Virginia Preston
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coughingbear.bsky.social
Virginia Preston
@coughingbear.bsky.social
150 followers 220 following 32 posts
Likes: social history of the Royal Navy, children's lit, SFF, cats. I also make pots. She/her.
Posts Replies Media Videos
coughingbear.bsky.social
Looking forward to this so much!
srfantasyclub.bsky.social Super Relaxed Fantasy Club @srfantasyclub.bsky.social · Sep 18
Halloween is coming!

Creepy - but relaxed! - readings and chat from award winning authors NUZO ONOH @nuzo.bsky.social and IAN MCDONALD @ianmcdonald.bsky.social

7pm, 14 Oct, Star of Kings
Free! Reserve your spot at srfc2025Halloween.eventbrite.com
Promo for the event which reads SUPER RELAXED FANTASY CLUB Ian McDonald Nuzo Onoh 7pm Tuesday 14th October Star of Kings, near Kings Cross Free donation optional
October 14, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Reposted by Virginia Preston
easterconuk.bsky.social
Display in the Iridescence Art Show.

The Art Show at Iridescence is all about celebrating the incredible creativity in our community. It is a space where fans can admire, celebrate, and buy art directly from creators.

Full info on the website eastercon2026.org/art-show
Phoenix in red and yellow flames rising upwards with text “Art Show Iridescence eastercon2026.org”
September 19, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Reposted by Virginia Preston
easterconuk.bsky.social
We are looking for volunteers.
Volunteering is at the heart of Eastercon. It is what makes the convention possible!

By giving a little of your time, you help shape the experience for everyone while joining a welcoming, creative community.

The form is on our website eastercon2026.org/volunteering
Phoenix in red and yellow flames rising above white text “Volunteer Iridescence eastercon2026.org”
September 21, 2025 at 4:23 PM
coughingbear.bsky.social
Really interesting thread about how people can and do change their minds - needed to hear this after a conversation last night with someone struggling with getting a person v close to them to see past the far right narratives.
jenniekermode.bsky.social Jennie Kermode @jenniekermode.bsky.social · Sep 7
I've recently been engaged with some important work on the far right and what many people see as the social decline of the UK - the tide of hatred against vulnerable minoritised groups that has arisen in the wake of economic decline. it's not inevitable, and we can do something about it.
September 7, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Reposted by Virginia Preston
easterconuk.bsky.social
Hello lovely Easterconners - We've been busy in the background getting things in place to bring you an amazing Eastercon next year!

If you're a member you should have received an update email today. We're sorry if you got it more than once, we're tech wrangling and grateful for your patience.
September 6, 2025 at 8:28 PM
coughingbear.bsky.social
Really looking forward to reading about your ideas for programme!
easterconuk.bsky.social Iridescence - The 2026 Eastercon @easterconuk.bsky.social · Sep 6
Programme klaxon!

The programme team are working on lots of ideas to bring you a brilliant programme, but we need to hear from you!

We’ve created a *very* short survey for you to pass on your suggestions and to tell us if you’d also like to take part in programme:
forms.office.com/e/rN9T4wEX1N
Microsoft Forms
forms.office.com
September 7, 2025 at 12:26 PM
coughingbear.bsky.social
Very excited to be running programme for next year’s Eastercon, now seated, Iridescence 2026. GOHs
- RJ Barker
- ⁠Dr Karen Lord
- ⁠Emma Newman
- ⁠John Wilson and Serena Culfeather
April 20, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Reposted by Virginia Preston
rspb.bsky.social
WORLD-FIRST: Ground-breaking research published today in the Ornithologist Journal has, for the first time, translated common UK bird vocalisations into equivalent phrases in the human language.

The results tell us a lot!

Extracts below... 🧵
The front cover of a scientific journal titled Ornithologist, dated 1 April 2025. The main headline reads: “BIRDS: DECODED - Groundbreaking New Science.” Below that, a subheading says: “What are the UK’s birds really saying? Pioneering new research provides the answers.”
April 1, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Reposted by Virginia Preston
effjayem.bsky.social
@teamlabouruk.bsky.social a reminder. Because apparently you need it.
March 21, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Reposted by Virginia Preston
pastpresentsoc.bsky.social
Applications are open for the 2025-27 Past & Present Fellowships @ihr.bsky.social are open

Applications close on 31st Jan 2025

Fellows appointed will commence on 1st Oct 2025 and be tenable for 24 months

Please share with your network

www.history.ac.uk/fellowships/...
Past & Present Fellowships
Past & Present Fellowships are available for two years, and open to researchers who have completed a doctorate in history.
www.history.ac.uk
January 6, 2025 at 8:03 AM
coughingbear.bsky.social
For new people, here’s a new #proofofcat. This is Sam
November 17, 2024 at 10:10 AM
Reposted by Virginia Preston
crfields.bsky.social
Just discovered this gem and deem it worthy of my first reskeet (re-skeet?) 🙌 It has it all! History, humor, cats!
garius.bsky.social John Bull @garius.bsky.social · Dec 23
Someone tagged me into this as, in Drach's absence, the person on BlueSky most likely to know (without guessing) how navies handled cat poo. I am VERY offended.

But they're also right. 😆 Indeed Drach/Dr Alex and I were comparing notes on this back in November.

So thread: How cats shat on ships /1
catsofyore.bsky.social Cats of Yore @catsofyore.bsky.social · Dec 22
Bad news: I wrote to the Museum of Maritime Pets in Maine to ask how cat poops and pee were handled on ships before litter was invented. They didn't know! But they're very curious, too, and want me to keep them updated. We can all make educated guesses but I want to see what actual records say.
November 12, 2024 at 2:07 AM
Reposted by Virginia Preston
drkarenlord.bsky.social
Fall 2025, Saga Press. Mark your calendars!
Acquisition announcement. [Three photos of the editors Lord, Newitz, and Older] WE WILL RISE AGAIN: Speculative Stories About Political Protest, Resistance, and Hope. Karen Lord, Annalee Newitz, and Malka Older. Coming Fall 2025. Saga Press.
October 28, 2024 at 8:32 PM
Reposted by Virginia Preston
wtpress.bsky.social
It's up on Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/...
Cover of The Green Man's War by Juliet E McKenna. Image features a white wyrm against a forested background.
October 21, 2024 at 1:38 PM
coughingbear.bsky.social
Spiky. #BuffyRevamped
September 17, 2024 at 6:25 PM
coughingbear.bsky.social
Yay Octothorpe!
glasgow2024.bsky.social Glasgow 2024, A Worldcon For Our Futures @glasgow2024.bsky.social · Aug 11
The winner of the Hugo Award for Best Fancast is Octothorpe by John Coxon, Alison Scott, and Liz Batty.
#HugoAwards2024 #Glasgow2024 #WorldconForOurFutures
[Start Alt Text] Square graphic with black background. Purple galaxy design in the top left corner and bottom right corner. The Glasgow 2024 logo is in the top left corner under purple galaxy design. Top center of the slide has the title Best Fancast in white letters. The winner’s names are underneath in white letters: Octothorpe by John Coxon, Alison Scott, and Liz Batty. [End Alt Text]
August 11, 2024 at 9:16 PM
coughingbear.bsky.social
Brilliant!
glasgow2024.bsky.social Glasgow 2024, A Worldcon For Our Futures @glasgow2024.bsky.social · Aug 11
The winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novella is Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher (Tor, Titan UK).

#HugoAwards2024 #Glasgow2024 #WorldconForOurFutures
[Start Alt Text] Square graphic with black background. Purple galaxy design in the top left corner and bottom right corner. The Glasgow 2024 logo is in the top left corner under purple galaxy design. Top center of the slide has the title Best Novella in white letters. The winner’s names are underneath in white letters: Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher (Tor, Titan UK). [End Alt Text]
August 11, 2024 at 9:02 PM
coughingbear.bsky.social
The Green Man series are brilliant books - I've reread all at least once and will do again. Love the way McKenna uses specific local folklore & thinks about how swan maidens, dryads, naiads and wyrms might live in the present day. (Also cover art I like so much I made fan pottery of the first one.)
julietemckenna.bsky.social Juliet E McKenna @julietemckenna.bsky.social · Jul 9
A bit of promo as reaching readers becomes increasingly difficult. My current contemporary fantasy series is inspired by British myth and folklore. Dan Mackmain is mostly human, but he is a dryad's son, so the Green Man sends him to solve problems when the mundane and the uncanny collide.
#booksky
Cover art shows a wooden carving of a face made from oak leaves, with an emerald glint deep in its hollow eyes. The mysterious Green Man of legend. Cover copy reads: A hundred years ago, a man with a secret could travel a few hundred miles and give himself a new name and life story. No one would be any the wiser, as long as he didn’t give anyone a reason to start asking questions. These days, that’s not so easy, with everyone on social media, and CCTV on every street corner. So Daniel Mackmain keeps his head down and keeps himself to himself. But now a girl has been murdered and the Derbyshire police are taking a closer look at a loner who travels from place to place, picking up work as he goes. Worse, Dan realises the murder involves the hidden world he was born into. When no one else can see the truth, who will see justice done?
July 9, 2024 at 6:38 PM
coughingbear.bsky.social
Really looking forward to listening to this - was there for the recording and it was great (and I immediately ordered The Masters of Solitude as recommended by @tadethompson.bsky.social - have been slightly distracted by Hugo reading but it's at the top of the tottering TBR pile).
July 9, 2024 at 6:27 PM
Reposted by Virginia Preston
alexvont.bsky.social
Let’s boost this again. You will need photo ID to vote in a UK election because the Conservatives have tried to minimise the defeat they robustly deserve. Get it free from the link below.
jowilliams.bsky.social Dr Joanne Williams @jowilliams.bsky.social · Mar 24
Poll card arrived for local elections in May. Seems like a good time to remind folks in the UK that you'll need photo ID to vote this year. If you don't have the passport or photo driving licence you can get it free via local council or here: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-e...
Voter ID
There is a new requirement to take photo ID to some elections in England, Scotland and Wales.
www.electoralcommission.org.uk
May 22, 2024 at 3:45 PM
coughingbear.bsky.social
What’s up has mostly been gardening, that’s what. Weeding and chopping and today is planting things out
May 19, 2024 at 7:57 AM
Reposted by Virginia Preston
navyrecords.bsky.social
'Yesterday we had the single sticks on the quarterdeck and some of us fenced a little….This afternoon just as I was going off to a nice sleep the captain sent for me and asked me if I would like to go ashore with him, so, of course, I had to say yes...' www.navyrecords.org.uk/magazine_pos...
The Godfrey-Faussett Papers Part 2: HMS Dido Cape Coast Castle to Gabon 1880. – The Navy Records Society
www.navyrecords.org.uk
May 2, 2024 at 7:56 PM
coughingbear.bsky.social
Essential cat photo
Black cat on bed with black and white cat behind them
November 23, 2023 at 11:17 AM
coughingbear.bsky.social
Today I am mostly reading The Green Man's Quarry, the new book from Juliet McKenna. And loving it obv. Look at that cover too!
wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/book...
The Green Man’s Quarry
Publication October 21st. Book launch at BristolCon on the evening of the 20th. Pre-orders available as follows; more will be added as they come online. ISBNs Paperback: 978-1-913892-64-7 Hardcover…
wizardstowerpress.com
October 22, 2023 at 4:31 PM
Reposted by Virginia Preston
bho.bsky.social
Simon Newman's excellent Freedom Seekers, on escapees from slavery in Great Britiain, can be downloaded from:
uolpress.co.uk/book/freedom...
#OpenAccess #History
October 6, 2023 at 7:51 AM