Graeme Beale
@midfyffe.bsky.social
Works in @RESAS in the Scottish Government. Head of the Strategic Research Programme - Rural/Environment. Quaker. Writer of sub-par cat poems and other things.
Today’s commute reading- Harold Bloom, extract of Kafka’s letters.
“Writing letters, however, means to denude oneself before ghosts, something for which they greedily wait. Written kisses don’t reach the destination, rather they are drunk on the way by the ghosts.”
Are emojis are for the ghosts?🤷
“Writing letters, however, means to denude oneself before ghosts, something for which they greedily wait. Written kisses don’t reach the destination, rather they are drunk on the way by the ghosts.”
Are emojis are for the ghosts?🤷
February 17, 2026 at 7:54 AM
Today’s commute reading- Harold Bloom, extract of Kafka’s letters.
“Writing letters, however, means to denude oneself before ghosts, something for which they greedily wait. Written kisses don’t reach the destination, rather they are drunk on the way by the ghosts.”
Are emojis are for the ghosts?🤷
“Writing letters, however, means to denude oneself before ghosts, something for which they greedily wait. Written kisses don’t reach the destination, rather they are drunk on the way by the ghosts.”
Are emojis are for the ghosts?🤷
Managed to get up and down Benarty before the torrential rain started. Really nice to get outside but got covered in mud and nearly knocked over by someone off-lead dog.
I’m sure people used to be better at controlling their hounds.
I’m sure people used to be better at controlling their hounds.
February 15, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Managed to get up and down Benarty before the torrential rain started. Really nice to get outside but got covered in mud and nearly knocked over by someone off-lead dog.
I’m sure people used to be better at controlling their hounds.
I’m sure people used to be better at controlling their hounds.
Chinese new year in Perth! Dragon time.
February 14, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Chinese new year in Perth! Dragon time.
But, soft! What light through tinder window breaks?
It is the day star. ⭐ not seen in these parts for forty days and more.
>reminder that there’s still frost on the ground, so approach taps aff with caution, Scotland.
It is the day star. ⭐ not seen in these parts for forty days and more.
>reminder that there’s still frost on the ground, so approach taps aff with caution, Scotland.
February 13, 2026 at 9:46 AM
But, soft! What light through tinder window breaks?
It is the day star. ⭐ not seen in these parts for forty days and more.
>reminder that there’s still frost on the ground, so approach taps aff with caution, Scotland.
It is the day star. ⭐ not seen in these parts for forty days and more.
>reminder that there’s still frost on the ground, so approach taps aff with caution, Scotland.
I love this. Circle on the left: “where poetry is on Bluesky”. Circle on the the right: Me
February 9, 2026 at 1:22 PM
I love this. Circle on the left: “where poetry is on Bluesky”. Circle on the the right: Me
Today’s commute reading. A just staggering reminder- Virginia Woolf on Jane Austen.
Austen wrote when it was impossible for her asa woman to leave the house alone.
I think that’s why I struggle with the romance & bustle presentation of history. I love history, but live back then? No thank you.
Austen wrote when it was impossible for her asa woman to leave the house alone.
I think that’s why I struggle with the romance & bustle presentation of history. I love history, but live back then? No thank you.
February 3, 2026 at 8:36 AM
Today’s commute reading. A just staggering reminder- Virginia Woolf on Jane Austen.
Austen wrote when it was impossible for her asa woman to leave the house alone.
I think that’s why I struggle with the romance & bustle presentation of history. I love history, but live back then? No thank you.
Austen wrote when it was impossible for her asa woman to leave the house alone.
I think that’s why I struggle with the romance & bustle presentation of history. I love history, but live back then? No thank you.
Just finished bell hooks “the will to change” about masculinity. I’ve read lots of her poetry before but never her essays.
Deep reflections on masculinity, and so many lines that have filtered out into the culture without me knowing where they come from.
Deep reflections on masculinity, and so many lines that have filtered out into the culture without me knowing where they come from.
January 25, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Just finished bell hooks “the will to change” about masculinity. I’ve read lots of her poetry before but never her essays.
Deep reflections on masculinity, and so many lines that have filtered out into the culture without me knowing where they come from.
Deep reflections on masculinity, and so many lines that have filtered out into the culture without me knowing where they come from.
Pictures (found poetry) from the Old Kirk back room today:
Do not touch the plans. We’ve only just sorted them.
Do not move these chairs, the plans will fall over if you do.
A Row of chairs and centuries old plans.
As the only #quaker meeting in a #medieval #Kirk, we are just a bit different.
Do not touch the plans. We’ve only just sorted them.
Do not move these chairs, the plans will fall over if you do.
A Row of chairs and centuries old plans.
As the only #quaker meeting in a #medieval #Kirk, we are just a bit different.
January 25, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Veg stew and dumplings. Proper winter dinner. Very pleased with how that came out.
January 23, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Veg stew and dumplings. Proper winter dinner. Very pleased with how that came out.
Tried to type in frustration today. Microsoft word wasn’t having it. Arghh.
January 22, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Tried to type in frustration today. Microsoft word wasn’t having it. Arghh.
The face when your food monkey has failed to sort out the rain. Again.
January 22, 2026 at 11:11 AM
The face when your food monkey has failed to sort out the rain. Again.
It’s a porridge morning. Too chilly for anything else. Morag cat agrees/ hopes for leavings.
January 15, 2026 at 7:30 AM
It’s a porridge morning. Too chilly for anything else. Morag cat agrees/ hopes for leavings.
It seems like a well designed poster, but honestly I’m just not sure how many squirrels will read it and see when the meeting is. 🐿️🐿️🐿️
January 13, 2026 at 9:01 AM
It seems like a well designed poster, but honestly I’m just not sure how many squirrels will read it and see when the meeting is. 🐿️🐿️🐿️
Greetings new followers. I can promise only occasional musings, cats, Scottish policy/research, Quaker thoughts and poems.
If that’s your thing hi!
Today’s lucky socks are blue flamingos. Used to have a matched pink set, but the divine eater of socks took them some time ago.
If that’s your thing hi!
Today’s lucky socks are blue flamingos. Used to have a matched pink set, but the divine eater of socks took them some time ago.
January 12, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Greetings new followers. I can promise only occasional musings, cats, Scottish policy/research, Quaker thoughts and poems.
If that’s your thing hi!
Today’s lucky socks are blue flamingos. Used to have a matched pink set, but the divine eater of socks took them some time ago.
If that’s your thing hi!
Today’s lucky socks are blue flamingos. Used to have a matched pink set, but the divine eater of socks took them some time ago.
This afternoon’s reading. Unfinished business, the evolution of devolution by Henry McLeish and James Mitchell. Fine enough overview.
I took issue with the one graph which was still in basic excel format and doesn’t even say what it’s measuring- are we talking Acts, instruments, completed etc.
I took issue with the one graph which was still in basic excel format and doesn’t even say what it’s measuring- are we talking Acts, instruments, completed etc.
January 11, 2026 at 5:42 PM
This afternoon’s reading. Unfinished business, the evolution of devolution by Henry McLeish and James Mitchell. Fine enough overview.
I took issue with the one graph which was still in basic excel format and doesn’t even say what it’s measuring- are we talking Acts, instruments, completed etc.
I took issue with the one graph which was still in basic excel format and doesn’t even say what it’s measuring- are we talking Acts, instruments, completed etc.
Central Fife #Quaker meeting’s semi-faceless medieval monk and small monk banner.
Do newcomers find it slightly unsettling?
Probably.
Should we change it?
Probably.
Will anyone want to raise this at a meeting for worship for business?
Definitely not, that would mean adding an agenda item.
Do newcomers find it slightly unsettling?
Probably.
Should we change it?
Probably.
Will anyone want to raise this at a meeting for worship for business?
Definitely not, that would mean adding an agenda item.
January 11, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Central Fife #Quaker meeting’s semi-faceless medieval monk and small monk banner.
Do newcomers find it slightly unsettling?
Probably.
Should we change it?
Probably.
Will anyone want to raise this at a meeting for worship for business?
Definitely not, that would mean adding an agenda item.
Do newcomers find it slightly unsettling?
Probably.
Should we change it?
Probably.
Will anyone want to raise this at a meeting for worship for business?
Definitely not, that would mean adding an agenda item.
Just finished A History of the World in 47 Borders by John Elledge. Really nice read, light and with a magpie eye over all sorts of issues and controversies.
January 10, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Just finished A History of the World in 47 Borders by John Elledge. Really nice read, light and with a magpie eye over all sorts of issues and controversies.
Today’s bookshop haul. Forgotten peoples of the ancient world by Philip Matyszak and the aeronaut’s windlass by Jim Butcher. Entirely whim-based purchasing.
January 10, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Today’s bookshop haul. Forgotten peoples of the ancient world by Philip Matyszak and the aeronaut’s windlass by Jim Butcher. Entirely whim-based purchasing.
Is there a truer love than that between an old cat and the corner of the rug next to the heater on a snow day?
January 8, 2026 at 12:38 PM
Is there a truer love than that between an old cat and the corner of the rug next to the heater on a snow day?
Where once there was Christmas, now only boxes.
January 5, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Where once there was Christmas, now only boxes.
Heading south on the ferry. Rare snowy boat photo for you to enjoy. Looking forwards to the A9 winter experience tm. 😟❄️🌨️❄️🏔️❄️
January 5, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Heading south on the ferry. Rare snowy boat photo for you to enjoy. Looking forwards to the A9 winter experience tm. 😟❄️🌨️❄️🏔️❄️