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.
IG people, what do you do about 'the colleague issue' with staff SARs? My instinct is, if people use the SAR process, they have to accept that available staff will undertake the work and others (eg IT, for an eDiscovery) may be exposed. But our policy is actually to use sensitivity where we can.
January 23, 2026 at 4:31 PM
IG people, what do you do about 'the colleague issue' with staff SARs? My instinct is, if people use the SAR process, they have to accept that available staff will undertake the work and others (eg IT, for an eDiscovery) may be exposed. But our policy is actually to use sensitivity where we can.
A friend posted up that their first professional job was 30 years ago. Me: mine was in January 1996. Oh ...
January 23, 2026 at 8:14 AM
A friend posted up that their first professional job was 30 years ago. Me: mine was in January 1996. Oh ...
Chatting to a youngish person in the choir about a Whitman setting in a gay themed concert I once did (Toward the Unknown Region, Glass, PSB). She didn't know of any LGBT composers! It will only happen accidentally in this choir .. but who would you programme?
January 22, 2026 at 11:35 PM
Chatting to a youngish person in the choir about a Whitman setting in a gay themed concert I once did (Toward the Unknown Region, Glass, PSB). She didn't know of any LGBT composers! It will only happen accidentally in this choir .. but who would you programme?
You with all your spooky podcasts. I'm such a wuss that I listened to this *about* Stephen King and was so disturbed by the plot descriptions that I had to put the light back on. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Screenshot - Stephen King - BBC Sounds
Ellen and Mark look at King adaptations, from The Shawshank Redemption to The Shining.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 22, 2026 at 5:50 PM
You with all your spooky podcasts. I'm such a wuss that I listened to this *about* Stephen King and was so disturbed by the plot descriptions that I had to put the light back on. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Not the most motivational post, but my back room clearance is just as physically and emotionally exhausting as I thought it would be, and justifies my not going near it for 3 years.
January 22, 2026 at 9:54 AM
Not the most motivational post, but my back room clearance is just as physically and emotionally exhausting as I thought it would be, and justifies my not going near it for 3 years.
While I'm keeping most of Mr S's BroLit collection just because, I needed to shift some books about and decided his Ian McEwan collection could go as I think I actually detest his work. Clever and nasty.
January 21, 2026 at 5:07 PM
While I'm keeping most of Mr S's BroLit collection just because, I needed to shift some books about and decided his Ian McEwan collection could go as I think I actually detest his work. Clever and nasty.
Reposted by Katharine Schopflin
This will get massively overshadowed today and as ever the devil is in the detail, but is should be one of the best things Labour has done. It has the potential to improve the lives and finances of millions of people.
www.businessgreen.com/news/4524489...
www.businessgreen.com/news/4524489...
'A national project to turn the tide': Government unveils £15bn Warm Homes Plan
Long-awaited plan aims to help millions of families to cut energy bills by installing solar panels, batteries, heat pumps, and insulation
www.businessgreen.com
January 21, 2026 at 7:17 AM
This will get massively overshadowed today and as ever the devil is in the detail, but is should be one of the best things Labour has done. It has the potential to improve the lives and finances of millions of people.
www.businessgreen.com/news/4524489...
www.businessgreen.com/news/4524489...
I thought I'd been delivered the wrong thing. Complained to the big company using clunky complaints system. Realised almost immediately I was wrong but no way to recall complaint. A week later being sent another delivery of same.
January 20, 2026 at 4:44 PM
I thought I'd been delivered the wrong thing. Complained to the big company using clunky complaints system. Realised almost immediately I was wrong but no way to recall complaint. A week later being sent another delivery of same.
This hotel put flip flops rather than slippers in the room. One big size, one small. I (size 4) am sharing with a female friend (size 5). They did change them when we asked though.
January 17, 2026 at 4:14 PM
This hotel put flip flops rather than slippers in the room. One big size, one small. I (size 4) am sharing with a female friend (size 5). They did change them when we asked though.
Early days but this is in the running for book of the year. Although it reminds me that my art history lecturer, teaching Dutch 17th century art, claimed nobody had vases of cut flowers until the 19th century but couldn't explain what the painters were painting.
January 17, 2026 at 3:17 PM
Early days but this is in the running for book of the year. Although it reminds me that my art history lecturer, teaching Dutch 17th century art, claimed nobody had vases of cut flowers until the 19th century but couldn't explain what the painters were painting.
I was nearly in the wrong portion of a dividing train yesterday because both parts called at my station 14 minutes apart. I was confused because the calling time wasn't the same as the timetable. Luckily I have a handy train nerd in my contacts who worked it out for me. Nurture your nerds, people!
January 17, 2026 at 9:16 AM
I was nearly in the wrong portion of a dividing train yesterday because both parts called at my station 14 minutes apart. I was confused because the calling time wasn't the same as the timetable. Luckily I have a handy train nerd in my contacts who worked it out for me. Nurture your nerds, people!
Me to B&B in Siena - can I use my bank card on the bus? B&B 'You can use the bank card in taxi, best way to get here'. Thanks Pietro, hope your cousin appreciates it.
January 16, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Me to B&B in Siena - can I use my bank card on the bus? B&B 'You can use the bank card in taxi, best way to get here'. Thanks Pietro, hope your cousin appreciates it.
I've been a member of a professional organisation since 1998. Parts of the profession have disappeared since then and I had to reapply my skills. For a long time I felt the association tried to match the diversity of the profession. Now it seems to be contracting its focus. Time to leave.
January 16, 2026 at 2:51 PM
I've been a member of a professional organisation since 1998. Parts of the profession have disappeared since then and I had to reapply my skills. For a long time I felt the association tried to match the diversity of the profession. Now it seems to be contracting its focus. Time to leave.
Love to receive a mailing list digest where the only message is 'Please remove me from this mailing list'. Immediately above a message including 'To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list ...'
January 16, 2026 at 8:27 AM
Love to receive a mailing list digest where the only message is 'Please remove me from this mailing list'. Immediately above a message including 'To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list ...'
Reposted by Katharine Schopflin
I have met so many Dans, and female Dans, and they always blow my mind
![[Scene is a SCIENCE RESEARCH FACILITY where two white coated scientists are standing at a desk of instruments and controls in front of a one way mirroe, looking at a mocked-up drinks party scene in the next room. In that room is a man named Dan and a woman, holding glasses of wine and apparently having a conversation. Dan, however, has a hi tech helmet strapped to his head, with wires extruding from it and leading to the instruments next door. Dan when we see him close up has a slightly dull expression and is droning on, while the lady listens, smiling politely].
[Scientists looking through the glass]
SCIENTIST 1:
And is this one of your patients?
SCIENTIST 2:
Yes
SCIENTIST 1:
This is Dan.
Dan was born completely incapable of asking people about themselves at parties.
DAN [close up, droning on while the woman listens]:
...So yeah 1 like implement creative solutions... and I work with clients to design a... and I'm writing a novel about like this guy...
SCIENTIST 1 [Looking at a screen showing Dan's brain with a hole in the middle]:
As you can see, despite talking about himself for the past two hours, the part of the brain which gives a toss about other people's lives shows no activity at all.
SCIENTIST 1 [bending over a microphone on the desk and pressing the intercom button]:
Dan...
Ask the lady... what her job is.
[Dan pauses.]
[Dan continues to pause]
DAN:
What's your job.
LADY [smiling humbly]:
Oh, I'm a murderer?
Well, contract killer, you know, haha...
[Show dan, silent]
[Show lady, smiling, waiting for a response]
[Show dan, still silent]
[Show Dan, slowly opening his mouth to speak
DAN:
And-
[But Dan falls silent again]
[Show Lady looking slightly desperate now, silently willing him to continue]
[Still nothing from Dan. But then...]
DAN:
...And yeah part of my job is I coordinate media content to across platforms to create -
SCIENTIST 1:
Fascinating
SCIENTIST 2:
Isn't it
[Ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreifme2zqevh4ylssa6ig2rwsiexw66rgxgc7d3sixfo6vz4oaxh34e@jpeg)
January 15, 2026 at 9:47 AM
I have met so many Dans, and female Dans, and they always blow my mind
This is good on weight-loss injections and Giles Yeo a sensible interviewee. Pondering a future where extra weight *isn't* stigmatised when it's not causing other health problems. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Sliced Bread - Weight-loss Injections - BBC Sounds
Is it OK to stay on weight-loss injections?
www.bbc.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 8:52 AM
This is good on weight-loss injections and Giles Yeo a sensible interviewee. Pondering a future where extra weight *isn't* stigmatised when it's not causing other health problems. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
For reasons, I just looked up Henri Charriere. 'Papillion' was everywhere when I was growing up. Not advocating Devil's Island-type incarceration, but it looks like he really wasn't a very good person and the book was mostly other people's experience.
January 15, 2026 at 8:31 AM
For reasons, I just looked up Henri Charriere. 'Papillion' was everywhere when I was growing up. Not advocating Devil's Island-type incarceration, but it looks like he really wasn't a very good person and the book was mostly other people's experience.
European Sleeper looking for 160 euro micro-investments. Which is a hefty ticket tax but if Milan-Paris is running by mid-June that will save me a night in a hotel and a long day's travel.
January 13, 2026 at 1:02 PM
European Sleeper looking for 160 euro micro-investments. Which is a hefty ticket tax but if Milan-Paris is running by mid-June that will save me a night in a hotel and a long day's travel.
Very happy to say this is the face of a cat begging for more food and there isn't currently a nearly-full bowl of biscuits available. Switch to Hills sensitive a success.
January 13, 2026 at 7:39 AM
Very happy to say this is the face of a cat begging for more food and there isn't currently a nearly-full bowl of biscuits available. Switch to Hills sensitive a success.
My favourite Zadawi fact: along with Salt Bae he was once the most famous Kurdish person in Britain. Well 'fact' is a strong word for that.
January 12, 2026 at 6:22 PM
My favourite Zadawi fact: along with Salt Bae he was once the most famous Kurdish person in Britain. Well 'fact' is a strong word for that.
Early furniture collection - BHF arrived at 7. All expected but because every part of my body wants to be resting then, I'm teetering on the edge of a fatigue crash. If you ever used electricity cards in peak time, that's what just happened to my energy reserves.
January 12, 2026 at 8:05 AM
Early furniture collection - BHF arrived at 7. All expected but because every part of my body wants to be resting then, I'm teetering on the edge of a fatigue crash. If you ever used electricity cards in peak time, that's what just happened to my energy reserves.
Reposted by Katharine Schopflin
I have to contradict Mandelson on this…
When I was aged 9-13, I was forced to service/satisfy straight, gay or bi men aged 30-70 from very high positions in society. So him saying that just because he’s gay removes him from being catered for by Epstein, is a lie.
His sexuality doesn’t preclude him
When I was aged 9-13, I was forced to service/satisfy straight, gay or bi men aged 30-70 from very high positions in society. So him saying that just because he’s gay removes him from being catered for by Epstein, is a lie.
His sexuality doesn’t preclude him
Epstein kept me 'separate' from his sexual side because I'm gay, Mandelson tells BBC
Epstein kept me 'separate' from his sexual side because I'm gay, Mandelson tells BBC
Mandelson tells the BBC he won't apologise to Epstein's victims because he was not 'knowledgeable' of the situation.
www.bbc.com
January 11, 2026 at 4:28 PM
I have to contradict Mandelson on this…
When I was aged 9-13, I was forced to service/satisfy straight, gay or bi men aged 30-70 from very high positions in society. So him saying that just because he’s gay removes him from being catered for by Epstein, is a lie.
His sexuality doesn’t preclude him
When I was aged 9-13, I was forced to service/satisfy straight, gay or bi men aged 30-70 from very high positions in society. So him saying that just because he’s gay removes him from being catered for by Epstein, is a lie.
His sexuality doesn’t preclude him
Did some more clearing yesterday. As well as the memories there are messages. The complicated desk he ordered and never managed to properly assemble. So much unfinished writing. I have a hard deadline for all this but it's knackering.
January 11, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Did some more clearing yesterday. As well as the memories there are messages. The complicated desk he ordered and never managed to properly assemble. So much unfinished writing. I have a hard deadline for all this but it's knackering.
First Menenen of the year, people of #EggClub . In Mosaic cafe in Clapton. It's nicely spiced if a bit liquid. Appropriately enough they played 'I am the walrus' while I was waiting.
January 11, 2026 at 12:54 PM
First Menenen of the year, people of #EggClub . In Mosaic cafe in Clapton. It's nicely spiced if a bit liquid. Appropriately enough they played 'I am the walrus' while I was waiting.
This was excellent - lots about culture and history and DJ is a great interviewee. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
January 11, 2026 at 11:48 AM
This was excellent - lots about culture and history and DJ is a great interviewee. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...