John Brunlees

Still makes me chuckle anytime I try to explain to someone that my best friend as a toddler was a chimpanzee, recently happened again at work, I have to stop myself from going off on a total info dump of stories. Maybe I’ll create a thread of the best ones my mum and dad have told me one day.

Tonight’s read

Let’s give this a try again #boltaction

Yeah to modern technology!

I wouldn’t be able to research my PhD topic without it. A list of circa forty books to begin with, and the vast majority I can access through the online University library or already own, with only a few to buy

P.s. I love A.I tools that help too!

Reading list creation is going well, I’ve attempted it so many times in the last few months, but actually this time I m getting something I’m happy with

Last day or half day, the small dude at school - picked him up and we have been for lunch, now I’m ready for a sleep, let alone the holidays to begin

Life goals!

Trying to make myself a reading list for September and keep going off on so many tangents, and thinking I’ve read that but want to red it again, just with fresher eyes

I still have to pinch myself, and remind myself that I am going to be a PhD student in just over two months!

I can’t wait to have university library access once again!

Is the 2020s or the 1980s, Russia (USSR) at war, Iran at war, hostage situations in the Middle East, attitudes in general, strikes and unions …

The world is a very scary place

Favourite thing I have read today is Alec Eyrie’s description of John Knox’s History of the Reformation as ‘gossipy, cantankerous and enthralling.’

Latest read, starting to think about getting ahead for September

also found today, when I tripped and clattered the book case a couple of months ago, I broke my toe, it’s healed though now by itself thankfully, even though I’m still having pain

Just sat through an ARFID workshop, which was really eye opening, and totally justified loads of my complexities with food

Something I really have to stop doing is going down rabbit holes while I am reading, make note and save it for afterwards

Using Wodrow’s History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland to teach myself Notion. Got to say it’s like having a new toy, absolutely love it, and wish I had found it earlier, it will be so useful in the years to come.

Spent the evening playing around with Notion, hard upward learning curve, but it’s totally trial and error

Feel a bit of a lull now after the excitement of being accepted for the PhD, feeling kind of limbo, brain keeps going to it, but I want to give myself time at, before it really kicks in

I just loved this, the beginning of the final testimony of James Mitchell, famous for his assassination attempt on Archbishop James Sharp.

A day on and I don’t think it’s actually sunk in properly yet!

We bought this for when we got married but decided not to open it, today definitely warrants it! @fenellathewitch.bsky.social

Thank you! I can’t wait.

Well all the doubt, and worry, was for nothing, just accepted the unconditional offer made by the University of Edinburgh to start my PhD in September

Oh god the application says it’s ready for them to make a decision

Just had my PhD interview and have come away thinking I’ve fluffed it up … time will see

One of my favourite films when I was younger, The Last Emperor. I had forgotten how much of the film took place after Puyi left the Forbidden City

Eeeekkk…. Interview as part of PhD application booked in … deep breath John, deep breath

Thank you!