mark smith
@gcu-grey-area.bsky.social
Still owned by a cat. Graphic designer-ish/illustrator, mainly within the model-hobby industry. Cow-botherer. Somerset badlands, twixt Bridgwater and Glastonbury. Am GCU Grey Area on theafterword.co.uk forum/blog.
As ever, The Imagined Village/Hard Times of Old England says it well;
‘The Countryside Alliance expects I suppose,
My support when they're marching to bloody Blair′s nose,
But they said not a word when our post office closed…’
‘The Countryside Alliance expects I suppose,
My support when they're marching to bloody Blair′s nose,
But they said not a word when our post office closed…’
December 22, 2025 at 8:19 PM
As ever, The Imagined Village/Hard Times of Old England says it well;
‘The Countryside Alliance expects I suppose,
My support when they're marching to bloody Blair′s nose,
But they said not a word when our post office closed…’
‘The Countryside Alliance expects I suppose,
My support when they're marching to bloody Blair′s nose,
But they said not a word when our post office closed…’
SWAN! I can do a pretty decent Mute swan, when they make that little ‘hebh-hebh’ noise.
December 21, 2025 at 8:37 PM
SWAN! I can do a pretty decent Mute swan, when they make that little ‘hebh-hebh’ noise.
‘I know a farmer who looks after the farm,
With water clear, he cares for all his harvest.
I know a fireman who looks after the fire…’
Genesis / Supper’s Ready
With water clear, he cares for all his harvest.
I know a fireman who looks after the fire…’
Genesis / Supper’s Ready
December 21, 2025 at 7:28 PM
‘I know a farmer who looks after the farm,
With water clear, he cares for all his harvest.
I know a fireman who looks after the fire…’
Genesis / Supper’s Ready
With water clear, he cares for all his harvest.
I know a fireman who looks after the fire…’
Genesis / Supper’s Ready
The appropriate solder paste plus a rechargeable iron are your friends.
December 21, 2025 at 7:10 PM
The appropriate solder paste plus a rechargeable iron are your friends.
It could possibly work as a cricket equiv of ‘total football’, as per Dutch team of 70s. But Eng don’t seem to have the situational awareness.
December 21, 2025 at 9:26 AM
It could possibly work as a cricket equiv of ‘total football’, as per Dutch team of 70s. But Eng don’t seem to have the situational awareness.
Used to do that to one of ours, who viewed it as rightful attention, but still gave us the look of sleeting disdain after.
December 19, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Used to do that to one of ours, who viewed it as rightful attention, but still gave us the look of sleeting disdain after.
Very splendid! He’s also very tucked-in. ‘Buxted’. Legs and paws all folded, resembling a once popular brand of oven-ready chicken.
December 19, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Very splendid! He’s also very tucked-in. ‘Buxted’. Legs and paws all folded, resembling a once popular brand of oven-ready chicken.
Victor Lewis-Smith; ‘Radiotimes’ (rad-ee-ot-oh-mees), from when he was on Loose Ends. Spike Milligan had ‘Cockerneys’…
December 19, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Victor Lewis-Smith; ‘Radiotimes’ (rad-ee-ot-oh-mees), from when he was on Loose Ends. Spike Milligan had ‘Cockerneys’…
I have a vague memory of a piano being launched off either Eagle or Ark Royal on a ‘Not Only But Also’, with Dudley Moore at the piano.
December 18, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I have a vague memory of a piano being launched off either Eagle or Ark Royal on a ‘Not Only But Also’, with Dudley Moore at the piano.
The two who nest in a neighbour’s tree often go ‘ooh-hoo’ and ‘gloing-gloing’. One we heard in west Wales sounded like an analogue synthesiser. Warm, squelchy noises.
December 17, 2025 at 8:34 AM
The two who nest in a neighbour’s tree often go ‘ooh-hoo’ and ‘gloing-gloing’. One we heard in west Wales sounded like an analogue synthesiser. Warm, squelchy noises.
Its the ‘Gizmo’, as featured in the Fast Show’s ‘Channel 9’ sketches!
December 16, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Its the ‘Gizmo’, as featured in the Fast Show’s ‘Channel 9’ sketches!
Apologies, but having seen The Fast Show Tour the other week; AN OWL? Also, a friend of my partner’s is a falconer, and has - amongst other birds - a male Barn Owl. Wild females visit and cough up pellets to show what they’re missing. He does call, but hides when they arrive.
December 13, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Apologies, but having seen The Fast Show Tour the other week; AN OWL? Also, a friend of my partner’s is a falconer, and has - amongst other birds - a male Barn Owl. Wild females visit and cough up pellets to show what they’re missing. He does call, but hides when they arrive.
There’s an awful lot of quotes from that feed which would make great names for Minds for Iain M. Banks @cultureshipnames.bsky.social
December 12, 2025 at 8:39 AM
There’s an awful lot of quotes from that feed which would make great names for Minds for Iain M. Banks @cultureshipnames.bsky.social
‘Living statues, crusty jugglers…’ #sandfordnwa
December 11, 2025 at 6:23 PM
‘Living statues, crusty jugglers…’ #sandfordnwa
The difference between a roll-up, and a ready-made fag? We’ve a very good hi-fi. CD/DVD-A is convenient, vinyl - which is a minority in our collection - needs more effort to play.
December 10, 2025 at 9:51 PM
The difference between a roll-up, and a ready-made fag? We’ve a very good hi-fi. CD/DVD-A is convenient, vinyl - which is a minority in our collection - needs more effort to play.
Our last cat was the only one we've had that would 'wash' us. Mainly at night, and arms were favourite, though she'd often lick forehead, eyebrows and fringe. Then have a big 'paddle', and settle down on top of me with a paw on my hand. I miss that. The washing less so.
December 9, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Our last cat was the only one we've had that would 'wash' us. Mainly at night, and arms were favourite, though she'd often lick forehead, eyebrows and fringe. Then have a big 'paddle', and settle down on top of me with a paw on my hand. I miss that. The washing less so.
‘Marine Blue’. Work very much in progress. Wall tiles to follow, ditto final paint, tbd.
December 7, 2025 at 8:51 PM
‘Marine Blue’. Work very much in progress. Wall tiles to follow, ditto final paint, tbd.
We are in the throws of having a new kitchen fitted. Howdens. ‘Marine Blue’. Very similar. Looks great!
December 7, 2025 at 6:32 PM
We are in the throws of having a new kitchen fitted. Howdens. ‘Marine Blue’. Very similar. Looks great!
'Milky, milky. Lovely.'
#themarywhitehouseexperience
#themarywhitehouseexperience
December 6, 2025 at 1:21 PM
'Milky, milky. Lovely.'
#themarywhitehouseexperience
#themarywhitehouseexperience
‘On that train, all graphite and glitter,
Undersea by rail.
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris,
Well, by '76 we'll be A-OK’.
Donald Fagen, IGY, The Nightfly.
Undersea by rail.
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris,
Well, by '76 we'll be A-OK’.
Donald Fagen, IGY, The Nightfly.
December 5, 2025 at 11:54 PM
‘On that train, all graphite and glitter,
Undersea by rail.
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris,
Well, by '76 we'll be A-OK’.
Donald Fagen, IGY, The Nightfly.
Undersea by rail.
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris,
Well, by '76 we'll be A-OK’.
Donald Fagen, IGY, The Nightfly.
The war in Ukraine appears to be one where older people can do ‘their bit’. *Ugh*. You don’t need to be at the front line to identify targets, guide drones, etc. I would.
December 2, 2025 at 8:28 PM
The war in Ukraine appears to be one where older people can do ‘their bit’. *Ugh*. You don’t need to be at the front line to identify targets, guide drones, etc. I would.