Vivienne Dunstan
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vivdunstan.bsky.social
Vivienne Dunstan
@vivdunstan.bsky.social
1.6K followers 1.5K following 1.9K posts
Academic historian, genealogist, former computer scientist, Doctor Who fan and accordionist. Scottish Borderer from Hawick now living in Dundee, Scotland. Pronouns she/her. Equality ally. #BLM. https://vivdunstan.co.uk
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vivdunstan.bsky.social
Delighted to manage some accordion practice - too rare a thing now, with my progressive neurological illness. Played ABBA's "Thank You For the Music", a "My Fair Lady" medley, Disney's "Speechless" from Aladdin, and in the recording here the best-known tune from "The Pirates of the Caribbean" films.
November 28, 2025 at 5:31 PM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Photo by my husband @martin-dunstan.bsky.social in Perth Road, Dundee, Scotland today 📷📸🎞️🪶 #birds #ukwildlife
Photo of a building chimney top topped by 8 feral pigeons against a blue sky background
November 25, 2025 at 11:12 PM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Some photos from my husband's Saturday walk in the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶
A robin seen from behind, perched on a thin branch, with its red tinged face turned to tye right. Behind is clear blue sky. Seen from behind the bird’s under area is a light colour, well lit by the sun. Its back is darker, and it has a touch of red on its tail. A great tit perched on a branch facing towards us with head slightly turned to the left as we look. The bird’s front plumage is mostly yellow with a rather wavy black band up the middle. Its head is black with a white area on the side below its eye. A dipper bird perched facing left on a small grey rock in a river. The bird has a dark brown body and white chin, neck and chest area. It is looking very alertly. A male blackbird perched facing left on a thin branch with red berries around and an out of focus blue and orange background.
November 23, 2025 at 12:08 AM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Didn't have any handy when I posted, but here's a later one of the LOTR poster up. Yes I need more bookcases :)
Framed Lord of the Rings art poster on a wall beside a teetering pile of language books
November 17, 2025 at 2:43 PM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Watching tonight’s episode of Countryfile, with Hamza Yassin following the release of Scottish wildcats in the Cairngorms. Meanwhile thinking of my first pet cat, who was a rescued half wildcat from Highland Perthshire.
An old pink tinged photo of an extremely fluffy cat lying on a bedspread looking towards the camera. It is a very large cat with a very fluffy long tail tucked in.
November 16, 2025 at 6:28 PM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Some bonus photos from my husband's Saturday walk in the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶
A bright green ring-necked parakeet with very red beak perched in a tree with blue sky and other branches behind. A grey heron glimpsed in the afternoon as the sun was setting. It is facing towards the left, and seen close up, among trees. Sunlight and shadows dapple it. It has mostly grey plumage with black shoulder pads, a black area behind its eye, and a long pointed yellow and white beak. Large bare trees against a blue/white sky as the sun is setting. In front of the trees the rough ground also appears orange, a mix of grass and fallen autumnal leaves. A (juvenile?) collared dove perched on a branch seen from behind with its head turned slightly to the right. The setting sun means that the bird is partly in shadow with an orange tint to its head.
November 16, 2025 at 12:12 AM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Some photos from my husband's Saturday walk in the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶
A collared dove, hovering facing towards the right with wings spread wide, with soft brown and beige branches and yellow leaves behind it. The bird has white under wings with soft grey tips, black and white tail feathers, and light pinkish colouring around its head, neck, chest and tummy. A male house sparrow perched facing right on a branch. It has light beige under plumage and orange and dark brown wings and back. There is a black area immediately around its eye, and much of its head is pinkish/brown coloured. A female chaffinch perched facing right among grey branches. Her head is raised up, and she has soft brown/olive body and dark brown and light wings and head top. A dipper bird - dark brown body with white neck, chest and tummy - perched facing right on a grey rock in a river with more rocks behind. The bird has long feet and a silver ring around its right leg.
November 16, 2025 at 12:02 AM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
In self help it's also another of those times where I start browsing more accordion sheet music that I might pick up, and hopefully play! Might just have ordered me a book of Argentinian tango and folk tunes arranged for the accordion. Oh dear. What a shame.
Cover of book "Argentinian Tango and Folk Tunes for Accordion". 36 traditional pieces arranged by Ros Stephen and Pete Rosser, published by Schott. The cover image features a couple in a close-up Argentinian tango dance pose.
November 15, 2025 at 10:25 PM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Setting me a calendar reminder for this annual hefty discount from Edinburgh University Press. 50% off all books on 29&30 November 2025. Even better than the 40% discount I can get as an EUP author. #Booksky #Acsky
Banner featuring a white on blue saltire, advertising Edinburgh University Press's St Andrew's Day Flash Sale, "Save 50% on all books" on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th November 2025.
November 11, 2025 at 10:04 PM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Reminded of an ancestor’s inventory of personal possessions after he died in 1761. Sometime laird of Bowhill in Selkirkshire (which he sold to the Dukes of Buccleuch) and before that Glen in Peeblesshire (very close to Traquair). It also includes his very long list of books owned. My 7xg-granddad.
Historical transcript. Text shown as follows: Item two Claicking? sixpence Item two boxes with a parcel of tools consisting of files chisels etc. two shillings Item a brass dial five shillings Item two old landships one shillings Item a silver handled sword very old fifteen shillings Item two old brass black handled swords sixpence Item a dry stool and pewter pan one shilling Item two old cloak bags a horsing & hulster cases with an old saddle and old horse whip five shillings Item a small square table fourpence Item a fiddle and stick two shillings and sixpence Item a staff fishing rod one shilling Item one gun very old one shilling Item a box with small weights one shilling Item a small bottle one penny Item a bottle of oil threepence Item six maps of the shire of Peebles sixpence. In the dining room a ??? bed stead and green curtains one pound ten shillings Item a feather bed bolster and pillows one pound four shillings Item four pairs of old blankets ten shillings Item a large mahogany tea table ten shillings Item a small ditto very old four shillings Item six chairs with yellow bottoms fifteen shillings Item a small looking glass three shillings Item two old leather arm chairs two shillings Item a small elbow chair with leather bottom two shillings Item a chimney pocker & tongs five shillings Item a cloathsbrush two pence Item a walnut wee tea chest and cannisters two shillings Item a small cave with twelve bottles one shillings Item an old broken cloaths screen sixpence Item a decanter of chrystal and two cannisters sixpence Item an old trunk one shilling Item a tree of the Steuart family threepence. In the Dining room press (*) a china punch bowl and two slap bowls (*) six shillings six breakfast cups and saucers, ten other cups and more saucers, a china teapot & two ashets small & a table trencher, a milk pot and two breakfast cups nine shillings Item three wine glasses and vinegar cruet ninepence Item two stone pots & sugar box threepence Item a
November 11, 2025 at 6:47 PM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Some photos from my husband's Saturday walk in the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶
A dipper perched facing left on a mossy rock in a river with green banks and scattered autumnal leaves behind. A fluffy white and tan colour dog approaching towards the camera, head down, probably sniffing the leaf covered ground. It looks a bit like a Dandie Dinmont Terrier and also a poodle cross. A horse chestnut leaf in fiery red and orange autumnal colours, seen against a background of green leaves and white sky. A grey heron perched facing left, high in a conifer tree with lots of fine branches. The bird has very noticeable black markings as well as the more usual grey, including black on its shoulder, the top of its head, and further down its body as well.
November 9, 2025 at 12:55 AM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Some photos from my husband's Saturday walk in the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶
A black-headed gull soaring against a blue sky. It faces us, and is looking towards us, head slightly tilted, left wing (to the right as we look) raised higher than the right wing (to the left as we look). Both wings spread wide are grey underneath. Part of an old railway viaduct peeking out between autumnal coloured trees, with yellowing grass in the foreground and blue sky with wisps of cloud above and behind. A robin seen from above. It is facing the right, with clearly visible grey head, back and wings, a light blue tinge behind its eyes and down in front of its wings, then the standout orange neck and chest. The very close up photograph shows well the fine detailed lines on its feathery plumage. A wood pigeon perched in a tree lit by the setting sun with little bits of blue sky glimpsed between branches and leaves behind. The bird faces the right and is seen in a mix of sunlit and shadows cast by some of the branches surrounding it.
November 2, 2025 at 12:47 AM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Today’s arrival, a new JRR Tolkien book. #Booksky
A hardback copy, resting on a red sofa, of “The Bovadium Fragments” by JRR Tolkien edited by Christopher Tolkien with a new accompanying essay by Richard Ovenden “The Origin of Bovadium”. Bovadium = Oxford. My copy is signed by Richard Ovenden.
October 31, 2025 at 3:09 PM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Today's second arrival (very good day!): new paperback copy of the Kickstarter-funded "Shakespeare vs Cthulhu: What Dreams May Come" interactive fiction gamebook from @acegamebooks.bsky.social. Looks fantastic! Very happy to have this in my hands at last, and very much looking forward to playing it.
A paperback copy of the ACE GAMEBOOKS "Shakespeare vs Cthulhu: What Dreams May Come" book. The cover features the head and upper body of Shakespeare surrounded by a mass of tentacles. Sitting beside the gamebook on a red sofa are a matching bookmark and a number of postcards with old-style illustrations featuring Shakespearean scenes/things related to the gamebook.
October 29, 2025 at 2:17 PM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Something wonderful just arrived from Felted Friends. A hand felted White Rabbit from Disney's "Alice in Wonderland" film. A favourite literary character from one of my all-time favourite books. And so very well done. Thank you!
A cardboard box with wrapping paper and bubble wrap. Inside it stands a cute felted White Rabbit figure, in red coat, yellow shirt, burgundy bow tie, blue trousers, and a white watch with a yellow chain clutched in his left paw. He has white fluffy bits beside his cheek and his pink in white ears stand up tall. Beside him is a leaflet for the shop Felted Friends, www.feltedfriends.shop, also on Facebook and Instagram.
October 29, 2025 at 12:45 PM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Pleased managed more accordion practice despite neuro illness. Not too light headed just now, though my usually automatic bellows control was a bit challenged! Focused on 5 tunes, inc this one, Windmills of Your Mind. Which on my 72 bass box required jumping from top of bass side to bottom and back!
October 27, 2025 at 11:12 AM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Some photos from my husband's Saturday walk in the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶
A female blackbird in a bush full of thin branches and fading green leaves. The bird is seen partly in shade, with her mottled beige and light brown neck, chest and tummy very visible. She is facing to the right as we look, in the picture centre. A Samoyed dog, seen from the front, face and neck ringed by dark and green leaves. Extremely fluffy and white, its mouth is slightly open showing a pink tongue. Part of two arches of an old railway viaduct peeking out among autumnal coloured trees with blue sky behind. A long-tailed tit perched in a willow tree with white/blue sky behind. The bird is facing to the left, its head raised up and long tail behind. It has a soft grey/beige body and dark wings and tail. Branches surround it with green/yellowing leaves.
October 25, 2025 at 11:54 PM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Treated ourselves to a Halloween sharing brownie from Simply Cake Co in King's Lynn. It popped through the letterbox today. Yum.
A long rectangular brownie (about 6 normal brownie cake sizes), chocolate fudge brownie bottom, and chocolate icing on top, with on top of that lots of Halloween themed icing decorations, including orange pumpkins, skeletal bones, ghosts and more. It looks delicious. It's a single big slab that you cut into smaller servings.
October 22, 2025 at 2:07 PM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Some more photos from my husband's Saturday walk in the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶
A jay seen from below perched high in a tree facing to the left. It has purpleish plumage, a mottled beige/brown head, and a marked blue and white stripe/markings running along the bottom edge of its wing. A dipper perched on a mossy bank rising to right from a river to left. The bird faces us, head turned slightly to the left as we look, with its prominent white neck, chest and tummy, and dark brown colouring otherwise. Behind it another river bank rises, covered with green bushes. A hoverfly seen from above perched on a globular green ivy flower head with long green leaves in the background. A wood pigeon that has flown in from the right and is trying to land on a spiky green conifer branch at the left. Its wings are spread wide, and dark grey underneath, a different colour from its body which is light grey. Its tail feathers are spread wide, a mix of light grey and darker grey and black at the tips. The sky behind is white.
October 19, 2025 at 12:27 AM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Some photos from my husband's Saturday walk in the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶
A black cat perched in long green grass, head turned towards us. It has green eyes the same colour, and is wearing a bell. A crow seen in silhouette, wings spread above and below, flying to the right against a white sky. A very plumped up wood pigeon perched on a tree branch, its body turned slightly to our right, long tail dangling down behind. It has a very pink/purple fluffy tummy, and grey colouring elsewhere. One arch of an old railway viaduct peeking out between waves of green and autumnal coloured bushes and trees in front. Long green grass is in the bottom right, with a path just glimpsed running beside it.
October 19, 2025 at 12:16 AM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Delighted to manage some accordion practice after too long. Still spaced out neurologically, so didn't play long. Learning a rich harmonic version of Windmills Of Your Mind. And finally writing in the chord names/shortcuts for the Pirates of the Caribbean "He's a Pirate" I'm learning. Helps so much!
October 15, 2025 at 10:20 AM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Never mind being alarmed by Christmas looming far too soon. Picked up today in our local supermarket, an information booklet + booking information for the New Year's Day Dook in Broughty Ferry, Scotland. Shiver! No we're not doing the chilly swimming thing ourselves!
Official programme for the New Year's Day Dook 2026 organised by Ye Amphibious Ancients Bathing Association (founded 1884). Entries Now Open! Food Fun Fancy Dress! 1st January at Broughty Ferry Harbour 1pm. A painting on the front shows brave souls swimming in the chilly water with spectators watching from the harbour front.
October 14, 2025 at 8:50 PM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Some photos from my husband's Saturday walk in the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶
A wood pigeon seen from below perched high, facing left, in a tree with green leaves and blue sky behind. A drone fly seen from behind on a large green leaf. It has a dark brown and orange body with see through wings beside it. One arch of an old railway viaduct peeking out from trees - very autumnal coloured on the right side - with blue sky behind. A grey squirrel facing right, head slightly turned this way, perched among green leaves. It holds a bunch of red berries.
October 11, 2025 at 11:58 PM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
Today’s arrivals. The new 3rd edition of James Hoffmann’s World Atlas of Coffee, and the latest Celestial Toyroom fanzine from the Doctor Who Appreciation Society.
The two books are resting beside each other on a red sofa. The coffee book on the left is large and hardback, with a brown cover with a coffee plant design on it. Celestial Toyroom is much smaller, a paperback booklet, featuring Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor plus companions and more.
October 10, 2025 at 2:34 PM
vivdunstan.bsky.social
An awesome book delivery from Sherlock & Pages bookshop in Frome, Somerset. Huge thanks! Love their curated collection of books, and found me some gems I didn’t know about. #Booksky
4 books perched on a red sofa. At the top, standing up, are “A Venetian Bestiary” by Jan Morris, and “A Little Book of Somerset” by Maurice Fells. Below them, lying flat, are the graphic novel version of “Watership Down” by Richard Adam, and “Church Curiosities: Strange Objects and Bizarre Legends” by David Castleton.
October 8, 2025 at 2:31 PM