Dawn
@itsdawn.bsky.social
Writer turned gamekeeper. Historian of expat chaos and bad judgement in historic Bruges. https://substack.com/@cobblesandgables
"Trollopize" entered English after Frances Trollope's 1832 book roasted American manners. She found their conversations lamentably dull, manners too informal, and dollar-worship universal. US papers called her a hag. Europe adored it. Where next? Bruges, obviously. open.substack.com/pub/cobblesa...
“Dear Mrs Trollope in Bruges”
Writing through sadness, she changed British travel forever
open.substack.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:17 AM
"Trollopize" entered English after Frances Trollope's 1832 book roasted American manners. She found their conversations lamentably dull, manners too informal, and dollar-worship universal. US papers called her a hag. Europe adored it. Where next? Bruges, obviously. open.substack.com/pub/cobblesa...
What a strikingly modern face for a painting that's over 400 years old
Mary Shelton Scudamore in 1601, painted by Marcus Gheeraerts. Distant cousin of Elizabeth I & member of her privy chamber. When she secretly married in 1573, Elizabeth attacked her & broke her finger!
January 19, 2026 at 6:42 PM
What a strikingly modern face for a painting that's over 400 years old
A cold is trying to end me, but I dosed up on Lemsip and got to a tour of the Huis van de Visitatie this morning which is a particularly grand version of the Flemish revival step-gabled houses of the Bruges city centre.
January 18, 2026 at 2:50 PM
A cold is trying to end me, but I dosed up on Lemsip and got to a tour of the Huis van de Visitatie this morning which is a particularly grand version of the Flemish revival step-gabled houses of the Bruges city centre.
I'm feeling somewhat vindicated that Katie Rosseinsky writes in The Independent today about how hard it is to tell many of the Traitors contestants apart
January 15, 2026 at 6:21 AM
I'm feeling somewhat vindicated that Katie Rosseinsky writes in The Independent today about how hard it is to tell many of the Traitors contestants apart
The temperature in Bruges today is actually disrespectful. But I'm taking you with me to look at some things about Mary Lovell, the 17th-century English girlboss who was questioned about the Gunpowder Plot then high-tailed it to Belgium to continue the drama
January 11, 2026 at 11:00 AM
The temperature in Bruges today is actually disrespectful. But I'm taking you with me to look at some things about Mary Lovell, the 17th-century English girlboss who was questioned about the Gunpowder Plot then high-tailed it to Belgium to continue the drama
I'm launching my Substack era with some 19th century Bruges messy drama. Enjoy 😜 open.substack.com/pub/cobblesa...
January 8, 2026 at 8:57 AM
I'm launching my Substack era with some 19th century Bruges messy drama. Enjoy 😜 open.substack.com/pub/cobblesa...
Reposted by Dawn
I've crossed this pedestrian overpass many times, but didn't know about this history.
Incredible how much pedestrian and cycling infrastructure has come into being only through political struggle.
Incredible how much pedestrian and cycling infrastructure has come into being only through political struggle.
January 7, 2026 at 9:12 AM
I've crossed this pedestrian overpass many times, but didn't know about this history.
Incredible how much pedestrian and cycling infrastructure has come into being only through political struggle.
Incredible how much pedestrian and cycling infrastructure has come into being only through political struggle.
Snow day here. Official advice is to let some air out of your bike tyres so you have more grip "and fall less fast".
January 7, 2026 at 7:33 AM
Snow day here. Official advice is to let some air out of your bike tyres so you have more grip "and fall less fast".
Unexpected good news story of the day: the Bois de la Cambre bunny saga on /Brussels Reddit
January 6, 2026 at 7:53 PM
Unexpected good news story of the day: the Bois de la Cambre bunny saga on /Brussels Reddit
So, if you Google "67" your screen does the 67 gesture
December 23, 2025 at 7:44 PM
So, if you Google "67" your screen does the 67 gesture
I'm realising my kids have no idea how old I am, given they asked me if I remember an "OG" Roblox game. Which came out in 2022.
December 13, 2025 at 6:04 PM
I'm realising my kids have no idea how old I am, given they asked me if I remember an "OG" Roblox game. Which came out in 2022.
Take the baby for a walk. But make it Flanders.
November 8, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Take the baby for a walk. But make it Flanders.
Reposted by Dawn
“Now Scientific American has updated and re-released what it calls the “classic graphic” that shows that a human on a bicycle—able to coast, or freewheel, without pedaling—remains the world’s most energy effecient traveler.” @carltonreid.com on the re-release of the iconic graph in @forbes.com.
October 17, 2025 at 12:52 PM
“Now Scientific American has updated and re-released what it calls the “classic graphic” that shows that a human on a bicycle—able to coast, or freewheel, without pedaling—remains the world’s most energy effecient traveler.” @carltonreid.com on the re-release of the iconic graph in @forbes.com.
I didn't want to love these because all the hype etc, but they're incredible and I'm going to have to pace myself
October 18, 2025 at 1:29 PM
I didn't want to love these because all the hype etc, but they're incredible and I'm going to have to pace myself
Very much enjoyed this! Both the reviews and the book world news
August 27, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Very much enjoyed this! Both the reviews and the book world news
Hats off to the Commission speech writers for the solid use of "inflection point" here
EU leaders today urged China's President Xi Jinping to pressure Russia into ending its war on Ukraine as they acknowledged that relations between Beijing and Brussels have reached an "inflection point."
EU warns China to push Putin to end war as relations hit ‘inflection point’
At a tense summit held to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties, Xi Jinping called China and the EU “two big guys” on the world stage who must “make correct strategic choices.R…
www.politico.eu
July 24, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Hats off to the Commission speech writers for the solid use of "inflection point" here
Subs at Politico are having a good day
July 1, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Subs at Politico are having a good day
Another one for #NormalForBelgium - cobblestones, a gilded relic, draught horses, crowds in coordinated outfits, a priest
June 26, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Another one for #NormalForBelgium - cobblestones, a gilded relic, draught horses, crowds in coordinated outfits, a priest
Reposted by Dawn
The decline of buses has had economic, environmental and social consequences 🚌
Thanks @georginaq.bsky.social for highlighting our recent research on buses in this week's The State of Britain newsletter @financialtimes.com 🗞️
on.ft.com/3G2J2iD 🔗
Thanks @georginaq.bsky.social for highlighting our recent research on buses in this week's The State of Britain newsletter @financialtimes.com 🗞️
on.ft.com/3G2J2iD 🔗
June 20, 2025 at 9:25 AM
The decline of buses has had economic, environmental and social consequences 🚌
Thanks @georginaq.bsky.social for highlighting our recent research on buses in this week's The State of Britain newsletter @financialtimes.com 🗞️
on.ft.com/3G2J2iD 🔗
Thanks @georginaq.bsky.social for highlighting our recent research on buses in this week's The State of Britain newsletter @financialtimes.com 🗞️
on.ft.com/3G2J2iD 🔗
Reposted by Dawn
Great drop intro in The Times today:
June 20, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Great drop intro in The Times today:
Just a fool and a tiny donkey in front of a cannabis shop
May 29, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Just a fool and a tiny donkey in front of a cannabis shop
The house market in Bruges being normal
April 14, 2025 at 7:41 PM
The house market in Bruges being normal
Reposted by Dawn
There was a string of such cases under the Tories. Hoping this gets sorted out quickly.
Oxford historian faces deportation from UK after doing research on India … in India
Home Office told Manikarnika Dutta to quit Britain for spending too many days abroad for study
www.theguardian.com
March 16, 2025 at 7:57 AM
There was a string of such cases under the Tories. Hoping this gets sorted out quickly.
Everyone needs to know that you can send personalised message potatoes www.pieperpost.nl
Verstuur een aardappel met jouw boodschap! | Pieperpost 🥔✉️
Op zoek naar een leuk en origineel cadeau? Verstuur een aardappel met een persoonlijke boodschap! | Grappig cadeau voor je vriend, vriendin of vrienden | Nu 25% KORTING op ALLE piepers!
www.pieperpost.nl
March 16, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Everyone needs to know that you can send personalised message potatoes www.pieperpost.nl
☹️
Extreme weather expected to cause food price volatility in 2025 after cost of cocoa and coffee doubles #Climate
Extreme weather expected to cause food price volatility in 2025 after cost of cocoa and coffee doubles
Trend towards more extreme-weather events will continue to hit crop yields and create price spikes, Inverto says
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2025 at 2:11 PM
☹️