Del Hughes 📚💙
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delhughes.bsky.social
Del Hughes 📚💙
@delhughes.bsky.social
830 followers 1.6K following 420 posts
Award-winning author and feature writer @nation.cymru. Lover of the weird, the uncanny, and the fondanty delights that are French Fancies. Debut book available via linktr.ee/delhughes or in all good bookshops.✍️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴‍☠️ #booksky
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delhughes.bsky.social
Just discovered I’m a finalist for ‘Feature Writer of Year’ at the 2025 Wales Media Awards! So chuffed to be on the list again (along with some real stars!). I’m giddy with delight so am having a snowball to celebrate! Woohoo! 🥳❄️⚽️ @nation.cymru

journalistscharity.org.uk/wales-media-aw…
A pint of snowball with red straw
November 17, 2025 at 6:02 PM
delhughes.bsky.social
Hey guys, here’s the link to my latest adventure! This time it’s a bittersweet brew - unveiling the mysteries of the leaves, but bidding a very sad farewell to a favourite ‘character.’ #SpillTheTea #SpillTheTears 🫖🍂🔮💔

@cambriastories.bsky.social
@nation.cymru
nation.cymru/feature/pour...
A collection of coasters from Coaltrains Coffee Shop, Barry Station - a riot of colour, patterns, and jazz themes
November 17, 2025 at 1:26 PM
delhughes.bsky.social
Hi gang, here’s link to Part 2 in my series of holiday #travelogues, and we’re still in glorious #NorthWales. This one contains an inordinate amount of vowels, a decomposing seagull, and some (less than) horny hijinks! #Llandudno #VisitWales #YahtzeeRocks 🍖🐐🏖️🏰
@cambriastories.bsky.social
July 6, 2025 at 11:06 PM
delhughes.bsky.social
Hi gang, 👇 link to the first in a new series of holiday #travelogues detailing last year’s summer adventures. This time, my search for adventure takes me north, kicking off in glorious #NorthWales. Part I details the journey up, so cue spats, sulks & Tolkien’esque landscapes! Enjoy x ⛰️🏖️🐕
May 19, 2025 at 6:24 AM
delhughes.bsky.social
Pic 1, showing a very nervous me before my first ever slot at a real literary festival. Pic 2, relaxed and starting to enjoy myself. Was a wonderful day and a cracking festival. And huge thanks to Alan Bilton for guiding me through. Can't wait to do another one now🥳😉 @cambriastories.bsky.social
Woman and man sitting beside table,in front of a PPT display. It's an author talk and bith are looking pensive, while waiting for session to begin. Same room, now see back of audience's heads, and pensive woman speaker now looks more relaxed as she laughs.
April 29, 2025 at 8:19 AM
delhughes.bsky.social
After a four month hiatus, my latest article features black dogs, stripey cats, melodic trees, Nordic socks, and the extremely sadistic tendencies of Anwen, my oversized balance bike. What more could you want on Easter Sunday? Oh yeah, #Trump pops up too 😤🍊 #dogs #doldrums #depression #hope 🧥🌨️🌱🚴‍♂️🐕‍🦺
A lovely fluffy black dog named Wolfie. He’s sitting outside on a blue cushion and his front paws are neatly crossed. He’s a cutie.
April 20, 2025 at 8:59 PM
delhughes.bsky.social
Hi pals, just a heads up that I’ll be in conversation with Alan Bilton at this year’s Llandeilo Lit Fest. So come along on Sunday 27th April (10:45am) for readings, laughter, and chat about my book, A Year of Living Dangerously.
Llandeilo Lit Fest Poster featuring the front covers of twenty books whose authors will be t the festival. It’s bright and eye catching and also features details of the festival - it’s on from 25th to 27th April 2025 and tickets are available by visiting llandeilolitfest.org
April 4, 2025 at 11:31 AM
delhughes.bsky.social
On a DIY Writing Retreat in beautiful Pembrokeshire. So far, done lots of reading, napping, and eating. Writing, not so much. But here's a nice pic of the sunset over the Cleddau, taken from the cottage garden. 😍✍️🏡
Sunset iver a river, seen through bare trees. Stone cottages surrounded by gardens with river to one side
January 20, 2025 at 5:33 PM
delhughes.bsky.social
Happy New Year to all my Bluesky pals! Got lots of writing goals planned, but if the next spin around the sun simply brings better health, I'll be chuffed! 🌞 🤞🍾🥂 #NewYear #GoodTidings #BetterTimesAhead
December 31, 2024 at 6:37 PM
delhughes.bsky.social
Best Gothmog voice: "The age of Nog is over, the time of the Snowball has come!" #LordoftheRings #Christmas #whatdayisit
Champagne saucer containing eggnog, on small table in front of a Christmas Tree. Pint glass filled with a Snowball drink, in front of Christmas Tree.
December 27, 2024 at 5:02 PM
delhughes.bsky.social
Merry Christmas from John and Wolfie, looking sharp in their Christmas Collars. They met Santa yesterday, got treats, and chose a toy each! (Santa's put them on his Nice list - obviously hasn't been watching their antics this year!) Oh, the joys of dog ownership! 😍🎄🎅
##dogsofbluesky #Christmas #dogs
December 25, 2024 at 9:53 AM
delhughes.bsky.social
Here's Part 2 of my real-life tale of terror - just in time for Christmas Eve! Hope you enjoy it, and wishing you all a spook-free festive season, and an undaunted and happy 2025 x 🎄🎅🦌🎁👻
#MerryChristmas  #Ghoststory
The Magic Roundabout Playground, showing the roundabout, the train tracks around the outside and two characters sitting on a bench.
December 24, 2024 at 9:14 PM
delhughes.bsky.social
Ooh, a spooky two-parter, and just in time for that great Christmas tradition of sharing ghost stories around the tree. Scary, tragic, full of '70s spirit, and guaranteed to give you goosebumps. Boo! 👻😢
#ghoststory #spookyseason
December 23, 2024 at 10:27 PM
delhughes.bsky.social
Ruth, it's honestly not eggy at all - if it was I deffo wouldn't drink it 😂🤢 I write article about my nog - and put in my secret recipe - so have a look. If you made it tomorrow, would be perfect by NYE 👍 buff.ly/405kuwr
December 22, 2024 at 11:16 PM
delhughes.bsky.social
Just doing the final edit on my two-part tale of terror, which will be in @nation.cymru on the 23rd & 24th. Perfect timing because who doesn't love a good ghost story at Christmas! Boo!
@cambriastories.bsky.social #ghostlytales #ghoststory #christmas
Opening paragraphs of a ghost story bring written in Word. Ghosts in white sheets appear at either side of the text.
December 19, 2024 at 6:13 PM
delhughes.bsky.social
Had a go at #toptweettuesday over on Twitter. What a fabulous group of creative people, submitting poems for our enjoyment! Today's theme was winter, and this is my first attempt at imagistic verse.
December 17, 2024 at 6:36 PM
delhughes.bsky.social
Just had a tiny sip of my Christmas nog, and I feel it's going to be a good vintage this year. Already has some mellowing going on, and it's smooth and morish. Roll on Christmas Eve when it gets a proper unveiling 😋🎅💖😉 #eggnog #Christmas #bringiton
December 14, 2024 at 5:02 PM
delhughes.bsky.social
Morning all 👋 It's another grey day here in Swansea, so while my OH cleans the house (fair play, he's a domestic god🧹), John's doing a spot of cleaning too. His target = Wolfie's ears. Why, I dunno, but it's a weekly routine, and Wolfie doesn't appear to mind too much. Dogs, eh? 🤷🏼‍♀️
#dogsofbluesky
Blonde dog, John, cleaning black dog Wolfie's ears on a cream rug John and wolfie looking at the camera during a pause in the ear cleaning routine Black dog, Wolfie, enjoying his post ear cleaning bliss, asleep on his brown dog-sofa.
December 1, 2024 at 11:33 AM
delhughes.bsky.social
Just ordered some Christmas cards from @sketchywelsh.bsky.social (and a couple of signed prints - an early Christmas present to me😁🎄). So, if you're stuck for festive gift inspiration, visit sketchywelsh.com - you're sure to find something lovely 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
#giveagift #shoplocal #christmasshopping
Christmas cards illustrated with a fox, a deer jumping, and a bear. Illustration of stag on hill, with blue sky behind
November 30, 2024 at 3:32 PM
delhughes.bsky.social
It's a 'curl up on the sofa and doze' kinda day here in South Wales, so I'm following John & Wolfie's advice to the letter. 🛋🥱 But hope there's blue skies above you, wherever you are.
Wolfie, a black scruffy dog, and John, and blonde, less scruffy dog, curled up on a sofa, dozing.
November 30, 2024 at 12:53 PM
delhughes.bsky.social
But, if it means I’ll be able to go shopping and reach the top shelves, take our two dogs for a walk, or even (in time), maybe manage a bit of speed walking 🤞, then who cares if I look like a giant toddler! 😂

So, Anwen and I are taking to the open roads, and who knows what adventures lie ahead! 🥳🤗
Black dog in yellow coat and blonde dog in red coat, ready to go for a walk. A beautiful blue walking bike - think bike with no pedals - covered with daisies. Black basket at front with disabled badge on it, and black saddle.
November 28, 2024 at 6:39 PM
delhughes.bsky.social
… but, much as I love him, driving doesn’t really provide fitness benefits.

However, today I’m truly ecstatic to unveil Anwen (Welsh for ‘beautiful’ 😍) who’s going to get me out, about, and pounding those pavements once again!
A beautiful blue walking bike - think bike with no pedals - covered with daisies. Black basket at front with disabled badge on it, and black saddle.
November 28, 2024 at 6:39 PM
delhughes.bsky.social
Walking became difficult, and even using a cane meant I could only hobble a few steps before needing to stop. Long strolls in the countryside were off the table 😫

Of course, I had Geoff, my trusty Renault Kangoo…
Bright blue Renault Kangoo with flowers in the window
November 28, 2024 at 6:39 PM
delhughes.bsky.social
A quick 🧵:

11 years ago, this was me - a #running nut who loved a challenge, the dirtier the better 😂 It was the only fitness activity I’ve tried that was great for both my physical and mental health.

But, not long after this pic was taken, spinal issues meant my running days were over 😩 Bummer!
Me - a woman - at 40ish, taking part in a mud runner race. I’m wearing black shorts and a blue T-shirt. Am gritting my teeth and powering through a giant, thigh-deep, muddy puddle.
November 28, 2024 at 6:39 PM
delhughes.bsky.social
Storm Bert might have blown over, but it's still pretty wild out there. So John & Wolfie are well wrapped up for their evening walk - however unimpressed they feel about the attire 😂😍
#dogs #dogsofbluesky #dogsinclothes
Two lurchers in macs - John wearing red and Wolfie in yellow. Neither seem that impressed with the attire.
November 25, 2024 at 5:48 PM