An interesting new development in the South Bristol flag front. Is the light blue one the World Cup? I'd be quite happy if all the lampposts eventually become Maypoles. Also, there is no breeze today. Phew!

An affable stranger started a conversation with me and my sister recently. I reacted entirely negatively and my sister told me off for being rude. I reminded her of this photo of our grandmother and her brother. I come from a long line of incredibly grumpy women; I see no need to break the cycle.

The park volunteers are building a dead hedge. A little distance away, kids have made this. Put something into the world you want your children to imitate.

Paperback and eBook available from all good (and bad) bookshops.

Spent my Christmas book tokens! If you need me, I'll be on the sofa with these and a cuppa. 😍

I should probably save for my old age. But secretly, I'm saving to get my own Petit Train touristique. I intend to offer free lifts to anyone as long as they don't mind sharing the seat with my dogs. *Photo for illustration purposes only. These are not my dogs.

Wow! So many amazing creative treats are available to bid for as part of the 'Creatives 4 Sudan' auction. And the money raised will be used to help people escaping the terrible situation in El-Fasher. See app.galabid.com/creatives4su... Thanks to @raafaye.bsky.social for the design.

I feel about Michelle Visage the way that Michelle Visage feels about Madonna. What a stone cold goddess.

This is my reading material tonight. I blame @oliverklangmead.bsky.social.

Poor dog hates bonfire night so much. A blanket fort helps a tiny bit.

Let's say you were a person who might soon be walking in an academic procession. And you have a choice of two robes. One looked a bit shower-curtain-y and one looked a bit Chrismas-elf-y. Which do you go for? (With MASSIVE apols to the people in the photos - you look amazing!)

It is just as brilliant as I'd hoped. Warm, delicate, angry, lost, connected. Worth your time. Mostly, it's prose, but this poetry section brought tears to my eyes. 'Crossing' by Sabrin Hasbun ❤️

Prepping gifts for the colleagues leaving or being redeployed as part of Lancaster's voluntary severance/restructure. Those leaving today aren't counted as part of the 400 we are to lose in the coming year. Gutting. 💔💔💔

When the thermometer creeps above 25C my local pub scatters school chairs haphazardly around the pavement and - for a few glorious hours - we all pretend we're in Naples, and not on an urban rat run that smells of rollies and kebabs.

I have finished work for the day and get to spend a while reading this beauty. I met Sabrin when we were PhD students so have known about this book for a long time. It is a true labour of love by a very talented writer. So proud of her. So pleased it's out in the world.

My father-in-law has had sole access to my Prime account for the last week. I looked today. My God. Never in the field of human conflict has an algorithm been so banjaxed for so many by so few. It's like the bloody Somme in there.

Got a sensible haircut after four years of an undercut. Feel like Iona at the end of Pretty In Pink. Laugh and I'll deck you.

Stumbled across this today. It's my dog back when she was a puppy and learning to be a van dog. She mastered it!

I think the children in my local park have gone full Blair Witch. Can only hope they're praying to the Green Gods to restore order. The alternative is, we can blame America's demise on the curses of Gen Alpha.

I mean, hell in a handcart out there, obviously. But I am going to have line-dried sheets. Small mercies are still mercies.

Just finished a little embroidery square. British-style rebellion.

Robert Jenrick could get a fairly decent definition of Englishness by running the responses to this image through Chatgpt.

I'm not one for photographing my food. However, I do have a photo of me and a Greggs pain au chocolate at sunrise. The strange beauty of life on my island.

I've got a new book out! 'Family Tree' is the next installment of the Whodunnit Family Detectives with OUP. I hadn't planned on writing a sequel, but we all had such a good time writing/illustrating/editing the first that it felt like a natural next step.

Happy solstice. In the North, we're the furthest from the light we can be. It's incrementally better from here on in.

My Christmas present to myself arrived! I've read and loved Andrew Cowan's work in the past, so I have high hopes, despite the dour title! #academicsky

The dog is not allowed to watch the street because if anything - person, bike or, god forbid, another dog - goes past, she loses her shit. But she longs to watch. You're your own worst enemy, Peggy.

So. Bluesky has proved its worth as a breaking news site. But I'm curious, how useful is it proving to the publishing industry? Which book has Bluesky made you buy? I'll start

Not a Christmas tree any of us want to see. New Reflecting Realities report published today. clpe.org.uk/system/files... #ukkidlit #ukkidlitnews