Mark Payne
@markpayne.bsky.social
Greetings from Cumbria - mostly posting my own photographs, or re-posting other stuff I like - short story writer, short song writer, lapsed Physicist
Pinned
Mark Payne
@markpayne.bsky.social
· Nov 12
Mr Bufo Has a Go at Mountaineering by Mark Payne
Short stories hand-picked from authors around the world. Submissions accepted. Humour, crime, sci-fi, fantasy, horror and everyday life.
www.fictionontheweb.co.uk
My first attempt at writing a short story was published at Fiction on the Web. They publish new work every week and have been doing so for decades, so there's lots of original stories there to check out.
Great project - all supported by Patreon.
www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/2024/06/mr-b...
Great project - all supported by Patreon.
www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/2024/06/mr-b...
Reposted by Mark Payne
This is a follow up to another @privateeyenews.bsky.social #cartoon which involved the #bugler sounding the retreat. (Fair to say it's a pretty niche section of the cartoon market... 😊) #military #militaryhistory #nightattack #ambush #soldiers #music
January 21, 2026 at 9:34 AM
This is a follow up to another @privateeyenews.bsky.social #cartoon which involved the #bugler sounding the retreat. (Fair to say it's a pretty niche section of the cartoon market... 😊) #military #militaryhistory #nightattack #ambush #soldiers #music
Reposted by Mark Payne
Snow falls on the Beatles statue at Pier Head, Liverpool, 2024 (Peter Byrne/PA Wire).
January 16, 2026 at 8:27 AM
Snow falls on the Beatles statue at Pier Head, Liverpool, 2024 (Peter Byrne/PA Wire).
Reposted by Mark Payne
If you've ever struggled with understanding British humour the comments on this post might just help.
BREAKING: The UK is sending a single military officer to Greenland at the request of Denmark to participate in a multi-nation exercise
January 15, 2026 at 6:54 AM
If you've ever struggled with understanding British humour the comments on this post might just help.
Reposted by Mark Payne
The conversations we're going to have increasingly in the coming years - to what extent do goods and services supply need to be under some sort of national control, or what is the vulnerability to US, China or anyone else? Where the answer can't be "everything".
www.ft.com/content/8fc2...
www.ft.com/content/8fc2...
Tech sovereignty should not be a subscription model
Concern about the loss of jurisdiction and agency to US companies is becoming more pressing for Europeans
www.ft.com
January 15, 2026 at 7:23 AM
The conversations we're going to have increasingly in the coming years - to what extent do goods and services supply need to be under some sort of national control, or what is the vulnerability to US, China or anyone else? Where the answer can't be "everything".
www.ft.com/content/8fc2...
www.ft.com/content/8fc2...
Reposted by Mark Payne
An Otter going about its business (swimming, diving, eating fish) on the River Clyde, east of Glasgow Green. If you watch to the end you'll get some other bonus fishing-beasts from the Clyde.
January 11, 2026 at 6:10 PM
An Otter going about its business (swimming, diving, eating fish) on the River Clyde, east of Glasgow Green. If you watch to the end you'll get some other bonus fishing-beasts from the Clyde.
Morecambe Bay - our local water... youtube.com/watch?v=Ots9...
Bore Hunting
YouTube video by DMTwo
youtube.com
January 11, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Morecambe Bay - our local water... youtube.com/watch?v=Ots9...
Reposted by Mark Payne
Topping The Stage 100 after a career journey from Port Talbot to the West End and Hollywood, Michael Sheen has returned to his native Wales on a mission, as the founder and artistic director of the Welsh National Theatre.
He tells The Stage why this is his most crucial work yet👇
He tells The Stage why this is his most crucial work yet👇
Actor and founder of Welsh National Theatre Michael Sheen
Topping The Stage 100, Michael Sheen tells Nicholas Davies why his work as the founder and artistic director of Welsh National Theatre is his most crucial yet
www.thestage.co.uk
January 9, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Topping The Stage 100 after a career journey from Port Talbot to the West End and Hollywood, Michael Sheen has returned to his native Wales on a mission, as the founder and artistic director of the Welsh National Theatre.
He tells The Stage why this is his most crucial work yet👇
He tells The Stage why this is his most crucial work yet👇
Reposted by Mark Payne
We’re very delighted that our Joint CEOs, Executive Director Julie Weston and Artistic Director Tom Littler, have both been named in The Stage 100 2026 🎭
Thank you, as always, to our audiences for your continued support and belief in what we do 🧡
Thank you, as always, to our audiences for your continued support and belief in what we do 🧡
January 8, 2026 at 1:01 PM
We’re very delighted that our Joint CEOs, Executive Director Julie Weston and Artistic Director Tom Littler, have both been named in The Stage 100 2026 🎭
Thank you, as always, to our audiences for your continued support and belief in what we do 🧡
Thank you, as always, to our audiences for your continued support and belief in what we do 🧡
Reposted by Mark Payne
January 6, 2026 at 9:52 AM
Cumbria - Eggerslack Wood - the trees weren't really that bendy. 😀
January 3, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Cumbria - Eggerslack Wood - the trees weren't really that bendy. 😀
Reposted by Mark Payne
Fiction on the Web is accepting submissions for stories of 1,000-10,000 words in the following genres: humour, horror, fantasy, sci-fi, crime, literary. And anything that doesn't fit into a genre niche is welcome too! www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/p/submission...
Submissions
Short stories hand-picked from authors around the world. Submissions accepted. Humour, crime, sci-fi, fantasy, horror and everyday life.
www.fictionontheweb.co.uk
January 3, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Fiction on the Web is accepting submissions for stories of 1,000-10,000 words in the following genres: humour, horror, fantasy, sci-fi, crime, literary. And anything that doesn't fit into a genre niche is welcome too! www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/p/submission...
Reposted by Mark Payne
Enjoyed another #culturevulture day yesterday - this time at @thelowry.com - and was suitably inspired by the wonderful #quentinblake #exhibition Also really appreciated the permanent #lslowrycollection too. #art #illustration
January 3, 2026 at 9:58 AM
Enjoyed another #culturevulture day yesterday - this time at @thelowry.com - and was suitably inspired by the wonderful #quentinblake #exhibition Also really appreciated the permanent #lslowrycollection too. #art #illustration
Reposted by Mark Payne
Peter Klucik's illustration for an unpublished version of "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien #botd 1892
#TolkienDay #TheHobbit
#TolkienDay #TheHobbit
January 3, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Peter Klucik's illustration for an unpublished version of "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien #botd 1892
#TolkienDay #TheHobbit
#TolkienDay #TheHobbit
Reposted by Mark Payne
Thanks to @thefolklorepress.bsky.social for bringing to my attention these quirky illustrations by Slovak illustrator Peter Klúcik for an unpublished edition of The Hobbit. They’re simply delightful! It’s as if Roald Dahl grew a very long beard and relocated to Middle Earth! #TolkienDay
January 3, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Thanks to @thefolklorepress.bsky.social for bringing to my attention these quirky illustrations by Slovak illustrator Peter Klúcik for an unpublished edition of The Hobbit. They’re simply delightful! It’s as if Roald Dahl grew a very long beard and relocated to Middle Earth! #TolkienDay
Morecambe Bay - Jupiter, the Moon and some clouds.
January 2, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Morecambe Bay - Jupiter, the Moon and some clouds.
Reposted by Mark Payne
For decades, urban walkers have been treated like vehicles, with mapping tools optimising routes for a single metric – travel time – while treating a dark alley and a high street as identical, if the distance is the same.
tcnv.link/txxrMmJ
tcnv.link/txxrMmJ
What’s the safest way to walk home at night? We’ve created an AI-powered app that shows you
This technology was developed in response to the stark disparity in how urban safety is experienced by women and men.
tcnv.link
January 2, 2026 at 7:00 AM
For decades, urban walkers have been treated like vehicles, with mapping tools optimising routes for a single metric – travel time – while treating a dark alley and a high street as identical, if the distance is the same.
tcnv.link/txxrMmJ
tcnv.link/txxrMmJ
Reposted by Mark Payne
Don't go mad with those #newyearresolutions ... @privateeyenews.bsky.social #gym #fitness #weightloss #accident #cartoon #originalart #dippenandink #watercolour Available here: www.chrisbeetles.com/artist/537/j...
January 2, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Don't go mad with those #newyearresolutions ... @privateeyenews.bsky.social #gym #fitness #weightloss #accident #cartoon #originalart #dippenandink #watercolour Available here: www.chrisbeetles.com/artist/537/j...
Reposted by Mark Payne
pound for pound this might be the funniest thing ever written
December 31, 2025 at 6:15 PM
pound for pound this might be the funniest thing ever written
Reposted by Mark Payne
Other work of the Ladybird artists.
‘Tower of London’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
‘Tower of London’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
December 30, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Other work of the Ladybird artists.
‘Tower of London’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
‘Tower of London’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
Reposted by Mark Payne
Did you know I started Fiction on the Web in July 1996? That means it has been publishing short stories for nearly 30 years! And I intend to keep going for 30 more.
December 28, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Did you know I started Fiction on the Web in July 1996? That means it has been publishing short stories for nearly 30 years! And I intend to keep going for 30 more.
Reposted by Mark Payne
Here's my other #cartoon from the previous @privateeyenews.bsky.social - new, bumper #christmas edition is out now and I'm delighted to be in that too. #pirates #shadowpuppets #onboardentertainment
December 21, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Here's my other #cartoon from the previous @privateeyenews.bsky.social - new, bumper #christmas edition is out now and I'm delighted to be in that too. #pirates #shadowpuppets #onboardentertainment
Reposted by Mark Payne
Christ The King, Oakwood, Enfield
1939
Constantine Bosschaerts
www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/christ-the-k...
1939
Constantine Bosschaerts
www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/christ-the-k...
December 21, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Christ The King, Oakwood, Enfield
1939
Constantine Bosschaerts
www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/christ-the-k...
1939
Constantine Bosschaerts
www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/christ-the-k...
Reposted by Mark Payne
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar
Window 20
‘Winter Sunrise’
Artist: SR Badmin
Window 20
‘Winter Sunrise’
Artist: SR Badmin
December 20, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar
Window 20
‘Winter Sunrise’
Artist: SR Badmin
Window 20
‘Winter Sunrise’
Artist: SR Badmin
Reposted by Mark Payne
The Ladybird Christmas tree.
Spindly, slightly wonky, over decorated with a random assortment of decorations - and always ready to shed an improbable quantity of needles
Artist: Harry Wingfield (1964)
Spindly, slightly wonky, over decorated with a random assortment of decorations - and always ready to shed an improbable quantity of needles
Artist: Harry Wingfield (1964)
December 19, 2025 at 8:59 PM
The Ladybird Christmas tree.
Spindly, slightly wonky, over decorated with a random assortment of decorations - and always ready to shed an improbable quantity of needles
Artist: Harry Wingfield (1964)
Spindly, slightly wonky, over decorated with a random assortment of decorations - and always ready to shed an improbable quantity of needles
Artist: Harry Wingfield (1964)
Reposted by Mark Payne
Am out and about in 'middle England'. People are not in a permanent frothing rage, in fact bar a few grumbles about late buses they seem quite happy.
At some point we might want to wonder whether it isn't just children who should have limits on their screen time.
At some point we might want to wonder whether it isn't just children who should have limits on their screen time.
December 19, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Am out and about in 'middle England'. People are not in a permanent frothing rage, in fact bar a few grumbles about late buses they seem quite happy.
At some point we might want to wonder whether it isn't just children who should have limits on their screen time.
At some point we might want to wonder whether it isn't just children who should have limits on their screen time.