Ann Gate
@ceadela.bsky.social
Erstwhile secondhand bookseller and Classics teacher; Cumbria and Oxfordshire
Stiles with little gates are my favourites says A Gate 😂
February 7, 2026 at 11:12 AM
Stiles with little gates are my favourites says A Gate 😂
And here are my collages of the Round 1 winners of #StileCup2026 showing the distribution of successful stile types for your new stylish followers in this place 🤩
February 7, 2026 at 11:09 AM
And here are my collages of the Round 1 winners of #StileCup2026 showing the distribution of successful stile types for your new stylish followers in this place 🤩
Stone step stile with mini gate near Ullswater
An iconic specimen from the #StileArchive for @lakesstiles.bsky.social
An iconic specimen from the #StileArchive for @lakesstiles.bsky.social
February 7, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Stone step stile with mini gate near Ullswater
An iconic specimen from the #StileArchive for @lakesstiles.bsky.social
An iconic specimen from the #StileArchive for @lakesstiles.bsky.social
Curiouser and curiouser
Someone posted this owl from a 15thC book of hours on the other side today 🦉🦉🦉👻
Someone posted this owl from a 15thC book of hours on the other side today 🦉🦉🦉👻
February 6, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Curiouser and curiouser
Someone posted this owl from a 15thC book of hours on the other side today 🦉🦉🦉👻
Someone posted this owl from a 15thC book of hours on the other side today 🦉🦉🦉👻
Thank you 😊
And yes, I’m a fan of Murder Must Advertise 📖
And yes, I’m a fan of Murder Must Advertise 📖
February 6, 2026 at 9:24 AM
Thank you 😊
And yes, I’m a fan of Murder Must Advertise 📖
And yes, I’m a fan of Murder Must Advertise 📖
I will stow it away in the drawer again with other treasures
February 1, 2026 at 5:56 PM
I will stow it away in the drawer again with other treasures
Now this is spooky 👻
Clearing stuff yesterday I found tag with “keepable owl” coloured in by sister in 1980s; today in village café I saw this tag and wrapping paper
Psychedelic Owls rule 🦉😵💫😱
Clearing stuff yesterday I found tag with “keepable owl” coloured in by sister in 1980s; today in village café I saw this tag and wrapping paper
Psychedelic Owls rule 🦉😵💫😱
February 1, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Now this is spooky 👻
Clearing stuff yesterday I found tag with “keepable owl” coloured in by sister in 1980s; today in village café I saw this tag and wrapping paper
Psychedelic Owls rule 🦉😵💫😱
Clearing stuff yesterday I found tag with “keepable owl” coloured in by sister in 1980s; today in village café I saw this tag and wrapping paper
Psychedelic Owls rule 🦉😵💫😱
This has reminded me that I found this wee book when tidying recently: my pencilled note shows I bought it in Cockermouth for £4 in 2023
Would you like it? It’s probably common up your way but dm me if you’d like it
Would you like it? It’s probably common up your way but dm me if you’d like it
January 31, 2026 at 8:29 PM
This has reminded me that I found this wee book when tidying recently: my pencilled note shows I bought it in Cockermouth for £4 in 2023
Would you like it? It’s probably common up your way but dm me if you’d like it
Would you like it? It’s probably common up your way but dm me if you’d like it
Another lesson in the series Stile Types and Terminology from the eponymous expert
Please admire this gated limestone squeeze stile
I know how you like a gated stile. On my way to Swinside on Sunday.
January 29, 2026 at 9:44 AM
Another lesson in the series Stile Types and Terminology from the eponymous expert
I would be inclined to restrict it to religious contexts, but of course Stile novices are being initiated into a mystical cult 🤣
January 24, 2026 at 8:55 AM
I would be inclined to restrict it to religious contexts, but of course Stile novices are being initiated into a mystical cult 🤣
It’s from this, which I picked up in Oxford the other day; first published 1876, this is 1939 impression
January 22, 2026 at 4:41 PM
It’s from this, which I picked up in Oxford the other day; first published 1876, this is 1939 impression
I cheated - the second sentence is “The coast is iron-bound” but the third is quintessential @lakesstiles.bsky.social geological nerdery 😈
January 22, 2026 at 4:35 PM
I cheated - the second sentence is “The coast is iron-bound” but the third is quintessential @lakesstiles.bsky.social geological nerdery 😈
Nearest book, p42, 2nd sentence:
“The coast is iron-bound; strangely contorted schists and sand-stones stretch away northward in an almost unbroken line of rocky wall to the point of Hartland; and to the south-west a bulwark of cliffs, of very similar character, extends to and beyond Tintagel…”
“The coast is iron-bound; strangely contorted schists and sand-stones stretch away northward in an almost unbroken line of rocky wall to the point of Hartland; and to the south-west a bulwark of cliffs, of very similar character, extends to and beyond Tintagel…”
Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42 and post the second sentence.
'Like every other child born precisely eleven years ago on the last Eventide, when the clock struck midnight she would die - the eleven short years of her doomed life complete; her curse finally fulfilled.'
'Like every other child born precisely eleven years ago on the last Eventide, when the clock struck midnight she would die - the eleven short years of her doomed life complete; her curse finally fulfilled.'
Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42 and post the second sentence.
‘ Roy deftly spun Russell around and gently but forcefully shoved him out into the street.’
‘ Roy deftly spun Russell around and gently but forcefully shoved him out into the street.’
January 22, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Nearest book, p42, 2nd sentence:
“The coast is iron-bound; strangely contorted schists and sand-stones stretch away northward in an almost unbroken line of rocky wall to the point of Hartland; and to the south-west a bulwark of cliffs, of very similar character, extends to and beyond Tintagel…”
“The coast is iron-bound; strangely contorted schists and sand-stones stretch away northward in an almost unbroken line of rocky wall to the point of Hartland; and to the south-west a bulwark of cliffs, of very similar character, extends to and beyond Tintagel…”
Knobber and mud in West Oxon #SnecklifterTuesday 🤪
January 20, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Knobber and mud in West Oxon #SnecklifterTuesday 🤪
I had a video of one of those in Caerwent in the summer, in the other place I think
January 20, 2026 at 10:33 PM
I had a video of one of those in Caerwent in the summer, in the other place I think
Rooks on wires last week
Similar today
Similar today
January 18, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Rooks on wires last week
Similar today
Similar today
*almost goes out into yard in rain to locate length of rusty barbed wire dug up along wall of sports field, but decides not to 🤣
January 18, 2026 at 7:45 PM
*almost goes out into yard in rain to locate length of rusty barbed wire dug up along wall of sports field, but decides not to 🤣
And South: West Oxon anyway
January 18, 2026 at 7:41 PM
And South: West Oxon anyway
Dual personality village stile on path between houses leading to field
January 18, 2026 at 9:48 AM
Dual personality village stile on path between houses leading to field
Important explanation for the 🌌 newbies 😂
January 18, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Important explanation for the 🌌 newbies 😂
Surely a Recreational Stile has to be in splendid isolation?
@brendar.bsky.social has the perfect example with a sea view
@brendar.bsky.social has the perfect example with a sea view
January 18, 2026 at 9:36 AM
Surely a Recreational Stile has to be in splendid isolation?
@brendar.bsky.social has the perfect example with a sea view
@brendar.bsky.social has the perfect example with a sea view
Educating novices in stile etiquette
January 18, 2026 at 9:34 AM
Educating novices in stile etiquette
I have the same problem 📚📚📚
January 18, 2026 at 9:31 AM
I have the same problem 📚📚📚