Martyn aka Marrick
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akamarrick.bsky.social
Martyn aka Marrick
@akamarrick.bsky.social
Writer, musician, composer, father, leftish, friend to minorities. Author of future fantasy: SPOWK - Some Place Only We Know, now in 2nd draft. Lives in Gower, UK
I'm in Scotland atm. In Luss, near Loch Lomond. Lovely place, great people. Off to Helensburgh later, where my great-grandmother was born. Walked down to the Loch this morning but it was mist-shrouded, so I couldn't see much. Got this great shot though. #Scotland. Back to #Wales tomorrow.
November 22, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Reduce inequality
Raise living standards
Eschew armed conflict
Love thy neighbour
Be kind
November 12, 2025 at 8:15 AM
#WALvsARG
No expectations other than the team doing their best and showing signs of taking steps forward. Certainly, I anticipate Wales losing today against a very good Argentina. For once, the performance really is more important than the result.
a red dragon with green wings is on a green and white flag
ALT: a red dragon with green wings is on a green and white flag
media.tenor.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Knowing that the mainstream media admires record profits but is universally disparaging about record wage rises should tell you everything about whose interests they align with.
November 8, 2025 at 6:27 AM
It's said you die twice. Once when you breathe your last breath and again, the last time someone mentions your name. Some are immortalised. I will always think of the fat fascist POS whenever I see vulgarity, either mentioned or shown. Looking forward to his immortalisation.
October 8, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Is the vulgar, fat-arsed, POS dead yet?
September 28, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Working today. Parked up in Westgate Street NCP, opposite the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, stepped out onto Quay Street, and the skies opened. Drops like tennis balls falling for about two or three minutes. Even with an anorak on, I had to change my shirt when I got to the site I was working at.
September 20, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Learning about the death of Robert Redford was one of those visceral moments where my reception of the news was like a gut punch. He was part of the backdrop to my life. So many personal associations flickered through the cine reel in my head. RIP
September 17, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Any person who uses their license to say whatever they want to promote hate deserves social exclusion, not amplification. Civil society has a duty to protect those who just want to live blameless lives in their own way from those who would either do them harm or encourage others to do so.
September 13, 2025 at 7:06 AM
I genuinely don't know where I was, or what I was doing on Sept 11, 2001. I remember feeling distraught at the loss of life in the aftermath, then feeling worried about what the stern-faced suits would do, but the actual day is a blank, except the TV images of the planes crashing into the towers.
September 13, 2025 at 6:30 AM
I'm left wondering how such an empty cranium can occupy so much facial real estate. Seriously, I'm sure there is a craniofacial cosmetic surgeon out there somewhere who can move his deformed features up a bit, pass it over to the maxillofacial specialists for chin augmentation and voila, a human.
“.. I can’t remember anyone ever telling me we can’t say anything critical about a civilian like this. He was not in our chain of command or anything,” the officer said.

@nbcnews.com
www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...
September 13, 2025 at 6:00 AM
It turns out that free speech is actually quite expensive when it's not free from hatred and bigotry. We see the costs of it every day in the diminution of our lives. It's an article of propaganda, like free enterprise, which is so expensive it has nearly cost us our planet.
September 13, 2025 at 5:47 AM
I need a new backpack. Preferably a small one (about sixteen litre capacity), enough to hold a laptop, tablet, an A4 notebook, and a couple pens, maybe with a water bottle holder. Durability is a key factor, as is comfort on aging shoulders. Any recommendations?
#backpack
September 7, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Nation Cymru never misses an opportunity to have a stab at Wales Labour, even if it means promoting one Labour candidate over others. In this case, an Eton educated nepo-politician. What a rag.
A huge row has broken out over a decision by Welsh Labour to exclude from a Senedd election shortlist a candidate seen by some influential figures as one of the party’s brightest hopes ✍️ Martin Shipton
Row as Welsh Labour blocks high flying candidate from standing for the Senedd
Martin Shipton A huge row has broken out over a decision by Welsh Labour to exclude from a Senedd election shortlist a candidate seen by some influential figures as one of the party’s brightest hopes....
wp.me
August 2, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Hugely disappointed with my face scan. There's no way I'm really an adult.
July 24, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Reposted by Martyn aka Marrick
Welsh Labour has come out on top in the latest Senedd voting intention poll conducted by Beaufort Research for Nation Cymru ✍️ Martin Shipton
Labour leads in latest Senedd election poll, suggesting it's wrong to write off the party's chances
Martin Shipton Welsh Labour has come out on top in the latest Senedd voting intention poll conducted by Beaufort Research for Nation.Cymru. The results suggest that it would be premature to write off ...
nation.cymru
July 11, 2025 at 6:55 AM
My mother NEVER rings me. She's deaf, so why would she? Except she did, the one time I'm without my phone, upstairs in my bathroom. So, I answered on my watch, not knowing if I can or not. Turns out I can. .
May 23, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Please feel free to enjoy my latest flash fiction: Third Party Liability, in which I envision a future when citizens are held responsible for the actions of their ancestors.
#flashfiction
A new flash fiction: Third Party Liability
Please read my latest flash fiction, set in a future where citizens are held responsible for the crimes of their ancestors. Enjoy.
open.substack.com
May 16, 2025 at 2:19 PM
My new short story, "Come home, Mister Amlos", a #scifi #specfic piece.

open.substack.com/pub/martynwi...
New short story: Come Home Mr Amlos
This may evolve into a larger piece, circa 5-6k but I'm excited enough about my two MCs to publish this short version now.
open.substack.com
May 14, 2025 at 10:07 AM
It seems to me that Labour at large, but Wales in particular, has given just about everyone a reason to dislike them. This dislike is, as it always is, a more powerful motivator than all the really good stuff they've done.
May 14, 2025 at 6:44 AM
The April 2025 prompt for Swansea Writers is "The List". This is my piece "No Fly List". Let me know what you think.

www.swanseawriterscircle.co.uk/blog/no-fly-...
No-Fly List
NY December 2026. There is an awkward moment on my arrival when an ICE agent insists on me unpacking my case. He tells me there is similar name to mine on their no-fly list. I realise I can’t remem…
www.swanseawriterscircle.co.uk
March 24, 2025 at 10:06 PM
I've taken to recording my writing using the text to speech engine built into MS Edge, but only playing it back to myself in the car, and I have to say it's very good at highlighting mistakes and giving me a feel for the rhythm of the writing. So, that's something good about Edge.
March 12, 2025 at 4:40 PM
In solidarity with our American friends
February 27, 2025 at 10:35 AM
I've become an Apple fanboy in my old age, after a career in corporate IT. I decided to take a break from Wintel to underscore leaving my old job behind. So, since Oct I've acquired a Macbook Air, a Mac Mini, an iPhone, and an Apple Watch. Still some gremlins but I'm getting used to the Apple way.
February 26, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I wonder if there is a case to be made for moving the United Nations HQ out of New York? If there is, where should it go? Geneva, Switzerland seems like a good candidate. It's outside the main power blocks. And it'll annoy the feck out of Pres. Harumph.
February 26, 2025 at 11:38 AM