Chris Swan
@chrisswan.bsky.social
Teacher of teachers, geek, computer scientist, family historian, traveller of trains. Cat lady. Views are entirely personal and not those of my employers. Blog link: https://awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/
My recent trip to Rotterdam: awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/11/07/a...
A trip to Rotterdam
By Christine Swan During the half term break, I had planned another trip to the Netherlands for a break, but also to visit Delft, where the Blanchet family lived four hundred years ago. I set off o…
awfulrigourswretchedpay.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:59 PM
My recent trip to Rotterdam: awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/11/07/a...
Reposted by Chris Swan
Food banks provide help when people need it most. But real change means ending the need for them altogether.
Repost if you agree 💚
Repost if you agree 💚
November 3, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Food banks provide help when people need it most. But real change means ending the need for them altogether.
Repost if you agree 💚
Repost if you agree 💚
In this week's blog: awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/11/01/w...
William Nelson Sloper – World War I soldier
By Christine Swan It is at this time of year that we remember those who served their country during various conflicts, including, the supposed war to end all wars, The First World War. My father ha…
awfulrigourswretchedpay.com
November 1, 2025 at 5:20 PM
In this week's blog: awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/11/01/w...
Forgot to post this yesterday - my latest blog post. It's a bit of a filler as my fireplace project isn't finished yet. And it's not the one in the photo below ( I wish!) awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/10/24/t...
The hearth is where the heart is
By Christine Swan As a small child, we had one coal fire in our rented house, and no central heating. I remember my bedroom being freezing during the wintertime, and I disliked walking across the l…
awfulrigourswretchedpay.com
October 26, 2025 at 6:04 AM
Forgot to post this yesterday - my latest blog post. It's a bit of a filler as my fireplace project isn't finished yet. And it's not the one in the photo below ( I wish!) awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/10/24/t...
I'm in the Netherlands currently, and visited beautiful Delft yesterday. I'll write about it in a future blog post. This photo was taken between the rain showers, which were pretty relentless.
October 26, 2025 at 6:01 AM
I'm in the Netherlands currently, and visited beautiful Delft yesterday. I'll write about it in a future blog post. This photo was taken between the rain showers, which were pretty relentless.
A wander around Hammersmith and Chiswick awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/10/17/a...
A wander around Hammersmith and Chiswick
By Christine Swan When I was studying biology at the University of London, our electron microscopes were located in a mundane office building in King Street, Hammersmith. We took the Tube, and trud…
awfulrigourswretchedpay.com
October 18, 2025 at 3:53 PM
A wander around Hammersmith and Chiswick awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/10/17/a...
This week's blog post #DennisSeversHouse awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/10/10/s...
Simon Pettet – ceramicist
By Christine Swan In May 2023. Dennis Severs’ House was transformed for a few weeks for an exhibition of Simon Pettet’s beautiful reproduction Delftware ceramics. It was a sad time in m…
awfulrigourswretchedpay.com
October 11, 2025 at 9:54 AM
This week's blog post #DennisSeversHouse awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/10/10/s...
Flattened by 'flu but I never miss a blog post: awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/10/03/a...
At Tessa Hunkin’s Hackney Mosaic Project book launch
By Christine Swan For thirteen years, The Hackney Mosaic Project has engaged its volunteer artists in numerous projects, some of which are on a considerable scale. Tessa Hunkin’s community of…
awfulrigourswretchedpay.com
October 4, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Flattened by 'flu but I never miss a blog post: awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/10/03/a...
#RIPJaneGoodall I was very sad to hear of the passing of this giant of primate biology, ecology and conservation. As a young student, I studied her work as part of a module on Mammalian Ethology. Jane Goodall was also hugely compassionate and humble. 1/2
October 2, 2025 at 7:16 AM
#RIPJaneGoodall I was very sad to hear of the passing of this giant of primate biology, ecology and conservation. As a young student, I studied her work as part of a module on Mammalian Ethology. Jane Goodall was also hugely compassionate and humble. 1/2
Last week I spent a worthwhile Saturday at the #OpenCity #OpenHouseFestivalLondon2025 Here's my report: awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/09/27/a...
A trip to the Open House Festival 2025
By Christine Swan I have travelled to London for the last three years to take part in Open City’s annual Open House Festival. Each year, I optimistically take part in ballots to tour rarely s…
awfulrigourswretchedpay.com
September 27, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Last week I spent a worthwhile Saturday at the #OpenCity #OpenHouseFestivalLondon2025 Here's my report: awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/09/27/a...
If you work in a school, if you have any kind of influence, please consider offering to host a school placement to a trainee teacher. Better than that, to two. Paired placement students support one another and ask less questions. It also allows them to get going by team teaching.
September 26, 2025 at 6:33 AM
If you work in a school, if you have any kind of influence, please consider offering to host a school placement to a trainee teacher. Better than that, to two. Paired placement students support one another and ask less questions. It also allows them to get going by team teaching.
New blog post : awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/09/19/a...
A campaign for joy
By Christine Swan This week, my group of trainee teachers have been planning teaching sessions based around the theme of Esafety, which fits well with another general session, delivered by colleagu…
awfulrigourswretchedpay.com
September 20, 2025 at 4:38 PM
New blog post : awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/09/19/a...
As you all know that I hold controversial opinions, here's another one - autumn is not all it's cracked up to be. Here's why: awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/09/12/a...
Autumn is not for me thank you
By Christine Swan In a 2024 UK Ipsos survey, 20% of the respondents stated that autumn is their favourite season. Are they mad I hear you ask? Over double that amount quite sensibly, preferred summ…
awfulrigourswretchedpay.com
September 14, 2025 at 7:02 AM
As you all know that I hold controversial opinions, here's another one - autumn is not all it's cracked up to be. Here's why: awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/09/12/a...
First afternoon done. Trainees reflected on their own education journey thus far, I outlined the history of computing education and then fed them the latest context. In terms of GCSE results and access to A level, the West Mids lags behind London and the South East.
September 5, 2025 at 2:37 PM
First afternoon done. Trainees reflected on their own education journey thus far, I outlined the history of computing education and then fed them the latest context. In terms of GCSE results and access to A level, the West Mids lags behind London and the South East.
I made some sloe jam yesterday as an experiment and because someone gave me a huge bag full. I've made sloe gin, and that's lovely. But sloe jam? No, just don't.
a baby making a funny face with a serious look on his face
ALT: a baby making a funny face with a serious look on his face
media.tenor.com
September 3, 2025 at 7:05 AM
I made some sloe jam yesterday as an experiment and because someone gave me a huge bag full. I've made sloe gin, and that's lovely. But sloe jam? No, just don't.
@eurostarjustin.bsky.social Was looking for our Amsterdam flag yesterday would you believe, but found this instead - the menu from our first family trip to Avignon. I think it was the inaugural year, and when the train went to Avignon Centre. Can't remember the year but a long time ago.
September 2, 2025 at 6:48 AM
@eurostarjustin.bsky.social Was looking for our Amsterdam flag yesterday would you believe, but found this instead - the menu from our first family trip to Avignon. I think it was the inaugural year, and when the train went to Avignon Centre. Can't remember the year but a long time ago.
Have a nice day everyone. I'm outta here.
a man in a suit and tie sitting in a chair
Alt: Hugh Grant in a suit and tie sitting in a chair, banging his head on a desk.
media.tenor.com
August 23, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Have a nice day everyone. I'm outta here.
In this week's blog post, I discuss the virtues of edible flowers, along with some truly dreadful late-night photography! awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/08/15/f...
Flowers with everything
By Christine Swan Flowers are such a joy aren’t they? Since our relatively recent purchase of a greenhouse, I have gained great pleasure from planting tiny seeds that have grown into magnific…
awfulrigourswretchedpay.com
August 16, 2025 at 1:59 PM
In this week's blog post, I discuss the virtues of edible flowers, along with some truly dreadful late-night photography! awfulrigourswretchedpay.com/2025/08/15/f...
Come on Eurostar, no coffee? Seriously? After a week of drinking strong French coffee, I'm kind of addicted. Bit of a disappointment 🙄
August 9, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Come on Eurostar, no coffee? Seriously? After a week of drinking strong French coffee, I'm kind of addicted. Bit of a disappointment 🙄
@seatsixtyone.bsky.social I'm the woman in seat 61 again! I didn't choose this seat and my original train was cancelled. I am allocated this one a lot!!
August 9, 2025 at 4:51 PM
@seatsixtyone.bsky.social I'm the woman in seat 61 again! I didn't choose this seat and my original train was cancelled. I am allocated this one a lot!!
I haven't found any southern French ancestry yet - all of mine seems to be from the North East, Belgian border so far as my research has gone....but, you never know 😉 This is Menton again, the Hotel de Ville and fabulous gardens.
August 9, 2025 at 4:41 PM
I haven't found any southern French ancestry yet - all of mine seems to be from the North East, Belgian border so far as my research has gone....but, you never know 😉 This is Menton again, the Hotel de Ville and fabulous gardens.
No filter! The sea is like glass. We seem to have endless scandals about sewage being released into the sea. When did we stop aspiring to this? This is France, our nearest European neighbour - I'm proud of their exacting standards, good for them.
August 9, 2025 at 4:37 PM
No filter! The sea is like glass. We seem to have endless scandals about sewage being released into the sea. When did we stop aspiring to this? This is France, our nearest European neighbour - I'm proud of their exacting standards, good for them.
The landscape is stunning - this was taken from the train at Eze. No wonder this is one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world - quite right too!
August 9, 2025 at 4:34 PM
The landscape is stunning - this was taken from the train at Eze. No wonder this is one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world - quite right too!
This is such a southern French scene. It's late afternoon in Menton. The restaurant has finished serving lunch but it's not yet dinner time. There must be hundreds of squares like this- all beautiful with real character. They come alive when the sun sets.
August 9, 2025 at 4:32 PM
This is such a southern French scene. It's late afternoon in Menton. The restaurant has finished serving lunch but it's not yet dinner time. There must be hundreds of squares like this- all beautiful with real character. They come alive when the sun sets.