When the sun was white and wintry and drained of energy Macbeth met the witches under the rim of the sky. Why did you confirm my evil, he said… —Iain Crichton Smith, “Macbeth and the Witches” in DEER ON THE HIGH HILLS, @carcanet.bsky.social 2021 #poem #Shakespeare www.carcanet.co.uk/978180017094...

I wrote draft 3. I walked the Ridgeway. I joined the Green Party and started volunteering. I discovered eyeliner (at 66 years old). I decided it was okay for my tiny garden to be ALL wildflowers.

Miniature musical instrument makers admit defeat as violin size requirement for story is declared "too small to build."

Following a spring clean at Longbarrow HQ, I've found a number of hardbacks (ex-bookshop / damaged in transit) that are perfectly readable, but not saleable. If you're in Sheffield (postcodes S1-S12 only), and you'd like a free book, message your postal address and I'll deliver it over the weekend.

This worries me. 1. No guidance on Streetlink to get a person's consent before reporting them. 2. 9% success rate of helping (eventually) but 90% success of sharing data across authorities. If you need to report someone, please ask them first. More info: museumofhomelessness.org/news/the-pro...

the future of publishing is, it's for everyone (and should be supported by grants from the public in return)

Want some joy on Christmas Day? Watch this video. 😂🚗🚌🛻🚓🚛❄️ I don't know who made the video but I thank them!

Do yourself a favour a listen to a Christmas ghost story. Fireside Al Maitland reads Frederick Forsyth’s The Shepherd

Happy Christmas, everyone. At midnight I listened to this again. What a small, perfect, beautiful thing was made when these two sang together. www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCpX...

This is marvellous - and so generous.

Just saw a Washington Post headline: How a nearly 70-year-old debut novelist published 2025’s breakout hit Didn't read the article b/c paywall. But am here to say: If (when) I finish my novel. If it's published/anyone reads it. I hope there'll be more to talk about than my (also nearly 70) age.

Bluesky is giving me reason to live. That's three heartwarming post in a row I've just read. Thank you all. ❤️

on the tramway in Nantes and a pretty old woman gave her seat to a very old woman so I gave my seat to the pretty old woman then a man gave me his seat then a teenager gave a man his seat and then we all laughed, aren't people fantastic

Never thought I would be ashamed of my country in the way I am right now. It's all piled up so high. I just want to vomit.

On hold for the next Shetland series, what can I watch for my murder mystery fix? Murder in Paradise must be the most vanilla, forgettable series ever, the love story angle makes me wild with boredom. I need something fun. Think Phryne Fisher. Morse. Sherlock. Must be on iPlayer or Prime. Help!

It’s a privilege and lovely to be featured on the Two Way Poetry podcast by Chris Jones, poet & Senior Lecturer, Sheffield Hallam University. You can find us here, talking Kimiko Hahn, the Japanese zuihitsu form, and many other things poetry! twowaypoetry.podbean.com/e/alexandra-... poetry!

I agree that division is harming this country. It might help if Labour rein in the racist rhetoric, stop demonising immigrants, withdraw your proposed bathroom bill and stop targeting the disabled.

Yet another thing people should have taken notice of, but dismissed because their bigotry surrounding trans people and foreigners is greater than their desire to hold sex criminals accountable. 1/3

There's still time to order from us for Christmas delivery to Sheffield addresses (postcodes S1-S17), and we're happy to gift-wrap books, if you like, at no extra cost. Orders received by 23 December will be delivered - by hand, on foot - on or before 24 December. longbarrowpress.com/current-publ...

A Lord of the Rings cover band called Sauron and Gandunfel

🎄 Stuck for a last-minute Christmas present? 🎁 Give the gift of hope - for people and planet: 💚 Join.greenparty.org.uk

Dear Wes, My hope for you is you can find a way to send the gaslights back and get someone to gift you some solar lights in pretty rainbow colours. Joanna

I don't want gen AI in my browser I don't want gen AI in my pc I don't want gen AI in my art I don't want gen AI in my games I don't want gen AI in my music I don't want gen AI in my movies I don't want gen AI in my books I don't want gen AI in my cart I don't want gen AI in my life

Well done Sheffield’s Paul Besley! The Search is a great book well deserved

First published as a 'digital pamphlet' in 2023, and briefly available as a print edition in 2024, here's the free, downloadable PDF of our 'Winter Songs' mini-anthology, with poems apt for the year's end, and the year to come. longbarrowpress.com/wp-content/u...

Chapter 18: The Hermit and the Tree Illustration 18/52 #WrensAria, an illustrated animal fantasy (which includes delightful characters such as Percy here, who looks innocent but IS NOT!) will be arriving in 2026

Christmas has come early for me, thanks to my friend, the brilliant @zaraslattery.bsky.social. One of the v few self-printed copies of volume one of our graphic novel, SWEENEY'S PROGRESS. A labour of love for both of us. One day a publisher may agree and publish it *prays to the comics gods*

What’s good about Walliams is we don’t have to separate the art from the man

It arrived! @luaz.bsky.social

😳

The UK just committed £22bn to carbon capture and storage – a tech with an 80% failure rate that lets oil & gas greenwash their emissions. At this CCS conference, most speakers repped fossil fuel companies. Share if you think it's absurd we're funding tech that protects fossil fuel profits 🙃

Pure gold. Made my day. 👏💚🌟

*Stop Scolling!* 🏳️‍⚧️ I need recommendations. I am looking for voice coaches, with experience of working with trans people for "Voice Club" We are desperately seeking experienced people willing to be compensated for their time while donating their expertise. I know. It's a tough sell... 1/4

Obviously I hope the number climbs, but I still enjoy the symmetry of this. I do like a pretty number. This is @greenparty.org.uk/@zackpolanski.bsky.social's #HopeIsHere fundraiser right now. Let's make it £300,000! That's even a prettier number in this context. www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/hopeishere

The countdown is on: 100 days till we march. Will you be there? togetheralliance.org.uk

I hate that Reform Party Ltd has stolen the word 'reform.' Now every time someone says 'this/that system needs reform' I want to spit. RP Ltd isn't about reform. It's un-form. They turn everything into angry boiling jelly. Don't get me started on 'Your Party.' What a confusing name.

Eight Palestine Action activists are being left to die in prison – all without even facing trial. We must force the government to act, before it’s too late ⬇️ https://goodlaw.social/3e3320

Beautiful. As someone who loves walking, water, mountains, and Loch Morar specifically, I feel this. 'the sense that the land has more to give than can be carried alone.'

Cycling UK have recently stated that their annual 100 Women in Cycling award won’t include any trans women or non-binary Over 50 current nominees and previous winners have rejected or returned their awards. I know many of them personally I’m proud of my cycling sisters. All of them

Ambulance has finally taken her to hospital

Io Saturnalia! 🥳 Time for the annual reposting of my Saturnalia doggerel, featuring Pliny the Elder and the Lord of Misrule! How can you resist? You can't, obviously. Here it is. The Night of Saturnalia 💃📚🍷🎉👯‍♂️🤪 A 🧵

More agitators

My MP has been told that the hunger strikers have been prevented from contacting their next of kin and legal team during their hospitalisations. Cruel, flagrant breach of fundamental rights. They haven't been tried, let alone convicted. How can this be allowed? Why is it not being reported?

In sleep, in dream song, the daylight ghosts are laid and trouble us no more. In silence nightlong a life’s debts are paid at the open door. I used this snippet yesterday to introduce a writing workshop. It took our collective breath away. The book is a treasure to me––Peter Riley is extraordinary.

Worse even than that - we hound them out of cold corners and off benches and take their tents away. We just can't stand the idea of allowing them to be, at all. There's more to being human than money. We need to take a good hard look at ourselves and find a bit of soul somewhere in there.

I feel as if I know this foal now. Start the thread at the beginning, it's hard at the start but worth it. Just pure joy.

Vote like people died for it. Thursday December 18th. Pakefield & Carlton Colville.

To get the government to respond to our petition calling for a National Climate Resilience Plan, we need 10,000 of you to help us. We are over halfway now! If you haven't already, please sign it and encourage others to do so as well ✒️ 🌍 petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...

Gorgeousness.