Rob McIvor
@rob-mcivor.bsky.social
Read a lot, write a bit; walk a lot, ride a bit. Happiest at altitude. 2x Page Turner finalist, Exeter and JBA longlisted. Cheshire Novel Prize top 100. New novel, “What Goes on Tour”, published May 2026.
Location: Blackheath, London
www.robmcivor.com
Location: Blackheath, London
www.robmcivor.com
So, after 37 years of hard service, this little workhorse has finally succumbed to age and begun distorting lower frequencies 😢.
On the bright side, both Christmas and my birthday are approaching…. 😁
On the bright side, both Christmas and my birthday are approaching…. 😁
November 27, 2025 at 6:38 PM
So, after 37 years of hard service, this little workhorse has finally succumbed to age and begun distorting lower frequencies 😢.
On the bright side, both Christmas and my birthday are approaching…. 😁
On the bright side, both Christmas and my birthday are approaching…. 😁
Shameful
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Shameful
Reposted by Rob McIvor
Why don't you Google it, Kevin. The Internet is full of short films demonstrating this.
November 23, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Why don't you Google it, Kevin. The Internet is full of short films demonstrating this.
I have seriously angered the management of some restaurants, esp in the US, by refusing to pay service charges. I tip the staff, directly, in cash. I’d certainly challenge an “admin charge”.
I see the London restaurant service charge story has been picked up by other outlets, do share the original by @londoncentric.media instead www.londoncentric.media/p/admin-char...
Goodbye service charge, hello 'admin fee'
Plus: The difficulty of sourcing live snails for a London restaurant and a tribute to one of London's leading American candy shops.
www.londoncentric.media
November 6, 2025 at 12:18 PM
I have seriously angered the management of some restaurants, esp in the US, by refusing to pay service charges. I tip the staff, directly, in cash. I’d certainly challenge an “admin charge”.
Reposted by Rob McIvor
Since when did it become a nail bar & waxing clinic?
November 5, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Since when did it become a nail bar & waxing clinic?
Reposted by Rob McIvor
Our next workshop is Thursday 6th so please get in touch if you're a confident writer looking for a supportive community www.blackheathwriters.com
November 2, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Our next workshop is Thursday 6th so please get in touch if you're a confident writer looking for a supportive community www.blackheathwriters.com
Ah. Decisions, decisions…
October 28, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Ah. Decisions, decisions…
I know everyone says that first view of the Treasury at Petra is pretty heart-stopping (as it was, just after dawn), but the first sight of the Monastery after the climb of Ad-Deir is not bad either.
October 26, 2025 at 12:37 PM
I know everyone says that first view of the Treasury at Petra is pretty heart-stopping (as it was, just after dawn), but the first sight of the Monastery after the climb of Ad-Deir is not bad either.
Open air bookstore - Amman style 😁
October 23, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Open air bookstore - Amman style 😁
Can we add: people joining Zoom conference calls in cafes without headphones? It’s bad enough listening to one moron “circling back” or “deep diving”. When there’s a dozen of them… 😤
people playing music/videos on their phone speakers in public is more than just mildly annoying and is instead a leading indicator of the decline of community and empath
Do you have any extremely niche, but serious, ethical stances?
October 20, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Can we add: people joining Zoom conference calls in cafes without headphones? It’s bad enough listening to one moron “circling back” or “deep diving”. When there’s a dozen of them… 😤
Define your musical taste in 8 artists
The Beatles
Deaf School
Joe Jackson
Louis Jordan
John Martyn
Steve Newman & Tony Cox
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
Neil Young
I’m also hearing a lot of new music that I like but I figure 25 years of listening is the baseline qualification for a “favourite”
The Beatles
Deaf School
Joe Jackson
Louis Jordan
John Martyn
Steve Newman & Tony Cox
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
Neil Young
I’m also hearing a lot of new music that I like but I figure 25 years of listening is the baseline qualification for a “favourite”
Define your musical taste in 8 artists
Morphine
TV on the Radio
Bruce Springsteen
They Might Be Giants
Lorde
Ministry
Big Maybelle
Soul Coughing
Forgive me for being alive in the nineties and having two ears connected to a heart
Morphine
TV on the Radio
Bruce Springsteen
They Might Be Giants
Lorde
Ministry
Big Maybelle
Soul Coughing
Forgive me for being alive in the nineties and having two ears connected to a heart
Define your musical taste in 8 artists:
- Aespa
- Disembodied Tyrant
- Poison
- Megadeth
- Avril Lavigne
- Ano
- DragonForce
- The Carpenters
Impossible!
- Aespa
- Disembodied Tyrant
- Poison
- Megadeth
- Avril Lavigne
- Ano
- DragonForce
- The Carpenters
Impossible!
October 18, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Define your musical taste in 8 artists
The Beatles
Deaf School
Joe Jackson
Louis Jordan
John Martyn
Steve Newman & Tony Cox
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
Neil Young
I’m also hearing a lot of new music that I like but I figure 25 years of listening is the baseline qualification for a “favourite”
The Beatles
Deaf School
Joe Jackson
Louis Jordan
John Martyn
Steve Newman & Tony Cox
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
Neil Young
I’m also hearing a lot of new music that I like but I figure 25 years of listening is the baseline qualification for a “favourite”
Apparently today is Mental Health Day and tomorrow is Bookshop Day. That’s about as perfect an example of a problem meeting à solution that you could ask for 🙂
October 10, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Apparently today is Mental Health Day and tomorrow is Bookshop Day. That’s about as perfect an example of a problem meeting à solution that you could ask for 🙂
Reposted by Rob McIvor
I run this writer's workshop group with three friends so if you're looking for a constructive space in which to workshop your next masterpiece please take a look!
Hello all! Our website will be going live soon so watch this space! Www.blackheathwriters.com
October 4, 2025 at 1:22 PM
I run this writer's workshop group with three friends so if you're looking for a constructive space in which to workshop your next masterpiece please take a look!
Slightly surreal moment at à gig last night. I was wearing a T-shirt with another band’s logo and the guitarist in that band tapped me on the shoulder and said “nice t-shirt”.
October 3, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Slightly surreal moment at à gig last night. I was wearing a T-shirt with another band’s logo and the guitarist in that band tapped me on the shoulder and said “nice t-shirt”.
I hasten to stress that this offer is not from me, it's from someone whose opinion of your writing has some value!
A chance for me to read your writing... open.substack.com/pub/honested...
A chance for me to read your writing... open.substack.com/pub/honested...
A chance for me to read your writing...
A competition, and a run-through of what you may have missed...
open.substack.com
October 1, 2025 at 12:51 PM
I hasten to stress that this offer is not from me, it's from someone whose opinion of your writing has some value!
A chance for me to read your writing... open.substack.com/pub/honested...
A chance for me to read your writing... open.substack.com/pub/honested...
Is it only me, or does this look as though the RSC is actually staging a production of The Exorcist in Neverland?
Wendy & Peter Pan Tickets | Central Tickets
centralticketsShowsMetaDescription
centraltickets.tixculture.com
September 30, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Is it only me, or does this look as though the RSC is actually staging a production of The Exorcist in Neverland?
Reposted by Rob McIvor
I don’t love the “feud” framing, as much as I do appreciate the mayor standing up to Trump. Sadiq Khan is not feuding with anyone. He was the target of a vicious, racist attack and is standing up for himself and others.
Donald Trump is 'racist, sexist and Islamophobic', says Sadiq Khan amid feud with US president
Donald Trump is 'racist, sexist and Islamophobic', says Sadiq Khan amid feud with US president
Sadiq Khan has branded Donald Trump "racist, sexist, misogynistic" and "Islamophobic" following the US president's latest attack on London.
news.sky.com
September 24, 2025 at 12:20 PM
I don’t love the “feud” framing, as much as I do appreciate the mayor standing up to Trump. Sadiq Khan is not feuding with anyone. He was the target of a vicious, racist attack and is standing up for himself and others.
Reposted by Rob McIvor
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again.
Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐
Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐
September 23, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again.
Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐
Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐
Reposted by Rob McIvor
Shame on Downing Street for going along with this. So much for being committed to a free press
September 18, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Shame on Downing Street for going along with this. So much for being committed to a free press
And finally, the unofficial end point for the Grand Tour of the Alps - the Cafe du Cyclistes in Nice Harbour. Lot of interest from other customers in my 30yo Dawes Galaxy - especially when they pick it up with the panniers attached!
September 17, 2025 at 12:14 PM
And finally, the unofficial end point for the Grand Tour of the Alps - the Cafe du Cyclistes in Nice Harbour. Lot of interest from other customers in my 30yo Dawes Galaxy - especially when they pick it up with the panniers attached!
Four years ago today I was crossing the border on my LE-JoG jaunt. Tonight, I’m about 18 miles from Nice, near the end of my tour of the Alps. What should I start planning next?
September 16, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Four years ago today I was crossing the border on my LE-JoG jaunt. Tonight, I’m about 18 miles from Nice, near the end of my tour of the Alps. What should I start planning next?
Doesn’t matter how developed you think you are as a writer, this positive, constructive group will help you become even better. Give it a try.
Next group meeting is on the 25th so this is a great time to introduce yourself with a writing sample and a little about what you'd like from the group to blackheathwriters at gmail dot com
If you seem like the kind of person we can work with we'll get back to you asap
If you seem like the kind of person we can work with we'll get back to you asap
September 16, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Doesn’t matter how developed you think you are as a writer, this positive, constructive group will help you become even better. Give it a try.
À long slog upwards but the views from the summit of the Cime de la Bonette and on the ways up and down made it worthwhile. Hopefully a couple of easier days ahead now, en route to Nice.
September 15, 2025 at 4:11 PM
À long slog upwards but the views from the summit of the Cime de la Bonette and on the ways up and down made it worthwhile. Hopefully a couple of easier days ahead now, en route to Nice.
Good climb of the Col de L’Izoard from Briancon- first time from that direction for me - but where is the sunshine? Really chilly going downhill in this weather 😬
September 13, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Good climb of the Col de L’Izoard from Briancon- first time from that direction for me - but where is the sunshine? Really chilly going downhill in this weather 😬
Very satisfying climb of the Col de Galibier today. Possibly the most enjoyable of the tour so far. Followed it with a fast drop to the Col de Lauteret and à long lunch in the cafe. Last time I was there I was mending the 3rd of my punctures on the Etape du Tour 🙁
September 11, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Very satisfying climb of the Col de Galibier today. Possibly the most enjoyable of the tour so far. Followed it with a fast drop to the Col de Lauteret and à long lunch in the cafe. Last time I was there I was mending the 3rd of my punctures on the Etape du Tour 🙁