Yesterdays morning's swim- water noticably colder than Sunday but wonderful all the same. You can see some of the windmills off the coast- they were far away- possibly situated in Egypt or Estonia. Some days they're so close i could swim there and back no problem.

Just been downstairs and saw my new made deconstructed sonnet hanging on the fire-place, shining bright orange in the morning light and decided I rather like it. Now i need a space to put it. And a means of holding it there. #poetry #blueskypoets #poem #WritingCommunity

Thur's tide was flat,calm, clear...beautiful! my husband tells me. I missed it. Friday's tide was rough, rolling and sea-weedy - I like it better when it's rolling just enough to make me a bit scared.

Sea good for swimming today- the black dot in out of focus pic2 is a seal. It watched us at top end of beach then followed us back. Thrilled to see a flock of noisy oyster catchers flying the tide line & 12 or so beautiful little swallows feeding on the wing over our heads. We're very lucky

Went for a swim yesterday but breeze got up and water was just a bit too rough. had a stroll behind top of the shingle bank and say several of these gorgeous little creatures on sea holly starting to do it astonishing irridescent thing

Another fantastic early swim- cold and empty of anyone but us as far as we could see. I don't take my phone to beach when I'm swimming but this is same beach different day again. we don't usually see seals on this beach but you never know.

fantastic early swim this morning- this beach, different day- today the tide was going back, the water was clear as a bell and there was no-one else there. We're very lucky.

I live in Cumbria- it is cold today. In my street and the back street opposite the only space left with any plants or flowers is our tiny, tiny yard. But just now we had TWO hummingbird hawk moths on my upstairs window boxes!!! I am beyond excited! These aren't them but that's what they looked like

there's a wonderful series of books about the 7 great London cemetaries by Chris McCabe, pub by Penned in the Margins. I went to a walk/talk in Nunhead by the author mainly bcse Charlotte Mew's brother's grave is there. I made and dressed a tiny C Mew from a dead baby toad and took it on the visit.

Last night was our 2nd open mic poetry night at Signal Films in Barrow and I want to say what an astonishingly talented group of poets turned out & what a lovely audience to share it with. The quality, scope & variety of the work was breath-taking. Listen up ppl- we good at this in Barrow!

As it's International Women's Day I thought I'd pop the cover of my verse novel Flow on here because it's a story about women

Been for a bike ride - tide was coming in, on that slow thoughtful way it occasionally does. This is Piel Island - we're lucky to live in Barrow

“FLOW doesn’t want your applause — it wants your bones.” A no-bullshit review of Kate Davis’s tidal, lyrical novel-in-verse. Grief, myth, survival — and the sea that swallows everything.

I've come to the unilateral decision to ban anyone in Cumbria from saying 'heft' in a poem, unless they can show they have at least 10yrs continuous experience in the practical aspects of working with sheep. Sorry if this seems harsh- it's for your own good

Here's a bit of this afternoon's dolphin leaping going on off our Barrow beach

There are a lot of orchids this year! The slag banks of Barrow-in-Furness are bright with them. I never see one without hearing myself give a small intake of breath.

Our little Morris dance group has fab costumes and an eclectic approach to what we do and how we do it. Here's one of our takes on the traditional Morris Beast

Just read The haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. I don't read ghosts and the supernatural so I've been avoiding it. It's completely wonderful! She's one of those writers who fill me with admiration and make my little heart ache briefly when I do that unbidden comp - SJ writing / my writing