Dr Matt Winfield

Not sure we can trust the figures but one NYC bank in 1920 proposed that GB spent £11.2 billion fighting WW1 whereas the cost of all wars to the British from 1688 to 1914 cost £10.9 Billion. The writer of the South Met Gas Co magazine cites this to deter in its readers "an indulgence in strikes"

Bit of a harsh nickname if you ask me.

Watching a programme where they described a location as being "West of North East South Africa" and as a lover of language I got lightheaded with giddyness.

*massive bang from the kitchen followed by crying* Me: what happened? 4 y/o: I fell and hit my head. Me: how? 4 y/o: I slipped on the wee on the floor Me: ah ok....wait, what?

I knew a time would come when my son's homework would baffle me...didn't realise he'd be 4 at the time.

Fuck ChatGPT flyers. The future is broadsheets.

"...that the State should provide the means of living. But what sort of life can they lead with one leg, as, after all, the pleasure of life is to have sufficient health to enable one to do a fair day's work" Who said it, Kemi Badenoch or the Chairman of the Birmingham Gas Dept in 1918? Tough one.

My son: "Rafi has two dads. I wish I could have two mums"

Overheard at the Space Centre a dad explaining to his kid that this space suit had been all the way to space and back. Didn't have the heart to tell him it was the one worn by Matt Damon in The Martian

Going through the Birmingham Gas Department Magazine from WW1 and dotted around the edition are small phrases of "Wisdom". My current favourite: Eat, Drink, and be Sorry.

Joseph Wright of Derby when he left the Royal Academy...

Them: there's been a water leak Me: oh no where? Them: upstairs Me: where upstairs? Them: the floor Me: Which floor? Them: at the end of the building Me: omg is the library collection a mass of soggy paper or not? I've now learnt to be far more direct and not try and mask my librarianness.

A fire engine pulling up to a library is a jumpscare librarians don't need.

Researching Gas Industry KIAs from WW2 I realised that a big proportion were RAF. Thought due to engineering background. Then realised that it may be because those easiest to identify have more initials, more initials usually indicates wealth, the wealthy were more likely to join the Air Force.

I was really lucky that I checked the ukas portal before I left home as my uni let me in even though I didn't get the grades. I managed to limbo under what was already a pretty low bar.

Getting sick of Google AI. Trying to find info on gas industry employees who fought in the world wars using IWM memorial register. But Google AI will pull information from multiple military records and create a totally new person...or tell you your search is wrong...I have biblical levels of rage.

We usually BBC news on the TVs in reception. Not sure our receptionist realises she's put GB News on. She was telling me about what meetings there are today whilst a dude in a bow tie and big glasses said "I think many people around the world would agree that the British empire was a force for good"

My Uncle's Grandnephew (Nick Cannon) was married to Mariah Carey.

I ofcourse cannot find the reference but Sir Henry Harpur lost an election in 18thC. Derby because the voters accused him of only caring for them during canvassing time...

They hired me to catalogue and sort their library space and now, 2 days before the official launch, I'm curating an exhibition using the gifts the institution has received from partner institutions on China. This is what happens when I'm not given boundaries.

Really chuffed with how IGEM's new library space is coming along. I never thought all the time spent watching Interior Design Masters would come so much in handy. Just needs the artwork going up, some greenery, a few smaller shelving units in the middle and then some books!

Avoid the first shot (1/5 chance of it misfiring anyway) and you've got 3-5 business days to run away. If it's raining they've got more chance of hurting you by throwing it at you.

@cathfeely.bsky.social hi Cath, sorry for such a big question on a Sunday night but I came across this on wiki whilst looking at where Derby sat in the causes of the Industrial Revolution (better late than never!). There's no reference and can't find anything anywhere else. How true is it?

Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will return in Avengers: Doomsday #easter

I always take my 3 year old to charity shops to buy a DVD for his collection. Nestled between paddington and Frozen in the kids section we found triumph of the will...thankfully he picked paddington.

Good. Seems mad that they would allow AI-firms to steal what they want to feed LLMs whilst libraries can only give researchers 5% of a document.

Cbeebies presenters act as though they've just received their PGCR in children's TV. Milkshake presenters act as though they've just stepped off the stage at Butlins. One is more tolerable at 6am than the other.

Someone's going to be very disappointed when they turn up in Turkey in April.

It what has been a particularly crap year, I achieved one of my life goals. After 15 years of hurt I won an NFL fantasy league. Greatest thing to happen to me in 2025, slightly ahead of the birth of my daughter. @yahoofantasy.bsky.social

I had my cat for 18 years, I've had my son for 3. But it's my 7 month old daughter who is the first sentient being in my house to pull over a Christmas tree. She's been trying since it went up. She was so pleased with herself.

No. I don't think I will.

Bought a book Of history walks. Each Fleur de lis on the map is a walk...the East Midd is all but devoid of history it seems. Also, living just outside Leicester, I'm smack bang in the middle of this no man's land. (In a village filled with Templar History and the birthplace of Lord Macaulay)

Now Maisie is 3 months old I'm starting to get some free time. This evening that involved watching 3 hours of American Civil War docs whilst barely blinking. Forgot I haven't eaten since this morning. Rinse and repeat tomorrow.

Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will return in Avengers Secret Wars

"Wasp on a Fidget Spinner"

My only IQ story is that I took a test on a Friday, played football on Sunday where I got kicked in the head, then retook the same test on the Monday and had lost two points. I've always assumed my IQ never recovered.