Flying home. Sunset over the River Dee Estuary viewed from Parkgate this evening.

'It is the best anthology of new work that I’ve read in years; anyone with an interest in contemporary British poetry should read it.' - Billy Mills Last few copies of 'The Footing': our first (and, to date, only) anthology (unlikely to be reprinted) thefooting.wordpress.com

Out to the west of Crosby beach, over Wales, the sky is ever changing with rays of crepuscular light painting streaks of gold across the gathering clouds. Towards sunset the clouds build, shimmering at their edges but blocking the last of the light. #IronMenCrosby

Pools of golden late afternoon sunlight race along Crosby beach. Flocks of knot take flight, twisting and turning, skimming low over the outgoing sea. The sky is full of drama, rays of crepuscular light beaming down through gaps in the gathering clouds. #IronMenCrosby

Past the cutlers, halfway over the Don I stop to watch the river’s dull pewter slow-shimmy the strait, grinding stone, cutting shingle. 'Ball Street Bridge', Angelina Ayers, in our walking-themed anthology 'The Footing' thefooting.wordpress.com

And another! Stories and interviews with the team behind one of the BBC's greatest ever TV dramas – "a revenge thriller, a mystical nuclear-and-environmental-apocalypse fable, a clear-eyed political document of the mid-1980s, a ghost story" – by me for @thequietus.com thequietus.com/opinion-and-...

Wonderful to finally meet up with Julian Hoffman @julianhoffman.bsky.social at the Kendal Mountain Festival yesterday where he was interviewed by local author Kate Rawles, and gave an inspiring talk about his latest book ‘Lifelines’. Thanks Julian.

The last sunlight of a beautiful cold crisp winter day is snuffed out as clouds gather over the distant Welsh hills to the west of Crosby beach.

Dramatic evening light over the Welsh hills on this cold winter evening at Crosby beach.

The first snowfall of winter has coated the distant Welsh mountains of Eryri, Snowdonia. Here on Crosby beach the iron men face the spume capped waves of a very cold Irish Sea.

Winter’s breath strikes from the north. A brisk wind chills the already cold air on this clear afternoon with the Iron Men on Crosby beach.

Early river walk. Water levels have dropped again and the path is clear in places. Where it dips slightly the river water still floods. Light from the rising sun glows orange, looking like fire on the cloud covered hillside. River Suir, South Tipperary.

Evening light as the floods recede, the levels of the River Suir dropping quite quickly after the flooding from Friday’s rain. South Tipperary, Ireland.

Autumn beeches, a riot of colour along the banks of the River Suir, South Tipperary, Ireland.

Last of the afternoon light over a flooded River Suir, near Kilsheelan, South Tipperary just now. @carlowweather.bsky.social

Flooding today on the River Suir at Kilsheelan, South Tipperary, Ireland.

These books are always a good buy.

What a great evening of #poetry we had Wednesday night in Ainsdale, #Southport at Mecycle cafe/bar/bike workshop - readings from (l-r) Helen Jeffery, Jenny Robb, Jeffa Kay and Matt Fallaize. Thanks to @rondavies.bsky.social for pic and Autism Initiatives for giving us the use of their lovely venue.

No riverside walk today. The River Suir at Kilsheelan, South Tipperary flooding after today’s rain.

A seasonal reminder that you can order our titles from our website; orders are despatched within 24 hours. Recent hardbacks include Steve Ely's 'Eely' and Angelina D'Roza's 'The Blue Hour' (you'll also receive a free 'Inventory' pamphlet). Order here: longbarrowpress.com/current-publ...

A dappled sky of rising cumulus clouds over Holy Island and Holyhead, Anglesey yesterday afternoon.

Flying home. Wonderful skies this afternoon. Looking south over Malahide Estuary to Portmarnock, Howth and Dublin Bay.

Beautiful skies just after sunset yesterday. St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin.

A few images of the old art deco terminal when it had just been refurbished as the Marriott hotel in 2001. Now the Crowne Plaza.

A ghost post for Samhain. Happy Halloween 😊 notesfromasmallcroftbythesea.wordpress.com/2025/10/31/f...

No bodies. But imaginings.

An autumn leaf. Royal Chancellery of Granada.

The approaching storm. A sudden gust of wind as black clouds gather over the hills. Strong late afternoon sun on olive trees just before the light is extinguished. Near Granada, Spain yesterday.

A quiet mostly overcast afternoon at Crosby beach. The occasional glimmer of sunlight sends rays of light through the clouds and adds a sparkle to the out going tide.

Great evening of poetry at the lovely Mecycle cafe, bar and bike workshop in Ainsdale, #Southport last night, with poets Alison Chisholm, Phil McNulty, Callan Waldron-Hall and Jennie E Owen.

One book sale in seventeen days. Yikes. Help us to avoid the worst of all possible fates - the crowdfunder - by buying our scrupulously edited, meticulously designed, handsomely produced and fastidiously packaged books here: longbarrowpress.com/current-publ...

A calmness and utter stillness in the air. Sea the colour of jade sits under a lowering sky of grey and white this afternoon at Killiney beach, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Freshly washed up seaweed on Killiney beach, Co. Dublin shows off autumnal shades of reds, greens and browns.

After the storm. The old stone bridge over the River Suir at Kilsheelan, South Tipperary, is bathed in morning sunlight, the river lower again now. The air is filled with the raucous calls of crows tumbling joyously in the clear blue sky, riding the still strong winds above the bridge.

Today I'm recovering from reading out loud to a group of adults in an upstairs room in a converted barn in Lancashire. Oh, the heady world of poetry! No one took pictures of the group (Jennie Owen, Phil Barnett, me) - we missed you @rondavies.bsky.social So here's an article in today's i newspaper

This otter seemed to be enjoying the swiftly flowing River Suir near Kilsheelan, South Tipperary, The waters high due to the heavy rains of Storm Amy.

As the worst of Storm Amy passed by mid afternoon, streaks of cirrus crossed the wind torn sky. The swift flowing River Suir was still rising by around 15cm per hour as it roared under the bridge at Kilsheelan, South Tipperary. Swans sheltered against the river bank despite the easing winds.

“The surface of a slate-grey lake is lit By the earthed lightning of a flock of swans, Their feathers roughed and ruffling, white on white” -Seamus Heaney The slate grey waters of the River Suir at Kilsheelan as Storm Amy approaches. #SouthTipperary

This afternoon at Crosby beach. Weak sunlight filters through the cloud cover, sending flecks of light across the pewter sea. An incoming tide laps gently at the beach, a quiet murmur of water in the still air, only the piping call of a lone oystercatcher heard above the sound of the sea.

Figures in a landscape. The matchstick like silhouettes of the iron men appear against the patchwork of tidal pools reflecting the evening sky as dusk falls across a colourful Crosby beach yesterday evening. #IronMenCrosby #SeftonCoast

Pools of blue reflect the calm clear skies over Crosby beach last night as the setting sun painted the horizon with streaks of warm gold. #IronMenCrosby #SeftonCoast

A beautiful calm stillness descended on Crosby beach at sunset last night. The Welsh mountains clearly defined against the pale blueness of the sky and out over the sea the warm orange glow from the last of the day’s light. #IronMenCrosby #SeftonCoast

My favourite picture from last night. The earth rotates eastward into night bringing the sun towards the horizon on the day of the autumn equinox marking the end of summer 2025. #IronMenCrosby #SeftonCoast #autumnequinox

Watching the sun go down. The iron men on Crosby beach witness yet another stunning sunset as the the alignment of the sun and the earth brings to a close the autumn equinox, tipping us into the days of longer nights. #IronMenCrosby #SeftonCoast #autumnequinox

A stunningly clear autumn equinox afternoon at Crosby beach. The outgoing tide has left wet sands all shimmer and glitter in the bright sunlight. #IronMenCrosby #SeftonCoast

Yesterday evening, the MSC Preziosa sailed past Crosby beach into a glorious end of summer sunset. #IronMenCrosby #SeftonCoast

Found art in nature. This common otter shell found on Crosby beach replicates the colours of a sunset.

A sky full of drama this afternoon at Crosby beach. #IronMenCrosby #SeftonCoast

A vast number of sea potatoes, sea urchin shells, washed up on Crosby beach today. This is just a small selection. #SeftonCoast