Dr Sue Allan
@suecumbria.bsky.social
Cumbrian cultural historian, folkie and writer. Here for intelligent conversation, Romanticism, social history of long nineteenth century, dialect, folklore… and cats, of course. https://independent.academia.edu/SueAllan1
This is a bit bonkers… Susie Dent seems to be referencing me here… well, I don’t know anyone else who’s written PhD on Cumbrian songs! But how did she know?!! @susiedent.com
July 21, 2025 at 5:52 PM
This is a bit bonkers… Susie Dent seems to be referencing me here… well, I don’t know anyone else who’s written PhD on Cumbrian songs! But how did she know?!! @susiedent.com
Looking forward to Forgotten Lands festival next weekend where I'll be giving a presentation (talk with pictures & music) on ballad singers and sellers at fairs in days gone by. Hope to see some friends there... (second pic is me in action two years ago at festival!)
May 18, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Looking forward to Forgotten Lands festival next weekend where I'll be giving a presentation (talk with pictures & music) on ballad singers and sellers at fairs in days gone by. Hope to see some friends there... (second pic is me in action two years ago at festival!)
William is quite a literary cat, as well as quite literally a cat, of course. Jumble, meanwhile, is a more philosophical feline.
February 26, 2025 at 10:49 AM
William is quite a literary cat, as well as quite literally a cat, of course. Jumble, meanwhile, is a more philosophical feline.
Final presentation of the year – and it's a nicely seasonal one –to do for a lovely WI group in Cumbria's Eden Valley tomorrow (Monday)...
December 8, 2024 at 7:55 PM
Final presentation of the year – and it's a nicely seasonal one –to do for a lovely WI group in Cumbria's Eden Valley tomorrow (Monday)...
To top off a most Christmassy day… BBC 4 is showing the first two episodes of splendiferous Box of Delights: 40th anniversary of TV adaptation of John Masefield’s more than magical classic tale. #TheBoxofDelights
December 7, 2024 at 7:21 PM
To top off a most Christmassy day… BBC 4 is showing the first two episodes of splendiferous Box of Delights: 40th anniversary of TV adaptation of John Masefield’s more than magical classic tale. #TheBoxofDelights
🎶 It’s beginning to look a lot like… 🎄🎅
December 7, 2024 at 6:45 PM
🎶 It’s beginning to look a lot like… 🎄🎅
Surprise sing in Lidl when I went shopping this morning: Wigton Choral were doing their annual charity carol sing. Was inveigled to join them, so had a good sing before stopping to take some pics… 😂 🎶
December 7, 2024 at 6:41 PM
Surprise sing in Lidl when I went shopping this morning: Wigton Choral were doing their annual charity carol sing. Was inveigled to join them, so had a good sing before stopping to take some pics… 😂 🎶
Lovely festive event at The Armitt in Ambleside last night. I did readings (both English & dialect!) alongside Alan Cleaver & Lesley Park, with music from The Cumbrian Duo, and produced & compèred by Dave Felton - who recorded it for Countrystride podcast next week. Father Christmas came too!
December 5, 2024 at 1:52 PM
Lovely festive event at The Armitt in Ambleside last night. I did readings (both English & dialect!) alongside Alan Cleaver & Lesley Park, with music from The Cumbrian Duo, and produced & compèred by Dave Felton - who recorded it for Countrystride podcast next week. Father Christmas came too!
Tonight folks: 7pm at Brampton Community Centre!
November 29, 2024 at 11:12 AM
Tonight folks: 7pm at Brampton Community Centre!
Same as my ex-feral rescue cats. Although you wouldn’t think it looking at this pic of them lounging in the summer sunshine…
November 25, 2024 at 8:08 PM
Same as my ex-feral rescue cats. Although you wouldn’t think it looking at this pic of them lounging in the summer sunshine…
Next Friday: lovely festive event at Brampton Community Centre! Such a privilege to be reading a couple of little seasonal dialect poems alongside folk legends Mossy Christian, Megan Wisdom and Taffy Thomas.🎄 😊 #Christmas #Folk #Trad
November 24, 2024 at 12:00 PM
Next Friday: lovely festive event at Brampton Community Centre! Such a privilege to be reading a couple of little seasonal dialect poems alongside folk legends Mossy Christian, Megan Wisdom and Taffy Thomas.🎄 😊 #Christmas #Folk #Trad
Lovely festive event coming up at the end of the month! Taffy, Mossy and Megan all performing – what more could you want? Well... want it or not, you'll also be getting me doing a couple of seasonal Cumbrian dialect readings too! #Christmas #folkmusic #folktales #Cumbria
November 20, 2024 at 10:33 AM
Lovely festive event coming up at the end of the month! Taffy, Mossy and Megan all performing – what more could you want? Well... want it or not, you'll also be getting me doing a couple of seasonal Cumbrian dialect readings too! #Christmas #folkmusic #folktales #Cumbria
Busy time of year! Will be doing readings, inc. some in dialect, at this lovely seasonal event in Ambleside organised by Dave Felton of Countrystride podcasts and Inspired by Lakeland publishing. Come and be festive! Tickets can be bought here:
www.inspiredbylakeland.co.uk/products/cou...
www.inspiredbylakeland.co.uk/products/cou...
November 19, 2024 at 4:04 PM
Busy time of year! Will be doing readings, inc. some in dialect, at this lovely seasonal event in Ambleside organised by Dave Felton of Countrystride podcasts and Inspired by Lakeland publishing. Come and be festive! Tickets can be bought here:
www.inspiredbylakeland.co.uk/products/cou...
www.inspiredbylakeland.co.uk/products/cou...
Not very seasonable, I know, but if you're in the south Cumbria/north Lancs area on Thursday afternoon you might want to consider popping by... (sorry Bluesky has cropped pic rather badly) #Cumbria #MorrisDance #traditions
November 19, 2024 at 3:59 PM
Not very seasonable, I know, but if you're in the south Cumbria/north Lancs area on Thursday afternoon you might want to consider popping by... (sorry Bluesky has cropped pic rather badly) #Cumbria #MorrisDance #traditions
Think 10-year-old grandson’s going to really enjoy Christmas present we’ve all chipped in to buy him - and tbf with a big contribution from him too: he’s been saving for ages. I collected it yesterday: an Epiphone copy of a Gibson SG. He won’t see it until Christmas Day though!
November 19, 2024 at 10:27 AM
Think 10-year-old grandson’s going to really enjoy Christmas present we’ve all chipped in to buy him - and tbf with a big contribution from him too: he’s been saving for ages. I collected it yesterday: an Epiphone copy of a Gibson SG. He won’t see it until Christmas Day though!
Jumble says… good night Bluesky, quite liking you so far. Long may it continue.
November 17, 2024 at 10:26 PM
Jumble says… good night Bluesky, quite liking you so far. Long may it continue.
Fabulous evening at Globe Hall, Ireby with French Canadian band Christine Tassan & the Imposteurs. Amazing guitar, brilliant bass and lively fiddle: Django Reinhardt gypsy jazz meets swing & country, with a touch of French-Canadian vavavoom!
christinetassan.com/en/
christinetassan.com/en/
November 16, 2024 at 10:56 PM
Fabulous evening at Globe Hall, Ireby with French Canadian band Christine Tassan & the Imposteurs. Amazing guitar, brilliant bass and lively fiddle: Django Reinhardt gypsy jazz meets swing & country, with a touch of French-Canadian vavavoom!
christinetassan.com/en/
christinetassan.com/en/
Just a nice barn wall of lichen-covered Cumbrian sandstone, complete with integral re-used Roman altar. #RomanBritain
November 16, 2024 at 10:43 AM
Just a nice barn wall of lichen-covered Cumbrian sandstone, complete with integral re-used Roman altar. #RomanBritain
Lovely evening with illustrator Josephine Scales at Uni of Cumbria’s Vallum Gallery for wonderful alumni exhibition @60 in which Jo has a picture (you can just see it behind us). Pleased too to see works by old friends Andy Whysall & Lionel Playford, and to chat with them. #art #cumbria
November 15, 2024 at 9:39 PM