Melinda Haunton
@melindahaunton.bsky.social
Archivist historian train traveller perennially anxious frequently cooking always interested
Tbh if you RT more than you comment I'm unlikely to follow back. I like to chat. UK based.
Tbh if you RT more than you comment I'm unlikely to follow back. I like to chat. UK based.
Pinned
Hello. If you're new to me, please know a *lot* of this feed is pictures of my feet as evidence of having reluctantly gone for a daily walk (#UnconfinedWalks). See also cups of tea (#TeaUp) and a Saturday night social (#ConfinedCocktails). In between there may be some archives.
Also, I have important intel for Christmas presents and/or self-treating - Waitrose near me has knocked TEN FULL QUID off Discarded banana peel dark rum, and let me tell you that it is delicious and winter-appropriate.
Bit less discounted online but still www.waitrosecellar.com/products/dis...
Bit less discounted online but still www.waitrosecellar.com/products/dis...
Discarded Banana Peel Rum | Waitrose Cellar
Order Discarded Banana Peel Rum online today from Waitrose Cellar and find more than 1,200 wines and spirits to explore.
www.waitrosecellar.com
December 4, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Also, I have important intel for Christmas presents and/or self-treating - Waitrose near me has knocked TEN FULL QUID off Discarded banana peel dark rum, and let me tell you that it is delicious and winter-appropriate.
Bit less discounted online but still www.waitrosecellar.com/products/dis...
Bit less discounted online but still www.waitrosecellar.com/products/dis...
Right. I usually do this nearer Christmas but perfect for a slightly odd birthday. Dennis Severs House. And now I am home eating a delicious cheese n potato toastie and drinking postal #ConfinedCocktails (thanks @borderminstrel.bsky.social for the booze and @annemarietaylor.bsky.social for the pick)
December 4, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Right. I usually do this nearer Christmas but perfect for a slightly odd birthday. Dennis Severs House. And now I am home eating a delicious cheese n potato toastie and drinking postal #ConfinedCocktails (thanks @borderminstrel.bsky.social for the booze and @annemarietaylor.bsky.social for the pick)
As this photo absolutely fails to capture (from about 8 miles south) the moon tonight is pin sharp and glorious. Well worth actually looking at it
December 4, 2025 at 5:12 PM
As this photo absolutely fails to capture (from about 8 miles south) the moon tonight is pin sharp and glorious. Well worth actually looking at it
!!! This is why you should always know someone whose kids learn their history in another country. Different perspectives, and totally unexpected Top Facts.
And for a period owned Tournai / Doornik now in Belgium, the only place on the mainland of Europe that elected an MP to the Westminster Parliament.
December 4, 2025 at 2:25 PM
!!! This is why you should always know someone whose kids learn their history in another country. Different perspectives, and totally unexpected Top Facts.
Reposted by Melinda Haunton
Mr KJC had a meeting that was held at Chatham House, and we are now locked in a marital war whereby I absolutely refuse to ask him about it because I know exactly what he's going to say.
December 4, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Mr KJC had a meeting that was held at Chatham House, and we are now locked in a marital war whereby I absolutely refuse to ask him about it because I know exactly what he's going to say.
Reposted by Melinda Haunton
December 4, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Been over to mum. Ran into neighbours who have known me since knee high, confessed to birthday, got hugged.
Gave mum a mini tree and terrible reindeer fluffy slippers as a sort of reverse birthday scenario, which she cannot refuse because birthday and I want her to have them. Perfect strategy.
Gave mum a mini tree and terrible reindeer fluffy slippers as a sort of reverse birthday scenario, which she cannot refuse because birthday and I want her to have them. Perfect strategy.
December 4, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Been over to mum. Ran into neighbours who have known me since knee high, confessed to birthday, got hugged.
Gave mum a mini tree and terrible reindeer fluffy slippers as a sort of reverse birthday scenario, which she cannot refuse because birthday and I want her to have them. Perfect strategy.
Gave mum a mini tree and terrible reindeer fluffy slippers as a sort of reverse birthday scenario, which she cannot refuse because birthday and I want her to have them. Perfect strategy.
Reposted by Melinda Haunton
The British Museum/British Library Choral Society staged regular concerts and carol services. This image is from a concert in 1997 staged as a farewell to the Reading Room. #archiveadventcalendar #christmascarols #britishmuseum #archives #britishlibrary
December 4, 2025 at 9:56 AM
The British Museum/British Library Choral Society staged regular concerts and carol services. This image is from a concert in 1997 staged as a farewell to the Reading Room. #archiveadventcalendar #christmascarols #britishmuseum #archives #britishlibrary
As a special present to myself I have not looked at the cricket score till now. Oh well.
December 4, 2025 at 9:52 AM
As a special present to myself I have not looked at the cricket score till now. Oh well.
You know you should unsubscribe from marketing emails? I periodically do. But somehow I can't do it for a local butcher I have patronised twice, whose marketing is constant, urgent texts/emails about "Running low on Christmas Wellingtons" or "last flat chicken voucher of the year!" Old school joy.
December 4, 2025 at 9:21 AM
You know you should unsubscribe from marketing emails? I periodically do. But somehow I can't do it for a local butcher I have patronised twice, whose marketing is constant, urgent texts/emails about "Running low on Christmas Wellingtons" or "last flat chicken voucher of the year!" Old school joy.
My #YayAdvent today is a knitted cuff so lovely I am wearing it despite not having got up yet. I have the loveliest assortment of little presents, thank you. One aunt got me leopard print, another an Old English primer. And @annemarietaylor.bsky.social sunk her doubts and got me cocktail liquorice!
December 4, 2025 at 8:50 AM
My #YayAdvent today is a knitted cuff so lovely I am wearing it despite not having got up yet. I have the loveliest assortment of little presents, thank you. One aunt got me leopard print, another an Old English primer. And @annemarietaylor.bsky.social sunk her doubts and got me cocktail liquorice!
Reposted by Melinda Haunton
Highly recommend doing this. It's an amazing chance to help shape professional standards, alongside a great group of people!
And this, I'm going to be talking about for quite a while: we're looking for new members of the Accreditation Committee. It's a chance to be part of guiding the programme for the next few years - fascinating and important work. Do give it some thought. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sec...
Becoming a member of the Archive Service Accreditation Committee - Archives sector
We are seeking five new members to join the Archive Service Accreditation Committee. This is an exciting opportunity to build on your understanding of archives management and practice. As a member of ...
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
December 3, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Highly recommend doing this. It's an amazing chance to help shape professional standards, alongside a great group of people!
Brilliant sunshiney #UnconfinedWalks earlier. Supermarket, but at lunchtime rather than in a hell of a rush. Phew.
December 3, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Brilliant sunshiney #UnconfinedWalks earlier. Supermarket, but at lunchtime rather than in a hell of a rush. Phew.
Reposted by Melinda Haunton
Followed by #ConfinedCocktails in a cave. This is one of the most famous pubs on Tyneside but for some reason I’ve never been there before
December 3, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Followed by #ConfinedCocktails in a cave. This is one of the most famous pubs on Tyneside but for some reason I’ve never been there before
Reposted by Melinda Haunton
Behold King's Lynn [TNA E 122/181/39]
December 2, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Behold King's Lynn [TNA E 122/181/39]
Please? Targeting digital capacity support where UK archives most need it is something we always aim for, so if you think we need to refocus (or keep on in the same direction) it would be so helpful to hear from you.
Send us your feedback on The National Archives’ digital capacity building strategy, Our Digital Century, that ends in 2026! Your responses to this survey will help us evaluate the programme and ensure future initiatives meet the sector’s needs: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/OISX44/
⏰31 January 2026 (1/2)
⏰31 January 2026 (1/2)
December 3, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Please? Targeting digital capacity support where UK archives most need it is something we always aim for, so if you think we need to refocus (or keep on in the same direction) it would be so helpful to hear from you.
Whee! My blood* went to the Royal Free. If you have a loved one there, I hope it helped xx
*donation, obvs. Newish to this and still very proud.
*donation, obvs. Newish to this and still very proud.
December 3, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Whee! My blood* went to the Royal Free. If you have a loved one there, I hope it helped xx
*donation, obvs. Newish to this and still very proud.
*donation, obvs. Newish to this and still very proud.
This feels like a notably @garlicandpearls.bsky.social phenomenon. Though I do not forget the magnificent exhibition at the Archives Nationales about the French government's efforts to put that right www.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr/evenements/l...
December 3, 2025 at 10:59 AM
This feels like a notably @garlicandpearls.bsky.social phenomenon. Though I do not forget the magnificent exhibition at the Archives Nationales about the French government's efforts to put that right www.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr/evenements/l...
Reposted by Melinda Haunton
Are you a Scottish archive that is accredited or working towards accreditation?
Then join this TNA workshop which introduces the Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Self-Assessment Toolkit.
Book your space: www.eventbrite.com/e/equality-d...
Then join this TNA workshop which introduces the Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Self-Assessment Toolkit.
Book your space: www.eventbrite.com/e/equality-d...
Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Self-Assessment Toolkit
This workshop is designed for Scottish archives, to introduce the EDIB Self-Assessment Toolkit, developed by Archives West Midland.
www.eventbrite.com
December 3, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Are you a Scottish archive that is accredited or working towards accreditation?
Then join this TNA workshop which introduces the Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Self-Assessment Toolkit.
Book your space: www.eventbrite.com/e/equality-d...
Then join this TNA workshop which introduces the Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Self-Assessment Toolkit.
Book your space: www.eventbrite.com/e/equality-d...
Definitely a good use of my time... (I've tried a couple of others and didn't love them for various technical and practical reasons. But at least they didn't make me argue with a pass ag bear about paying for this vs a streaming subscription, which I now do daily thanks to relentless ads.)
December 3, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Definitely a good use of my time... (I've tried a couple of others and didn't love them for various technical and practical reasons. But at least they didn't make me argue with a pass ag bear about paying for this vs a streaming subscription, which I now do daily thanks to relentless ads.)
Today I have been:
Commuter
Office mum (tinsel is up)
Administrator
Assessor
Programme mgr
Team member
Wellbeing encourager/bakesale grunt
Retirement celebration organiser
(Person who missed a meeting oops)
Trainer
Line mgr
Friend
Relieved niece
Distance carer
Teacher
Cook
Tired person on a sofa
Commuter
Office mum (tinsel is up)
Administrator
Assessor
Programme mgr
Team member
Wellbeing encourager/bakesale grunt
Retirement celebration organiser
(Person who missed a meeting oops)
Trainer
Line mgr
Friend
Relieved niece
Distance carer
Teacher
Cook
Tired person on a sofa
December 2, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Today I have been:
Commuter
Office mum (tinsel is up)
Administrator
Assessor
Programme mgr
Team member
Wellbeing encourager/bakesale grunt
Retirement celebration organiser
(Person who missed a meeting oops)
Trainer
Line mgr
Friend
Relieved niece
Distance carer
Teacher
Cook
Tired person on a sofa
Commuter
Office mum (tinsel is up)
Administrator
Assessor
Programme mgr
Team member
Wellbeing encourager/bakesale grunt
Retirement celebration organiser
(Person who missed a meeting oops)
Trainer
Line mgr
Friend
Relieved niece
Distance carer
Teacher
Cook
Tired person on a sofa
Teaching this evening, and I wanted students to think about cataloguing as a concept, not just a set of fields. Optional reading shamelessly included great colleagues @mentionthewar and @cartivist.bsky.social. Andrew's article on learning from cartography got plaudits, hurrah doi.org/10.1080/2325...
December 2, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Teaching this evening, and I wanted students to think about cataloguing as a concept, not just a set of fields. Optional reading shamelessly included great colleagues @mentionthewar and @cartivist.bsky.social. Andrew's article on learning from cartography got plaudits, hurrah doi.org/10.1080/2325...
Reposted by Melinda Haunton
A warning from the past: if there is anything you would like to preserve long-term in good condition, please don't stick tape on it!
As tape deteriorates, it can discolour, become brittle, lose its adhesive strength, and leave a residue stain.
Enough to give an archivist nightmares! 👻
As tape deteriorates, it can discolour, become brittle, lose its adhesive strength, and leave a residue stain.
Enough to give an archivist nightmares! 👻
December 2, 2025 at 12:24 PM
A warning from the past: if there is anything you would like to preserve long-term in good condition, please don't stick tape on it!
As tape deteriorates, it can discolour, become brittle, lose its adhesive strength, and leave a residue stain.
Enough to give an archivist nightmares! 👻
As tape deteriorates, it can discolour, become brittle, lose its adhesive strength, and leave a residue stain.
Enough to give an archivist nightmares! 👻
Reposted by Melinda Haunton
This is an amazing opportunity to see what wonderful work #archivists are doing across the UK. I am learning so much! It's challenging for #archives out there, but on the committee you hear about creative solutions & some good news stories (as well as some sad stories) about our sector.
And this, I'm going to be talking about for quite a while: we're looking for new members of the Accreditation Committee. It's a chance to be part of guiding the programme for the next few years - fascinating and important work. Do give it some thought. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sec...
Becoming a member of the Archive Service Accreditation Committee - Archives sector
We are seeking five new members to join the Archive Service Accreditation Committee. This is an exciting opportunity to build on your understanding of archives management and practice. As a member of ...
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
December 2, 2025 at 6:29 PM
This is an amazing opportunity to see what wonderful work #archivists are doing across the UK. I am learning so much! It's challenging for #archives out there, but on the committee you hear about creative solutions & some good news stories (as well as some sad stories) about our sector.