Kirsty Grainger
@kirstygrainger.bsky.social
By day: enabler of research & cheerleader of people. By night: sweary embroidery, speedcubing, books, parkrun. University of Bath (ex-UKRI). She/her
Parkrun update: home course. There is a special community feeling of huddling in the rain ahead of parkrun! One brave sole stood in the rain rather than under the shelter... 🦖
November 22, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Parkrun update: home course. There is a special community feeling of huddling in the rain ahead of parkrun! One brave sole stood in the rain rather than under the shelter... 🦖
Time with my Independent Visitor volunteer's hat on yesterday. Time with a young person that wants to hang out*. What's not to like?
Saw pigs and played lots of pass-the-pigs and sky-jo in a café.
anotherwayoflookingatit.wordpress.com/2021/04/12/b...
*a rare thing now my kids are teens!
Saw pigs and played lots of pass-the-pigs and sky-jo in a café.
anotherwayoflookingatit.wordpress.com/2021/04/12/b...
*a rare thing now my kids are teens!
November 9, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Time with my Independent Visitor volunteer's hat on yesterday. Time with a young person that wants to hang out*. What's not to like?
Saw pigs and played lots of pass-the-pigs and sky-jo in a café.
anotherwayoflookingatit.wordpress.com/2021/04/12/b...
*a rare thing now my kids are teens!
Saw pigs and played lots of pass-the-pigs and sky-jo in a café.
anotherwayoflookingatit.wordpress.com/2021/04/12/b...
*a rare thing now my kids are teens!
#parkrun update: away at Rothay Park Ambleside.
MY 100th PARKRUN!
Also my slowest ever parkrun as I'm injured from a cartoon-style fall last week. Probably* shouldn't have run but had planned for over a year for my 100th to coincide with the new age grading so did it. Mostly walked it
*definitely
MY 100th PARKRUN!
Also my slowest ever parkrun as I'm injured from a cartoon-style fall last week. Probably* shouldn't have run but had planned for over a year for my 100th to coincide with the new age grading so did it. Mostly walked it
*definitely
November 1, 2025 at 10:38 AM
#parkrun update: away at Rothay Park Ambleside.
MY 100th PARKRUN!
Also my slowest ever parkrun as I'm injured from a cartoon-style fall last week. Probably* shouldn't have run but had planned for over a year for my 100th to coincide with the new age grading so did it. Mostly walked it
*definitely
MY 100th PARKRUN!
Also my slowest ever parkrun as I'm injured from a cartoon-style fall last week. Probably* shouldn't have run but had planned for over a year for my 100th to coincide with the new age grading so did it. Mostly walked it
*definitely
Just spotted that the roses universities @yorkuniversity.bsky.social and @lancasteruni.bsky.social have used the same supplier for the pens they give away on open days.
October 20, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Just spotted that the roses universities @yorkuniversity.bsky.social and @lancasteruni.bsky.social have used the same supplier for the pens they give away on open days.
🤣 Wilbur says hello and has decided the whole sofa is his!
October 9, 2025 at 8:09 PM
🤣 Wilbur says hello and has decided the whole sofa is his!
Cheeky mid week gig with the fam. The Divine Comedy albums have mirrored stages of me and my peers lives given the proximity of age to Mr Neil Hannon. Latest album is about the death of his father. Sublime. Stand out tracks for me The Last Time I Saw The Old Man which is gloriously real 1/2
October 8, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Cheeky mid week gig with the fam. The Divine Comedy albums have mirrored stages of me and my peers lives given the proximity of age to Mr Neil Hannon. Latest album is about the death of his father. Sublime. Stand out tracks for me The Last Time I Saw The Old Man which is gloriously real 1/2
Parkrun update: home course, first run since the half last Sunday and yes it hurt! 49mph winds probably didn't help. I love the sense of quiet community (and smugness) on bad weather parkrun days.
Had to resist the urge to pick up all the conkers at the start.
Had to resist the urge to pick up all the conkers at the start.
October 4, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Parkrun update: home course, first run since the half last Sunday and yes it hurt! 49mph winds probably didn't help. I love the sense of quiet community (and smugness) on bad weather parkrun days.
Had to resist the urge to pick up all the conkers at the start.
Had to resist the urge to pick up all the conkers at the start.
Swindon Half! Thanks for all the encouragement. Unexpected benefit of marshalling #parkrun yesterday was that a fellow marshall said he was aiming for a 2.30 today. I saw him at the start made him my unofficial pacer and I did it! If I hadn't marshalled wouldn't have had aspirational pacing. #RunSky
September 28, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Swindon Half! Thanks for all the encouragement. Unexpected benefit of marshalling #parkrun yesterday was that a fellow marshall said he was aiming for a 2.30 today. I saw him at the start made him my unofficial pacer and I did it! If I hadn't marshalled wouldn't have had aspirational pacing. #RunSky
#Parkrun update: marshalled my first non-junior parkrun. Home course. Saving my legs for tomorrow. Took my tambourine which most runners seemed to appreciate as much as the kids normally do.
Apologies to the runners who hate the enthusiastic marshalls, I was that one today 😂 GREAT JOB EVERYONE!
Apologies to the runners who hate the enthusiastic marshalls, I was that one today 😂 GREAT JOB EVERYONE!
September 27, 2025 at 9:41 AM
#Parkrun update: marshalled my first non-junior parkrun. Home course. Saving my legs for tomorrow. Took my tambourine which most runners seemed to appreciate as much as the kids normally do.
Apologies to the runners who hate the enthusiastic marshalls, I was that one today 😂 GREAT JOB EVERYONE!
Apologies to the runners who hate the enthusiastic marshalls, I was that one today 😂 GREAT JOB EVERYONE!
Parkrun update: home course yesterday in a little bit of rain. My dad did his fastest time of the year which I genuinely think is because he bought new trainers.
One week to my first (and increasing thinking only) half marathon. All advice at this stage appreciated!
Thanks #parkrun volunteers
One week to my first (and increasing thinking only) half marathon. All advice at this stage appreciated!
Thanks #parkrun volunteers
September 21, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Parkrun update: home course yesterday in a little bit of rain. My dad did his fastest time of the year which I genuinely think is because he bought new trainers.
One week to my first (and increasing thinking only) half marathon. All advice at this stage appreciated!
Thanks #parkrun volunteers
One week to my first (and increasing thinking only) half marathon. All advice at this stage appreciated!
Thanks #parkrun volunteers
Parkrun update: after a few false starts, I have finally made the Crosby parkrun with my dad. Have never run on sand before. Is this the most unique parkrun starting line?
September 13, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Parkrun update: after a few false starts, I have finally made the Crosby parkrun with my dad. Have never run on sand before. Is this the most unique parkrun starting line?
Parkrun update: junior parkrun this morning. Tambourine ready to encourage the 4-14 year olds on their 2km run. The kids at the front run like the fastest you could ever run as a kid with no fear of falling, all in. It's a marvel! And those at the back laugh and giggle and high five the tambourine!
September 7, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Parkrun update: junior parkrun this morning. Tambourine ready to encourage the 4-14 year olds on their 2km run. The kids at the front run like the fastest you could ever run as a kid with no fear of falling, all in. It's a marvel! And those at the back laugh and giggle and high five the tambourine!
My teenager's friend just broke the world record (WR) for Megaminx! My teenager couldn't be happier for his friend even though it makes him a former WR holder 😊
The Guinness Book of Records comes out 26th August. Surely this means my teenager will be in there? That this new WR comes too late?!🤞🤞🤞🤞
The Guinness Book of Records comes out 26th August. Surely this means my teenager will be in there? That this new WR comes too late?!🤞🤞🤞🤞
August 15, 2025 at 3:29 PM
My teenager's friend just broke the world record (WR) for Megaminx! My teenager couldn't be happier for his friend even though it makes him a former WR holder 😊
The Guinness Book of Records comes out 26th August. Surely this means my teenager will be in there? That this new WR comes too late?!🤞🤞🤞🤞
The Guinness Book of Records comes out 26th August. Surely this means my teenager will be in there? That this new WR comes too late?!🤞🤞🤞🤞
The end is in sight!
Signing off.
Thanks for the company. Have a good evening!
Signing off.
Thanks for the company. Have a good evening!
August 14, 2025 at 8:10 PM
The end is in sight!
Signing off.
Thanks for the company. Have a good evening!
Signing off.
Thanks for the company. Have a good evening!
3hrs 15 minutes after we were due into harbour.
This looks promising!
We were waiting on a ferry who nipped in ahead of us - a friend was on that ferry!!
This looks promising!
We were waiting on a ferry who nipped in ahead of us - a friend was on that ferry!!
August 14, 2025 at 7:52 PM
3hrs 15 minutes after we were due into harbour.
This looks promising!
We were waiting on a ferry who nipped in ahead of us - a friend was on that ferry!!
This looks promising!
We were waiting on a ferry who nipped in ahead of us - a friend was on that ferry!!
2hrs 15minutes after due time in harbour. Still stranded at sea.
Me and the teenager are teaching people how to solve a Rubik's Cube!
No updates from the captain.
Me and the teenager are teaching people how to solve a Rubik's Cube!
No updates from the captain.
August 14, 2025 at 6:49 PM
2hrs 15minutes after due time in harbour. Still stranded at sea.
Me and the teenager are teaching people how to solve a Rubik's Cube!
No updates from the captain.
Me and the teenager are teaching people how to solve a Rubik's Cube!
No updates from the captain.
2hrs after due time in harbour. Still stranded at sea.
Have eaten more bags of these than can be healthy. I can confirm that multiple bags are no substitute for a substantial meal.
No updates from the captain. I do not know if they have found the earth (or indeed the engine?)
Have eaten more bags of these than can be healthy. I can confirm that multiple bags are no substitute for a substantial meal.
No updates from the captain. I do not know if they have found the earth (or indeed the engine?)
August 14, 2025 at 6:31 PM
2hrs after due time in harbour. Still stranded at sea.
Have eaten more bags of these than can be healthy. I can confirm that multiple bags are no substitute for a substantial meal.
No updates from the captain. I do not know if they have found the earth (or indeed the engine?)
Have eaten more bags of these than can be healthy. I can confirm that multiple bags are no substitute for a substantial meal.
No updates from the captain. I do not know if they have found the earth (or indeed the engine?)
1hr 30mins after due time in harbour. Still stranded at sea.
No updates from the captain.
Boredom and mischief levels rising sufficiently enough that I managed to persuade the teenager to half recreate the classic scene from the Titanic (not at the floating door stage yet)
No updates from the captain.
Boredom and mischief levels rising sufficiently enough that I managed to persuade the teenager to half recreate the classic scene from the Titanic (not at the floating door stage yet)
August 14, 2025 at 6:01 PM
1hr 30mins after due time in harbour. Still stranded at sea.
No updates from the captain.
Boredom and mischief levels rising sufficiently enough that I managed to persuade the teenager to half recreate the classic scene from the Titanic (not at the floating door stage yet)
No updates from the captain.
Boredom and mischief levels rising sufficiently enough that I managed to persuade the teenager to half recreate the classic scene from the Titanic (not at the floating door stage yet)
Gently drifting towards harbour, presumably to get to shallower water to make putting the anchor down easier?
They've brought out cake.
They've brought out cake.
August 14, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Gently drifting towards harbour, presumably to get to shallower water to make putting the anchor down easier?
They've brought out cake.
They've brought out cake.
Ding dong "First attempt to rectify the engine has failed. We now need to bring the vessel to anchor and see if we can fix this problem when the engines are off"
August 14, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Ding dong "First attempt to rectify the engine has failed. We now need to bring the vessel to anchor and see if we can fix this problem when the engines are off"
Who wants live updates on being stranded at sea??
Should have arrived in Rosslare half an hour ago. First message "you'll have noticed we're travelling slowly into harbour, but we've an issue in the engine room expecting to be around twenty minutes late"
Should have arrived in Rosslare half an hour ago. First message "you'll have noticed we're travelling slowly into harbour, but we've an issue in the engine room expecting to be around twenty minutes late"
August 14, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Who wants live updates on being stranded at sea??
Should have arrived in Rosslare half an hour ago. First message "you'll have noticed we're travelling slowly into harbour, but we've an issue in the engine room expecting to be around twenty minutes late"
Should have arrived in Rosslare half an hour ago. First message "you'll have noticed we're travelling slowly into harbour, but we've an issue in the engine room expecting to be around twenty minutes late"
Parkrun update: home course with my dad - in his 80s doing a sub 40. Took it slowly as I ran to and from parkrun (my longest run to date🏃🏼♀️).
There's bound to be a parkrun near you. It's not a race just folks collectively going 5km each week. Walk or run. Join in
www.parkrun.com/about/join-us/
There's bound to be a parkrun near you. It's not a race just folks collectively going 5km each week. Walk or run. Join in
www.parkrun.com/about/join-us/
August 2, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Parkrun update: home course with my dad - in his 80s doing a sub 40. Took it slowly as I ran to and from parkrun (my longest run to date🏃🏼♀️).
There's bound to be a parkrun near you. It's not a race just folks collectively going 5km each week. Walk or run. Join in
www.parkrun.com/about/join-us/
There's bound to be a parkrun near you. It's not a race just folks collectively going 5km each week. Walk or run. Join in
www.parkrun.com/about/join-us/
Parkrun Cubing update: away from home but not too far. Lovely course round fields and a river plus some of the park, did the course twice (training for my first half in Sept) then ran into the sports hall and competed in a Rubik's Cube competition getting PR average (38.66)! #Smug
Happy weekend.
Happy weekend.
July 26, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Parkrun Cubing update: away from home but not too far. Lovely course round fields and a river plus some of the park, did the course twice (training for my first half in Sept) then ran into the sports hall and competed in a Rubik's Cube competition getting PR average (38.66)! #Smug
Happy weekend.
Happy weekend.
Home! Seattle was friendly and inclusive. Aidan was ranked 5th ahead of the World #Speedcubing Championships and placed 5th. He was also chosen to carry the flag in the opening ceremony. Proud. I was one of over 200 volunteers running the comp and I'm wonderfully exhausted. Work tomorrow, you say 😵💫
July 9, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Home! Seattle was friendly and inclusive. Aidan was ranked 5th ahead of the World #Speedcubing Championships and placed 5th. He was also chosen to carry the flag in the opening ceremony. Proud. I was one of over 200 volunteers running the comp and I'm wonderfully exhausted. Work tomorrow, you say 😵💫