iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Richard Sims

Teaching with my eyes shut @eyesshutteacher.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

This. The most expensive resource in a classroom is the teacher. You need to make sure they can function effectively. If they’re overloaded or don’t have enough resources they’re going to break down and stop working.

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

@merryn02.bsky.social While researching the history of brewing in Bridport I came across the attached. Fed up with fires related to brewing the Council built the Town Brewhouse and leased it out. It continued to the early 18th C. Ironically it later burnt down. Some of the terms escape me

Notes from Documents relating to the Town Brewhouse in Bridport

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

In 1852 Daniel Ford relocated his Waggon office from East Street into Gundry Lane. The large doors were to allow the loaded waggons to enter the building for loading/unloading. It us now a studio venue.

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Today Bridport celebrates the hat with the 16th #Bridport #Hat_Festival. All those visiting the town centre are invited to turn up wearing a hat. The creativity on display gets better with each passing year. There is plenty to do and see throughout the day

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Starting on Tuesday at Eype Centre for the Arts. Marion will be exhibiting her new ceramics along with paintings and collages

Poster for Artists of the Jurassic Coast Exhibition 2026

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

A visit to Dowlish Wake on Monday for an excellent brunch at the Canteen. Then a walk around the village and the church. The Saxon font is all that remains from the destroyed church at nearby West Dowlish

Saxon font from the destroyed West Dowlish church

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

We were on our daily walk when we came across this Roe Deer in a garden by the old railway line. He is no stranger to this part of the village having been seen over the past couple of years

Roe deer in a garden near the old railway line

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

#HillfortsWednesday It was a very parched Eggardon Hiil as we made our way to Dorchester last Saturday turning on to the #Roman road just beyond the hill

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

A walk around the western perimeter of Poundbury this morning. The pale horizontal feature towards the bottom of the photo was the route of the #Roman aqueduct that brought fresh water into Dorchester from its source near the village of Frampton. #archaeology www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The view from the edge of Poundbury looking west over Fordington Bottom

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Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Parents! Carers! Anyone looking after children getting exam results today! Your ONLY job is to be kind and supportive.

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

@rogerprotz.bsky.social I spent a couple of years going through Palmer’s archive to produce the fully referenced manuscript. I kept detailed notes on the contents of brew books, letter books and ledgers to provide a detailed history of the Old Brewery. Spreadsheets cover the brewing from the 1820s

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Newham Bookshop @newhambookshop.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Please read and share widely.

Newham Bookshop facing 32% rent increase with £20K due immediately.

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Strange event this morning, woke at 6 to find we only had power to a couple of 13A sockets, all the rest of the house was off. Eventually found out it was a National Grid fault but one that was not all off. Instead, as people got up their switching on reduced the volts even more. Power back 08.45

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

The quarry on West Cliff was extracting the fossiliferous limestone, Forest Marble. It was burnt in the kiln to produce quicklime used as a fertiliser and for lime mortar wessexcoastgeology.soton.ac.uk/Bridport-Wes...

Close up of lime kiln on West Cliff, West Bay

The Forest Marble lies at the top of West Cliff, above the Frome Clay(the light coloured formation seen beyond the esplanade

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Lyric Theatre in Bridport raises £100k to release Arts Council funding to enable its survival into the future. www.bridportnews.co.uk/news/2642585...

bridportnews.co.uk

Theatre safe from winter closure as fundraiser reached

A theatre in Bridport has been saved from closing this winter after it’s huge fundraising goal has been met

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Somerset County Cricket Club @somersetccc.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

8 overs. 8 maidens. 0 runs. On this day in 1969, Brian Langford became the only person to bowl a full complement of overs in a List A match without conceding a single run. #YouAreSomerset

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

In the 18thC the Royal Navy required their makers of sailcloth to stamp their identity on each bolt of cloth. By chance the original stamp of John Bullock from 1781 was found a year or so ago. At Dawes Twine Works we made a replica which can be seen on our open days - the 4th Saturday of each month

One of the informational place maps we have at Dawes Twine Works. This one explains the use of makers stamps on 18thC Navy sailcloth

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Jim Waterson @jim.londoncentric.media · 21/07/2026

Lol I just moved my kids around London on this exact bicycle at 25mph *because you can pedal faster than the motor* oh god e-bike policy is such a mess, even the police don't have a clue.

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

A trip to Bath Potters for ceramic supplies yesterday. Up via A303/37 but back via Pilton, Glastonbury and Somerton. This took just 25 minutes longer but was so much more relaxing than the outward trip.The highlight was Marion seeing an old college friend who has now handed the reins to her daughter

St John’s Church, Chilcompton from the Holy Cow cafe in the Manor Farm Estate

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

The foyer @bridportarts.bsky.social has an exhibition of Nick Gilby’s photos taken during the filming of #Thomas_Hardy’s #Far_From_the_Madding_Crowd alongside are samples of the film scripts

Photographs of the locations used while filming Far from the Madding Crowd. This, along with sample scripts can be seen in the foyer of Bridport Arts Centre

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Colin Spacetwinks @spacetwinks.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

one lil thing of this rec thread i'm real happy with is seeing Forbidden Solitaire being as big a hit as it was even before the sale; Grey Alien Games been doing incredible solitaire games to little notice and earned this kinda hit also people will get to see "solitaire with stealth mechanics"

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Simon Alvey @salvey1.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Amazing fact Santon Downham in Suffolk is the location of both the highest and lowest ever June temperatures en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santon_...

en.wikipedia.org

Santon Downham - Wikipedia

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Kat Brown @katbrownwrites.com · 26/06/2026

Tesco is extending its Kids Eat Free scheme to 7 days a week over the summer, where children get a free meal with an adult purchase, but honestly, this detail about how small the adult purchase can be broke my heart.

The Café and The Coffee Shop in Tesco will be offering one free Kids Hot Meal Deal, Kids Breakfast or Kids Pick ‘n’ Mix deal with any full price adult purchase when they scan their Tesco Clubcard. **The adult purchase could be something as small as an apple costing just 65 pence.** And with no limit to the number of Kid’s meals you can redeem, families of all sizes can benefit too.

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lilastromech (Mischa) @mischajaye.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

The cooling system was installed by the village AC technician, Thermodynamix 😊

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Climate Dad @climatedad.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

“We’ve only had 114 years to do something, let our kids sort it out!”

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Kenny Stewart @kennystew.art · 24/06/2026

I thought kick off was later and I’m sad I somehow missed it but that’s a great result for Scotland.

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The French History Podcast @fhp.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

All of France is scorching hot today. Except for one village in the northwest...

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Mark @vbloke.com · 20/06/2026

It’s only a USB port if it’s on the left side of your device, otherwise it’s a USB starboard.

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

@HillfortsWednesday The view of Maiden Castle from Goulds Hill. The hillfort is 1.8km from the viewpoint and still occupies most of the image width, which just indicates how big it really is.

Looking towards Maiden Castle from the Martinstown to Upwey road

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

The Seaside Boarding House started life in 1882 as one of two superior villas on East Cliff, Burton Bradstock, a speculation by Col. Pitt Rivers aimed at the summer visitors. However the scheme failed to take off. @thehistorymouse.bsky.social @househistorian.bsky.social @billybragg.bsky.social

The Seaside Boarding House on the cliff at Burton Bradstock

The view from the Seaside Boarding House eastward towards Portland

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

This seal was taking a rest in the harbour at West Bay, having been seen in Portland at the weekend

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The Aviation Show @theaviation.show · 06/06/2026

Right about now (BDST) W/C L.E. Healy, the AAEAF armaments officer, received a call from the Air Ministry reminding him that the 1000 lb bomb had not been cleared for use on the Hawker Typhoon. Healy replied with one of the finest memos of WW2. RCAF Typhoons had dropped 48 of them that morning.

Loose Minute - AIR 37/798 Typhoon Bomber

To: W/Odr. Ops. 7

You may consider the following to be of historical interest:

At 10.30 hrs today, an officer of the Air Ministry, Whitehall, telephoned to state that it was not yet possible for the Air Ministry to "clear" Typhoon aircraft for the carriage of 1,000 lb bombs and that the M.A.P. was being asked to carry out an investigation into the question.

As you are, no doubt, aware, we have for the past two months been fitting 1,000 lb. bomb racks to Typhoon aircraft, and the Typhoon carrying 2 x 1000 lb bombs is our primary weapon against certain tactical targets.

It was suggested to the Air Ministry official concerned that he might like to take the following action:-
(i)Try to stop A.E.A.F. from putting 1,000 lb bombs onto Typhoons.
(ii) Recover any 1,000 lb bombs which may already have been dropped by Typhoons and explain to the recipients that the bombs were dropped in error.

L.E. HEALY, Wing Commander, Arm.1
June 6, 1944.

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Trip to Axminster to pick up some prints from the framer. Excellent coffee at the Higgler then off to Lyme and lunch at The West Bay before a walk along the proms, passing the Mary Anning statue along the way. Fine views of the Jurassic Coast all the way to Portland.

Lyme Regis with the statue of Mary Anning looking out towards Charmouth

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

This is the last weekend for Dorset Art Weeks 2026. Marion Taylor is showing her paintings, collage and ceramics at the Beaminster Gallery, open 11am to 4pm each day

Marion Taylor’s work at the Beaminster Gallery

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Last Saturday we drove to the Exe Estuary for a family gathering. Taking the rural route we passed over Woodbury Castle Hillfort. The road cuts through the ramparts as can be seen in the photos from Google Street View. The adjacent car park allows for exploration. #HillfortsWednesday

Aerial photo of Woodbury Castle Hillfort ( from Google Maps)

Road running through rampart at Woodbury Castle

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Yarn Barton car park at Beaminster, this wall as its boundary with houses behind. It is 45m long and has 15 blocked windows. It seems to have been an industrial building. Is this the inner or outer face?Yarn Barton was used for the flax industry until the 1840s but it is not on the 1843 Tithe Map

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Durotriges Dig @durotrigesdig.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Pilgrimage on #TowelDay to the corner of the cosmos where it all began The new plaque to Douglas Adams, freshly unveiled today at Stalbridge in North #Dorset #HitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy

Street scene showing yellow painted house with circular plaque and flag saying *Don't Panic*

Blue plaque on a yellow wall with text commemorating author Douglas Adams

Sign on yellow wall indicating direction to the Restaurant at the end of the Universe

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Rhododendron Mile was one of the places you took visitors when I moved to Dorset 50 years ago. It ran along the eastern edge of Pddletown Forest …… until 2010. Now there is little to be seen There was once a narrow gauge railway here, I believe www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/1992492...

dorsetecho.co.uk

The Dorset beauty spot hundreds visited that has now vanished without a trace

A look back at Rhododendron Mile in Puddletown Forest, a once-popular Dorset beauty spot famous for its vibrant blooms before its removal in 2010.

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

With this hot weather the old Bridport Branch near us provides a nice shaded walk, cutting back via an equally shaded Whetland’s Lane with its metalled surface bordered by wild garlic. On the branch were the remains of a platelayers hut, just the fireplace and chimney stack.

The ivy covered chimney stack of an old platelayers hut, one of a number to be seen between Bridport and Maiden Newton

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Dorset Art Weeks starts today and last until June 7th. Nearly 300 venues scattered across the county. dorsetartweeks.co.uk Marion is exhibiting at the Beaminster Gallery, venue 253

Details of Beaminster Gallery opening times

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

A few weeks ago they closed East Street at night for a week to resurface its whole length. Now they are digging it up again! www.bridportnews.co.uk/news/2612597...

bridportnews.co.uk

Newly surfaced street to be dug up for roadworks

Delays are being reported on East Street as roadworks begin in the area

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

#HillfortsWednesday The view from Eggardon westwards to the hillforts at Lewesdon, Pilsdon and Lamberts Castle. To the south of these three lies the well named Marshwood Vale. Here the scattered farmsteads on clay soils still graze their cattle in the small fields, once the hallmark of rural Dorset

View from Eggardon west to the hillforts of Lewesdon,Pilsdon and Lamberts Castle

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

A couple of years ago the original of this copy was found at a cottage in East Coker. It dates from 1781 when John Bullock was supplying #Coker canvas to the #Navy. Every bolt had to have the manufacturers stamp. The surviving sail from #HMS_Victory has that of Baxters, Dundee #Dawes_Twine_Works

The 1781 sailcloth stamp of John Bullock of East Coker

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morrismummer @morrismummer.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Today's railway photograph: cracking mural at Knaresborough station. Light at the end of the tunnel. Also counts for #WallsOnWednesday

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

#HillfortsWednesday Shipton Hillfort from Eggardon Hill. One of the best views in West Dorset. It shows Lyme Bay and the Devon coast to Start Point. The stretch of water from Portland to Start Point was originally “the West Bay” but changed with Bridport Harbour becoming West Bay in the 1880s

The view from Eggardon Hill to the South West, showing Shipton Hillfort and the Devon Coast to Start Point

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Richard Sims @simsre.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Durleston Park today with a walk along the coast path for a short while. In the distance is Anvil Point lighthouse. The pair lattice posts mark the eastern end of a measured nautical mile, with another pair marking the western end. This blog explains swanagecoastguard.blogspot.com/2011/03/mile...

Anvil Point lighthouse with the lattice posts being the eastern end Mile Indicator Posts. One mile to the west are another pair

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