Paul Cowdell
@paulcowdell.bsky.social
I research, write on, & talk about folklore. Happy to have been variously described as an 'expert in morbid eschatology' and a 'cannibalism celebrity'.
Chuffed to find this today. Jacques Brunius is a fascinating figure in British Surrealism.
November 12, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Chuffed to find this today. Jacques Brunius is a fascinating figure in British Surrealism.
They missed a space when they emailed the commission to the graphic designers. They'd intended something like this to advertise Pope Yes.
October 27, 2025 at 4:54 PM
They missed a space when they emailed the commission to the graphic designers. They'd intended something like this to advertise Pope Yes.
Local charity shop had a bunch of these, and suddenly I am /extremely interested/ in WW Bride, who seems to have written serially on early C20 charismatic American cults
October 27, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Local charity shop had a bunch of these, and suddenly I am /extremely interested/ in WW Bride, who seems to have written serially on early C20 charismatic American cults
I was enjoying responses to this yesterday. Today I was in a charity shop and heard someone whistle the riff to 'Tom Hark' by the Piranhas, a little slowly and out of tune.
It. Was. Serial. Killer. Perfection.
It. Was. Serial. Killer. Perfection.
October 9, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I was enjoying responses to this yesterday. Today I was in a charity shop and heard someone whistle the riff to 'Tom Hark' by the Piranhas, a little slowly and out of tune.
It. Was. Serial. Killer. Perfection.
It. Was. Serial. Killer. Perfection.
Me in my very early 20s with my (much-missed) dad. I think we'd gone to pick my sister up from a friend's house, but it's the fact that it's such an insignificant moment that makes it so lovely. I've no idea why we were so relaxed, so happy, but it fills me with joy every time I even think of it.
October 8, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Me in my very early 20s with my (much-missed) dad. I think we'd gone to pick my sister up from a friend's house, but it's the fact that it's such an insignificant moment that makes it so lovely. I've no idea why we were so relaxed, so happy, but it fills me with joy every time I even think of it.
Other Morans are available
October 6, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Other Morans are available
How did I miss this news at the time? Vegetable Eurovision.
October 3, 2025 at 11:45 AM
How did I miss this news at the time? Vegetable Eurovision.
RIP Claudia Cardinale
September 24, 2025 at 12:27 PM
RIP Claudia Cardinale
Just learned that this lovely man, the extraordinary J Michael Fields, has died. I'm devastated. I worked with him on his community show of Dr Syn. We were in touch periodically - I sent him my article on Romney Marsh - but he was a dynamic hovering and supportive presence always. Go well, m'dear x
September 22, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Just learned that this lovely man, the extraordinary J Michael Fields, has died. I'm devastated. I worked with him on his community show of Dr Syn. We were in touch periodically - I sent him my article on Romney Marsh - but he was a dynamic hovering and supportive presence always. Go well, m'dear x
September 19, 2025 at 1:13 PM
My kind of category
September 18, 2025 at 9:26 PM
My kind of category
As the world explodes around us, it's important we take time to continue enjoying the little things.
'It's understood waffles left in a toaster were the reason for the call-out.'
'It's understood waffles left in a toaster were the reason for the call-out.'
September 15, 2025 at 1:17 PM
As the world explodes around us, it's important we take time to continue enjoying the little things.
'It's understood waffles left in a toaster were the reason for the call-out.'
'It's understood waffles left in a toaster were the reason for the call-out.'
Using one photo already on your phone, what is the announcement tomorrow at 2?
September 2, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Using one photo already on your phone, what is the announcement tomorrow at 2?
I'd have bought this copy of JE Williams's The Derbyshire Miners in any case, but this was the icing on the cake. The facework certificate of the original owner, whose name and various addresses are also inscribed.
![Certificate of Training for Employment at the Coal Face of Derbyshire miner H[iram] Bruce Wright, signed 2nd June, 1956](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:kux545hagwf7wmczzh24pdar/bafkreigxbp33rrea2actatfvkd46jw6mpg2tawm26slcayepjkwnv44fri@jpeg)
September 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
I'd have bought this copy of JE Williams's The Derbyshire Miners in any case, but this was the icing on the cake. The facework certificate of the original owner, whose name and various addresses are also inscribed.
How I captain a starship
August 29, 2025 at 7:06 PM
How I captain a starship
Summarising my relationship with the local folk scene ahead of a short guest spot next week.
August 21, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Summarising my relationship with the local folk scene ahead of a short guest spot next week.
Filth. It's the Plaistow way.
August 17, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Filth. It's the Plaistow way.
But the one that marked me for good was in A Bridge Too Far (1977). This remains a big film emotionally for me - I saw it with my dad - and it's chock full of great performances, but his Maj Fuller is the one that picks away at me, that scratches down to something raw and different. Thank you (3/3)
August 16, 2025 at 10:05 AM
But the one that marked me for good was in A Bridge Too Far (1977). This remains a big film emotionally for me - I saw it with my dad - and it's chock full of great performances, but his Maj Fuller is the one that picks away at me, that scratches down to something raw and different. Thank you (3/3)
Sometimes you see a performance of such luminescence that minor characters reshape a whole film for you. His turn with Mark Hamill in Britannia Hospital, perhaps the most scabrously satirical of the Mick Travis trilogy, was as bracingly fresh as everything else in that film. (2/3)
August 16, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Sometimes you see a performance of such luminescence that minor characters reshape a whole film for you. His turn with Mark Hamill in Britannia Hospital, perhaps the most scabrously satirical of the Mick Travis trilogy, was as bracingly fresh as everything else in that film. (2/3)
I'm really sad at the passing of #RayBrooks, who occupied a particular spot in the formation of my imagination. His voice was beautiful - like many people my age I was hooked by Mr Benn - but I was also totally captivated by his looks, his capacity for slightly ineffectual loucheness. Go well.
August 11, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I'm really sad at the passing of #RayBrooks, who occupied a particular spot in the formation of my imagination. His voice was beautiful - like many people my age I was hooked by Mr Benn - but I was also totally captivated by his looks, his capacity for slightly ineffectual loucheness. Go well.
Meanwhile, in local news...
August 6, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Meanwhile, in local news...
Put someone who looks great in a hat.
August 5, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Put someone who looks great in a hat.
#IoW types! This @ventnorfringe.bsky.social has seen some cracking #storytelling sets from members of Island Storytellers, individually and collectively. This excellent-looking show by @merlfluin.bsky.social on Sunday evening wraps up the group's contributions this year: fb.me/e/5NmNl90vW
July 25, 2025 at 3:37 PM
#IoW types! This @ventnorfringe.bsky.social has seen some cracking #storytelling sets from members of Island Storytellers, individually and collectively. This excellent-looking show by @merlfluin.bsky.social on Sunday evening wraps up the group's contributions this year: fb.me/e/5NmNl90vW