
After the carnage caused by the otter in our fish pond last year, we've now converted to a wildlife pond. It's proving fascinating. Today's highlight was a female Emperor dragonfly laying eggs.
Under a Binface government, anyone who doesn’t accept human-made climate change as fact will be sent back to school, from Year 1 right the way to A Levels, to see if anything goes in the second time round. #VoteBinface
Brief foray into town to get my hair cut (the relief). And no, I didn't join in the 5K! #UnconfinedWalks
Seeking experienced record keepers to join the pool of Peer Reviewers for Archive Service Accreditation in England! New Peer Reviewer training starts in November so now is the time to make an expression of interest: www.archives.org.uk/peer-reviewers
#UnconfinedWalks with literally hundreds of Banded Demoiselles and 10 species of butterfly. The ground is baked hard and the river is really low.
#UnconfinedWalks with goosebumps of excitement as I went to fetch my Premier League shirt from the CBS Arena and the spectacular new shop. #PUSB
#UnconfinedWalks to the retail park along the canal where I met a teeny tiny frog and some ducklings.
#UnconfinedWalks was still very muggy. I enjoyed a few patches of wild flowers sown by residents in the odd corners of their property next to the pavements. Lots of rookies in canal boats enlivened the stretch along the canal.
Truly global participation at #ArchivesWM member service @astonunarchives.bsky.social conference 'Who is Responsible for the Archives? An Interdisciplinary Approach to Ethics in a Digital Age'
Ilaria Scaglia@ilariascaglia.bsky.social · 2mo agoDon't miss the Keynote Lecture by Professor Bertrand Taithe on 26 June at AUAC's hybrid conference "Who is Responsible for the Archives?" - details here www.aston.ac.uk/research/bss...
#UnconfinedWalks is not at all easy in this internal heat, is it. We went to Framlingham Castle earlier only to find it was shut due to the heat and it had made their internet go down. Cold drinks in the pub then some of us did a quick look at Detectorists filming locations, with actions!
I was there! Arsenal away first match. Talk about baptism of 🔥! Borderline terrified but also hysterically excited!!!
Thomas Atcheson@thomasatcheson.bsky.social · 2mo agoLast time Cov started the season against Arsenal. #pusb youtu.be/uadTGAtBNZ8?...
Gratuitous #ConfinedCocktails G&T with honey gin. I'm stepping away from #WorldCup2026 for a bit and watching #DowntonAbbey. I'm in a carpe diem mood and this particular diem is slipping down nicely. Delighted to see Coventry City's Brandon Thomas-Asante get the assist for Ghana last night #PUSB
M has a sniffle which I'm trying not to catch as we're off to Suffolk with Dad on Saturday and I don't want him to catch it. We're doing the 'dance of the contagious' round the house to try and keep me germ free. Feels unfriendly. Risked a quick #UnconfinedWalks together. Everywhere is lush green.
