Alec Hepburn
alechepburn.bsky.social
Alec Hepburn
@alechepburn.bsky.social
Writer of The Ivyford Chronicles novels set in Teignmouth/Devon. Club anorak at Burgess Hill CC. Long-suffering Plymouth Argyle fan. Owned by 3 dogs, 12 cats. Socially awkward overthinker, professional procrastinator
Pinned
I've been writing my memoir, A Life More Ordinary, which is anything but ordinary. Originally intended to be published as a book, I've opted instead for a blog, which I'll update regularly. Please feel free to take a look! #writing #memoir #memories

alifemoreordinary4.wordpress.com
A Life More Ordinary
Running backwards, forwards and sideways in time.
alifemoreordinary4.wordpress.com
Been without power since around 6.45 this evening and repairs not due to be completed until 3am. Reliving the seventies isn’t much fun…
February 16, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Picked up The Rats by James Herbert yesterday, haven’t read it since I was at school. No pun intended but I devoured it within 24 hours. So gruesome and hits hard early on. One of my favourite authors.
February 13, 2026 at 10:57 PM
It's thirty-nine years tomorrow since I made the switch to following Plymouth Argyle after spending my early years as a Manchester United fan. Here, I look back on my first trip to Home Park #pafc #utba #football #plymouth #memories #sport #manchesterunited #mufc
Sweet Molly Malone
The programme cover of the first Argyle match I attended back in 1987. Whisper it quietly, but when I first discovered football, I became a Manchester United fan (I suspect to my father’s disappointment, he would have loved nothing more than for me to follow in his Sunderland-supporting footsteps). I have no idea why I followed the Red Devils and perhaps that’s part of the reason why, on February 14th, 1987, I fell in love with Plymouth Argyle.
alifemoreordinary4.blog
February 13, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Brilliant performance from the Argyle women's team #pafc

Really up against it at 1-0 down early on but showed determination, class and maturity to fight back and comfortably close out the game. An absolute joy to watch.
February 1, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Just take a moment to read what you’re about to post…one of my favourites from this month
January 30, 2026 at 2:12 PM
A look back at my early days at Devonport High School in Plymouth. Includes a puerile but mildly amusing incident with the headmaster and a few memories of Physics and Chemistry lessons... #schooldays #memories #devonporthigh #dhs #PDA #trouble #teachers #classics #physics #chemistry #plymouth
Good as Gold (Stupid as Mud)
A recent image of the playing fields at Devonport High School My first year at Devonport High School (where all first-year students were affectionately and more often than not less-than-affectionately known as ‘scruffs’) was arguably my most productive in terms of output and behaviour. I was keen to get on and experience what would be my first taste of prolonged stability in an educational establishment.
alifemoreordinary4.blog
January 30, 2026 at 11:52 AM
This ref is horrendous tonight
January 27, 2026 at 8:22 PM
A tense second half with no shortage of effort from every player to secure a deserved win. Christ knows what sort of team we'll put out on Tuesday though...#pafc
January 24, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Where I learn a harsh lesson regarding swearing and the fact that Palmolive doesn't taste very nice. I also make a stand many years later. #memories #childhood #swearing #writing #blog #life #punishment #survivor #violence #family
I’ve Come for My Award
I’ve been trying to collect my thoughts before moving on to the next part of my story. Walking through my early years has left me feeling bruised as I have uncovered more memories than I expected and reliving the times when I was on the receiving end of violence or worse has saddled me with a deep, cloying sadness that I am unable to shake off.
alifemoreordinary4.blog
January 20, 2026 at 11:13 AM
Reposted by Alec Hepburn
January 16, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Reposted by Alec Hepburn
Hello, my Bluesky peeps.

I don't suppose any of you are from Dublin, and would like to go to a media preview of Mind of a Serial Killer: The Experience, a new exhibition launching in Dublin, with a view to covering it for GNoH

Thursday, 5th Feb
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

invite includesa +1
January 14, 2026 at 5:30 PM
A look back at some desperately unhappy times. Content warning: domestic abuse, suicide references, references to sexual abuse. #survivor #memories #abuse #childhood #mentalhealth #fear #writing #blog
A Good Day is Hard to Find
With my mother at Kingsway, Teignmouth. Well, then. We’re now into what was Chapter Two of the book before it became a blog. So far, so good. Now we come to one of the things that I’m most afraid to share. So, why share it on a public blog, you may well ask? Justifiably too, because I’m not sure that I can give you an answer.
alifemoreordinary4.blog
January 13, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Some of the fielding in this #WPL opener has been truly abysmal.
January 9, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Started today feeling a bit disillusioned. Sometimes as a writer it’s hard to get your work read. Finished the day having produced 3,500 words for the new book. Slightly less defeated. Going to curl up with a book now and listen to the sound of the rain falling.

#writing #hope
January 8, 2026 at 9:49 PM
I defy anyone not to be moved by the reaction of Jacob Bethell’s family when he reached his ton. Such a lovely moment. Almost made it worth the lack of sleep over all five tests!
January 7, 2026 at 7:37 PM
More primary school reminisces where I play in a cup final with a raging temperature and sickness bug. I move to Plymouth and manage to completely balls up a first date at the age of 11. I learn how to swim without almost drowning. #writing #schooldays #plymouth #football #memories #1980s
Strange Glue
The football pitch at Bishopsteignton Primary School. Football at Bishopsteignton was a big thing for me. I suppose that I was a bit unusual in that I could use both feet, so would often be employed at left-back in the absence of anyone else who was genuinely left-footed. I was stronger with my right, but was comfortable enough with the ball at my feet to not need to just use the one foot.
alifemoreordinary4.blog
January 7, 2026 at 2:19 PM
The SCG deck now looking at its absolute flattest…so I fully expect England to collapse in their 2nd innings to hand Australia an innings win #ashes
January 6, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Reposted by Alec Hepburn
Memories of primary school, where I endure a painful encounter with the vault, learn why dancing isn't for me and completely misjudge a situation which didn't make me in any way cool #memories #primaryschool #writing #dancing #vault #schooldisco
There is Always Something There to Remind Me
Bishopsteignton Primary School, Devon School days, we are often told, are the happiest days of our lives. I hope you’ll forgive me if I disagree! Primary school, to me, was an endless stream of navigating mini-popularity contests while trying to work out what the fuck was going on with myself and the world in general, a harsh lesson on the fallibility of human nature and the innate tendency in a percentage of the population to attempt to impose their opinions and restrictions upon others.
alifemoreordinary4.blog
January 5, 2026 at 7:31 PM
I bloody love Joe Root
January 5, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Reflections on my days in #ideford and #teignmouth where I narrowly survive drowning, go on late night cigarette runs through a dark graveyard and spend a lot of time alone in pub gardens #70s #80s #memories #blog #writing #horror
Strangeland
The church in Ideford I mentioned in 'Living a Boy's Adventure Tale' my fear of water. From memory, I was always quite cautious as a child. Nervous, timid. During the summer holidays, we would regularly visit the beach at Teignmouth, both when we lived in the town and in Ideford. I found the beach a bit of an ordeal. Always have done.
alifemoreordinary4.blog
January 3, 2026 at 10:46 AM
After leaving #teignmouth we moved to the small village of Ideford, which is possibly where I was at my happiest as a child. #writing #memories/hashtag/memories" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#memories #school #bishopsteignton #memories #1982
Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale
 We left Teignmouth after Mum and Dad separated, although I’m not too sure of the hows and the whys involved in moving out of the town. In fact, thinking about it, it must have been a little while after the split that we moved because more stuff happened before we made our way out to Ideford, but there is time enough for those stories in other parts of this blog.
alifemoreordinary4.blog
January 2, 2026 at 10:12 AM