Flitcraft
@flitcraft.bsky.social
Scottish history generalist with early modern tendencies. She/her. AuDHD
Reposted by Flitcraft
- Books make for terrible gifts
Easy, this one. When you give someone a book you are implicitly demanding they spend many hours doing something *you* think is interesting (ie reading that book). It is incredibly imposing. Or should they offend you by not reading it?
Recommend books, don't give them
Easy, this one. When you give someone a book you are implicitly demanding they spend many hours doing something *you* think is interesting (ie reading that book). It is incredibly imposing. Or should they offend you by not reading it?
Recommend books, don't give them
January 23, 2026 at 10:10 AM
- Books make for terrible gifts
Easy, this one. When you give someone a book you are implicitly demanding they spend many hours doing something *you* think is interesting (ie reading that book). It is incredibly imposing. Or should they offend you by not reading it?
Recommend books, don't give them
Easy, this one. When you give someone a book you are implicitly demanding they spend many hours doing something *you* think is interesting (ie reading that book). It is incredibly imposing. Or should they offend you by not reading it?
Recommend books, don't give them
Reposted by Flitcraft
A few days ago, I stood in the graveyard of an 1100 year old church, getting damper and damper in the drizzling rain.
A woman walked into the graveyard, waved, said hello, and, as we had previously arranged, handed me a paper bag full of human bones.
The life of a churchwarden is a strange one...
A woman walked into the graveyard, waved, said hello, and, as we had previously arranged, handed me a paper bag full of human bones.
The life of a churchwarden is a strange one...
January 23, 2026 at 11:44 AM
A few days ago, I stood in the graveyard of an 1100 year old church, getting damper and damper in the drizzling rain.
A woman walked into the graveyard, waved, said hello, and, as we had previously arranged, handed me a paper bag full of human bones.
The life of a churchwarden is a strange one...
A woman walked into the graveyard, waved, said hello, and, as we had previously arranged, handed me a paper bag full of human bones.
The life of a churchwarden is a strange one...
Reposted by Flitcraft
The earliest recorded reference to the 9/10thC Forteviot Arch was a paper by William Forbes Skene, founding father of Celtic studies in Scotland, which he read before the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in Edinburgh #OTD in 1832. The piece suggests a stone church at the site. #medievalsky
January 23, 2026 at 7:22 AM
The earliest recorded reference to the 9/10thC Forteviot Arch was a paper by William Forbes Skene, founding father of Celtic studies in Scotland, which he read before the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in Edinburgh #OTD in 1832. The piece suggests a stone church at the site. #medievalsky
Reposted by Flitcraft
Brilliant new article by @malcolmrussell73.bsky.social on glue-sniffing panics, youth boredom and deindustrialising towns c. 1970s-80s, published in @mbhjournal.bsky.social
This began life as an exceptional MA dissertation at @uclhistory.bsky.social
Congrats Malcolm!
doi.org/10.1093/tcbh...
This began life as an exceptional MA dissertation at @uclhistory.bsky.social
Congrats Malcolm!
doi.org/10.1093/tcbh...
‘All the Kids Wanna Sniff Some Glue’: glue-sniffing, deindustrialization, and moral panic in 1980s Britain
Abstract. This article analyses anxieties surrounding glue-sniffing in 1980s Britain and their entanglement with the era’s accelerated deindustrialization.
doi.org
January 12, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Brilliant new article by @malcolmrussell73.bsky.social on glue-sniffing panics, youth boredom and deindustrialising towns c. 1970s-80s, published in @mbhjournal.bsky.social
This began life as an exceptional MA dissertation at @uclhistory.bsky.social
Congrats Malcolm!
doi.org/10.1093/tcbh...
This began life as an exceptional MA dissertation at @uclhistory.bsky.social
Congrats Malcolm!
doi.org/10.1093/tcbh...
Reposted by Flitcraft
My great great grandfather's trade card
www.londonmuseum.org.uk/collections/...
www.londonmuseum.org.uk/collections/...
Trade card
www.londonmuseum.org.uk
November 2, 2025 at 9:31 PM
My great great grandfather's trade card
www.londonmuseum.org.uk/collections/...
www.londonmuseum.org.uk/collections/...
Reposted by Flitcraft
#Witches? Oh yes! @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social talk with Alison Rowlands about the new edition of her classic @manchesterup.bsky.social #Witchcraft Narratives in #Germany: Rothenburg, 1561-1652.
#skystorians #EarlyModern #BookSky
newbooksnetwork.com/witchcraft-n...
#skystorians #EarlyModern #BookSky
newbooksnetwork.com/witchcraft-n...
January 22, 2026 at 7:13 PM
#Witches? Oh yes! @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social talk with Alison Rowlands about the new edition of her classic @manchesterup.bsky.social #Witchcraft Narratives in #Germany: Rothenburg, 1561-1652.
#skystorians #EarlyModern #BookSky
newbooksnetwork.com/witchcraft-n...
#skystorians #EarlyModern #BookSky
newbooksnetwork.com/witchcraft-n...
Reposted by Flitcraft
If you're in Vancouver and want to celebrate Burns Night a few days late, may I suggest
Bagpipes, Dragons, and Fire Horses! Robbie Burns Gung Haggis Fat Choy 2026 Returns | Gung HAGGIS Fat Choy
www.gunghaggis.com
January 22, 2026 at 6:01 PM
If you're in Vancouver and want to celebrate Burns Night a few days late, may I suggest
Reposted by Flitcraft
This is exciting news for us. Our new YouTube channel is now live, and we've just posted our talks from the 2024/2025 session. Thanks to all the speakers for their permission to make their talks live for everyone to view. Check the talks out at buff.ly/DOLKg0h
#edinburghhistorytalks #histoystories
#edinburghhistorytalks #histoystories
January 22, 2026 at 6:13 PM
This is exciting news for us. Our new YouTube channel is now live, and we've just posted our talks from the 2024/2025 session. Thanks to all the speakers for their permission to make their talks live for everyone to view. Check the talks out at buff.ly/DOLKg0h
#edinburghhistorytalks #histoystories
#edinburghhistorytalks #histoystories
Reposted by Flitcraft
A panel discussion on 3 manuscripts relating to Mary, Queen of Scots:
1. Mary’s final letter
2. Robert Burns’s poem “Lament of Mary, Queen of Scots”
3. Liz Lochhead’s 1987 play Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off
29 Jan, Perth. Tickets £8.50/£6
www.perthshireboxoffice.com/whats-on/voi...
1. Mary’s final letter
2. Robert Burns’s poem “Lament of Mary, Queen of Scots”
3. Liz Lochhead’s 1987 play Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off
29 Jan, Perth. Tickets £8.50/£6
www.perthshireboxoffice.com/whats-on/voi...
Voices from the Archives: Mary, Burns and Lochhead | Perthshire Box Office
www.perthshireboxoffice.com
January 21, 2026 at 3:38 PM
A panel discussion on 3 manuscripts relating to Mary, Queen of Scots:
1. Mary’s final letter
2. Robert Burns’s poem “Lament of Mary, Queen of Scots”
3. Liz Lochhead’s 1987 play Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off
29 Jan, Perth. Tickets £8.50/£6
www.perthshireboxoffice.com/whats-on/voi...
1. Mary’s final letter
2. Robert Burns’s poem “Lament of Mary, Queen of Scots”
3. Liz Lochhead’s 1987 play Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off
29 Jan, Perth. Tickets £8.50/£6
www.perthshireboxoffice.com/whats-on/voi...
Reposted by Flitcraft
Who Speaks Scots Where: What Crowdsourcing Reveals
2 Feb @edfuturesinstitute.bsky.social – free
Jennifer Smith & Brian Aitken present findings from a new crowdsourced resource – Speak for Yersel – which sets out to map dialect use in Scots throughout Scotland
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/who-speaks...
2 Feb @edfuturesinstitute.bsky.social – free
Jennifer Smith & Brian Aitken present findings from a new crowdsourced resource – Speak for Yersel – which sets out to map dialect use in Scots throughout Scotland
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/who-speaks...
Who Speaks Scots Where: What Crowdsourcing Reveals
In this paper, Jennifer Smith and Brian Aitken present findings from a new crowdsourced resource - Speak for Yersel
www.eventbrite.co.uk
January 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Who Speaks Scots Where: What Crowdsourcing Reveals
2 Feb @edfuturesinstitute.bsky.social – free
Jennifer Smith & Brian Aitken present findings from a new crowdsourced resource – Speak for Yersel – which sets out to map dialect use in Scots throughout Scotland
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/who-speaks...
2 Feb @edfuturesinstitute.bsky.social – free
Jennifer Smith & Brian Aitken present findings from a new crowdsourced resource – Speak for Yersel – which sets out to map dialect use in Scots throughout Scotland
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/who-speaks...
Reposted by Flitcraft
I’m going to finish blogging as the Urban Prehistorian at the end of 2026 after 14 years and - hopefully - 200 posts. I’m going to select my favourite ten posts in the coming weeks. But I would also love to hear from anyone out there who has read a blog post of mine & enjoyed it! #UrbanPrehistory
January 22, 2026 at 2:17 PM
I’m going to finish blogging as the Urban Prehistorian at the end of 2026 after 14 years and - hopefully - 200 posts. I’m going to select my favourite ten posts in the coming weeks. But I would also love to hear from anyone out there who has read a blog post of mine & enjoyed it! #UrbanPrehistory
Reposted by Flitcraft
22 January 1583: In spite of the calm appearing to prevail in Anglo-Scottish relations, things seem to be getting a bit more interesting in Edinburgh again. A group of ministers from the presbytery of Edinburgh take it upon themselves to visit James today 'to admonish him to ... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
January 22, 2026 at 12:10 PM
22 January 1583: In spite of the calm appearing to prevail in Anglo-Scottish relations, things seem to be getting a bit more interesting in Edinburgh again. A group of ministers from the presbytery of Edinburgh take it upon themselves to visit James today 'to admonish him to ... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
Reposted by Flitcraft
Find out what our favourite osteoarch Jess Thompson has achieved in her first year at NMS!
This seminar is on TODAY (Thurs 22nd of March) at 4:15pm in the Meadows Lecture Theatre! It’s FREE and open to all to attend!
☠️ This week’s OHA/ArchSoc research seminar is by Dr Jess Thompson (National Museums Scotland) “Curating Scotland’s Archaeological Human Remains: Past, Present & Future” 22/01 @ 16:15 in the Meadows LT 📷 Credit: Neil Hanna https://hca.ed.ac.uk/news-events/events/research-seminars/archaeology-seminars
January 22, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Find out what our favourite osteoarch Jess Thompson has achieved in her first year at NMS!
Reposted by Flitcraft
Apardjón is pleased to present its newest special volume, Connections and the Church in Late Norse Scotland, edited by Caitlin Ellis and Tom Fairfax. We would like to thank all authors for contributing, and Caitlin Ellis and Tom Fairfax for their work. #MedievalSky
www.abdn.ac.uk/dhpa/researc...
www.abdn.ac.uk/dhpa/researc...
January 22, 2026 at 7:43 AM
Apardjón is pleased to present its newest special volume, Connections and the Church in Late Norse Scotland, edited by Caitlin Ellis and Tom Fairfax. We would like to thank all authors for contributing, and Caitlin Ellis and Tom Fairfax for their work. #MedievalSky
www.abdn.ac.uk/dhpa/researc...
www.abdn.ac.uk/dhpa/researc...
Reposted by Flitcraft
Random Delightful Fact of the Day -
Eastern quolls go grey as they get older!
A juvenile (~6 mths old) on the L, & a 4 yr old on the R
(Worth noting that 4 yrs old is oooooold for an eastern quoll)
Eastern quolls go grey as they get older!
A juvenile (~6 mths old) on the L, & a 4 yr old on the R
(Worth noting that 4 yrs old is oooooold for an eastern quoll)
January 22, 2026 at 4:19 AM
Random Delightful Fact of the Day -
Eastern quolls go grey as they get older!
A juvenile (~6 mths old) on the L, & a 4 yr old on the R
(Worth noting that 4 yrs old is oooooold for an eastern quoll)
Eastern quolls go grey as they get older!
A juvenile (~6 mths old) on the L, & a 4 yr old on the R
(Worth noting that 4 yrs old is oooooold for an eastern quoll)
Reposted by Flitcraft
Great thread on a fascinating bit of science. (I'm also pleased to see that parts of the key specimen have been accessioned by @ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social)
Our paper on the mysterious Devonian organism Prototaxites has now finally been published! See the paper here (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...) and our explainer thread below!
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
January 22, 2026 at 8:28 AM
Great thread on a fascinating bit of science. (I'm also pleased to see that parts of the key specimen have been accessioned by @ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social)
Reposted by Flitcraft
A Cambridge-led study of 13.9 million children in England found COVID vaccines are the safest option. The very rare, short-term risk of heart inflammation from vaccination is far lower than the risks from infection, which can cause blood clots, heart issues and severe inflammation for up to a year.
New Data Shows COVID-19 Infection Much Worse For Children Than the Vaccine
"The risk following vaccination is substantially lower than the risk following infection".
www.zmescience.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:16 PM
A Cambridge-led study of 13.9 million children in England found COVID vaccines are the safest option. The very rare, short-term risk of heart inflammation from vaccination is far lower than the risks from infection, which can cause blood clots, heart issues and severe inflammation for up to a year.
Reposted by Flitcraft
Our paper on the mysterious Devonian organism Prototaxites has now finally been published! See the paper here (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...) and our explainer thread below!
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
January 21, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Our paper on the mysterious Devonian organism Prototaxites has now finally been published! See the paper here (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...) and our explainer thread below!
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
Reposted by Flitcraft
Today I went to Ilford pet cemetery to pay my respects to Able Seacat Simon, spy pigeon Mary of Exeter, and blitz rescue dogs Irma, Rip, and Crumstone Psyche.
January 20, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Today I went to Ilford pet cemetery to pay my respects to Able Seacat Simon, spy pigeon Mary of Exeter, and blitz rescue dogs Irma, Rip, and Crumstone Psyche.
Reposted by Flitcraft
Whitekirk and the Great Michael: Ship building and pilgrimage in East Lothian: vanishedcomforts.org/2026/01/21/w...
Whitekirk and the Great Michael
One Latin household books survives from the reign of James IV, (National Records of Scotland, E32/1). It covers dates from 1511 to 1512, giving daily expenses of food for the households of James IV…
vanishedcomforts.org
January 21, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Whitekirk and the Great Michael: Ship building and pilgrimage in East Lothian: vanishedcomforts.org/2026/01/21/w...
Reposted by Flitcraft
Thousands of gannets swoop off the towering cliffs of the island of Boreray, Outer Hebrides, photo by Jim Richardson, National Geographic photographer.
January 21, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Thousands of gannets swoop off the towering cliffs of the island of Boreray, Outer Hebrides, photo by Jim Richardson, National Geographic photographer.
Reposted by Flitcraft
I need at least 3 more folk to sign up for my Edinburgh Adult Education Programme archaeology classes at Craigentinny, or the course will be cancelled. If you know anyone who might be interested, please let them know. Thank you!
adulteducationedinburgh.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spyd...
adulteducationedinburgh.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spyd...
January 21, 2026 at 2:12 PM
I need at least 3 more folk to sign up for my Edinburgh Adult Education Programme archaeology classes at Craigentinny, or the course will be cancelled. If you know anyone who might be interested, please let them know. Thank you!
adulteducationedinburgh.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spyd...
adulteducationedinburgh.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spyd...
Reposted by Flitcraft
GATHER ROUND PEOPLE, I HAVE A SALUTARY TALE ON THE DANGERS OF THE VICTORIAN WAKE.
January 21, 2026 at 10:30 AM
GATHER ROUND PEOPLE, I HAVE A SALUTARY TALE ON THE DANGERS OF THE VICTORIAN WAKE.
Reposted by Flitcraft
Why Sensory Overload Isn’t About “Too Much”: Often, it’s about how much interpretive work the brain is being asked to do as it constantly combines sensory information to figure out what’s happening, and whether it matters. By @neuroscientist.bsky.social:
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/givi...
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/givi...
Why Sensory Overload Isn’t About “Too Much”
Sensory overload is often about uncertainty and how long the brain has to stay engaged—especially in autism and ADHD.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 20, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Why Sensory Overload Isn’t About “Too Much”: Often, it’s about how much interpretive work the brain is being asked to do as it constantly combines sensory information to figure out what’s happening, and whether it matters. By @neuroscientist.bsky.social:
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/givi...
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/givi...
Reposted by Flitcraft
Tally Man: "Whenever the police used to walk around the [dock] sheds, the call was cabbage. That was police. Cabbage. Cabbage. You couldn't say ‘the old bill’ or ‘police.’ Cabbage. And even the police used to call it sometimes as they'd walk in, they'd go Cabbage." No one knows why cabbage.
January 21, 2026 at 9:58 AM
Tally Man: "Whenever the police used to walk around the [dock] sheds, the call was cabbage. That was police. Cabbage. Cabbage. You couldn't say ‘the old bill’ or ‘police.’ Cabbage. And even the police used to call it sometimes as they'd walk in, they'd go Cabbage." No one knows why cabbage.