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Dr Catherine Freeman

@catgqf.bsky.social
1.3K followers 633 following 746 posts

Sometimes a girls' education historian, at other times at work down the history mines, finding treasure. IHR Life Cycles seminar administrator. Allotment keeper and one of those annoying cyclists who uses cycle lanes and obeys traffic lights.

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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
When I woke up this morning there was fog, which meant beautifully water droplets picked out spider webs!
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I have been reading laws relating to UK libraries. The 1964 Act was quite amazing, bringing free libraries to everyone. I now realise how important small school libraries in elementary schools were, before 1964.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
It is very definitely a #Caturday! And a good day for preparing rain coats in the hope that it will rain.
A ginger cat suns on a concrete step in a garden.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Working Saturdays in the county local history room is quite lovely and reassuringly busy. People come in with various queries, delighted to be able to see historic documents and in some cases chat about them. And I'm very happy to chat about people's historical research and hear their interests.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
I was asked by one of the archivists to do some research into a recently acquired document, dated 1847. I have found, amongst other things, their marriage certificate from 1845, a marriage settlement, the baptism of their daughter in '46. It gets more and more intriguing... What will I find today?
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
The first telephone conversation with my mother in law where she forgot who I am has just taken place. 😕 It had to happen eventually.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
During lunch yesterday, an archivist asked me how I am enjoying my new job. Enormously, I said. For a start, no one has shouted at me. I feel safe at work, for the first time. I do also love working with other people who are enthused about history and where it is a requirement for working there.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
It's going to be a good day. The first song I heard was Belle and Sebastian's The Boy with the Arab Strap, I bumped into a friend at the station so had a friendly first part of the journey and I need to directly apply PhD research at work today so have a file of notes with me.🙂
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
We have survived another annual holiday with my Mum. In some ways, it is not as painful now I know it will remind me of why I had to leave at 18 and that she is just as unpleasant and difficult towards my brother and our spouses. Happily for us, we are in accord and united by love. Teamwork!
My mum, staring out across Lyme bay.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Gentle light starting the last day in Lyme.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
What a perfect afternoon for mugs of tea in the garden after a day on the beach.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
We had a fun family day at Kew Gardens today. After some difficulty in convincing my niece she would like the Princess of Wales glass house, she struck up quite a conversation with this fish! Afterwards I said I told her she'd like it. I got a glare.😅
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
I love my new job but it does mean significantly less time for academic work and admin. It is very frustrating to think how much more productive I might be in my limited time if I didn't spend so long waiting for the internet to be helpful or my computer to respond.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
I'm answering an education history enquiry at work at the moment, about an open air school, which is very pleasing. I'm considering suggesting that they use @histedsocuk.bsky.social's Exe Libris. Would it be a conflict of interest or using my job to promote the work of the society?🤔
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
I'm shadowing on a guided tour tomorrow, with a view to delivering them myself. I looked at the attendee list and one person has the same name as someone I was at school with. I wonder if it is the same person?
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
At a dry, beige but still lovely Wisley with my Mum, nephew&niece and Mr Bond. Mum: it isn't that unusual for it to be this hot. It was hot &dry in the summer in Cider with Rosie and that was in the past. How many times do my brother and our spouses have to explain?! Why, how doesn't she understand?
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Unexpected bonus of my new commute: I get the same train in the morning as a former colleague, who I miss chatting to. We met on the platform with our coffees for a very jolly journey.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
A friend's son, in the summer holidays between the lower and upper sixth, has asked if he can help out on our allotment. It is very useful to have his help in weeding and watering but even better is his enjoyment of being with plants and insects and sharing knowledge with him. He loves insects.🙂
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
It was Saxon Fair day in Kingston today, including celebrating the Aethelstan's coronation and a little battle reenactment in the market. It turns out Saxons were a funky bunch as Aethelstan's procession was accompanied by the Kingston Community Drummers. Maybe not historically accurate but fun.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
A great three days in Sheffield to explore childhood histories! And as ever, a thrill to hear from people from different countries and so the chance to share and discuss our work and ideas.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Our local National Trust place has its summer local artists' sculpture exhibition on at the moment. I'm not really a fan of wolves (thanks to Peter & the Wolf and an overly active imagination as a toddler) but I think this piece should stay!
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
I'm trying to finish my PowerPoint slides for the Children's History Society conference and my computer is struggling with the heat more than me! Circles of doom all afternoon.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
My first day in my new job! I'm now a heritage assistant in a history centre with archives that I used a lot in my doctoral research. This was very useful in my application and interview. And because it is an archive, it is temperature controlled! 😁
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
My library colleagues (well, most of them) hosted a leaving tea party for me. I said it should be in the library garden as going out was ridiculously expensive and we could have a much better time on home turf. And we did!
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Reposted by Dr Catherine Freeman
IHR Life Cycles seminar @ihrlifecycles.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Re. 'Girls at the Margins in Renaissance Florence', 23rd June, 17:30 BST. It is far too hot to go into London so tomorrow's seminar with @drgillhistory.bsky.social will be Zoom only. You will need to register through the below link for the Zoom link. www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
history.ac.uk
Girls at the Margins in Renaissance Florence
Life-Cycles
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
My submission for this #Caturday Tarragon is very much enjoying the plants in pots no longer being in this tray and has declared it to be his.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Driver who squeezed past me on my bicycle on a narrow stretch where it was my right of way: was it worth scratching your paintwork on my pannier? You just had to wait a few seconds for your turn.
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Reposted by Dr Catherine Freeman
IHR Life Cycles seminar @ihrlifecycles.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Once again we are at the last seminar of the year. @drgillhistory.bsky.social is the last speaker this year, with 'Girls at the Margins in Renaissance Florence'. Come along, on Zoom or to the IHR, to join us from 17:30 BST on 23rd. June. www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
history.ac.uk
Girls at the Margins in Renaissance Florence
Life-Cycles
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
It was my last day as a library assistant today. Pleasingly, the rota meant that I worked with one of the people who interviewed me for the post in July 2016 and carried out my induction. A satisfying circle. She looked rather sad. I kept saying that it's still my local library, I still need books.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
I have delivered my last library story time for children, for the foreseeable future. It was a particularly good group this morning. The children spontaneously applauded me! They had also clapped when I opened the library. A good start to the day.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Time for a series of lasts. This morning, the last pop up library at the Community Hub, and the last Tuesday that I bake a cake for the Hub's free café. I've been baking for them since we started hosting the food bank in the church hall. Seeing it develop to a thriving group has been wonderful.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
The delights of going to bed in midsummer when it is still light. It reminds me of being a small child.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
We took my mother in law to Hestacombe today. It was such a lovely excursion for a Somerset summer afternoon. Driving across the Levels, beneath the enormous sky, the sounds, smells and colours were splendid. Then there, surrounded we were by peace as we walked through the gardens.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
My last Saturday working in a library. What unpleasantness and petit complaints overblown will the day bring? Will we actually be able to close promptly at 5?
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
At the hairdresser's, hairdresser asked if I was having a BBQ this weekend. I explained that after work tomorrow we're off to see my mother in law, who has dementia & needs 24hr care. I described instances of why & started to cry. Under the sound of the hairdryer is a good place to cry, I learnt.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
It is my penultimate week as a library assistant. One of the libraries I work in has a garden area and it has been my dream to make it a colourful, productive, relaxing, pleasant space. As a garden it will always be a work in progress but I have increased biodiversity and introduced colour.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Finding an 1820s semaphore tower on a heath turned out to be more of a challenge than we thought. The view through the window explains why. I had no idea that this nestles near junction 10 on the M25.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
It is a local pub's summer festival this weekend, Lambstock. The bands I want to see are playing today, outside during the afternoon. As much as I am enjoying the sunshine and showers, I'm very much hoping the rain ends early.
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Reposted by Dr Catherine Freeman
IHR Life Cycles seminar @ihrlifecycles.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Tuesday 9th. June at 17:30. We'll be joined by Oliver Mumford to hear an aspect of his doctoral research: "Intergenerational links between Catholic university students in the twentieth century”, focusing on the Catholic Mount Pleasant Training College in Liverpool. www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
I'm very happy to find that after writing, deleting, reading, writing, some housework and coffee, the jigsaw pieces have aligned and my paper for the Children's History Society conference next month is falling into place.
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Reposted by Dr Catherine Freeman
IHR Life Cycles seminar @ihrlifecycles.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Tuesday 9th. June: the penultimate seminar of the academic year. Join us from 17:30, online or at the IHR to hear Oliver Mumford's paper, 'Intergenerational links between Catholic students in Liverpool in the twentieth century'. www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Women university graduates in their robes, Liverpool, 1929.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
After having my time needlessly wasted and energy unnecessarily drained by people who don't understand that a library book returned 5 months late will have incurred a fine, the peacefulness of the evening light glowing in the allotments was perfect.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
If you are interested in the UK entry for Eurovision this year, my favourite sound art collective's monthly radio programme is replaying an interview with him. @resonancefm.bsky.social I think Sonic Darts is always worth listening to.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
We did five hours of work on the allotment this afternoon/evening. How did that happen? Where did the time go? I'm sure time changes once I go through the gate.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
A young person who has volunteered in the library for 3 years just told me they will be leaving in 3 weeks, after their A' Levels, to start a summer job before university. They said the experience of volunteering here really helped in applying for their summer job. We did our job well.😇
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
The first song I heard on the radio was The Cult's She Sells Sanctuary. It was going to be a good day. My brother and his friends played this song so brilliantly at their Christmas gig last year. Our friend Hassan, the front man for the night, rocked it.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
My lovely 86 year old Dad, is blending his mid C20 automechanic knowledge with current living & using the parts number on an old invoice to order replacement parts for his 1963 mk II Riley Elf online.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
I had a story reading outing to a local nursery this afternoon. When I had read the 3 little pigs to the pre-school class, one boy asked very sensibly, how did the last pig build a brick house all by himself. Marvelously astute! And that is one of the reasons that working with children is great 😁
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Someone scattered pink cotton wool balls across the sky.
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Dr Catherine Freeman @catgqf.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Thank you to everyone who despite the heat and technical hiccoughs attended @ihrlifecycles.bsky.social yesterday evening, either in person or online. It was so hot in the IHR! I hope you enjoyed the paper.
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