Barendina Smedley

Very excited to read this by @fugitiveink.bsky.social -- I love a good ghost story, and really enjoyed her last book, The Lammas Ghosts, also set in history-rich and atmospheric Norfolk. 🖤

For people who like that sort of thing, I've recently published a new book of uncanny stories — "Deep Waters: Ten More Tales from Norfolk and Beyond". You can find out more, and indeed order a copy, here: www.lulu.com/shop/barendi...

Are there any fairies left in Norfolk? For those of you who like that sort of thing, I've written a new short story on this topic. It's called "Ferier's Hill". newsfromnorfolk.uk/2026/04/19/f...

For those of you who like that sort of thing, I've written a new uncanny tale - with a springtime theme. You can read it here: newsfromnorfolk.uk/2026/03/13/a...

I've written a new short story. It's about a Norfolk church, a group of parishioners and a gargoyle. You can read it here: newsfromnorfolk.uk/2025/10/29/t...

It's a wild, windy day here — why not curl up somewhere cosy and read about an old house in the Fens and its various inhabitants? Here's a ghost story that I wrote earlier this week: newsfromnorfolk.uk/2025/10/04/a...

I've written a new story about a man, his two little grandchildren, and a scarecrow who might or might not actually exist. If you'd like to read it, here it is: newsfromnorfolk.uk/2025/09/10/t...

Blakeney Quay — spring tides

As we're just on the brink of April — when, famously, "longen folk to goon on pilgrimages / And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes" — I have written a story about a pilgrimage. You can read it here newsfromnorfolk.uk/2025/03/26/p...

A spring tide, as seen from Blakeney High Street

Happy #CommonwealthDay from Blakeney, Norfolk — a particularly misty part of the United Kingdom earlier this morning

Books, coffee, Fred the cat — and sunshine!

So much life in an old wall!

Bridget the little cat, at least, has found a safe place in which to wait out the storm (which isn't that bad in Norfolk anyway).

This collection of ghost stories by @fugitiveink.bsky.social was a Christmas present. Finally settled in tonight to read the opening story, and what a thrill - full of seething dread, unsettling undercurrents, much like the Norfolk landscape the stories occupy. Having read some of Barendina’s 1/2

Churchyard moon — Blakeney, north Norfolk

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." Happy Christmas to all my friends here!

There is something strange and extraordinary about seeing a Christmas tree in dark of our hall.

The darkest night as Winter Solstice envelops us. Time to sit by the lights of the Christmas tree, surrounded by flickering candles, listening to the gentle ticking of the clock. The perfect evening to open my new book of Norfolk ghost stories by @fugitiveink.bsky.social ✨️🎄🕯🔥🌟😱

Let me say, too, that Barendina’s book was a delight. She’s got a way with setting a scene and leaving an unsettling afterglow. A few rum do’s in those stories, let me tell you.

It's the eve of the winter solstice — a good time for extra lights.

I am reliably informed that, although the solstice is not quite here yet, as of today, sunset is happening later each day, although the sunrise continues to happen later and later, too.

That really was quite a sunset.

There are worse ways in which to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Good afternoon, Vichai the little cat

First Sunday in Advent — Wiveton, Norfolk.

A moment of calm on Blakeney quay this morning

I've let you down again, haven't I, little Spoon?

Good morning, little coffee Spoon

Dusk in North Norfolk: Venus in Sagittarius

I'm slightly overwhelmed by this beautifully-written, thoughtful and generous review of my book "The Lammas Ghosts" — all the more so because it comes from an author whose work (fiction as well as nonfiction) I have enjoyed so very much.

Thank you! I'd like to recommend in turn @fugitiveink.bsky.social's new collection 'The Lammas Ghosts' which are much better than mine! www.amazon.co.uk/Lammas-Ghost...

I am very sad to learn that British artist Frank Auerbach has died, at the age of 93 years. His work has meant a great deal to me. I have written something about him here newsfromnorfolk.uk/2024/11/12/f...

Is there anyone here who knows about ceramics? This turned up in a mole hill in Blakeney yesterday. I'm guessing it's from about 1100-1400 — but I'm no archaeologist and would love to have better insights into it.

Dusk, Martinmas

Happy feast of St Martin! Martinmas was, traditionally, a time for telling ghost stories. Earlier this year I published a book of 15 original, Norfolk-based uncanny tales, called "The Lammas Ghosts". It's available via the link in my profile, on Amazon — or ask for it wherever you buy your books.

The old house at Crowland has three kitchens, of which this is the grandest — although unfortunately bits of the ceiling keep falling down. (Don't worry — there's no problem here that can't be sorted out.)

We recently bought an old house in Crowland, Lincolnshire which we're gradually making stable & secure. Here are the new (1750) stairs.

I'm finally making the switch, so it might take a while to settle in and find friends. But hopefully plenty of archaeology and cats (and even cats on archaeology) to follow soon...

I am currently looking for work which can accommodate my caring responsibilities. If anyone needs freelance research work including document transcription, fact checking or any allied editing, get in touch. #skystorians

It's all right, little Spoon, quite a lot of people are a bit bemused this morning.

This morning, a moment of utter calm

Almost the best thing about this grape vine is the way its leaves change colour in the autumn.

Here are two new portraits for the house near King's Lynn — sadly, neither the painter nor the subjects are known to me. Th

A dear friend's funeral took place earlier this week. It was a strangely happy surprise, at 8 am communion today, to see that her beautiful flowers were still there in the church. She's gone from this world now, but that just makes these few remaining traces that much more precious to me.

Fred the cat and Beauty the hen share, among other things, a common interest in sunny dust-baths.

Now the leaves are falling fast

I think this is Foxy the cat's attempt at an innocent look