I saw a report of this happening tweeted somewhere as if it was news news. In fact, going and looking for it, I see it was something that happened a year ago:
Tower of London welcomes first raven chicks in 30 years
One might have supposed, given the long-standing association of ravens at the Tower with the well-being of the nation, and that the ( Read more... )

Thank You for Not Eating Your Placenta.
Okay, I came through the 70s, I knew this was a hippy-type thing, making a lovely placenta-stew after childbirth -
And that article makes me think, gosh, I actually know that one of the things the placenta does is act as as a barrier to prevent various pathogens and whatnot getting to the foetus, because ( Read more... )

The statue of John Knox in the courtyard of the Divinity School has one arm raised and looks as if he is about to give someone (?Calvin) a high-five.
I may not have looked at the Naomi Mitchison papers, but the Mitchison fangirl in me was well chuffed to see a really great portrait of her in later life in the National Portrait Gallery (no postcard ( Read more... )

Ben Goldacre on woowoo in Parliament. How much do I love Evan Harris?
"The honourable member for Braintree cited evidence from the Sun, so I want to refer to a recent edition of the British Medical Journal"

Awwww, bless.

Marina Hyde, While Hubbard's cult gets ever more exposed, it's a shame other religions are not forced to justify their own ( Read more... )

Even if we hadn't both been suffering from colds, partner and I tend not to go out on NYE.

Partly this is due to my superstitious belief that Bad Things Happen when I go to NY parties or really, do anything much but stay at home by my own (metaphorical) fireside.

Partly it is just why bother?

I cook us a special and delicious meal, we drink a toast ( Read more... )

What happened was, I realised rather early on in the holiday that, woez, I had forgotten the phone charger, and it was thus rather necessary to conserve the battery for the duration.

So all I have are 3 rather blurry pix of some sights of Buda:

( Statue of András Hadik on horseback )

In today's Private Lives column in The Guardian G2, the dilemma for next week (scroll down to foot of page) is:
My husband wants to leave me. We have two children, aged 10 and eight, and he says he is depressed and only loves me as "the mother of his children" now. He has been working and travelling a lot and was away for most of last year ( Read more... )

Seen out of the bedroom window, in one of the trees in the pocket park at the back of the house, 4 magpies all sitting together, and then flying off. Unusual to see so many together: seldom more than one at a time ('Hello, Mr Magpie! and how are Mrs, Miss and Master Magpie today?')

Which led me to wonder what 4 magpies means, if it is one for ( Read more... )