iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

There’s aurora happening in #Orkney right now…

Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

A recent birthday present, and an absolute joy to read. I’m glad there are people like Rachel Morley of @friendlesschurches.bsky.social to champion the causes of historic churches 💒 I’ve added a few more to my ‘must-see’ list ❤️

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

It’s Michaelmas, the feast of St Michael the Archangel. Here he is on the astonishing doom painting in Wenhaston church, weighing souls in competition with the Devil!

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Wow - that must have been some gig!! And at the Barras, too! I saw The Pogues there in December 1987, the year ‘Fairytale’ was in the charts, and when they played it, Kirsty MacColl wandered onstage half way through. Probs my fave gig ever.

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Ah, thank you @peteralanross.bsky.social - a blast from the past there! The Waterboys played St Andrews Student Union in the late 80s, supported by The Saw Doctors (and thereby hangs a tale)! What a night 😁🤩🎻🪕🥁🎸🎶

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Boze Herrington, Library Owl @sketchesbyboze.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Dolly Parton rose from poverty to stardom. She gave $500 to every student in her hometown who finished high school; she built hospitals & bald eagle preserves; her Imagination Library has gifted 300 million books to children. Roger Ebert met her and came away thinking she was a literal angel. RIP.

“In Dallas for the premier of '9 to 5', I had an uncanny experience, and on the plane home to Chicago I confessed it to Siskel: I had been granted a private half hour with Dolly Parton, and as we spoke I was filled with a strange ethereal grace. This was not spiritual, nor was it sexual. It was healing and comforting. Gene listened and said, "Roger, I felt the exact same thing during my interview with her." We looked at each other. What did this mean? Neither one of us ever felt that feeling again. From time to time we would refer to it in wonder.”

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

It’s a Jubilee year for St Francis, and I’m a Frances! Did a little pilgrimage today from @stmagnuscathedral.bsky.social to the Italian Chapel - the only two places in Orkney (AFAIK) where he is depicted. 😇🙏

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Frank thinks this Black Cat Appreciation Day is all very well, but surely that’s every day? 🐈‍⬛🖤

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Count Binface @countbinface.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Start the Count.

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Indeed - and one often told by me back in my ghost tour days! 👻

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Caveat: this is from memory and may be an urban myth. When they drained Edinburgh’s Nor’ Loch for the building of the 18th century New Town, there were dozens of bodies at the bottom, said to be the ‘innocent’ witches.

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

It’s International Cat Day, and #caturday too! This pair bring joy every day 😻😻 Gracie is the tabby and Frank is the shiny black one 🐯🐈‍⬛

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Given that we only entered two things in the show today, I’m chuffed that we won two prizes! Well done @nessbattery.bsky.social and me.

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Just submitted these beauties for our local flower and produce show. Our gooseberries have won Best Fruit before, so…🤞🏻

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

As a churchcrawler myself, I fully endorse this lovely article! I expect that @g0blinegg.bsky.social also has a list on her phone of ‘interesting churches I’ve heard about and must visit’. You’ll never run out of medieval churches to visit - Suffolk is my favourite 💒

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

I’m a member of a Facebook group where clergy post things they don’t need and are trying to get rid of. Birthday/Christmas/Santa/Jesus turned up today and I love him.

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Saints Alive!! 😇🙏 I had a good blether with my storytelling pal Tom Muir for the Orkneyology podcast! Strap in for miracles, murders, and puking wolves, with bonus illustrations by @howfartohitchin.bsky.social youtu.be/Y0xBBJjDCv8?...

youtu.be

Scotland's Strangest Saints | ep 32 ~ with St Magnus Cathedral Curator Fran Flett Hollinrake

YouTube video by Orkneyology

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

I have this in hardback and I loved it - good luck with the PB edition! 🥰📚🐉🧚‍♀️

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Richard M. Nixon @dicknixon.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Larry laid his mouse in front of the press to be photographed. Lest you ask, this is a real photograph via the Press Association.

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Sorry we didn’t have more chance to chat 😁 I’ve just ordered Godwin’s Man in the Moone 🌝

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Awww, I saw him too! Got a cuddle as well. He was a very chilled individual! I’m still think about your Man in the Moon paper btw - really enjoyed it, thank you 😁

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

After a tip-off from @adrianholmes.bsky.social I sought out the Linn turntable at the National Museum of Scotland. Currently spinning - Feel No Fret by The Average White Band 🤘✨🎶😎🎷🎸

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Do swallows team in big nurseries like ducks? 🦆🦆🦆 Cathedral graveyard current cuteness is two newly-fledged baby wagtails!

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

He was the Best of the Best 😍🎨

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Oh my goodness, you are spoilt for choice! I’ve hardly scratched the surface but three of my faves are: Ufford (bonkers font cover), St Mary’s Dennington (medieval hanging pyx and other treasures) and St Edmund’s Southwold (just amazing)…but you’ll have a wonderful time wherever you go.

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Count Binface @countbinface.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

On my way, Clacton.

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

We have a beehive doocot here in Orkney - this is valuable information! Thank you 🪺🕊️

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

I live in Orkney and to us, everywhere in the UK, bar Shetland, is ‘sooth’.

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

I once gave a bus tour round Orkney with a German translator. We went past Lidl and I said to her ‘we have a Leedle supermarket’ (thinking well done me for saying it as the Germans do), and she translated it as ‘ein kleiner Supermarkt’ 😂

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

TFW a book arrives that you don’t remember ordering, but cool cool

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Springwatch is Frank’s favourite programme 🖤🐈‍⬛🐦‍⬛

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

I couldn’t agree more - J van Eyck was absolutely the Master of Masters!! His Annunciation is my favourite painting of all time ❤️✨🙌

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St Magnus Cathedral, Orkney @stmagnuscathedral.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

*Special Curator Tour: How to Read a Church* Why do churches look the way they do? Why are they east-west? What’s a piscina? Why is there a ladder in the big window? On Wed 3 June at 2pm the curator will lead a tour looking at the symbolism of features found in a church. £15.60, no need to book.

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

It’s the Feast of St Bede, revered for his writing & scholarship. The word bede/bead means ‘prayer’ or ‘request’ or ‘supplication’. It shares a linguistic root with ‘bid’ & the German ‘bitte’. Rosaries, with their ceramic or glass spheres, aid devotion, with each sphere being a prayer, or bead.

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Today is the start of @cwgc.bsky.social War Graves Week. I researched & delivered a tour of the war graves in @stmagnuscathedral.bsky.social & those commemorated but buried elsewhere. Thanks to all who came - it’s important to tell these stories. Thanks to @nessbattery.bsky.social for the photos.

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St Magnus Cathedral, Orkney @stmagnuscathedral.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

For War Graves Week (16-24 May) we are offering a FREE tour of the cathedral graveyard to tell the stories of the @cwgc.bsky.social graves, the local war memorial, and those mentioned on family gravestones but buried elsewhere. Saturday 16 May 12.30pm Starts Kirkwall war memorial No need to book.

A Commonwealth War Graves headstone made from grey granite, commemorating J Mackay.

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

#Thefolkloreofscottishsaints Currently wrestling with Mungo, founder and patron saint of Glasgow! 🐦‍⬛🌳🔔🐟

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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

I think it's really underappreciated that a large chunk of people across the world are everyday being served images of the world's worst atrocities, essentially live as they happen, in ways previously only experienced by people on the frontline, who have historically had years of trauma as a result.

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

A few weeks ago it was dark at 4pm…now look at it! 9.15pm 🌅 #orkney

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

🌟😇 The Folklore of Scottish Saints 😇🌟 I’m writing this little book for The History Press, and I’m delighted to reveal the gorgeous cover art, by artist and illustrator Paul Dews. Put St Columba and a squirrel on the front - everyone will buy it, right?

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Lovely to read and hear these words, Peter! Thank you for mentioning GMB and St Magnus too.

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Storyteller Fran @storytellerfran.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Me too! ‘I’ve seen the arc of the earth from the Birsay shore’…

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