Martin Roberts
@martrtin.bsky.social
Old metalware and 16thC material culture. Boreray sheep, Border Terriers, hay, logs & Land Rovers. Cricket, mainly Derbyshire these days.
Locals reckon the drought's over.
November 14, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Locals reckon the drought's over.
Now then Keir, this is an opportunity. Do you understand? An opportunity to swing something your way. Please don't fuck it up....
November 9, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Now then Keir, this is an opportunity. Do you understand? An opportunity to swing something your way. Please don't fuck it up....
Dam good news...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Dutch centrist liberals under Jetten head for shock election win, exit poll says
Rob Jetten's D66 party celebrates, two years after his party languished in fifth place in the last vote.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Dam good news...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Another rampant display of hubristic incompetence in New Zealand. Early days, but evidence accumulating that England's foolish recent selection policy is turning into the disaster many predicted. Right now it seems The Ashes are all but lost before the series begins. #NZvENG #TheAshes #Cricket
October 29, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Extraordinary that Ben Curran is the first of his cricketing family to record a test century. #ZIMvAFG #Currans #Cricket #TestMatch
www.espncricinfo.com/series/afgha...
www.espncricinfo.com/series/afgha...
ZIM vs AFG Cricket Scorecard, Only Test at Harare, October 20 - 24, 2025
Get cricket scorecard of Only Test, ZIM vs AFG, Afghanistan in Zimbabwe 2025/26 at Harare Sports Club dated October 20 - 24, 2025.
www.espncricinfo.com
October 22, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Extraordinary that Ben Curran is the first of his cricketing family to record a test century. #ZIMvAFG #Currans #Cricket #TestMatch
www.espncricinfo.com/series/afgha...
www.espncricinfo.com/series/afgha...
Reposted by Martin Roberts
I found this a little shocking! In future my donations go straight to the charity ! #Charity #JustGiving
October 21, 2025 at 11:54 AM
I found this a little shocking! In future my donations go straight to the charity ! #Charity #JustGiving
Reposted by Martin Roberts
📣 NEW BLOG POST
Did German pirates beat Columbus to America?
Sometime in the 1470s, King Christian I of Denmark hired two German privateers "at the request of his majesty of Portugal...to explore new countries and islands in the north".
Did German pirates beat Columbus to America?
Sometime in the 1470s, King Christian I of Denmark hired two German privateers "at the request of his majesty of Portugal...to explore new countries and islands in the north".
October 19, 2025 at 1:28 PM
📣 NEW BLOG POST
Did German pirates beat Columbus to America?
Sometime in the 1470s, King Christian I of Denmark hired two German privateers "at the request of his majesty of Portugal...to explore new countries and islands in the north".
Did German pirates beat Columbus to America?
Sometime in the 1470s, King Christian I of Denmark hired two German privateers "at the request of his majesty of Portugal...to explore new countries and islands in the north".
Jordan Cox should be dropped immediately from the England Lions squad for the tour of Australia, and have it made clear to him that he will not be picked for England again. #JordanCox #Cricket #Lions #UngratefulGraspingTosser
October 13, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Jordan Cox should be dropped immediately from the England Lions squad for the tour of Australia, and have it made clear to him that he will not be picked for England again. #JordanCox #Cricket #Lions #UngratefulGraspingTosser
Reposted by Martin Roberts
A magnificent exhibition: "Nürnberg Global, 1300-1600," showcasing stunning #MedievalSky & #EarlyModern objects—paintings, engravings, goldsmithing & scientific objects, woodcuts, books (of hours), architectural models, sculptures, armor, textiles, coins. It's SO good!
🗃️ #HistSci #ArtHistory 🏛️
🗃️ #HistSci #ArtHistory 🏛️
October 13, 2025 at 10:34 AM
A magnificent exhibition: "Nürnberg Global, 1300-1600," showcasing stunning #MedievalSky & #EarlyModern objects—paintings, engravings, goldsmithing & scientific objects, woodcuts, books (of hours), architectural models, sculptures, armor, textiles, coins. It's SO good!
🗃️ #HistSci #ArtHistory 🏛️
🗃️ #HistSci #ArtHistory 🏛️
Free yourself from the burdensome neediness of Microsoft (a consequence of fundamentally poor design) and the grasping monetising of Apple (naked exploitation): switch to #Linux as soon as possible.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Windows 10: When you should update and what it means for you
Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10, which could make users vulnerable - here's how to get Windows 11.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 12, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Free yourself from the burdensome neediness of Microsoft (a consequence of fundamentally poor design) and the grasping monetising of Apple (naked exploitation): switch to #Linux as soon as possible.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Has anyone noticed that a chap called Jenrick, a man of little discernable talent who should be a marginal irrelevance, is being mentioned all over the place. How could that be? Surely that was not why he made racist remarks. Surely not. #StopPromotingRightWingRacistScumYouGullibleFools
October 7, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Has anyone noticed that a chap called Jenrick, a man of little discernable talent who should be a marginal irrelevance, is being mentioned all over the place. How could that be? Surely that was not why he made racist remarks. Surely not. #StopPromotingRightWingRacistScumYouGullibleFools
Reposted by Martin Roberts
Join us for our first lunchtime lecture of the season and hear all about early modern caskets and cabinets from @isabellarosner.bsky.social! Register your free place for this Friday at 1pm: www.sal.org.uk/event/embroi...
October 1, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Join us for our first lunchtime lecture of the season and hear all about early modern caskets and cabinets from @isabellarosner.bsky.social! Register your free place for this Friday at 1pm: www.sal.org.uk/event/embroi...
The absence of Haseeb Hameed from the Lions squad is astounding. Probably the best batsman in first class cricket this year, a classical opener, entirely ignored.
www.ecb.co.uk/news/4369274...
www.ecb.co.uk/news/4369274...
England Lions squad named for winter tour of Australia
England Lions will help England Men with their Ashes preparation, before taking on Australia A and a Cricket Australia XI
www.ecb.co.uk
September 30, 2025 at 12:20 PM
The absence of Haseeb Hameed from the Lions squad is astounding. Probably the best batsman in first class cricket this year, a classical opener, entirely ignored.
www.ecb.co.uk/news/4369274...
www.ecb.co.uk/news/4369274...
That's the County Championship cricket decided for this year.
Now, does anyone know why the retaining bolts for the bumper on a Land Rover Defender 90 remain extremely tight despite several turns? Is it something to do with the tapping blocks?
#Cricket #LandRover
Now, does anyone know why the retaining bolts for the bumper on a Land Rover Defender 90 remain extremely tight despite several turns? Is it something to do with the tapping blocks?
#Cricket #LandRover
September 27, 2025 at 1:50 PM
That's the County Championship cricket decided for this year.
Now, does anyone know why the retaining bolts for the bumper on a Land Rover Defender 90 remain extremely tight despite several turns? Is it something to do with the tapping blocks?
#Cricket #LandRover
Now, does anyone know why the retaining bolts for the bumper on a Land Rover Defender 90 remain extremely tight despite several turns? Is it something to do with the tapping blocks?
#Cricket #LandRover
Durham down. Hampshire saved.
Incredible.
Incredible.
Durham providing a masterclass in how to ensure *relegation* despite the lifeline handed to them overnight by Hampshire.
#YORvDUR
And as I type this the 9th wicket falls with Durham still needing 46 to make Yorkshire bat again.
Bess on a hat-trick...
#CountyChampionship #Cricket
#YORvDUR
And as I type this the 9th wicket falls with Durham still needing 46 to make Yorkshire bat again.
Bess on a hat-trick...
#CountyChampionship #Cricket
September 27, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Durham down. Hampshire saved.
Incredible.
Incredible.
Durham providing a masterclass in how to ensure *relegation* despite the lifeline handed to them overnight by Hampshire.
#YORvDUR
And as I type this the 9th wicket falls with Durham still needing 46 to make Yorkshire bat again.
Bess on a hat-trick...
#CountyChampionship #Cricket
#YORvDUR
And as I type this the 9th wicket falls with Durham still needing 46 to make Yorkshire bat again.
Bess on a hat-trick...
#CountyChampionship #Cricket
September 27, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Durham providing a masterclass in how to ensure *relegation* despite the lifeline handed to them overnight by Hampshire.
#YORvDUR
And as I type this the 9th wicket falls with Durham still needing 46 to make Yorkshire bat again.
Bess on a hat-trick...
#CountyChampionship #Cricket
#YORvDUR
And as I type this the 9th wicket falls with Durham still needing 46 to make Yorkshire bat again.
Bess on a hat-trick...
#CountyChampionship #Cricket
In the 14th & last of the season #Derbyshire thump #Kent by an innings for the 2nd time this yr; the only other win against Gloucesters in the opening match. Scoring max points after a mammoth batting effort, Derbys secure 3rd place in the 2nd division of the #CountyChampionship #KENvDER #Cricket
A rain-ruined 13th game of the #CountyChampionship for #Derbyshire at Derby against Glamorgan ends in a draw, Derbys' 9th of the 1st class season, with play possible only on the second day. Derbys retain 3rd place in the 2nd Division, Glamorgan secure promotion in 2nd place. #DERvGLA #Cricket
#Derbyshire hang onto 3rd place in the 2nd division of the championship as their 12th match ends in a soggy draw at Lords against #Middlesex with neither side able to secure significant advantage over the 4 days. Derbys 8th draw of the 1st class season. #MIDvDER #CountyChampionship #Cricket
September 27, 2025 at 11:20 AM
In the 14th & last of the season #Derbyshire thump #Kent by an innings for the 2nd time this yr; the only other win against Gloucesters in the opening match. Scoring max points after a mammoth batting effort, Derbys secure 3rd place in the 2nd division of the #CountyChampionship #KENvDER #Cricket
The amazing scores at Canterbury and Lords have me wondering whether the Kookaburra ball is still in use in the #CountyChampionship 2nd division. Cannot seem to find confirmation online.
Anyone any the wiser?
#Cricket
#KENvDER
#MIDvGLO
Anyone any the wiser?
#Cricket
#KENvDER
#MIDvGLO
September 25, 2025 at 1:19 PM
The amazing scores at Canterbury and Lords have me wondering whether the Kookaburra ball is still in use in the #CountyChampionship 2nd division. Cannot seem to find confirmation online.
Anyone any the wiser?
#Cricket
#KENvDER
#MIDvGLO
Anyone any the wiser?
#Cricket
#KENvDER
#MIDvGLO
From heavy metal cruises to Stalinist border policy ... this thread is exactly what social media should be for. Thoroughly entertaining, full of interesting snippets and odd things one didn't know.
Wandering around Gdańsk yesterday and noticed it was conspicuously full of middle-aged German metallers. That’s how I found out there are heavy metal cruises www.full-metal-cruise.com/en/
Home - FMC XII
Zur Reise Bands Full Metal Cruise XII – Part I Full Metal Cruise XII – Part II Join the Cruise, Metalheads! Natürlich lädt die Mein Schiff 3 dazu ein, auch einfach ihre Annehmlichkeiten zu genießen: s...
www.full-metal-cruise.com
September 24, 2025 at 2:08 PM
From heavy metal cruises to Stalinist border policy ... this thread is exactly what social media should be for. Thoroughly entertaining, full of interesting snippets and odd things one didn't know.
The Ashes starting XI I hoped to see (ignoring the stupidity of the squad selections):
Hameed
Duckett
Pope
Root (vc)
Brooks
Stokes (c)
Smith (w)
Ahmed
Carse
Archer/Wood (to be alternated thru series)
Tongue
Hameed
Duckett
Pope
Root (vc)
Brooks
Stokes (c)
Smith (w)
Ahmed
Carse
Archer/Wood (to be alternated thru series)
Tongue
September 23, 2025 at 7:24 PM
The Ashes starting XI I hoped to see (ignoring the stupidity of the squad selections):
Hameed
Duckett
Pope
Root (vc)
Brooks
Stokes (c)
Smith (w)
Ahmed
Carse
Archer/Wood (to be alternated thru series)
Tongue
Hameed
Duckett
Pope
Root (vc)
Brooks
Stokes (c)
Smith (w)
Ahmed
Carse
Archer/Wood (to be alternated thru series)
Tongue
Dickie Bird dies aged 92
Legendary former umpire Dickie Bird dies at the age of 92.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 23, 2025 at 11:26 AM
How easily we slip into tribal xenophobia.
I don’t want everyone from Twitter to come to Bluesky. Whilst we would have the initial thrill of “number go up”, we’d then be immersed in the toxic slop produced by the very people I came here to avoid.
September 21, 2025 at 11:59 AM
How easily we slip into tribal xenophobia.
A rain-ruined 13th game of the #CountyChampionship for #Derbyshire at Derby against Glamorgan ends in a draw, Derbys' 9th of the 1st class season, with play possible only on the second day. Derbys retain 3rd place in the 2nd Division, Glamorgan secure promotion in 2nd place. #DERvGLA #Cricket
#Derbyshire hang onto 3rd place in the 2nd division of the championship as their 12th match ends in a soggy draw at Lords against #Middlesex with neither side able to secure significant advantage over the 4 days. Derbys 8th draw of the 1st class season. #MIDvDER #CountyChampionship #Cricket
#Derbyshire record their 7th draw in their 11th game, at #Northants, having been outplayed, the escape assisted by rain on the final day. With more injuries, Derbys unthreatening bowling attack now looks toothless. Draws elsewhere mean they hold onto 3rd place. #NTHvDBY #CountyChampionship #Cricket
September 18, 2025 at 3:02 PM
A rain-ruined 13th game of the #CountyChampionship for #Derbyshire at Derby against Glamorgan ends in a draw, Derbys' 9th of the 1st class season, with play possible only on the second day. Derbys retain 3rd place in the 2nd Division, Glamorgan secure promotion in 2nd place. #DERvGLA #Cricket
Anyone know if/where Harleian MS 6085 (BL) is available online at present? Lost in the labyrinth of BL service restoration? #skystorians
September 17, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Anyone know if/where Harleian MS 6085 (BL) is available online at present? Lost in the labyrinth of BL service restoration? #skystorians