Mark Jervis
@jervism.bsky.social
Writer/teacher.
Website:
http://www.markjervis.com
Sofia Drabbles:
https://sofiadrabbles.blogspot.com/?m=0
Bulgarian Village Garden:
https://bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/?m=1
Website:
http://www.markjervis.com
Sofia Drabbles:
https://sofiadrabbles.blogspot.com/?m=0
Bulgarian Village Garden:
https://bulgarianvillagegarden.blogspot.com/?m=1
Just noticed that they went out of date in Feb 2024 too. Bastards!
December 27, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Just noticed that they went out of date in Feb 2024 too. Bastards!
Less antisocial
The opposite. I made a lot of friends after chatting to people in the smoking area at work. I can't go back there because if I do, I know I'll smoke, so consequently I don't see people as much & I've lost touch with most.
The opposite. I made a lot of friends after chatting to people in the smoking area at work. I can't go back there because if I do, I know I'll smoke, so consequently I don't see people as much & I've lost touch with most.
December 7, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Less antisocial
The opposite. I made a lot of friends after chatting to people in the smoking area at work. I can't go back there because if I do, I know I'll smoke, so consequently I don't see people as much & I've lost touch with most.
The opposite. I made a lot of friends after chatting to people in the smoking area at work. I can't go back there because if I do, I know I'll smoke, so consequently I don't see people as much & I've lost touch with most.
Smell better
I can pick up smoke on people's clothes now but I'm not at the stage yet where I find that disgusting. If someone is smoking on the street, I will make a diversion to try & walk through their cloud.
I can pick up smoke on people's clothes now but I'm not at the stage yet where I find that disgusting. If someone is smoking on the street, I will make a diversion to try & walk through their cloud.
December 7, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Smell better
I can pick up smoke on people's clothes now but I'm not at the stage yet where I find that disgusting. If someone is smoking on the street, I will make a diversion to try & walk through their cloud.
I can pick up smoke on people's clothes now but I'm not at the stage yet where I find that disgusting. If someone is smoking on the street, I will make a diversion to try & walk through their cloud.
Healthier
I cough less but I've put on so much weight since stopping that I'm more breathless than I've ever been & there's probably just as much strain on my heart.
I cough less but I've put on so much weight since stopping that I'm more breathless than I've ever been & there's probably just as much strain on my heart.
December 7, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Healthier
I cough less but I've put on so much weight since stopping that I'm more breathless than I've ever been & there's probably just as much strain on my heart.
I cough less but I've put on so much weight since stopping that I'm more breathless than I've ever been & there's probably just as much strain on my heart.
No longer addicted
True. I don't think I could have stopped at all if my routine hadn't been completely shattered by The Boy. However, the cravings haven't gone & I still get the occasional intense pang, often in unexpected moments. When that happens I tend to have a biscuit instead.
True. I don't think I could have stopped at all if my routine hadn't been completely shattered by The Boy. However, the cravings haven't gone & I still get the occasional intense pang, often in unexpected moments. When that happens I tend to have a biscuit instead.
December 7, 2025 at 12:51 PM
No longer addicted
True. I don't think I could have stopped at all if my routine hadn't been completely shattered by The Boy. However, the cravings haven't gone & I still get the occasional intense pang, often in unexpected moments. When that happens I tend to have a biscuit instead.
True. I don't think I could have stopped at all if my routine hadn't been completely shattered by The Boy. However, the cravings haven't gone & I still get the occasional intense pang, often in unexpected moments. When that happens I tend to have a biscuit instead.
Saving money
Well, I stopped when we had The Boy & it turns out that babies can be a bit pricey, so I haven't really reaped the rewards of this. Besides, smoking is so cheap in Bulgaria (about £3.50 a pack) that the savings don't have the same sort of impact as they would elsewhere.
Well, I stopped when we had The Boy & it turns out that babies can be a bit pricey, so I haven't really reaped the rewards of this. Besides, smoking is so cheap in Bulgaria (about £3.50 a pack) that the savings don't have the same sort of impact as they would elsewhere.
December 7, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Saving money
Well, I stopped when we had The Boy & it turns out that babies can be a bit pricey, so I haven't really reaped the rewards of this. Besides, smoking is so cheap in Bulgaria (about £3.50 a pack) that the savings don't have the same sort of impact as they would elsewhere.
Well, I stopped when we had The Boy & it turns out that babies can be a bit pricey, so I haven't really reaped the rewards of this. Besides, smoking is so cheap in Bulgaria (about £3.50 a pack) that the savings don't have the same sort of impact as they would elsewhere.
I'm not sure why. Age? Tiredness? A shift in priorities? World weariness? Hubris?
October 22, 2025 at 10:50 AM
I'm not sure why. Age? Tiredness? A shift in priorities? World weariness? Hubris?
I don't do that anymore. Someone asks me a question & I just answer it as honestly as I can. It's not as if I deliberately disregard the expectations or the context - I'm not rebelling or anything - it's just that it genuinely doesn't occur to me to think about them anymore.
October 22, 2025 at 10:50 AM
I don't do that anymore. Someone asks me a question & I just answer it as honestly as I can. It's not as if I deliberately disregard the expectations or the context - I'm not rebelling or anything - it's just that it genuinely doesn't occur to me to think about them anymore.
Over the years I must have done hundreds of these icebreaker things & there used to be a time where I would find an appropriate balance between what I actually wanted to say & what they were expecting me to say.
October 22, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Over the years I must have done hundreds of these icebreaker things & there used to be a time where I would find an appropriate balance between what I actually wanted to say & what they were expecting me to say.
After I shared my list, it was pointed out to me that - at a work training day - none of my items involved doing work, being at work or interacting with anyone at work. This is a fair point.
October 22, 2025 at 10:49 AM
After I shared my list, it was pointed out to me that - at a work training day - none of my items involved doing work, being at work or interacting with anyone at work. This is a fair point.
I hope the theory is correct as it means that AI is still a long way off 'creating' anything halfway decent.
October 9, 2025 at 1:15 PM
I hope the theory is correct as it means that AI is still a long way off 'creating' anything halfway decent.