Alison Tomlin
@alisontomlin.bsky.social
Prof @ Leeds Uni in energy & environment. For clean air, net zero, trees, Latin drumming & exercising my right to roam. Suspect professional Northerner.
Opened the vegan brandy snap factory a bit early this year. It's a birthday weekend, including mine and a friend who's heading for a big one. No failures so far which might be a first!
November 14, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Opened the vegan brandy snap factory a bit early this year. It's a birthday weekend, including mine and a friend who's heading for a big one. No failures so far which might be a first!
Your daily beech bath (sorry). Not too many leaves left in the trees now. I always miss autumn when it's gone.
November 9, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Your daily beech bath (sorry). Not too many leaves left in the trees now. I always miss autumn when it's gone.
It got more exciting as we got very close to the working steam engine. Not sure I have ever seen a centrifugal governor in operation before. Apparently it wasn't working quite correctly today, and small changes in piston speed affect the quality of the weave. Fascinating.
November 8, 2025 at 5:53 PM
It got more exciting as we got very close to the working steam engine. Not sure I have ever seen a centrifugal governor in operation before. Apparently it wasn't working quite correctly today, and small changes in piston speed affect the quality of the weave. Fascinating.
Loving being in the weaving shed. Maybe not for 12 hours...
November 8, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Loving being in the weaving shed. Maybe not for 12 hours...
In steam, in Burnley. Amazing.
November 8, 2025 at 12:46 PM
In steam, in Burnley. Amazing.
Doing some last minute practice for this performance in Burnley tomorrow. Live from the weaving shed. The backing band will be the sound of the loom itself. "Engine in steam from 12 noon". What a great phrase.
November 7, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Doing some last minute practice for this performance in Burnley tomorrow. Live from the weaving shed. The backing band will be the sound of the loom itself. "Engine in steam from 12 noon". What a great phrase.
Middle Earth, Meanwood is looking dark and gloomy. Beautiful. (Don't @ me Tolkien literally just lived down the road for a while).
November 7, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Middle Earth, Meanwood is looking dark and gloomy. Beautiful. (Don't @ me Tolkien literally just lived down the road for a while).
Update for other data geeks. Opening the doors today really pushes up indoor particulates as outdoor air ingresses. With the doors closed, the air purifier does a decent job of bringing levels back to WHO recommended levels.
November 6, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Update for other data geeks. Opening the doors today really pushes up indoor particulates as outdoor air ingresses. With the doors closed, the air purifier does a decent job of bringing levels back to WHO recommended levels.
Does bonfire night impact indoor air quality. In my fairly well insulated but probably fairly leaky bungalow, the answer is yes. PM2.5 reached 50ug/m3 last night. They dropped back to <20 indoors overnight. The sensor is now outside at 40 ug/m3.
November 6, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Does bonfire night impact indoor air quality. In my fairly well insulated but probably fairly leaky bungalow, the answer is yes. PM2.5 reached 50ug/m3 last night. They dropped back to <20 indoors overnight. The sensor is now outside at 40 ug/m3.
Leeds folk. Look outside. The sky has gone very Turneresque. Wow.
November 5, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Leeds folk. Look outside. The sky has gone very Turneresque. Wow.
Proper bonfire gloom this morning. Of course the wood is wearing it well, because the wood wears everything well.
November 5, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Proper bonfire gloom this morning. Of course the wood is wearing it well, because the wood wears everything well.
After 4 hours of lectures this afternoon (including on carbon dioxide removal methods) I had a rather weary trudge back through the autumn tinted grave yard. A useful sign told me that this is a European Beech storing 2577 Kg of carbon. It seems an overly precise number but impressive nevertheless.
November 3, 2025 at 8:11 PM
After 4 hours of lectures this afternoon (including on carbon dioxide removal methods) I had a rather weary trudge back through the autumn tinted grave yard. A useful sign told me that this is a European Beech storing 2577 Kg of carbon. It seems an overly precise number but impressive nevertheless.
Phoah it's a beautiful evening.
November 2, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Phoah it's a beautiful evening.
Feel so lucky to have this on the doorstep.
November 2, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Feel so lucky to have this on the doorstep.
More autumn beech vibes. Surprisingly clear after a night of bonfire and firework activity.
November 2, 2025 at 9:38 AM
More autumn beech vibes. Surprisingly clear after a night of bonfire and firework activity.
Oh dear my phone is full of pictures of trees. Probably all of a similar nature to the ones I took last year. It's just so gorgeous once the beeches start to go. Can't help myself.
October 31, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Oh dear my phone is full of pictures of trees. Probably all of a similar nature to the ones I took last year. It's just so gorgeous once the beeches start to go. Can't help myself.
British soldiers on the forest floor. The lichen kind, not military personnel.
October 30, 2025 at 1:45 PM
British soldiers on the forest floor. The lichen kind, not military personnel.
In need of some brain cell regeneration today. What better place than an autumn forest that has been left alone for years. Beautiful on all levels, including the floor.
October 30, 2025 at 12:41 PM
In need of some brain cell regeneration today. What better place than an autumn forest that has been left alone for years. Beautiful on all levels, including the floor.
It's been a difficult term with lots of classes and students finishing theses and papers to tight deadlines. I must be tired because I just got overly excited at finding a Frys Chocolate Cream in the snack shop. Apparently 8 yrs ago I was here. How did i manage that?
October 28, 2025 at 2:41 PM
It's been a difficult term with lots of classes and students finishing theses and papers to tight deadlines. I must be tired because I just got overly excited at finding a Frys Chocolate Cream in the snack shop. Apparently 8 yrs ago I was here. How did i manage that?
They're quite nice on the trees too. A glorious autumn evening in Leeds.
October 25, 2025 at 4:47 PM
They're quite nice on the trees too. A glorious autumn evening in Leeds.
The leaves in the pond look gorgeous. Although I guess i should remove them.
October 25, 2025 at 4:16 PM
The leaves in the pond look gorgeous. Although I guess i should remove them.
Been doing a bit of urbex with the collie around Sheffield while the guys sorted something on the van. The Park Hill Estate is a fab example of urban regeneration (still in progress). Makes for a stark before and after. Bet the price has gone up!
October 24, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Been doing a bit of urbex with the collie around Sheffield while the guys sorted something on the van. The Park Hill Estate is a fab example of urban regeneration (still in progress). Makes for a stark before and after. Bet the price has gone up!
Quite enjoying a rain sodden walk through the woods. Atmospheric. Funnily enough it's pretty quiet out here.
October 19, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Quite enjoying a rain sodden walk through the woods. Atmospheric. Funnily enough it's pretty quiet out here.
Murky in the peak district today but you can still see Henry Moore in the glorious rocks up there.
October 17, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Murky in the peak district today but you can still see Henry Moore in the glorious rocks up there.
I live at the top of the Sunsets. I guess this is how they got their name.
October 12, 2025 at 6:04 PM
I live at the top of the Sunsets. I guess this is how they got their name.