Stephen Hill
@stephenjahill.bsky.social
Space policy wonk. Writing. Reading. Seeker of fine food, wine and whisky. Observer of a fractionally demented universe. Player of games.
My post-rehearsal apple crumble was trying desperately to escape its containment device. So I had to eat some, purely in the interests of helping it settle down you understand.
December 6, 2025 at 9:21 PM
My post-rehearsal apple crumble was trying desperately to escape its containment device. So I had to eat some, purely in the interests of helping it settle down you understand.
Cheese shopping time for the family Christmas cheese and wine evening. No Paxton’s this year (I was too late), but Neal’s Yard Dairy always provides a fantastic alternative. May even sneak a bonus Baron Bigod in there. I love that stuff.
November 29, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Cheese shopping time for the family Christmas cheese and wine evening. No Paxton’s this year (I was too late), but Neal’s Yard Dairy always provides a fantastic alternative. May even sneak a bonus Baron Bigod in there. I love that stuff.
It’s that time of year when the Inn starts to look all Dickensian- entirely appropriately this year, as that is the Miscellany theme this year. Want to see me as a prominent Victorian engineer associated with the West Country (complete with accent)? Tickets available now from the Gray’s Inn website.
November 25, 2025 at 7:38 PM
It’s that time of year when the Inn starts to look all Dickensian- entirely appropriately this year, as that is the Miscellany theme this year. Want to see me as a prominent Victorian engineer associated with the West Country (complete with accent)? Tickets available now from the Gray’s Inn website.
I’m not sure it’s a full admiral, being equipped only with various fishes, shallots, leeks and mushrooms, but it’s definitely a “senior-post-captain-on-the-list-awaiting-the-man-above-to-resign-or-die” pie.
November 22, 2025 at 8:07 PM
I’m not sure it’s a full admiral, being equipped only with various fishes, shallots, leeks and mushrooms, but it’s definitely a “senior-post-captain-on-the-list-awaiting-the-man-above-to-resign-or-die” pie.
Pig-in-blanket season open, declares Local Man. “I wouldn’t have thought he was the type, he’s usually a quiet man who keeps himself to himself” says Neighbour.
November 22, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Pig-in-blanket season open, declares Local Man. “I wouldn’t have thought he was the type, he’s usually a quiet man who keeps himself to himself” says Neighbour.
Not only did I have the joy of watching a perfect London skyline sunset whilst chairing our horizon scanning and futures meeting earlier (I’ll admit, it was quite distracting), but West India Quay looked rather lovely when I emerged.
November 21, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Not only did I have the joy of watching a perfect London skyline sunset whilst chairing our horizon scanning and futures meeting earlier (I’ll admit, it was quite distracting), but West India Quay looked rather lovely when I emerged.
Twelve years and one day between these two photos. A little older, a little wider, not much wiser. But indisputably more of a complete human. And if that sounds a little “live, laugh, love”, be reassured that I only *think* this is the right viewpoint. The fog made it difficult to tell.
November 11, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Twelve years and one day between these two photos. A little older, a little wider, not much wiser. But indisputably more of a complete human. And if that sounds a little “live, laugh, love”, be reassured that I only *think* this is the right viewpoint. The fog made it difficult to tell.
Hahahahahahahahahahhahahah and I cannot stress this enough ha.
Google Gemini doesn’t appear to be doing too well:
‘"I am a disgrace to this planet. I am a disgrace to this universe. I am a disgrace to all universes . . . I am a disgrace to all possible and impossible universes and all that is not a universe," the bot continued.’
‘"I am a disgrace to this planet. I am a disgrace to this universe. I am a disgrace to all universes . . . I am a disgrace to all possible and impossible universes and all that is not a universe," the bot continued.’
Google says it's working on a fix for Gemini's self-loathing 'I am a failure' comments
Google Gemini users said the bot is sharing self-loathing messages while attempting to solve tasks, including "I am a disgrace to this universe."
www.businessinsider.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Hahahahahahahahahahhahahah and I cannot stress this enough ha.
Cheers from a snowy/icy Montreal, where I have taken refuge in a bar, solely to get away from the weather, you understand.
November 9, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Cheers from a snowy/icy Montreal, where I have taken refuge in a bar, solely to get away from the weather, you understand.
English kings considering invading France again:
November 2, 2025 at 3:39 PM
English kings considering invading France again:
Yes, it’s getting to that sort of season.
October 25, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Yes, it’s getting to that sort of season.
An excellent (and, I suppose appropriately seasonal) read from Malcolm Gaskill. History as story, the tale of a single witch trial in New England, which does a fantastic job of illustrating the psychology of the fringes of the European world.
October 23, 2025 at 8:02 PM
An excellent (and, I suppose appropriately seasonal) read from Malcolm Gaskill. History as story, the tale of a single witch trial in New England, which does a fantastic job of illustrating the psychology of the fringes of the European world.
Thames was looking absolutely gorgeous last night.
October 18, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Thames was looking absolutely gorgeous last night.
Bristol remains a very ‘aesthetic’ city. I always get the feeling that whatever the weather context, it would be aesthetically pleasing, but in different ways.
October 10, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Bristol remains a very ‘aesthetic’ city. I always get the feeling that whatever the weather context, it would be aesthetically pleasing, but in different ways.
Bristol Aerospace Museum was surprisingly good. I think G-BOAF makes it four Concordes I have now been on.
October 10, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Bristol Aerospace Museum was surprisingly good. I think G-BOAF makes it four Concordes I have now been on.
One day I will actually make the time to visit the SS Great Britain, rather than just walking past it.
October 10, 2025 at 8:09 AM
One day I will actually make the time to visit the SS Great Britain, rather than just walking past it.
“Bristol bird-life confirmed as Jacobites”
October 10, 2025 at 7:22 AM
“Bristol bird-life confirmed as Jacobites”
Beautiful rolling countryside and views of Bath from the train to Bristol this morning.
October 9, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Beautiful rolling countryside and views of Bath from the train to Bristol this morning.
Five republics, and they still can’t get it right. I hear the Duke of Anjou, the Count of Paris and the Prince Napoleon chuntering under their breaths.
October 6, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Five republics, and they still can’t get it right. I hear the Duke of Anjou, the Count of Paris and the Prince Napoleon chuntering under their breaths.
I got to declaim Homer from the top of a hilltop Byzantine/Venetian mountain fortress in a small amphitheatre. Apologies, the declamation is not good (rhythm, pacing, stresses all off, I didn’t have time to rehearse). Still pretty cool though.
Audience (my dad and my brother), underappreciative)
Audience (my dad and my brother), underappreciative)
October 2, 2025 at 10:02 AM
I got to declaim Homer from the top of a hilltop Byzantine/Venetian mountain fortress in a small amphitheatre. Apologies, the declamation is not good (rhythm, pacing, stresses all off, I didn’t have time to rehearse). Still pretty cool though.
Audience (my dad and my brother), underappreciative)
Audience (my dad and my brother), underappreciative)
Another fascinating and witty canter through three years of modern British history with Dominic Sandbrook, this time Who Dares Wins, covering 1979-1982. Again, some interesting parallels with the current state of play, albeit with very different sources and contexts.
October 1, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Another fascinating and witty canter through three years of modern British history with Dominic Sandbrook, this time Who Dares Wins, covering 1979-1982. Again, some interesting parallels with the current state of play, albeit with very different sources and contexts.
“Oh, just a light lunch for me please”
September 30, 2025 at 1:12 PM
“Oh, just a light lunch for me please”
This one is part of my occasional series “Terrible Astrophotography After a Bottle of Wine”. I call it “Moon next to Sagittarius, above the sea, and after a bottle of Robola”
September 29, 2025 at 5:36 PM
This one is part of my occasional series “Terrible Astrophotography After a Bottle of Wine”. I call it “Moon next to Sagittarius, above the sea, and after a bottle of Robola”
I know I should be enjoying the lovely sea view, but all I can think is how well this lovely resin table would work as a shoreline wargaming table. Give me some toy soldiers and I’ll stage an epic battle on it. Whilst supping the excellent whisky sours and elderflower collins’.
September 25, 2025 at 2:14 PM
I know I should be enjoying the lovely sea view, but all I can think is how well this lovely resin table would work as a shoreline wargaming table. Give me some toy soldiers and I’ll stage an epic battle on it. Whilst supping the excellent whisky sours and elderflower collins’.
I’ve read many translations of the Iliad over the years (translations because my Ancient Greek is pretty much restricted to occasional etymological nuggets), but bizarrely I’d never previously read Richmond Lattimore’s version.
September 24, 2025 at 4:10 PM
I’ve read many translations of the Iliad over the years (translations because my Ancient Greek is pretty much restricted to occasional etymological nuggets), but bizarrely I’d never previously read Richmond Lattimore’s version.