James Handscombe
@jameshandscombe.bsky.social
Executive Principal, Mathematician, Teacher, Wordsmith not necessarily in that order.
Reposted by James Handscombe
Such beautiful lyrics, made all the more charming if you imagine it’s Godzilla in love
February 15, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Such beautiful lyrics, made all the more charming if you imagine it’s Godzilla in love
Reposted by James Handscombe
#FridayFive is going to Scandanavia ...
1. Norwegian Wood – The Beatles
2. Viking Peter – Peter Hamill
3. 50 Words for Snow – Kate Bush
4. Ride of the Valkiries – Richard Wagner
5. Baby, It's Cold Outside – Dean Martin
1. Norwegian Wood – The Beatles
2. Viking Peter – Peter Hamill
3. 50 Words for Snow – Kate Bush
4. Ride of the Valkiries – Richard Wagner
5. Baby, It's Cold Outside – Dean Martin
February 13, 2026 at 5:32 PM
#FridayFive is going to Scandanavia ...
1. Norwegian Wood – The Beatles
2. Viking Peter – Peter Hamill
3. 50 Words for Snow – Kate Bush
4. Ride of the Valkiries – Richard Wagner
5. Baby, It's Cold Outside – Dean Martin
1. Norwegian Wood – The Beatles
2. Viking Peter – Peter Hamill
3. 50 Words for Snow – Kate Bush
4. Ride of the Valkiries – Richard Wagner
5. Baby, It's Cold Outside – Dean Martin
One thing that strikes me here is the politicization of officials - for all the faults of our professional civil service (and I’m not claiming there are none) it’s still possible to believe that they will process the day to day business of people’s lives impartially rather than tribally.
February 14, 2026 at 7:17 AM
One thing that strikes me here is the politicization of officials - for all the faults of our professional civil service (and I’m not claiming there are none) it’s still possible to believe that they will process the day to day business of people’s lives impartially rather than tribally.
Reposted by James Handscombe
February 14, 2026 at 7:01 AM
Reposted by James Handscombe
1. Willerby. A haunted village in the middle of the heartlands of England.
A little scratch barely on the map it's mostly unremarkable
But *strange* things happen here too.
Ghosts of all sorts. Timeslips. Visits from strange folk who come from near and far and far, far away.
A little scratch barely on the map it's mostly unremarkable
But *strange* things happen here too.
Ghosts of all sorts. Timeslips. Visits from strange folk who come from near and far and far, far away.
February 13, 2026 at 6:21 PM
1. Willerby. A haunted village in the middle of the heartlands of England.
A little scratch barely on the map it's mostly unremarkable
But *strange* things happen here too.
Ghosts of all sorts. Timeslips. Visits from strange folk who come from near and far and far, far away.
A little scratch barely on the map it's mostly unremarkable
But *strange* things happen here too.
Ghosts of all sorts. Timeslips. Visits from strange folk who come from near and far and far, far away.
This is such a lovely aspect of a mad, mad story.
Reminds me of this: willerby.substack.com/p/the-charm?...
@welcometowillerby.bsky.social
Reminds me of this: willerby.substack.com/p/the-charm?...
@welcometowillerby.bsky.social
February 13, 2026 at 10:24 AM
This is such a lovely aspect of a mad, mad story.
Reminds me of this: willerby.substack.com/p/the-charm?...
@welcometowillerby.bsky.social
Reminds me of this: willerby.substack.com/p/the-charm?...
@welcometowillerby.bsky.social
Reposted by James Handscombe
The first extended review of our book A Year in Willerby. The first edition is sold out but we'll reprint when there's demand. If you'd like one let us know here.
www.welcometowillerby.co.uk/blank
www.welcometowillerby.co.uk/blank
New book review klaxon! Recently I spent a long weekend in the curious village of @welcometowillerby.bsky.social. Here’s my review of “A Year In Willerby”. ko-fi.com/post/Book-Re...
Book Review: A Year In Willerby
Kaye Inglis published a post on Ko-fi
ko-fi.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:19 PM
The first extended review of our book A Year in Willerby. The first edition is sold out but we'll reprint when there's demand. If you'd like one let us know here.
www.welcometowillerby.co.uk/blank
www.welcometowillerby.co.uk/blank
This week’s newsletter was written before Jim Radcliffe’s comments but seems strangely prescient in light of its determined repudiation of what he said - it has clearly struck a chord.
0e58658be539ee7325a0-220f04f871df648cf4a4d93a111e3366.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/harris_westm...
0e58658be539ee7325a0-220f04f871df648cf4a4d93a111e3366.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/harris_westm...
0e58658be539ee7325a0-220f04f871df648cf4a4d93a111e3366.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:45 PM
This week’s newsletter was written before Jim Radcliffe’s comments but seems strangely prescient in light of its determined repudiation of what he said - it has clearly struck a chord.
0e58658be539ee7325a0-220f04f871df648cf4a4d93a111e3366.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/harris_westm...
0e58658be539ee7325a0-220f04f871df648cf4a4d93a111e3366.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/harris_westm...
I’m behind on this one, it seems, but Dawson died and I’m sad about that.
February 11, 2026 at 9:14 PM
I’m behind on this one, it seems, but Dawson died and I’m sad about that.
We live in a strange world, but I’m looking at this story on the BBC website and wondering “is this true, can this be true, …. ????”
February 10, 2026 at 7:47 AM
We live in a strange world, but I’m looking at this story on the BBC website and wondering “is this true, can this be true, …. ????”
Reposted by James Handscombe
The Green Man strengthens as he leaves the south.
While it is too early to see anything of him beyond the faintest suggestion of a gigantic figure just before sunrise, buds on the fingers of the trees and a different taste on the breeze prepare him a path.
Sap rises.
Soon, he will be here.
Soon.
While it is too early to see anything of him beyond the faintest suggestion of a gigantic figure just before sunrise, buds on the fingers of the trees and a different taste on the breeze prepare him a path.
Sap rises.
Soon, he will be here.
Soon.
February 9, 2026 at 2:44 PM
The Green Man strengthens as he leaves the south.
While it is too early to see anything of him beyond the faintest suggestion of a gigantic figure just before sunrise, buds on the fingers of the trees and a different taste on the breeze prepare him a path.
Sap rises.
Soon, he will be here.
Soon.
While it is too early to see anything of him beyond the faintest suggestion of a gigantic figure just before sunrise, buds on the fingers of the trees and a different taste on the breeze prepare him a path.
Sap rises.
Soon, he will be here.
Soon.
If you’ve not already read this then you should.
February 7, 2026 at 9:35 PM
If you’ve not already read this then you should.
Reposted by James Handscombe
Two regular hexagons inside a rectangle. What fraction of the rectangle is shaded?
I found this #geometrypuzzle in my sketchbook - I drew it last June, but I’m pretty sure I never got round to posting it. Better late than never!
I found this #geometrypuzzle in my sketchbook - I drew it last June, but I’m pretty sure I never got round to posting it. Better late than never!
February 7, 2026 at 10:37 AM
Reposted by James Handscombe
February 7, 2026 at 7:41 AM
Reposted by James Handscombe
An assembly where I was struggling to find the right packaging for the idea and woke up singing the perfect Maisie Peters song: james-handscombe.co.uk/ambition/not...
(Also includes an amaxing piece of history I got from @garius.bsky.social and am hoping is true and not trolling of the unwary)
(Also includes an amaxing piece of history I got from @garius.bsky.social and am hoping is true and not trolling of the unwary)
Not Better Yet | james-handscombe.co.uk
james-handscombe.co.uk
February 4, 2026 at 4:05 PM
An assembly where I was struggling to find the right packaging for the idea and woke up singing the perfect Maisie Peters song: james-handscombe.co.uk/ambition/not...
(Also includes an amaxing piece of history I got from @garius.bsky.social and am hoping is true and not trolling of the unwary)
(Also includes an amaxing piece of history I got from @garius.bsky.social and am hoping is true and not trolling of the unwary)
Reposted by James Handscombe
Buying Time.
A Willerby Story.
You would if you could, but at what cost?
willerby.substack.com/p/buying-time
A Willerby Story.
You would if you could, but at what cost?
willerby.substack.com/p/buying-time
February 7, 2026 at 7:56 AM
Buying Time.
A Willerby Story.
You would if you could, but at what cost?
willerby.substack.com/p/buying-time
A Willerby Story.
You would if you could, but at what cost?
willerby.substack.com/p/buying-time
Reposted by James Handscombe
The tales of Willerby take an intriguing turn. I recommend a visit to this wondrous village.
February 7, 2026 at 8:16 AM
The tales of Willerby take an intriguing turn. I recommend a visit to this wondrous village.
Reposted by James Handscombe
It's Friday and it's almost five.
Time for an early doors drink at the Green Man.
Come down if you're free.
willerby.substack.com/p/the-green-...
Time for an early doors drink at the Green Man.
Come down if you're free.
willerby.substack.com/p/the-green-...
February 6, 2026 at 4:51 PM
It's Friday and it's almost five.
Time for an early doors drink at the Green Man.
Come down if you're free.
willerby.substack.com/p/the-green-...
Time for an early doors drink at the Green Man.
Come down if you're free.
willerby.substack.com/p/the-green-...
Reposted by James Handscombe
Let's get one thing straight
Keir starmer is not in the
Epstein's files, but others
Are . In the fullness of time
It will come out about their
Involvement. I'm a very
Disappointed Labour
Supporter but I don't think
The situation is fatal.
Keir starmer is not in the
Epstein's files, but others
Are . In the fullness of time
It will come out about their
Involvement. I'm a very
Disappointed Labour
Supporter but I don't think
The situation is fatal.
February 5, 2026 at 6:21 PM
Let's get one thing straight
Keir starmer is not in the
Epstein's files, but others
Are . In the fullness of time
It will come out about their
Involvement. I'm a very
Disappointed Labour
Supporter but I don't think
The situation is fatal.
Keir starmer is not in the
Epstein's files, but others
Are . In the fullness of time
It will come out about their
Involvement. I'm a very
Disappointed Labour
Supporter but I don't think
The situation is fatal.
An assembly where I was struggling to find the right packaging for the idea and woke up singing the perfect Maisie Peters song: james-handscombe.co.uk/ambition/not...
(Also includes an amaxing piece of history I got from @garius.bsky.social and am hoping is true and not trolling of the unwary)
(Also includes an amaxing piece of history I got from @garius.bsky.social and am hoping is true and not trolling of the unwary)
Not Better Yet | james-handscombe.co.uk
james-handscombe.co.uk
February 4, 2026 at 4:05 PM
An assembly where I was struggling to find the right packaging for the idea and woke up singing the perfect Maisie Peters song: james-handscombe.co.uk/ambition/not...
(Also includes an amaxing piece of history I got from @garius.bsky.social and am hoping is true and not trolling of the unwary)
(Also includes an amaxing piece of history I got from @garius.bsky.social and am hoping is true and not trolling of the unwary)
A Harris Westminster reunion in an Oxford pub - amazing to have such a huge number of students from our little school flourishing across a huge range of subjects.
February 3, 2026 at 5:45 PM
A Harris Westminster reunion in an Oxford pub - amazing to have such a huge number of students from our little school flourishing across a huge range of subjects.
I saw today a student-facing behaviour policy that lists as one of its reasons for immediate removal from class “Public refusal to follow rules” and I think this is rather good - that it encapsulates (far better than “low level disruption”) the main reason for sanctions in schools🧵#UkEd #EduSky
February 3, 2026 at 8:08 AM
I saw today a student-facing behaviour policy that lists as one of its reasons for immediate removal from class “Public refusal to follow rules” and I think this is rather good - that it encapsulates (far better than “low level disruption”) the main reason for sanctions in schools🧵#UkEd #EduSky
This is a key question - integrity means having morals that are, at least sometimes, inconvenient.
Otherwise you’re simply doing as you please and being smug about it.
Otherwise you’re simply doing as you please and being smug about it.
Like the thing about me is I have a moral framework and grounding and beliefs and I apply them consistently. If you don’t- do you really believe them? If you are always looking for an excuse to lay aside your standards, do you really hold them?
February 2, 2026 at 6:33 PM
This is a key question - integrity means having morals that are, at least sometimes, inconvenient.
Otherwise you’re simply doing as you please and being smug about it.
Otherwise you’re simply doing as you please and being smug about it.
Reposted by James Handscombe
This is it now.
If you want one, order now. Suspect we'll sell out by the end of today.
Last ever chance for the first edition of the first ever Willerby book.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
If you want one, order now. Suspect we'll sell out by the end of today.
Last ever chance for the first edition of the first ever Willerby book.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
February 2, 2026 at 7:28 AM
This is it now.
If you want one, order now. Suspect we'll sell out by the end of today.
Last ever chance for the first edition of the first ever Willerby book.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
If you want one, order now. Suspect we'll sell out by the end of today.
Last ever chance for the first edition of the first ever Willerby book.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...