I’ve been doing this for a while and I’m accustomed to updating lectures to take account of the political churn, but this still brings me up short. Six Prime Ministerial resignations in 10 years. TBH I don’t really know how to explain it.

We don’t often hear about the staff who work diligently behind the scenes to support the work of the Intelligence and Security Committee. This is a rare and fitting tribute to Emma-Louise Avery who is retiring as Director and CEO of the ISC after more than 20 years service.

Great interactive lecture today from @NwprtNarrative from @swift_centre about forecasting. Much food for thought for intelligence studies students (and scholars) about the process of forecasting, probability yardsticks and communicating with decision makers.

University of Lincoln has disposed of over 500 members of staff since 2024. As we start a new academic year management have refused to rule out further compulsory redundancies this year. @UCU at Lincoln is balloting its members about their willingness to take industrial action.

I have a pile of reading for the new term but the last of the summer reading was Elizabeth Goldring’s gorgeous Holbein: Renaissance Master. It seems likely that Holbein, like many other court painters, also carried out intelligence missions for his powerful sponsors. #ArtofSpying

Elizabeth Smily was an accomplished artist who also painted a portrait of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. She later moved to Canada. She died in 2014 aged 96. I came across this report from a local Vancouver newspaper about the transfer of her painting of Odette to @I_W_M

Odette Churchill (Sansom/Hallowes) by the artist Elizabeth Smily (née Wolf) from @I_W_M collection. Not sure the date on the top is correct as Sansom didn’t marry Peter Churchill until 1947, but a lovely portrait which I don’t think I’ve seen before #ArtofSpying

Looking through this summer’s gallery visits. Archdukes Albert & Isabella of the Habsburg Netherlands by Frans Porbus II from the Groeninge in Bruges. Albert & Isabella were the principal beneficiaries of the intelligence activities of the painter Peter Paul Rubens #ArtofSpying

Today’s @TourofBritain photos - in Louth today. Just popped around the corner, great stuff.

Great to watch @TourofBritain passing through the Lincolnshire Wolds today. After carefully studying the route I chose what I thought would be a quiet corner deep in the Wolds. When I arrived 30 or so others had clearly had the same idea 😁. Great racing, great support!