George Penney
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George Penney
@georgepenney.bsky.social
24K followers 21K following 12K posts
Author of funny books, cultural omnivore. I like tea and cats, not necessarily in that order. I inhale deeply when first stepping in to bookshops and libraries. 🌈

https://linktr.ee/Georgepenney
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Hello lovely people. Thanks so much for your wonderful support in buying direct copies of Tiny Moments of Joy. I'm overwhelmed in the best of ways by your lovely generosity. Raising my first cup of tea of the day in your honour!

(Books going to Kiwi homes today! More in alt text.)
You're looking at a stack of books on a black circular coffee table. There are two types, one is a stack of about 20 books and the covers are deep pink... they look red though in the sunlight and have a white title, Tiny Joy. There's some orange font there if you look closely that says Moments Of, but the sun has made it invisible. It's morning here and the sun coming through our front window has questionable manners. Next to those books is a pile of two orange ones with OverLondon on the title. There is a disgruntled black chicken with a crown on that one that tells you it will be very funny. Behind the book stack is a green plant named Steve and two ceramic seals named Helga and Otto. Helga always looks worried. Otto frankly looks like he's never given a fuck in his life and is hiding behind the books. Behind those is a brown leather armchair featuring two cushions. One orange and red and geometric. The other featuring the periodic table in bright colours, because that's how we roll in this house. Sitting on the back of the chair is a plushie octopus that you kind of know would be fun to cuddle. His name is Squidlaped. The vibe here is of two industrious authors readying books to send to their wonderful new Kiwi homes today, and maybe a bit of excitement.
November 10, 2025 at 6:24 PM
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🧵Out Now! Tiny Moments of Joy: Spotted on Market Day in Aotearoa New Zealand

It's officially live!
Today's the launch day for Tiny Moments of Joy and we couldn't be happier to share the news with you.
You can get your copy here:

www.swashbucklerpress.com/tiny-moments...

(1)
The first image is the cover of Tiny Moments of Joy: Spotted on Market Day in Aotearoa New Zealand. It's a deep pink colour with a white and orange serif font. There is a border of pale ferns and the vibe is of calm and chill, maybe invoking the desire for a cosy chair and a cup of your favourite beverage... and hopefully ca The second image is of the inside of a book, propped open at the middle by a ceramic red loveheart and a bunch of stones that were found on a beach in Golden Bay a few months ago. I knew they'd come in handy. Rocks are the best souvenirs. The book's interior is white paper with black writing, centred with a vignette per page. Looking at this picture, you now know that this is not an illustrated book, the words draw the pictures, but you get the impression that you will not need pictures because you will enjoy these words very much.
November 9, 2025 at 7:30 AM
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Also, just because it was such a lovely day, here's a picture of some flowers in a paddock. (More in alt text)
The short description is that you're looking at a paddock covered in buttercups with two hills beyond and a big blue sky. The longer description is that you're looking at a picture taken close to the ground so the buttercups and lush grass stretch into the distance. To the right you can just see a dirt track going through the field. The hills beyond are covered in a wealth of pine trees. The sky overhead is a perfect blue. Think the kind of big sunny sky that makes your face tingle with warmth. While looking at this scene you would definitely hear the munch munch of a nearby placid cow eating grass. You'd hear the distant sound of conversation and calls happening on the nearest hill which contains a popular mountain bike track and there'd also be the gurgle and rush of the river to your left. The smell is fresh green grass, river fug and cow.
November 4, 2025 at 9:56 PM
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Also, behold our city's amazing gnocchi truck. 😊 (More info in alt text)
Short description. You're looking at an open sided gnocchi truck with a menu with many delicious options, some Italian flag bunting and two dark haired people with olive skin tones getting the good stuff prepared. There are also some sparkly fairy lights around the truck because it's a parade day and everyone's in a good mood. Okay, let's get down to the details. The Gnocchi menu is a black board featuring a whole lot of different options including things like bolognese, mascarpone and truffle and sage and butter, which you just know is going to feature delicious pasta dough balls swimming in a bathtub of butter. And it is. The counter features a whole lot of Italian soft drinks and some small containers of tiramisu which should be banned for the crime of inciting taste bud riotery. One of the people in the truck is processing a payment, mid movement. He's a sturdy guy with a black beard and black hair and a grey apron, looking rather serious because gnocchi is serious business. His partner's back is to us. She's got long brown hair in a ponytail and is wearing a striped purple shirt. While looking at this truck, you definitely know there is a queue. You know there will be a cheerfully raucous crowd passing for the parade. You know the smell will be enticing. Think garlic and sage and melted cheese and butter and you're on the right track. You know you want some of this gnocchi. It's calling your name. Seriously. You definitely need some. Like, right now.
November 3, 2025 at 12:10 AM
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And just because I can share, here are Waffle and Maple, some calves who were more than happy to snooze just out of range of all the small humans very excited at the thought of patting them. (More info in the alt text)
You're looking at two butterscotch coloured calves curled around each other in a small paddock. In the foreground, there's a metal gate with a white laminated notice that says "Waffle & Maple, Charolais x calves". Then beyond that, in the grass--which is about ankle height--not caring a whit for being patted, are the snoozing calves in question. Beyond Waffle and Maple you can see a bunch of cars parked up in one of the many temporary car parks around the festival. If you were standing here, admiring Waffle and Maple, you'd be able to hear in great detail how gloriously exponential some of the small humans (and grownups) nearby are going over their inability to pat them. You'd also hear two farmers talking about the weather. While you were hearing this, you'd be enjoying the smell of green, green grass, cows and maybe wondering if the distant sound of an approaching pennywhistle indicates some Morris Dancers are coming your way to perform again.
October 30, 2025 at 11:22 PM
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Any typos spotted in this post have just finished the last of the cakes they bought at the Ngatimoti festival last Sunday. If typos spotted, please don't mind if they have a wee snooze on the lawn. They've had a very busy week and it's sunny outside.
You're looking at a crowd of people, many of them movement blurred in a country fair setting. In the foreground there's an orange and white floral sun umbrella with tassels around the edges. It's a type of umbrella you'd use to sit under to eat cake. And this is what people were certainly doing. Behind that, there are crowds of people of all ages makes and models, with green hills and multi-coloured trees soaking up the sun beyond that. The sky overhead is bright blue with the puffy type of white clouds that just invite you to imagine what they resemble. One of them looks a bit like a dolphin. It seriously does. Debate me. I will die on that hill. When looking at this picture, imagine the smell of a nearby Brazilian roast meat stall that's puffing delicious smoke into the air and the sound of a very small human arguing with her dad that her sausage in bread definitely fits into her sparkly unicorn handbag.
October 30, 2025 at 3:09 AM
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Also, behold some Morris Dancers on a lovely Spring Day. (More info in Alt text.)
The short description is that you're looking at a group of colourfully dressed Morris Dancers dancing in a green field under a big blue and cloudy sky. Right, now to the longer description which involves first saying that I am not and never have been a good photographer, so if you were looking at this picture you'd be wondering why it's a bit blurred. That's how I roll. In the foreground you're looking at four Morris Dancers wearing tatters, which are colourful clothes made of strips of fabric that move around organically as they dance. You can't see it, but they've all got bells on their legs and ankles which are tinkling as they dance. They're wearing a variation of hats. Mostly leather and organic looking. You'd imagine a mushroom would look on some of these hats as prime real estate and we'd have it no other way. They're brandishing long pale sticks and are in the process of knocking them together mid dance. Next to the four dancers are ukulele, penny whistle and accordion players doing a very good job of playing a tune you could imagine in a bar in some ye olde Lord of the Rings setting. Not far behind them, you can see the side of the fire engine which was mentioned in my post two days ago. It's yellow and red. And then further back there's a crowd and stalls, then trees and mountains lurking, no doubt having opinions on all this revelry. The sky overhead has some very big clouds, showing a bit of dark grey at their centres, because what is a festival without the spectre of rain? The vibe is fun on a rather lush spring day. The smell in the air is of a nearby cow, green grass and frying sausages.
October 29, 2025 at 3:14 AM
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Also, presenting Clover the cow, who is definitely not a dog. (Mentioned in yesterday's post. More details in alt text)
The shortform version of what you're looking at is a white laminated sign stuck to a metal gate that says: "Our cat pat bingo star: CLOVER!!!!! The Cow." With a cow behind the gate. The long version is that the first thing you may notice is that the word Clover on the sign has five exclamation marks after it. Everyone knows that the only people allowed to put five exclamation marks on anything are tiny humans who have just seen cows, and enthusiastic parents trying to interest their tiny humans in cows. There is no other excuse. The cow in question is a rather pretty jersey cow. She's quite short, creamy brown and her stubby horns, which curve in together, are just visible around the gate. She's standing in a pretty enclosure that has some lush grass with some leafy shade trees overhead. Just at the very edge of this picture, a rubber boot has been put upside down over a sharp star picket, so no one pokes themself while reaching through the fence to pat Clover. If you were here you would also be hearing a small human debating MOST strenuously over whether or not Clover is indeed, a dog, because dogs are patted and cows moo. This is important science and someone has to do it.
October 27, 2025 at 7:52 PM
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🧵Spotted at a Country Festival in Aotearoa New Zealand:

Numerous tiny humans and their dads are lined up to sit in a fire engine and to make the BIG HOSE go. Both tiny humans and dads showing equal levels of excitement. This is a FIRE ENGINE. You don't get cooler than that. (1)
You are looking at a white sign propped in the fork of a green leafy tree on a very sunny day. The sign is hand painted wood with red words saying: "Fire Engines". There are two arrows either side of these words pointing towards the fire engines, which are not visible, but you feel reassured because there's a sign. This is most important, because as anyone who has ever attended a rural fair knows, the fire engines are the coolest part of the whole thing and everyone wants to know where they are urgently. Beyond the sign you can see a big blue sky, green lush grass, and numerous people all wandering around stalls. Most of them walking away from the fire engines, possibly because they have seen the huge queue for them and have decided to get some food first. While looking at this sign, please imagine the sound of well over a thousand people having a very good time, small humans playing. A Morris Dancing's group's penny whistle and accordion and, most importantly of all, the WOOP WOOP noise of the fire engine siren going off in short bursts every now and then when someone is lucky enough to get to press the siren button. The smells in the air are of the nearby Brazilian roast meat truck, the nearby Dutch pancake stall that is currently brewing a very strong batch of coffee in traditional kettles, very green grass and sunscreen. You know, looking at this picture, that if you were here, you would be having a rather marvellous day.
October 26, 2025 at 10:49 PM
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Any typos spotted in this post woke up to no electricity and the delightful excuse to get out of the house and go for a walk. If spotted, please don't remind them that now the power's back on they have to get some work done after lunch. They'd really rather snooze in the park instead.
You're looking at a generously wide dirt track--think room enough for two mountain bike riders to pass each other--bordered on one side by a stunning blossoming plum tree and a whole lot of greenery. Between that greenery you can just see a hint of the reflection of water on a gently meandering river. On the other side of the track, there is a fence line of uneven posts. Think the sort of fence you'd draw if you didn't truck with straight lines. These posts are all shapes and sizes and do not care for uniformity. Beyond the fence there is lush green grass and the odd black cow who is having her breakfast. Beyond the cow there are trees that are being particularly pretty in the sunlight. Lighter green leaved trees in the foreground with darker pine trees in the background. The track down the middle stretches on, and while you can't see them, you could imagine a running man pushing a small human coming up behind you as you're taking this picture, bellowing nursery rhymes with the kind of enthusiasm that comes from zero sleep and not caring what people think anymore. It was adorable. The cow in the picture has no doubt heard these nursery rhymes approaching but cares not. She's having her grassy breakfast and that's all that matters.
October 22, 2025 at 10:47 PM
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*Wekas are a beloved local bird that will absolutely snaffle anything. (See picture.) They look innocent and quiet but they are very very very sneaky.

*The shags in this case were Chatham Islands shags as far as I could tell.

*Jandals are flip flops or thongs.
You're looking at an unassuming brown looking woodhen. Although quite frankly, this picture manages to make it look rather sinister because it's obviously determinedly following the person who took the picture, yours truly. And in this case, followed us for about ten minutes until we set up a lunch picnic, where it then hovered in the scrub nearby, vigilantly keeping a beady eye on the chips. It's got a small head with a pointy dull orange beak, a brown feathered body. The feathers are a mix of a wood-brown and a darker brown. Perfect for sneaky camouflage. Its legs are sturdy and chicken like, but maybe more solid. Think the types of bird feet you'd need to pad quietly up to a sandwich and snaffle it while no one's looking. It's walking on a dirt path with reeds behind it. Looking at this bird, you know that it's a determined sandwich seeking beastie and that it will not rest until it has gotten food for its family. It makes no noise. It is so sneaky it could follow you home, raid your fridge, watch TV on silent for a couple of hours and answer your emails while you sleep on the couch. But even knowing that, you can't help but like this bird. It is determined, but it's rather sweet when you get right down to it.
October 21, 2025 at 11:30 PM
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Also, behold two Tonka trucks hard at work at the beach. (Oohh beach.)
You're looking at a vast expanse of fine biscuit coloured sand. It goes on for a very long way because the tide is out, but in the very distance, you can get a flash of blue water. Some misty mountains are beyond that. They are partially shrouded by fluffy white clouds in a big blue sky. In the very foreground, there are two Tonka trucks positioned as if they're driving in a convoy. The one in the front is green, the one behind is the traditional yellow. They have various bits of detritus in their trays that show their owners have been very busy and the sand around them is scuffed, also showing great activity. The driftwood nearby shows that they've got a big job ahead of them. As you look at this picture, imagine two small humans a little off camera, debating the best place to create a pile of beach debris with the air of efficient Junior Beach Engineers, readying for a busy day at work. A faintly chilly salty breeze in the air and the sound of lapping waves, gulls and peeping oyster catchers in the distance.
October 17, 2025 at 12:45 AM
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Also, presenting my lovely partner Tony, the majestic manbeast who finished writing an epic science fiction novel yesterday.

I am SO ridiculously proud.

Big Angry Space Rocks will be out some time in the next year or so once edits happen.❤️
The boring version of this image description is that you're looking at a man sitting across a table, smiling with a glass of wine at his elbow. Okay, now that's out of the way. This man is my lovely partner Tony. Even though he's 46 he looks around 35 or so because he's Dorian Gray and somehow hasn't aged for a decade. He has dark brown soft curly hair, is quite slender with olive skin. He's grinning at the camera in a way that says I caught him just as he was laughing at something, not expecting a picture (I am very quick with my phone). He's wearing dark green framed glasses with fluro yellow highlights at right angles at the tops, bottoms and sides. His T-shirt is white and blue with tentacles all over it. The wine at his elbow is white. You know looking at this picture that this is a person who doesn't mind a tentacle monster. Is willing to baritone belly laugh at ridiculous things and is ridiculously intelligent when it comes to astrophysics to the point where he really should have studied that instead of spending half his career as a high flying engineer doing engineer things. This is a picture of a happy man. You know his book is going to be intelligent and fun and that the photographer adores him and is ridiculously proud. The end.
October 16, 2025 at 1:31 AM
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Also, I'm so chuffed to be able to share the cover for Tiny Moments of Joy: Spotted on Market Day in Aotearoa New Zealand, which will be coming out in paperback and ebook on the 11th of November this year.

All further details to come soon!

Huge thanks for your lovely encouragement this past year!❤️
You're looking at a damask pink... maybe soft red cover with the words Tiny Moments of Joy written in a serif font in white and orange. Above that are the words: Spotted on Market Day in Aotearoa New Zealand in a white sans serif font and the name George Penney is below in the same font. The cover has a border of pale ferns that are mostly white or a paler colour than the cover. You know looking at this cover that you will need a comfy chair, maybe a snoozing lap cat or dog and a sunny or warm spot to read this book. It's that kind of vibe.
October 14, 2025 at 11:07 PM
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Also, this was the view out of my living room window this morning before I took part in my lovely friend Caimh McDonnell's online book launch. Too pretty not to share.
You're looking at a photograph straight over a green valley that's got misty puffs of clouds travelling leisurely through it, not doing a very good job of hiding a whole lot of mostly single story mainly white bungalows below. On the hill directly in the picture's eyeline is a whole lot of trees that are hiding quite a large number of sheep and their spring lambs. Since my window was open when I took this picture, imagine the faint bleating of lambs drifting across the valley and a whole lot of bird song. An absolutely delightful cacophony. The sky overhead is a pale morning blue with pearly sunrise clouds hovering low down in the background. Looking at this picture it's a little hard to believe that I live in the middle of a city, but that's New Zealand for you. Also, since the window is open, you'd also be able to hear the drifting voices of a men's walking group passing by, gossiping up a storm and generally having a good catch up. And while you're at it, picture the daffy person taking this picture, wearing a dressing gown, leaning out of their window, frankly looking like a bit of a fright because they spotted the view while half way through doing their makeup for a friend's online book launch. This picture promises a good day. (Which quite frankly is how it's all turning out.)
October 9, 2025 at 10:37 PM
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BEHOLD the majesty of the Kiwi cheese scone. This scone isn't here for a fancy tea. This scone has come to rumble. This scone demands MORE butter. This scone has OPINIONS about jam. This scone is three square meals and elevenses. This scone has HEFT.
You do not eat this scone. You experience it.
You're looking at a large yellow gold beast, AKA a kiwi cheese scone, sitting on a white stoneware plate. It dominates the plate and the small bowl featuring two hefty triangles of butter next to it. If you were to lift this scone, you would feel its heft. This scone sees cheese and says give me more! You know that if you tapped the top of this scone it would make an ominous hollow sound that, if you know your cheese scones, promises a delicious crunchy top with a soft interior. Also on this table, admiring this scone is a yellow tea cup sitting on a blue saucer. A frankly inferior looking stainless steel teapot and milk jug containing just enough brew to wash down the scone. Elsewhere on the table is a comedic book from 1936 about Gardening and my notebook that I was using to jot spotted notes. It's brown covered and nondescript, unlike the scone of might. Which is easy to descript. It is majestic.
October 6, 2025 at 6:32 PM
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A gorgeous bit of the walking track. The beach is just beyond and to the left.
You're looking at the view taken from a walking track through a pine plantation. In the background you can see some snow capped mountains and a big blue sky. Those mountains would have you believing that they've put in that effort to look that snowy all winter and now that it's spring, they're just having a last hurrah. That's a lie. This is the first snow we've really seen on them all year and I'm choosing to believe they're only doing it to show off to the tourists just beginning to show up now it's spring. The trees either side of the walking track are a crisp green pine and given how blue the sky overhead is, you can imagine the sun is causing everything to have a delicious dry pine smell. And while you can't see it, if you were on this track you would hear crashing waves from the sea just beyond the trees to the right and up ahead. Standing here, you could almost believe that there isn't a small brown woodhen sneaking on your heels. It knows you have some tasty snacks in your backpack and it will track you until you finally sit down and eat them. Then, when you least expect it will steal some. (It totally did.)
October 2, 2025 at 1:03 AM
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The typos are also delighted to announce that they are currently working on the final proofs of their first book of Spotted Vignettes. It's called Tiny Moments of Joy and it will be out in November.

If you like the idea of being in the acknowledgements, there's a patreon tier for that. (Ooh ahh.)
You're looking at a round, black painted coffee table stacked with many book-and paper based things. The first thing you'll be noticing is a print out of a manuscript held together by bulldog clips. It's white paper with the words Tony Moments of Joy Spotted on Market Day in Aotearoa New Zealand written on the front. The corners of the paper are a bit dogeared because I have been known for treating my printouts abominably, shoving them in bags, not respecting their feelings. Next to the manuscript there's a half written flow chart--the result of Tony and I goofing off over breakfast. The chart asks if you have photosynthesized today. If you select yes, it says "You're a triffid aren't you, own up." ... I haven't finished making it, and it'll go on the pile of unfinished projects. There is also a stack of library books next to that with a copy of Ian M. Banks's Culture drawings and a few poetry books covered up by a cardboard file with my name on it. There are some flowers too. A woven placemat, and possibly some dustbunnies just out of sight that have formed a union and will be asking for better living conditions soon. The whole feel here is a coffee table belonging to an author person who really likes words and who is excited about her book being unleashed in the wild soon!
September 19, 2025 at 2:29 AM
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If you look really closely, you can see snow on those mountains! A quiet stretch at the end of Rabbit Island beach from a lovely long Sunday walk yesterday.
You're looking at a long stretch of beach lined with a pine forest to the left and with mountains in the distance. If you look very closely, potentially with a magnifying glass, you'll see that some of those mountains have snow on them. Because it's spring in New Zealand and that's when the mountains decide that they shall wear their winter fashion. Not winter. Because they're contrary like that. The beach has a brownish cream sand that's medium course underfoot and quite squishy. Your feet would sink in a bit if you walked here. To the forest side of the beach there's a profusion of driftwood left by recent flooding and storms. If you get out that magnifying glass again, you'll see people are already starting to use it to form mighty forts and hideouts. Because that seems to be an integral part of any kiwi childhood, adulthood. Along with sitting in those hideouts roaring that your siblings can't come in. The sky overhead is a bright blue with fluffy white clouds in elongated drifty shapes. If you were standing here, you'd here children playing behind you. The peep of the odd oyster catcher bird telling people to clear off, water lapping and two small humans in the distance arguing over who carries the salad.
September 15, 2025 at 1:00 AM
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Also, behold all the wonderful food at what was described as "a gentle showing of recent work" by the wonderful kiwi weaver, Annie Mackenzie this morning. If you're local to the Nelson Tasman area, Annie's work is the the Viewfinder Window gallery and it's really special.
You're looking at a table set up in a white walled gallery. It's been covered with a hand woven brown and white cloth. There's a ridiculously cute pile of napkins in the foreground featuring a kiwi bird with the word "Kiwi" on it. Next to the napkins, there's a tray of raisin bread that smells like it has a delicious caramel taste to it. (It does.) Then there is a plate covered in cheesecloth. That's the egg sandwiches, cut into tiny triangles. Behind the sandwiches, there is a plate of ginger crunch slice, which is effectively like a crumbly fudge with bits of ginger in it. They beyond that is a flat basket lined with a blue cloth napkin, piled with pikelets, which are tiny pancakes. They're slathered in butter and jam, which is either mulberry or boysenberry maybe? Behind all that, there's a pretty white jug with a whole lot of flowers shoved into it in a dishevelled and rather lovely way. This is a display of flowers that wouldn't mind you lounging around in your pajamas as you tell it the neighbourhood gossip. Next to all this is a table covered in a white and blue striped table cloth, with a bunch of teacups and mugs, ready for coffee and tea to be poured. Looking at this picture, you know there's some great conversation happening in this room. Most of it about weaving and how delicious the ginger crunch, raisin bread and pikelets are to be honest.
September 13, 2025 at 2:02 AM
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🧵My previous blackboard message to Tony, warning him not to interrupt me while I work (his idea) obviously lost its power to strike terror into depth of his cockles. Because he managed to bypass it multiple times yesterday to:
You're looking at a small fold out black board sitting in a doorway leading to a room where you can just see a couple of couches covered in throw rugs. The blackboard has the words: "You may hear you shall not pass and consider it a challenge. But if you pass you will experience an unfortold itchiness in your nethers of monumental proportions. You have been warned" The vibe of this sign is that anyone who passes shall definitely get roared at in the tone of a large surly dinosaur who's had someone take it's squeaky toy away. You do not want to pass this sign. Also, while picturing this scene, imagine my lovely partner Tony sharing space facts at me over it. Because while he will not pass now, he will not waste a good space fact.
September 9, 2025 at 7:58 PM
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🧵I don't often do author photoshoots in supermarket carparks (or at all), but when I do, it's colourful.
Taken a few weeks ago.
I am very chuffed with them. I got almost 200 to choose from but these are a few Tony nodded stoically at over his breakfast coffee so I'm assuming they pass muster.
You're looking at a pink haired human with their hands behind their head, standing against a green hedge backdrop. They're wearing pink glasses and green and white overalls. So, the vibe. The vibe here is someone who absolutely does not know how to be photographed, who has decided to stand against a green background while wearing green in a way that makes them hope they'll just blend in and look like a hedge with a head. Inconveniently, the pink hair and glasses, which is the sort of "slap you around if you look at it first thing in the morning it's that bright" kind of pink, kind of defeats this entire enterprise. The expression on this human's face is cheeky. Probably because I'd just finished sharing an absolutely filthy joke with my lovely photographer and she'd just told me to shut my mouth and pose or we'd be there all day. As this was being shot in a supermarket car park, imagine a couple of confused people looking on, but not too many, because this kind of thing is very normal in the part of the world where I live. People trying to impersonate hedges or woodland creatures unsuccessful is almost mandatory in fact. So, yes. The vibe is pink haired hedge human. I hope that helps. Our pink haired human continues in this particular image. But they've moved. And they've changed overalls. What?! I know! It was one of those days. The image is showing our subject wearing zebra print overalls, leaning against a grey wall, looking sideways at the camera. Behind them is a black wall with graffiti on it. Their hair is still neon pink, as are their glasses. Their hands are in their pockets. They have by this stage of the shoot relaxed a bit enough not to be pulling a silly face. They are actually smiling in kind of a natural way, pink lipstick too by the way...because they've exhausted all their "Oh bugger I'm on a photoshoot" anxiety and are now just relaxing and enjoying the company of their photographer friend. What you can't see here, is Rachael, a black haired very efficient, somewhat hilarious woman, crouching down behind a bike rack to get this shot, while a man in his 70s is trying to park his bike, huffing and snortling that people are using this carpark for non carpark things, even though he is using the carpark for complaining. It did provide quite a funny backdrop. What else... nope. This is just a straight up sensible author picture that you'd imagine in a real proper sensible book. I'm rather happy with it. Okay, this picture is where it all went bonkers. The author who in previous pictures was actually trying to be sensible, is laughing like a loon, leaning out from the hedge they were trying to camouflage against. Their pink hair is still their, as are their glasses. But their entire face is crunched up in laughter, possibly because they've just realised that the possibility of them ever being a hedge is nil. What you can't get from this image is the sheer immensity of this particular author's cackle. It's a cackle for the ages. I've been told that when I laugh in the cinema, people immediately know who the noise is coming from. Imagine a bubble bubble toil and trouble cackle and turn it up to eleven. Yeah. A bit more. Now you have it. The whole vibe in this picture is someone who's done with this photography business for the day and just wants to go chill with their photographer so they can continue cracking each other up with daft stories.
September 5, 2025 at 8:38 PM
georgepenney.bsky.social
Any typos spotted in this post would like to report that a weka*** stole their banana while they were photographing this waterfall yesterday. If typos spotted, please remind them not to leave their banana sitting on a rock while distracted. There are sneaky birds about. (Oh so sneaky!)
You're looking at a surprisingly good picture taken by a very old phone of New Zealand bush surrounding a big white waterfall. The waterfall is in the middle of the picture, with grey craggy rocks around it, then various trees and plants beyond. There are rocks and a clear water pool in the foreground. A big blue sky overhead. Imagine looking at this while getting a fine cool mist of water all over your face and hearing a cacophony of birdsong. You'd also be smelling the fug of moss, trees, ferns and crystal clear running water. Oh, and also imagine a weka off camera. A small brown bird who has spotted a banana and has decided that it would like to eat it very much. As the photographer is looking at their picture, congratulating themselves on their accidental photography skills, imagine the faint rustle of that weka hauling that banana up some rocks and then into some ferns, spotted at the last minute and never to be seen again. I hope it enjoyed the banana. The little thieving feathered fiend.
August 18, 2025 at 8:17 PM
georgepenney.bsky.social
🧵So... I'm trying to finish a book. Which means I'm maximum procrastinating (cough... fishing for inspiration.) Which means that when I spotted this sign on a beach walk, I was VERY excited. Dead whale! The promise of drama! (And potentially an overwhelming stenchpong for the ages!) Pathos! (1)
You're looking at a white sign saying "Warning Biohazard!" Liquid from the dead whale is a risk to human health. Do not take any part from this animal!" There is then some legal blah blah under that but the most important thing is up top. A dead whale! It's liquid! Goo! The kind of thing to make a small human boy child (and this grown human woman) widdle themselves with gleeful excitement because hey, drama! Anyway, the sign is attached to a fence and is surrounded by a whole lot of pretty green that you wouldn't normally associate with an epic beach. That's because this is at the beginning of a 20 minute walk over sheep farms and dunes. Now picture yourself looking at this sign with a whole massive calmouring family behind you all reading it over your shoulder... personal space with a stranger... what's that when a dead whale is imminent?! And then traipsing behind you for a walk to the beach, getting more and more excited as you go. I should also mention the air you are breathing as you read this sign does not smell like whale. It smells like the sea and sheep and the kiwi bush. I feel like that's an important fact at this juncture. You're looking out at the sea from inside an arched cave with a whole lot of footprints on the sand at its base. Behind the cave's entrance is a big blue sky, a large rock and a blue sea. It is a very nice day. You will note that this image doesn't not show any deceased whale OR canoodling backpackers. They are in a cave around 200 meters away. They at this stage are not aware that that cave has a vent that opens up next to the walk path coming down the dunes. They will be later seen leaving their cave, pretending not to be suspicious while a big family looks at them with disappointment because they are not hooting birds.
August 16, 2025 at 11:46 PM
georgepenney.bsky.social
Hey lovely Kiwi people. I just got home from seeing George Fenn's Sexy Ghost Boy and it was possibly the most I've laughed in years. It's very gentle, but still kinda raunchy and ridiculous. Think Mr. Bean. But not. But sexy. If you're in Auckland, Dunedin or Wānaka I can't recommend it enough.
You're seeing the flyer for George Fenn's Sexy Ghost Boy, A supernatural comedy. It shows the star wearing a suit jacket, white shirt, sunglasses and a baseball cap against a green lit room. There's a gauze curtain. This show is mime based. Hilarious and those clothes really don't stay on for long. My cheeks hurt from laughing. Honestly do yourself a favour and go see this guy.
July 26, 2025 at 9:35 AM