Clare M. Dowding

#Monday

Alex Hartley on @bbctms.xmirror.bot asking the question I suspect a lot of England fans have been screaming at the radio - why hasn't Tongue bowled sooner?! #bbccricket

Please share before the TERFs force them to delete. "We are deeply concerned that this high-level guidance will result in local policies that are exclusionary to trans and non-binary staff and patients." www.bma.org.uk/news-and-opi...

Ursula K. Le Guin was born #OTD in 1929. First female author to win both the Nebula & Hugo awards for Best Novel for "The Left Hand of Darkness," 1970. In total, she won 8 Hugo & 6 Nebula awards. Second woman Grand Master of the #ScienceFiction & Fantasy Writers of America. #SciFi #LitSky #BookSky

We will not forget 9.13am 21 October 1966 28 adults 116 children #Aberfan #Wales

This piece on the very careful work being done on SS Richard Montgomery contains some masterfully understated reporting, particularly the use of "slightly" in the first paragraph, and the not-entirely-reassuring opening to the last paragraph.

Having intelligence, we must not act in ignorance. Having choice, we must not act without responsibility.

I saw this the other day but wasn't able to take a photo, so I'm glad someone has!

I can twitch my left ear (but not my right ear).

Very very frustrating when couples can get married in churches because they like the aesthetics, but those who regularly attend for years and truly want God to be part of their lives and relationships cannot.

#SaturdayMorning

What - and I mean this most sincerely - the hell ...?

Today’s #TheMuppetShow GIF of the Day is…

Can anyone point me to any good overview stuff on medieval/Renaissance women and beauty practices? Bathing, body hair, cosmetics and the like. Prepping a lecture on the material culture of femininity.

Bit of a long shot, but do any of you UK weird Anglican Bluesky folks have a thurible stand that isn't in use and which you would be happy to donate? #CofEPeeps

I was once told that I have a particular way of saying 'yes' where it's clear that I really mean 'no', with the implication that the way I say 'yes' in those circumstances automatically prompts the other person to review whatever it was they said, and thus realise how wrong they are.

Archer came and spoke to my school in the 1980s. Charm personified. Bragged at length about his many achievements and then... something bizarre happened. 1/3 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

'Retreat houses provide rest and sustenance, and enable us to hear God’s voice more clearly'. So writes APR President, Bishop Guli, in our autumn newsletter. Read the whole article on promotingretreats.org, or visit our interactive online map for inspiration. Where might you go? #retreat

Yall wanna see a 2 hour old highland cow

Blimey - when did @southwarkcathedral.bsky.social get their tower clock fixed?!

Big fish stuck!

If you are a graduate student in the humanities (construed as broadly as possible), what is the MOST EXCITING book published in the last five years to you? Please repost if you’re not a graduate student!

A conversation elsewhere reminded me. More innocent times, and I do mean that. You know the rules. www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPCJ...

Taking time out to pause, breathe and reset the rhythm of our lives is invaluable. Retreats are a time to trust in God more, and to nourish our souls. You can still access National Retreat Week resources on renewall.org.uk, or visit promotingretreats.org for ideas of where or when to go!

Why oh why did I not read this until *after* I went to M&S this morning ... ?!

The best flag in the WORLD...

Fuck ChatGPT flyers. The future is broadsheets.

anyone had experience with debate website “Geo”? it looks a bit sus to me - one of the PGRs I supervise was approached by them to contribute to a debate - and I’m getting the ick from the shiny “debate me” vibes (and the third video I saw featured Steve Fuller, whom I’d not thought about in years)

Here is an otter snoot to help you through the day.

Everyone is welcome at the Abbey for our annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor on Saturday 17 October Celebrate the life of Edward, king and saint, with us:www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-events/edwardtide/2026/october/national-pilgrimage-to-the-shrine-of-edward-the-confessor

It's lunchtime. Take a breath, have something to eat, and 😍 LOOK AT THESE BABY WOMBATS 😍 !!

Have you seen enough baby otters today? No? Let me fix that for you.

Did you know it's National Retreat Week this week? If you've never been on a quiet day or retreat before, now is the time to try one! Find out more on renewall.org.uk, or visit promotingretreats.org for inspiration...

Has anyone else only just noticed that the @churchtimes.bsky.social 2026 wallplanner has 31 days in September ... ?!

There's some kind of event happening at the newish hotel on Temple Place, although I doubt those involved would appreciate that my thought when walking past was actually "there's enough black limos here for an undertakers' convention" 😆.

Do you have a space in your diary for a retreat, but don't know what's on offer on those dates? Check our online calendar - on promotingretreats.org - for retreats and quiet days near you... there are hundreds of events listed this autumn!

The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. (Psalm 19.1) Celebrate the glory of God in creation at one of our beautiful retreat centres... there are dozens to choose from on promotingretreats.org/where, including here at The Othona Community, West Dorset

National Retreat Week starts today! Find out more on renewall.org.uk, or why not visit promotingretreats.org to find a retreat or quiet day happening near you?

Smol Otter Pup

One of modern civilisation’s great moments. THE SWEDISH CHEF RAPPER'S DELIGHT

If Britain, which literally brags in song that it rules the waves, is incapable of the most basic code of conduct when it comes to seafaring, who even are we? The RNLI rescued downed German pilots in WWII. We don't leave people to die in the sea.

Nice campaign by the Norwegian Consumer Council about the declining lifespan of products. Enjoy!

"the assessment did not consider the crocodiles" is my new metaphor for people choosing to just ignore the data point that doesn't agree with them