... And it's funded within an hour! I'm stunned, if I'm being completely honest!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year's Tolkien Lecture, 'On Fantasy', delivered by @brandonsanderson.com! If you missed it live, the full recording is now available on YouTube. Don't miss this insightful discussion of the role and significance of fantasy literature.

Oxford Pride may have had a soggy start today, but the weather gods saw fit to bring out the sunshine for the parade. Our photographer, Roger Close, was there to take some gorgeous pictures. oxfordclarion.uk/oxford-pride...

Around 180 residents marched in Oxford in support of trans rights today, following the government’s latest draft code of practice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Opponents have called the guidance ‘unworkable’ and say it amounts to an attack on trans and non binary people.

Just one week to go until the 2026 Tolkien Lecture, delivered by @brandonsanderson.com! We can’t wait to see you there. Here are a few reminders: The lecture begins at 6:00 pm sharp. Oxford Town Hall doors will open at 5:30.

New on my Youtube channel: following in the footsteps of Sylvia Plath in Yorkshire youtu.be/4JoPmS4r-DY?...

I'll be teaching a new month-long course on C.S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces in February through Signum University (@signumuniversity.bsky.social). More details in the video and on this website, where you can also enroll in the class: blackberry.signumuniversity.org/space/module...

‘Patterns’ - #RSThomas (Between Here and Now, Macmillan) #Patrymau #Patterns #Bardd #Barddoniaeth #Cerdd #Poet #Poetry #Poem

I have written to Nigel Farage in response to his visit to my constituency of Bicester and Woodstock today.

Remember that poll I posted asking which Pevensie kid you'd like to be? Lucy won (surprise, surprise). Well, I have an invitation for you: Come with Lucy through the Wardrobe! youtu.be/Pvx1dElzeRU #Narnia #books #reading #fantasy #CSLewis #literature

“My Dear Lucy,” wrote C.S. Lewis: “some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” Are YOU old enough to read fairy tales again? Yes? Then let's read one together! youtu.be/Pvx1dElzeRU?... #Narnia #CSLewis #Inklings #books #reading #classes #literature

My tour of Oxford locations in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust is now up on Youtube. Share and enjoy! #PhilipPullman #BookofDust #HisDarkMaterials #Fantasy youtu.be/oVuZ2TvsQaY?...

From December 1 – 24 I exclusively listen to Christmas music and I have so much choice I never need to repeat a song, but in August the only song I can listen to is "August" by Taylor Swift. We need more "August" songs!

My talk, about J.R.R. Tolkien at the BBC, is now on Youtube: youtu.be/K6vvW-_QqBs?...

It doesn't end with trans people; it never did. www.attitude.co.uk/news/reform-...

Mayday, mayday … there’s nothing quite like May Day in Oxford!

Fun fact: Sylvia Plath was a Tolkien fan and celebrated her birthday in 1960 by reading The Lord of the Rings with her husband Ted Hughes.

I have 1,500 unread emails in my inbox. Might just delete them all... (Also, 28,476 read emails in my inbox but they can just sit there).

No campaigning today as I've got the kids but it was nice to take them down to explore the market with our wonderful Kidlington East candidate, Gabriel

✨ Tickets are out now for the 2025 Tolkien Lecture, delivered by Zen Cho (@zenaldehyde.bsky.social)! 🎟️ Visit Eventbrite to reserve your seat: tinyurl.com/2025TolkienL.... 🐈‍⬛ The lecture will be held on Monday 19 May at 6:00 pm, in the Pichette Auditorium, Pembroke College, Oxford.

This is thuggery from Trump and Vance, plain and simple. They are bullying the brave true patriot Zelensky into accepting a deal which effectively hands victory to Russia. Unless the UK and Europe step up, we are facing a betrayal of Ukraine.

Zelensky is a wartime leader watching his people suffer and die under Russian attacks every day. To be lectured and lied to by Trump and Vance, as they defend the war criminal dictator committing these atrocities, is unimaginable agony. An everlasting shame for America.

I wrote a thing, which is very much about T visibility: seattlein2025.org/2025/02/14/f...

SUBMISSIONS - University of Glasgow’s first fantasy fiction publication Elsewhere, is calling for submissions!  ‘We are interested in all forms of fantasy, but especially those with voices and stories historically under-represented in the genre. 1/3

I know people like to have updates about the Eagle and Child (#inklings pub in Oxford) so here's the latest... they've put scaffolding on the outside decorated with an image of the pub (with a really large, not to scale, person for some reason). Presumably part of the renovations EIT said they'd do.

Looking forward to this!

A brief teaser for some of the upcoming videos on my Youtube channel: youtu.be/gizEMQ6pim8?...

I'm always very nervous about listening to my own voice...So, a bit belatedly, here is a podcast I did with Jerry Britton on which I talk about Tolkien and being trans and why I fight for what is right in the face of despair. open.spotify.com/episode/0M8w...

Introduction 🧵Owen Barfield (1898–1997) was one of the twentieth century’s most insightful writers and philosophers. His ideas informed the thinking and writing of influential authors such as C. S. #Lewis and J. R. R. #Tolkien who were fellow members of the #Inklings, an Oxford group of thinkers. /1

The #OwenBarfield Literary Estate is on Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/owen... Give them a follow... the only official Inkling presence on the platform (so far!) #Inklings #Tolkien #CSLewis

Social media platforms as Oxford pubs: • Threads: Lamb & Flag. Always busy but so noisy you can't have a proper conversation. • Bluesky: Royal Oak. Few people but with lots of rooms and nooks and a good buzz. • X: Swan & Castle (Wetherspoons). Makes me feel ill. Owner is a politics twat. /1

Not sure if I should be on here, Threads, Mastodon, or Bebo.