iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Chipping away at those unmatched images one evening at a time… Just 80k to go!

Screenshot of “manage inbox The Common Room” and the search has returned 80,830 images

Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

today's fun is the cabinet outside our building is hanging open and both VirginMedia and BT OpenReach deny all knowledge of it on their system. I'm sorry but this looks like a phone related cabinet to me?

open doors with thousands of small connected cables inside

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Ours has many online bookable appointments for a niche range of situations but including smears. I am assuming there is a funding incentive involved for the practice but if it means I don’t have to sit on hold I’m on board! They even had evenings…

Screen shot of bookable appointments for bloods, asthma, contraception or smear

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I’m just about to start it on BorrowBox eAudio…

Screenshot of BorrowBox with The Killing Time loaded up

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Our online book customer today will be receiving a beautiful gold wrapped parcel thanks to the packaging from CXD! Wonder if they will be surprised…. Reduce, reuse and recycle! @thecommonroomgn.bsky.social

Gold coloured plastic packaging with a label for folding boxboard

Parcel wrapped in gold plastic from previous pic with brown tape.

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

New physio exercises that require lying on the floor. Cue one very confused cat…. Can almost hear her saying “but what are you doing down there??”

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

The boots one at the top is an actual parcel I received then I have notifications for two more from firms I’d never heard of!

Screenshot of text messages from Royal Mail

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

You can get ones that big I think! Main brand is called Limbo

Screenshot of a person with their whole
Lower leg in a giant clear bag

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

This is particularly helpful because even “relaxing” holidays contained within an all inclusive resort are hard work when you’re dealing with chronic pain. My phone is flagging I’m using more “active energy”

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Tessa sends her sympathies! She has to visit the dreaded V.E.T. tomorrow and she is not happy about it…

Tabby Cat on cushion on desk near computer mouse

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Ooh a man who bucks the trend in this series with his full first name… It’s not a rule after all

Title page listing “Neville J Price” (all the other full first names have been women so far)

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Cataloguing 1960s reports and it’s really noticeable that all the women have their first name in full, yet all the men are under initials! Was this a common convention? Being National Coal Board reports they are 95% male of course….

Two title pages showing women’s names in full and men as initials

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Successfully navigated new powerchair down city streets and a crowded Newcastle Family Pride! I only hit one wall reversing out of a lift which I’m taking as a win…. Can’t quite get the hang of joystick angles in reverse….

Woman and daughter in front of rainbow drop screen with accessories and props

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

I mean, I think I’m ok but you can see why I might want to check….

Screenshot saying end date 23 July, expired 23 July

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

We’re getting closer to that promised below 20c but it’s painfully humid still.

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Ok I was really looking forward to the promised 19c but the reality is still closer to 24… And yes, it’s the same temp outside…

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Opened the front door this morning to find a baby seagull meandering around the front garden! I thought I had heard more squawking recently than usual…. It didn’t seem bothered by humans at all and set off walking up the road towards the school with the kids!

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

With terry nappies drying on the line too. My daughter is long since potty trained but they are still very useful for spills and cleaning!! They were also bombproof as nappies too….

Washing line with white squares pegged up against a very blue sky

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Bank holiday joy of sunshine, a hammock, my book and my cat! #CatsOfBluesky

A tabby cat laid on lap with legs sticking out up into hammock in garden

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Made it! Although I’m not sure I took the best route from station but my phone kept telling me to take roads that didn’t seem to exist… but now finally ensconced in the weirdest shape travelodge room I have ever met

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Urban wildlife! This pigeon remained placidly sitting whilst a massive noisy EMR Intercity service sat at the platform inches from its head… Train pulls away and pigeon remains unmoved!

Rail tracks in Derby station with pigeon tucked onto a bar next to them

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

I really must invest in a new ergonomic keyboard…

Part of keyboard showing leatherette coming off, keys with no labels and others sliding off sideways.

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Unexpected mining heritage on a day out at St Aidan’s RSPB site! Beautiful sunshine and an electric Tramper chair to borrow - hurrah!

Walking dragline against a very blue sky

Sign board detailing the sunshine miners landmark memorial explaining the history of the walking dragline on the site

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

The “starter” /milder hearing loss NHS ones are pretty small - I’m sure they will have options for teeny ears!

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

I would really like to buy this Sainsbury’s gluten free choc pudding. But they keep shelving them in ambient in my Heaton store not the chiller despite the clear “keep refrigerated” labelling…..

A pudding shelved on ambient “cake” shelf in Sainsbury’s Etherstone avenue heaton

Close up of packaging reading keep refrigerated

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

The whole house was covered in this hideous yellow paint stuff up to the picture rail which had to be scrubbed off with scourers. My wife’s skin reacted horribly to something in it so that was mainly my job….

Room under renovation with yellow weird paint and piles of ladders and scaffolding

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Dad taking the wall down was fun. And it reduced the wallpaper stripping considerably - which in that room was coming off in millimetres even with full on steamers….

Image showing other side of room with wall demolition in progress

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

I do still have a “before” pic! Didn’t think that would still be on my phone. Can’t quite believe it was 2014…

Pre refurb kitchen with only oven as appliances

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Transcription help please! My volunteers have this lovely table of workmen at Killingworth in 1761 they're transcribing but what on earth is the final heading?

A handwritten table of names in four columns in old handwriting. Our reference is Wat-3-54-42.

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

This was a wonderful afternoon with a full house of 150, and so many singing along with some great choruses! A great afternoon at work for a mining librarian!

The wood hall full of people seated in back view with the stained glass and stage at the far end.

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Newcastle friends - Free folksong gig! Johnny Handle launching his new book "Coalfields of song and verse" at @thecommonroomgn.bsky.social Tuesday 24th Mar at 1pm with musical friends. Free, no tickets, just come along thecommonroom.org.uk/event/coalfi... Please share!

Mar 24th Coalfields of song and verse. Johnny Handle book launch + musical performance. Free doors 1pm over image of Johnny as a young man with miner's cap and electric head lamp

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

FODMAP lunches four and five were a bit of a cheat with a pre-made potato tortilla thanks to Morrisons making one without onion or any other added forbidden ingredients! Paired with olives and tomatoes and ham.

Picture of the packet of Morrisons Spanish style potato tortilla stolen from internet as I forgot to take a picture!

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

FODMAP days two and three involved boiled baby potatoes, ham, olives and carefully measured amounts of peppers and tomatoes. Good old balsamic vinegar dressing livened it up.

Lunchbox with ham on top of potatoes and veg thickly drizzled with balsamic glaze dressing.

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Day one of #lowfodmap lunches - an easy start as I’m WFH today for my @uklibrariesnag.bsky.social job!

Ham tomatoes potato waffles and fried eggs.

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

The joy of finding a new (to me) crime series and knowing there are more titles to come! Thanks to Newcastle Libraries and BorrowBox - it’s even better when it’s free….

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

The typography is just lovely on these! 1960s NCB booklets are great. @thecommonroomgn.bsky.social

Four coloured booklets titled The … Coalfield” with lovely fonts

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

When your day at work involves hiding tiny ducks ready for tomorrow… 🐥 @thecommonroomgn.bsky.social

Tiny yellow plastic duck on historic staircase

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

York’s other star attraction from Lucy’s perspective was the giant cuddly bear outside the teddy bear shop (Xmas shop a close second…)

Small girl hugging brown cuddly bear about about 5 feet tall in the street outside a shop in York

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

My favourite detail of the day was this “first drawing of a train by a child” from 1825 although it would be great to find an even earlier one from a waggonway or mineral railway line…. #MoreThanRail200

Panel titled first drawing of a train by a child from 1825 (Stockton and Darlington railway)

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Busman’s holiday day out to the National Railway Museum for our inset day (with thanks to railway friends for Friends and Family cheap rail tickets too!) Love the open stores idea:

The North Shed open stores at National Railway Museum York

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

Well I had been thinking of quitting Facebook anyway. This wasn’t quite how I planned to do it though…. A warning to everyone to make sure they have other ways to access data and contacts stored via Meta!

Email beginning Hi Jennifer your Facebook account has been permanently disabled…”

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Got to love a book that tells you where to start…

Title page with box reading “before you read anything in this book please turn at once to page 148”

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

Attend hospital appointment. Text message asking me to complete a survey. OK I think, if I can help. Ah, you haven’t allowed for people attending more than one outpatient appointment in their lives have you? #sigh #NewcastleUponTyneHospitals

Screen shot of “you have already completed this survey”

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

Only I can get injuries from an artificial tree…

A scratched hand on top of a Christmassy dress

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Inspired by @annewelsh.bsky.social to tackle some cataloguing backlog this afternoon!

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

Anyone else still waiting impatiently for the 10am email to book Fenwick Santa on the Roof? Or have they just forgotten me… 🥺

Email Santa on the roof which includes “you will receive your unique access email at 10am on 8th October”

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

More “visiting other people’s libraries on holiday” again - this time at the V&A where part of the “Design 1900-now” galleries are surrounded by beautiful oversize books. Really enjoyed the exhibition - and checking out the book titles….

Jennie smiling at camera with oversize books in background on posh wooden shelves to ceiling

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

I don’t get it… Why is it helpful for all the passengers for one station to use the same luggage rack? Doesn’t that create more congestion at exiting? #Lumo

Lumo train. One door labelled for Newcastle stow your cases on the luggage rack in this carriage, the other labelled for London/Edinburgh stow your cases in this carriage.

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Following a procedure, the cat isn’t allowed out freely for another week but she was wailing so pitifully at the door that I relented. It’s not like walking a dog though!

A tabby cat on a pink harness and lead lies in a flowerpot in the sunshine

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

Busman’s holiday! Anyone else spend their days off at other people’s libraries?

Jen (a librarian) in front of a sign saying “library” - not the one she works at. This one is at Ushaw College

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