1st C AD Roman floor mosaic depicting Medusa’s head in the central roundel from a luxurious house that was buried in the AD 79 eruption of Vesuvius that buried everything in the region, including the towns of #Pompeii and #Herculaneum. 📷 my own, #MANN, Naples. #MosaicMonday #Archaeology

Pottery cup fragment from Roman Peterborough (Durobrivae) depicting a magnificent hare. Now part of the collections at Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery. 📸 My own. #RomanBritain #Peterborough

The victory of the opposition in Hungary yesterday, like the Polish election in 2023, is a victory for democracy, not just in Europe but around the world.

Glevum was originally a #Roman fort in #Britain that became a "colonia" of retired legionaries in AD 97. Today, it is known as #Gloucester. #RomanSiteSaturday #History #Archaeology

I hope you’ll be there! I’m so glad that the multiple award-winning indie @renardpress.com understood my mission with these teaching books and has taken on publication of three more after The Elixir. The best thing for me was to create my own ecosystem for my nonfiction work and a stable platform 💙📚

This is one of the most beautiful places to visit. It’s often crowded, but there are places where the “busyness” fades into the background. Do you know where this is? 📷 my own. #Travel #WritingInspiration

A Roman fresco from the domus of Vigna Guidi. The luxurious house and this fresco are late Hadrianic. The house was partly destroyed and buried, when the area by the Porta Capena was destroyed to make way for the massive Baths of Caracalla, built from AD 212. 📷 my own, #Rome #FrescoFriday

An array of colourful Roman glass fragments excavated at Balmuildy fort on the Antonine Wall in Scotland. Now on display at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow @hunterianglasgow.bsky.social. #FindsFriday.

A Roman fresco from the domus of Vigna Guidi. The luxurious house and this fresco are late Hadrianic. The house was partly destroyed and buried, when the area by the Porta Capena was destroyed to make way for the massive Baths of Caracalla, built from AD 212. 📷 my own, #Rome #FrescoFriday

Beautiful gold and enamel earrings from an 11th C AD tomb, Strada S. Lucia, #Taranto. The gold pyramid pendants are inlaid with red, blue and white enamels. Analysis of form, style, and decorative motifs suggest they were made in Constantinople workshops. #FindsFriday #Archaeology 📷 MArTA

Well I didn’t know my psychological thriller, currently named The Legacy, made the long list of this novel competition in 2025, until I was looking at the 2026 competition entry requirements. Wonder if I missed an email 🤩 Chuffed though! flash500.com/long-list-no...

What does my #writinglife look like? Today, it’s a memory of last night’s candy floss sky that my MC experienced long ago, then reimagining the landscape before Roman occupation left its permanent mark. #AmWriting #HistoricalFiction 📷 my own, Northumberland.

Gold cut-out of a helmeted warrior fighting two rampant lions. There are tiny attachment holes along the edge of the gold sheet. From #Knossos, Geometric period, 8th cent. BC. 📷 my own, Heraklion Archaeological Museum. #Archaeology #Crete

Is it the best of times? Is it the worst of times? Or is it both?

Gold cut-out of a helmeted warrior fighting two rampant lions. There are tiny attachment holes along the edge of the gold sheet. From #Knossos, Geometric period, 8th cent. BC. 📷 my own, Heraklion Archaeological Museum. #Archaeology #Crete

Colossal bronze head of Emperor #Constantine, probably cast soon after his death (AD 337). On 28th Oct., AD 312, he defeated Maxentius at Rome’s Milvian Bridge, after a ‘vision’ of the #ChiRho persuaded him to fight under the Christian god’s symbol. Despite later reversals, #Christianity grew. My 📸

Christina Koch is the first woman to look back at Earth from this exclusive vantage point. She ‘is watching us from a distance.’ #Nasa #ArtemisII

And the book, Saving Lucia, by @bookwormvaught.bsky.social brings Violet Gibson to life.

St Peter's Church, Chillingham was founded in the 12th C. It retains some of the Norman stonework. The South Chapel contains the elaborate 15th century tomb Sir Ralph Grey and his wife Elizabeth, their effigies lying side by side, and the Grey coat of arms at the base. #TombTuesday 📸 my own.

Roman polychrome mosaic floor from a house in Taranto, End 2nd C to beginning 3rd C AD. It depicts a Satyr and Nymph. #MosaicMonday #Archaeology Photo Credit: MARTA/Taranto Archaeological Museum.

Roman polychrome mosaic floor from a house in Taranto, 2nd century A.D. In the decorative frame, a pair of Griffins face each other. There’s a large vessel (now damaged) between them. 📸 my own, Taranto Archaeological Museum. #MosaicMonday #Archaeology

Christina Koch is the first woman to look back at Earth from this exclusive vantage point. She ‘is watching us from a distance.’ #Nasa #ArtemisII

We survived Storm Dave in Northumberland. The winds were vicious, howling around the eaves, whistling down the chimney, a steady roar. But it’s quieter now. All blown out. And some of the plum tree blossom has clung on. Happy Easter 🐣

Colossal bronze head of Emperor #Constantine, probably cast soon after his death (AD 337). On 28th Oct., AD 312, he defeated Maxentius at Rome’s Milvian Bridge, after a ‘vision’ of the #ChiRho persuaded him to fight under the Christian god’s symbol. Despite later reversals, #Christianity grew. My 📸

Seven centuries' worth of historic records from Yorkshire made available online. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

"Rome was never really still, but steps echoed more at night." From Tyrant, by Conn Iggulden Sounds carry at night in Rome. I like how this author conjured up what I felt with so few words. #historicalfiction #writingcommunity #qotd #ancientrome 📸 my own, Forum Romanum, Rome.

Haha! I just realised that I posted this a day early. It’s a public holiday in the UK. Apologies but #GoodFriday has #RomanSiteSaturday vibes.

"Rome was never really still, but steps echoed more at night." From Tyrant, by Conn Iggulden Sounds carry at night in Rome. I like how this author conjured up what I felt with so few words. #historicalfiction #writingcommunity #qotd #ancientrome 📸 my own, Forum Romanum, Rome.

Foundations of the temple of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva, promised by Rome’s kings Tarquinius Priscus and Tarquinius Superbus in the 6th C BC, and inaugurated by Consul M. Horatius Pulvillus (early Republican) on 13th September 509 BC. 📸 my own, Capitoline Museums. #RomanSiteSaturday #Archaeology

Quick morning shout out to all the other freelancers who didn't even know it was the bank holiday, the whole concept having become utterly irrelevant to their lived experience.

Foundations of the temple of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva, promised by Rome’s kings Tarquinius Priscus and Tarquinius Superbus in the 6th C BC, and inaugurated by Consul M. Horatius Pulvillus (early Republican) on 13th September 509 BC. 📸 my own, Capitoline Museums. #RomanSiteSaturday #Archaeology

It’s nearly a year since we met, and it was only once, but the boy in bronze is still in my mind. I’m not a medium. Yet he whispers his secrets in my ear, trusting I’ll record them faithfully. #AmWriting #HistoricalFiction #Archaeology My 📸 Heraklion Archaeological Museum, from Lerapetra, 1st C BCE

‘I am a cat now, not a wolf. I am #Cat of the Canals. The wolf dreams belonged to Arya of House Stark … Cats never weep, she told herself, no more than wolves do.’ A Feast For Crows, G R R Martin. Misty’s my shadow on today’s writing adventure. #QOTD #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #WritingLife My 📸

It’s nearly a year since we met, and it was only once, but the boy in bronze is still in my mind. I’m not a medium. Yet he whispers his secrets in my ear, trusting I’ll record them faithfully. #AmWriting #HistoricalFiction #Archaeology My 📸 Heraklion Archaeological Museum, from Lerapetra, 1st C BCE

‘I am a cat now, not a wolf. I am #Cat of the Canals. The wolf dreams belonged to Arya of House Stark … Cats never weep, she told herself, no more than wolves do.’ A Feast For Crows, G R R Martin. Misty’s my shadow on today’s writing adventure. #QOTD #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #WritingLife My 📸

Our beautiful Bronze Age shield is on loan to the National Museum of Scotland and will be shown in their exhibition "Scotland's First Warriors", which is due to open this summer. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

‘Ted Hughes gave me this advice and it works wonders: record moments, fleeting impressions, overheard dialogue, your own sadnesses and bewilderments and joys.’ — Michael Morpurgo writingforwellbeing.co.uk #writing #WritingCommunity #WritersCommunity

‘What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet’ So says Juliet in Act II, Scene ii, of William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. This rose is keeping me company on today’s writing adventure. #QOTD #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #WritingLife 📸 my own

A colourful Roman floor mosaic floor from a villa in Chersonissos, #Crete. It shows birds including a peacock in the centre. This floor brought the outdoors inside, as well as reflecting prosperity. Dated AD 2nd C. 📸 my own Heraklion Archaeological Museum. #MosaicMonday #Archaeology #AncientHistory

NEW Analysis of ash residue from incense burners preserved at #Pompeii reveals the substances burnt as offerings to the gods in Roman households and the long-distance trade undertaken to acquire them. 🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy... 🏺 #Archaeology

A colourful Roman floor mosaic floor from a villa in Chersonissos, #Crete. It shows birds including a peacock in the centre. This floor brought the outdoors inside, as well as reflecting prosperity. Dated AD 2nd C. 📸 my own Heraklion Archaeological Museum. #MosaicMonday #Archaeology #AncientHistory

Romano-British relief of three water nymphs, probably from the shrine dedicated to the nymphs at Coventina’s Well, just east of #Brocolitia #Roman Fort (Carrawburgh). They have cups in one hand and are pouring water from jars. #Archaeology #RomanBritain #HadriansWall 📸 my own, Chesters Museum.

A 3,400 year old Ancient Egyptian ‘Senet’ game board with gaming pieces. Senet is one of the earliest known board games. Popular in ancient Egypt, it was associated with the soul’s journey through the underworld and was often placed in tombs. Brooklyn Museum 📷 by me #Archaeology

Romano-British relief of three water nymphs, probably from the shrine dedicated to the nymphs at Coventina’s Well, just east of #Brocolitia #Roman Fort (Carrawburgh). They have cups in one hand and are pouring water from jars. #Archaeology #RomanBritain #HadriansWall 📸 my own, Chesters Museum.

This canister was left in a ditch near a Roman temple in Southwark nearly 2,000 years ago. When it was opened, it was found to contain a white cream still holding the fingerprints of the last person to touch it. Closed and set aside, a moment caught, right down to the fingerprint. #FindsFriday

Check this out. Free courses online from MIT. ocw.mit.edu I went in and looked at Writing About Literature and it's all there, syllabus, reading list, the lot. All free. Please share.

What a fantastic cause! Please share widely & bid if you can. It’s a genuine auction. Kate Gilbert @kateg7.bsky.social and I were at university in St Andrew’s together for a glorious postgraduate year - she’s offering copy editing for 50 pages. Plenty of other lots too. #KidLit4Ceasefire #BookSky

This stunning bronze statue head represents the syncretic goddess, Sulis Minerva. It was found in Bath (1727). Aquae Sulis was a focus of religious practice for Romans and Britons. Bathing, health, divine redress for grievances, were also available. #RomanBritain #Archaeology #FindsFriday 📸 my own

What a fantastic cause! Please share widely & bid if you can. It’s a genuine auction. Kate Gilbert @kateg7.bsky.social and I were at university in St Andrew’s together for a glorious postgraduate year - she’s offering copy editing for 50 pages. Plenty of other lots too. #KidLit4Ceasefire #BookSky

This stunning bronze statue head represents the syncretic goddess, Sulis Minerva. It was found in Bath (1727). Aquae Sulis was a focus of religious practice for Romans and Britons. Bathing, health, divine redress for grievances, were also available. #RomanBritain #Archaeology #FindsFriday 📸 my own