@suecumbria
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
Phew! Virtual lecture for the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library done and dusted - on folk & social dance in Cumbria over past 250 years. Lots of quotes - from folks like Keats, Wordsworth, dialect poets + quotes t Beatrix Potter's & Melvyn Bragg's involvement! Diving into a glass of wine now...
Good to see you over here Abner. That Glee Clip leaves a lot to be desired. Tuna, for one thing, Nibbins tells me.
Learn about a little corner of Cumbria’s ‘intangible heritage’: folk dancing over the centuries. And how on earth was Beatrix Potter involved? Book now to find out!
Don’t worry… that’s the next project!
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
Someone had just pointed out a reference in your novel to ‘a very lovely lady who wrote a PhD about Cumbrian folk songs’ … and I’m pretty sure that must be me - being only person who has written PhD on the subject! But how did YOU know?!
A virtual village square for the Lake District - Hefted newsletter #12: July 2025 is out now. And it could be in your inbox as well as mine if you subscribe! Hefted newsletter #12: July 2025 open.substack.com/pub/hefted/p...
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!)
A wonderful talk at Keswick by Jack Ashby about his new book #NaturesMemory Go buy it: you’ll learn a lot!
Absolutely great talk about #NaturesMemory at Keswick! So many revelations about natural history collections: I learnt a lot. And will be buying the book of course.
William is quite a literary cat, as well as quite literally a cat, of course. Jumble, meanwhile, is a more philosophical feline.
You might have noticed something looks a little different on our profile... 🛞
That's because, to mark our 100th birthday in 2025, we're refreshing our look!
Read more about our brand refresh > media.nls.uk/news/our-bra...
#NLS100
Happy Christmas to all my BlueSky friends - and those I’ve yet to meet. A little seasonal Cumbrian podcast for your delectation…
www.countrystride.co.uk/single-post/...
Looking forward to reading this book, and kicking myself I didn’t spot it to earlier - but been prepping not only for Christmas but also hip op last Friday! As a historian and folklorist myself, I was delighted to read in reviews your position on Frazer: Ronald Hutton would approve!
'Made in Manchester: A People's History of the City That Shaped the Modern World' out now, available from bookshops and websites. Bestselling 'Northerners: A History' available in hardback and paperback. Publisher: @harpernorth.bsky.social
My 2024 calendar is all Herdwick!
From some of my favourite images across the Lakes enjoy this charming breed every day of the year.
Not many left but get free postage through my website, if you use code freedel24 at checkout.
amybatemanphotography.com/store/herdwi...
Seasons greetings!
Amy x
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)...
Same applies to Christmas shopping or window shopping, although tbf I don't volunteer to do those very often... Art galleries same as museums too: haven't got the legs or back for much of that 'museum shuffle' these days!
@countrystride.bsky.social @fellranger.bsky.social @postalpathsguy.bsky.social
Friends, fellow Cumbrians and Lake District lovers! Get yourselves signed up to the ‘Hefted’ email newsletter asap - you won’t regret it. In the meantime here’s the latest issue: hefted.substack.com/p/hefted-newsl…
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… 🎄🎅
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… 😂 🎶
Snap!
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!
Thanks Sue: glad you enjoyed! So did I: lovely festive event with a great atmosphere.
The wolves are running! It’s the 40th anniversary of the BBC TV adaptation of the John Masefield’s splendiferous ‘The Box of Delights’ - and they’re showing it again, starting this Sunday at 7.10pm. I’ll be there, Master Harker, I’ll be there… www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...
Well that was a laugh-out-loud moment over lunch! Thanks… and sorry!
No discussion: off right now to switch on my coffee maker. I *really* need a skinny latte after seeing your pic!
Please could you add me? I’m a cultural historian, journalist, folklorist, Cumbrian dialect specialist & ‘performer’ of lively multi-media presentations!
