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Reposted by Joe Vaughan

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · 1d

🥳 Now open 🎉

Discover rarely-seen letters and artefacts from the personal archive of beloved author James Joyce in James Joyce: Enigmas & Puzzles.

Explore Joyce's social network of friends and artists, his family life, his inspirations, and the adjustments he made to work despite ill-health.

James Joyce: Enigmas and Puzzles. 7 October - 9 February 2026. Uni of Reading Special Collections.

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What's On Reading @rdgwhatson.bsky.social · 5d

Never-before-seen papers from beloved author James Joyce, part of @uorspeccoll.bsky.social's remarkable new Solange and Stephen James Joyce Collection, will form the free exhibition, James Joyce: Enigmas and Puzzles.

Opens 7 Oct at @themerl.bsky.social

whatsonreading.com/venues/museu...

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Reposted by Joe Vaughan

Ollie Douglas @olliedouglas.bsky.social · 5d

Latest episode folks. With thanks to @katrinanavickas.bsky.social and @joevaughan.net for general awesomeness!

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · 6d

New Absolute Units is live!

Join us and @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we explore resistance to enclosure in the modern era: from riots, to raves, to Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

Listen below, or search 'Absolute Units' wherever you get your podcasts!

merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...

Absolute Units - a podcast from The Museum of English Rural Life.

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Reposted by Joe Vaughan

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · 6d

New Absolute Units is live!

Join us and @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we explore resistance to enclosure in the modern era: from riots, to raves, to Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

Listen below, or search 'Absolute Units' wherever you get your podcasts!

merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...

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Reposted by Joe Vaughan

Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · 12d

This aircraft worker from WW2 was photographed for the Ministry of Information at Miles Factory in Woodley. The factory made 5000 new aircraft during the war and repaired damaged fighter planes. Thousands of women were employed in this industry in Reading.

1946.52.63 🖼️
Reading Museum 📷
#FridayFinds

Black and white photograph of a woman riveting metal in a factory. Image from Reading Museum's collection.

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Reposted by Joe Vaughan

Adam Koszary @adamkoszary.bsky.social · 19d

some good content wot I saw in the last couple of weeks which is in my newsletter

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Reposted by Joe Vaughan

Ollie Douglas @olliedouglas.bsky.social · 20d

This one’s a good one. I would say that, of course, but @katrinanavickas.bsky.social is brilliant and her new book is a must read! Thanks as always to the brilliant @joevaughan.net.

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · 20d

New Absolute Units is live!

Join special guest @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we delve into the commons: the history of shared resources, the historical forces that encroached upon them, and the fight to get them back.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · 20d

thrilled to combine my 2 greatest research interests - UK rural history and Goose

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · 20d

New Absolute Units is live!

Join special guest @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we delve into the commons: the history of shared resources, the historical forces that encroached upon them, and the fight to get them back.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...

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Reposted by Joe Vaughan

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · 20d

Topics include: Handforth Parish Council ("you have no authority here, Jackie Weaver!"), @househouse.bsky.social's Untitled Goose Game, geese more generally, John Clare, lantern slides, and much, much more.

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Reposted by Joe Vaughan

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · 20d

New Absolute Units is live!

Join special guest @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we delve into the commons: the history of shared resources, the historical forces that encroached upon them, and the fight to get them back.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · 26d

Facebook just shared a memory with me of this amazingly cool MERL Twitter crossover from 6 years ago, lol

David Hayter, the voice actor of Solid Snake, liking a tweet that says 'colonel....this is The MERL'

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Reposted by Joe Vaughan

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · 28d

All our Oct-Dec events are now live on our website!

We've got James Joyce. We've got Jane Austen. We've got an 18+ LATE. And many more reasons why you should make the trip to Reading.

merl.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/aut...

Autumn 2025 at The Museum of English Rural Life.

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Reposted by Joe Vaughan

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · 28d

Thanks to everyone who came to yesterday's launch of our Jane Austen exhibit and trail!

Visit until 19 December to explore links between Jane Austen and the English countryside: from a rare Austen letter, to craft workshops for families & adults.

merl.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/jan...

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Reposted by Joe Vaughan

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · 28d

👉 Mammoth Hog 👈

Djinn & Tonic 🇺🇦 🇨🇦 🇲🇽 🇬🇱 @djinnandtonic.bsky.social · 28d

You know what. Fuck it. Mammoth Hog poster

An 1863 poster advertising the slaughtering of a MAMMOTH HOG at 10 o'clock AM on Monday, February 23, 1863, ostensibly as a celebration of the Battle of Buena Vista. The vibe of this poster is extremely enthusiastic.

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · Sep 8

so this happened!

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · Sep 8

so something absolutely wild happened here in April: we were visited by Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter.

(short thread)

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Sep 8

We hold the world's largest Samuel Beckett Collection, and frequently welcome researchers, actors and dramatists.

In April, this included the cast of the upcoming Jamie Lloyd Co production of Waiting for Godot – including actors Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter!

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/05/t...

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Reposted by Joe Vaughan

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Sep 8

We also look after the personal archive of Beckett’s close friend, James Joyce.

Never-before-seen papers from this remarkable collection will appear soon in our upcoming free exhibition, James Joyce: Enigmas and Puzzles. Opens 7 Oct.

collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...

James Joyce: Enigmas and Puzzles. 7 October - 9 February 2026. University of Reading Special Collections, at The Museum of English Rural Life.

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Reposted by Joe Vaughan

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Sep 8

We hold the world's largest Samuel Beckett Collection, and frequently welcome researchers, actors and dramatists.

In April, this included the cast of the upcoming Jamie Lloyd Co production of Waiting for Godot – including actors Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter!

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/05/t...

Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter Are Ready for ‘Godot’

www.nytimes.com

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · Sep 8

correct

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · Sep 8

so something absolutely wild happened here in April: we were visited by Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter.

(short thread)

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Sep 8

We hold the world's largest Samuel Beckett Collection, and frequently welcome researchers, actors and dramatists.

In April, this included the cast of the upcoming Jamie Lloyd Co production of Waiting for Godot – including actors Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter!

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/05/t...

Reposted by Joe Vaughan

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · Sep 8

Opening tomorrow: our latest display and exhibit, connecting the life and work of beloved author Jane Austen to rural England!

We'll be opening the exhibit with a gallery tour, led by MERL's Isabel Hughes and @uniofreading.bsky.social's Professor Paddy Bullard:

merl.reading.ac.uk/event/monthl...

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Reposted by Joe Vaughan

Ollie Douglas @olliedouglas.bsky.social · Sep 4

I may be off work recovering from a nasty viral turn, but thankfully @joevaughan.net is making sure that I look busy in my absence!

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · Sep 4

New Absolute Units is live!

Tune in for episode 10, as we chat to photographer & sheep farmer Amy Bateman about digital technology on modern farms: from advantages, to risks.

Listen & subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · Sep 8

the book is absolutely gorgeous; very excited to chat about it when can find a new time!

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · Sep 8

definitely!

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · Sep 4

I think this one has our best sound editing yet, maybe. learning lots each time

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · Sep 4

we are so back (again!)

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · Sep 4

New Absolute Units is live!

Tune in for episode 10, as we chat to photographer & sheep farmer Amy Bateman about digital technology on modern farms: from advantages, to risks.

Listen & subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · Sep 3

I'm having a very nice morning with intravenous tea and a chillhop playlist visualised by an animated cat drinking coffee in a pond

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