Goodnight

Neurology at Queen's Square has with unconscious irony of circumstance the most taxing corridor system of any NHS hospital I know

Goodnight

Béla Tarr obiit. Only 70. Such a mighty sensibility, from another world and time

Galette des Rois #Epiphany

I saw Hamnet three weeks ago and noted the botanical star of the film was Mugwort, which I am currently growing on my balcony in Shoreditch less than a half-a-mile from Shakespeare's Curtain Theatre.

Goodnight

As I'm sure you're aware, the fifth of January is the day of the Schnabelperchten, a creature of Austrian folklore who will check your house for cleanliness. If they decide you haven't done a good enough job, they'll slit open your belly and fill it with straw. Happy New Year..!

Amazing film! Well worth watching:

Pictures that explain things. Trees in Winter (back endpapers) Artist: SR Badmin, 1963

Goodnight

Leigh is a dear person who is in desperate need. I appreciate that these are difficult times for everyone, but if you can help, whether financially, or through amplifying, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Goodnight from the spooks of Saffron Hill

Happy #Caturday from Britton St in Smithfield. One for @hookland.bsky.social I think

Important news

That blank week between Christmas and New Year. Always a danger to those who take their medication using daily pill boxes. Of course I used the wrong day,didnt I? Had to use my reserve box and do a reset.

I have been told that James Grauerholz just died. He was always very kind to me and I liked him. Some saw him as a villain in the William Burroughs story but I saw first hand how he gave Burroughs a chance contentment and warmth and safety in his last years.

I know some people take twilight as a signal to hurry home – especially when their route home crosses an old churchyard – but not me. I love boneyard lingering at twlight. That's when the tombs whisper loudest. That;s when you hear all its best gossip. – Izzie Barber #VOH

Goodnight

*Me in my cell, unfurling a note from the Warder with shaking hands*

Goodnight to all of my friends here, and Happy New Year

Goodnight from the ruined Kent church where most of my family are buried

The helping spirit hand in the last episode of IT: Welcome to Derry is a wonderful late Victorian convention #IT

Goodnight

Don't have a picture of it as I left my phone behind as I was walking to the river, but I stopped off at Bunhill to visit Mr Blake and felt better after discussing him in fractured French with two tourists, and so returned home in a better state of mind.

Particularly lively feast of the gods w/ A+ floating, balloon-like putto, by Jan van Bijlert. It’s his day today.

Smudge sticks on sale in Shoreditch. US imports. I'm sure the homegrown ones are better and more salient...mugwort perhaps, which has a big shout in the new film Hamnet framing Forest of Arden hedge-witchery?

Hogweed seedheads, Wigton. #WildflowerHour

Mistletoe in the old orchard at Cotehele #Cornwall #WildflowerHour

Goodnight from a quiet day walking the closing flower market

28 Dec: Plaque with the Massacre of the Innocents c. 1150 German (Met Museum)

On BBC 4 Extra at 4pm: a repeat of @tobyhadoke.bsky.social’s estimable and effective 2018 radio adaptation of The Road. Genuinely not to be missed if you’re a Nigel Kneale fan. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Painter Emma Haworth's painting depicting a day in winter #WomensArt

Drawn by my many times great uncle Richard Cosway on my biological tree. Mystagogue and sex occultist, painter to the Court of George IV, a brazen queerish Macaroni, I believe an admirer of William Blake. Hecate says Goodnight!

A journalist friend who went round to her house in the late 80s confirmed she was a lifelong spiritualist, and indeed expected Johnny to dine with her every evening, even though he was long dead. He saw the table laid for two.

Michael Slater obiit. A great scholar of the life and works of Charles Dickens.

I had a quiet Christmas day cooking for dear friends at home. I hope you found some solace and perhaps happiness on that day too. Off for hospital tests tomorrow. Goodnight!

Goodnight

Not now, haunted Victorian shoes

Norse well tales. Wonder whether Dr James heard of this one DNA Analysis Confirms Grim Tale from 800-Year-Old Norse Saga share.google/RqPs4YyQJ7Cq...

I took this very special photo on the ‘Cold’ SuperMoon of 4th December 2025. It is of Stone Henge, by the light only of that moon. No tricks, no electicity, just the full moon’s luminescence. Happy Solstice/Yule and a blessed #StandingStoneSunday to you all. The light returns 🧡🙏🏼🌞 #solstice

Heard some very good train ghost stories in a pub tonight, after shaking hands with @seanreynard.bsky.social but not related to him in any way. I'm such a fan of his. He reminds me of Viv Stanshall.

Various pictures of Stonehenge from many sources

Happy Solstice one and all. May all our days be lighter and brighter in the coming months.

It's the shortest day of the year and here is MRJames final ghost story, submitted 12th December 1935 at the London Mercury - too late for the Christmas edition. It was as a result published posthumously the following year. This is from my collection, a rarity.

I'll report on the gems of the collection leading up to Christmas

I have finally put my MR James collection, which is quite extensive, on the bookshelf that came from the Rhodes James family who were family friends. It came from the estate of MRJ niece, maybe Dr James, maybe from the family home, and at the very least owned by his brother Sydney. Goodnight

I am back after pursuasion by the great @hookland.bsky.social . Will be posting from tomorrow. Meanwhile I have truly missed my friends here and sorry I abandoned you. Goodnight!

Goodnight. For a bit.

I said I'm giving up social media. Now doubling the time away after some delightful rando from North America a few hours ago.