James Handscombe
@jameshandscombe.bsky.social
Executive Principal, Mathematician, Teacher, Wordsmith not necessarily in that order.
Reposted by James Handscombe
We have a book out.
A Year in Willerby. Twelve of our most loved stories, bound with original lino cut art.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
A Year in Willerby. Twelve of our most loved stories, bound with original lino cut art.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
January 1, 2026 at 12:13 PM
We have a book out.
A Year in Willerby. Twelve of our most loved stories, bound with original lino cut art.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
A Year in Willerby. Twelve of our most loved stories, bound with original lino cut art.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
Reposted by James Handscombe
AI hallucinations can be so diverting!🥰
I saw him live, before he was famous, in the back of a pub. About 20 in the crowd, completely acoustic- like no other gig I’ve been to.
December 31, 2025 at 6:15 PM
AI hallucinations can be so diverting!🥰
Reposted by James Handscombe
turns out that parasocial relationships trump credentials every time, and we don't really have a good counter for it other than "hope we can get some people who are good at attracting a parasocial following who also know what they're talking about"
December 28, 2025 at 5:58 PM
turns out that parasocial relationships trump credentials every time, and we don't really have a good counter for it other than "hope we can get some people who are good at attracting a parasocial following who also know what they're talking about"
“Cancer in malignant form: the liberal movements”
This could be from a modern right-wing politician rather than George Macdonald Fraser’s caricature of Otto von Bismarck.
Disparaging the idea that others should have the rights you enjoy is not a new hobby.
This could be from a modern right-wing politician rather than George Macdonald Fraser’s caricature of Otto von Bismarck.
Disparaging the idea that others should have the rights you enjoy is not a new hobby.
December 27, 2025 at 10:36 AM
“Cancer in malignant form: the liberal movements”
This could be from a modern right-wing politician rather than George Macdonald Fraser’s caricature of Otto von Bismarck.
Disparaging the idea that others should have the rights you enjoy is not a new hobby.
This could be from a modern right-wing politician rather than George Macdonald Fraser’s caricature of Otto von Bismarck.
Disparaging the idea that others should have the rights you enjoy is not a new hobby.
Reposted by James Handscombe
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day.
A Willerby Story.
Out now on @hauntedukfiction.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/5oZH...
A Willerby Story.
Out now on @hauntedukfiction.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/5oZH...
S01 - Episode 16 - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day by Willerby
open.spotify.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:22 PM
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day.
A Willerby Story.
Out now on @hauntedukfiction.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/5oZH...
A Willerby Story.
Out now on @hauntedukfiction.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/5oZH...
Reposted by James Handscombe
A lot of people are baffled by the "six seven" thing.
What you need to know is it's actually not new. The phrase goes back to the Old English "sige sefa" (=see-yah say-vah) meaning "Victorious Mind." This is why people say it to each other.
What you need to know is it's actually not new. The phrase goes back to the Old English "sige sefa" (=see-yah say-vah) meaning "Victorious Mind." This is why people say it to each other.
December 26, 2025 at 9:13 PM
A lot of people are baffled by the "six seven" thing.
What you need to know is it's actually not new. The phrase goes back to the Old English "sige sefa" (=see-yah say-vah) meaning "Victorious Mind." This is why people say it to each other.
What you need to know is it's actually not new. The phrase goes back to the Old English "sige sefa" (=see-yah say-vah) meaning "Victorious Mind." This is why people say it to each other.
Boxing Day morning and I came across a couple of war graves in a Chesterton churchyard.
December 26, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Boxing Day morning and I came across a couple of war graves in a Chesterton churchyard.
I feel seen.
the intelligence to be a smartass but not the wisdom to realize nobody likes a smartass is an affliction that affects far too many
December 25, 2025 at 6:40 PM
I feel seen.
Reposted by James Handscombe
Quality footnote
December 25, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Quality footnote
Reposted by James Handscombe
Oh, I really like this interpretation. Of course it relies on the historic western misinterpretation of Palestinian houses and their construction and what the words ‘inn’ and ‘barn’ mean in that context, but. The point holds and I like it
The innkeeper isn't the bad guy in the story, he's a *good guy* in the story. He *doesn't have room in his inn* and then *finds a spot for Mary anyway*. And this act of kindness is why Jesus is born in a manger -- warm, dry, safe, surrounded by people that love him -- instead of out in the desert
December 25, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Oh, I really like this interpretation. Of course it relies on the historic western misinterpretation of Palestinian houses and their construction and what the words ‘inn’ and ‘barn’ mean in that context, but. The point holds and I like it
Today we learn that English have tails and that one goes into the past because one’s own time is boring.
December 23, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Today we learn that English have tails and that one goes into the past because one’s own time is boring.
They have scrobbled the Bishop, Peter, and clearly Caroline Louisa - things are looking black.
The Reverend Boddledale claims never to have heard of Abner Brown - only one thing for it, Scotland Yard.
The Reverend Boddledale claims never to have heard of Abner Brown - only one thing for it, Scotland Yard.
December 21, 2025 at 10:08 PM
They have scrobbled the Bishop, Peter, and clearly Caroline Louisa - things are looking black.
The Reverend Boddledale claims never to have heard of Abner Brown - only one thing for it, Scotland Yard.
The Reverend Boddledale claims never to have heard of Abner Brown - only one thing for it, Scotland Yard.
As an enthusiastically awful singer myself, this story delights me.
willerby.substack.com/p/a-joyful-n...
willerby.substack.com/p/a-joyful-n...
A Joyful Noise
A Willerby Christmas Story
willerby.substack.com
December 21, 2025 at 8:34 AM
As an enthusiastically awful singer myself, this story delights me.
willerby.substack.com/p/a-joyful-n...
willerby.substack.com/p/a-joyful-n...
Well, they scrobbled the old man - not bad work for the day before the solstice.
An aeroplane at Bottler’s down, near to King Arthur’s camp.
An aeroplane at Bottler’s down, near to King Arthur’s camp.
December 20, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Well, they scrobbled the old man - not bad work for the day before the solstice.
An aeroplane at Bottler’s down, near to King Arthur’s camp.
An aeroplane at Bottler’s down, near to King Arthur’s camp.
This is really fun from @didau.bsky.social - daviddidau.substack.com/p/teaching-m...
Metre makes verse memorable (useful if you need to unspool reams on stage) - playing with it lets you catch the ear to make a point.
I wrote about this trick in Hamlet: james-handscombe.co.uk/scholarship/...
Metre makes verse memorable (useful if you need to unspool reams on stage) - playing with it lets you catch the ear to make a point.
I wrote about this trick in Hamlet: james-handscombe.co.uk/scholarship/...
Teaching metre as meaning
How to bring Shakespeare's verse to life
daviddidau.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:00 PM
This is really fun from @didau.bsky.social - daviddidau.substack.com/p/teaching-m...
Metre makes verse memorable (useful if you need to unspool reams on stage) - playing with it lets you catch the ear to make a point.
I wrote about this trick in Hamlet: james-handscombe.co.uk/scholarship/...
Metre makes verse memorable (useful if you need to unspool reams on stage) - playing with it lets you catch the ear to make a point.
I wrote about this trick in Hamlet: james-handscombe.co.uk/scholarship/...
The real meaning of Hogswatch.
And Christmas sits in the same shaped space - and also into one where the aged were reverently, passionately waiting for the miraculous birth - and also the one where the omnipotent creator slid into the world to sit on the sofa with you and me & see the winter through
And Christmas sits in the same shaped space - and also into one where the aged were reverently, passionately waiting for the miraculous birth - and also the one where the omnipotent creator slid into the world to sit on the sofa with you and me & see the winter through
December 20, 2025 at 10:39 AM
The real meaning of Hogswatch.
And Christmas sits in the same shaped space - and also into one where the aged were reverently, passionately waiting for the miraculous birth - and also the one where the omnipotent creator slid into the world to sit on the sofa with you and me & see the winter through
And Christmas sits in the same shaped space - and also into one where the aged were reverently, passionately waiting for the miraculous birth - and also the one where the omnipotent creator slid into the world to sit on the sofa with you and me & see the winter through
Reposted by James Handscombe
December 19, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Reposted by James Handscombe
This is selling quite fast. It's limited edition at 100 copies. We may reprint but any new edition won't be the same as this so this is the only chance for a first one. If you want one order sooner rather than later.
A Year in Willerby.
Available now on Etsy.
12 of our most loved stories, bound with original lino cut prints.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
Available now on Etsy.
12 of our most loved stories, bound with original lino cut prints.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
December 16, 2025 at 5:41 PM
This is selling quite fast. It's limited edition at 100 copies. We may reprint but any new edition won't be the same as this so this is the only chance for a first one. If you want one order sooner rather than later.
I am very much enjoying this introduction to a story about a witch
It was hard to tell when she would be a witch and when she wasn't.
Werewolves had the lunar cycles.
All she had was an itchy palm, and it was hard to tell whether that was suppressed witchcraft or allergies. Sometimes she sneezed, which was a clue. Other times her door grew orchids and lianas.
Werewolves had the lunar cycles.
All she had was an itchy palm, and it was hard to tell whether that was suppressed witchcraft or allergies. Sometimes she sneezed, which was a clue. Other times her door grew orchids and lianas.
December 16, 2025 at 1:10 PM
I am very much enjoying this introduction to a story about a witch
Sleigh bells ring. Are you listening?
What does Christmas mean - what are the challenges it provides to a seventeen year old keen to make a success of their studies?
james-handscombe.co.uk/ambition/sle...
What does Christmas mean - what are the challenges it provides to a seventeen year old keen to make a success of their studies?
james-handscombe.co.uk/ambition/sle...
Sleighbells Ring | james-handscombe.co.uk
james-handscombe.co.uk
December 16, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Sleigh bells ring. Are you listening?
What does Christmas mean - what are the challenges it provides to a seventeen year old keen to make a success of their studies?
james-handscombe.co.uk/ambition/sle...
What does Christmas mean - what are the challenges it provides to a seventeen year old keen to make a success of their studies?
james-handscombe.co.uk/ambition/sle...
Reposted by James Handscombe
She didn't live happily ever after?
December 13, 2025 at 1:24 PM
She didn't live happily ever after?
Reposted by James Handscombe
It was hard to tell when she would be a witch and when she wasn't.
Werewolves had the lunar cycles.
All she had was an itchy palm, and it was hard to tell whether that was suppressed witchcraft or allergies. Sometimes she sneezed, which was a clue. Other times her door grew orchids and lianas.
Werewolves had the lunar cycles.
All she had was an itchy palm, and it was hard to tell whether that was suppressed witchcraft or allergies. Sometimes she sneezed, which was a clue. Other times her door grew orchids and lianas.
December 13, 2025 at 9:08 PM
It was hard to tell when she would be a witch and when she wasn't.
Werewolves had the lunar cycles.
All she had was an itchy palm, and it was hard to tell whether that was suppressed witchcraft or allergies. Sometimes she sneezed, which was a clue. Other times her door grew orchids and lianas.
Werewolves had the lunar cycles.
All she had was an itchy palm, and it was hard to tell whether that was suppressed witchcraft or allergies. Sometimes she sneezed, which was a clue. Other times her door grew orchids and lianas.
Reposted by James Handscombe
The jingle she didn't live in wasn't like other jungles. She didn't find this amusing, perhaps because she wasn't a witch.
But then, she wasn't not a witch either. This may be why everything didn't stay the same.
But then, she wasn't not a witch either. This may be why everything didn't stay the same.
December 13, 2025 at 8:11 PM
The jingle she didn't live in wasn't like other jungles. She didn't find this amusing, perhaps because she wasn't a witch.
But then, she wasn't not a witch either. This may be why everything didn't stay the same.
But then, she wasn't not a witch either. This may be why everything didn't stay the same.
Tell me a story…
Once, there wasn’t a witch and she didn’t live in the jungle…
Once, there wasn’t a witch and she didn’t live in the jungle…
December 13, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Tell me a story…
Once, there wasn’t a witch and she didn’t live in the jungle…
Once, there wasn’t a witch and she didn’t live in the jungle…
Reposted by James Handscombe
“I bring you fun”
“I bring you sunshine”
“I bring you love”
The Three Morecambe and Wise Men.
“I bring you sunshine”
“I bring you love”
The Three Morecambe and Wise Men.
December 9, 2025 at 6:58 AM
“I bring you fun”
“I bring you sunshine”
“I bring you love”
The Three Morecambe and Wise Men.
“I bring you sunshine”
“I bring you love”
The Three Morecambe and Wise Men.