Fiona Robbins
@fmsrobbins1.bsky.social
Book lover. I believe that every day has a little magic. So dare to look for it! And aren't dogs fabulous?
If you have a slate or two missing in the morning, you'll know why
Art: Raymond Briggs
Art: Raymond Briggs
December 24, 2025 at 7:17 PM
If you have a slate or two missing in the morning, you'll know why
Art: Raymond Briggs
Art: Raymond Briggs
It being Christmas Eve, there was, as I had foreseen, a good deal of revelry and what not. P.G. Wodehouse
Happy Christmas everyone. I hope it is lovely, wherever it finds you.
Art: R. Mummery
Happy Christmas everyone. I hope it is lovely, wherever it finds you.
Art: R. Mummery
December 24, 2025 at 3:36 PM
It being Christmas Eve, there was, as I had foreseen, a good deal of revelry and what not. P.G. Wodehouse
Happy Christmas everyone. I hope it is lovely, wherever it finds you.
Art: R. Mummery
Happy Christmas everyone. I hope it is lovely, wherever it finds you.
Art: R. Mummery
Last minute rush? A bit of chaos? Wondering how it will all come together? It's not just you! It's the same at the North Pole as Father Christmas gets ready to travel around the world tonight.
May you never be too grown-up to search the skies on Christmas Eve.
May you never be too grown-up to search the skies on Christmas Eve.
December 24, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Last minute rush? A bit of chaos? Wondering how it will all come together? It's not just you! It's the same at the North Pole as Father Christmas gets ready to travel around the world tonight.
May you never be too grown-up to search the skies on Christmas Eve.
May you never be too grown-up to search the skies on Christmas Eve.
And so we are waiting. Watching for wonder.
For some, what waits with us feels a heavy burden, for some what waits with us is delight.
But for all of us, may the light find us, the peace rest with us and the season be a good and gentle one.
Art: lizziejayne
For some, what waits with us feels a heavy burden, for some what waits with us is delight.
But for all of us, may the light find us, the peace rest with us and the season be a good and gentle one.
Art: lizziejayne
December 23, 2025 at 1:03 PM
And so we are waiting. Watching for wonder.
For some, what waits with us feels a heavy burden, for some what waits with us is delight.
But for all of us, may the light find us, the peace rest with us and the season be a good and gentle one.
Art: lizziejayne
For some, what waits with us feels a heavy burden, for some what waits with us is delight.
But for all of us, may the light find us, the peace rest with us and the season be a good and gentle one.
Art: lizziejayne
So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees.
From The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees.
From The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper
December 21, 2025 at 8:12 PM
So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees.
From The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees.
From The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper
The night grows long but we have called to the sun. Even in the deepest dark, the coming of the light is just one dawn away.
December 21, 2025 at 12:39 AM
The night grows long but we have called to the sun. Even in the deepest dark, the coming of the light is just one dawn away.
Taken from B. C.: A. D. a poem by by U. A. Fanthorpe
And this was the moment
When a few farm workers and three
Members of an obscure Persian sect
Walked haphazard by starlight straight
Into the kingdom of heaven.
And this was the moment
When a few farm workers and three
Members of an obscure Persian sect
Walked haphazard by starlight straight
Into the kingdom of heaven.
December 17, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Taken from B. C.: A. D. a poem by by U. A. Fanthorpe
And this was the moment
When a few farm workers and three
Members of an obscure Persian sect
Walked haphazard by starlight straight
Into the kingdom of heaven.
And this was the moment
When a few farm workers and three
Members of an obscure Persian sect
Walked haphazard by starlight straight
Into the kingdom of heaven.
Happy 250th birthday to Jane Austen.
"The whole completed by a roaring Christmas fire, which seemed determined to be heard, in spite of all the noise of the others." From Persuasion
"The whole completed by a roaring Christmas fire, which seemed determined to be heard, in spite of all the noise of the others." From Persuasion
December 16, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Happy 250th birthday to Jane Austen.
"The whole completed by a roaring Christmas fire, which seemed determined to be heard, in spite of all the noise of the others." From Persuasion
"The whole completed by a roaring Christmas fire, which seemed determined to be heard, in spite of all the noise of the others." From Persuasion
In the deep forests of the north, the people on the edge of the woods know there is something that cannot be defined moving among the fragrant spruce
Beyond the snow and beneath the stars of long Arctic nights magic is stirring and awakening. It belongs to all who believe in it
Beyond the snow and beneath the stars of long Arctic nights magic is stirring and awakening. It belongs to all who believe in it
December 14, 2025 at 5:09 PM
In the deep forests of the north, the people on the edge of the woods know there is something that cannot be defined moving among the fragrant spruce
Beyond the snow and beneath the stars of long Arctic nights magic is stirring and awakening. It belongs to all who believe in it
Beyond the snow and beneath the stars of long Arctic nights magic is stirring and awakening. It belongs to all who believe in it
It's Christmas when mice carol in the willows.
"Ithink it must be the field-mice,' replied the Mole, with a touch of pride in his manner. 'They go round carol-singing regularly at this time of the year. They're quite an institution in these parts". Kenneth Grahame
Art Chris Dunn
"Ithink it must be the field-mice,' replied the Mole, with a touch of pride in his manner. 'They go round carol-singing regularly at this time of the year. They're quite an institution in these parts". Kenneth Grahame
Art Chris Dunn
December 13, 2025 at 6:01 PM
It's Christmas when mice carol in the willows.
"Ithink it must be the field-mice,' replied the Mole, with a touch of pride in his manner. 'They go round carol-singing regularly at this time of the year. They're quite an institution in these parts". Kenneth Grahame
Art Chris Dunn
"Ithink it must be the field-mice,' replied the Mole, with a touch of pride in his manner. 'They go round carol-singing regularly at this time of the year. They're quite an institution in these parts". Kenneth Grahame
Art Chris Dunn
Nothing beats a Friday night with my favourite film
December 12, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Nothing beats a Friday night with my favourite film
"Though darkness still her empire keep " is how Anne Bronte described this time of year.
Yet, there is cosiness and cheer. May we seek it out and enjoy it well wherever we find it.
Art: Jill Barklem
Yet, there is cosiness and cheer. May we seek it out and enjoy it well wherever we find it.
Art: Jill Barklem
December 11, 2025 at 3:57 PM
"Though darkness still her empire keep " is how Anne Bronte described this time of year.
Yet, there is cosiness and cheer. May we seek it out and enjoy it well wherever we find it.
Art: Jill Barklem
Yet, there is cosiness and cheer. May we seek it out and enjoy it well wherever we find it.
Art: Jill Barklem
I think I saw Father Christmas doing some early morning shopping in Galway today.
December 11, 2025 at 12:31 AM
I think I saw Father Christmas doing some early morning shopping in Galway today.
Train travel between Galway and Dublin has gotten pleasantly posh
December 10, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Train travel between Galway and Dublin has gotten pleasantly posh
Farming.... Dublin style
December 6, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Farming.... Dublin style
From Turkey, where stories grew of a she wolf, seven headed dragons, winged horses and forest spirits came a beloved figure.
St Nicholas' feast is 6th December,his generosity became legend and the tradition of love, care and joy at this time of year continues in his name.
St Nicholas' feast is 6th December,his generosity became legend and the tradition of love, care and joy at this time of year continues in his name.
December 6, 2025 at 12:56 PM
From Turkey, where stories grew of a she wolf, seven headed dragons, winged horses and forest spirits came a beloved figure.
St Nicholas' feast is 6th December,his generosity became legend and the tradition of love, care and joy at this time of year continues in his name.
St Nicholas' feast is 6th December,his generosity became legend and the tradition of love, care and joy at this time of year continues in his name.
The snowy alpine peaks are high, remote and secret. Many legends have come from their icy heart, most famously, the Krampus, in folklore the shadow that falls on the eve of the feast of St. Nicholas. First comes dark but always comes the light.
December 6, 2025 at 12:50 PM
The snowy alpine peaks are high, remote and secret. Many legends have come from their icy heart, most famously, the Krampus, in folklore the shadow that falls on the eve of the feast of St. Nicholas. First comes dark but always comes the light.
"In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer," - Albert Camus.
Welcome December. Be a friend to us all.
Welcome December. Be a friend to us all.
December 1, 2025 at 1:56 PM
"In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer," - Albert Camus.
Welcome December. Be a friend to us all.
Welcome December. Be a friend to us all.
I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it.
CS Lewis was born on November 29, 1898 in Belfast. He held positions in English literature at both Magdalen College, Oxford and Magdalene College, Cambridge.
Of course, we know him best as the author of The Chronicles of Narnia.
CS Lewis was born on November 29, 1898 in Belfast. He held positions in English literature at both Magdalen College, Oxford and Magdalene College, Cambridge.
Of course, we know him best as the author of The Chronicles of Narnia.
November 30, 2025 at 1:07 AM
I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it.
CS Lewis was born on November 29, 1898 in Belfast. He held positions in English literature at both Magdalen College, Oxford and Magdalene College, Cambridge.
Of course, we know him best as the author of The Chronicles of Narnia.
CS Lewis was born on November 29, 1898 in Belfast. He held positions in English literature at both Magdalen College, Oxford and Magdalene College, Cambridge.
Of course, we know him best as the author of The Chronicles of Narnia.
No amount of bribery or blackmail will make me submit to the Christmas jumper ritual humiliation
November 24, 2025 at 12:39 AM
No amount of bribery or blackmail will make me submit to the Christmas jumper ritual humiliation
The only portrayal of Bob Cratchit worth bothering about.
November 22, 2025 at 11:16 PM
The only portrayal of Bob Cratchit worth bothering about.
And you're sure Santa Paws will put me on the nice list if I wear this jumper? You're not winding me up or anything?
November 21, 2025 at 9:28 PM
And you're sure Santa Paws will put me on the nice list if I wear this jumper? You're not winding me up or anything?
Sugarplum fairies? Magic? A mouse king?
The Nutcracker has it all. Performed in Dublin by the Georgia State Ballet, it was the perfect way to kick off Christmas. They say Tchaikovsky touched Heaven when he wrote the music for this ballet and it's not hard to believe it.
The Nutcracker has it all. Performed in Dublin by the Georgia State Ballet, it was the perfect way to kick off Christmas. They say Tchaikovsky touched Heaven when he wrote the music for this ballet and it's not hard to believe it.
November 15, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Sugarplum fairies? Magic? A mouse king?
The Nutcracker has it all. Performed in Dublin by the Georgia State Ballet, it was the perfect way to kick off Christmas. They say Tchaikovsky touched Heaven when he wrote the music for this ballet and it's not hard to believe it.
The Nutcracker has it all. Performed in Dublin by the Georgia State Ballet, it was the perfect way to kick off Christmas. They say Tchaikovsky touched Heaven when he wrote the music for this ballet and it's not hard to believe it.
The British Library hosted Bee Rowlatt, Kate Evans and Devaney Looser for Wild About Jane Austen: The Woman Behind the Novels, celebrating the 250th anniversary of her birth.
Literature owes much to Jane Austen, the fascination partly driven because we know so little about her
Literature owes much to Jane Austen, the fascination partly driven because we know so little about her
November 13, 2025 at 10:44 PM
The British Library hosted Bee Rowlatt, Kate Evans and Devaney Looser for Wild About Jane Austen: The Woman Behind the Novels, celebrating the 250th anniversary of her birth.
Literature owes much to Jane Austen, the fascination partly driven because we know so little about her
Literature owes much to Jane Austen, the fascination partly driven because we know so little about her
The Laois Leaves Festival just keeps going from strength to strength. Tonight Catherine Ryan Howard, Catherine Kirwan and Andrea Carter talked about the wickedly wonderful world of crime fiction at Portlaoise library.
Three titans of the genre held us riveted.
Three titans of the genre held us riveted.
November 7, 2025 at 1:29 AM
The Laois Leaves Festival just keeps going from strength to strength. Tonight Catherine Ryan Howard, Catherine Kirwan and Andrea Carter talked about the wickedly wonderful world of crime fiction at Portlaoise library.
Three titans of the genre held us riveted.
Three titans of the genre held us riveted.