Nicholas

A FULL HALF OF THE AUTHORS HAVE PULLED OUT!

(Remember: we are not giving the marginalised authors who are not pulling out of the prize any shit. We are only giving John Boyne shit, because hes an absolute wanker and holocaust denying TERFs deserve to be called out, especially if they're gay)

We periodically invite other depts to our dept meetings and today our new safeguarding officer came, v. useful and good conversation around what we do/can do better.

They then stayed and I fear we lost them in the minutiae of when we do/don't keep lesser festivals and the oddities of our rota 😅

Finally bought my own when I started my third Verging job. Brought it back with me when I left London, never expecting to need it again - God had other plans!

J&M coming to us next week to measure for new ones for colleagues.

It may be worth the investment

As ever, we never know the imprints that we make and leave on others or they make upon us.

To find myself 20 years on looking at these paintings and thinking about how life has so far panned out was somewhat humbling.

Grateful to find myself back here, and for time and space to pray and reflect

A painting of the seventh station of the Cross that hangs on the North Transept of All Saints North Street in York

Day off wanderings meant I finally found courage to step over the threshold of All Saints.

Immediately immersed in childhood memories of Good Friday when some of the Layclerks would come for a Stations service.

Grateful for the space, but knew it would be bittersweet, hence the apprehension

Polari first book prize Longlist with Sacha coward, Jason okundaye, Amy twigg, and Mae diansangu's books crossed out to show they've withdrawn

The Polari book prize Longlist, with no books withdrawn by authors.

Keeping track of people withdrawing from the Polari Prize Longlist over the inclusion of proud self-described "TERF" John Boyne.

Let me know as we get updates on authors pulling their books in protest.

Cervical screening done this afternoon, T shot to do when I get home tonight. Alllll of the gender affirming care!

Grateful for relatively little dysphoria, access to health services, and colleagues who understood when I had a wobble earlier and gave me space and forgiveness.

Washington Post: “Is fascism bad? The answer may surprise you”

Teen Vogue: “Here are three fun tips you can use this summer to disable an armored personnel carrier”

Literally in and out in 7 minutes. Will be just my luck that when I go next Weds at about 2pm I'll be there for an eternity though! A week of medical appts but colleagues are always good at arranging cover

Took half an hour back from staying late over the weekend to finish early and get blood tests done - the walk to the hospital was longer than the wait for the phlebotemist!

Hoping this is also the case next week when I do need to take time out of the working day 🤞

With apologies for lack of alt text but have some behind the scenes pictures of various bits of the Minster

I have my smear test this week and am now going to have to try very hard not to say this 😅

Would also be great if they left televised performances on iPlayer longer than seven days- the Traitors one loses something of the atmosphere if you only listen to the R3 audio. And that was the one they hyped all over the RadioTimes etc

Blue skies and clouds, sun shining off very wet pavements just after a downpour in the centre of Huddersfield

Decided to walk into town to get my train home, as it was only lightly raining. 3/4 of the way there the heavens absolutely opened and so I now resemble a gently drowned rodent.

And of course the second I managed to get inside, the weather became glorious again #greatBritishsummer

5am is not a time I usually see (except when sleep is *really* eluding me) but helping get my dad up and ready before my parents go away on their fist holiday since his stroke nearly 3 years ago is worth it.
They have care and equipment booked, and it will be awesome for them to leave these 4 walls

I am as ever bewildered and thankful for working with some amazing, thoughtful and gently supportive human beings.

Last month was Not Great for me, but to be able to be open about that with people I trust and be supported in making the choices to seek help has made the difference #tinyjoys

"Why are there sinister dancing sheep on College Green?" was NOT a sentence I expected to hear today. But I frequently either hear or say ridiculous sentences in this gloriously bonkers job, and I'm sure it won't be the weirdest sentence of the day 😅

Fusion is the only Metroid game I've played, and I played it on GBA far too young. The SA-X gave me some...interesting nightmares!

The storyline and mechanics are great, and the puzzle aspects are fun, though I did softlock myself more than once by doing things in the wrong order

I loved Funnybones and Cops and Robbers - didn't discover Jolly Postman until I was a little older when staying at my uncle's down south and they were on my cousins bookcase where I stayed, but all his works were so fun and beautifully illustrated and I remember the joy of discovering them

One of those lovely days off today when a friend messaged to see if I was up for lunch, which turned into a gentle wander round town and then back to theirs for dinner, late night baking, and only just getting home.

Much discussed, much laughter had, and much needed down time #tinyjoys

Someone in a church related group mistakenly posted about the announcement of the appointment of the next CofE Archbishop rather than CinW and I *panicked* thinking I had somehow missed major church world news despite knowing it won't be for months yet. But am delighted about the news for Wales

Prayers assured, and see you there x

Nicholas holding a small vial of testosterone between finger and thumb

And today is 9 years on Testosterone 🥳

My levels are all over the place after I'd had to miss a few shots so I'm trying to get my bloodwork sorted, but it still feels remarkable and joyful to have been on T for so long!

Could have done with slightly thinner pastry and/or more gravy as was a little dry. The addition of carrots feels strange, even if electing for mash over chips. Other pie options did allow for broccoli as a veg accompaniment. Glad that Guinness have brought a decent 0% to the market

I said to one of the floor managers it is easy to become blind to things you make - you see what you expect to see, not what is actually *there*. I did feel a little conscious of being picky, but trust the team to recognise I was only doing it out of goodwill and not one-upmanship or pedantry

Praying for Gregory, Cherry, John, Mary and Dorrien: Bishops in the Church in Wales. One will be called to be primus inter pares over the next couple of days and become Archbishop of Wales.

Team happily installing new signage around the building this afternoon. Team less happy after I pointed out some typos in the few new ones I read.

Am now banned from reading signs.

my favorite fact about tom lehrer is that he dropped out of public life because it was annoying. he wouldn't do interviews and would tell people who wanted to interview him that they could print anything about him and he wouldn't deny it. my favorite song is poisoning pigeons in the park.

The Service Register, with the column that is headed Sermon Subject - the officiant has entered 'Death and Life!'

It is rare, in the odd new format service registers that we use now, that clergyfolk fill this column in but this gave me a good chuckle this morning