I did some filming for a couple of Irish News pieces yesterday. Which was a rather pleasant way to spend a few hours. Will be interesting to see how they turn out. Shall have to get back to regular posting of my own material now I seem to be through the various ailments of late.

Had a tooth extracted yesterday then performed in a murder mystery. Fun times. I'd been without a dentist for some years. If you're in NI, and need emergency dental treatment and are unregistered I'd recommend the Dental Access Scheme - got me sorted quickly. online.hscni.net/our-work/den...

I watched the new edit of The Sea Devils this morning. It's definitely the best of the Doctor Who re-edits Ben Cook has done to date. Only in the final half hour did I think it was a little overzealous at times. Struck by the compulsion to put a score over every moment - I find that unnecessary.

The Doctor Who collection trailers are lovely things. The latest season 21 one has me clamouring for a proper new episode of classic Who - quite why they've not tried this yet is baffling. youtu.be/9WABczTXLGg?...

I'm out of action for the next fortnight. Currently recovering from emergency surgery for a retinal detachment. Things I didn't have in my 2025 bingo card!

Finally Halloween week at an end, and I've a few days to sort admin, conduct event post-mortems, and write. There's more in the diary so it's a brief respite, but needed. The mental toll alongside the physical one of late has been intense. Doesn't help that I'm my own worst critic.

Massive detour by train to Bangor before class tonight to pick up a copy of the County Down Spectator, as my mug is in it promoting the Bangors Ghost graveyard tours we did last week (and will do again!)

This is what has become of the CS Lewis festival... Seriously!? It's little more than lip service to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe alongside a Santa/Christmas event, with no connection to Lewis.

I'm back in Downpatrick today for the last of our Phantom Flyer shows at the Railway Museum. Tickets still available - book online or on door. Shows at 3pm, 4.15 and 5.30pm www.downrail.co.uk/event/hallow...

I went pumpkin picking this week - and you know what, I rather enjoyed it. vm.tiktok.com/ZNdn7Gkpf/

I'm currently selling off some excess stuff from my collection on eBay with new listings added regularly. Posters, stills, models, and other ephemera ebay.us/m/EC66PW

Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.

Last night I delivered my first in person presentation stemming off my tiktok/fb history videos, to a lovely group at Roe Valley Historical Society. This version of Seen & Unseen: A Miscellany of Tales and Places was heavy on ghost stories including some pieces I haven't made videos on yet.

Growing up in Northern Ireland I think we're probably more used to the ideas behind Christian Nationalism. Much of what I hear is very familiar. What a lot of folk don't seem to get is that not all Christians see the world this way. The extremism and control terrifies me.

We're back at @downrail.bsky.social on 1st & 2nd Nov with our family-friendly Halloween show - The Curse of the Phantom Flyer. Tickets on sale now downrail.co.uk/event/halloween/

Thanks @ko-fi.com for the #KofiExclusiveChallenge prize! Used the winnings to offset costs for some new creative work.

Lovely Uber driver on way to the boat this morning. I don't do taxis too often but weather and luggage made it essential today. Had a decent natter too. Makes everything more bearable.

Plotting a brief return Liverpool jaunt because it's gonna be cheaper and easier to collect something and boat back to NI than it is to get it posted to me. Will undoubtedly film a couple of my wee history videos while I'm there.

I've been booked for a couple of talks to local history groups - Roe Valley in Oct & Bushmills in Feb. If you'd like to book me for a talk on any of my specialities please get in touch. History groups, film societies, schools, private clubs... All welcome. UK/Ireland. Over seas by request.

So pleased to have contributed something to the new 4k Hammer releases. I've been trying to get someone to do these since before my time working for the company.

Another Royal Mail fail this morning. A supposedly delivered parcel has actually gone to an address across town. It's taken a while to decipher the address on the other package in the photo. They ought have better resolution images and location stamps for their tracking service.

the amazing Beltany Stone Circle... vm.tiktok.com/ZNdmJfcmg/

My latest NI folklore video is on our Gateway to Hell. But I have questions about when this tale first surfaced... YouTube link below, also on FB and TikTok if you follow me there. youtube.com/shorts/TO6y7...

How many of you have seen the hidden Titanic memorial in Liverpool Cathedral ? vm.tiktok.com/ZNd5LV19a/

Went to visit a #Titanic sculpture in Liverpool yesterday. Within an hour of me filming, someone had come along and broken off parts of it... vm.tiktok.com/ZNdUbDQC9/

More Charlie Chaplin in Belfast - just why is there a statue of Chaplin beside the SS Nomadic ? vm.tiktok.com/ZNdDvB12k/

Latest video - Ancient Ireland: Grianán of Aileach, Co. Donegal. And yes, there are ghosts in it. vm.tiktok.com/ZNdAcSVPk/

On way back to Coleraine, except my train won't go that far owing to riots at the station. This rioting is so counter-productive and is damaging all communities.

I'm up at the QFT in Belfast tonight to introduce a screening of The Quatermass Xperiment at 8.15pm Tickets via queensfilmtheatre.com/Whats-On/The...

Found a Spike Milligan book today that I'd not previously heard of. So an easy £2.50 spend to add it to my collection.

What do the numbers mean?! Understanding the 1500th victim memorial, Belfast vm.tiktok.com/ZNdB6THhA/

Made my debut with Voicebox Comedy last night, portraying their resident physician, Dr Phibes. The show and audience were great, and hopefully it's not the last you see of my Dr. Huge thanks to the wonderful ensemble cast of misfits. Here I am mid-show with Marcus Keeley

Impatiently waiting for delivery of a new phone I ordered this week. My first in far too long. As if it knows it was about to be replaced, my current handset is suddenly struggling to load all my apps and is heading towards brickdom. Just a few more days, please!!!

What are they doing to Belfast's Titanic Quarter? vm.tiktok.com/ZNdrbV4LH/

The origin of the Fab ice lolly - vm.tiktok.com/ZNdMGJY5p/

This story was too good not to do a TikTok on - the Irish castle blown up by Schoolboys! vm.tiktok.com/ZNdMAkhEs/

It's #NW200 week, so I took a trip to visit the graves of legendary kings of the road Joey & Robert Dunlop vm.tiktok.com/ZNd6V165T/

I'm on chatting with Connor Phillips about David Attenborough after 3pm on BBC Radio Ulster www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Bealtaine Fire Festival - Hill of Uisneach, Ireland. A little video to mark the Bealtaine/Beltane celebrations this week, ahead of @uisneach.bsky.social's big day this weekend. vm.tiktok.com/ZNd6M3nGf/

The Ghost of Julia McQuillan - The Black Nun of Bonamargy vm.tiktok.com/ZNdjVw9jQ/

The Teddy Bear Road - another little video about Northern Ireland's curious places on my TikTok. vm.tiktok.com/ZNd2FVJt9/

The Ghosts of Rathlin Latest of my little TikTok vids (also on FB and YouTube) vm.tiktok.com/ZNdY5mnNt/

We've hit a snag with the printer which has delayed the book by another week. You can still pre-order a copy from me direct and help support my work.

I have book news. But as it's April 1st I'm gonna keep it quiet for another week or two. I will say that I've been gently reviving my own little press. My Hammer book has been guinea pig on some of the new behind the scenes systems - didn't want to risk it with someone else's words!

A small wave of disappointing news regarding multiple projects this week. And facing the grim prospect that a pile of background research I was doing is going to be wasted. Freelancing woes!!

Optimistically have my notebook out on the table in front of me on the train home from Belfast. But honestly I'm spent. Have already spent time mapping out a project in it today and I'm not sure I have any spare energy to give.

Off to watch Disney'slive action Snow White this afternoon. Attempting to go in as openly-minded as possible. Will report back later.

Alright megalith amirers, here's a little video about Tirnony Dolmen, aka the Giant's Stones near Maghera. vm.tiktok.com/ZNdReRSyu/

Ballynoe Stone Circle - one of my absolute favourite places in NI vm.tiktok.com/ZNddgoAfC/

A couple of videos of megaliths on the way to my YouTube and TikTok. I will always return to these - one of my first loves. Today I am also thinking about friends who are no longer with us and the holes they leave in our lives.