Laurie Stras
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lauriestras.bsky.social
Laurie Stras
@lauriestras.bsky.social
4.4K followers 770 following 3.2K posts
Feminist, musicologist, musician, extreme knitter, gardener. Not necessarily in that order. Girl groups from Ferrara to Motown; all the nuns, all the time; disability studies

Prof Emerita of Music, Uni of Southampton; director @musicasecreta.bsky.social
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lauriestras.bsky.social
Son just sent this, too. He has his own lager.
November 12, 2025 at 10:24 PM
lauriestras.bsky.social
I can’t even.
A large fat black cat in a white pleated ruff sits on a wooden floor staring straight at the camera. He does not look amused.
November 12, 2025 at 8:46 PM
lauriestras.bsky.social
My son just sent me a picture of a pub cat in a RUFF and how could I not post it for all the rest of you?
A large fat black cat in a white pleated ruff lies on a dark wooden floor in front of some great filing cabinets.
November 12, 2025 at 8:34 PM
lauriestras.bsky.social
Eh you invited us to cuddle a mug (of tea) at the beginning of the latest episode. I am currently cuddling this mug
A close up of a gorgeous tabby cat’s face
November 7, 2025 at 5:29 PM
lauriestras.bsky.social
Carlo Gesualdo has just endorsed Andrew Cuomo
A detail of a portrait of a man in 16th century dress. He has a wide white ruff around his neck, and the rest of his clothes are black. He has a thin beard along his June and his hair is close-cropped. He appears to be licking up at another man whose head is not in the detail. The other man is wearing a red cloak and his hand is on the other man’s shoulder.
November 4, 2025 at 6:37 AM
lauriestras.bsky.social
This is the wireless charger that charges the battery that powers my hi-frequency spinal neurostimulator. I am so hammered by the business and effort of moving house that I TOTALLY forgot to charge two nights running. I may be on the sofa some time.
An electronic device resting on a human knee in paisley dungarees. The charge level light on the right is on only one light out of four.
November 3, 2025 at 7:46 PM
lauriestras.bsky.social
Set up the wildlife camera in the new garden
A very close up black and white photo of an animal’s right eye and ear. The animal may be a cat.
October 27, 2025 at 1:35 PM
lauriestras.bsky.social
On my way to @musicasecreta.bsky.social’s concert at Brighton Early Music Festival - first time travelling from Forest Hill. I have a black eye, a dodgy knee, and 500 unanswered emails thanks to moving house on Wednesday, but this evening Will Be Lush. #GirlsGotPolyphony
A middle-aged lady with red ombré hair and turtle shell round glasses smiles wryly at the camera she is wearing a colourful knitted lace scarf and a blue raincoat. She has a dark bruise under her left eye.
October 19, 2025 at 10:52 AM
lauriestras.bsky.social
#Caturday in a new house
Two tabbies, one leaning up against a leg stretched out on a sofa, leg is wearing sunflower dungarees. The tabby in the background is sitting on a sheepskin. Further in the background is a removal box.
October 18, 2025 at 8:22 PM
lauriestras.bsky.social
Should be leaving in around 2 hours. Perhaps not the time to tackle the bison grass vodka I found in the freezer.
A large, nearly full bottle of bison grass vodka on a wooden counter. The white lid of a cool box is next to it.
October 15, 2025 at 6:42 AM
lauriestras.bsky.social
Moving house. We ride at dawn. I am TRYING to empty the fridge. Is it wrong to be drinking a tumbler full of G&T?
A large glass full of clear liquid chatting on a wooden counter. Next to the class is a half full bottle of tonic water.
October 14, 2025 at 5:29 PM
lauriestras.bsky.social
Up at sparrowfart to finish writing my narration for Sunday’s concert. The lads are taking my desk away at 9am.
A wooden desk , an office chair and a removals company box in an otherwise empty room. The desktop is crowded with computer and office detritus. There is an empty set of shelves above the desk. The floor is wooden laminate there are blue blinds and yellow walls.
October 14, 2025 at 4:36 AM
lauriestras.bsky.social
I’m back to packing. If there are two lessons my mother (who did six transcontinental moves before I was ten) taught me, they are that the capacity of a duffel bag is unlimited; and that if you’re doing a tedious job, you can remind yourself of your worth with a tiara. She kept one by the sink.
A middle-age woman wearing round glasses looks at the camera. She’s wearing a black shirt and black dungarees, her hair is tied back. She looks very tired. Behind her, you can see a removal company box leaning up against a window.
October 7, 2025 at 4:32 PM
lauriestras.bsky.social
It’s been a really full day that started at 4:30. We really enjoyed our time at #Radio4. It was also very nice to meet Hope Reese. Buy her book! And buy our album!
Four women standing in front of microphones in a radio studio lit with purple and salmon lights. The floor is a polished wood parquet. There are music stands and a couple of cities in the background. There is a monitor screen just above their heads. A tiny knitted amigurumi nun sits on a curved wooden desk with microphones. Just visible in the background is the screen that reads Woman’s Hour. Six women stand when I decide of a screen that is lit and reads Woman’s Hour. The studio is lit in purple and salmon. The floor is a wooden parquet flooring. Six women in a selfie. They are smiling and staring up at the camera.
October 7, 2025 at 4:24 PM
lauriestras.bsky.social
Up to London (last early am SWR?) to do Woman’s Hour. I have Deborah the Nano-Nun to give me courage. Who knew I could find new depths of performance anxiety at my age 🤣🤣🤣
(We named her Deborah because she looks like she’s flipping the bird, and it made us all laugh and remember our dear friend)
A pair of legs in black jeans, and red flowery boots. A leopard print rucksack with a sunflower lanyard is to the right. On the knees is a tiny knitted amiguri nun.
October 7, 2025 at 5:04 AM
lauriestras.bsky.social
SitRep 😱😱😱😱😱. From waiting weeks to exchange to moving in 10 days. OF COURSE the universe dictated this should coincide with the album launch. But I have @quietriotpod.bsky.social today, and we’re Album of the Week on R3 from tomorrow so at least my listening is sorted.
A dining room with a black-and-white checked floor full of packing boxes, bits of newspaper and bubble wrap a ladder and various types of tape. It’s a mess. So am I.
October 5, 2025 at 10:14 AM
lauriestras.bsky.social
Things I found while packing, pt 3564397: my AP French poetry textbook (I had tiny writing when I was 14) and my dad’s Book of Common Prayer, given to him in 1946, so I guess for his confirmation.
A page from a book of French poetry. It shows “Poème à la mystérieuse” by Robert Desnos. It is annotated in French and very small writing in pencil. A small leather bound book. The cover is torn and the bottom left-hand corner is missing. The words James Campbell are embossed in gold at the bottom. An S is just visible before the tear has removed the rest of the surname. An inscription inside a small book the page is yellowed with age. It reads “to my godson Jim Christmas 1946. With my love always Rose”.
October 5, 2025 at 6:24 AM
lauriestras.bsky.social
And we’ve exchanged contracts. What. A. Week.
A sunflower with a deep orange and yellow tips to the petals
October 3, 2025 at 3:26 PM
lauriestras.bsky.social
Been at the BBC. And, uh, this happened. Holy cow.
The running order of a radio programme (BBC Radio 3 In Tune) with the announcer’s script: “new album Ricordanze out today on Lucky Music … it will be album of the week next week on Essential Classics…”
October 1, 2025 at 6:56 PM
lauriestras.bsky.social
We’re on our way to the BBC - Victoria says hi!
October 1, 2025 at 2:22 PM
lauriestras.bsky.social
Packing always brings up memories. Good God we were beautiful in the 80s, despite the fashion. Although probably better in b&w because you do not want to see the colour of my eyeshadow
Two photos in black-and-white in clip frames or on a wooden table. On the left a young man in another jacket and shiny trousers and sunglasses holds 10 saxophone. He’s standing in the building site. On the right young woman with crimped hair leans forward over a bench. Her right arm is resting on the bench and her left hand is under her chin. in the background are some iron railings and park grassland.
September 26, 2025 at 9:37 AM
lauriestras.bsky.social
Cat pile giving your employers their best side eye
Two tabby cats on a human lap, giving the human majors side eye
September 24, 2025 at 6:46 AM
lauriestras.bsky.social
So here, by way of penance, I offer some eels that were given to a group of boy novices who sang for a convent of nuns. There is no punchline, only eels. And nuns, naturally.
A page from a sixteenth-century account book, written in Italian. The paper is yellowed, but the handwriting is quite legible.
September 23, 2025 at 9:45 PM
lauriestras.bsky.social
Look at this not very absolute unit. 5.5 kg from 7.3 kg - new lease of life for this 14 yr old.
A large and lovely tabby with a serious expression.
September 22, 2025 at 8:22 PM
lauriestras.bsky.social
Mine are here, too
Two tabby cats resting on a pair of human legs in leopard print dungarees
September 16, 2025 at 9:27 PM