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
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.
Reposted by Mark Payne
Rainy day at Horrockses Crewdson & Co Centenary Cotton Mills, Preston, 1925 (Illustrated London News).
December 19, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Rainy day at Horrockses Crewdson & Co Centenary Cotton Mills, Preston, 1925 (Illustrated London News).
Reposted by Mark Payne
Ambleside, 1786, painting by Francis Towne, 1739-1816 (Yale Center for British Art).
December 19, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Ambleside, 1786, painting by Francis Towne, 1739-1816 (Yale Center for British Art).
Reposted by Mark Payne
Quiet Morning, 2004, watercolour by Ken Ferguson, Borders-based Scottish artist.
December 18, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Quiet Morning, 2004, watercolour by Ken Ferguson, Borders-based Scottish artist.
Reposted by Mark Payne
The Wind in the Willows illustration by Inga Moore
November 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM
The Wind in the Willows illustration by Inga Moore
Reposted by Mark Payne
Mental health support organisation Wellbeing in the Arts is launching a WhatsApp group for people in the creative industries who feel isolated on Christmas Day.
Read more 👇
Read more 👇
WhatsApp group to support ‘isolated’ creative industry workers on Christmas Day
Wellbeing in the Arts’ group will aim to help ‘anyone that works in the creative industries and is struggling with the festive period’
www.thestage.co.uk
December 17, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Mental health support organisation Wellbeing in the Arts is launching a WhatsApp group for people in the creative industries who feel isolated on Christmas Day.
Read more 👇
Read more 👇
Reposted by Mark Payne
Castlerigg stone circle under an inversion this afternoon.
December 16, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Castlerigg stone circle under an inversion this afternoon.
Reposted by Mark Payne
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 16
‘First Snow’
Artist: Rowland Hilder
‘First Snow’
Artist: Rowland Hilder
December 16, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 16
‘First Snow’
Artist: Rowland Hilder
‘First Snow’
Artist: Rowland Hilder
Reposted by Mark Payne
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 15
‘Christmas Time’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
‘Christmas Time’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
December 15, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 15
‘Christmas Time’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
‘Christmas Time’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
Reposted by Mark Payne
Christmas Eve, 1932 (First Night of the Pantomime at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield) Roberta Louise Jennings (1919–2018) Museums Sheffield. Originally based on the Italian street theatre of the Commedia dell’arte of the 16th Century, pantomimes have been a major part of
December 15, 2025 at 5:51 AM
Christmas Eve, 1932 (First Night of the Pantomime at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield) Roberta Louise Jennings (1919–2018) Museums Sheffield. Originally based on the Italian street theatre of the Commedia dell’arte of the 16th Century, pantomimes have been a major part of
Reposted by Mark Payne
Definitely worth considering - what happens when the AI bubble bursts, and might Europe look a little more appealing? Because for all the current panics, actually there's still a lot of strengths here.
www.ft.com/content/0308...
www.ft.com/content/0308...
Europe must be ready when the AI bubble bursts
A market correction will give the EU the chance to offer a trust-based alternative to American tech
www.ft.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Definitely worth considering - what happens when the AI bubble bursts, and might Europe look a little more appealing? Because for all the current panics, actually there's still a lot of strengths here.
www.ft.com/content/0308...
www.ft.com/content/0308...
Reposted by Mark Payne
Prevailing mood across the west is one of gloom causing political instability. Yet the link from personal circumstances to the gloom is far from obvious. For sure, economies aren't growing strongly. But they aren't shrinking either.
December 12, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Prevailing mood across the west is one of gloom causing political instability. Yet the link from personal circumstances to the gloom is far from obvious. For sure, economies aren't growing strongly. But they aren't shrinking either.
Reposted by Mark Payne
Skiddaw with a frozen Derwent Water... it's been a long time since we last saw skaters on the lake!
December 10, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Skiddaw with a frozen Derwent Water... it's been a long time since we last saw skaters on the lake!
Reposted by Mark Payne
Colourful Shadow Walk
Another photo taken at one of my favourite locations on the London Underground tube map.
If the sun is out, and in the correct position at Nine Elms station, it can project beautiful shadows of the London Underground roundel on to the station floor.
Another photo taken at one of my favourite locations on the London Underground tube map.
If the sun is out, and in the correct position at Nine Elms station, it can project beautiful shadows of the London Underground roundel on to the station floor.
December 10, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Colourful Shadow Walk
Another photo taken at one of my favourite locations on the London Underground tube map.
If the sun is out, and in the correct position at Nine Elms station, it can project beautiful shadows of the London Underground roundel on to the station floor.
Another photo taken at one of my favourite locations on the London Underground tube map.
If the sun is out, and in the correct position at Nine Elms station, it can project beautiful shadows of the London Underground roundel on to the station floor.
Reposted by Mark Payne
'Willow in Winter', Blackheath (exhibited 1928) by Francis Dodd
(Manchester Art Gallery)
(Manchester Art Gallery)
December 10, 2025 at 8:12 AM
'Willow in Winter', Blackheath (exhibited 1928) by Francis Dodd
(Manchester Art Gallery)
(Manchester Art Gallery)
Reposted by Mark Payne
Dunluce Castle, County Antrim, built around 1500, watercolour by Terry Harrison (1951-2017).
December 6, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Dunluce Castle, County Antrim, built around 1500, watercolour by Terry Harrison (1951-2017).
Reposted by Mark Payne
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 6
‘Lane in Winter’
Artist: Rowland Hilder
‘Lane in Winter’
Artist: Rowland Hilder
December 6, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 6
‘Lane in Winter’
Artist: Rowland Hilder
‘Lane in Winter’
Artist: Rowland Hilder
Reposted by Mark Payne
Thank God for Bluesky: A little love letter to the people who would not compromise with Nazis iandunt.substack.com/p/thank-god-...
Thank God for Bluesky
Yes, it's eager. Yes, it's censorious. But it has the very considerable advantage of not being fascist.
iandunt.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Thank God for Bluesky: A little love letter to the people who would not compromise with Nazis iandunt.substack.com/p/thank-god-...