what a bizarre experience - went out to a suitable spot with the colander and found another half dozen people doing the same. Lots of chat and laughs and, of course, the eclipse. Learnt two things as well: how to spell colander, and that ours was better than anyone else's.

somebody bought one of my books in the past week. Go on, own up - who are you?

reading this beautiful little gem by David Gladwin, published by Road Song Books roadsongbooks.com based in North Devon. I know you should never judge a book by its cover, but I might also buy Into My Arms just because of the design quality.

pink sun setting on #Dartmoor #Devon last night. The particularly pointy tor in the centre of the pic is Great Links

some lovely art hanging in the latest exhibition by associate members at the #Penwith Gallery in St Ives, #Cornwall. I particularly like this one of almond blossom in Spain's #Alpujarra mountains. Yeah okay, my wife painted it but I like it anyway. penwithgallery.com

someone's only gone and bought another of my books. That's 52 so far, and each one shows as a little spike on the publishing tracking software. I reckon I know more or less who bought each one, as well. Hello you! Royalties are now running at a massive £80 ...

that's a damned scary cat, and not likely to be easily repelled

Summer in Cornwall. The phone box museum at Portholland on the beautiful Roseland Peninsula; and one of the finest train rides ever, from St Erth to St Ives.

these four came over to say hi today

hot horse tree. Ponies finding the shade on #Dartmoor today just down from Great Links Tor

I'm starting to edit a book for someone this week, stumbled across this image, and reminded myself that I promised we'd be using track changes. It's a page of corrections by James Joyce ('placed within the history of Joyce’s early serial publication of Finnegans Wake') uwm.edu/libraries/sp...

view from Westmill Tor on #dartmoor today

for me, it was the cows

I’m finding this kind of stuff increasingly annoying. Yeah it’s important, and deserves a current affairs slot, but in real life I still know very few people who are bothered about it. They’re mostly just living their lives, not wondering about the nature of national identity.

fields are being cut in West Devon and, bang on time as every year, a handful of Red Kites turn up and stay a week or two. I wonder where they come from and how they know when to come? No pic of kites as my phone can’t zoom that well #devon #redkites

I was just going to post some nice reviews of my book, was worried about blowing my own trumpet, but Chat GPT says I have no choice

super-green this morning along the upper Teign valley #devon #dartmoor

just had a Willy’s ice cream at Cox Tor #dartmoor #devon

Still space on this course at the Folk House in Bristol on which, amongst other things, I’ll be trying to convince students that editing my novel was sheer joy www.bristolfolkhouse.co.uk/courses/how-...

“and that was Dr Oz and the underbabied”

cycled yesterday from Bratton Clovelly to Okehampton via Castle Cross and Pegasus Trail then back via Granite Way and Bridestowe then up the ridge by Way Barton and Wortham. Very nice it was.

this is fun. My debut novel is (so far) only in the hands of people who know me, and sometimes they send me a pic to prove they’re reading it. shorturl.at/iNt3R

Congratulations! Someone has also bought mine, which is a curious feeling.

out cycling on the northern fringes of #dartmoor #devon and stopped to look for the Way

The historical novel I’ve spent the past two years writing is out now. It’s called CENTURY. I’m self-publishing as it seems a waste to leave my first (and probably last) novel hidden, and because some people might enjoy it. That’s it, rather than money and fame (if only)! shorturl.at/iNt3R

the ability of some people to shock anew each day is quite something

can see forever from Yes Tor #dartmoor today. I imagine the little shed is a military one.

this seems to be a fake

put him in a room with Starkey and let them fight it out

I’m enjoying this quirky and readable little book about one of my favourite places. Some nice walks in there, too. And a witty title. I’m biased because the book is by a friend of mine BUT if you like #monmouthshire I am sure you’ll like his book!