Nigel McFarlane
@nigelmcfarlane.bsky.social
Partner. Father. Civil servant. OU Classics student. Interested in modern Greece, ancient history, churches, faith, nature. My own views.
Reposted by Nigel McFarlane
This is the sort of thing a cashless society robs us of, the opportunity to try to get away with paying the bus fare in Carthaginian currency www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Coin used as Leeds bus fare was 2,000‑year‑old currency
The coin was handed down to Peter Edwards from his grandfather in the 1950s.
www.bbc.co.uk
March 9, 2026 at 12:52 PM
This is the sort of thing a cashless society robs us of, the opportunity to try to get away with paying the bus fare in Carthaginian currency www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Nigel McFarlane
Worth noting that TikTok is absolutely rammed with videos like this. Gen Z being radicalised rapidly.
Today at 34 & Park in Minneapolis, a woman tried to drive down the street where a protest had broken out in front of a home ICE was raiding, saying she had a doctor apt to get to. ICE agents busted out her windows, cut off her seatbelt, and pulled her out before arresting her.
January 13, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Worth noting that TikTok is absolutely rammed with videos like this. Gen Z being radicalised rapidly.
Reposted by Nigel McFarlane
Fall of Sparta - The Ancients | Acast
shows.acast.com/the-ancients...
shows.acast.com/the-ancients...
Fall of Sparta | The Ancients
shows.acast.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Fall of Sparta - The Ancients | Acast
shows.acast.com/the-ancients...
shows.acast.com/the-ancients...
Reposted by Nigel McFarlane
A rare and wonderful survival from Viking-era York!
A delicate hood-shaped silk cap, c. AD 900.
Silk was an exotic material in 10th-century Britain, imported to York from Persia via a network of Viking trade routes. Yorkshire Museum
📷 by me
#Archaeology
A delicate hood-shaped silk cap, c. AD 900.
Silk was an exotic material in 10th-century Britain, imported to York from Persia via a network of Viking trade routes. Yorkshire Museum
📷 by me
#Archaeology
January 8, 2026 at 4:17 PM
A rare and wonderful survival from Viking-era York!
A delicate hood-shaped silk cap, c. AD 900.
Silk was an exotic material in 10th-century Britain, imported to York from Persia via a network of Viking trade routes. Yorkshire Museum
📷 by me
#Archaeology
A delicate hood-shaped silk cap, c. AD 900.
Silk was an exotic material in 10th-century Britain, imported to York from Persia via a network of Viking trade routes. Yorkshire Museum
📷 by me
#Archaeology
Reposted by Nigel McFarlane
East of Eden was my top book of 2025 but French Lieutenant’s Woman was a close second! (More of my thoughts on my Instagram @ drlauravarnam). I’d like to read more Fowles- any suggestions?
January 4, 2026 at 10:30 AM
East of Eden was my top book of 2025 but French Lieutenant’s Woman was a close second! (More of my thoughts on my Instagram @ drlauravarnam). I’d like to read more Fowles- any suggestions?
Reposted by Nigel McFarlane
It is arguably one of the more serious omissions in Thucydides’ narrative that we don’t get to hear the weasely, fig-sucking statements of the leaders of different members of the Delian League every time that Athens launches another aggressive campaign.
January 3, 2026 at 8:10 PM
It is arguably one of the more serious omissions in Thucydides’ narrative that we don’t get to hear the weasely, fig-sucking statements of the leaders of different members of the Delian League every time that Athens launches another aggressive campaign.
This year's Christmas cake is done. I clearly can make no claim to culinary or artistic skill, but it's made with real affection for the season, some of the decorations belonged to my grandparents and it's had a snifter of brandy twice a week since October. Merry Christmas!
December 23, 2025 at 7:42 PM
This year's Christmas cake is done. I clearly can make no claim to culinary or artistic skill, but it's made with real affection for the season, some of the decorations belonged to my grandparents and it's had a snifter of brandy twice a week since October. Merry Christmas!
December 19, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Right, then...
December 19, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Right, then...
Today is a nice anniversary for #CharlesDickens Christmas ghost stories. First published #OTD in 1843 - A Christmas Carol, the first of his immortal Christmas Books. And also #OTD in 1848, The Haunted Man - his fifth and final Christmas novella. A wonderful treasury!
December 19, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Today is a nice anniversary for #CharlesDickens Christmas ghost stories. First published #OTD in 1843 - A Christmas Carol, the first of his immortal Christmas Books. And also #OTD in 1848, The Haunted Man - his fifth and final Christmas novella. A wonderful treasury!
Reposted by Nigel McFarlane
New discoveries at Hadrian's Wall are changing the picture of what life was like on the border of the Roman Empire
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
New discoveries at Hadrian's Wall are changing the picture of what life was like on the border of the Roman Empire
The British northern frontier was the edge of the Roman world — and a place of violence, boredom and opportunity, experts told Live Science.
www.livescience.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:21 AM
New discoveries at Hadrian's Wall are changing the picture of what life was like on the border of the Roman Empire
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
Reposted by Nigel McFarlane
Industrial Landscape 2 (Stockport), painting by Bill Smith, b.1948 in Motherwell, London-based artist.
December 11, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Industrial Landscape 2 (Stockport), painting by Bill Smith, b.1948 in Motherwell, London-based artist.
Just finished An Affair of the Heart by Dilys Powell. A wonderful evocation of her bittersweet love affair with the reality of Greek village life either side of the second World War, and how it changed her and her existence. Lyrical and romantic, this was a beautiful gift from @SharonGoodwin17 .
December 5, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Just finished An Affair of the Heart by Dilys Powell. A wonderful evocation of her bittersweet love affair with the reality of Greek village life either side of the second World War, and how it changed her and her existence. Lyrical and romantic, this was a beautiful gift from @SharonGoodwin17 .
Reposted by Nigel McFarlane
Thank you, Nigel. I am really moved by how this has become a hardy Advent perennial for a fair few people. #Advent
On Advent Sunday it's time to greet my regular seasonal companion In The Bleak Midwinter by @revrachelmann.bsky.social. A daily poem and reflection which still, after repeated readings, offers precious moments in a frantic period, and which feels more valuable each year.
November 30, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Thank you, Nigel. I am really moved by how this has become a hardy Advent perennial for a fair few people. #Advent
On Advent Sunday it's time to greet my regular seasonal companion In The Bleak Midwinter by @revrachelmann.bsky.social. A daily poem and reflection which still, after repeated readings, offers precious moments in a frantic period, and which feels more valuable each year.
November 30, 2025 at 8:37 AM
On Advent Sunday it's time to greet my regular seasonal companion In The Bleak Midwinter by @revrachelmann.bsky.social. A daily poem and reflection which still, after repeated readings, offers precious moments in a frantic period, and which feels more valuable each year.
Reposted by Nigel McFarlane
The 14th century west tower of St Botolph’s Church at Barford in Norfolk. 📸 My own. #SteepleSaturday #Barford #Norfolk
November 29, 2025 at 7:49 AM
The 14th century west tower of St Botolph’s Church at Barford in Norfolk. 📸 My own. #SteepleSaturday #Barford #Norfolk
Reposted by Nigel McFarlane
Translation update: just received word that “Love, War, and Diplomacy: The Discovery of the Amarna Letters…” will be translated into Czech; hopefully this will be the first of many such translations! 😎👍
November 21, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Translation update: just received word that “Love, War, and Diplomacy: The Discovery of the Amarna Letters…” will be translated into Czech; hopefully this will be the first of many such translations! 😎👍
It's been nearly six years since he left us, and the loss of his eloquence and wit are still keenly felt, at least by me. Remembering cultural polymath (and one of my heroes) Clive James. Born #OTD in 1939.
October 7, 2025 at 6:53 AM
It's been nearly six years since he left us, and the loss of his eloquence and wit are still keenly felt, at least by me. Remembering cultural polymath (and one of my heroes) Clive James. Born #OTD in 1939.
Reposted by Nigel McFarlane
This 3,300 year-old Mycenaean terracotta chariot was found in a rock-hewn tomb at Megalo Monastiri, in the region of Larissa, Greece. Dated ca. 13th century BCE. Archaeological Museum of Volos, Greece. 📷 Athenologio.
August 23, 2025 at 1:05 PM
This 3,300 year-old Mycenaean terracotta chariot was found in a rock-hewn tomb at Megalo Monastiri, in the region of Larissa, Greece. Dated ca. 13th century BCE. Archaeological Museum of Volos, Greece. 📷 Athenologio.
A brilliant selection of birthday reading. Looking forward to getting stuck in.
October 3, 2025 at 9:03 PM
A brilliant selection of birthday reading. Looking forward to getting stuck in.
Oh for heaven's sake, another 'bold reimagining' which actually leaves nothing to the imagination...just read the bloody book. Everything you need and more is in there.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Wuthering Heights: 'Erotic' first trailer of Emerald Fennell's film released
The trailer shows the characters engaged in longing stares, with sexualised imagery throughout.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 4, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Oh for heaven's sake, another 'bold reimagining' which actually leaves nothing to the imagination...just read the bloody book. Everything you need and more is in there.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Nigel McFarlane
Aw.
If it's not just me complaining, it must be really bad!
Anyway Nikolaj, Nik, Nikky darling, if you didn't use real history and real people for your little Temu-Game of Thrones, you wouldn't have to do so much defending ;)
If it's not just me complaining, it must be really bad!
Anyway Nikolaj, Nik, Nikky darling, if you didn't use real history and real people for your little Temu-Game of Thrones, you wouldn't have to do so much defending ;)
August 27, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Aw.
If it's not just me complaining, it must be really bad!
Anyway Nikolaj, Nik, Nikky darling, if you didn't use real history and real people for your little Temu-Game of Thrones, you wouldn't have to do so much defending ;)
If it's not just me complaining, it must be really bad!
Anyway Nikolaj, Nik, Nikky darling, if you didn't use real history and real people for your little Temu-Game of Thrones, you wouldn't have to do so much defending ;)
Finished this on the beach. One of my very favourite books. A beautiful opening, intricate plotting with an epic scope, ingenious storytelling and fabulous characters. My copy is 40 years old and I love picking it up to enjoy it all over again. #TheWomanInWhite #WilkieCollins
August 25, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Finished this on the beach. One of my very favourite books. A beautiful opening, intricate plotting with an epic scope, ingenious storytelling and fabulous characters. My copy is 40 years old and I love picking it up to enjoy it all over again. #TheWomanInWhite #WilkieCollins
Reposted by Nigel McFarlane
Poet Ted Hughes was born #OTD 1930 in Mytholmroyd, Yorkshire. Poet Laureate from 1984 until his death in 1998. His poetry is dominated by nature, especially by animals, though his approach is more mythical than naturalistic. (Pic by Jane Bown 1966.)
August 17, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Poet Ted Hughes was born #OTD 1930 in Mytholmroyd, Yorkshire. Poet Laureate from 1984 until his death in 1998. His poetry is dominated by nature, especially by animals, though his approach is more mythical than naturalistic. (Pic by Jane Bown 1966.)
Reposted by Nigel McFarlane
