Sara Donaldson

So, after 18 months of procrastinating, avoidance techniques, and work getting in the way I have finally made my new website live.

Could I have done it in a few months? Sure. Should I have pulled my finger out and made time? Yup. Was I the world’s biggest scaredy cat? Probably.

But it’s live.

Final essay to write for this year and still the muse evades me.
Still, there’s tea and biscuits, and these to look at in the garden when I’m procrastinating 😆

Frank Austen Transcript complete! | Jane Austen's House Visit Jane Austen's House - the Hampshire cottage at which Jane Austen lived and penned her novels, including the timeless Pride and Prejudice.

Last year I was delighted to be able to help transcribe Frank Austen's memoir (Jane's brother).

There were 2000 of us!

We only got a page each, but, hey, it was a dream transcription (naming Nelson and Gibraltar). I'm glad to have been able to help bring a little bit more of Jane's family to life

Three masts of the tall ship Endeavour with two crows holding up the moon

Well.
I didn’t get my essay written. I’ll have to do it on Sunday when I get home.
I did enjoy being home again for a short time though ❤️
Freelancers need time off too 😁

Thanks. Daisy likes to help by shouting very loudly in my face then demands snacks for being a very good girl 😆

Daisy the corgi…. Not helping me write at all

Trying to start a 2k word essay for my OU course, and looking at my last one to see how I can improve.
Ever looked at an essay and not remembered writing it thinking‘How the hell did I sound that intelligent?’ 🤣

Now, if only I could get this actually written by tomorrow night all will be well 😬

Eeep. Time for Six! again 😁

@madhattergenealogy.bsky.social Hi Michele… lovely to see you here!

A huge yellow book - the Chicago Manual of Style ed. 18

Finishing off some @the-ciep.bsky.social student marking this afternoon and this arrives.
I’m ridiculously happy to see it 😁
(But now I have to add my old bookmarks to the new edition)

Aaaaayyyy 🙌. I am honoured 😁

Musician seeks help to recover ancient violin stolen in pub The instrument is worth a six-figure sum but also holds a lot of emotional value.

BBC News - Musician seeks help to recover ancient violin stolen in pub
www.bbc.com/news/article...

@samkellyproof.bsky.social hi Sam 👋

That should be a rummage, obviously. Weird autocorrect

An 18 year old jar of mint rescued from the back of my cupboard

It’s been an interesting week, just finishing off some lovely work, so now I have to catch up with coursework on history paintings (wellll hellooo PRB 😁)

Wonder if Rossetti ever had a take and found an 18 year old herb jar in his cupboard?) ooops 😬

Hi Paul!

a man with a beard is smiling and wearing a black jacket ALT: a man with a beard is smiling and wearing a black jacket

So, what do you do when you’re bordering on migraine and have some late 1600s research to do?
Watch Restoration until I feel more human.
Well, it’s a bit of light ‘spot the inaccuracies’ relief 😆

Aah you’re nearly done. Will try to do some more tonight. Work’s hectic at the moment 😬

I’ll go on at the weekend and sign up 😁

Made a note, that’s definitely something I can help with 😁

An evening boost for this!

👇

True. Does chocolate count because in that case I’ve definitely been feeding my brain😂

Aaaay that’s cool!
I’ve started this terms coursework.
Look at us, all educational 😆❤️

Still up here in the north of Scotland. Same old, same old 😂
How are you? You ok? X

Glad I found you here ❤️

I am a time-traveller! (sort of) i.e. all the historical places I visited in 2024.

So, my daughter did a thing. She’s writing a history blog (something she’s been meaning to do for ages, since she got her history degree, but has now decided to do … new year and all that).
If you like history please go and give her a follow on substack, it would mean a lot to her (and me) ❤️

So, how’s your festive time going? I’m mixing time off with work and OU coursework. Today was a day off.
Yet to dive into this … Dtr said it might help with my art history coursework 😂❤️ @joelycett.bsky.social

@suzieedge.bsky.social hey Suzi, thought we were following each other here for ages? Another platform? 😬
Just caught day 31/365 as todays TT and can totally relate (bit late eh?). I’ve been having the same vibes, a creative career is hard! Hope the headspace is good now x

So, back home with the post holiday horrendous cold.

(Scotland -5C ➡️ Florence 16C ➡️ Paris 6C ➡️ Scotland 3Cish)

And all I can think abt is Tuscan bread, how burrata and mortadella are cheap af, and how the wine is good but cheap.

Back to work tomorrow but I have a feeling I will bake bread soon

A giant Christmas tree at Disneyland Paris covered in brightly coloured baubles

Aaaah back home with a weekend to get back to normal. Florence was glorious (we didn’t want to leave and are missing it soooo much!).
We had a day’s stopover at Disney on the way home. (Well we still had 2 flights to get home so why not do Disney at Christmas?)
Fun of a different kind ❤️

Catch me when I return in a week and I can give you some ideas