None of us does. You can’t improve your past… but it has at least passed. Onward!
11.03.2026 23:14
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Putting postcards in a UK postbox.
I’ve been reading at random a few of my old letters to a friend. A weird experience: stuff I’d forgotten; stuff I have no recollection of; stuff that made me cringe.
Identity is weird: I was the person who wrote all those letters, but the person who wrote them isn’t me.
11.03.2026 08:31
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TFW you research a horrendously complex topic with many interlinking strands, and you realise you might finally have managed to construct a chapter outline that flows in a sensible, linear fashion from start to finish.
…And then TFW you realise you now have to write the damn thing!
#AmWriting
04.03.2026 19:11
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Curlew
Robin
Blue tit
Great tit
After an unexpectedly traumatic morning, I managed to slip into the garden for a couple of minutes and take a few photos of passing birds. It really helped.
03.03.2026 19:25
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Join the Friends of Charles Darwin
Join the Friends of Charles Darwin for FREE, and get to write the initials FCD after your name!
02-Mar: On this day in 1994, the Friends of Charles Darwin were formed. We are still going strong. Follow the link below to join for free, thereby entitling you to add the initials FCD after your name.
friendsofdarwin.com/join/
02.03.2026 19:08
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The people of Cornholme have webbed feet.
24.02.2026 21:03
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Book review: ‘The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex’ by Charles Darwin
Darwin finally sets out to enlighten us on our origins.
24-Feb: On this day in 1871, the first edition of Charles Darwin’s ‘The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex’ was published. Here’s my retrospective review…
#HistSci
24.02.2026 15:51
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The Darwin Bicentennial Oak, 2026
Happy 17th planting day to the Darwin Bicentennial Oak, planted in our garden on this day in 2009 to mark Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday. (Follow the link to see a series of photos taken of this one-day mighty tree as it grew from a tiny sapling.)
friendsofdarwin.com/darwin-bicen...
#HistSci
12.02.2026 12:38
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Woodcut of cheetah
Tomorrow (12 Feb) is the biggest day in the Darwin Calendar, so of course I’ll be sending out the latest FREE Friends of Charles Darwin Newsletter. If you haven’t subscribed yet, now would seem the perfect opportunity… SEIZE IT!
richardcarter.substack.com/welcome/ #HistSci
11.02.2026 18:52
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A map of the UK, with pins at various spots across the islands.
Help us map science history for #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience. We've launched a new interactive map of landmarks across the UK connected to women from science history, and we want your suggestions.
Explore the map and submit your landmark now: royalsociety.org/news-resourc...
11.02.2026 10:13
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John Stevens Henslow
Botanist, clergyman, and Charles Darwin’s great friend and tutor.
06-Feb: On this day in 1796, Charles Darwin’s friend and tutor John Stevens Henslow was born in Rochester, Kent.
friendsofdarwin.com/articles/hen...
#HistSci
06.02.2026 19:51
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Book review: ‘The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex’ by Charles Darwin
Darwin finally sets out to enlighten us on our origins.
04-Feb: On this day in 1868, Charles Darwin began work on his book ‘The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex’. Here’s my review…
04.02.2026 13:23
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Sod it! I’ll pay!
> BBC: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
> Campaigners say Huddersfield Bus Station is in "desperate need of refurbishment", but a £27 scheme to improve the site is still awaiting final approval from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA).
04.02.2026 09:52
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…It just took me five minutes to open a ‘tear-open’ bag of dried prunes. Scissors and a lot of swearing were involved. (Don’t get me started on Listerine™ mouthwash.)
04.02.2026 09:41
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Killer idea for a TV reality show in which the CEOs of various food-, drug- and electrical-product companies are stranded on an island and can only escape by overcoming the anti-tamper and child-protection measures ‘protecting’ the users of their products.
04.02.2026 09:41
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I always planned one extra (final) chapter, but this new one was unplanned. I've been reducing the word-count in my second draft, but not by as much as I expected (my first drafts are closer to second drafts).
27.01.2026 14:49
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100,000 words (excluding lengthy references section)… I’m _supposed_ to be cutting down the word-count, rather than coming up with ideas for new chapters!
26.01.2026 16:58
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this is what 2 years of chatgpt does to your brain
YouTube video by Angela Collier
@acollierastro.bsky.social’s videos are always entertaining. Her latest is no exception—and one of my favourites.
youtu.be/7pqF90rstZQ
25.01.2026 18:45
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Darwin’s heterostyly studies! (It’s a factual book.)
24.01.2026 19:00
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TFW you read through your ‘Notes for future drafts’ of the chapter you’re currently revising and realise:
1. Yes, this stuff really does need to be included in the book, and
2. AAAAGGGHHHHHHHH!! It deserves at least a chapter in its own right.
#AmWriting
23.01.2026 08:36
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A wonderful book! I still own my childhood copy.
17.01.2026 20:08
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Ladies, gentlemen and other Earth-beings, I HAVE COMPLETED THE SECOND DRAFT OF ANOTHER CHAPTER!! This one was about the weeds in my rockery—which contains more weeds than rocks. #ThroughDarwinsEyes #AmWriting
16.01.2026 13:58
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