Ben Vulliamy
@bvulliamy.bsky.social
Charity trustee, Exec Director (@ahuauk.bsky.social), Dad, husband, day dreamer and optimist. Work in charities, higher education and community building. Geeky about politics, Yorkshire pud’s, ITFC and my log burner.
My arms and facial expressions when teaching go off the hook.
November 19, 2025 at 6:48 AM
My arms and facial expressions when teaching go off the hook.
Good to hear a panel at the Magna Charter Observatory conference talk about the role of students in living values, academic freedom and HE governance globally. The students talked about having a seat at the table being important but not a means unto itself.
November 11, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Good to hear a panel at the Magna Charter Observatory conference talk about the role of students in living values, academic freedom and HE governance globally. The students talked about having a seat at the table being important but not a means unto itself.
I loved Finish thriller Bordertown series 1 and 2 and just finished series 3. Even bleaker than those before with all the major characters broken and perhaps the only mentally strong character the wife who dies in a really moving episode 1. Highly recommended viewing. 9/10
November 2, 2025 at 10:24 PM
I loved Finish thriller Bordertown series 1 and 2 and just finished series 3. Even bleaker than those before with all the major characters broken and perhaps the only mentally strong character the wife who dies in a really moving episode 1. Highly recommended viewing. 9/10
The weekends foreign language TV series thriller was Dutch Incognito. Slick, modern, sometimes working to hard to be clever but with a decent plot line and some likable characters (as well as some enjoyably unlikable characters). A few too many cliches let it down. 6/10
October 27, 2025 at 6:31 PM
The weekends foreign language TV series thriller was Dutch Incognito. Slick, modern, sometimes working to hard to be clever but with a decent plot line and some likable characters (as well as some enjoyably unlikable characters). A few too many cliches let it down. 6/10
Went to see Mr Swallow this evening. Very good fun.
October 26, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Went to see Mr Swallow this evening. Very good fun.
Completed Finish / Swedish noir series Codename: Annika. Very modern and stylish. Undercover cop trying to smash an art dealer involved in money laundering while dealing with her own trauma around the loss of her mother. Double crosses, love triangles, twists & turns. Great stuff. 8/10
October 19, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Completed Finish / Swedish noir series Codename: Annika. Very modern and stylish. Undercover cop trying to smash an art dealer involved in money laundering while dealing with her own trauma around the loss of her mother. Double crosses, love triangles, twists & turns. Great stuff. 8/10
Sheffield has Self Esteem.
October 18, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Sheffield has Self Esteem.
I really like the idea that a condition of practicing free speech ‘even if it might be offensive’ is that you question your own opinions as well as state them when you demand the right to do so. This is beautifully explained here by Tim Minchin
October 17, 2025 at 6:06 PM
I really like the idea that a condition of practicing free speech ‘even if it might be offensive’ is that you question your own opinions as well as state them when you demand the right to do so. This is beautifully explained here by Tim Minchin
Took my Mum to Scampston walled gardens as a birthday gift. The autumnal colours, warm sunshine, delicious scones and the best of company made it a perfect end to the week.
October 12, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Took my Mum to Scampston walled gardens as a birthday gift. The autumnal colours, warm sunshine, delicious scones and the best of company made it a perfect end to the week.
Latest series complete is Start Over. French, supernatural time travelling thriller love story. In many ways very silly but actually some good characters (Cedric is adorable as is his chicken McFly) and good sub plots. Easy, enjoyable, fun and worth a look. 7/10
October 12, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Latest series complete is Start Over. French, supernatural time travelling thriller love story. In many ways very silly but actually some good characters (Cedric is adorable as is his chicken McFly) and good sub plots. Easy, enjoyable, fun and worth a look. 7/10
Lovely meal out with the fam-i-lam. Great company and great food.
October 10, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Lovely meal out with the fam-i-lam. Great company and great food.
Another foreign drama - this time Italian. Inspector Gerri has good characters, beautiful landscapes, gripping crimes & a constant sub plot about the lead characters insecurities resulting from being abandoned by his mother as a young boy. It’s not as polished as some but better for it I think. 8/10
October 6, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Another foreign drama - this time Italian. Inspector Gerri has good characters, beautiful landscapes, gripping crimes & a constant sub plot about the lead characters insecurities resulting from being abandoned by his mother as a young boy. It’s not as polished as some but better for it I think. 8/10
Remember all those Ipswich fans saying Clarke and Philogene were awful signings and not good enough?
Well done both for reminding #ITFC fans to keep the faith and calm the hyperbole.
Well done both for reminding #ITFC fans to keep the faith and calm the hyperbole.
October 5, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Remember all those Ipswich fans saying Clarke and Philogene were awful signings and not good enough?
Well done both for reminding #ITFC fans to keep the faith and calm the hyperbole.
Well done both for reminding #ITFC fans to keep the faith and calm the hyperbole.
Hi Ian, I think you’re confusing the data likely to be held by ID cards. My curtains prevent my neighbours having to see my hairy body slobbing on the sofa. Thats not data that will be held on digital ID cards. If you think it’s important & others want to see it I’m happy to take the curtains down.
October 2, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Hi Ian, I think you’re confusing the data likely to be held by ID cards. My curtains prevent my neighbours having to see my hairy body slobbing on the sofa. Thats not data that will be held on digital ID cards. If you think it’s important & others want to see it I’m happy to take the curtains down.
With ongoing criminal & Lords investigations into Conservative peer, tycoon Baroness Mone, courts have ruled £122m be repaid to the UK tax payer following misappropriation of covid payments to her company. She’s on a leave of absence but still recorded as a serving member of the House of Lords.
October 2, 2025 at 10:35 AM
With ongoing criminal & Lords investigations into Conservative peer, tycoon Baroness Mone, courts have ruled £122m be repaid to the UK tax payer following misappropriation of covid payments to her company. She’s on a leave of absence but still recorded as a serving member of the House of Lords.
Just finished The Hack & it’s excellent. As powerful an expose of corruption as Mr Bates v post office. In both cases they expose what we knew but with painful evidence of human impact. How lies & deceit by capitalist & corporate powers were responsible for the great injustice.
September 29, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Just finished The Hack & it’s excellent. As powerful an expose of corruption as Mr Bates v post office. In both cases they expose what we knew but with painful evidence of human impact. How lies & deceit by capitalist & corporate powers were responsible for the great injustice.
Flashback to @york.ac.uk Central Hall pic I took 2018
September 28, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Flashback to @york.ac.uk Central Hall pic I took 2018
Latest Scandi Noir series completed - Finish Isolated. A supernatural thriller set on an isolated island. Slow burner, mysterious, some solid characterisation. Lots of loose ends as there’s many sub plots. Worthwhile. 7/10
September 27, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Latest Scandi Noir series completed - Finish Isolated. A supernatural thriller set on an isolated island. Slow burner, mysterious, some solid characterisation. Lots of loose ends as there’s many sub plots. Worthwhile. 7/10
Cracking weekend celebrating my sisters 50th in Kettlewell. Very wet Saturday and glorious Sunday.
September 21, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Cracking weekend celebrating my sisters 50th in Kettlewell. Very wet Saturday and glorious Sunday.
I’m staying at Kettlewell hostel for the weekend, previously a YHA. Now independent hostel but they have chosen to preserve the YHA mission statement plaque. It’s such a fantastic mission statement and well worth retaining.
September 20, 2025 at 10:10 AM
I’m staying at Kettlewell hostel for the weekend, previously a YHA. Now independent hostel but they have chosen to preserve the YHA mission statement plaque. It’s such a fantastic mission statement and well worth retaining.
Next ScandiNoir for me was another Finish one with Omertà 6/12. A bit too high octane and fast paced for me with lots of military machismo. No who done it, no slow burn analysis and limited character development. Sorry but it’s a no from me. 4/10
September 18, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Next ScandiNoir for me was another Finish one with Omertà 6/12. A bit too high octane and fast paced for me with lots of military machismo. No who done it, no slow burn analysis and limited character development. Sorry but it’s a no from me. 4/10
Dear Britain, be more Borgen. Thanks.
September 16, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Dear Britain, be more Borgen. Thanks.
Just finished my latest Scandi noir with season 2 of Finish Freezing Embrace. Building on a very decent season 1 with a darker narrative, the lead characters built out well with their own strengths and vulnerabilities. I hope there’s further seasons. 8/10
September 14, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Just finished my latest Scandi noir with season 2 of Finish Freezing Embrace. Building on a very decent season 1 with a darker narrative, the lead characters built out well with their own strengths and vulnerabilities. I hope there’s further seasons. 8/10
Fell off my bike like a dingbat. Bruised ego more than anything. A slower 10 k home after the slides across the road on a Sandy corner. Lovely walker sat with me for 20 mins as I caught my breath, refilled my water and was patient and calming. People are often just great.
August 25, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Fell off my bike like a dingbat. Bruised ego more than anything. A slower 10 k home after the slides across the road on a Sandy corner. Lovely walker sat with me for 20 mins as I caught my breath, refilled my water and was patient and calming. People are often just great.
Morning swims in the lagoon in front of the house is a real treat.
August 25, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Morning swims in the lagoon in front of the house is a real treat.