Hannah Valerie
@eckerusla.bsky.social
Assorted posts about history, church architecture, choral singing, faith, baking, travel, and cats. #ActuallyAutistic #FaithfullyLGBT 💫🌈
Pinned
Hannah Valerie
@eckerusla.bsky.social
· Dec 1
Over 2022 and 2023 I visited (or in the case of eight, revisited) all 26 English medieval cathedrals.
As an #Advent offering I'll be sharing photos here of one cathedral per day. Ish.
(List from here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archite... - other versions are also available)
#CofE
#AdventCathedralling
As an #Advent offering I'll be sharing photos here of one cathedral per day. Ish.
(List from here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archite... - other versions are also available)
#CofE
#AdventCathedralling
Shout-out to past Hannah for buying fancy Christmas chutney then promptly forgetting all about it. Finding this in the cupboard a couple of days ago was a nice little surprise. 😋
December 30, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Shout-out to past Hannah for buying fancy Christmas chutney then promptly forgetting all about it. Finding this in the cupboard a couple of days ago was a nice little surprise. 😋
Reposted by Hannah Valerie
Trees in the orchard support abundant mistletoe. The National Trust decided to accept lower fruit yields, allowing mistletoe to proliferate - winter food for birds + a larval food plant for several moth + insect species.
2/5
2/5
December 30, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Trees in the orchard support abundant mistletoe. The National Trust decided to accept lower fruit yields, allowing mistletoe to proliferate - winter food for birds + a larval food plant for several moth + insect species.
2/5
2/5
December 30, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Reposted by Hannah Valerie
#Sudan: Following multiple reports of imminent attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Dar Zaghawa region of North Darfur, MSF was forced to cease activities, evacuate our teams and withdraw from Umbaru, Kornoy and Tina on Dec. 24.
December 30, 2025 at 9:16 PM
#Sudan: Following multiple reports of imminent attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Dar Zaghawa region of North Darfur, MSF was forced to cease activities, evacuate our teams and withdraw from Umbaru, Kornoy and Tina on Dec. 24.
British citizens and UK-based folks: please consider signing and sharing this petition:
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/75...
#RefugeesWelcome
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/75...
#RefugeesWelcome
Petition: Keep the 5-Year ILR route for refugees. Do not extend it to 10 or 20 years
We call on the UK Government to preserve the current 5-year route (ILR) for refugees and people with humanitarian protection.
petition.parliament.uk
December 29, 2025 at 11:02 PM
British citizens and UK-based folks: please consider signing and sharing this petition:
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/75...
#RefugeesWelcome
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/75...
#RefugeesWelcome
Spending ten months last year as the sole white person in an otherwise South Asian household (live-in Indian landlords and a Pakistani housemate) really whet my appetite for homemade curry, so I'm excited about today's book delivery. Looking forward to trying out some of these recipes in 2026!
December 29, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Spending ten months last year as the sole white person in an otherwise South Asian household (live-in Indian landlords and a Pakistani housemate) really whet my appetite for homemade curry, so I'm excited about today's book delivery. Looking forward to trying out some of these recipes in 2026!
Reposted by Hannah Valerie
The altar of the Sword's point, the place where Archbishop Thomas Becket was slain on the 29th December 1170 in Canterbury Cathedral. Many of the miracles associated with his death occurred in the following days and some are commemorated in the Miracle Windows that may be found in the Cathedral.
December 29, 2025 at 4:16 PM
The altar of the Sword's point, the place where Archbishop Thomas Becket was slain on the 29th December 1170 in Canterbury Cathedral. Many of the miracles associated with his death occurred in the following days and some are commemorated in the Miracle Windows that may be found in the Cathedral.
I love how many different names there are for this weird liminal period between Christmas Day (or Boxing Day) and New Year's Day: Twixtmas, Winterregnum, Zwischen den Jahren, the Daft Days, Chrimbo Limbo, Romjul...
(Admittedly some of these spill over into early January, but still.)
(Admittedly some of these spill over into early January, but still.)
December 29, 2025 at 2:07 PM
I love how many different names there are for this weird liminal period between Christmas Day (or Boxing Day) and New Year's Day: Twixtmas, Winterregnum, Zwischen den Jahren, the Daft Days, Chrimbo Limbo, Romjul...
(Admittedly some of these spill over into early January, but still.)
(Admittedly some of these spill over into early January, but still.)
Reposted by Hannah Valerie
Last year, I posted about the consecration of Westminster Abbey, which is now 960 years ago.
959 years ago, in 1065, Westminster Abbey was consecrated after having been rebuilt under the command of Edward the Confessor. A week later, Edward died and was buried here. His death would trigger a succession dispute and eventually lead to the Norman Conquest.
December 28, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Last year, I posted about the consecration of Westminster Abbey, which is now 960 years ago.
Berries and birb (I think an egret?) from our Boxing Day bank holiday family walk
December 28, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Berries and birb (I think an egret?) from our Boxing Day bank holiday family walk
Reposted by Hannah Valerie
Finally finished my silly little library.
December 27, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Finally finished my silly little library.
December 27, 2025 at 9:28 PM
December 26, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Reposted by Hannah Valerie
December 26, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by Hannah Valerie
My Christmas cake decoration this year is a scale model of York Minster fashioned from marzipan surrounded by 12 edible choristers
December 24, 2025 at 5:44 PM
My Christmas cake decoration this year is a scale model of York Minster fashioned from marzipan surrounded by 12 edible choristers
Reposted by Hannah Valerie
This is one of the nicest news stories I've read in a long time. Among all the depressing news it's good to be reminded just how many truly good people there are in every community and all.around us
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Cardiff couple invited man in for Christmas, he stayed for 45 years
An arrangement Rob and Dianne Parsons thought would last a few days ended up changing their lives.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 25, 2025 at 12:46 PM
This is one of the nicest news stories I've read in a long time. Among all the depressing news it's good to be reminded just how many truly good people there are in every community and all.around us
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Gosh, I love Bluesky sometimes! Thank you, @astrokirsten.bsky.social and @tazwalker.bsky.social.
Well... A black hole that could physically fit inside the drum of a washing machine (I assumed a drum diameter of 500mm since most front load models are 600mm wide), would have a mass about 28 times that of Earth. So, I reckon it would destroy the washing machine and a few other things.
December 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Gosh, I love Bluesky sometimes! Thank you, @astrokirsten.bsky.social and @tazwalker.bsky.social.
And tonight's topic of family discussion is apparently...
"What happens if you put a black hole inside a washing machine?"
🤔
"What happens if you put a black hole inside a washing machine?"
🤔
December 25, 2025 at 8:07 PM
And tonight's topic of family discussion is apparently...
"What happens if you put a black hole inside a washing machine?"
🤔
"What happens if you put a black hole inside a washing machine?"
🤔
Reposted by Hannah Valerie
The story of #Christmas doesn't offer shallow comfort. It offers hope amidst the shit. It's about a refugee baby and unconventional family, who outwitted a brutal empire trying to kill them. It is good news for people who are hurt or lonely, as well as those who are celebrating.
December 25, 2025 at 2:06 PM
The story of #Christmas doesn't offer shallow comfort. It offers hope amidst the shit. It's about a refugee baby and unconventional family, who outwitted a brutal empire trying to kill them. It is good news for people who are hurt or lonely, as well as those who are celebrating.
Reposted by Hannah Valerie
Reposted by Hannah Valerie
“And the Word became flesh, and lived among us”
(Merry Christmas, one and all)
(Merry Christmas, one and all)
December 25, 2025 at 12:44 AM
“And the Word became flesh, and lived among us”
(Merry Christmas, one and all)
(Merry Christmas, one and all)
Reposted by Hannah Valerie
I’ve collated a list of UK and Irish mental health support and domestic violence support lines open over the festive period, 24hrs a day. Do share - you may never know who needed to see it.
The holidays can be a really tricky time for so many people.
Whether you’re alone or with others, know you can speak with someone if you’re feeling sad or low. You matter, and your feelings are valid.
Need someone to talk to? A range of helplines, both voice and text open 24 hrs:
Whether you’re alone or with others, know you can speak with someone if you’re feeling sad or low. You matter, and your feelings are valid.
Need someone to talk to? A range of helplines, both voice and text open 24 hrs:
December 24, 2025 at 10:03 PM
I’ve collated a list of UK and Irish mental health support and domestic violence support lines open over the festive period, 24hrs a day. Do share - you may never know who needed to see it.
Reposted by Hannah Valerie
Israel approved a proposal last Sunday for new Jewish settlements, which brings the recent total to 69, according to the far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich.
UK, Canada and Germany condemn Israel for 19 new West Bank settlements
Fourteen countries, also including France, Italy, Ireland and Spain, say actions ‘violate international law and risk fuelling instability’
www.theguardian.com
December 24, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Israel approved a proposal last Sunday for new Jewish settlements, which brings the recent total to 69, according to the far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich.
Reposted by Hannah Valerie
This day 57 years ago.
Earthrise.
A remarkable view of Earth hoving into view as the Apollo 8 command module flew over the lunar surface.
That's us. That's home.
Earthrise.
A remarkable view of Earth hoving into view as the Apollo 8 command module flew over the lunar surface.
That's us. That's home.
December 24, 2025 at 10:05 PM
This day 57 years ago.
Earthrise.
A remarkable view of Earth hoving into view as the Apollo 8 command module flew over the lunar surface.
That's us. That's home.
Earthrise.
A remarkable view of Earth hoving into view as the Apollo 8 command module flew over the lunar surface.
That's us. That's home.