Simon Williams
@stjohnbaptiste.bsky.social
Gog. Manceinion. In angello cum libello.
(Abuse on my timeline = block.)
(Abuse on my timeline = block.)
Reposted by Simon Williams
My kids woke up so excited this morning for the first night of Hannukah and now yet again we have a festival where I’m very conflicted about whether it’s safe to take them to synagogue to celebrate. Communities shouldn’t have to live like this.
December 14, 2025 at 12:50 PM
My kids woke up so excited this morning for the first night of Hannukah and now yet again we have a festival where I’m very conflicted about whether it’s safe to take them to synagogue to celebrate. Communities shouldn’t have to live like this.
Reposted by Simon Williams
I received "happy mail" from Ukraine today! These are even more beautiful & detailed in person than the picture captures. 🥰 If you are looking for meticulously crafted beadwork that supports a Ukrainian artist, check out @ukrainianart.bsky.social! Nadiia's on Etsy!
December 10, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Reposted by Simon Williams
In Myanmar the weights are elephants
December 8, 2025 at 8:12 PM
In Myanmar the weights are elephants
Reposted by Simon Williams
TIL about a memorial ceremony in Iceland in 2019 to mark the end of a glacier, changing the place name from Okjökull to Ok (jökull = glacier). Uncompromising wording on the bronze plaque:
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
December 7, 2025 at 5:17 PM
TIL about a memorial ceremony in Iceland in 2019 to mark the end of a glacier, changing the place name from Okjökull to Ok (jökull = glacier). Uncompromising wording on the bronze plaque:
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
Gwŷr a aeth Gatraeth, oedd ffraeth eu llu,
Glasfedd eu hancwyn a gwenwyn fu
(from Y Gododdin, attributed to Aneirin)
Warriors went to Catraeth, their host was swift,
Fresh mead was their feast and it was bitter/poison
Glasfedd eu hancwyn a gwenwyn fu
(from Y Gododdin, attributed to Aneirin)
Warriors went to Catraeth, their host was swift,
Fresh mead was their feast and it was bitter/poison
Which lines of poetry live rent-free in your head?
December 6, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Gwŷr a aeth Gatraeth, oedd ffraeth eu llu,
Glasfedd eu hancwyn a gwenwyn fu
(from Y Gododdin, attributed to Aneirin)
Warriors went to Catraeth, their host was swift,
Fresh mead was their feast and it was bitter/poison
Glasfedd eu hancwyn a gwenwyn fu
(from Y Gododdin, attributed to Aneirin)
Warriors went to Catraeth, their host was swift,
Fresh mead was their feast and it was bitter/poison
Bit of a surprise to open up spotify's wrapped earlier to Meic Williams' Gwenllian being played to me and a listening age of 69. Perhaps Don Leisure's Tyrchu Sain the cause for having artists from the 60s and 70s credited for the samples used?
tbf last fm's lists probably more accurate for me.
tbf last fm's lists probably more accurate for me.
December 3, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Bit of a surprise to open up spotify's wrapped earlier to Meic Williams' Gwenllian being played to me and a listening age of 69. Perhaps Don Leisure's Tyrchu Sain the cause for having artists from the 60s and 70s credited for the samples used?
tbf last fm's lists probably more accurate for me.
tbf last fm's lists probably more accurate for me.
Reposted by Simon Williams
Friends, I ask you for a small favor that will cost you 5 seconds, but will change everything for me and help my Ukrainian handicraft survive!💙💛
Like this post, share it, leave any comment. If you like something, place an order.
More of my work here:
www.etsy.com/shop/NadiiaJ...
Like this post, share it, leave any comment. If you like something, place an order.
More of my work here:
www.etsy.com/shop/NadiiaJ...
November 28, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Friends, I ask you for a small favor that will cost you 5 seconds, but will change everything for me and help my Ukrainian handicraft survive!💙💛
Like this post, share it, leave any comment. If you like something, place an order.
More of my work here:
www.etsy.com/shop/NadiiaJ...
Like this post, share it, leave any comment. If you like something, place an order.
More of my work here:
www.etsy.com/shop/NadiiaJ...
Reposted by Simon Williams
These are my two favorite Ukrainian Gerdans. If you also like it, share my art.
More here:
www.etsy.com/shop/NadiiaJ...
Think about holiday gifts from Ukraine 💙💛
More here:
www.etsy.com/shop/NadiiaJ...
Think about holiday gifts from Ukraine 💙💛
November 13, 2025 at 10:25 PM
These are my two favorite Ukrainian Gerdans. If you also like it, share my art.
More here:
www.etsy.com/shop/NadiiaJ...
Think about holiday gifts from Ukraine 💙💛
More here:
www.etsy.com/shop/NadiiaJ...
Think about holiday gifts from Ukraine 💙💛
Reposted by Simon Williams
For those idles, we played part of a song for the performer once and told them: You don't have to remember it well. You don't have to be good, in fact it's better if you're not. Think "singing in the shower."
This Outer Worlds 2 clip was posted on Reddit with the note: "This tiny moment is my favorite in the entire game, a guard NPC is singing the radio songs to himself."
I worked on that mission so heard that clip 100x and it was never not funny to me. Thanks Andrew Kishino for the great performance!
I worked on that mission so heard that clip 100x and it was never not funny to me. Thanks Andrew Kishino for the great performance!
November 7, 2025 at 2:04 PM
For those idles, we played part of a song for the performer once and told them: You don't have to remember it well. You don't have to be good, in fact it's better if you're not. Think "singing in the shower."
Finally succumbed to trying Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Doing things which I didn't get from some other recent takes on the JRPGish formula. Can see why people are suggesting it for game of the year, hard to argue it shouldn't be up there. So well crafted. And that soundtrack...!
November 7, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Finally succumbed to trying Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Doing things which I didn't get from some other recent takes on the JRPGish formula. Can see why people are suggesting it for game of the year, hard to argue it shouldn't be up there. So well crafted. And that soundtrack...!
Reposted by Simon Williams
My Christmas chocolate collection is finally out. 🎄
It’s been a lot of work these past weeks, but I’m really proud of how it turned out. There are some cosy, festive flavours this year that I think many will love.
If you’d like to have a look, it’s all now available on the website. 🍫
It’s been a lot of work these past weeks, but I’m really proud of how it turned out. There are some cosy, festive flavours this year that I think many will love.
If you’d like to have a look, it’s all now available on the website. 🍫
November 5, 2025 at 7:12 PM
My Christmas chocolate collection is finally out. 🎄
It’s been a lot of work these past weeks, but I’m really proud of how it turned out. There are some cosy, festive flavours this year that I think many will love.
If you’d like to have a look, it’s all now available on the website. 🍫
It’s been a lot of work these past weeks, but I’m really proud of how it turned out. There are some cosy, festive flavours this year that I think many will love.
If you’d like to have a look, it’s all now available on the website. 🍫
Playing about with the '10 games to get to know me' and coming away with picking up the Steam version of Papers Please (very clever game, on sale for buttons) and a wish to play some of these for the first time again.
November 4, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Playing about with the '10 games to get to know me' and coming away with picking up the Steam version of Papers Please (very clever game, on sale for buttons) and a wish to play some of these for the first time again.
No lying or making yourself out to be a cool kid.
Post the first record you bought.
If you can remember the shop or circumstances add that too. Local color appreciated.
A girl in school I quite liked expressed a desire to listen to it so I bought it on tape from Woolie's so I could lend it to her.
Post the first record you bought.
If you can remember the shop or circumstances add that too. Local color appreciated.
A girl in school I quite liked expressed a desire to listen to it so I bought it on tape from Woolie's so I could lend it to her.
November 3, 2025 at 11:06 AM
No lying or making yourself out to be a cool kid.
Post the first record you bought.
If you can remember the shop or circumstances add that too. Local color appreciated.
A girl in school I quite liked expressed a desire to listen to it so I bought it on tape from Woolie's so I could lend it to her.
Post the first record you bought.
If you can remember the shop or circumstances add that too. Local color appreciated.
A girl in school I quite liked expressed a desire to listen to it so I bought it on tape from Woolie's so I could lend it to her.
Reposted by Simon Williams
The Gentle Good - Elan (Ffilm Ddogfen)
YouTube video by The Gentle Good
youtu.be
October 30, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Picked up The Outer Worlds 2, Obsidian's latest RPG. Was very mixed on the original game but this sequel is ticking a lot of boxes for me. Very much enjoying leaning into the dialogue options unlocked by a build, and the consequences of them. Fun game.
October 28, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Picked up The Outer Worlds 2, Obsidian's latest RPG. Was very mixed on the original game but this sequel is ticking a lot of boxes for me. Very much enjoying leaning into the dialogue options unlocked by a build, and the consequences of them. Fun game.
I was fortunate enough to get one of the early copies of the English translation of [dasein] by Yaryna Chornohuz. It's officially released today.
Yaryna Chornohuz's [dasein: defence of presence] arrived this morning. Translation into English by Amelia Glaser, and published by Jantar. Really good short essays by Prof. Hugh Roberts, to introduce, and Prof. Glaser, in conclusion, to help guide the reader.
![The front cover of Yaryna Chornohuz's [dasein: defence of presence]. It is largely golds or dark browns. A woman in a hat wearing army camouflage, with pink backpack straps and dark hair, stands in a field of wheat with a big blue sky above her head and the horizon.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:szkrmssuln5ucgsefaw7omq6/bafkreigjghyg2crqjq42l6afomsrebr4gv6oflrkvb4oui5tllv4llflra@jpeg)
![[wind from the steppe]
you're like wind from the steppe
I don't care if it sounds old-fashioned
I'll say it again
you're like wind from the steppe
even after you left the world of the living
no matter how far I run into the woods
no matter how deep the running cuts
my breath
you keep lifting me on your back
so I can rest a little and not get left behind
like wind from the steppe
and when you pray to your gods
you're like wind from the steppe
and when your grasses greet me with their touch
I know there's no escape except
to heal through the pain
remembering how blue those eyes were
in the wind from the steppe](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:szkrmssuln5ucgsefaw7omq6/bafkreihvo3lgrr4tqttlz7a2uak5cijld3tnhkpvi5356gk5inagaiutbq@jpeg)
October 23, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I was fortunate enough to get one of the early copies of the English translation of [dasein] by Yaryna Chornohuz. It's officially released today.
Reposted by Simon Williams
🪶 Defending the Human in War Poetry | London
📅 13 Nov, 19:00–21:00
📍 Swedenborg Hall, Bloomsbury
Join Yaryna Chornohuz — Ukrainian soldier, medic, and poet — for a powerful reading written under fire on the front line.
🎟 beinghumanfestival.org/events/defending-human-war-poetry-london
📅 13 Nov, 19:00–21:00
📍 Swedenborg Hall, Bloomsbury
Join Yaryna Chornohuz — Ukrainian soldier, medic, and poet — for a powerful reading written under fire on the front line.
🎟 beinghumanfestival.org/events/defending-human-war-poetry-london
Defending the Human in War Poetry (London)
What does it mean to write poetry on the front line of the bloodiest war in Europe since the Second World War?
www.beinghumanfestival.org
October 20, 2025 at 8:48 AM
🪶 Defending the Human in War Poetry | London
📅 13 Nov, 19:00–21:00
📍 Swedenborg Hall, Bloomsbury
Join Yaryna Chornohuz — Ukrainian soldier, medic, and poet — for a powerful reading written under fire on the front line.
🎟 beinghumanfestival.org/events/defending-human-war-poetry-london
📅 13 Nov, 19:00–21:00
📍 Swedenborg Hall, Bloomsbury
Join Yaryna Chornohuz — Ukrainian soldier, medic, and poet — for a powerful reading written under fire on the front line.
🎟 beinghumanfestival.org/events/defending-human-war-poetry-london
Reposted by Simon Williams
@yarachornohuz.bsky.social dasein: defence of presence, trans by @aglaser.bsky.social with the poet Fiona Benson and me, released in the UK today, available from @jantarbooks.bsky.social and selected bookshops!
October 23, 2025 at 3:59 PM
@yarachornohuz.bsky.social dasein: defence of presence, trans by @aglaser.bsky.social with the poet Fiona Benson and me, released in the UK today, available from @jantarbooks.bsky.social and selected bookshops!
Reposted by Simon Williams
A policy *supported by a smaller % of the population* than it would seek to deport!
Stephen Bush on the extraordinary draft legislation which Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, Matt Vickers, Katie Lam and backbench colleagues have proposed in parliament
It is a proposal that would seek to deport around 5% of the resident population, including over a quarter of a million with ILR
It is a proposal that would seek to deport around 5% of the resident population, including over a quarter of a million with ILR
October 23, 2025 at 11:26 AM
A policy *supported by a smaller % of the population* than it would seek to deport!
Reposted by Simon Williams
Updating my LEGO White House
October 23, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Updating my LEGO White House
Reposted by Simon Williams
In Bolivia, I bought a guitar from a guy who made handmade guitars. A day or so later I was in Cusco in Peru & I got my new guitar out to play & the place I was staying at had a parrot. He came up to me & settled on my shoulder, bopping to the music & nibbling my ear. youtube.com/shorts/mMf9m...
When they start dancing 🥹😭
YouTube video by Plumes
youtube.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:57 PM
In Bolivia, I bought a guitar from a guy who made handmade guitars. A day or so later I was in Cusco in Peru & I got my new guitar out to play & the place I was staying at had a parrot. He came up to me & settled on my shoulder, bopping to the music & nibbling my ear. youtube.com/shorts/mMf9m...
Cofiwn Aberfan.
October 21, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Cofiwn Aberfan.
Reposted by Simon Williams
NEW: Britain’s top libel firm, Carter-Ruck, acted for OneCoin - a $4bn crypto-fraud.
The firm threatened whistleblowers, journalists, regulators, and even the police.
Carter-Ruck's work helped the fraud continue as long as it did.
Was that a crime?
The firm threatened whistleblowers, journalists, regulators, and even the police.
Carter-Ruck's work helped the fraud continue as long as it did.
Was that a crime?
October 19, 2025 at 7:30 AM
NEW: Britain’s top libel firm, Carter-Ruck, acted for OneCoin - a $4bn crypto-fraud.
The firm threatened whistleblowers, journalists, regulators, and even the police.
Carter-Ruck's work helped the fraud continue as long as it did.
Was that a crime?
The firm threatened whistleblowers, journalists, regulators, and even the police.
Carter-Ruck's work helped the fraud continue as long as it did.
Was that a crime?
Yaryna Chornohuz's [dasein: defence of presence] arrived this morning. Translation into English by Amelia Glaser, and published by Jantar. Really good short essays by Prof. Hugh Roberts, to introduce, and Prof. Glaser, in conclusion, to help guide the reader.
October 15, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Yaryna Chornohuz's [dasein: defence of presence] arrived this morning. Translation into English by Amelia Glaser, and published by Jantar. Really good short essays by Prof. Hugh Roberts, to introduce, and Prof. Glaser, in conclusion, to help guide the reader.
Reposted by Simon Williams
Deep breath. My publisher @johnmurrays.bsky.social informs me that my book about 🇬🇧,
"Fantastic Kingdom“
which will come out in June 2026,
is now available to pre-order, and that @waterstones.bsky.social is offering a 25% preorder discount this week.
www.waterstones.com/book/fantast...
"Fantastic Kingdom“
which will come out in June 2026,
is now available to pre-order, and that @waterstones.bsky.social is offering a 25% preorder discount this week.
www.waterstones.com/book/fantast...
Fantastic Kingdom by Helene von Bismarck | Waterstones
Buy Fantastic Kingdom by Helene von Bismarck from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.
www.waterstones.com
October 14, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Deep breath. My publisher @johnmurrays.bsky.social informs me that my book about 🇬🇧,
"Fantastic Kingdom“
which will come out in June 2026,
is now available to pre-order, and that @waterstones.bsky.social is offering a 25% preorder discount this week.
www.waterstones.com/book/fantast...
"Fantastic Kingdom“
which will come out in June 2026,
is now available to pre-order, and that @waterstones.bsky.social is offering a 25% preorder discount this week.
www.waterstones.com/book/fantast...