Dr Vanessa
@hpsvanessa.bsky.social
historian of science, medicine, food, sport and exploration; other content generally but not limited to: my dinner, a weird bug, feminist beer 🏳️⚧️, complaining about bad parking. Latest book: tinyurl.com/HigherColder
I really dislike unsolicited advice.
I really dislike unsolicited advice.
Today in: my heart
Mrs Hat hasn’t been in the garden since early September. Mr Hat hs been here everyday solo & I’d accepted we’d lost her. This week he’s been cooing & calling every morning, & today he was flirting. A new Mrs Hat? No! It is her! She is back!! (She will not reveal where she’s been)🪶
Mrs Hat hasn’t been in the garden since early September. Mr Hat hs been here everyday solo & I’d accepted we’d lost her. This week he’s been cooing & calling every morning, & today he was flirting. A new Mrs Hat? No! It is her! She is back!! (She will not reveal where she’s been)🪶
November 30, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Today in: my heart
Mrs Hat hasn’t been in the garden since early September. Mr Hat hs been here everyday solo & I’d accepted we’d lost her. This week he’s been cooing & calling every morning, & today he was flirting. A new Mrs Hat? No! It is her! She is back!! (She will not reveal where she’s been)🪶
Mrs Hat hasn’t been in the garden since early September. Mr Hat hs been here everyday solo & I’d accepted we’d lost her. This week he’s been cooing & calling every morning, & today he was flirting. A new Mrs Hat? No! It is her! She is back!! (She will not reveal where she’s been)🪶
We can rebuild him
November 29, 2025 at 7:52 PM
We can rebuild him
And when I say 'right play list" I mean, as usual for me, the same banger on a loop, conforming to Heggie's Rule 44 (if it exists, there is a dance remix of it).
November 28, 2025 at 4:58 PM
And when I say 'right play list" I mean, as usual for me, the same banger on a loop, conforming to Heggie's Rule 44 (if it exists, there is a dance remix of it).
Cw: spider (do not @ me I know it is not really). Cardio for the day achieved as I get a head of celery out of the fridge, go to tear off a stalk and this little bean scuttles out to say hi & give me a jump scare. It’s been in the fridge for a week! Safely relocated to sheltered garden spot.
November 27, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Cw: spider (do not @ me I know it is not really). Cardio for the day achieved as I get a head of celery out of the fridge, go to tear off a stalk and this little bean scuttles out to say hi & give me a jump scare. It’s been in the fridge for a week! Safely relocated to sheltered garden spot.
Relatively uncommon veg in the box this week, exciting!
November 26, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Relatively uncommon veg in the box this week, exciting!
Scheme: successful
November 26, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Scheme: successful
It was definitely my favourite (though cemetery is basically a labyrinth of 20ft high walls of stacked tombs and secret courtyards so I may have missed something…)
November 26, 2025 at 7:45 AM
It was definitely my favourite (though cemetery is basically a labyrinth of 20ft high walls of stacked tombs and secret courtyards so I may have missed something…)
I got so distracted showing you the amazing skeleton’s kiss statue that I forgot to share Ultimate Goth tomb gate.
November 25, 2025 at 8:52 PM
I got so distracted showing you the amazing skeleton’s kiss statue that I forgot to share Ultimate Goth tomb gate.
#NoodleTuesday - ringing the changes with a European-flavour profile. The mushrooms rehydrate well, sauce is salty and umami. Perfectly adequate middle of the road (but only a half point up on a mugshot). 2.5/5
November 25, 2025 at 6:18 PM
#NoodleTuesday - ringing the changes with a European-flavour profile. The mushrooms rehydrate well, sauce is salty and umami. Perfectly adequate middle of the road (but only a half point up on a mugshot). 2.5/5
The one thing i miss about twitter is that you used to be able to search a few keywords and get answers (or at least informed speculation) about breaking local news, rather than just having to listen to the police plane circling for hours.
November 23, 2025 at 3:54 PM
The one thing i miss about twitter is that you used to be able to search a few keywords and get answers (or at least informed speculation) about breaking local news, rather than just having to listen to the police plane circling for hours.
B is taking the “decanting everything because we have open storage shelves” to extremes (vitamin d tablets)
November 23, 2025 at 11:43 AM
B is taking the “decanting everything because we have open storage shelves” to extremes (vitamin d tablets)
The stupid little morning walk for mental health hitting differently at the moment.
November 22, 2025 at 3:17 PM
The stupid little morning walk for mental health hitting differently at the moment.
Ps: forgot to say I’ m not very online atm due to being at a work thing and extremely out of office (somewhere with a functional public transit system)
November 20, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Ps: forgot to say I’ m not very online atm due to being at a work thing and extremely out of office (somewhere with a functional public transit system)
#NoodleTuesday whoo hoo hoo we haven’t had a spicy one in a while. I don’t understand how eating the noodles can feel hotter than slurping the stock. Sour, clear lime flavour, filling, slightly too “wholemeal-y” noodles. 3.5/5 definitely tasted.
November 18, 2025 at 8:08 PM
#NoodleTuesday whoo hoo hoo we haven’t had a spicy one in a while. I don’t understand how eating the noodles can feel hotter than slurping the stock. Sour, clear lime flavour, filling, slightly too “wholemeal-y” noodles. 3.5/5 definitely tasted.
I know I am a scratched record about how bad Birmingham’s public transport is but this is normal. A 40 min delay on a bus that is supposed to come every 20 mins is normal. #BrumIsBroken
November 18, 2025 at 4:28 PM
I know I am a scratched record about how bad Birmingham’s public transport is but this is normal. A 40 min delay on a bus that is supposed to come every 20 mins is normal. #BrumIsBroken
I’ve worked here nearly 13 years and just today discovered the off campus library that is apparently deserted & full of adorable study nooks & a mini kitchen?!?
November 18, 2025 at 12:33 PM
I’ve worked here nearly 13 years and just today discovered the off campus library that is apparently deserted & full of adorable study nooks & a mini kitchen?!?
The absolute *master* of the art.
November 17, 2025 at 6:29 PM
The absolute *master* of the art.
I think the true test of being a “regular” in the local bar scene is how often the owners say “keep an eye on it I just have to pop out” (four different venues in Brum so far 😂)
November 16, 2025 at 2:30 PM
I think the true test of being a “regular” in the local bar scene is how often the owners say “keep an eye on it I just have to pop out” (four different venues in Brum so far 😂)
#GardenFlowers - I don’t normally plant anything I can’t eat but I have enjoyed the random old seed packet results this year: I might treat myself to a few “for cutting” flowers next year.
November 16, 2025 at 12:58 PM
#GardenFlowers - I don’t normally plant anything I can’t eat but I have enjoyed the random old seed packet results this year: I might treat myself to a few “for cutting” flowers next year.
Where’s a good online space for posting multiple short book reviews? I do a visual #ThisQuartersBooks on insta but caption isn’t long enough for a few words/fav-least fav summary. Not goodreads, I don’t want to rank or score, or do 1 at a time, more to remind myself about the books than to share 📚
November 16, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Where’s a good online space for posting multiple short book reviews? I do a visual #ThisQuartersBooks on insta but caption isn’t long enough for a few words/fav-least fav summary. Not goodreads, I don’t want to rank or score, or do 1 at a time, more to remind myself about the books than to share 📚
Wake Green / Astor Drive is *still* blocked - 4, 5 months after my first complaint? flooding up and over the textured pedestrian slabs.
November 15, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Wake Green / Astor Drive is *still* blocked - 4, 5 months after my first complaint? flooding up and over the textured pedestrian slabs.
Was supposed to be doing Xmas shopping (I have v limited weekends now due to work things ) but I just ended up buying the biggest heaviest fragile object in the chairty* shop for myself - ikea mega-bag for scale
*(Thrift store/op shop)
*(Thrift store/op shop)
November 15, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Was supposed to be doing Xmas shopping (I have v limited weekends now due to work things ) but I just ended up buying the biggest heaviest fragile object in the chairty* shop for myself - ikea mega-bag for scale
*(Thrift store/op shop)
*(Thrift store/op shop)
There’s something supremely satisfying about getting a tankard rather than any other pint glass
(Yes it is a cheese and raw onion cob - leave your tedious British food opinions in the bin.)
(Yes it is a cheese and raw onion cob - leave your tedious British food opinions in the bin.)
November 15, 2025 at 1:27 PM
There’s something supremely satisfying about getting a tankard rather than any other pint glass
(Yes it is a cheese and raw onion cob - leave your tedious British food opinions in the bin.)
(Yes it is a cheese and raw onion cob - leave your tedious British food opinions in the bin.)
Lol of course they have cancelled on me. FML have I offended a witch b/c this is feeling like a curse!
If anyone now needs a 5 min/500 word explainer on arctic shipboard food & drink in relation to Innes and Gunn’s Nares expedition arctic beer, I have actual props (yes, it’s an Allsopps stopper)
If anyone now needs a 5 min/500 word explainer on arctic shipboard food & drink in relation to Innes and Gunn’s Nares expedition arctic beer, I have actual props (yes, it’s an Allsopps stopper)
November 13, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Lol of course they have cancelled on me. FML have I offended a witch b/c this is feeling like a curse!
If anyone now needs a 5 min/500 word explainer on arctic shipboard food & drink in relation to Innes and Gunn’s Nares expedition arctic beer, I have actual props (yes, it’s an Allsopps stopper)
If anyone now needs a 5 min/500 word explainer on arctic shipboard food & drink in relation to Innes and Gunn’s Nares expedition arctic beer, I have actual props (yes, it’s an Allsopps stopper)