Helen Lovatt
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helenlovatt.bsky.social
Helen Lovatt
@helenlovatt.bsky.social
1.4K followers 630 following 2.1K posts
Professor of Classics at Nottingham, writing, cats, brass banding, flowers. Power of Sadness, Latin Epic, Argonauts crossing. She/they. Legally blind
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helenlovatt.bsky.social
My cat last weekend
Ginger tabby with ears askew indicating possession of errant human who had the gall — the gall!—to work elsewhere for the preceding week leaving her at the mercy of the other human who barely FEEDS her and turns the heating off.
November 18, 2025 at 4:58 PM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
I love this so much I drew my own map
October 22, 2025 at 1:31 PM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
And I drew a map.
A talismanic map of the arts and humanities in life. Drawing of a river system with many tributaries leading to a delta, with concepts represented as double spirals of Kesh settlements. Pencil on paper.
October 17, 2025 at 12:36 PM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
Literature shapes the very spaces we live in. We cannot extract life from the contexts of art and culture. Arts and humanities are not a luxury, a waste of time and money. They are crucial to continued humanity.

(On The Word for World exhibition. I see @unamccormack.bsky.social is in the book!)
October 17, 2025 at 12:14 PM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
I went. It was lovely! The Orsinia map has little people with hats!
Map of Orsinia drawn by Ursula Le Guin. On yellowed paper with red lettering
October 16, 2025 at 10:12 PM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
Nice cuddle with cat. Still loads to do, and really don’t want to. Technically my day off, but need to clear decks before weekend. Sigh.
Ellie, ginger and stripy cat, smiles up from my lap
October 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
“The girlfriend of one of the founders of antifa”
Painting (imagined) of Catullus’ girlfriend Lesbia, by Edward Poynter 1907
October 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
Beautiful walk in from the tram today.
Ducks, reflective water, Trent tower, trees Lake, blue sky, leaves starting to turn Avenue, bright light and shadows, some autumn colour Still water, leaves, berries, reflections
October 6, 2025 at 2:57 PM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
Beautiful morning. Writing on the train. I’m happy when I know where my 500 words are coming from and I can get on with them.
Blue sky and vigorous scrub beside the line at Grantham
October 6, 2025 at 9:49 AM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
Finally sat down to write and Ellie has opinions
Ginger cat sitting on notebook looking determinedly out into the garden Ginger cat lying across whole notebook Ginger cat resting on notebook Ginger cat washing arse on notebook
October 3, 2025 at 2:07 PM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
V interesting on AI and radiology. This tracks with automated text searching for intertextuality. www.understandingai.org/p/ai-isnt-re...
In many jobs, tasks are diverse, stakes are high, and demand is elastic. When this is the case, we should expect software to initially lead to more human work, not less. The lesson from a decade of radiology models is neither optimism about increased output nor dread about replacement. Models can lift productivity, but their implementation depends on behavior, institutions and incentives. For now, the paradox has held: the better the machines, the busier radiologists have become.
October 1, 2025 at 3:16 PM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
Go Ellie! Weird car collaboration for you!
October 1, 2025 at 10:21 AM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
Sometimes, despite everything *waves hands*, it feels like not only the dystopian SF has purchase in the world. #tinyjoys #wayfarers #stillmulticultural
A blueberry and blackberry kombucha at a little cafe in Beeston past which people of all shapes colours and sizes wander past, with wheelchairs, walkers, canes, dogs, brightly coloured hair, diverse genders
September 29, 2025 at 11:47 AM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
Also because my inside office is occupied
Ginger cat, four white feet bundled together, very asleep on office chair in front of computer, desk and monitor
September 25, 2025 at 12:01 PM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
My office this morning. Making the most of the autumn sun. Words have been written.
Notebook, blue and white coffee cup, garden table, fuchsias, grass, hedge, blue sky
September 25, 2025 at 11:07 AM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
Fuchsias have finally come into their own #tinyjoys #bloomscrolling
Red outer petal, white inner, delicate red veining, red stamen White outer petals, purple inner, just opening Gloriously pink in full flower
September 19, 2025 at 10:02 PM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
A friend from my office shelf for anyone that is feeling in need of support. This is the cuddly Totoro I was given when teaching English in Japan in 1997. I guess they wanted to make me feel less lonely - but I didn’t realise its significance until I watched the film later! #tinyjoys #shelfie
A grey fluffy Totoro with a dust mite, a pumpkin, a bowl of rice and a fish. TOtoro, toTOro!
September 15, 2025 at 3:20 PM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
Apparently I am paying too much attention to my notebook and not enough to Ellie
Ginger cat lying in right hand page of notebook
September 8, 2025 at 9:54 AM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
Fruits of our labours. Not sure it is worth it, but better than just giving up completely. Run out of sugar now.
Damson or wild plum jam, 8 jars with red gingham tops. These are the posh new jars we bought because we mostly give the jam to my parents, and there’s no easy way of getting the jars back! Three jars of Apple chutney left and six jars of slightly ‘caramelised’ Apple and rhubarb jam, recycled jars, because no one other than me will want this.
August 31, 2025 at 8:48 PM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
Sorry I cannot do the things. I am required as cat sitzplatz
Ginger cat solidly on lap beautiful ears
July 16, 2025 at 9:42 AM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
It is. Love the lake especially
Portland building lake and ducks
July 10, 2025 at 12:12 PM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
Trying some trailing sweet peas in the hanging basket. Flowering nicely now, smell great too! #floweroftheday #BloomScrolling
Pink and red sweet peas standing out above pink blue and purple lobelias with trees and blue sky in the background Hanging baskets in context two white baskets with flowers hanging from the white verandah patio, trees, and lawn in the background
June 27, 2025 at 12:16 PM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
#floweroftheday #bloomscrolling Yellow loosestrife from my mum’s garden
Tall yellow racemes In context, green trees, hedge, blue skies, white chairs in the garden
June 26, 2025 at 3:07 PM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
Like blood from a stone but I made it to 500 words, did some useful thinking and some admin tasks. Meanwhile, the kitchen is taking shape
Open kitchen units without doors or worktop and window on the left looking into green garden
June 12, 2025 at 3:38 PM
helenlovatt.bsky.social
Made it all the way to Nottingham and even managed a walk around the lake!
Green trees and grass reflects water and the Trent tower, looking down the path in Highfields park Small fleet of waterfowl in front of the Trent tower Lovely still reflections looking back up the lake from the West end
April 28, 2025 at 11:50 AM