Mark S
maskelt.bsky.social
Mark S
@maskelt.bsky.social
Preoccupations include: Eastbourne, Castle Point, Kilburn; 20th Century English composers, artists and designers; Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan; short stories, Russian novels; political polling and public service pension schemes.
The weak results of my orchid hunt in the Ariege.....
April 20, 2025 at 6:55 AM
I've been puzzled by this structure on Seaford Head for years. And now it's been modernised it seems, I don't know when. But the mystery is solved - it's for aircraft navigation, part of the country's air traffic control infrastructure.
April 20, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Caught up with this exhibition yesterday, which I really enjoyed. Brilliantly presented, with some work I'd never previously seen - whether in Eastbourne, Saffron Walden or the various books about her life and work.
These works — part of a series rarely seen in full — are on view now in Tirzah Garwood: Beyond Ravilious at Dulwich Picture Gallery until 26 May.
April 20, 2025 at 6:45 AM
The strange Dengie Peninsula salt marshes. Another classic Essex landscape.
March 24, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Wallasea Island, Essex. The edge of the world.
March 16, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Time for another Saluki running video I think. Near Hadleigh Castle, in Essex, overlooking the Thames Estuary.
March 15, 2025 at 7:25 PM
And just in case you wanted to see an ageing Saluki test out her running legs on the South Downs....
March 4, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Just in case you wanted a picture of a Saluki in front of a Sussex ruin.
March 4, 2025 at 6:43 PM
We have geese flying over the Harvey's brewery, Arlington Reservoir, Aristotle in exile, global migration and first world labour shortages. Not bad going for just 15 minutes....
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
A Point of View - Geese, Aristotle and Migration - BBC Sounds
Rebecca Stott ponders the theme of migration, with help from Aristotle.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 9, 2025 at 10:36 AM
This series is fascinating. In this one, we learn how the 1953 flood which submerged Canvey (and other places) inspired the risk assessment methodology.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
At Your Own Peril - The Great Tide - BBC Sounds
Lucy Easthope explores the history of risk.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 8, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Seems only yesterday my late dad was shelling out a fortune to get a new hip here. How Eastbourne is changing. What will they do with this building?
www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/...
Plans to turn former hospital into asylum accommodation scrapped, says MP
Plans to turn a former hospital in Eastbourne into asylum accommodation have been scrapped, the town’s MP has said.
www.sussexexpress.co.uk
February 8, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Reposted by Mark S
PCS said the news was "disappointing for many civil service pensioners"
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...
Civil Service Pension Scheme delay 'disappointing', union says
Pensioners warned process to fix botched reforms could take two years longer than planned
www.civilserviceworld.com
February 4, 2025 at 5:42 PM
I want to pay tribute to this person - whom I came across at the tools theft protest in Parliament Square.
February 3, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Quite a journey for this building.
February 2, 2025 at 1:01 PM
A very cool church....
We're pleased to report that we have today confirmed our booking of Emmanuel Church, #Eastbourne, for our yearly Carbon Neutral Symposium on April 26th. Venue is a Bronze Award Eco Church with superb facilities: emmanueleastbourne.org.uk.

We'll post full details & booking link as soon as we can.
Emmanuel Church Eastbourne
Welcome! We are a Methodist & United Reformed partnership church, affiliated with the Inclusive Church network. Join us today!
emmanueleastbourne.org.uk
February 2, 2025 at 12:57 PM
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/.... I challenge any listener to get beyond 20 minutes of this. Unfair to the other guests maybe, who might have shown a trace of humility later in the programme.
Free Thinking - Decision making - BBC Sounds
From think tanks and tallies to tarot, what tools do we use to help us choose our actions?
www.bbc.co.uk
February 2, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Reposted by Mark S
Cracking fun talking diaries & the day-to-day with @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social, Michael Crick, Irving Finkel & Oliver Burkeman on Radio 4 last night. I got to yammer about Mary Hamilton, Frances Burney, & diaries as raw material for fiction. Catch up here if you like

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - Free Thinking, Diaries and the day to day
Michael Crick, Irving Finkel, Sophie Coulombeau and Oliver Burkeman join Matthew Sweet.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 25, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Reposted by Mark S
The moonlit pub crawl that gave us the words to Warlock's Bethlehem Down nearly a hundred years ago began in the ex pub on the left, and finished in the ex pub now Steakhouse on the right. Bruce Blunt was an interesting, colourful man - now not much information about him.
January 11, 2025 at 6:47 AM
The church of St. Peter ad Vincula - in Folkington, near Polegate. I blame my dog for pulling on the lead when I took this - so top of the spire lopped off.
January 5, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Reposted by Mark S
Step into the world of Tirzah Garwood in the first major exhibition dedicated to her work. Known for her 'sophisticated naïve' style, Garwood transformed the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Discover Tirzah Garwood: Beyond Ravilious tinyurl.com/dpgart
December 2, 2024 at 12:58 PM
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre.... I accept the challenge. Week 1: The Sportswriter, Richard Ford.
Deciding to read a book a week was the best new year resolution I ever made | Katie Cunningham
I read 52 books that year and I’ve kept the habit up in the years that followed, the routine now firmly established
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Saluki in the Chilterns.
January 2, 2025 at 5:24 PM