Chloë R McKenzie

That must have felt so isolating. I’m sorry 😔 everyone in our group was of a similar age, and v few had local family as a support network, so the group was our main port of call. I would have been lost without it, so I’m sorry you didn’t have that. It’s wild some areas have zero support

The course I did was expensive (over £200) and I remember thinking it definitely a “social filter”. 13/14 parents had degrees, 5/14 phds and 2/14 MDs. We were all higher earners. I think NCT offer discounts for lower wage earners, but these aren’t well-publicised.

Oh, absolutely. And having other parents going through the same trials at the same time (the group WhatsApp at 2am…) kept me sane. All bar 1 of the 7 births required intervention, for a range of reasons, and many women had traumatic births and NEEDED support of their peers.

An interesting observation. I did do an NCT course in 2023 (and remain in daily contact with the parents I met - a wonderful support). The instructor was VERY anti-intervention, which really wasn’t helpful. I found the course itself quite unless, but it was worth it for the friends made.

🧵 about #alevels, #results and exams in the UK.

My mum was working class, went to the type of secondary school where girls were encouraged to leave at 16 to train as secretaries. They saw her as the 'wrong sort', and made her do CSEs and barred her from O Levels. She fought and lost. 1/

Cropped image of a high medieval manuscript showing two women with rocks defending the gates of a castle from soldiers in chain mail bearing swords.

CFP: “Women, Lordship, and the Culture of War”
A Haskins-sponsored session at the 2026 ICMS in Kalamazoo, MI (14–16 May)

Apply by 15 Sept. 2025 at icms.confex.com/icms/2026/pr...

@kzooicms.bsky.social #MedievalSky

Leaflet for the St Thomas way: find out more at www.thomasway.ac.uk

Exactly 7 years ago I was at Hereford Cathedral with @chloermckenzie.bsky.social, launching the St Thomas Way: a new #heritage route from #Swansea to #Hereford, inspired by a real #medieval #pilgrimage. 13 locations, 13 circular walks, + free multimedia resources & activities. www.thomasway.ac.uk

So real. I know so many archaeologists and historians who were totally missold their careers by Harrison Ford 😂

The algorithm is a nightmare. I got some really dodgy stuff when I was on maternity leave - lots of “how to make extra money as a SAHM” accounts and MLM scams, until I did a whole lot of muting 😂

Many people have compared what is happening in America to what happened in 1930s Germany - and rightly so. But I want to remind everyone that the current situation is not a fait accompli, and I worry that these comparisons sometimes imply otherwise. The situation is dire, but not without hope.

25 time machines into moments in England's past...
I'm so excited to share the cover for A HISTORY OF ENGLAND IN 25 POEMS (and thanks to Waterstones for doing the cover reveal on their channels this morning). I hope you love it as much as I do!

We’ve launched a new collection of openly accessible videos, Interviews with Historians, in which prominent 20th century historians reflect on their lives and professional practices. Access the collection here:
www.history.ac.uk/library-digi...

A great day at the UK National Archives, Kew, for the Pipe Roll Society AGM and Council. It’s such an honour to serve on this society, which does so much to facilitate medieval research and accessibility to original documents.
Check out PRS work and consider becoming a member! piperollsociety.co.uk

MAMO is this week! I’m so excited for so many amazing papers and workshops reflecting on how medieval research interacts with the modern world.

Today on #BetwixtTheSheets I am talking to the one and only and utterly fabulous prof Vanessa McCarthy about her research into sex work in #renaissance Italy. Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

That’s very interesting. I didn’t know that. The site has a long, sad history of execution and imprisonment. It is a place of much beauty, but also a lot of sadness and cruelty too

Image of Southampton in Austen's time

BALH is hosting a talk this evening about Jane Austen’s Social Networks and the Wider World which will explore the remarkable women in Austen’s Southampton circle, lives shaped by empire, scandal, and global connections.
All welcome

Find out more: balh.org.uk/NTM209
@balhnews.bsky.social

Art installation of ceramic red poppies, protruding from the water, as though pouring through the Traitor’s Gate at the Tower of London. Photo taken at sunset on 20 June - the warm evening light is shown peaking through the gate.

Poppy the raven - a large black bird - sits on a wooden railing of a bridge over the moat at the Tower of London. Photo taken February 2025

Poppies pouring in through Traitors’ Gate, beneath St Thomas’s Tower, at sunset 🌅

We also met Poppy, one of the Tower’s resident ravens, named for the original 2014 installation. I had met Poppy once before, in February during a visit with students, but it was nice to be formally introduced 🐦‍⬛

It was amazing Chloe! You would love the key ceremony

An evening with lovely people at the Tower of London. Endless thanks to @ravenology.bsky.social for hosting, showing us round and telling the best tales, and to @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social for bringing us all together.

@euanroger.bsky.social
@tealcartoons.bsky.social
@katewilliamsme.bsky.social

With the “Tim Burton Trees” @tealcartoons.bsky.social so admired!

An incredible night at the Tower of London, hosted by the wonderful @ravenology.bsky.social 🐦‍⬛

I’ve never seen the Tower like this: peaceful, dusky light. We saw the ancient Key Ceremony, then spent the night at Yeoman Warder’s pub, The Keys. Thanks
@drlindseyfitz.bsky.social for organising! 🏰 🍻

A group photo of Kate, Chris, Lindsey, Chloe, Marcus and Euan - smiling and standing inside the Yeoman Warder's Club.

A photo of Chloe in a read dress and Lindsey with long blonde hair smiling at the camera.

A photo of Adrian and Lindsey smiling

What an evening hanging at the Yeoman Warder's Club w/ @ravenology.bsky.social at the Tower of London! No ghosts (this time), but lots of laughs! Grateful to have such good people in my life @katewilliamsme.bsky.social, @chloermckenzie.bsky.social, @tealcartoons.bsky.social, @euanroger.bsky.social

Lecturer in Old English | University College Cork UCC wishes to appoint a scholar with a proven commitment to excellence in teaching and research to the role of Lecturer in Old English.

📢 #jobopportunity #medievalsky
📜 Lecturer in Old English
⏳5 years, full-time (anticipated duration to 30 June 2030)
🏫 University College Cork
⏰12 noon (Irish Local Time) on Tuesday, 8th July 2025
📲 Details of the post, selection criteria and application process: www.ucc.ie/en/future-hu...

Truly heartbreaking. Such sad news for Cardiff and the sector

Routes to Protest: the River, Vessels and People of 1381

Very excited about our #EstuaryAnthology workshop 'Routes to Protest' on 22 June at Gravesend Town Pier. There will be 1381 sound sculptures, a banner workshop and punk legend Gina Birch's choice of protest songs. Come and join the fun - its free!

www.facebook.com/share/1DwtdX...
Come and see me this weekend at the Highland Folk Museum, Newtownmore.

Somehow I missed this notification! Thanks for the suggestion @bernhardhuss.bsky.social - added

Pitt Rivers begins process to repatriate human remains - Museums Association Delegation of Naga representatives visit museum to discuss return and care of ancestral remains

News | @pittriversmuseum.bsky.social begins process to repatriate human remains – delegation of Naga representatives visit museum to discuss return and care of ancestral remains