Astoria’s heart leapt when Bertie suggested going to look at some rings. However, despite her creative imagination, she hadn’t even considered that he meant an interplanetary weekend away to Saturn. #30Words365 #Ring #WritingCommunity #AmWriting

Beside a cerulean sea, there is a walled city of white marble. Overlooking its harbor of sailing ships, my wife still sculpts and sings. It’s a place I find in rare dreams now, since she died. At the entrance to her studio, I beg to stay. “Not yet,” she answers, as I awaken. #SciFanSat #vss #sff

The other night i discovered you can buy Star Trek themed rubber ducks. Was struggling with anxiety so i got one. Other characters were available. But Geordi is a favoruite, proving possibilities fpr people with sight loss, abd has been an inspiration from the start of my road.

Beautiful

Like Jane Eyre, I’ve been seen as unconventional and abnormal. I’m autistic – is she too? theconversation.com/like-jane-ey... #a11y

To navigate by dead stars, you #unmoor yourself from life. Let your fingers go numb, your hair fall out, your ribs protrude. If you see Charon, give him the nod of a fellow navigator. The hardest part is docking, coming back to life. That's where I was stuck. #vss365 (unmoor) 🐇->Bsky

WOW, this is the earliest known group of chess pieces in the world! 🤩 It includes two foot-soldiers, two mounted riders, an elephant with rider, a figure driving two horses, and a figure driving a three-horse chariot. Ivory, AD 700s. Samarkand State Museum-Reserve, Uzbekistan. 📷 me #Archaeology

January going good so far. Two acceptances for stories, a good appointment with Moorfields on Monday, and moving forward viewing flats with my partner in the local area. Plus a medley of Star Trek has been made large print at wind band especially for me, people thinking ahead.

Really happy that my first publication of the year is with the lovely @voidspacezine.bsky.social. This flash opens up my novella, and covers some things you might be wondering about. Thanks to the wonderful @jmgatford.bsky.social for helping me edit it! voidspacezine.com/the-question...

—We didn't order these. —Yes you did. It's right here on the delivery ticket. Three harps for Hades. —No, that says Heaven. Wrong afterlife. —But I just finished that delivery. Left it with St Peter at the gate...Oh, shit! That means there are three harpies running loose up there. #vss365

For the past two years I've chosen a word of the year and the @writershq.bsky.social newsletter got me thinking. Last time it was acceptance, which really helped me out. This time it will be Quest. To make life fun. Turn chores into adventures. Go on quests, maybe to Prague. Move in with my partner.

“It’s my end,” the toy robot unicorn says. “But you’re grown. It’s been an honor to teach y—” He shorts out. Her hands cut pink plush. A memory chip is taken and reinstalled. A full-sized chrome robot unicorn powers on. “Mistress! I begin anew!” #SciFanSat #vss #sff

i have a new flash out today: about miners on jupiter, protest songs, and voices beating back the darkness, louder and louder and louder. hoping it makes you want to sing louder, too 🫀

Hunched O’er keyboard’s ivory My memory The Score A poignant tickle Of those keys Speak of love And lore Soft my fingers Draw the notes To paint An aural Blues An image drawn In #abstract It’s import Hidden clues I tell you tales Of heartbreak Revealed In bitter hues #vss365

No joy for me but at least was on the longlizt. Think hits harder as put my heart and soul into it. Maybe will find somewhere else. Adding to the load of rejections lately, and to self doubt mode.

Over yule have been taking a break to rest and recharge the system. Happy to say that the creative itch is buzzing again, have some ideas for jazzing up fairytale, so might get back to it.

Happy Solstice! Sight loss may be getting worse, but still having fun. Highlights of this year include: A cruise round Norway and Denmark Greenwich Observatorys Audio Universe Tour A course in insomnia that made a difference Learning touch typing Exploring the Outer Hebriddes

Beautiful 🐙

Okay this may be my favourite christmas story, its brilliant @downith.bsky.social, i loved it, so funny.

If you get stuck on writing, the wonderful @jmgatford.bsky.social will sort you out. Got my brain whirring with some ideas to jazz stories up for January, after our call earlier today.

Fab to hear my musings on life singing out into the world. Thanks to @reachyourapex.bsky.social for publishing them!

Tonight read one of my new fairytale numbers at the bonkers yuletide @writershq.bsky.social show and everyone loved it. Was a real boost, been a bit flat creatively lately. Maybe im onto something after all. Either that or I've drunk too much cider...

Really exciting to spot my little novella on this longlist! Thanks to @bathflashaward.bsky.social for picking it.

Really enjoyed our Christmas concert, had a great time. Was a blast playing Glenn Miller, so jazzy and the saxophones sounded fabulous. Surprised myself when playing a fugue, a requiem, some Scottish dances, and loved Music by John Miles. And had a big audience too.

My life may be full of flashy rejections of late. But one of my previosuly published flashes, My Elemental Odyssey, is in this edition of Feast Zine. Love the cover, feels like could be a pirate ship. And love the playlist included.

Happy to be called a micro wizard! Sent my entry into the wonderful @welkinprize.bsky.social

Coming to realise the classical genre isnt for me. Every time we play it, I struggle. Partly because its so detial focused - when my sight struggles with details- and partly because it has to be perfect, which I can never be. But im awwsome at jazz and other genres. So maybe its okay.

When the lovely @mattkendrick.bsky.social writes me a limerick and its perfect!

Really enjoyed today's Brighton @writershq.bsky.social retreat. Was great to be writing, and to have some sensory quiet time by the sea this morning. Worked on some of my fairytale flashes, editing the little mermaid and the elves and the shoemaker.

Oh this is fabulous, myths and space and lyric beauty as a character finds their courage to do what they love.

Accessible sets aren't 'a luxury.' A new film starring 'Wicked's' Marissa Bode shows the way www.latimes.com/entertainmen... #a11y

Yesterday was National Clarinet Day, so why not read/listen to this flash about my love of jazz and clarinets, and how music always helps mental health for me. www.birchbarkediting.com/microlit-alm...

Tonight at wind band we celebrated the official date they started back in 1995, with some delicious cake. And with all the offers of lifts down the dark hill after, im glad to be part of this little community. The fact it all falls on National Clarinet Day is a happy coincidence.

So this happened. My little book got nominated for a Books of Brilliance Award, by the Readup Book Club, which wad exciting!. And was great to hear it was so loved by the readers.

Oh lovely to see this singing into the world. Everything is blurry and there isnt much distance vision so this can be tricky. Thanks to @reachyourapex.bsky.social for sharing my musings.

Dear cyclists. Life is hard enough. I dont ask for much. Just to ring a bell. If you race up and down on the pavement. I cant see you coming till the last second. And dont swear at me for not moving fast enough. And dont laugh when you see me crying in overwhlem. Its simple.

'Riding horses helps with my disability' www.bbc.com/news/article... #a11y

Yeah it is tricky. Have been to one that did offer audio guide, but it was up a lot of stairs which was hard on the way down.. Can be hard to find out if they have audio described performances. Or they have odd lighting, strobe lighting for six the musical, dark spaces and more.

Tonight I went to the gym for the first time in a while, to help my musical skeleton. Was less scary than I thought, with staff happy to help me work machines or navigate around. Wasn't too loud or bright, which was a plus. Would go again, a bit less stiff.

Super excited as headed to @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social for the day tomorrow! And sounds like a fairytale session will be super helpful for my current wip.

Had a lovely time at my first @bristolcon.bsky.social. lots of wonderful workshops that have got me full of ideas again. Was great to meet new people and talk about all things sci fi. Thanks for making me feel welcome and for taking sight loss on board. Till next time?

My sci-fi horror flash story "Woodsong" is now free to read over at Flash Fiction Online. Can a father and son, lost for years in a nightmarish woodland, finally find their way to something beautiful? @flashfictiononline.bsky.social www.flashfictiononline.com/article/wood...

Always enjoy coming to bristol. The people are so lovely and happy to help. Had a great passenger assistance man. Then had a taxi driver help me find the entrance to my hotel and even up some stairs. Then had hotel staff help me find my room. All little things that made life easier. Thanks bristol.

At this point, she could have been a priestess. Her altar the kitchen counter, her holy relics a mug and a well-worn kettle. Her prayers were to her caffeine sources. Each scoop of coffee grounds was an offering, each pour of steaming water a ritual. May she have #energy and avoid fatigue. #vss365

Started today with a rejection for a flash and then ending my day with an acceptance for a flash. Not sure what to do with myself except eat some chocolate buttons.

If youre looking for a story of a jewel heist that doesn't go the way you expect, why not check out The Jewels of Inglorious Fortume? You might find that some treasures come with a deadly cost. www.amazon.co.uk/Jewels-Inglo...

Passenger assistance booked, bag ready, and a flurry of emails making my every access request come true means i'm super excited for @bristolcon.bsky.social next weekend, along with spotting some awesome workshops on the draft programme. Have a feeling it will be a rocket fuelled time!

Thinking about learning to use a cane? Or have you been cane trained but still struggle to feel confident using it? Our blog Meet My Cane, written by Orientation and Mobility Instructor Michelle, is packed with helpful tips and insights to help you get cane-savvy. buff.ly/8xlBDOW #WhiteCaneDay

Fabulous to see my little story about mistaking people singing out into the world! Happens a lot of the time when faces are blurry. Thanks to @reachyourapex.bsky.social for choosing it.

Today is white cane day, and i love mine. Use it all the time to get out and about. And it always makes the world kinder. It sings into my stories, as a dear friend. Probably the most famous is this one, shortlisted in the @welkinprize.bsky.social in 24. www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-prize...