Dr Mariadele Boccardi
@mariadele.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in English Literature at UWE Bristol. Neo-Victorianism, ecocriticism, colonial writing. Lover of country houses. Agatha Christie fan.
For me it was the opening, with the documents going up and down on lifts. I've had this idea for an article on TTSS and the archive, so thought that sequence was brilliant at capturing the nature of the novel.
November 19, 2025 at 9:33 PM
For me it was the opening, with the documents going up and down on lifts. I've had this idea for an article on TTSS and the archive, so thought that sequence was brilliant at capturing the nature of the novel.
I'm going to the talk on trade and tariffs with my son, who wants to study human geography at university.
November 19, 2025 at 1:18 PM
I'm going to the talk on trade and tariffs with my son, who wants to study human geography at university.
Yes, do it! I've just come back from a supervision with one of my PhD students and it's one of the most rewarding intellectual experiences (for me and, I hope, for the student too).
November 18, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Yes, do it! I've just come back from a supervision with one of my PhD students and it's one of the most rewarding intellectual experiences (for me and, I hope, for the student too).
As good as the Dortmund clue a couple of weeks ago.
November 18, 2025 at 7:26 AM
As good as the Dortmund clue a couple of weeks ago.
That's a Spitting Image sketch, isn't it?
November 17, 2025 at 10:12 PM
That's a Spitting Image sketch, isn't it?
Inclined to pay, if only to get through the backlog of all past cities (500 or so!). My son loves it too and is better than me at anything non European, so I could "let" him play or give him a subscription as a present.
November 16, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Inclined to pay, if only to get through the backlog of all past cities (500 or so!). My son loves it too and is better than me at anything non European, so I could "let" him play or give him a subscription as a present.
Unzoomed #667 2/6 🟡🟢⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️
unzoomed.com
I should have gone with my instinct and got it in one, but overthought it. (There wasn't enough bad monumental architecture in the first image!)
unzoomed.com
I should have gone with my instinct and got it in one, but overthought it. (There wasn't enough bad monumental architecture in the first image!)
November 15, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Unzoomed #667 2/6 🟡🟢⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️
unzoomed.com
I should have gone with my instinct and got it in one, but overthought it. (There wasn't enough bad monumental architecture in the first image!)
unzoomed.com
I should have gone with my instinct and got it in one, but overthought it. (There wasn't enough bad monumental architecture in the first image!)
Do we assume this was discussed in Cabinet and they all just agreed? Lammy, or even Streeting as he is one of the few who has spoken up against racism. I can't understand how they live with themselves after all the anti-immigrant rhetoric and the silence in the face of actual racism.
November 15, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Do we assume this was discussed in Cabinet and they all just agreed? Lammy, or even Streeting as he is one of the few who has spoken up against racism. I can't understand how they live with themselves after all the anti-immigrant rhetoric and the silence in the face of actual racism.
Council tax is the glaring example: you pay more and yet more libraries close, public spaces are neglected, etc. I know why (statutory obligations) and am sympathetic towards councillors' impossible position, but it's still annoying.
November 13, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Council tax is the glaring example: you pay more and yet more libraries close, public spaces are neglected, etc. I know why (statutory obligations) and am sympathetic towards councillors' impossible position, but it's still annoying.
Yes, but about civil servants (when an old mistake of Humphrey's resurfaces and his defence is that of course they couldn't assign a lawyer to oversee a legal draft).
November 13, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Yes, but about civil servants (when an old mistake of Humphrey's resurfaces and his defence is that of course they couldn't assign a lawyer to oversee a legal draft).
Yes, massive clue at n.2. (That's when I guessed it right.)
November 5, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Yes, massive clue at n.2. (That's when I guessed it right.)
I bought the DVD as soon as it became available so have had many years to watch it over and over.
November 1, 2025 at 10:05 PM
I bought the DVD as soon as it became available so have had many years to watch it over and over.
In the Mood for Love.
November 1, 2025 at 10:02 PM
In the Mood for Love.
I made tagliatelle al forno tonight, with bolognese minus the veal (not easy to find). 4 hours of cooking to feel like "proper" Italian. Yes to dry white wine but do you use tomato purée or tinned tomatoes? (I don't like tinned tomatoes but curious about what a professional would use - thank you.)
November 1, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I made tagliatelle al forno tonight, with bolognese minus the veal (not easy to find). 4 hours of cooking to feel like "proper" Italian. Yes to dry white wine but do you use tomato purée or tinned tomatoes? (I don't like tinned tomatoes but curious about what a professional would use - thank you.)
I saw your post about the show and it reminded me of the Reduced Shakespeare (which I saw ages ago), also v v funny.
November 1, 2025 at 9:26 PM
I saw your post about the show and it reminded me of the Reduced Shakespeare (which I saw ages ago), also v v funny.
Going on Monday with my students for our Jane Austen trip. Looking forward to uploading a new profile picture.
November 1, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Going on Monday with my students for our Jane Austen trip. Looking forward to uploading a new profile picture.
The mash-up I didn't know I needed. (I love Edward Thomas.)
October 31, 2025 at 10:33 PM
The mash-up I didn't know I needed. (I love Edward Thomas.)
I guessed the country from the buildings and square etc., then just went for a not so obvious city. (I knew it wasn't Warsaw or Kraków.)
October 29, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I guessed the country from the buildings and square etc., then just went for a not so obvious city. (I knew it wasn't Warsaw or Kraków.)
They are philistines and proud of it.
October 29, 2025 at 7:55 AM
They are philistines and proud of it.
It's raised costs for public services, care homes/agencies, universities (I have a personal stake in the last of these), none of which were exactly flush with cash in the first place.
October 29, 2025 at 7:44 AM
It's raised costs for public services, care homes/agencies, universities (I have a personal stake in the last of these), none of which were exactly flush with cash in the first place.