Today’s walk in beautiful afternoon sunshine. A bumper berry haul for the birds. Head cleared. 📸 my own, #Northumberland #WritingLife

Who has read this epic fantasy by Patrick Rothfuss? My son’s copy is well-thumbed. He loaned it to me because apparently the structure is nigh on perfect. #AmReading, but my editing radar wants to pull out the red pen. I’d also like to slap the MC. On the other hand, the world building is superb.

🐦‍⬛🍂If you'd like to support my writing and recuperation, then why not visit my little Etsy shop which has dozens of Shell County & Natural History posters for sale, Japanese prints and rare books - prices ranging from £15, with more items added every day! 🍂🐦‍⬛ etsy.com/shop/Sourisd...

Fragment of a marble crater with an inscription: [THNI] GENATA ['EP] MEPOR Ermeros dedicated the inscribed crater to the sanctuary. From Amnisos, Sanctuary of Zeus Thenatas, Hellenistic period, 2nd- 1st C BC. #EpigraphyTuesday #Archaeology #AncientBlueSky 📸 my own, Crete.

I had such a lovely day. 💕 I did not switch on news all day. Highly recommend switching off from the awfulness sometimes. Here’s a photo of the geese who fill the skies above #Northumberland at this time of year. #AmWriting #WritingLife #WriteSky

Fragment of a marble crater with an inscription: [THNI] GENATA ['EP] MEPOR Ermeros dedicated the inscribed crater to the sanctuary. From Amnisos, Sanctuary of Zeus Thenatas, Hellenistic period, 2nd- 1st C BC. #EpigraphyTuesday #Archaeology #AncientBlueSky 📸 my own, Crete.

Sunset on the #autumnequinox in the northern hemisphere announces darker days ahead. Also, did you know that it’s #HobbitDay, when Bilbo and Frodo Baggins of The Shire both share a birthday, albeit 78 years apart? Surely #Tolkien chose the equinox for this duo of intrepid ring-bearers? #BookSky

I’m feeling a bit bogged down in my writing today and I’m out for a walk to clear my head. Seems like I’m not the only one having this issue. 😜 #AmWriting #WritingLife

Tonight!!

After the rain came a perfect day for a walk. My #Sunday has been glorious. However, the wind is blowing in from the North and these photos say nothing about the chill in the air, a harbinger. Autumn’s here. 📸 my own, on Gunnerton Fell, #Northumberland. #SundayVibes

After the rain came a perfect day for a walk. My #Sunday has been glorious. However, the wind is blowing in from the North and these photos say nothing about the chill in the air, a harbinger. Autumn’s here. 📸 my own, on Gunnerton Fell, #Northumberland. #SundayVibes

If you're a neurodivergent adult in the South of England, there's still plenty of time to sign up for free online creative writing workshops with Emma Robdale and myself through Beyond the Spectrum. Starting Monday 22 September! beyondthespectrum.uk/for-adults/e...

The so-called 'Roman Bridge' close to the Antonine Wall at Duntocher in Scotland features a Latin plaque claiming that it was constructed in the second century. In fact, it is probably medieval and was also heavily restored after WWII. #RomanSiteSaturday

Plaster was used by excavators to fill cavities discovered in the material from Vesuvius’ eruption in AD 79. From #Pompeii, these casts are all that remain of two of the people caught up in the catastrophe. Poignant reminder to live every day as if it is the last one. #FindsFriday #AncientBlueSky

#FindsFriday Among star finds from #Saxon Prittlewell Prince burial in Essex were #glass beakers w trailed lattice decoration. Beautiful and rare, so similar they were likely made as a pair, in Kent. Few other examples are known, almost all in high status burials. Southend Museums #Ancientbluesky 🏺

Plaster was used by excavators to fill cavities discovered in the material from Vesuvius’ eruption in AD 79. From #Pompeii, these casts are all that remain of two of the people caught up in the catastrophe. Poignant reminder to live every day as if it is the last one. #FindsFriday #AncientBlueSky

"I'm afraid to speak or move for fear all this wonderful beauty will vanish just like a broken silence." —from Anne of the Island by Lucy Maud Montgomery

A loo with a view for #RomanFortThursday. Of course, the view from the toilet seats was less spectacular and not as airy as it is today. This well-preserved latrine block is in the southeast angle of Vercovicium (Housesteads) on #HadriansWall. #RomanBritain #AncientBlueSky 📸 my own.

Times are tough. Everything’s a mess. But… When your cat 🐈‍⬛ can’t keep her eyes open you simply must relax too. #Cats #Caturday 📸 Maple had a busy day. She’s snoozing 💤 now.

Nobody objects to a woman being a good writer, or sculptor, or geneticist if, at the same time, she manages to be a good wife, good mother, good-looking, good-tempered, well-groomed, and unaggressive. Words by Leslie M. McIntyre #QOTD #Wisdom

A loo with a view for #RomanFortThursday. Of course, the view from the toilet seats was less spectacular and not as airy as it is today. This well-preserved latrine block is in the southeast angle of Vercovicium (Housesteads) on #HadriansWall. #RomanBritain #AncientBlueSky 📸 my own.

Honestly want to buy a pint 🍺 for each of those responsible for this. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Clay model of a house from a grave in the region of Knossos. It represents a one-roomed house (Geometric period, 9th C BC). The model features a door, lunette above, small windows in the side walls, bench and shelf inside, rainwater gutter around the roof, and a chimney indicating a hearth. 📸 my own

The most important religious objects from the Knossos Temple Repositories are the figurines of the "Snake Goddess"(1650-1550 BC). The snakes represent the underworld. Their luxurious robes feature a close-fitting bodice that exposes their breasts and symbolises female fertility. 📸 my own, Heraklion.

It’s my #Birthday on #FindsFriday, so here’s the #Roman artefact that I still think is my most significant archaeological discovery. Also it is inscribed with my birthday month, #September. 📸 my own, and tattoos and pics of tattoo by my girl, By.Siba on Instagram. #AncientBlueSky #Vindolanda

Exactly this! Its racist behaviour cloaked in ‘legitimate concerns.’

I’m taking a few days away from my writing desk to spend time with my girl. She’s been through hell and back and is now supporting a friend grieving his Dad who died in a road incident. Hug those you love. Tell them every day you care about them. Make time for loved ones. Nothing else matters.

You see I can’t imagine living in a city as crowded as New York, but I think I could happily spend time in this gorgeous room filled with books. 📚 #BookSky #WritingLife

I know next to nothing about #geology, but these rocks were laid down in layers a very long time ago. Then some enormous pressure caused them to buckle and lift upwards. 📸 my own, by #Dunstanburgh Castle, #Northumberland.

The gorgeous Dunstanburgh Castle may be a ruin, but it’s magnificent nonetheless. A medieval stronghold since at least the 13th C, the castle dominates #Northumberland coast between Embleton and #Craster. Lunch at The Jolly Fisherman was amazing too. My daughter and I had the best day out. 📸 my own.

My paper was accepted to the conference of the Lithics Society in Leicester in early November. Cannot wait to talk about the Late Neolithic quartzes in Finland, India and beyond. #Archaeology www.lithics.org/events/confe...

New discovery: During excavations at the #Roman fort in Schramberg-Waldmössingen, a Roman workshop for the production of hobnails for the caligae (boots) of Roman soldiers was discovered. 🏺 #archaeology www.denkmalpflege-bw.de/publikatione...

This, a thousand times this: Farage and Reform are wrecking balls. The UK needs them like it needs a hole in the head. And our media are not calling him or Reform out. He’s no longer interested in talking about the damage he did promoting #Brexit.

Today’s walk in fields resting after the harvesting. Very mild, humid, warm breeze, and the backdrop sound was the raucous cries of Jays. Swallows still swooping and chittering. Last year they left on the long journey south on the 9th #September. #RuralLife #Autumn #Northumberland 📸 my own.

Herculaneum, partially excavated and conserved, lies beneath modern Ercolano. #Herculaneum was destroyed in the eruption of Vesuvius that destroyed Roman #Pompeii and devastated most of the area surrounding the Bay of Naples in AD 79. #RomanSiteSaturday #AncientBlueSky #Archaeology 📸 my own.

Warkworth Castle, Northumberland, as we know it, was built circa 1200. It was the home of the Percy family from the 14th C to 17th C. The Percys were the Earls (and later Dukes) of Northumberland and were among the greatest magnates in Northern England. #Castles #History #Archaeology 📸my own.

Will I jinx it if I say my writing is going well, better than it has for quite some time? #WritingLife #AmWriting

You are not weird or weak for worrying. Worrying is very normal human behavior. Don't shame yourself for worrying-- but also remember, the intensity of our worry gets spiked by our past. That doesn't make our worries "invalid"-- it means we need to meet them w/ perspective.

Three beautiful glass vessels found in #Crete - unfortunately detailed provenance unknown. They are on display in the small archaeological museum at Gazi, Crete. The date range is wide (circa 900 BC to Roman period). Likely to have contained special oils and perfumes. #FindsFriday #Archaeology My 📸

Votive double axes made from sheets of gold and silver. These were found in the Arkalochori Cave, Crete and date 1700-1450 BC. 📸 My own, Heraklion Archaeological Museum. #FindsFriday #Archaeology #AncientBlueSky

#GlassObjectThursday 🏺 #Roman blown glass flask with polychrome snake-thread decoration. 3rd C AD. Made in Rhineland, Cologne area. In British Museum

Some of my photos of Hadrian’s Wall for #WallsOnWednesday. Today’s #Roman wall is a product of the conservation efforts that really began in the 19th C. Hadrian’s Wall inspired author George R R Martin’s Wall and the Watch in his Game of Thrones books. #RomanBritain #Archaeology #GOT

The cover on the autumn edition of #Mslexia magazine is just gorgeous. I want to dive right in @mslexia.bsky.social. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

It had not been a great writing day until I managed to draft a scene that was difficult to write. It only took 30 minutes to draft the scene that’s been festering in my head for ages. Writing really is about more than pen to paper, fingers to keypad. #AmWriting #WritingLife 📸 Flowers, Crete.

Some of my photos of Hadrian’s Wall for #WallsOnWednesday. Today’s #Roman wall is a product of the conservation efforts that really began in the 19th C. Hadrian’s Wall inspired author George R R Martin’s Wall and the Watch in his Game of Thrones books. #RomanBritain #Archaeology #GOT

For #TombTuesday and #EpigraphyTuesday.

The Latin on this #Roman tombstone translates as: Julius Vitalis, armourer of the 20th Legion Valeria Victrix, of 9 years' service, aged 29 years, a Belgic tribesman, with funeral paid for by the Guild of Armourers, lies here. 📸 my own, #RomanBath, for #EpigraphyTuesday. #RomanBritain #Archaeology

“We reject the far right’s racist lies about ‘protecting’ women and girls. They are not defenders of women – they exploit violence against women to fuel hate and division,” - women reject the narrative being propagated by right wing political groups. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Last day of #August 2025 and it’s a #Sunday. I’ve been writing ✍️ this morning, drawing inspiration from the landscape and the autumn scenes that surround me in rural #Northumberland. 📸 my own, near #Gunnerton. #AmWriting #WritingLife

I love these ‘I woz ‘ere’ graffiti from #Pompeii: Lucifer and Primigenius came this way. (CIL IV 2156) Gaius Valerius Venustus, soldier of the first cohort. (CIL IV 2145) Marcus Clodius Primus was here. (CIL IV 2147) 2000 years later humans still want to say ‘I’m here. I exist.’ #FindsFriday