Katharine Schopflin
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schopflin.bsky.social
Katharine Schopflin
@schopflin.bsky.social
Information manager, Long Covid, dementia care, choral singing. An atheist of Jewish extraction who really likes Anglican churchgoing. She/ Her.
Conversation with a friend whose mother has suspected Long Covid. Lots of 'she doesn't do [bad thing] does do [good thing]. Anyone with a chronic illness constantly has to answer the question 'But have you done EVERYTHING?'.
November 13, 2025 at 11:20 PM
I wasn't going to go to the pub after choir today but I felt so much better after a good sing that I did and I am very glad. Did you know that drinking alcohol with friends in a public place engenders feelings of great pleasure?
November 13, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I think this one qualifies for the old 'Awkward classical music pictures' account.
BBC Radio 3
Essential Classics

Now Playing
Saverio Mercadante, Joy Farrall, Britten Sinfonia & Nicholas Daniel
Clarinet Concerto No.2 in B flat major, Op.101 (1st mvt: Allegro maestoso)
November 13, 2025 at 9:46 AM
I thought this would be a bit sentimental but actually it's very funny and a bit poignant. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Illuminated - Lost In Lullabies - BBC Sounds
When his son refuses his bedtime songs, Matt Edmonds wonders what magic lullabies hold.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Oh yes please. You can spend a fair amount on a couchette and a bucketload on a sleeper. You'll get no luggage space, dodgy heating/ cooling, loos out of order and the sole usb point somewhere inconvenient for the bottom bunk and impossible for the top.
I'm so tired of these arguments about small pots of money (or not) for night train operations

YOU CANNOT FIX THIS UNTIL SOMEONE BUILDS MORE NIGHT TRAIN CARRIAGES

Because then we can start to run night trains that aren't with knackered carriages saved from the scrap heap, and have solid operations!
November 12, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Does anyone else get excited when they've got a friend birthday presents they'll like but will also be a surprise?
November 12, 2025 at 3:23 PM
All this time, I thought Efflam was hyphenated to Bavouzet.
BBC Radio 3
Essential Classics

Now Playing
Jules Massenet & Jean‐Efflam Bavouzet
Toccata
November 11, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Every cybersecurity article ever: 'don't imagine it's a youth working out of his bedroom'. Also every cybersecurity article ever: is illustrated by a youth in a hoodie.
November 10, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Bad night's sleep means lots of podcasts. I deliberately sought out something sensationalist to distract me and had to give up because there was so much padding. It was made by an experienced broadcast journalist .. I don't understand why she wanted to remove all the tension and narrative urgency.
November 10, 2025 at 7:39 AM
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... this was a tough listen for me, as is anything about the economics of low-cost flying, but it is fascinating. And cheering that in the end not everyone was prepared to work for them for terrible pay and conditions
Good Bad Billionaire - Michael O’Leary: Ryanair’s cost-cutting king - BBC Sounds
How Michael O’Leary turned Ryanair into the largest airline in Europe by cutting costs
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Bit of a memento mori in the inbox 'Reminder to order your wreath'.
November 9, 2025 at 6:53 PM
It's been a rough old week feeling ill and not having much contact. Really hope I've taken a turn for the better. I had a nice visit with Mr S, and I would really like to be well enough to working, singing and baking ...
November 9, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Reposted by Katharine Schopflin
Happy Birthday to the European Convention on Human Rights, which has helped to protect #OurRightsAndFreedoms for 75 years.

Here are more than 200 examples, from across the continent👇

🔗 www.coe.int/ECHR

There are thousands more.

#ECHR #ECHR75 @coe.int @echr.coe.int
November 4, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Olivia Laing's new novel would be the perfect book for my friend who loves her writing and queer narratives, but last year we got each other her gardening book (highly recommended by the way). So I don't feel I can.
November 8, 2025 at 3:09 PM
As I'm still having whatsapp conversations about whether Ringo was a Bronte, this episode is clearly worth a listen.
Hallowe'en special up now. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, with guests Andrew Male and Laura Varnam in conversation with Una McCormack and Andy Miller. 🌬️🎃🧟 @andrewmale.bsky.social @drlauravarnam.bsky.social @unamccormack.bsky.social @iammilliam.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/0Zde...
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
open.spotify.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:22 AM
This is a lovely podcast series and much recommended!
Massively enjoyed taking to @grindrod.bsky.social on his Monstrosities Mon Amour podcast the other day (which I think is due to be broadcast in December). Here are John's previous episodes in case you'd like a listen: www.johngrindrod.co.uk/podcast
Monstrosities Mon Amour — John Grindrod.
Writer John Grindrod and special guests help salvage the reputation of places and things more usually sneered at
www.johngrindrod.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 9:12 AM
So, if we're going to enjoy November for all its November things, what should we do?
November 7, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Reposted by Katharine Schopflin
Would love to run a zine making day for our students on World Book Day next year, anyone got any South Yorkshire based people they could recommend?
November 5, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Update from friend who went through the new eurostar border checks at St P this morning. You no longer have to go through the second set of mechanised gates, but taking a photo and fingerprints takes longer than the cursory passport check and stamp with the border guard.
November 5, 2025 at 12:04 PM
'A fundamental change in approach to sickness in the workplace' ... ooh does that mean an end to presenteeism and encouraging staff to mask on public transport? And supporting staff so they don't burn out? No? Really?
November 5, 2025 at 8:04 AM
A bit niche but, if you are looking for choral rehearsal files for Sumsion's The Holy Birth, John Fletcher Music now has them. I bought him the sheet music a couple of weeks ago and he prepared them in record time (in copyright so subscriber only) johnfletchermusic.org/holy-birth-s...
Holy birth (SumsionH) - John Fletcher Music Rehearsal Files
Rehearsal files for The Holy birth by Herbert Sumsion
johnfletchermusic.org
November 4, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Reposted by Katharine Schopflin
Get your nominations in for our Community Champions 2026! I know there's loads of you out there doing great work in your respective professional communities. Calling all librarians, learning tech folk, teaching and learning and IT crew.
Nominations are now open to celebrate our new community champions of 2026! Is there someone who shares invaluable knowledge that sparks new ideas or inspires thought provoking action? Get those names in ⤵️
Community champions - Jisc
Celebrating extraordinary people supporting communities.
bit.ly
November 4, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Most chronic illness sufferers manage things themselves. With Long Covid, primary care can't do much and there's no secondary care. But I'm reaching a point where I'm simply not managing to stay well enough to work (effectively or at all). There's not much on the table but finally contacting GP.
November 4, 2025 at 11:25 AM
My milkman arrives at 4am, as expected, once a week. Mail people could be any time from 11 to 4 any day but Sunday but never more than twice a week. Hard to make sure I'm wearing the good negligée to open the door.
For you ladies at home, I recommend the mailman over the milkman, if you’re considering your options. Except for Carl, he’s a good-for-nothing scoundrel
November 3, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Reposted by Katharine Schopflin
On Trans Parent Day, we celebrate both trans parents and parents of trans children.
We offer valuable resources like 'I’m Trans: How Do I Tell My Parents?', 'I’m a Trans Parent: How Do I Tell My Children?', and 'My Child’s Trans' to help guide families through these journeys.
Head to fflag.org.uk.
November 2, 2025 at 10:00 AM