Sarah Cole

@irny

Pale. Curious. Game-maker. Writer. (de-)Archivist. Goblinesque. Demi. ADHD. She/Her. Current things: Darkened Hill & Dale 🎲💀🏞️ TERMINUS 🎲💀🚇 Trick or Retreat 🎃🎲☕☺️ links.patchworkfez.co.uk

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Sarah Cole@irny· 19d

I feel like I have potential ideas, but none of them seem sufficiently impactful for the result! But don't worry, this carcass already has plenty of other mysterious pains, ailments, and quirks!

Sarah Cole@irny· 19d

Oh, one last thing – the field voles living in our village were the cutest neighbours one could wish for.

Sarah Cole@irny· 19d

I could go on with this, because there's just so much to see and do at EMF, but I'll stop here. It may have been hot as hell for much of the event, all of my belongings are now covered in spiders, and I'm so tired I tried to put my shoes in the fridge yesterday, but it was great. Thanks, folks.

A sign fixed to a lamppost says 'FREE SPIDERS' and has an arrow pointing towards something below.

A close-up of said item below. It's a black device that looks like a large, flat pebble but had a port at the bottom. The device is decorated with a cute, smiling spider in white.

Sarah Cole@irny· 19d

Bonus round: lights, games, and the ISS.

An art installation: vertical strips of LED lights change and move beneath the branches of a large tree.

The lights are smeared by a dirty camera lens, as folks play JoustMania at night.

A traffic light stands sentinel despite the lack of road. A person walks away towards some tents.

Outside the Amateur Satellite (AMSAT) village tents, people look up to watch the International Space Station fly past overhead, having heard its occupants on the AMSAT radio equipment. The ISS is just visble as a bright white dot, to the left of the centre of the photo.

Sarah Cole@irny· 19d

The jokes continued, even there.

Held above the dancing crowd on an outstretched arm, a portable bubble machine blows bubbles. The bubble-making machine is branded nvidia.

A sign is roughly taped to the wall of Null Sector (above an unlit lightbulb in an orange cage). The sign reads 'CLUB, MATE'.

Sarah Cole@irny· 19d

I haven't been dancing in years, but repeatedly found myself in Null Sector, drawn in by its lights and endless bangers. This is probably why I'm now nursing shin splints. 😅 Anyway, it was all great, and I'm definitely not worried that this has awoken a compulsion to go to a weekend-long rave...

Figures crowd a dark dance floor while a spray of yellow lasers criss-cross overhead.

Vivid red lights cut across a large screen that reads 'THE DONK DEVIL'. Below, people dance around and photograph a Dalek that's made it onto the dance floor.

Dancers raise their arms in approval as a big screen says 'RESIST!' and gouts of flame fire overhead.

Dancers party in the foreground while lasers and lights illuminate the smokey air and a sign (which also features something like LaTeX) reads 'polynomial'.

Sarah Cole@irny· 19d

There was a lot of weird an wonderful stuff to just stumble across. The Museum of Manky Tea Towels, performance art around nuclear semiotics, folkloric pseudo-cryptids, a long Furby on a 'chaise long vehicle'... Not pictured: all sorts of other improbable delights.

In the background is a blue and yellow big top tent. In the foreground is the 'Museum of Manky Tea Towels', which a gazebo. Inside and outside the gazebo hang a large number of colourful (and not all that manky-looking) tea towels. Someone stands in the gazebo, but their head is obscured by signage.

Badly illuminated, three pieces of paper are fixed to the inside of a shipping container. The centre piece depicts a pale figure and reads 'THIS IS NOT A PLACE OF HONOR', with an arrow pointing to the left (towards the off-screen performance). Flanking this are two hand-drawn images of screaming faces.

Against a background of tents, someone stands in a star-like pose. Their identity is concealed by what looks like a ghillie suit made from layers of grass. Fixed into the headpiece is the effigy of a goose head.

Parked on the side of the road, an unnaturally long Furby reclines upon a motorised chaise long. The warning sign at the foot of the vehicle – owned by Mark Tillotson – says 'CHAISE LONG VEHICLE'.

Sarah Cole@irny· 19d

Speaking of interactive – EMF has its own phone network! Bring a DECT-compatible phone to indulge in all sorts of fabulous games and nonsense. You can also ring your pals, I guess, but I have a soft spot for the Terry Wogan dubstep. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z9u...

A sticker on a display board advertises 'T-WOGAN RADIO DIAL 9642'. A drawn-on arrow points to it and says 'Call 88291'.

Another sticker on a display board depicts a stiletto heel and seagulls against a pink background. The text reads 'CALL Brighton 4855 (GULL).
Calling this number would connect the caller to the sound of seagulls.

A large flyer is taped to a display board amongst other items. It depicts Margaret Lanterman (aka 'Log Lady' from Twin Peaks), lovingly holding her log. The text reads 'My log has something to tell you... 555-LOGLADY'.

A piece of photocopied paper is roughly taped to the bottom edge of a sign. The handwritten text reads 'RING 84963 FOR A GOOD THYME'.
Below this, an illustrated spring of thyme says 'HEY BABY'.

Sarah Cole@irny· 19d

I also went to @agaitcheson.bsky.social's 'My Date with Pierce Brosnan'. When I saw Mademoiselle Cafetière crossing the field with her beau, I knew we were in for a treat. The interactive date may have gone awry for Pierce, but it was hilarious for us! Go see it yourself! Dates at mydatewith.show

Alistair Aitcheson, in the guise of Mademoiselle Cafetière, approaches across a busy section of festival field. Mademoiselle wears a French maid outfit and clown makeup. Under Mademoiselle's arm is her beau – a floppy mannequin in a suit, adorned with a 2D cardboard face in the likeness of actor Pierce Brosnan.

On stage at EMF, during 'My Date with Pierce Brosnan'. Above the silhouetted heads of the audience, Mademoiselle Cafetière pantomimes surprise towards the seated mannequin of Pierce Brosnan.

Later in the show. Mademoiselle Cafetière is backlit by a glaring red stage light as she advances down the aisle, between audience members, toward the form of mannequin Pierce Brosnan, who lies crumpled on the floor next to some overturned chairs. A screen in the background shows Pierce's face saying 'Meryl Steep was better.'

At the end of the show. The torn and battered paper face of mannequin Pierce lies on the stage, his body elsewhere. Next to this lies a discarded bouquet of fake flowers.

Sarah Cole@irny· 19d

The pink lambo deserves a special mention of its own. Once a fancy child's toy, this tiny Lamborghini now does 20mph and can carry a chunky bass speaker on the spoiler. Its owner, Matt, also gave a great talk: 'What does a quantum computer actually do?' media.ccc.de/v/emf2026-42...

A blurry selfie of Matt (in a red hoody) and I (in a stripy jumper) hurtling across a field full of tents, squashed into the pink lambo.

Matt Wallace begins his talk on a stage at EMF 2026. Matt is just visible behind the podium and over the heads of those watching. The talk slides are displayed to the right of the stage. The current slide displays the title of the talk – 'What does a quantum computer actually do?'

Sarah Cole@irny· 19d

A particularly memorable highlight was Jim Purbrick's performance of 'Remember Glaciers Live From The Pink Lambo' – an ambient piece that was really very restful and lovely indeed. You can find another edition of Remember Glaciers over here: spiritofgravity.bandcamp.com/album/2025-0...

Jim Purbrick performs 'Remember Glaciers Live From The Pink Lambo'. Jim perches in a child-sized, pink Lamborghini while performing a restful ambient sound piece. Behind Jim sprawls a landscape of tents. A small crowd sits and reclines before the lambo to listen to the music. The scene is illuminated by a golden sunset, filtered through the silhouetted branches of a tree in the background.

Sarah Cole@irny· 19d

Despite not actually living in Brighton, I spent this EMF attached to the Brighton Consulate village. It was a fairly large village, full of interesting and friendly folks. We even hosted a few events, including a chair autopsy, Tuaca Tasting, a cryptic crossword gathering, and ghost stories!

It's me! I'm standing in a field where the sun-baked grass had the texture of shredded wheat. Behind me is a queue of cars. I'm standing in the shade of a large vintage parasol that's probably Chinese in origin. I'm wearing sunglasses, a hi-vis vest, and an underbust corset. The corset is less of a fashion statement and more PPE – a necessary and effective back brace to support my delicate spine while preparing to haul tents and bags about.

Kristin Sjovorr during a session of 'Autopsy of a Victorian Armchair'. Kristin – who has her back to the camera – sits on a crunchy grass verge and deconstructs an old armchair to demonstrate how it was made. A small crowd watches the proceedings. In the background are many tents.

Siobhan Fitzgerald-Gibson hosts 'CrypticSunday crossword meetup'. Under the shade of the Brighton Consulate marquee, a crowd of people sit with their backs to the camera as they watch a projected cryptic crossword livestream (which is barely visible in this image).

The Brighton Consulate marquee is illuminated a sinister green at night. Nicola Adams stands and tells tales of ghosts in Brighton, while others listen intently. The projection screen depicts Brighton Pavilion with spooky lighting.

Sarah Cole@irny· 19d

I'm still recalibrating to the real world, having spent the last few days at #EMFcamp. To ease my transition back into spaces that have a reduced concentration of electronic music, spiders, and bonkers creative projects, I thought I'd share some of the things I saw! 🧵 1/12

An indistinct and hazy space is filled with people dancing. The smoky air is cut through by colourful lights and lasers. A large screen overhead reads 'EMF 2026'.

Sarah Cole@irny· 20d

I have acquired a ticket to this year's @forteanlondon.bsky.social Haunted Landscape conference! It's on 21 November at Conway Hall (and online). I imagine I'll be seeing some of you there? conwayhall.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...

A screenshot from the Conway Hall website. Beside a vague and misty picture, the key text reads 'The Haunted Landscape: Magic, Fairies and Old Gods – London Fortean Society – This year The Haunted Landscape, our annual folklore all-dayer, delves into the realms of magic, fairies and old gods. We will entertain the Great God Pan with Professor Ronald Hutton and Sara Hannant, meet fairies new and old with Francis Young and Jo Hickey-Hall, discover witch trials with Marion Gibson and walk Britain's haunted lands with Jeremy Harte and Fiona Robertson.'

Sarah Cole@irny· 22d

A nice normal day @emfcamp.bsky.social ☺️

At EMF Camp 2026, a drivable 'Chaise Long Vehicle', created by Mark Tillertson, is parked. Upon it rests a Long Furby.

A person poses with their arms wide in front of some tents. They wear a kind of grassy ghille suit-like outfit, with a goose effigy emerging from their head.

In a green-lit marquee, Nicola Adams gives a talk about spooky goings-on in Brighton. An atmospheric image of the Pavilion is projected onto the screen behind.

Jim Purbrick performs 'Remember Glaciers Live From The Pink Lambo' at EMF Camp 2026. Jim performs from a child-sized pink Lamborghini to a small audience, sitting on camping chairs and picnic blankets. Behind them are tents, a tree, and a sunset.

Sarah Cole@irny· 26d

I am extremely grateful to the one small cloud that's giving us a moment of respite from the sun.

It's me! I'm wearing sunglasses, and a t-shirt with Moomins on it. Behind me is a field full of tents, and a bicycle. The sun is obscured by a small, backlit cloud.

Sarah Cole@irny· Jul 7

As part of this ENNIES Emporium campaign, I'm collaborating with @alewoodgames.bsky.social, creator of ARKYVR – a documentary-themed toolkit for Mothership! Anyone who backs my campaign *and* the ARKYVR campaign will receive a free gift – a digital copy of a new mini scenario: STAGE FRIGHT ...

A banner-like graphic with a sci-fi style. It reads 'Cross-Collaboration; 'Stage Fright''.

Sarah Cole@irny· Jul 6

Things I should probably be doing: Promoting my new crowdfunding project, which is over at www.backerkit.com/c/projects/p... Things I'm actually doing: Probably ruining a nice corset by using it as a necessary back support while I haul ~1000 books (amongst other stuff) around a storage unit. 🫠

It's me! I'm looking only lightly disheveled, but that's a trick of the light. I'm wearing black, and the corset is only just discernible in silhouette. I'm standing just inside a storage unit and giving a thumbs up. Behind me, the 'NO WAY OUT' piece of tiling from TERMINUS is visible.

Sarah Cole@irny· Jun 26

Also, jeez.

A screenshot of the BBC News website. It reports that thermal imaging has recorded pavements being 57°C in London.

Sarah Cole@irny· Jun 24

Not my most stylish look, and I wish there was another ice pack in the crown of the hat, but it nonetheless provides blessèd relief. I can tolerate the rest of me being Too Warm far more readily when my brain is being gently iced. I'm a big fan of my cool hat. It helps with brain fog days too.

It's me in my office, which is full of random knick-knacks and detritus. I'm wearing a tank top and a hat with lumpy frozen ice packs sewn into it.

Sarah Cole@irny· Jun 24

I didn't want to lose my hair, so I have one of these in the freezer. I might go get it. My brain feels like it's been replaced with hot slurry.

A screenshot from Amazon, showing a 'gel migraine ice head wrap' for £11.99.

Sarah Cole@irny· Jun 24

I've heard that the sea air does not, in fact, help. A friend in Brighton sent this screenshot earlier. 42°C real feel?!!

A screenshot of a weather app. It states that the actual temperature is 35°C but the RealFeel™ is 42°C.

Sarah Cole@irny· Jun 24

I was so busy last year I didn't meet up with a number of friends who live nearby for a full year – their child turning 1 without me having met them yet was a wake-up call. Also, the 'Year in Review' for my Nintendo Switch looked like this:

A screenshot of a Nintendo Switch 'Year in Review' page. It says that I played 2 games for a combined total of 1 hour in 2025.

Sarah Cole@irny· Jun 20

Thanks to everyone who came along to today's Tabletop Unconference! I'll try to do a little write-up of how it went from my perspective in the next few days, once I've requested/received feedback, but I hope people enjoyed the event. I'll likely run it again – perhaps even later this year?

A photo of a group of people gathered around a picnic bench and talking on a paved area. Behind them is a garden, and beyond that a block of 1930s flats.

On a wall, sheets of static cling 'white board' material are covered in post it notes, annotations, and printed instructions, to form a schedule of sorts.
Below this, two low tables are covered on detritus including pens, fans, paper, sticky notes, and a crab bell.

Sarah Cole@irny· Jun 20

I am enroute to the Tabletop Unconference and I have Some Stuff with me.

It's me! I'm dressed for warm weather and lugging two big IKEA bags.

Sarah Cole@irny· Jun 19

Not my best photography, but I've received some fine goods from @montfordtales.com! 👀 Asher's Ridge looks great, and I love the presentation of the separate map.

The photo is a bit smudged due to a mucky camera lens. Several items lie on black fabric; a copy of the Asher's Ridge TTRPG, the accompanying Setting Map & Location Guide, an artwork postcard, and an Ex Libris sticker.

A bundle wrapped in yellow tissue paper, sealed with a sticker that says 'Montford Tales' and features a cat.

Sarah Cole@irny· Jun 19

I find this little bonus ruleset for 'the New Short Game' interesting too. The gist of it is that you decide on the duration of the game when you start, and the winner is whoever's richest when the time's up. I wonder if this version of the rules was designed with air raids in mind?

The paper reads:
'MONOPOLY

Rules for Playing the New Short Game

Manufactured in England by John Waddington Limited

Before commencing, the players stipulate the time at which the game shall end. At the end of the game the Richest Player is the Winner.

At the start of the game the Banker shuffles the Title Deed Cards, and after having cut them, he deals two cards to each player. The players immediately pay to the Bank the price of the Property thus dealt to them.

The game then proceeds in the usual manner, and at the first stroke of the hour agreed upon, the game ends. No further dealings must take place, but if a player is in actual play when the finish is announced, he is allowed to complete his move, and any transactions in connection with it. Each player then totals up the values of his possessions: (1) Cash in hand. (2) Building Sites, Utilities, or Railway Stations owned by him, at the price printed on the board. (3) Mortgaged property at one-half the price printed on the board. (4) Houses owned, valued at their respective cost prices. (5) Hotels valued at the cost of five houses.

The Player with the Highest Total is the Winner.'

Sarah Cole@irny· Jun 19

Folks, it is NOT from 1936. It's the World War 2 edition of Monopoly! There are a couple of wooden dice but it also includes a paper spinner 'owing to the difficulty in obtaining dice'. We've also got weird wooden tokens instead of the usual player pieces due to 'wartime restrictions'.

The 1940s rules pamphlet for Monopoly, which is printed on orange paper. Along one side are stamped the words 'NOTE Owing to wartime restrictions we have found it necessary to use a different type of token'.

A paper spinner from this wartime edition of Monopoly. Instructions for use are printed on it. The text reads:
'If the spinner stops with pointer on line the right hand figure to count.

When one dice only is required use large inside figures.

Owing to the difficulty of obtaining dice it has been necessary to include this substitute.

The small figures represent the first dice, the large figures the second dice.'

The various elements of this version of Monopoly, some in the box.

The box art of this version of Monopoly, 'Manufactured in Great Britain by John Waddington Ltd.'

Sarah Cole@irny· Jun 19

Spotted this in the window of a charity shop. I think it might be the 1936 edition? The board is missing but it looks like it's still got at least most of its pieces, so I reckon it's worth £7 for novelty value.

Sarah Cole@irny· Jun 18

I ordered a box of biros. Whilst this package does contain biros and a box, I confess that this isn't quite the arrangement I'd been imagining. I do kind of admire the supplier's determination to send this delivery through Royal Mail as a 'large letter', though.