Belle de jour
@bowman120.bsky.social
Archaeologist & antiquarian; ex-Whitehall Digital programme mgr; Info & Rec Mgt; longbow archer; French 🍷; jazz 🥁 . Eclectic. Opinions own, retweets not always endorsements
Reposted by Belle de jour
Okay, this is quite outstanding from Bedford Council.
February 19, 2026 at 8:26 AM
Okay, this is quite outstanding from Bedford Council.
Reposted by Belle de jour
Back in the 1700s, Old North's box pews were lavishly decorated, reflecting the wealth, and perhaps personality, of those who purchased them.
While today's box pews are mostly unadorned, the "Bay Pew" is still decorated in the 18th-century style with cushions, wall coverings, and replica furniture.
While today's box pews are mostly unadorned, the "Bay Pew" is still decorated in the 18th-century style with cushions, wall coverings, and replica furniture.
February 18, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Back in the 1700s, Old North's box pews were lavishly decorated, reflecting the wealth, and perhaps personality, of those who purchased them.
While today's box pews are mostly unadorned, the "Bay Pew" is still decorated in the 18th-century style with cushions, wall coverings, and replica furniture.
While today's box pews are mostly unadorned, the "Bay Pew" is still decorated in the 18th-century style with cushions, wall coverings, and replica furniture.
Reposted by Belle de jour
The Bleak Knight, Sir Keir Starmer, today vowed to fight on, despite losing the support of his parliamentary party, the Scottish Labour party and all his arms and legs.
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
February 18, 2026 at 12:22 PM
The Bleak Knight, Sir Keir Starmer, today vowed to fight on, despite losing the support of his parliamentary party, the Scottish Labour party and all his arms and legs.
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
Reposted by Belle de jour
Today is apparently 'Drink Wine Day'! So here’s a toast with a 1,700-year-old vintage! 🍷
A Roman bottle of wine found in a grave in Speyer, dating to the 4th century AD.
Proof that wine lovers have always been a timeless bunch!
📷 museum.speyer.de/ausstellunge...
A Roman bottle of wine found in a grave in Speyer, dating to the 4th century AD.
Proof that wine lovers have always been a timeless bunch!
📷 museum.speyer.de/ausstellunge...
February 18, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Today is apparently 'Drink Wine Day'! So here’s a toast with a 1,700-year-old vintage! 🍷
A Roman bottle of wine found in a grave in Speyer, dating to the 4th century AD.
Proof that wine lovers have always been a timeless bunch!
📷 museum.speyer.de/ausstellunge...
A Roman bottle of wine found in a grave in Speyer, dating to the 4th century AD.
Proof that wine lovers have always been a timeless bunch!
📷 museum.speyer.de/ausstellunge...
Reposted by Belle de jour
For "Belief that Britain was right to vote for Brexit has fallen sharply" read "Ooops, bugger"
February 17, 2026 at 10:16 AM
For "Belief that Britain was right to vote for Brexit has fallen sharply" read "Ooops, bugger"
Reposted by Belle de jour
Look at that ridiculous man.
The absolute king of whataboutery.
The crown prince of entitlement.
The Emperor with no clothes.
The absolute king of whataboutery.
The crown prince of entitlement.
The Emperor with no clothes.
Nigel Farage lashes out at a FT journalist and refuses to answer the question.
Is this how Reform UK would ignore media questions if they got into government?
Is this how Reform UK would ignore media questions if they got into government?
February 17, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Look at that ridiculous man.
The absolute king of whataboutery.
The crown prince of entitlement.
The Emperor with no clothes.
The absolute king of whataboutery.
The crown prince of entitlement.
The Emperor with no clothes.
Reposted by Belle de jour
February 17, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Reposted by Belle de jour
People are claiming Pancake Day wasn’t originally a pagan festival, when you only have to look at the name to know it was once a day when cakes were offered to Pan
February 16, 2026 at 5:29 PM
People are claiming Pancake Day wasn’t originally a pagan festival, when you only have to look at the name to know it was once a day when cakes were offered to Pan
Reposted by Belle de jour
Happy #WorldHippoDay! 🦛❤️
To celebrate here’s a lovely naturalistic painting of a hippo on a small flake of limestone. Painted by an Egyptian artist some 3,500 years ago!
📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
#Archaeology
To celebrate here’s a lovely naturalistic painting of a hippo on a small flake of limestone. Painted by an Egyptian artist some 3,500 years ago!
📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
#Archaeology
February 15, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Happy #WorldHippoDay! 🦛❤️
To celebrate here’s a lovely naturalistic painting of a hippo on a small flake of limestone. Painted by an Egyptian artist some 3,500 years ago!
📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
#Archaeology
To celebrate here’s a lovely naturalistic painting of a hippo on a small flake of limestone. Painted by an Egyptian artist some 3,500 years ago!
📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
#Archaeology
Reposted by Belle de jour
This is a marvelous example of whimsy and craftsmanship! A rare Greek askos, made in the shape of a lobster claw. 🦞
Dating back to approximately 450 BC, the vessel was used to hold perfumed oil.
📷 Antikensammlung Kassel
#archaeology 🏺
Dating back to approximately 450 BC, the vessel was used to hold perfumed oil.
📷 Antikensammlung Kassel
#archaeology 🏺
February 15, 2026 at 8:57 AM
This is a marvelous example of whimsy and craftsmanship! A rare Greek askos, made in the shape of a lobster claw. 🦞
Dating back to approximately 450 BC, the vessel was used to hold perfumed oil.
📷 Antikensammlung Kassel
#archaeology 🏺
Dating back to approximately 450 BC, the vessel was used to hold perfumed oil.
📷 Antikensammlung Kassel
#archaeology 🏺
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-.... Who needs Mel Gibson when you have Finn Russell?
Scotland 31-20 England: Gregor Townsend's side regain Calcutta Cup in Murrayfield thriller
Rampant Scotland bounce back from Six Nations defeat by Italy to blow England away in a bonus-point win in a pulsating Calcutta Cup at a riotous Murrayfield.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 14, 2026 at 11:24 PM
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-.... Who needs Mel Gibson when you have Finn Russell?
Reposted by Belle de jour
Yes it’s Valentine’s Day. But it’s also the chosen birthday of Frederick Douglass who was born in 1818 on a plantation in Talbot County, Maryland. He escaped from slavery & rose to become the most eloquent and forceful voice for the abolition of slavery & for Black voting rights in the U.S.
February 14, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Yes it’s Valentine’s Day. But it’s also the chosen birthday of Frederick Douglass who was born in 1818 on a plantation in Talbot County, Maryland. He escaped from slavery & rose to become the most eloquent and forceful voice for the abolition of slavery & for Black voting rights in the U.S.
Reposted by Belle de jour
‘You, Boy!
Follow that Nadhim Zahawi chap and scare the shit out of him!’
Follow that Nadhim Zahawi chap and scare the shit out of him!’
February 14, 2026 at 9:43 AM
‘You, Boy!
Follow that Nadhim Zahawi chap and scare the shit out of him!’
Follow that Nadhim Zahawi chap and scare the shit out of him!’
Be quick - only one day left for this iconic exhibition of her photography…. #TateBritain
February 14, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Be quick - only one day left for this iconic exhibition of her photography…. #TateBritain
Reposted by Belle de jour
Beautiful Bouquetin (ibex) dating to the Middle Magdalenian 14.400-13.300BP. Galleria Inferior de la Garma. Omoño Ribamontán al Monte, Cantabria. 📷 At Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology of Cantabria in Santander. #FindsFriday
February 13, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Beautiful Bouquetin (ibex) dating to the Middle Magdalenian 14.400-13.300BP. Galleria Inferior de la Garma. Omoño Ribamontán al Monte, Cantabria. 📷 At Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology of Cantabria in Santander. #FindsFriday
Reposted by Belle de jour
We all need a a timeline cleanse!
A tiny #Egyptian #frog amulet, made of carnelian (height 0.9 cm). Because of their numerous offspring, #frogs were considered a symbol of fertility.
Dating c. 1540-1296 BC, New Kingdom.
A lovely weekend to all of you 🐸
📷Cleveland Museum of Art
A tiny #Egyptian #frog amulet, made of carnelian (height 0.9 cm). Because of their numerous offspring, #frogs were considered a symbol of fertility.
Dating c. 1540-1296 BC, New Kingdom.
A lovely weekend to all of you 🐸
📷Cleveland Museum of Art
February 14, 2026 at 7:10 AM
Reposted by Belle de jour
The European Court of Human Rights has dealt with over 430,000 applications in the last 10 years.
Less than 2% of those related to immigration.
And more than 90% of THOSE were dismissed by the Court.
Check out our new factsheet on migration and the ECHR👇
🔗 go.coe.int/MJ3B2
Less than 2% of those related to immigration.
And more than 90% of THOSE were dismissed by the Court.
Check out our new factsheet on migration and the ECHR👇
🔗 go.coe.int/MJ3B2
February 13, 2026 at 9:08 AM
The European Court of Human Rights has dealt with over 430,000 applications in the last 10 years.
Less than 2% of those related to immigration.
And more than 90% of THOSE were dismissed by the Court.
Check out our new factsheet on migration and the ECHR👇
🔗 go.coe.int/MJ3B2
Less than 2% of those related to immigration.
And more than 90% of THOSE were dismissed by the Court.
Check out our new factsheet on migration and the ECHR👇
🔗 go.coe.int/MJ3B2
Reposted by Belle de jour
Only 26% of voters intend to vote Reform. Yet, that would be enough for them to be elected to government. 74% of people's wishes would count for nothing because of our ridiculous voting system, but a move to proportional representation is not included in The Elections Bill.
February 9, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Only 26% of voters intend to vote Reform. Yet, that would be enough for them to be elected to government. 74% of people's wishes would count for nothing because of our ridiculous voting system, but a move to proportional representation is not included in The Elections Bill.
Reposted by Belle de jour
Jim Ratcliffe has my full support. Anyone who lies about population figures, claims £120m in public money for his own company after paying no UK tax at all, while immigrants pay at least £15bn is my kind of guy!
February 12, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Jim Ratcliffe has my full support. Anyone who lies about population figures, claims £120m in public money for his own company after paying no UK tax at all, while immigrants pay at least £15bn is my kind of guy!
Reposted by Belle de jour
Farage's claims here are straightforward lies (and it's about time the media/press said so)
The correct figures are 160K (0.3%) and 900K (1.5%)
www.gbnews.com/news/video-n...
The correct figures are 160K (0.3%) and 900K (1.5%)
www.gbnews.com/news/video-n...
February 12, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Farage's claims here are straightforward lies (and it's about time the media/press said so)
The correct figures are 160K (0.3%) and 900K (1.5%)
www.gbnews.com/news/video-n...
The correct figures are 160K (0.3%) and 900K (1.5%)
www.gbnews.com/news/video-n...
Reposted by Belle de jour
This is an extraordinary interview in which the former FCDO perm sec basically tells No 10 not to appoint Antonia Romeo to be cab sec, and that they should talk to him about her record.
‘Due diligence vitally important’ in next top civil servant appointment – Lord McDonald
www.channel4.com/news/due-dil...
www.channel4.com/news/due-dil...
‘Due diligence vitally important’ in next top civil servant appointment – Lord McDonald
Another high profile departure from No 10 in the wake of the Mandelson scandal is due to be Britain's top civil servant.
www.channel4.com
February 11, 2026 at 8:42 PM
This is an extraordinary interview in which the former FCDO perm sec basically tells No 10 not to appoint Antonia Romeo to be cab sec, and that they should talk to him about her record.
Reposted by Belle de jour
Did you know that a new education centre is being built by hand at Stonehenge? It is based on Durrington 68, a late Neolithic square-in-circle timber structure. Watch regular updates from Luke, the project leader, here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LATY...
Week 17 Durrington 68 Neolithic Hall
YouTube video by Historic Concepts
www.youtube.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Did you know that a new education centre is being built by hand at Stonehenge? It is based on Durrington 68, a late Neolithic square-in-circle timber structure. Watch regular updates from Luke, the project leader, here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LATY...
Reposted by Belle de jour
It is so embarrassing that it has taken nearly a decade for a British minister to say this, a statement of the absolute bloody obvious
February 11, 2026 at 7:40 AM
It is so embarrassing that it has taken nearly a decade for a British minister to say this, a statement of the absolute bloody obvious
Reposted by Belle de jour
Reposted by Belle de jour
NEW BLOGPOST: Palestine Action: What just happened?
A look at some of the legal principles at play following yesterday's verdicts.
thesecretbarrister.com/2026/02/05/p...
A look at some of the legal principles at play following yesterday's verdicts.
thesecretbarrister.com/2026/02/05/p...
Palestine Action – what just happened?
Yesterday, six Palestine Action protestors were acquitted by a jury of aggravated burglary, following a break-in at an Elbit Systems UK factory near Bristol in August 2024. Three of the six were ac…
thesecretbarrister.com
February 5, 2026 at 12:12 PM
NEW BLOGPOST: Palestine Action: What just happened?
A look at some of the legal principles at play following yesterday's verdicts.
thesecretbarrister.com/2026/02/05/p...
A look at some of the legal principles at play following yesterday's verdicts.
thesecretbarrister.com/2026/02/05/p...