Robert JE Simpson
@avalard.bsky.social
Freelance visual artist, actor, writer, broadcaster, film and cultural historian. Lover of all things macabre and weird.
Based in NI. Will travel.
www.robertjesimpson.com
www.cinepunked.com
www.avalardproductions.com
Support @ http://ko-fi.com/avalard
Based in NI. Will travel.
www.robertjesimpson.com
www.cinepunked.com
www.avalardproductions.com
Support @ http://ko-fi.com/avalard
I'm out of action for the next fortnight.
Currently recovering from emergency surgery for a retinal detachment.
Things I didn't have in my 2025 bingo card!
Currently recovering from emergency surgery for a retinal detachment.
Things I didn't have in my 2025 bingo card!
November 18, 2025 at 7:44 PM
I'm out of action for the next fortnight.
Currently recovering from emergency surgery for a retinal detachment.
Things I didn't have in my 2025 bingo card!
Currently recovering from emergency surgery for a retinal detachment.
Things I didn't have in my 2025 bingo card!
Finally Halloween week at an end, and I've a few days to sort admin, conduct event post-mortems, and write.
There's more in the diary so it's a brief respite, but needed. The mental toll alongside the physical one of late has been intense.
Doesn't help that I'm my own worst critic.
There's more in the diary so it's a brief respite, but needed. The mental toll alongside the physical one of late has been intense.
Doesn't help that I'm my own worst critic.
November 3, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Finally Halloween week at an end, and I've a few days to sort admin, conduct event post-mortems, and write.
There's more in the diary so it's a brief respite, but needed. The mental toll alongside the physical one of late has been intense.
Doesn't help that I'm my own worst critic.
There's more in the diary so it's a brief respite, but needed. The mental toll alongside the physical one of late has been intense.
Doesn't help that I'm my own worst critic.
Massive detour by train to Bangor before class tonight to pick up a copy of the County Down Spectator, as my mug is in it promoting the Bangors Ghost graveyard tours we did last week (and will do again!)
November 3, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Massive detour by train to Bangor before class tonight to pick up a copy of the County Down Spectator, as my mug is in it promoting the Bangors Ghost graveyard tours we did last week (and will do again!)
It really doesn't. Though I appreciate with the way funding is, it sometimes has to.
This festival has been hacked back and is now not even a shade of its former self
This festival has been hacked back and is now not even a shade of its former self
November 3, 2025 at 6:47 PM
It really doesn't. Though I appreciate with the way funding is, it sometimes has to.
This festival has been hacked back and is now not even a shade of its former self
This festival has been hacked back and is now not even a shade of its former self
Pre-pandemic the festival had a bit of depth and variety - heck one fest even had a CinePunked panel exploring sci-fi connections to Lewis' writing.
This feels like cashing in cynically on a name, and as an East Belfast native, I'm embarrassed.
This feels like cashing in cynically on a name, and as an East Belfast native, I'm embarrassed.
November 3, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Pre-pandemic the festival had a bit of depth and variety - heck one fest even had a CinePunked panel exploring sci-fi connections to Lewis' writing.
This feels like cashing in cynically on a name, and as an East Belfast native, I'm embarrassed.
This feels like cashing in cynically on a name, and as an East Belfast native, I'm embarrassed.
This is what has become of the CS Lewis festival... Seriously!?
It's little more than lip service to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe alongside a Santa/Christmas event, with no connection to Lewis.
It's little more than lip service to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe alongside a Santa/Christmas event, with no connection to Lewis.
November 3, 2025 at 4:29 PM
This is what has become of the CS Lewis festival... Seriously!?
It's little more than lip service to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe alongside a Santa/Christmas event, with no connection to Lewis.
It's little more than lip service to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe alongside a Santa/Christmas event, with no connection to Lewis.
I'm back in Downpatrick today for the last of our Phantom Flyer shows at the Railway Museum.
Tickets still available - book online or on door. Shows at 3pm, 4.15 and 5.30pm
www.downrail.co.uk/event/hallow...
Tickets still available - book online or on door. Shows at 3pm, 4.15 and 5.30pm
www.downrail.co.uk/event/hallow...
The Phantom Flyer - Downpatrick and County Down Railway
Dare you board the Phantom Flyer? All aboard for a spooky experience with Dr Frankenstein and his spooky friends!
www.downrail.co.uk
November 2, 2025 at 12:36 PM
I'm back in Downpatrick today for the last of our Phantom Flyer shows at the Railway Museum.
Tickets still available - book online or on door. Shows at 3pm, 4.15 and 5.30pm
www.downrail.co.uk/event/hallow...
Tickets still available - book online or on door. Shows at 3pm, 4.15 and 5.30pm
www.downrail.co.uk/event/hallow...
I'm currently selling off some excess stuff from my collection on eBay with new listings added regularly.
Posters, stills, models, and other ephemera
ebay.us/m/EC66PW
Posters, stills, models, and other ephemera
ebay.us/m/EC66PW
avalard on eBay
Follow avalard on eBay. Buying, Selling, Collecting on eBay has never been more exciting!
ebay.us
October 8, 2025 at 7:32 PM
I'm currently selling off some excess stuff from my collection on eBay with new listings added regularly.
Posters, stills, models, and other ephemera
ebay.us/m/EC66PW
Posters, stills, models, and other ephemera
ebay.us/m/EC66PW
Reposted by Robert JE Simpson
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.
buff.ly
October 8, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
Last night I delivered my first in person presentation stemming off my tiktok/fb history videos, to a lovely group at Roe Valley Historical Society.
This version of Seen & Unseen: A Miscellany of Tales and Places was heavy on ghost stories including some pieces I haven't made videos on yet.
This version of Seen & Unseen: A Miscellany of Tales and Places was heavy on ghost stories including some pieces I haven't made videos on yet.
October 2, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Last night I delivered my first in person presentation stemming off my tiktok/fb history videos, to a lovely group at Roe Valley Historical Society.
This version of Seen & Unseen: A Miscellany of Tales and Places was heavy on ghost stories including some pieces I haven't made videos on yet.
This version of Seen & Unseen: A Miscellany of Tales and Places was heavy on ghost stories including some pieces I haven't made videos on yet.
What set them aside from some of the other harder-lined denominations was their lack of militancy.
Casting quiet judgement on others is one thing, actively policing it and shutting down anyone else's ability to be heard is quite another.
It's not a world I want to be back in.
Casting quiet judgement on others is one thing, actively policing it and shutting down anyone else's ability to be heard is quite another.
It's not a world I want to be back in.
September 19, 2025 at 12:23 PM
What set them aside from some of the other harder-lined denominations was their lack of militancy.
Casting quiet judgement on others is one thing, actively policing it and shutting down anyone else's ability to be heard is quite another.
It's not a world I want to be back in.
Casting quiet judgement on others is one thing, actively policing it and shutting down anyone else's ability to be heard is quite another.
It's not a world I want to be back in.
I grew up in the Brethren church, and many of my other-denomination Christian friends are surprised by this. It's a pretty hard-line denomination.
There were more tolerant folk within our church, but many of those in power were unforgiving of anyone who viewed things differently.
There were more tolerant folk within our church, but many of those in power were unforgiving of anyone who viewed things differently.
September 19, 2025 at 12:23 PM
I grew up in the Brethren church, and many of my other-denomination Christian friends are surprised by this. It's a pretty hard-line denomination.
There were more tolerant folk within our church, but many of those in power were unforgiving of anyone who viewed things differently.
There were more tolerant folk within our church, but many of those in power were unforgiving of anyone who viewed things differently.
Growing up in Northern Ireland I think we're probably more used to the ideas behind Christian Nationalism.
Much of what I hear is very familiar.
What a lot of folk don't seem to get is that not all Christians see the world this way.
The extremism and control terrifies me.
Much of what I hear is very familiar.
What a lot of folk don't seem to get is that not all Christians see the world this way.
The extremism and control terrifies me.
We need to be very clear about this.
Rising Christian nationalism is a threat to us all.
humanists.uk/2025/09/17/r...
Rising Christian nationalism is a threat to us all.
humanists.uk/2025/09/17/r...
Rising Christian nationalism: a threat to us all
Scenes on Saturday of Christian preachers denouncing ‘Secular Humanism’ from the main stage of Tommy Robinson’s radical right Unite the Kingdom rally in London may have been surprising to see on the s...
humanists.uk
September 19, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Growing up in Northern Ireland I think we're probably more used to the ideas behind Christian Nationalism.
Much of what I hear is very familiar.
What a lot of folk don't seem to get is that not all Christians see the world this way.
The extremism and control terrifies me.
Much of what I hear is very familiar.
What a lot of folk don't seem to get is that not all Christians see the world this way.
The extremism and control terrifies me.
Reposted by Robert JE Simpson
We're back at @downrail.bsky.social on 1st & 2nd Nov with our family-friendly Halloween show - The Curse of the Phantom Flyer.
Tickets on sale now
downrail.co.uk/event/halloween/
Tickets on sale now
downrail.co.uk/event/halloween/
September 18, 2025 at 12:21 PM
We're back at @downrail.bsky.social on 1st & 2nd Nov with our family-friendly Halloween show - The Curse of the Phantom Flyer.
Tickets on sale now
downrail.co.uk/event/halloween/
Tickets on sale now
downrail.co.uk/event/halloween/
Oh gosh - hadn't even considered that as a possibility.
Reducing the cholesterol has proved very difficult so far.
Glad you're getting relatively good news.
Reducing the cholesterol has proved very difficult so far.
Glad you're getting relatively good news.
September 17, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Oh gosh - hadn't even considered that as a possibility.
Reducing the cholesterol has proved very difficult so far.
Glad you're getting relatively good news.
Reducing the cholesterol has proved very difficult so far.
Glad you're getting relatively good news.
I've just been told I'm going to have to go on statins. I'd deflected it for ages but cholesterol still too high :(
September 17, 2025 at 1:02 PM
I've just been told I'm going to have to go on statins. I'd deflected it for ages but cholesterol still too high :(
Thanks @ko-fi.com for the #KofiExclusiveChallenge prize!
Used the winnings to offset costs for some new creative work.
Used the winnings to offset costs for some new creative work.
Thanks to everyone who took part in August's #KofiExclusiveChallenge 🎉
Congrats to the winners:
❤️ ko-fi.com/braceforit
❤️ ko-fi.com/barefoot
❤️ @avalard.bsky.social
❤️ ko-fi.com/emiliew_art
❤️ ko-fi.com/omagpies
Congrats to the winners:
❤️ ko-fi.com/braceforit
❤️ ko-fi.com/barefoot
❤️ @avalard.bsky.social
❤️ ko-fi.com/emiliew_art
❤️ ko-fi.com/omagpies
Grow your community with exclusive content!
Add something exclusive to your Ko-fi and share on social using #KofiExclusiveChallenge, and you could win a share of the $500 prize fund! 🎉
👉 Swipe for all the details
Add something exclusive to your Ko-fi and share on social using #KofiExclusiveChallenge, and you could win a share of the $500 prize fund! 🎉
👉 Swipe for all the details
September 4, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Thanks @ko-fi.com for the #KofiExclusiveChallenge prize!
Used the winnings to offset costs for some new creative work.
Used the winnings to offset costs for some new creative work.
Lovely Uber driver on way to the boat this morning.
I don't do taxis too often but weather and luggage made it essential today.
Had a decent natter too. Makes everything more bearable.
I don't do taxis too often but weather and luggage made it essential today.
Had a decent natter too. Makes everything more bearable.
September 1, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Lovely Uber driver on way to the boat this morning.
I don't do taxis too often but weather and luggage made it essential today.
Had a decent natter too. Makes everything more bearable.
I don't do taxis too often but weather and luggage made it essential today.
Had a decent natter too. Makes everything more bearable.
Plotting a brief return Liverpool jaunt because it's gonna be cheaper and easier to collect something and boat back to NI than it is to get it posted to me.
Will undoubtedly film a couple of my wee history videos while I'm there.
Will undoubtedly film a couple of my wee history videos while I'm there.
August 18, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Plotting a brief return Liverpool jaunt because it's gonna be cheaper and easier to collect something and boat back to NI than it is to get it posted to me.
Will undoubtedly film a couple of my wee history videos while I'm there.
Will undoubtedly film a couple of my wee history videos while I'm there.
I've been booked for a couple of talks to local history groups - Roe Valley in Oct & Bushmills in Feb.
If you'd like to book me for a talk on any of my specialities please get in touch.
History groups, film societies, schools, private clubs... All welcome.
UK/Ireland. Over seas by request.
If you'd like to book me for a talk on any of my specialities please get in touch.
History groups, film societies, schools, private clubs... All welcome.
UK/Ireland. Over seas by request.
August 16, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I've been booked for a couple of talks to local history groups - Roe Valley in Oct & Bushmills in Feb.
If you'd like to book me for a talk on any of my specialities please get in touch.
History groups, film societies, schools, private clubs... All welcome.
UK/Ireland. Over seas by request.
If you'd like to book me for a talk on any of my specialities please get in touch.
History groups, film societies, schools, private clubs... All welcome.
UK/Ireland. Over seas by request.
I'm very excited by it. I know the fans want the gothics, but my gosh I've waited a lifetime for some of these!
August 16, 2025 at 3:20 PM
I'm very excited by it. I know the fans want the gothics, but my gosh I've waited a lifetime for some of these!
So pleased to have contributed something to the new 4k Hammer releases.
I've been trying to get someone to do these since before my time working for the company.
I've been trying to get someone to do these since before my time working for the company.
My contributor copy of the new Hammer Films' 4k restoration of BLOOD ORANGE has arrived! Delighted.
I've written an essay on Exclusive Films for the booklet, and lent the original 35mm elements for the trailer from my personal collection of ephemera.
Get your copy here: amzn.to/4lulBNG
I've written an essay on Exclusive Films for the booklet, and lent the original 35mm elements for the trailer from my personal collection of ephemera.
Get your copy here: amzn.to/4lulBNG
August 16, 2025 at 2:50 PM
So pleased to have contributed something to the new 4k Hammer releases.
I've been trying to get someone to do these since before my time working for the company.
I've been trying to get someone to do these since before my time working for the company.
Another Royal Mail fail this morning. A supposedly delivered parcel has actually gone to an address across town. It's taken a while to decipher the address on the other package in the photo.
They ought have better resolution images and location stamps for their tracking service.
They ought have better resolution images and location stamps for their tracking service.
August 14, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Another Royal Mail fail this morning. A supposedly delivered parcel has actually gone to an address across town. It's taken a while to decipher the address on the other package in the photo.
They ought have better resolution images and location stamps for their tracking service.
They ought have better resolution images and location stamps for their tracking service.