Musician/Composer/Electro-Medievalist. PhD (Arabic poetry, Old French song). Hammered dulcimer, vielles/viols/violins. Inventor of the phantasmaphone. "Absolutely extraordinary" - BBC R3 https://katearnolduk.bandcamp.com/ https://katearnoldmusic.com/https://bsky.app/profile/dulcimerkate.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/dulcimerkate.bsky.social/post/3mr7qacla7s22A lovely walk up to this site. I recommend grabbing an array of provisions from the mighty scotch egg shop in the town below, where there's also a huge labyrinthine second-hand bookshop, riverside pubs and the occasional steam train. [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 Jul 2026 06:50 +0000at://did:plc:vbwe2udfpuhncnleuiwegzev/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr7qacla7s22https://bsky.app/profile/dulcimerkate.bsky.social/post/3mqw3vgpzrk2f"By his powerful intercession the Blessed Arnold will bring us what we lack." Happy St Arnold's Day to all who celebrate. 🍻 [contains quote post or other embedded content]18 Jul 2026 10:52 +0000at://did:plc:vbwe2udfpuhncnleuiwegzev/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqw3vgpzrk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/dulcimerkate.bsky.social/post/3mqperwvgck25No relation, as far as I'm aware. [contains quote post or other embedded content]15 Jul 2026 18:42 +0000at://did:plc:vbwe2udfpuhncnleuiwegzev/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqperwvgck25https://bsky.app/profile/dulcimerkate.bsky.social/post/3mqhmmnwebs2jFurther medieval adventures! A couple of pics from a brilliant @imc-leeds.bsky.social last week. Left: the Thursday lunch queue. Right: Tyke the burrowing owl, at the birds of prey stand. He had lots to say, but alas I don't speak Owl. I wonder if he knows that the owl is the symbol of Leeds?12 Jul 2026 16:41 +0000at://did:plc:vbwe2udfpuhncnleuiwegzev/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqhmmnwebs2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/dulcimerkate.bsky.social/post/3mqhcmjhux22wI've been trying to stop myself, but I'm now seeing so many World Cup /1066 posts re England beating the Norwegians then losing to the French a few days later that I must say it: You do know the Normans weren't French, right? It's still pretty funny though.12 Jul 2026 13:42 +0000at://did:plc:vbwe2udfpuhncnleuiwegzev/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqhcmjhux22whttps://bsky.app/profile/dulcimerkate.bsky.social/post/3mqffaf6jus2wImmeasurable thanks to the SSCLE @latineast.bsky.social and the University of Porto for a brilliant and highly memorable conference! [contains quote post or other embedded content]11 Jul 2026 19:24 +0000at://did:plc:vbwe2udfpuhncnleuiwegzev/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqffaf6jus2whttps://bsky.app/profile/dulcimerkate.bsky.social/post/3mqfdveopm22pA few final pics from the Convento de Cristo, Tomar, Portugal last week. Serene and peaceful cloisters after the sensory overload of the church ...11 Jul 2026 18:59 +0000at://did:plc:vbwe2udfpuhncnleuiwegzev/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqfdveopm22phttps://bsky.app/profile/dulcimerkate.bsky.social/post/3mqf75jnt322yHorror vacui at the Convento de Cristo, Tomar, Portugal. I'm not sure these pics do it justice, but imagine all this along with whatever sound was emerging from that pipe I posted earlier, plus chanting, incense and the effects of the light reflecting off all the glittery surfaces. Sensory overload.11 Jul 2026 17:35 +0000at://did:plc:vbwe2udfpuhncnleuiwegzev/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqf75jnt322yhttps://bsky.app/profile/dulcimerkate.bsky.social/post/3mqeu2hbmx22rMore from the church of the Convento de Cristo, Tomar, Portugal last week. On the left, a trompe l'oeil pulpit. On the opposite wall, a real one, identical. Originally 12th century and part of the Templar castle, the church was covered in decoration of many styles over subsequent centuries.11 Jul 2026 14:16 +0000at://did:plc:vbwe2udfpuhncnleuiwegzev/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqeu2hbmx22rhttps://bsky.app/profile/dulcimerkate.bsky.social/post/3mqepwhjunc2kHere beginneth pics from my two-week medieval conference-a-thon! First up, from SSCLE Porto @latineast.bsky.social, this huge wooden pipe in the round church of the Convento de Cristo, Tomar, Portugal. According to our guide, it's 12th-14th C and created a low drone to accompany the monks' chanting.11 Jul 2026 13:02 +0000at://did:plc:vbwe2udfpuhncnleuiwegzev/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqepwhjunc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/dulcimerkate.bsky.social/post/3mqeczmk3ys22Do not despise the pigeons. They have performed many acts of bravery for us and just want to be near us, and we reject them as 'sky-rats.' In any case, we may need them again as messengers after the inevitable digital collapse. [contains quote post or other embedded content]11 Jul 2026 09:11 +0000at://did:plc:vbwe2udfpuhncnleuiwegzev/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqeczmk3ys22https://bsky.app/profile/dulcimerkate.bsky.social/post/3mqbrdecokk2p"I don't stock CurlyWurlies, they're far too elaborate." (Mr Dennis the shopkeeper aka Vic Reeves, c. 1992) [contains quote post or other embedded content]10 Jul 2026 08:49 +0000at://did:plc:vbwe2udfpuhncnleuiwegzev/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqbrdecokk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/dulcimerkate.bsky.social/post/3mq53srfg3k2bAnyone who wants to watch this complete with live commentary from actual Crusades historian and bonus non-stop facts about the musical soundtrack, let me know. Prizes for those who survive. [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Jul 2026 12:14 +0000at://did:plc:vbwe2udfpuhncnleuiwegzev/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq53srfg3k2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/dulcimerkate.bsky.social/post/3mpvwjcmnqs26Please read the ALT caption. [contains quote post or other embedded content]05 Jul 2026 15:50 +0000at://did:plc:vbwe2udfpuhncnleuiwegzev/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpvwjcmnqs26