Barendina Smedley
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fugitiveink.bsky.social
Barendina Smedley
@fugitiveink.bsky.social
840 followers 300 following 210 posts
Norfolk, mostly, but also Lincolnshire or occasionally London

I recently wrote a book of short stories, "The Lammas Ghosts", available on Amazon etc or here: https://www.lulu.com/shop/barendina-smedley/the-lammas-ghosts/paperback/product-kvmk646.html
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Blakeney Quay — spring tides
March 29, 2025 at 7:39 AM
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A spring tide, as seen from Blakeney High Street
March 29, 2025 at 7:18 AM
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Happy #CommonwealthDay from Blakeney, Norfolk — a particularly misty part of the United Kingdom earlier this morning
March 10, 2025 at 10:10 AM
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Books, coffee, Fred the cat — and sunshine!
The image shows a rustic bench. On it are an Emma Bridgewater mug full of milky coffee, and two books - the one with a visible title is E F Benson's "The Complete Matt & Lucia". Meanwhile a young black cat has his front paws on the edge of the bench, considering jumping up to investigate the coffee. It is a bright, sunny winter day, with the light casting the shadows of bare branches onto the bench.
January 26, 2025 at 5:34 AM
fugitiveink.bsky.social
So much life in an old wall!
A flint-built wall, of the type very common in north Norfolk, catches the late afternoon light. Along its uneven top grow at least two types of moss, while a fern is sprouting out of the front of it, stretching out towards the camera. In the background, somewhat indistinct, are bare-branched beech trees.
January 24, 2025 at 3:28 PM
fugitiveink.bsky.social
Bridget the little cat, at least, has found a safe place in which to wait out the storm (which isn't that bad in Norfolk anyway).
A traditional timber summer house sits on a green lawn. It has a casement window. Inside the window one can see a little black and white cat looking attentively toward the viewer. There are bare trees in the background.
January 24, 2025 at 12:13 PM
fugitiveink.bsky.social
Churchyard moon — Blakeney, north Norfolk
In a churchyard, a gracile church tower is visible in silhouette against a pink and violet even sky. Above the churchyard hangs a gibbous moon. The overall mood is a bit gothic and brooding.
January 10, 2025 at 4:48 PM
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"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

Happy Christmas to all my friends here!
The image shows a Christmas tree decoration representing a dove with a golden halo - a symbol of the Holy Ghost - with other Christmas ornaments in the background, all on a real fir tree.
December 25, 2024 at 4:43 AM
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There is something strange and extraordinary about seeing a Christmas tree in dark of our hall.
A rather dark room is lined with old oak and William Morris' "Blackthorn" wallpaper. In the background is a Christmas tree, reaching up to the beamed ceiling. It is illuminated by little lights, and hung with baubles. The light from the tree catches on the old oak and lights up the scene, drawing the eye towards it.
December 24, 2024 at 5:33 AM
fugitiveink.bsky.social
It's the eve of the winter solstice — a good time for extra lights.
A doorway (Georgian) stands out against an ochre, roughcast wall. A rose is trained over the door. There is a Christmas wreath on the door. Christmas lights are dangled over the top of the door surround, catching on the roughcast.
December 20, 2024 at 4:39 PM
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Here's my grandmother, sitting out in a garden in the 1970s. This wasn't at a party or anything - this is how she dressed when hanging out with her daughter, son-in-law and two little children. This was her everyday look. What would she think of my perpetual t-shirts, jeans and trainers?
December 16, 2024 at 4:43 AM
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I am reliably informed that, although the solstice is not quite here yet, as of today, sunset is happening later each day, although the sunrise continues to happen later and later, too.
A very vivid sunset - gold, rose, violet - is visible against a bright blue sky, with a low hill and some trees below.
December 15, 2024 at 4:44 PM
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That really was quite a sunset.
A very bright red and gold sunset is visible above and behind some silhouetted trees
December 15, 2024 at 4:42 PM
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There are worse ways in which to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon.
A small cat sits on a red brocade sofa. It is watching a wood fire that is burning in a large, 16th century fireplace, complete with inglenooks. Nearby stands a Georgian table on top of which are several books. A red and blue carpet is on the oak floor. A lamp and another sofa are partially visible. The air is one of warmth and calm.
December 9, 2024 at 4:48 AM
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Good afternoon, Vichai the little cat
A cat sits on an old table. The cat is a tabby with white nose, chest and paws. He has long whiskers. Behind him is a 17th century ornamented wooden box, and visible behind that, William Morris wallpaper in the pattern "Blackthorn". The cat has a reflective, thoughtful look.
December 4, 2024 at 2:25 PM
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First Sunday in Advent — Wiveton, Norfolk.
A late Medieval English church stands out against an early morning sky full of purple, pink and golden tones, while a bird flies overhead. One window of the church is partially lit up.
December 1, 2024 at 9:57 AM
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A moment of calm on Blakeney quay this morning
A boat is moored in a tidal creek. The water on which it floats is so still as to be mirror-like, reflecting the blues and greys of the sky above it.
November 28, 2024 at 8:26 AM
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I've let you down again, haven't I, little Spoon?
A little cat is sitting in a country kitchen, in a fruit box labelled "Apples from Suffolk", alongside two bags of salad. The cat has an accusing look.
November 26, 2024 at 10:37 AM
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Good morning, little coffee Spoon
A small cat sits on a kitchen table next to an Emma Bridgewater coffee mug, half full of milky coffee. Some people who have followed my account for a while will recognise that the cat is named Spoon. The cat looks slightly puzzled or reflective.
November 23, 2024 at 6:41 AM
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Dusk in North Norfolk: Venus in Sagittarius
November 22, 2024 at 3:02 AM
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November 12, 2024 at 1:21 PM
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Is there anyone here who knows about ceramics? This turned up in a mole hill in Blakeney yesterday. I'm guessing it's from about 1100-1400 — but I'm no archaeologist and would love to have better insights into it.
The photo shows a fragment of rather coarse ceramic material — presumably the curved rim of a jar or container — with incised marks, and what looks like a red slip glaze over grey ceramic. A coin is also shown, for scale.
November 12, 2024 at 10:54 AM
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Dusk, Martinmas
In the foreground, some wild grasses are silhouetted against a background of an arable field and a low hill covered with trees — and then behind that, a moody-looking sky full of pinkish-grey clouds.
November 11, 2024 at 5:50 PM
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Happy feast of St Martin! Martinmas was, traditionally, a time for telling ghost stories. Earlier this year I published a book of 15 original, Norfolk-based uncanny tales, called "The Lammas Ghosts". It's available via the link in my profile, on Amazon — or ask for it wherever you buy your books.
A small pile of books sits on a mid seventeenth century chair with a red velvet seat cushion. The top book is called The Lammas Ghosts: Fifteen Norfolk Ghost Stories by Barendina Smedley. Light falls on it from a window, unseen, to the right of the photo. The long shadows give the image an autumnal feeling.
November 11, 2024 at 7:48 AM
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The old house at Crowland has three kitchens, of which this is the grandest — although unfortunately bits of the ceiling keep falling down. (Don't worry — there's no problem here that can't be sorted out.)
This is an image of a very traditional English kitchen. A large hearth has been filled in with an Esse wood burning stove flanked by cupboards, the joinery of which is probably from the late 17th century. The cupboards are pained a dark chocolate brown, while the walls are lime washed white, with older render showing through. The floor is made of old clay tiles (pamments), some of which are broken. A table in the foreground holds a few miscellaneous pots and pans. Light floods in from an unseen window to the right. The floor is scattered with fallen fragments of ceiling plaster.
November 11, 2024 at 7:40 AM