Vivienne Dunstan

@vivdunstan

Academic historian, genealogist, former computer scientist, Doctor Who fan and accordionist. Scottish Borderer from Hawick now living in Dundee, Scotland. Pronouns she/her. Equality ally. #BLM.

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Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· 20d

Lovely visit to St Andrews to see the Mary Queen of Scots exhibition at the university’s Wardlaw Museum, buy too many books in Toppings, and unexpectedly get my hair cut at Dynamic Hair, where the staff remembered this long time customer after many years. Then fish and chips by seaside in Monifieth.

Photo from Toppings bookshop, with piles of books in the background, a welcoming sign offering complimentary tea or coffee, and in the foreground gardening books being considered beside, right enough, coffee served in blue and white cup etc.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· Jul 9

Wild strawberries newly spotted growing in our back garden in northeast Scotland (Dundee). We planted a supposedly dwarf bramble bush some years ago, which is sprawling mightily. But we have not intentionally planted strawberries.

Phot of a single red strawberry fruit growing on green stems with soft greenery backdrop behind

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· Jul 3

Still agog at our desserts tonight. The Milton Inn in Monifieth's signature cheesecake, a vanilla base, with today's topping on it. Banoffee flavour today. They close permanently in just 9 days ... #Dundee #Angus

Picture of a chunky square piece of cheesecake on a plate. The bulk is a creamy white cheese middle (vanilla flavour) on top of a darker biscuity base. And then on top of that, tumbling off deliciously, are banana slices covered in chocolate sprinkles and chocolate sauce.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· Jun 15

Out for Portuguese breakfast today - Tico’s Deli in Broughty Ferry is fab. Then a hefty book haul from the Bookhouse bookshop nearby and also Monifieth public library. Oops! #Booksky

8 books resting on a red sofa. At the top, standing up, are “Scotland’s Lost Branch Lines” about some of the Beeching railway cuts, then a graphic novel version of Dante’s Inferno, then “Pastels for the Absolute Beginner”. Down below are 5 books lying flat: “The Book of Coffee”, “The ABC’s of LGBTQ+”, “Tsundoku: The Japanese Art of Collecting Books”, “Bookshop Cats”, and “Publisher Not Found: A Decade of Disruption 404 Ink: 2016-2026”.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· Jun 6

Some bonus photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶 #squirrels #butterflies #art

A young wren perched facing left on a wire with green behind. It is incredibly fluffy, with soft brown body and more clearly black and brown flecked wings.

A grey squirrel seen from behind on an old tree. It has an incredibly fluffy tail, and its head is turned to the left, ear raised up.

A juvenile dipper perched on a wooden branch with river behind. The bird has its neck stretched out and has more grey dappling in its colouring than adult birds.

A mosaic on a bridge with trees behind and water below. The mosaic shows butterflies: red admiral, ringlet, orange tip and common blue. It is one of a number of mosaics there identifying local wildlife.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· Jun 6

Some photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶 #dogs

A male house sparrow perched facing left on a branch with white flowery cow parsley plants below and behind it. The bird has grey under areas and orange/brown wings and datk orangw/black head.

One arch of an old railway viaduct glimpsed among green leafy trees to left and right. The arch is dark underneath, with white sky through and above it. There is a high guardrail running along the top of the viaduct where there is a public path.

A fluffy golden retriever or similar dog standing, body facing us, head turned to our left, in a river beside a pebble bank.

A stock dove, perched in a tree facing left, surrounded with branches and masses of green leaves. The bird has a matte grey/purple body and blue/grey head.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· Jun 5

My husband took my watch in to our local Timpson's store to get a new battery. Impressed at the staff member's words, on seeing the Lord of the Rings themed watch: "You shall not pass!" The battery also didn't cost us anything extra, because we'd taken out an inexpensive lifetime guarantee before.

Photo of a watch with a large circular faceplate, with a black background, and around the edge ornate enigmatic characters recording a relevant script from Lord of the Rings. There are no clear numbers for reading the time, but hey it looks fun! Thick black strap.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· Jun 1

Rather amused, browsing the free PDF version (print copy also available to buy) of "Micromania: The Whole Truth about Home Computers", originally published in 1984 by Charles Platt, and adapted with extra text for a British context by David Langford. ae.ansible.uk?t=Micromania

Cover of book "Micromania: The Whole Truth about Home Computers" by Charles Platt with David Langford. The cover shows a black computer like screen, with pixelated characters and a home and computer shop, with stairs, pound signs, and frenetic activity.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· May 31

Couldn't be at UK Games Expo, but indulging in some comfort buying, with card game Hanamikoji. Especially now that I've found there's a good unofficial solo variant for it. And wow, what stunning artwork the cards have. Wanted to get this one for ages, even before it could be played solo easily.

The cover of the box of Hanamikoji showing a geisha in a beautiful pink kimono walking along an old traditional style Japanese street, with round red lanterns lit up outside the houses. Beside the box are two cards, with great art, one a spread out orange fan, the other a green teapot. A number of other cards can be glimpsed below.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· May 30

Some bonus photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶 #PigeonSky

A stock dove facing right, splashing enthusiastically in a river with grey stones in the foreground. The bird has a blueish grey head and wings, and its wings raised and splashing reveals a mass of lighter grey feathers underneath the wings.

A long tailed tit perched behind a diagonal vertical branch looking towards us with white sky behind. It is extremely fluffy, with a white/grey tummy, more black among the grey around its neck, and dark grey areas behind and above its eyes.

A juvenile blackbird perched low on a muddy mossy area beside a flowing river. It has mostly soft orange brown flecked plumage and darker brown wings and tail.

A dipper bird perched facing right on a diagonal vertical grey branch with darkness behind. The bird is mostly brown, with some grey below its wing, and a distinctive white neck and chest area.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· May 30

Some photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶 #butterflies

A holly blue butterfly perched facing right on a plant with a red stem and large green leaves. The butterfly has delicate white wings marked with tiny dark blue spots.

A male orange tip butterfly perched facing left above a plant with large green leaves and pink flowers. The butterfly has white wings mottled with dark green, and vibrant orange/yellow areas at upper wing tips.

A juvenile chaffinch perched facing left on a horizontal tree branch with leaves and a tree trunk behind, and a large green leaf by its head. The bird has a soft grey under area, black and white wings, and a brown back and head. It is extremely fluffy.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· May 24

Some photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶

A small white butterfly resting on a red campion leaf with green behind. The butterfly is facing right, with its greenish under right wing and part of its upper white left wing visible. Its very fluffy body is soft green coloured, with antennae out.

A dipper bird standing facing left among grey rocks covered with green moss. The bird has a mostly brown body, with some greyish feathers, and a white neck/chest.

A chiffchaff perched on a branch with white flowers and green foliage around. It was flitting about the trees and calling loudly. As seen here it has a soft green under area and beige head and back.

A collared dove perched facing right on a metal lamppost with blueish sky behind. It has a soft grey body with pinkish areas.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· May 24

Some photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶 #Cats #Dogs

A wren in a tree with green leaves and white sky behind, looking directly at the camera.

A black cat with green eyes standing in long green grass, looking towards us.

A fluffy white Samoyed dog, with a very smiling face and pink tongue hanging out, looking towards the camera.

A blue tit perched on thin branches with green foliage behind. It is standing tummy towards us with head turned to our left. It has a fluffy greenish yellow tummy with blue vertical stripe in the middle, blue/black wings, and a white head with blue on top and a blue stripe behind the eyes.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· May 16

Some bonus photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶 #insects

A hoverfly perched facing upwards on a green leaf. The fly has a stripy black and yellow body, brown head with dark reddish eyes, and transparent wings.

A speckled wood butterfly showing its under wings as it perches on rough brown ground with green leaves behind. Its under wings are a mix of beige, light brown and dark brown, with dark rings near the edge.

A grey heron perched on a tree branch with green leaves begind. It faces to the left, and has its long left leg raised up to scratch its face. Its head leans forwards with its feathery grey cloak/body behind.

A wood pigeon sitting on green grass facing to the left with the base od a reddish fence behind. The bird has grey wings, purple ish chest, a white area above around its neck, a vivid greenish area above that, and a matte blue/grey head.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· May 16

Some photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶 #insects

A green bottle fly perched on a green leaf. It has a bright green shiny metallic body, reddish/brown head, and silver wings.

A young blackbird perched in a green leafy tree. It looks towards us and slightly to our left. It has dark brown wings and a beige under area flecked with dark brown.

A song thrush perched on a mossy branch, facing left, with sky and more green behind. It has mid brown wings and a creamy under area flecked with brown.

A dipper bird perched facing right on a rock in a river with more rocks in the water behind. The bird is mostly brown with a white neck and chest. But this one also has a fluffy grey area visible underneath its wing. The bird has been ringed, with blue and silver rings around its legs.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· May 9

Some bonus photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶 #PigeonSky

A mass of green and white wild garlic with blue Spanish bluebells scattered amongst them, in front of trees and wood behind.

A great tit perched among branches in the woods, something green (either green shoots or a green caterpillar!) in its beak. The bird faces us, head turned to our right, and has a feathery white/green tummy, black stripe down its tummy, blueish/black head with white behind its eyes.

A dipper bird perched on rapids in a river, facing to the left as we look. The bird is brown with a white neck and chest.

A wood pigeon seen from below, perched high in a tree with blue sky behind. The bird faces left, and has a very plumped up pink/purple tummy, grey wings, white ring around the neck, and grey/blue head.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· May 9

Some photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶

A close up of a heather bush with numerous red and green tips and small white flowers along its stems. Behind is rough green grass.

A goldfinch perched on a branch, facing right, with light green leaves in the background. The bird has a bright red head and black around its eyes, then a white ring around its head, before a soft beige/brown body and black/yellow wings.

A pied wagtail perched on grey rocks in a river. The bird is facing towards us and slightly to the right, and has a white head and underneath, and black elsewhere.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· May 2

Some bonus photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶 #BirdButt

A magpie side on, facing right, standing on green grass with green foliage behind. Its body is stretched out, green tail behind a dark blue area on its back, then mostly black body and head, and white sides.

A robin preening, its back to us, tail twisted to our left, and fluffy grey butt visible underneath its soft light brown body. Part of its red patch is visible, as it ticks in its head, preening enthusiastically. There is a greyish tinge around its head.

A wren seen from behind, perched on a thin branch, head turned to the right. The bird is orangeish brown coloured, with five brown and light markings on its back and tail. A very finely detailed tiny bird.

Two herring gulls nesting on solar panels on top of a house roof with white sky behind them. The birds face opposite directions, the one on the left facing forward/right, as the other bird shows only a raised fluffy butt. Both birds have black tail tips, soft grey wings, white chests, necks and heads, and bright yellow beaks.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· May 2

Some photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶 #Dogs #PigeonSky

A wood pigeon glimpsed from below, perched on a branch facing left, with white sky and green leaves behind. The bird has a purple/pinkish chest and tummy, grey wings, and blueish/grey head.

A peacock butterfly perched on bramble leaves with green foliage behind. The bird has red wings with white and black eye markings on the wing edge, and brown furry wing edges. Its fluffy brown body is visible, with antennae sticking out.

White and pink apple blossom - many many flowers - with green foliage behind.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· Apr 30

Sloppy coding of singular versus plural always really annoys me. We wouldn’t have been allowed to get away with this in 1st year Computer Science at St Andrews in 1990/1991.

A Microsoft quarantine message that says “1 messages are being held for you to review”.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· Apr 26

Some bonus photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶 #PigeonSky

A pair of mallard ducks swimming to left in a river. The female, nearer the foreground and further left, has soft beige and brown flecked plumage, and her head is ducked underwater. The male duck, behind her, has a shiny green head and neck, then a white ring above a dark brown chest, then mostly cream body with brown markings.

A male bullfinch with his wings spread wide and high, about to take off, his feet still touching a vertical stem. He was feeding on seeds, hovering by individual plants for a short while, before landing again. He has orange/red body, grey and black wings, and dark fluffy black head.

A grey heron side on, facing right, against a dark background and ringed by a mass of branches with buds and white flowers on them. The bird has a grey hooded wing, black and white markings then between there and its body, grey chest and neck, white head with black mark behind its eye, and a fierce pointed yellow beak.

A grey wood pigeon seen from behind, perched with green leaves and branches behind it. The bird has soft slate like plumage, layered black and white under wings, a white ring around its neck, and matte blue head above, turned slightly left.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· Apr 25

Some photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶 #Dogs

A willow warbler perched low in a tree, facing left, among bushy green pods and other branches. It has a light green underneath, light brown wings, back and head, and a yellow stripe above its eye.

A small wren perched in a tree with green background. The bird is facing right, and has a soft beige under and light brown back, with fine brown and white small markings between its wing and body.

A fluffy white Samoyed dog standing on grass, facing right, in front of a rough path with shady dark foliage behind. He is very fluffy and is dappled in light and shade.

A green veined white butterfly perched on green leaves. Its white wings are spread wide and it faces the left. The wings have delicate vein markings on them.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· Apr 18

Some bonus photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶

A female chaffinch perched among branches and green leaves, her head raised and tail raised even higher. She has soft beige under plumage, white and black marked wings, and a dark grey tail with a green tinge on it nearer to her body.

A female blackcap perched in a tree with other branches and green leaves around. She has light under feathers, light brown wings, and a reddish brown top of head. She is facing the left with head turned slightly this way.

Two dippers perched above a river, both facing to the left, the bird in mid picture seen in full, and its probable partner at the bottom only seen partly, its head, neck and upper back visible. Both birds are dark brown colour with white necks and chests.

A dipper seen close up, perched on a branch above a river, facing to the left, its wings both raised up high, showing very fluffy under wing plumage, rarely seen by people. The bird is mostly dark brown colour, with a white neck and chest, pointed beak, and coloured leg rings.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· Apr 18

Some photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶

A buzzard circling high, seen from below. Its wings are spread wide, its body tilted diagonally against the white sky behind. The bird has white, grey and brown under plumage, and a sprayed out tail.

A blue tit perched among mossy branches and green leaves. Its body is turned towards us, bent low, with head tilted back up behind. The bird has soft green under feathers, a grey and blue back, white and black around its neck, and a white ring around its head and deep blue on top.

A willow warbler seen perched among a mass of brown branches and green leaves. The bird is turned somewhat towards us, with head turned to its right (our left as we look). It has a creamy tummy, brownish/green wings, and a marked yellow stripe above its eye.

A crow perched among reddish thin branches with white flowers and green buds. The bird’s body is turned towards us, its head turned to our right as we look. It has shiny black plumage, dinosaur like feet, and a soft matte grey pointed beak.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· Apr 11

Some bonus photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶

A robin perched on a branch facing right in a wood. The bird is soft brown, almost greenish on its back, and characteristic orange colour around its face and neck.

A chiffchaff seen side on, facing right and this way, perched on a branch, where it is fluffing up and preening after bathing in a nearby burn. It is soft green/yellow under, more brown wings, back and head.

Two jackdaws seen from behind, side by side, on a tree branch with white sky behind. They have dark grey colouring and lighter grey heads, almost silvery.

A male grey wagtail perched on top of a light curved rock in a river. The bird faces to the left, with yellow under areas, then white below its wings. Its back is soft grey, as is its head, and its wings are a mix of black and white curved markings.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· Apr 11

Some photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶 #PigeonSky

A female house sparrow perched on a dense hedge full of brown twigs. She is seen side on, facing to the right, and has a soft brown/beige under belly, brown and orange wings, and a soft brown head.

A female siskin perched on top of a birch tree with white sky behind. She faces to the left, and has a soft grey body flecked with black and increasingly green tinges culminating in a very greenish head.

A pair of wood pigeons canoodling on a house roof with their backs to us. Both birds have soft grey bodies with blue tinged, and white ripples at their necks.

A dipper bird perched mid right facing to the left on green mossy rocks and river banks with river water behind. The bird has a mostly dark brown body, white chest and neck, and colour rings on its legs.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· Apr 10

My current main reading, on my Kindle, with utterly gargantuan font needed for disability reasons. A mix of fiction and non fiction, history, SFX magazine columns, and oh so very much Venice. I'm starting a virtual tour of Venice for a few months (self directed), and reading is part of it. #Booksky

Screenshot of a Kindle Paperwhite in portrait mode, with black and white / greyscale screen. Two rows of 3 book covers are visible. On the top row are "Echolands: A Journey in search of Boudica" by Duncan Mackay, "The Glassmaker" by Tracy Chevalier, and "The SEX Column and other misprints" by David Langford (the first collection of his SFX magazine columns). On the row below are "Venice Tales: Stories selected and edited by Katia Pizzi" (with a gondola on the cover), "Restoration London: Everyday life in London 1660-1670" by Liza Picard, and "A History of Venice" by John Julius Norwich (the cover didn't download properly).

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· Apr 8

Tomorrow's commemorative Spitfire flight path from Leuchars to Lossiemouth. Diverting back to take in the Forth Bridges, then up via Perth, and over to Montrose, then Aberdeen and Lossiemouth. Probably not very visible in Dundee sadly. Due to take off from Leuchars at 14:00.

A map of east and northeast Scotland, showing a flight path, starting at Leuchars, then going southwest towards Edinburgh and the Forth Bridges, then north to Perth/Scone, north east to Montrose, then north to Aberdeen, and round the coast to the west to Lossiemouth.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· Apr 4

Some bonus photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶 #dogs #PigeonSky #BirdButt

A male mallard duck swimming to the right in a brownish river, red feet visible below its white under area. On the top it has brown/white wings, black at its rear end, dark brown chest, white ring around the neck, glowing shiny green neck and head above that, and bright yellow long beak.

Two wood pigeons on a branch, the one on the left turned away from us facing left with wings up high. The bird to its right is sitting the other way around and watching the other bird with some curiosity.

A fluffy white Samoyed dog walking with a big smiley face towards the camera along a muddy brown path. Like a cloud of fluff.

A dipper bird perched on the right on a grey rock, looking out left over a river, with more rocks in the background. The bird is mostly brown coloured, apart from a distinctive white chest and neck area.

Vivienne Dunstan@vivdunstan· Apr 4

Some photos from my husband's Saturday walk to the Dighty Burn wooded river valley near our home in eastern Dundee, Scotland 📷📸🎞️🪶