iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Just finished the first two books of HMH Murray’s (@nillcord.bsky.social ) epic space opera Navvy Dreams and Navvies’ Flight. I thought they were great and have left my 5-star reviews on Goodreads and Amazon (latter pending). Can’t wait for book 3. 😀

A 5-star review by LA Foley of Navvy Dreams and Navvies’ Flight on Goodreads

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Back from holiday and all caught up so I popped How to Design a Universe by @astroroyalscot.bsky.social on to my book stand. I’m 50 pages in after the first reading session. Lovely explanations of the physics, whatever your level. Can’t wait to find out if I live in a simulation. 😀

The covers of the book How to Design a Universe by Catherine Heymans seen through a clear book stand

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I’ve been travelling by train from London to Prague & back, & I’ve been binging @rexburke.bsky.social as they keep me engaged & amused. I’m on the last leg of the way home & have just finished The Wrong Stop - about a group travelling by train from Prague to London. No aliens for me but a good read.

Cover of the book The Wrong Stop by Rex Burke, featuring a spaceship in front of swirling stars.

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Visited the Sedlec Ossuary in Kutna Hora outside Prague this morning and feel it would be a good place to snuggle down and read @cstross.bsky.social ‘s The Laundry Files books. 😀

People standing in front of a bone chandelier and more bones hung decoratively in an underground room in the Sedlec Ossuary in Kutna Hora outside Prague

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

A highlight of my day seeing the sights in Munich was enjoying the fluid dynamics of the standing wave in the English Garden. Looked fun from straight on; looked more intimidating from the side 😳

Looking straight at a figure in the middle of a torrent coming under a bridge — surfing the standing wave in Munich’s English Garden

Looking side on at a figure on a wall of water — surfing the standing wave in Munich’s English Garden

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Canadians looking for a little taste of home can pop into the Frittenwerk restaurants for a poutine. I love that they even do two different ones — a classic Québécois one and a Montreal-style one. 😋

Poster for a frittenwerk restaurant in Germany showing at the bottom half a dish of Canadian poutine.

Poster for a frittenwerk restaurant in Germany showing at the left half a dish of classic Québécois poutine and on the right a Montreal-style poutine.

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Look what I found in a bookshop in Stuttgart, Germany — the first and the latest German-language versions of @benaaronovitch.bsky.social ‘s Rivers of London novels. Ideal for helping me brush up on my German. 😀

A shelf of German-language books— on the left the spine shows Ben Aaronovitch’s latest Rivers of London novel; to the right is the front cover of his first RoL novel, alongside some other books.

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Spot the difference: Pro-human rights protesters — arrested. Racist white male facists — police are apparently walking them back to the rail station; not an arrest in sight.

Police arrest an elderly pro-human rights protester

Masked racist right-wing protesters walk past a police van with no arrests being made

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

#whatbird This bird has visited our garden in Jersey, CI (off the coast of France) for the past few days. I can’t find it in any bird books. The photo was taken thru a window, so not great. But the stripes down its back & the striped tail may be distinctive. It was ~16cm long with a pointed beak.

A bird sits on an edging stone among dried grass and plants. The bird is ~16 cm long (a bit bigger than a sparrow). It has a pointy beak. There is a brown central stripe running down its head and back, with white stripes on either side. The wings are brown. It has a white tail with thin brown horizontal stripes.

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

#eclipse Viewing through my solar filter (too hot for my scope) and my trustee colander. 15 minutes to the maximum and getting dark, with the wind and temperature dropping. 🤩

A colander showing the eclipse on a white background

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

These are a couple of science books from the 1920s — inside leaf and back cover.

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Stop scrolling and post two characters who bring you happiness Asmodeus and Thuan from Aliette de Bodard’s Dominion of the Fallen series are one of the cutest couples in literature, IMHO

Cover of the book showing a European man in glasses in front of Asian style buildings

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

No clouds so finally a chance to image the glorious sunspots on the sun at the moment. 🤩 The original image in colour; a black and white image processed on my phone (I think b&w shows the features better? 🧐).

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Going through London yesterday gave me a chance to pick up the latest Judge Dredd megazine, including the new Rogue Trooper story by @andiewington.bsky.social . A good read 😀

Cover of the Judge Dredd megazine with a rogue Trooper cover

Top of the page of the Rogue trooper story, with the writer and artists credits

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Finished a glorious tour along parts of Hadrian’s Wall. From 30C at the start to a bit of rain at the end. But stunning scenery along the way. So glad to have finally seen the wall in its context, as well as some of the turrets, milecastles and forts along the way.

The wall amongst green fields outside Birdoswald Roman fort

The wall leading up from the ruins of the Roman bridge near Willowford

The view down from Steel Rigg to the wall and a turret

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Doing a tour of Hadrian’s Wall and today it was the Roman fort at Chesters. A beautiful site and a lovely hypocaust to stand in 😀 @durotrigesdig.bsky.social

Persons legs as they stand in a hypocaust

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Our gladioli are in full bloom and the setting sun is backlighting them beautifully.

A pink gladiolus flower is backlit by the sun, with a blurry house in the background

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

The crescent moon with Venus just above, at twilight last night (Wed 17JUN). Snapped with my phone. Found the juxtaposition of these two just 🤩

In the centre of the photo of a blue sky, fading to red sky and a green tree at the bottom, is a crescent moon with Venus just above.

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Just finished reading Outraged by @kurtjgray.bsky.social . What an excellent book, IMHO. The psychology behind how people think and why they react how they do is so interesting. And some great insights on how to see other people’s points of view, and to share yours with them. A must read these days.

Cover of a red book called Outraged by Kurt Gray, with a large white exclamation mark in the middle

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Just finished @zanzjan.bsky.social ‘s latest book Ode to the Half-Broken. What a great read! Amazing characters, an intriguing story, lots of twists and turns, and steam punk to boot. 😀

Cover of the book Ode to the Half-Broken by Suzanne Palmer

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

A floor mosaic in situ in the entrance of a house at Herculaneum, Italy. The warping was caused by the weight of the volcanic debris that covered it. 📷 my own — taken today (20APR2026) #MosaicMonday

A mosaic on a floor in a house in Herculaneum. There is warping due to the weight of the volcanic debris that covered it. It is made up of a number of different types of geometric figures.

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Visited Pompeii today — a dream come true. There was a tear in my eye when we stepped out into the ‘main street’. Our guide, Rosina, was great. Saw the main bits but some off the beaten path. And the current excavations are uncovering some stunning buildings — roof tiles in place, frescos so fresh.

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

And finally in Naples, where every taxi in Italy seems to be outside the station. 😳 The whole trip by train has been great, watching the landscape and architecture change — I love my travels by train. 🥰 I’m so lucky I can travel this way.

Naples central train station, aka the taxi rank

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Day 3 and Milan to Naples. Left via the magnificent Central Station. The train was a bit late but that gave me time to admire the decorations on the walls and floors of the stunning central hall. Onwards to Napoli…

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

… and ciao Porta Garibaldi Station , Milan? If I hadn’t just walked out I wouldn’t know this was the train station — come for the restaurants, stay for the trains. 😀 I think the central train station I’m leaving from tomorrow morning will be more impressive.

Ports Garibaldi train station, Milan, hiding behind the scaffolding.

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Day 2 and it’s Paris to Milan. There are 2 direct trains — one leaves Paris at the crack of dawn; the other leaves in the afternoon but arrives in Milan at dusk. So gone for dawn and a beautiful sunrise it is, too. 7 hours but it should be lovely scenery. Goodbye Gare de Lyon ….

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

… et bonjour Le Gare du Nord. They’ve finished the roadworks in front so the station’s glorious façade can be seen. Overnight in Paris, then the long leg tomorrow.

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Taking my dream holiday to Naples and Rome. Travelling by train and the first leg is London to Paris. Taking the gorgeous Eurostar — love it so much. Goodbye St Pancras …

Eurostar train ready to depart St Pancras, London

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

First day of three days of train travel. A bit of a delay this morning but as Faith of Beasts dropped yesterday I don’t mind. A third of the way in — such a great story. On tenterhooks! 🤩

Close up of Kobo e-reader with book cover James S. A. Corey The Faith of Beasts. In the background, a train waiting room

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Out observing and thought I would finish with a quick look at Jupiter. Was delighted to see that I had caught, unaware, Callisto transiting the planet! So chuffed. PS my @unistellar.bsky.social scope is designed for DSOs, hence the planets are imaged less clearly. But still very pleased.

The planet Jupiter with the moon Callisto transiting the planet, casting its shadow below

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

With everything happening on the ground, it is nice when there is a clear sky and one can spend the night admiring the beauty of the sky and universe beyond

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

First time in months that there have been clear skies and light winds. So out with my @unistellar.bsky.social telescope to enjoy the night sky’s galaxies, nebulas and beautiful moon.

Beautiful blue clouds of the Running Man Nebula

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Finished @discworldemporium.bsky.social jigsaw map of Discworld’s main city Ankh-Morpork. I love the way jigsaws make me look deeply into the image. I feel like I know the streets of Ankh-Morpork so well now (& I may get confused next time I am in London😀). The toughest I have done but worth it.

Jigsaw puzzle map of Discworld city Ankh-Morpork

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Auroras over Jersey in the Channel Islands last night, just after 10 pm

Aurora with red light reflecting from clouds, with patches of green in between clouds. Houses in front

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Aurora in Jersey, Channel Islands (latitude 49N)!!! Normally one has to go to the north coast of the Island to look over the sea to see the aurora in the distance to the north. This is from my house in the interior of the Island with my phone hanging out the window! 🤩

Clouds in the night sky are lit up red, while a break in the clouds near the horizon is lit up green. Some houses in the foreground.

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

I just finished O.O. Sangoyomi’s Masquerade and what a brilliant book. Beautifully captured the world of Yorubaland and its mythology. And the ending had me smiling for the rest of the day. Well worth a read. 😘

The cover of the book Masquerade by O O Sangoyomi

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Cudos to @gov.je and the Infrastructure Dept for this interactive map of Jersey with symbols showing where damage from Storm Goretti has occurred, and then faded symbols where it has been dealt with. Really helpful for Islanders and an eye-popping indication of the storm’s impact.

Interactive map of the Island of Jersey showing damage from Storm Goretti with trees down, debris, structural damage, etc

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Quite the change in atmospheric pressure as Storm Goretti passed through Jersey. 😳 With the strong wind gusts last night, our ears seemed to feel the change in pressure in our house.

Graph showing the drop in pressure as storm Goretti passed through

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

That. When my partner asks why we need to keep our woodpile topped up and worry about heating our house, I’m always ‘for when we reach …

Scene from the Star Trek episode Amok Time

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Just finished the fourth (and final 🥺) book in @zanzjan.bsky.social ‘s Finder Chronicles series. What a great read! Fantastic world-building, accurate science. A really enjoyable series. 😀

The cover of the boom Ghostdrift by Suzanne Palmer.

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

This morning’s setting Moon doing its impersonation of the setting Sun. 😊

A dark sky with clouds and stars. The setting moon at the bottom right is lighting up some clouds

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

I didn’t mind the rain during our walk this afternoon, as it came with this beautiful rainbow.

A full rainbow against a cloudy sky above the buildings

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

When the atmospheric conditions really show how many planes there are flying about — so many contrails! 😱

A picture of a sunset with the sky full of criss -crossing contrails lit up pink against the blue sky

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

A reasonably clear day with not too strong winds so I got a chance to image the sun with my Odyssey @unistellar.bsky.social scope and a solar filter. I had to lighten the image as it comes out so dark at this time of year, with the sun so low on the horizon. But nice to see the sunspots. 🤩

Image of the sun with sunspots in the left half and one at the top right

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

Happy holidays to everyone and best wishes for 2026. 🎄 My winter solstice tree is space themed this year so if a spaceman comes travelling, the lights are there to guide them in. 😊

A Christmas tree in front of curtains. It has a little green alien on top of the tree and space and SF themed decorations.

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

The app for my home solar system just updated and it now does 6-dimensional diagnostics! I know solar is futuristic but being able to measure things in 6 dimensions! 😳

Screenshot of the new features of an updated app with the first being that it is able to do diagnostics in 6 dimensions

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

A starry start to the day here in the Channel Islands, with some light clouds swooshing by. A 2-minute exposure with a hand-held phone.

A starry sky with some swishy clouds above a silhouette of roofs and trees

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

I was gifted a copy of Nature’s Acre by @gardeningwell.ie & as it was a gloomy day I settled down & dove in. What a lovely read! Inspiring & insightful, showing how to bring nature & gardening to the wider community as well as the younger generation. Will be getting copies for my gardening friends.

The cover of the book Nature’s Acre by Ciaran De Buitlear, showing a butterfly on a sunflower bloom

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Dr Lori-Ann Foley @lafoley.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

A beautiful sunrise here in the Channel Islands. 🥰

At the bottom, silhouetted houses and trees. Above a band of red sunrise with blue sky above, with wispy clouds and a contrail running up from the horizon.

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