Serena Jones (ACCOUNT INACTIVE)
@serenaj1642.bsky.social
🇬🇧 Author, publisher, independent historian | British Civil Wars: biographer of Col Sir George Lisle | transcribing & publishing the 1640s English newsbooks | 🦋 Est. Sep 2023
As of 24 Apr 2025 account is inactive until/unless Bsky allows follower removal
As of 24 Apr 2025 account is inactive until/unless Bsky allows follower removal
Here's my dad + friend in a dinghy off Xeros on the N coast of Cyprus, Aug 1964.
While out in the dinghy, they narrowly missed being strafed by several Turkish Air Force jets that screamed down the beach and attacked two Greek patrol boats in the nearby harbour.
Battle of Tillyria, Aug 6–8 1964.
While out in the dinghy, they narrowly missed being strafed by several Turkish Air Force jets that screamed down the beach and attacked two Greek patrol boats in the nearby harbour.
Battle of Tillyria, Aug 6–8 1964.
February 25, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Here's my dad + friend in a dinghy off Xeros on the N coast of Cyprus, Aug 1964.
While out in the dinghy, they narrowly missed being strafed by several Turkish Air Force jets that screamed down the beach and attacked two Greek patrol boats in the nearby harbour.
Battle of Tillyria, Aug 6–8 1964.
While out in the dinghy, they narrowly missed being strafed by several Turkish Air Force jets that screamed down the beach and attacked two Greek patrol boats in the nearby harbour.
Battle of Tillyria, Aug 6–8 1964.
Off topic, but what the hell, it's the weekend (part 2)
"Teddy Slasher IV -- It Came From the Patio"
"Teddy Slasher IV -- It Came From the Patio"
February 2, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Off topic, but what the hell, it's the weekend (part 2)
"Teddy Slasher IV -- It Came From the Patio"
"Teddy Slasher IV -- It Came From the Patio"
Off topic, but hell, it's the weekend
You've heard of "riding the tiger", well this is the canine version
You've heard of "riding the tiger", well this is the canine version
February 1, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Off topic, but hell, it's the weekend
You've heard of "riding the tiger", well this is the canine version
You've heard of "riding the tiger", well this is the canine version
My GrF's member card for Freetown Sports Club in 1968.
I only know he was a member because my GrM kept the card. Digitisation means my gen don't have paper cards for such things, so our descendants will never know about those aspects of our lives which give it colour.
We will be mere grey shadows.
I only know he was a member because my GrM kept the card. Digitisation means my gen don't have paper cards for such things, so our descendants will never know about those aspects of our lives which give it colour.
We will be mere grey shadows.
January 29, 2025 at 9:10 PM
My GrF's member card for Freetown Sports Club in 1968.
I only know he was a member because my GrM kept the card. Digitisation means my gen don't have paper cards for such things, so our descendants will never know about those aspects of our lives which give it colour.
We will be mere grey shadows.
I only know he was a member because my GrM kept the card. Digitisation means my gen don't have paper cards for such things, so our descendants will never know about those aspects of our lives which give it colour.
We will be mere grey shadows.
So my grandmother kept plane tickets from 1958.
As you do 🤷♂️
These are from Accra to Dusseldorf; my GrF had been an officer at the RWAFF Training School. After Ghana became a republic in 1960, he left the British Army early to take up another training position with the Ghana Army. He left in 1963.
As you do 🤷♂️
These are from Accra to Dusseldorf; my GrF had been an officer at the RWAFF Training School. After Ghana became a republic in 1960, he left the British Army early to take up another training position with the Ghana Army. He left in 1963.
January 21, 2025 at 7:23 PM
So my grandmother kept plane tickets from 1958.
As you do 🤷♂️
These are from Accra to Dusseldorf; my GrF had been an officer at the RWAFF Training School. After Ghana became a republic in 1960, he left the British Army early to take up another training position with the Ghana Army. He left in 1963.
As you do 🤷♂️
These are from Accra to Dusseldorf; my GrF had been an officer at the RWAFF Training School. After Ghana became a republic in 1960, he left the British Army early to take up another training position with the Ghana Army. He left in 1963.
October 1642, "nearly 10,000 men ... chased Parliament across the River Tamar"? 🧐
Fighting "continued for years"?
What fresh (AI?) hell is this?
ancestors.familysearch.org/en/MKBS-YQB/...
Fighting "continued for years"?
What fresh (AI?) hell is this?
ancestors.familysearch.org/en/MKBS-YQB/...
January 21, 2025 at 10:33 AM
October 1642, "nearly 10,000 men ... chased Parliament across the River Tamar"? 🧐
Fighting "continued for years"?
What fresh (AI?) hell is this?
ancestors.familysearch.org/en/MKBS-YQB/...
Fighting "continued for years"?
What fresh (AI?) hell is this?
ancestors.familysearch.org/en/MKBS-YQB/...
I just turned over in bed, and -----
Dogsitting a completely black spaniel overnight evokes quite a few primeval terrors.
Dogsitting a completely black spaniel overnight evokes quite a few primeval terrors.
January 10, 2025 at 1:16 AM
I just turned over in bed, and -----
Dogsitting a completely black spaniel overnight evokes quite a few primeval terrors.
Dogsitting a completely black spaniel overnight evokes quite a few primeval terrors.
A note on photo archiving/preservation.
ALWAYS keep negatives (and scan them immediately): the prints will fade and discolour.
See below: left, a scan taken from a 1992 neg this afternoon. The image is perfect. Right, the original physical print. After 32yrs, the image is dark and indistinct.
ALWAYS keep negatives (and scan them immediately): the prints will fade and discolour.
See below: left, a scan taken from a 1992 neg this afternoon. The image is perfect. Right, the original physical print. After 32yrs, the image is dark and indistinct.
December 22, 2024 at 4:20 PM
A note on photo archiving/preservation.
ALWAYS keep negatives (and scan them immediately): the prints will fade and discolour.
See below: left, a scan taken from a 1992 neg this afternoon. The image is perfect. Right, the original physical print. After 32yrs, the image is dark and indistinct.
ALWAYS keep negatives (and scan them immediately): the prints will fade and discolour.
See below: left, a scan taken from a 1992 neg this afternoon. The image is perfect. Right, the original physical print. After 32yrs, the image is dark and indistinct.
FILE: family archive rescue
Only my grandmother would have kept a currency declaration to Polish border customs in July 1974, as she and my GrF left their posting in Moscow.
280 DM
15 French Francs
£18 sterling
[£?]200 on travellers' cheques
They then exchanged the £18 for 1,431 zlotys.
#history
Only my grandmother would have kept a currency declaration to Polish border customs in July 1974, as she and my GrF left their posting in Moscow.
280 DM
15 French Francs
£18 sterling
[£?]200 on travellers' cheques
They then exchanged the £18 for 1,431 zlotys.
#history
December 20, 2024 at 3:55 PM
FILE: family archive rescue
Only my grandmother would have kept a currency declaration to Polish border customs in July 1974, as she and my GrF left their posting in Moscow.
280 DM
15 French Francs
£18 sterling
[£?]200 on travellers' cheques
They then exchanged the £18 for 1,431 zlotys.
#history
Only my grandmother would have kept a currency declaration to Polish border customs in July 1974, as she and my GrF left their posting in Moscow.
280 DM
15 French Francs
£18 sterling
[£?]200 on travellers' cheques
They then exchanged the £18 for 1,431 zlotys.
#history
FILE: computer history/data handling/family archive
Below: a scan of part of a letter from my grandparents' bank in 1968, informing them that computers have arrived in banking and they will now be issued with an account number!
I had no idea that account numbers were not used before this time.
Below: a scan of part of a letter from my grandparents' bank in 1968, informing them that computers have arrived in banking and they will now be issued with an account number!
I had no idea that account numbers were not used before this time.
![A scan of a letter from 1968, from the UK's Midland Bank to a customer.
The letter text says:
"You will probably know that computers are being increasingly used in business. The Midland Bank has been successfully using them for some time to speed up our accounting systems, and, most important of all, to keep our customers costs as low as possible. I am writing now to let you know that the work of this branch will be handled by computer in the near future.
As essential step in going over to computer book-keeping is giving an account number to each current account held at this branch and the number we have allocated to your account is [number redacted] It will help us if this number is quoted on all transactions passing through your account.
In future your name will be shown on all your cheques and your account number together with other information will be printed at the foot of them. As our computers will read only this information and will record cheques according to the account number printed on them, it is important that cheques are not used to make withdrawals from an account other than the one for which they were issued.
If you receive payments by credit transfer we shall be grateful if you will kindly tell the remitters your account number so that they may quote it in future. It is not necessary, however, for you to ask Company Registrars or Secretaries to include the number on any dividend or interest payments.
With the introduction of computer accounting we shall be able to give you the balance of your account whenever you require it, and statements will continue to be sent to you on regular dates but it will not be possible to hand statements over the counter immediately upon request. If you wish to see your statement at a time other than when it is normally sent to you, we can arrange for this to be provided within 24 hours."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:jdod2anu6wikwd2xteh4w6a2/bafkreicfzl4qhiszq7i7eayliikcujrekioxz34okxabpskrm2s625x6qq@jpeg)
December 14, 2024 at 4:33 PM
FILE: computer history/data handling/family archive
Below: a scan of part of a letter from my grandparents' bank in 1968, informing them that computers have arrived in banking and they will now be issued with an account number!
I had no idea that account numbers were not used before this time.
Below: a scan of part of a letter from my grandparents' bank in 1968, informing them that computers have arrived in banking and they will now be issued with an account number!
I had no idea that account numbers were not used before this time.
I bet not many of these survive: a movement order from 1956, allowing an individual to pass through/out of Berlin.
We have three of these issued by the British Administration, one each for my grandparents and father on their way to Helmstadt (family name redacted).
#history #militaryhistory #WW2
We have three of these issued by the British Administration, one each for my grandparents and father on their way to Helmstadt (family name redacted).
#history #militaryhistory #WW2
December 12, 2024 at 10:08 PM
I bet not many of these survive: a movement order from 1956, allowing an individual to pass through/out of Berlin.
We have three of these issued by the British Administration, one each for my grandparents and father on their way to Helmstadt (family name redacted).
#history #militaryhistory #WW2
We have three of these issued by the British Administration, one each for my grandparents and father on their way to Helmstadt (family name redacted).
#history #militaryhistory #WW2
📢 CALLING FINNISH MEDAL EXPERTS !
This medal was awarded to my Finnish GGFr for unspecified services to his country (which may or may not have involved spying, inventing military camera equipment, or being acquainted with Mannerheim 👀)
Enhanced from a small photo.
Any idea? Or please repost, thx!
This medal was awarded to my Finnish GGFr for unspecified services to his country (which may or may not have involved spying, inventing military camera equipment, or being acquainted with Mannerheim 👀)
Enhanced from a small photo.
Any idea? Or please repost, thx!
December 9, 2024 at 9:22 PM
📢 CALLING FINNISH MEDAL EXPERTS !
This medal was awarded to my Finnish GGFr for unspecified services to his country (which may or may not have involved spying, inventing military camera equipment, or being acquainted with Mannerheim 👀)
Enhanced from a small photo.
Any idea? Or please repost, thx!
This medal was awarded to my Finnish GGFr for unspecified services to his country (which may or may not have involved spying, inventing military camera equipment, or being acquainted with Mannerheim 👀)
Enhanced from a small photo.
Any idea? Or please repost, thx!
📢 Anyone know a tech/health/20thC related collection that might want this, er ... contraption?
It's a 1960s home tanning machine.
Since we found it in my German GrM's house it's affectionately become known as "the cancer machine".
No idea if it still works, obvs we'd rather not plug it in ... 👀
It's a 1960s home tanning machine.
Since we found it in my German GrM's house it's affectionately become known as "the cancer machine".
No idea if it still works, obvs we'd rather not plug it in ... 👀
November 30, 2024 at 11:58 AM
📢 Anyone know a tech/health/20thC related collection that might want this, er ... contraption?
It's a 1960s home tanning machine.
Since we found it in my German GrM's house it's affectionately become known as "the cancer machine".
No idea if it still works, obvs we'd rather not plug it in ... 👀
It's a 1960s home tanning machine.
Since we found it in my German GrM's house it's affectionately become known as "the cancer machine".
No idea if it still works, obvs we'd rather not plug it in ... 👀
My life has straddled the leap from paper to elec comms. I remember old tech.
But still, I'm marvelling at a 1963 telegram my GrF sent from Liverpool Street Stn to my GrM in Germany, telling her he had a final interview for a job.
We text news in seconds; he had to go out & find a telegram office.
But still, I'm marvelling at a 1963 telegram my GrF sent from Liverpool Street Stn to my GrM in Germany, telling her he had a final interview for a job.
We text news in seconds; he had to go out & find a telegram office.
![Colour image of a telegram sent from Liverpool Street Station to Germany in 1963. It says in capital letters "ACCEPTED NICOSIA CYPRUS XRAY TODAY MEDICAL TOMORROW WITH [REDACTED] SATURDAY HALF TERM FINAL INTERVIEW MONDAY PLANE TIME LATER HARRY"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:jdod2anu6wikwd2xteh4w6a2/bafkreida7toosffwjltbbwhnrm7flckalssa42zjfazph23pvwa7evdjky@jpeg)
November 29, 2024 at 12:37 PM
My life has straddled the leap from paper to elec comms. I remember old tech.
But still, I'm marvelling at a 1963 telegram my GrF sent from Liverpool Street Stn to my GrM in Germany, telling her he had a final interview for a job.
We text news in seconds; he had to go out & find a telegram office.
But still, I'm marvelling at a 1963 telegram my GrF sent from Liverpool Street Stn to my GrM in Germany, telling her he had a final interview for a job.
We text news in seconds; he had to go out & find a telegram office.
November 21, 2024 at 2:02 PM
Aaaaand we're back in the seventeenth century with some more naval self-sabotage at Brentford in Nov 1642.
Not simply pulling out the drain plug (per the incident I prev. reported) but somewhat more permanently blowing up the entire boat.
E.127[12] #newsbooks #history #earlymodern #17thC #navhist
Not simply pulling out the drain plug (per the incident I prev. reported) but somewhat more permanently blowing up the entire boat.
E.127[12] #newsbooks #history #earlymodern #17thC #navhist
November 16, 2024 at 1:13 PM
Aaaaand we're back in the seventeenth century with some more naval self-sabotage at Brentford in Nov 1642.
Not simply pulling out the drain plug (per the incident I prev. reported) but somewhat more permanently blowing up the entire boat.
E.127[12] #newsbooks #history #earlymodern #17thC #navhist
Not simply pulling out the drain plug (per the incident I prev. reported) but somewhat more permanently blowing up the entire boat.
E.127[12] #newsbooks #history #earlymodern #17thC #navhist
So I came to Oxford this evening to see Bellowhead, and ended up admiring Col Lisle's lodging house in St Aldates 😏
Only the veil of time prevents me seeing him leaving the house and dodging the (horse) traffic to visit some Royalist higher-up in Christ Church College across the street.
#history
Only the veil of time prevents me seeing him leaving the house and dodging the (horse) traffic to visit some Royalist higher-up in Christ Church College across the street.
#history
November 13, 2024 at 6:10 PM
So I came to Oxford this evening to see Bellowhead, and ended up admiring Col Lisle's lodging house in St Aldates 😏
Only the veil of time prevents me seeing him leaving the house and dodging the (horse) traffic to visit some Royalist higher-up in Christ Church College across the street.
#history
Only the veil of time prevents me seeing him leaving the house and dodging the (horse) traffic to visit some Royalist higher-up in Christ Church College across the street.
#history
Me too. Are we witnessing the evolution of compassionate cardboard? 🤔
November 11, 2024 at 2:31 AM
Me too. Are we witnessing the evolution of compassionate cardboard? 🤔
I'm still archiving my late grandparents' docs from their Foreign Office days.
I've uncovered a file on their time at the British Embassy in East Berlin, 1979-1980. It includes explicit instructions to NOT attempt crossing the sector boundary to West Berlin unless you have a note from your mum.
I've uncovered a file on their time at the British Embassy in East Berlin, 1979-1980. It includes explicit instructions to NOT attempt crossing the sector boundary to West Berlin unless you have a note from your mum.
November 8, 2024 at 10:09 PM
I'm still archiving my late grandparents' docs from their Foreign Office days.
I've uncovered a file on their time at the British Embassy in East Berlin, 1979-1980. It includes explicit instructions to NOT attempt crossing the sector boundary to West Berlin unless you have a note from your mum.
I've uncovered a file on their time at the British Embassy in East Berlin, 1979-1980. It includes explicit instructions to NOT attempt crossing the sector boundary to West Berlin unless you have a note from your mum.
"Choose what you'd like to happen when you press the Copilot key"
Uh - Microsoft is fired into the Sun? 🤷
Uh - Microsoft is fired into the Sun? 🤷
November 1, 2024 at 12:29 PM
"Choose what you'd like to happen when you press the Copilot key"
Uh - Microsoft is fired into the Sun? 🤷
Uh - Microsoft is fired into the Sun? 🤷
Here's some more forestry for your collection 🌴😜
October 18, 2024 at 12:13 PM
Here's some more forestry for your collection 🌴😜
Um
WTF, Familysearch.org
Parliamentarians (not Parliament ffs!!) routed over the Tamar in Oct 1642? Sounds like a mistake for Gunnislake Bridge in July 1644.
"Fighting continued for years"
Was this piece of vague, and frankly hallucinogenic shite written by an AI? 🤨
#history #earlymodern #17thc
WTF, Familysearch.org
Parliamentarians (not Parliament ffs!!) routed over the Tamar in Oct 1642? Sounds like a mistake for Gunnislake Bridge in July 1644.
"Fighting continued for years"
Was this piece of vague, and frankly hallucinogenic shite written by an AI? 🤨
#history #earlymodern #17thc
October 6, 2024 at 5:44 PM
Um
WTF, Familysearch.org
Parliamentarians (not Parliament ffs!!) routed over the Tamar in Oct 1642? Sounds like a mistake for Gunnislake Bridge in July 1644.
"Fighting continued for years"
Was this piece of vague, and frankly hallucinogenic shite written by an AI? 🤨
#history #earlymodern #17thc
WTF, Familysearch.org
Parliamentarians (not Parliament ffs!!) routed over the Tamar in Oct 1642? Sounds like a mistake for Gunnislake Bridge in July 1644.
"Fighting continued for years"
Was this piece of vague, and frankly hallucinogenic shite written by an AI? 🤨
#history #earlymodern #17thc
Maybe a coiled-up trumpet of final judgement? There's a popular artistic scenario of him hearing it, I found this one (below) after a search - note this angel has it uncoiled
www.photo12.com/lt/hrm23a16_...
www.photo12.com/lt/hrm23a16_...
September 24, 2024 at 7:03 PM
Maybe a coiled-up trumpet of final judgement? There's a popular artistic scenario of him hearing it, I found this one (below) after a search - note this angel has it uncoiled
www.photo12.com/lt/hrm23a16_...
www.photo12.com/lt/hrm23a16_...
❓HELP PLS!
The Latin phrase below, can anyone translate?
My usual Latin sources have failed me. I suspect the first word should read 'omnipotens', but I'm not sure what the third word should be.
This is from a newsbook author desperate to show off his Latin knowledge (E.245[11], Jan 1643)
The Latin phrase below, can anyone translate?
My usual Latin sources have failed me. I suspect the first word should read 'omnipotens', but I'm not sure what the third word should be.
This is from a newsbook author desperate to show off his Latin knowledge (E.245[11], Jan 1643)
September 19, 2024 at 1:11 PM
❓HELP PLS!
The Latin phrase below, can anyone translate?
My usual Latin sources have failed me. I suspect the first word should read 'omnipotens', but I'm not sure what the third word should be.
This is from a newsbook author desperate to show off his Latin knowledge (E.245[11], Jan 1643)
The Latin phrase below, can anyone translate?
My usual Latin sources have failed me. I suspect the first word should read 'omnipotens', but I'm not sure what the third word should be.
This is from a newsbook author desperate to show off his Latin knowledge (E.245[11], Jan 1643)
Well that's fun and cool 😄
Thank you @bsky.app 👏
I so nearly made the first 1m users, but couldn't get hold of a ruddy invite!
I spent weeks stalking the #blueskyinvite hashtag on Xitter, and eventually got my ticket from a complete stranger (who I seem to have outlasted here by some months 😏)
Thank you @bsky.app 👏
I so nearly made the first 1m users, but couldn't get hold of a ruddy invite!
I spent weeks stalking the #blueskyinvite hashtag on Xitter, and eventually got my ticket from a complete stranger (who I seem to have outlasted here by some months 😏)
September 16, 2024 at 10:55 PM
Well that's fun and cool 😄
Thank you @bsky.app 👏
I so nearly made the first 1m users, but couldn't get hold of a ruddy invite!
I spent weeks stalking the #blueskyinvite hashtag on Xitter, and eventually got my ticket from a complete stranger (who I seem to have outlasted here by some months 😏)
Thank you @bsky.app 👏
I so nearly made the first 1m users, but couldn't get hold of a ruddy invite!
I spent weeks stalking the #blueskyinvite hashtag on Xitter, and eventually got my ticket from a complete stranger (who I seem to have outlasted here by some months 😏)