Rachel J Kirkwood
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drkirky.bsky.social
Rachel J Kirkwood
@drkirky.bsky.social
400 followers 260 following 130 posts
Academic library manager-researcher, bi mum, singer, Quaker, European; #DH, languages & linguistics, #QuakerStudies #EarlyModern stuff #metaphor #GoodOmens #DoctorWho #SpeculativeLiterature
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drkirky.bsky.social
@scribblesscript.bsky.social Google’s AI thinks you are Steven Moffat 😆 (only superficially funny)
October 10, 2025 at 9:33 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
The tradition of the Library Cat being upheld by my #ModernCollections team @uomlibrary.bsky.social Manchester.
“Last one out please turn off the cat” 🙀
Ginger and white ‘cat’ reclining on stool in front of an orderly desk. Notices on door: “please keep this door closed” and “Last one out please turn off the cat”.
July 26, 2025 at 10:46 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
How’s this for embodied theology? Tattoo highlights from the Genesis3 story as subverted by the Pratchett/Gaiman #GoodOmens story, where knowledge and asking questions is a good thing and angels are on the side of humans alongside demons.
Tattoo Snake reaches for red apple symbolic of knowledge of good and evil. Tattoo of protective flaming sword of Aziraphale, guardian of the eastern gate of Eden, and angel wings.
July 17, 2025 at 7:37 AM
drkirky.bsky.social
High summer is apparently the time to buy boots on sale. This brown box is giving me a Magritte vibe.
A stack of two brown boxes, one of which says ‘C’est boîte est verte’.
July 10, 2025 at 6:44 AM
drkirky.bsky.social
Where does the @uomlibrary.bsky.social Collections Team go for a brilliant awayday? To the #FestivalOfLibraries workshop on dictionary-making and words @mancathedral.bsky.social with @uomcreativemcr.bsky.social and the Linguistic Diversity Collective.
Door labelled ‘The Bishop Wickham Library’. In the foreground a large, colourful screen with the question ‘What’s in a word, and what’s in a dictionary?’; in the background a small portrait and a carved ‘Agnus dei’ illustration.
June 4, 2025 at 8:53 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
Rediscovering 1983 #gender in this throwaway line at the end of William Gibson’s #Neuromancer
Fans of #GoodOmensTV may smile at “a girl who called herself Michael” 😏
Last page of Neuromancer, with the sentence ‘He found himself a girl called Michael’ highlighted.
February 22, 2025 at 2:17 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
Great to make new connections at @sacredsalford.bsky.social’s #OpenTable service last night, and enjoyed an absolute belter of a final hymn! 🎵
View from nave towards high table, set for Holy Communion, but before it is a smaller table covered with a rainbow flag and several tea lights lit as votive candles.
February 17, 2025 at 10:05 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
Classic art meme. “What is your favourite part about your daily routine?” “Going back to bed.”
February 15, 2025 at 12:14 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
The hurly-burly’s done for today; time to meet a couple of witchy friends and go see #Macbeth (again).
#DonmarWarehouseMacbeth
Two close-ups on monitor screens of David Tennant as Macbeth, face covered in stage blood.
February 5, 2025 at 7:16 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
Bizarrely hilarious name for a new café in my neighbourhood.
Is this brazen promotion of heterosexuality? 😜#CompHet
Photo of new shopfront with title “Mr and Mrs cafe”
January 25, 2025 at 3:05 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
Starting a campaign.
#BuddeForArchbishop
The Church of England needs leadership like hers.
Mariann Budde speaking in 2012
January 24, 2025 at 6:18 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
On the conjunction of My Birthday + #NationalPeanutButterDay (US) I gladly share my breakfast with you (feat. #WholeEarthFoods peanut butter).
What’s your favourite brand, and why?
A slice of toast with peanut butter.
January 24, 2025 at 10:39 AM
drkirky.bsky.social
This is me in the role of Mary Fox, singing to George of his #puritan heritage, in the cantata The Fire and the Anvil by @tonymus.bsky.social
A solo singer in rehearsal.
January 18, 2025 at 8:37 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
They knew about #PublicHealth and infectious diseases in 1907. Five library-related regs, threatened book destruction, and a penalty of up to 40 shillings!
#skybrarians
#PublicLibraries
The public health acts amendment act 1907 (section 59) provides that “if any person knows he is suffering from an infectious disease he shall not take any book … from any public it circulating library”. Date label from a book withdrawn from Eccles Public Library, bearing return dates from 1938 to 1977.
January 10, 2025 at 1:10 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
Just call me a library professional :-)
#skybrarians
Snip of an email from an academic to a librarian, saying "You appear to have provided all the information I need. Clear and well anticipated. Thank you very much, great job!".
January 6, 2025 at 12:13 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
We didn’t wanna walk that way anyhow
#PennineWay #floods
Small black dog turns back from a path flooded by thigh-deep water.
January 1, 2025 at 10:17 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
Hwaet!? Could this be 1960s lecture notes on #Beowulf ? Did this ‘Prof. Tolkien’ chap know anything about #OldEnglish or #AngloSaxon literature?
And who can maintain such elegant handwriting in lectures?!!
Handwritten lecture notes on slightly browned foolscap paper, entitled “Professor Tolkien: Beowulf”.
December 30, 2024 at 8:24 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
“the colour of a television, tuned to a dead channel” - my own tv’s contribution to the debate about William Gibson’s _Neuromancer_ opener. #cyberpunk #colourTheory
A ‘snowy’ TV screen during the process of auto tuning to new channels.
December 15, 2024 at 11:17 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
D H Lawrence is another one that folk are desperate for me to read 😁
Books on a shelf including ‘Daughters of the Vicar’.
December 15, 2024 at 3:20 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
Advent Sunday filled with musical anticipation! Morning #Quaker worship feat. reprise of @tonymus.bsky.social’s chorale ‘Wait in the Light’; evening #Taizé worship at Sacred Trinity Salford: thanks to @salfordrev.bsky.social & David Hillary for great combo of liturgy + music.
5 Advent candles in Sacred Trinity Church, Salford; the first has been lit. Nativity scene in front of holy table at Sacred Trinity church + extra candles for Taizé service.
December 1, 2024 at 10:31 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
Infinitely subtle expressions!
Book cover: The secret thoughts of cats, by Steven Appleby.
November 10, 2024 at 12:41 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
So I might need to modify my previous assertion. Writing is more becoming rather challenging.
Photo shows a hand attempting to write with a pen whilst a dog rests her head and neck over the writer’s forearm.
September 18, 2024 at 9:04 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
Never mind #SUAW what you need in order to write is a pen, a pint and a pooch.
Papers and a notebook next to a pint of superior Germanic lager on a pub table.
September 18, 2024 at 8:43 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
Highlight was great keynote by @jackieeales.bsky.social on The invention of the #NaughtyVicar (who really deserves his own hashtag).
September 17, 2024 at 8:03 PM
drkirky.bsky.social
Survived a FABULOUS 2-day #EarlyModern historians conf as a linguist interloper. #ClericalLives org @benltjackson.bsky.social Hannah Yip
Conference programme for ‘Clerical lives in Britain c.1600-1700’ at University of Manchester, 16-18 September 2024
September 17, 2024 at 7:59 PM