iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Sarah Elizabeth Cox

I accidentally spent £17,700 on 400 subscriptions to the LRB for Home Office staff and now the Life in the UK test is asking applicants to rank Derek Jarman films from most to least emotionally resonant?

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 11h

Delighted to discover this week that the friend my son keeps going on about from nursery ('arper) is in fact three different friends - Harper, Parker and Arthur 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

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Gwen C. Katz @gwenckatz.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Fuck ChatGPT flyers. The future is broadsheets.

A crowded broadsheet with way too many fonts. It says:
Forget ChatGPT Flyers
Say it with
Broadsheets
Unlimited fonts
Stretch them
Or cram a really long sentence into one line for no good reason
No whitespace
Mix capital and lowercase
Pointing hands
(They're called manicules!)
Don't be left behind
Broadsheets are the future

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Reposted by Sarah Elizabeth Cox

Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

In April last year I published two articles about Barbados-born 1880s Liverpool, London, travelling, boxer Felix Scott. I wasn't the first, but I believe I'm the first to look at him in detail, and particularly at his personal life. His great, and now a great great, grandson have been in touch...

A very fuzzy badly scanned photo from a 1900s newspaper showing boxers in the ring at Liverpool International Hall - one Black (George White, S. Africa) and one white (Johnny James, Liverpool) - and several trainers/cornermen including Felix Scott. Caption notes he is well-known and once met Dick Burge and Lachie Thompson

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Postcard From The Past @pastpostcard.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I am investigating vibration problems.

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 22h

If there's anything I've learned as I approach 40, it's: just start crafting your author bio to make yourself laugh 😅

She once played the corpse at an award-winning murder mystery night, twice served Frank Bruno lunch, and is credited as Death Fighter 1 in low-budget British action film Death Pit (2023).
Sarah holds an MA in History from Goldsmiths, University of London and a BA Politics and MA in International Relations and Asia Pacific Studies from the University of East Anglia, alongside professional diplomas in Public Relations and Crisis Communications.
She has lived in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Norwich, East London, South East London, and a flat in the annexe of Allen Lane’s old house on a nature reserve near Heathrow. She now lives just off the beach in Clacton-on-Sea, for her sins.
Born in Luton in 1986, Sarah was the first woman in her family, and second person after a slightly older brother, to go to university. She is the daughter of local newspaper reporters, and the granddaughter of one man who was shot through the neck and survived and another who claimed to be the 1938 Welterweight Champion of Battersea High Street.

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Back in the day when boxers in international heavyweight title fights enjoyed a very friendly and manly boozy bath together after battering each other close to death for 2.5hrs in a French field. Jake Kilrain and Jem Smith, pictured in 1887.

Comically muscular pen sketch of boxers Jem Smith (right) and Jake Kilrain in adjoining bathtubs. A bottle of wine lies on the floor, another one a table. Kilrain smokes a cig. Jem jauntily crosses his mighty thighs. Steam rises.

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Jeff Sharlet @jeffsharlet.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I give up. I’m moving into a cave.

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Balderdash @balderdash.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Political terms that would also double up as great wrestler’s names: Triple lock Filibuster Black Rod Erskine May Hybrid Bill The Mace Manifesto Deputy Whip

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I'm safe. He told the ladies at nursery that... 'The bees did it.' 🐝🤷🏻‍♀️

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

If you read about a 39yr old Clacton woman getting arrested for cannibalism next week, please note there is NO truth to the rumour that my son got a scratch on his face because "Mama eated the nose off", even if he insists on telling everybody this with confidence. Thanks. I shall clear my name.

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Matt Holland Author Dot Com @gallaethamatt.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

"Publishers can't afford to take a chance on new authors!" update

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

All truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed; Second, it is violently opposed; and Third, it is 4 for £1.00.

Sign in a Clacton charity shop which reads Books 99p each. Fact based books 4 for £1.00

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Jane @localnotail.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Wyatt Dixon interviewing Claire Elisabeth of Goldship about the brilliant Reunion Jack artwork in Birmingham made from removed and then repurposed nationalist lamppost flags vm.tiktok.com/ZN8r6jCAG/

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Mr oispooky (not pictured) is notoriously very good at charity shop finds. Usually expensive designer menswear for dead cheap. This week he surpassed himself. £1.50!

An approx A4 sized framed vintage John Travolta (as a young man) MIRROR. It says John Travolta at the top and has a border of stars and stripes.

Sarah takes a selfie in the John Travolta mirror

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Reposted by Sarah Elizabeth Cox

Postcard From The Past @pastpostcard.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

ITS READS LIKE RAVINGS OF A NUT CASE. HAVE A NICE DAY.

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

2yrs after I finished my MA History at Goldsmiths, my research rights were bought and I was hired to work as historical consultant on this TV show. It's had BAFTA and International Emmy nominations. I got a book deal, too. Goldsmiths: "No point in MA History, let's fire everyone and delete it."

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

All truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed; Second, it is violently opposed; and Third, it is 4 for £1.00.

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Is a Luton Town away kit a normal thing to buy your niece for her third birthday? 🤷🏻‍♀️

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Joel @itsjoels.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I like ‘Thong Song’ and I’m not ashamed to say it. #TOTP

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Reposted by Sarah Elizabeth Cox

Adam Chapman @adamchapman.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Editorial questions of our time: does a maggot factory (not a euphemism), really qualify as 'light industry'?

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

An average Sumo wrestler's worth of litter in just 45 minutes.

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Beyond the Spidey Mat. New author pic? 😂🤷🏻‍♀️ My son, who is named after 1880s-90s heavyweight wrestler and boxer Jack Wannop (in my book! Next year!), has decided to live up to his namesake. He's only about 36lb though. I like this photo because I'd recently done the carpet with a hired Rug Doctor ✨

Sarah, a tall woman with a questionable spine, is crouched on the floor while a blond toddler boy tries to squash her. The cream carpet is, temporarily, extremely clean.

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Alice Wickenden @awickenden.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

my favourite typo is, & will always be, ‘the literary cannon’

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Still no news of what my local councillor has actually DONE. Serious misconduct. Are we talking spying for the Lib Dems? Taking bribes from a foreign businessman? Pissing up a war memorial? He's still sitting as an independent. I need the details. It's probably on Spotted Clacton Facebook isn't it.

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I often work in a windowless attic. Not an attic conversion. Just, like... an attic. The spiders get to hear first drafts read out loud. The seagulls screech a soundtrack from above. I risk my life coming down the ladder every time I need coffee. Lindsey's office though... 😂😍

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

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Dr Sophie Michell @sophiemhistory.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Found a woman who killed a man by clatting him over the head with a turnip after he called her a mucky bitch The day is redeemed

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Just been advertised a Uni of Essex role for an annual festival, which includes event management, 'managing ALL marketing activity' incl print, socials, website, budget management, managing box office and ticket platforms, recruitment of volunteers, and evaluation... £29k. Pro rata £17.4k.

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Verity Holloway @verityholloway.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

We had a prison officer come in to scare us off crime. Tiny Scottish dude. Gave us detailed instructions on how to kill a man with a sock and some batteries and how to make a shank from a toothbrush. For the girls, the message was, avoid prison because "you'll come oot a dyke".

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Son is not in the family good books this morning. He's been going around telling everyone he's a police officer. Ran after the dog, Jip, who had stolen a biscuit, and shouted Stop! Thief! We will be having none of this career aspiration, thank you. Back to being a T.Rex, or the Incredible Hulk.

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

So committed to marketing that I'm going to the online book marketing meeting today DRESSED AS MY BOOK COVER. Ps. Please buy my book so I can afford to buy a full length mirror, thank you 🥊♥️👹

An almost 40yr old woman wears an almost neon tones red sweater and red lipstick, and grins for a selfie. Note, bra strap and nails are also red. Attention to DETAIL.

Sarah, who is 5ft 11, contorts herself at an awkward angle to take a selfie in a mirror only suitable for little, or perhaps even average, people. Her bedroom is messy because she hasn't unpacked from the British Science Festival yet. Some plants in the foreground just about survive.

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David Collard @davidcollard.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I'll do ten minutes whenever the fridge light comes on

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

My publishers' marketing team has sent me a questionnaire which ultimately comes down to: how much of the publicity are you able to do yourself? I have worked in PR for 16 years. THIS IS MY THING. I'll do it! I'll do it all! After day job hours and with the nine days of annual leave I have left!

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Ben Collins @bencollins.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Just gonna light this bag of dogshit on fire and walk away from the doorstep, but the people in media I hear saying AI has made them "more productive" appear to be producing less than ever, and worse things than ever. I wonder if they can even tell.

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I ventured, wearily, to the Clacton Gazette website today, against my better judgement. SORRY but how can you collect 14,168 'indecent images of children and extreme pornography', upload and share them, take photos of kids in the street, and get... a SUSPENDED 20 month sentence?! How. HOW?!

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

My son, three in November, and a chronic snot goblin as most are, has recently started to try and explain what he's feeling when he has a cold. Woke up the other day telling me 'my bogies hurt'. Perfect. He's just said to his auntie 'the bogies are fighting my nose'. A great poet in the making 😭

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Dr James Peate @jamesepeate.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Having raised it with them privately & been blown off I publicly ask @srsrensoc.bsky.social why has SRS chosen to exclude Romanies & Irish Travellers by branding its postgraduate award for 'People of Colour'? Does SRS ignorantly assume they are included or is it deliberate discrimination?

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Simon Pease @simonpease.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I may have missed it. Can anyone point me to the govt. Statement on attacks on volunteers for the RNLI, and their commitment to have the police pursue and prosecute every perpetrator?

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Anna H @athenepallas.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

There once was a git who went to sea Name of Danny Tommo was he His boat sprung a leak and sunk was she Oh blow, his bully boys blow (huh)

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I've only worked at two British Science Festivals, my day job (for people who know me only as a boxing historian!) is news, press, socials for @britsciassoc.bsky.social. Both have made me hope for MANY more! The enthusiasm in Southampton was incredible. Inspiring people, places, research. Top vibes.

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Had a few messages about THE DEVILS' DANCE FLOOR pre-ordering - so grateful! Marketing meetings with my publisher begin on Tuesday, then we'll be officially book cover revealing and pre-order link sharing soon afterward, HOPEFULLY! Don't know anything about anything outside the UK at the moment 🥊

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Kaz Cooke @kazcooke.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Ask any of the men seeking power who want abortion bans what an ectopic pregnancy is, what the treatment is, and what happens without that treatment. They don't even bother to make it their business to know what kills girls & women.

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