Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
banner
janevsw.bsky.social
Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
@janevsw.bsky.social
Retired rare books librarian, formerly Institute of Naval Medicine civvy, thwarted medievalist, enthusiast of history, cooking, words and singing, writer, occasional poet, permanently on wheels; married to retired PO (Comms) RNR, signal engineer, bass.
Pinned
Thought I hadn't screenshot these before Brian Sibley left the other place. But <phew> I had. Time to blow my own trumpet for once.
To Wells Cathedral for Candlemas eucharist; afterwards, photographs from under the tower crossing. The air in the nave is hazy because of all the incense.
February 2, 2026 at 11:03 PM
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
Niagara Falls has partially frozen due to extreme low temperatures and heavy snow.

The striking scenes at one of the world's most popular tourist destinations have attracted extra visitors who travelled to the US-Canada border in frigid conditions to witness the spectacle.
February 1, 2026 at 3:00 PM
#NavalHistory #Cats "...I was spellbound to learn that it had been brought to their Lordships' attention that the cat belonging to the Admiralty Library received less for his keep than the Bell Office cat (what might the Bell Office be?) 1/2
January 28, 2026 at 11:57 PM
Remembering Professor Anna Morpurgo Davies (1937-2014) on Holocaust Memorial Day.

"Heroism cannot be imposed and absence of heroism is not a sin But there is something which we should strive for in our everyday life even if it is difficult: the moral courage which leads to protest ... (1/3)
January 27, 2026 at 3:18 PM
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
Enjoy the Sunday caption contest. Give away ❤️s, retweet to encourage more competitors, include #GirlsOwnCC
January 25, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
In this article, Roland Chambers – children’s author and former biographer – reflects on the legacy of RLF Estates writer Arthur Ransome, who is best-known for his 'Swallows and Amazons' children's books but was a journalist during the Russian Revolution.

Full article here: https://bit.ly/49rjp72
January 19, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Soothing...
Here is a video of a frozen creek that had begun to thaw, and the water was flowing beneath the thin ice on top. I took this because it was soothing and wonderfully bloopy and I wanted to listen to it for hours. You are all welcome to enjoy it, too. Let your brain settle here and rest for a moment.
January 11, 2026 at 11:27 AM
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
#LondonFreedomPass

The disabled & older persons freedom pass in London is a vital lifeline for 1.2m londoners it supports to keep independent amd participate in every day life
Without it so many will he isolated at home myself included
Please sign this petition

www.change.org/p/stop-restr...
Sign the Petition
Stop restricting Freedom Pass travel in London
www.change.org
January 11, 2026 at 5:53 AM
If your name's Rachel and you drive a Fiat Doblo near Bletchley – I'm getting your texts from Halfords telling you that your MOT is due on 15th February ...
January 10, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
January 8, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
Fiction and fantasy aren't "fake" any more than light seen through a prism is fake. It's just seen from a different perspective. Light seen through a prism is still light. Truth seen through a story is still the truth.
January 7, 2026 at 7:50 PM
#NavalHistory I am speaking to the local history society in March. The entry on the website has my first name wrong, the initials of the subject wrong, and has chosen to illustrate a naval event of 1898 with this warship silhouette. Can someone date it for me - WW1, WW2, other?
Thanks!
January 6, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Introduce yourself with what almost killed you:

Hi, I'm birth 3 months early + weightloss from 3lb 1 oz to 2lb 6 oz.
Introduce yourself with what almost killed you:

Hi, I'm a DVT blood clot so ginormous that, when it appeared on the screen during the diagnostic ultrasound on my leg, I asked the doctor if it was a boy or a girl.
Introduce yourself with what almost killed you:

"Hi, I'm...NASA?"

They dropped Skylab onto Western Australia when my family was living in Esperance; sadly I was a toddler and recall none of the fun & my parents found no debris! This only counts as 'almost' killing due to the scale/odds involved 😉
January 2, 2026 at 1:37 PM
If anyone would like to have a book with 26 wonderful pictures, and 26 stories to go with them (including seven by me), this is where you can order it: shop.orkneyology.com/products/myt...
Myths in Isolation
Myths in Isolation is a gorgeous art book with new folk tales, myths and fantasy stories inspired by the artworks of Katherine Soutar.   The book is a collective response between artist and authors to...
shop.orkneyology.com
January 2, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Beginning the new year hunting for a working charger in the wilds of Kent to give the Leaf enough oomph to drive us back to the hotel. There's a junction on the M2 that isn't marked correctly on Himself's car map (and a charger that is marked, but shouldn't be) ... zzz ... happy NY everyone
January 1, 2026 at 1:48 AM
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
"The note from that nice Mr Dickens says that we will be visited by the spirits of 3 elderly gentlemen. They will remind us that our place in life is to cook and produce children."

"Sod that for a lark!" said Hermione, "I'm off to explore Indonesia on a bicycle next week."

#GirlsOwnCC
December 28, 2025 at 6:20 PM
My father has been up a ladder in the half-light, adjusting the isolator switch for his solar panels and heat pump, on the edge of the roof.

He's 90.

I think he's amazing, but ... 🙄
December 15, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Singing alto with the Stanchester Quire tonight in East Chinnock. We outnumbered the audience .... What looks like black glass in the windows is in fact deep crimson when lit from within. Stunning. They were donated by a German former POW as a mark of peace and reconciliation.
December 12, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
Ongoing decimation of British universities part 252:

Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.

Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
December 11, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
Over at our YouTube Channel we've put up 11 poetry workshops to help people of any age write poems. So far they've had in total 355 thousand views.
www.youtube.com/c/MichaelRos...
Kids’ Poems and Stories With Michael Rosen
Official Michael Rosen Channel Every video and playlist here is approved by Michael himself. If it’s on this channel, it’s the real deal and safe for children. You may see “YTP” or “poop” remixes on...
www.youtube.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:29 AM
It me! (and friend)
December 11, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Adults, young adults and older children have read and enjoyed my books, so if you are looking for good gifts, please try here!

Waterbound & Secret Songs

www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk/search?type=...

www.amazon.co.uk/Waterbound-J...
Search: 2 results found for "Jane Stemp"
Search: 2 results found for "Jane Stemp"
www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk
December 10, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
If you’ve got children who are nervous about speaking in their school play this Christmas, you might like our gentle, reassuring picture book VIOLET’S TEMPEST!

#KidLit #BookSky #PrimaryEduSky

uk.bookshop.org/p/books/viol... @lantanapub.bsky.social
Violet's Tempest
Check out Violet's Tempest - Violet’s world has changed. Her voice has gone from a giggle to a whisper. So when her teacher casts her in the school play, she is filled with worry. How will she ever st...
uk.bookshop.org
December 10, 2025 at 10:11 AM
*polite cough* if anyone would like to read seven stories by me and support my lovely friend Katherine, now's your chance ...
katherinesoutarillustration.com/buy-my-book-...
Buy my book! Myths in Isolation. Available on January 1st 2026
Reviews “I’ve been a fan of Katherine Soutar Caddick for most of my life, so I knew this would be book a treasure and I wasn’t disappointed. I love the premise of this book.  We are used…
katherinesoutarillustration.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:47 PM