Mark Payne
@markpayne.bsky.social
Greetings from Cumbria - mostly posting my own photographs, or re-posting other stuff I like - short story writer, short song writer, lapsed Physicist
Pinned
Mark Payne
@markpayne.bsky.social
· Nov 12
Mr Bufo Has a Go at Mountaineering by Mark Payne
Short stories hand-picked from authors around the world. Submissions accepted. Humour, crime, sci-fi, fantasy, horror and everyday life.
www.fictionontheweb.co.uk
My first attempt at writing a short story was published at Fiction on the Web. They publish new work every week and have been doing so for decades, so there's lots of original stories there to check out.
Great project - all supported by Patreon.
www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/2024/06/mr-b...
Great project - all supported by Patreon.
www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/2024/06/mr-b...
Reposted by Mark Payne
Cholmeley Lodge, Highgate
1935
Guy Morgan and Partners
www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/speculative-...
1935
Guy Morgan and Partners
www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/speculative-...
November 10, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Cholmeley Lodge, Highgate
1935
Guy Morgan and Partners
www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/speculative-...
1935
Guy Morgan and Partners
www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/speculative-...
Reposted by Mark Payne
Was really struck by what a lovely inspiring exercise this is, like a primary school version of Mary Oliver’s Instructions for living a life
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it
November 10, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Was really struck by what a lovely inspiring exercise this is, like a primary school version of Mary Oliver’s Instructions for living a life
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it
Reposted by Mark Payne
We often speak of you.
November 8, 2025 at 8:42 AM
We often speak of you.
Reposted by Mark Payne
November 8, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Reposted by Mark Payne
Eynsford, the Kingdom of Kent - Rowland Hilder
The village & the artist are both special to me.
For twenty years I lived 30 yards from this scene. I met my wife in a pub 20 yards away, and my eldest son was christened in the church immediately behind where he sat to paint this
The village & the artist are both special to me.
For twenty years I lived 30 yards from this scene. I met my wife in a pub 20 yards away, and my eldest son was christened in the church immediately behind where he sat to paint this
November 8, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Eynsford, the Kingdom of Kent - Rowland Hilder
The village & the artist are both special to me.
For twenty years I lived 30 yards from this scene. I met my wife in a pub 20 yards away, and my eldest son was christened in the church immediately behind where he sat to paint this
The village & the artist are both special to me.
For twenty years I lived 30 yards from this scene. I met my wife in a pub 20 yards away, and my eldest son was christened in the church immediately behind where he sat to paint this
Reposted by Mark Payne
Spring in the Weald of Kent by the Kentish artist Rowland Hilder
I love everything about it. The blossom on the trees, the long gone Elm trees, the horse and cart slowly moving through a hedgerow lined lane, the Oasts
I love everything about it. The blossom on the trees, the long gone Elm trees, the horse and cart slowly moving through a hedgerow lined lane, the Oasts
November 8, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Spring in the Weald of Kent by the Kentish artist Rowland Hilder
I love everything about it. The blossom on the trees, the long gone Elm trees, the horse and cart slowly moving through a hedgerow lined lane, the Oasts
I love everything about it. The blossom on the trees, the long gone Elm trees, the horse and cart slowly moving through a hedgerow lined lane, the Oasts
Reposted by Mark Payne
Nuclear physicist Lise Meitner ForMemRS was born #OnThisDay in 1878. She was instrumental in the discovery of nuclear fission, along with her collaborators Otto Hahn and Otto Robert Frisch FRS, but wasn't awarded a share of the 1944 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. #WomenInSTEM https://bit.ly/2HjWryI
November 7, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Nuclear physicist Lise Meitner ForMemRS was born #OnThisDay in 1878. She was instrumental in the discovery of nuclear fission, along with her collaborators Otto Hahn and Otto Robert Frisch FRS, but wasn't awarded a share of the 1944 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. #WomenInSTEM https://bit.ly/2HjWryI
Reposted by Mark Payne
Yet another treasure from the BBC Archive.
Hartsop, Berwick, Pevsner. Heysham's rock-cut graves.
And accents that no longer exist.
"mind the rats plese"
youtu.be/ZI3e3WS8mFM?...
Hartsop, Berwick, Pevsner. Heysham's rock-cut graves.
And accents that no longer exist.
"mind the rats plese"
youtu.be/ZI3e3WS8mFM?...
1972: The Historic Building Investigator | Look Stranger | BBC Archive
YouTube video by BBC Archive
youtu.be
November 7, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Yet another treasure from the BBC Archive.
Hartsop, Berwick, Pevsner. Heysham's rock-cut graves.
And accents that no longer exist.
"mind the rats plese"
youtu.be/ZI3e3WS8mFM?...
Hartsop, Berwick, Pevsner. Heysham's rock-cut graves.
And accents that no longer exist.
"mind the rats plese"
youtu.be/ZI3e3WS8mFM?...
Reposted by Mark Payne
Wow! 😮🤩
There's a new interactive map of Every Known Road in the Roman Empire!! 🤓
itiner-e.org
We might have to have a lie-down.
There's a new interactive map of Every Known Road in the Roman Empire!! 🤓
itiner-e.org
We might have to have a lie-down.
November 6, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Wow! 😮🤩
There's a new interactive map of Every Known Road in the Roman Empire!! 🤓
itiner-e.org
We might have to have a lie-down.
There's a new interactive map of Every Known Road in the Roman Empire!! 🤓
itiner-e.org
We might have to have a lie-down.
Reposted by Mark Payne
Fans raise €16m Duralex preservative bit.ly/49FxyxL the stubby much loved glasses will not be lost as French public saves the now cooperative business
French pour cash in to save firm that makes beloved Duralex tumblers
Funding appeal raises €16 million in 24 hours for a brand that millions remember fondly from school meals
bit.ly
November 6, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Fans raise €16m Duralex preservative bit.ly/49FxyxL the stubby much loved glasses will not be lost as French public saves the now cooperative business
Reposted by Mark Payne
Political strategists spend a lot of time trying to get their attack lines into the headlines. Serious news outlets should not be playing along - whichever party benefits.
The whole "he said - she said" model is just a total repudiation of what journalism should be.
The whole "he said - she said" model is just a total repudiation of what journalism should be.
November 6, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Political strategists spend a lot of time trying to get their attack lines into the headlines. Serious news outlets should not be playing along - whichever party benefits.
The whole "he said - she said" model is just a total repudiation of what journalism should be.
The whole "he said - she said" model is just a total repudiation of what journalism should be.
Reposted by Mark Payne
This morning's top headline on Today:
"Robert Jenrick has accused the government of a total dereliction of duty after two inmates were mistakenly released".
The release of a prisoner is news. What Jenrick says about it is comment.
Both have a place, but only one of those is in the headlines.
"Robert Jenrick has accused the government of a total dereliction of duty after two inmates were mistakenly released".
The release of a prisoner is news. What Jenrick says about it is comment.
Both have a place, but only one of those is in the headlines.
November 6, 2025 at 8:42 AM
This morning's top headline on Today:
"Robert Jenrick has accused the government of a total dereliction of duty after two inmates were mistakenly released".
The release of a prisoner is news. What Jenrick says about it is comment.
Both have a place, but only one of those is in the headlines.
"Robert Jenrick has accused the government of a total dereliction of duty after two inmates were mistakenly released".
The release of a prisoner is news. What Jenrick says about it is comment.
Both have a place, but only one of those is in the headlines.
Reposted by Mark Payne
Wet Sleddale dam. Mesmerising. 2/2
November 5, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Wet Sleddale dam. Mesmerising. 2/2
Reposted by Mark Payne
I want these musicians to be performing forever on MY ceiling! And their parrot. And dog! Great painting by Gerrit van Honthorst, born OTD 1592.
November 4, 2025 at 3:46 PM
I want these musicians to be performing forever on MY ceiling! And their parrot. And dog! Great painting by Gerrit van Honthorst, born OTD 1592.
Reposted by Mark Payne
Lancashire was accepted as a county only when a royal exchequer official, in the audit for 1181-2, wrote out a separate parchment under the heading Lancastra quia non erat ei locus in Northumberland: ‘Lancaster, because there is no place for it in Northumberland.’
November 3, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Lancashire was accepted as a county only when a royal exchequer official, in the audit for 1181-2, wrote out a separate parchment under the heading Lancastra quia non erat ei locus in Northumberland: ‘Lancaster, because there is no place for it in Northumberland.’
Reposted by Mark Payne
A rather wet start to the London Brighton classic car run
November 2, 2025 at 7:58 AM
A rather wet start to the London Brighton classic car run
Reposted by Mark Payne
How do you know if the short story competition you want to enter is worth it? The Contest Calculator from Chill Subs is a genuinely useful tool to assess whether the story competitions you're entering are legit and transparently run: www.thecontestcalculator.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:04 PM
How do you know if the short story competition you want to enter is worth it? The Contest Calculator from Chill Subs is a genuinely useful tool to assess whether the story competitions you're entering are legit and transparently run: www.thecontestcalculator.com
Reposted by Mark Payne
Another Jonesy gem.
Here's a #cartoon that was published in @prospectmagazine.co.uk #science #conference #research #presentation
October 30, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Another Jonesy gem.
Reposted by Mark Payne
Grundig CF 5500 cassette deck
October 30, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Grundig CF 5500 cassette deck
Reposted by Mark Payne
One of Hendrick's favorite painting venues: the Oude Kerk in Delft, here in 1670. Kids playing. Dog waiting for some action. Today is Hendrick van Vliet's day.
October 28, 2025 at 11:57 AM
One of Hendrick's favorite painting venues: the Oude Kerk in Delft, here in 1670. Kids playing. Dog waiting for some action. Today is Hendrick van Vliet's day.
Inspiring.
People say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I went to university at 64, published my first book at 69, and now write full-time. Turns out, you can | Robert Ashton
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
Literary success aged 69, I was longlisted for the Wainwright prize
You are never too old to embark on a new adventure as I discovered in 2024, which has kickstarted a new life as a full time writer
eastangliabylines.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Inspiring.
Reposted by Mark Payne
People say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I went to university at 64, published my first book at 69, and now write full-time. Turns out, you can | Robert Ashton
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
Literary success aged 69, I was longlisted for the Wainwright prize
You are never too old to embark on a new adventure as I discovered in 2024, which has kickstarted a new life as a full time writer
eastangliabylines.co.uk
October 28, 2025 at 9:01 PM
People say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I went to university at 64, published my first book at 69, and now write full-time. Turns out, you can | Robert Ashton
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
Reposted by Mark Payne
Home through the rain (1969)
Artist: John Berry
Artist: John Berry
October 27, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Home through the rain (1969)
Artist: John Berry
Artist: John Berry
Reposted by Mark Payne
I could honestly write a whole essay ranting about my opinions behind this one... I have Strong Feelings about the dominance of Shakespeare in our media-analysis training (ie English in schools and universities) at a time when we are all going insane with online disinformation
October 24, 2025 at 11:19 AM
I could honestly write a whole essay ranting about my opinions behind this one... I have Strong Feelings about the dominance of Shakespeare in our media-analysis training (ie English in schools and universities) at a time when we are all going insane with online disinformation