Kat Steiner🔸
@kastrel.bsky.social
Oxford-based medical librarian, butler to a cat named Abby, amateur actor, folk singer, cross-stitcher. Chronically helpful; annoying people for good. She/her, opinions absolutely my own.
OH is out at a party tonight, so I'm having a negroni (mixed as a present from my FIL, lethal) as a treat #ConfinedCocktails
November 22, 2025 at 7:35 PM
OH is out at a party tonight, so I'm having a negroni (mixed as a present from my FIL, lethal) as a treat #ConfinedCocktails
If you log into the website where you applied for the permits, go to My Permits and view it, it will tell you how many you've got left. oxfordshire.zatpermit.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:00 PM
If you log into the website where you applied for the permits, go to My Permits and view it, it will tell you how many you've got left. oxfordshire.zatpermit.com
Well, this slide deck is a fun challenge!
November 20, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Well, this slide deck is a fun challenge!
I've recently been doing some family photo scanning, who wants to see some really excellent fashion choices from my grandfather as a child (1920s and 30s Prague)?
November 19, 2025 at 5:59 PM
I've recently been doing some family photo scanning, who wants to see some really excellent fashion choices from my grandfather as a child (1920s and 30s Prague)?
I'm sorry, what. The word "atomy" (plural atomies), which sometimes comes up in archaic writing (I'm reading a biography of John Donne, 17th-century poet), comes from incorrectly parsing the word "anatomy" into "an atomy" and deducing it must mean a skeleton. Incredible.
November 17, 2025 at 1:05 PM
I'm sorry, what. The word "atomy" (plural atomies), which sometimes comes up in archaic writing (I'm reading a biography of John Donne, 17th-century poet), comes from incorrectly parsing the word "anatomy" into "an atomy" and deducing it must mean a skeleton. Incredible.
I don't know much about the Gen Z stare, but my cat has certainly mastered it.
November 12, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I don't know much about the Gen Z stare, but my cat has certainly mastered it.
It's Play Week! And I have potentially my most ludicrous costume yet (not pictured: eagle wings).
November 10, 2025 at 11:01 AM
It's Play Week! And I have potentially my most ludicrous costume yet (not pictured: eagle wings).
Truer words were never spoken.
October 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Truer words were never spoken.
I've been completely converted to taking notes in Notepad++ in markdown - it has a little bit of colourful formatting to break up the monotonous text, the file sizes are smaller, and I don't distract myself by spending ages trying to make Word do the formatting I want.
October 21, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I've been completely converted to taking notes in Notepad++ in markdown - it has a little bit of colourful formatting to break up the monotonous text, the file sizes are smaller, and I don't distract myself by spending ages trying to make Word do the formatting I want.
LOVE to find out that there's a Cross Country train strike the day I need to get to Birmingham.
October 16, 2025 at 8:38 AM
LOVE to find out that there's a Cross Country train strike the day I need to get to Birmingham.
Had an excursion to @bodhumslib.bsky.social and the Schwarzman Centre - very impressive space and nice to see some familiar books I borrowed 15+ years ago in their new environments.
October 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Had an excursion to @bodhumslib.bsky.social and the Schwarzman Centre - very impressive space and nice to see some familiar books I borrowed 15+ years ago in their new environments.
Very chuffed to recognise the family resemblance in Gaia Wise in #AllCreaturesGreatAndSmall - Emma Thompson's daughter.
October 10, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Very chuffed to recognise the family resemblance in Gaia Wise in #AllCreaturesGreatAndSmall - Emma Thompson's daughter.
Cross-stitch update: just over halfway! Won't be done by Christmas but I might put it up anyway once it's framed...
October 9, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Cross-stitch update: just over halfway! Won't be done by Christmas but I might put it up anyway once it's framed...
Having a fridge jar cull - it's like George's Marvellous Medicine over here.
October 5, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Having a fridge jar cull - it's like George's Marvellous Medicine over here.
I had the opportunity this week with @bodleianhcl.bsky.social to support an @ouhospitals.bsky.social writing retreat for nurses, midwives and AHPs at Egrove Park (part of the Saïd Business School). Extremely fancy lunch and venue! The event was thanks to funding from @oxfordbrc.bsky.social
October 2, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I had the opportunity this week with @bodleianhcl.bsky.social to support an @ouhospitals.bsky.social writing retreat for nurses, midwives and AHPs at Egrove Park (part of the Saïd Business School). Extremely fancy lunch and venue! The event was thanks to funding from @oxfordbrc.bsky.social
Considering just replacing all my induction slides with this one.
September 30, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Considering just replacing all my induction slides with this one.
I am mystified as to what this arrow means - it's just been repainted on Windmill Rd by the NOC by @oxfordshirecc.bsky.social but I think it's just a remnant from when the bike lane used to be on the pavement, whereas now it's on the road.
September 17, 2025 at 12:38 PM
I am mystified as to what this arrow means - it's just been repainted on Windmill Rd by the NOC by @oxfordshirecc.bsky.social but I think it's just a remnant from when the bike lane used to be on the pavement, whereas now it's on the road.
Morning rainbow! Also a useful reminder to put my waterproof trousers on just in case before cycling.
September 15, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Morning rainbow! Also a useful reminder to put my waterproof trousers on just in case before cycling.
Perfect #caturday with the sun streaming in from the garden, tea in the pot, cat commandeering my crafting pillow but tolerating me cross stitching around her.
September 13, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Perfect #caturday with the sun streaming in from the garden, tea in the pot, cat commandeering my crafting pillow but tolerating me cross stitching around her.
Had an amazing time visiting friends in New York City - we went to lots of museums and libraries, saw an off-Broadway show (Gene & Gilda), went to the top of the Rockefeller building, and explored some parks. It's nice to be home again, though.
September 11, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Had an amazing time visiting friends in New York City - we went to lots of museums and libraries, saw an off-Broadway show (Gene & Gilda), went to the top of the Rockefeller building, and explored some parks. It's nice to be home again, though.
I am *extremely* excited about this: @bodleian.ox.ac.uk has made over 1.4 MILLION books loanable from our offsite storage. Obviously, this is fantastic for students, particularly postgraduates. But also potentially great for leisure reading! www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/service-upda...
August 29, 2025 at 10:49 AM
I am *extremely* excited about this: @bodleian.ox.ac.uk has made over 1.4 MILLION books loanable from our offsite storage. Obviously, this is fantastic for students, particularly postgraduates. But also potentially great for leisure reading! www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/service-upda...
I have been newly allowed to borrow this copy of the Eyre Affair by @jasperfforde.bsky.social and I feel like I am, myself, committing a literary crime. All my working life, these barcodes, stamps and labels have meant DO NOT REMOVE FROM THE LIBRARY.
August 25, 2025 at 3:54 PM
I have been newly allowed to borrow this copy of the Eyre Affair by @jasperfforde.bsky.social and I feel like I am, myself, committing a literary crime. All my working life, these barcodes, stamps and labels have meant DO NOT REMOVE FROM THE LIBRARY.
I mean, I read this and can't help thinking that we should just ban golf.
August 20, 2025 at 6:51 AM
I mean, I read this and can't help thinking that we should just ban golf.