Steph Gaunt
@steffogrunt.bsky.social
Writer, eclectic blogger, wise (hopefully) old warrior woman, lives in Hastings UK. Ex-Brummie, married to the Philosopher, grandmother, Cosy crime novel : ‘Death Deceit and Cake’ from Amazon. https://www.hastingsbattleaxe.com.
Pinned
Hastings Battleaxe attends a family funeral which brings back childhood memories. Here is the front gate of my prep school, Godstowe, in HIgh Wycombe. But also, a Hastings Phil concert, WI Book talk - and a sunny day in Alexandra Park.
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/11/batt...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/11/batt...
Hastings Battleaxe attends a family funeral which brings back childhood memories. Here is the front gate of my prep school, Godstowe, in HIgh Wycombe. But also, a Hastings Phil concert, WI Book talk - and a sunny day in Alexandra Park.
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/11/batt...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/11/batt...
November 21, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Hastings Battleaxe attends a family funeral which brings back childhood memories. Here is the front gate of my prep school, Godstowe, in HIgh Wycombe. But also, a Hastings Phil concert, WI Book talk - and a sunny day in Alexandra Park.
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/11/batt...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/11/batt...
Reposted by Steph Gaunt
This is still the best article on Boris Johnson I have read:
"Observe classic Johnson closely as he arrives at an event. See how his entire being and bearing is bent towards satire, subversion, mockery. The hair is his clown’s disguise."
"Observe classic Johnson closely as he arrives at an event. See how his entire being and bearing is bent towards satire, subversion, mockery. The hair is his clown’s disguise."
The clown king: how Boris Johnson made it by playing the fool
The long read: Boris Johnson is the archetypal clown, with his antic posturing and his refusal to take anything seriously. So how did he end up in charge?
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:32 PM
This is still the best article on Boris Johnson I have read:
"Observe classic Johnson closely as he arrives at an event. See how his entire being and bearing is bent towards satire, subversion, mockery. The hair is his clown’s disguise."
"Observe classic Johnson closely as he arrives at an event. See how his entire being and bearing is bent towards satire, subversion, mockery. The hair is his clown’s disguise."
Hastings Battleaxe goes to Glyndebourne, and finishes the first writing of 'Death is a Desirable Property', the second novel. Don't forget to read the first one, 'Death, Deceit and Cake', if you haven't already! The link is in the post:
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/11/hast...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/11/hast...
Hastings Battleaxe goes to Glyndebourne, and other things. - Hastings Battleaxe
Went to Glyndebourne with old friends Sean and Janet Sayers, and saw La Boheme. Not one of my favourite operas, but it was engaging – and of course it is short! Had an excellent picnic…
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Hastings Battleaxe goes to Glyndebourne, and finishes the first writing of 'Death is a Desirable Property', the second novel. Don't forget to read the first one, 'Death, Deceit and Cake', if you haven't already! The link is in the post:
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/11/hast...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/11/hast...
Hastings Battleaxe goes to Chichester, sees the Light Show at the Cathedral.
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/11/hast...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/11/hast...
November 1, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Hastings Battleaxe goes to Chichester, sees the Light Show at the Cathedral.
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/11/hast...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/11/hast...
At last, they said, a positive post from Hastings Battleaxe - a beautiful autumn walk in Alexandra Park. #Hastings
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/10/hast...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/10/hast...
October 28, 2025 at 4:20 PM
At last, they said, a positive post from Hastings Battleaxe - a beautiful autumn walk in Alexandra Park. #Hastings
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/10/hast...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/10/hast...
Happy #Caturday. Loving the Saturday morning lie-in. #catsofbluesky
October 25, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Happy #Caturday. Loving the Saturday morning lie-in. #catsofbluesky
Hastings Battleaxe doing this that and the other. This is a lovely vintage Hastings travel poster...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/10/hast...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/10/hast...
October 22, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Hastings Battleaxe doing this that and the other. This is a lovely vintage Hastings travel poster...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/10/hast...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/10/hast...
Reposted by Steph Gaunt
Beads of dew on grass
October 13, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Beads of dew on grass
This is horrendous. All UK people who care about the natural world, please read!
Today's column is about the government's huge, unprecedented assault on nature ... and about the eerie, astonishing silence of the big nature groups. The RSPB, National Trust, Wildlife Trusts have 7.5m members between them. A vast force, completely unmobilised. 🧵
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Wage war on nature to build new homes: that’s Labour’s offer, but it’s a con trick | George Monbiot
The government’s new planning bill is tearing down environmental protections to benefit developers. This nation of nature lovers won’t stand for it, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:05 AM
This is horrendous. All UK people who care about the natural world, please read!
This is granddaughter at Beachy Head last week... Hastings Battleaxe on Granny duty
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/10/hast...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/10/hast...
October 15, 2025 at 8:27 AM
This is granddaughter at Beachy Head last week... Hastings Battleaxe on Granny duty
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/10/hast...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/10/hast...
‘Death, Deceit and Cake’ is featured in a book review site called ‘Dru’s Book Musings’ Read about a day in the life of Caroline Cosgrave. #BookSky Here is the link!
drusbookmusing.com/stephanie-ga...
drusbookmusing.com/stephanie-ga...
A Day in My Life ~ Caroline Cosgrave by Stephanie Gaunt
I’ve been asked to write a ‘Day in the Life’ piece. Yes, me, Caroline Cosgrave! Should I write about myself as I was before the traumatic events, or as I am now? It’s difficult. There I was, reluct…
drusbookmusing.com
October 13, 2025 at 12:30 PM
‘Death, Deceit and Cake’ is featured in a book review site called ‘Dru’s Book Musings’ Read about a day in the life of Caroline Cosgrave. #BookSky Here is the link!
drusbookmusing.com/stephanie-ga...
drusbookmusing.com/stephanie-ga...
Love these shoes! Hastings Battleaxe is safely back in Hastings. In this post, she goes to a #HastingsInternationalPiano concert at the White Rock, the latest #HastingsContemporary exhibitions, and rabbits on about a few other things.
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/09/hast...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/09/hast...
October 4, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Love these shoes! Hastings Battleaxe is safely back in Hastings. In this post, she goes to a #HastingsInternationalPiano concert at the White Rock, the latest #HastingsContemporary exhibitions, and rabbits on about a few other things.
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/09/hast...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/09/hast...
Reposted by Steph Gaunt
Autumn is here! Why not curl up in front of the fire with a cuppa and a comforting cosy crime novel? Keep warm with ‘Death, Deceit and Cake’, but watch for the shivers down the spine!
Download to your Kindle or buy the paperback from Amazon. Here’s the link:
amzn.eu/d/h0JVAbG
Download to your Kindle or buy the paperback from Amazon. Here’s the link:
amzn.eu/d/h0JVAbG
October 1, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Autumn is here! Why not curl up in front of the fire with a cuppa and a comforting cosy crime novel? Keep warm with ‘Death, Deceit and Cake’, but watch for the shivers down the spine!
Download to your Kindle or buy the paperback from Amazon. Here’s the link:
amzn.eu/d/h0JVAbG
Download to your Kindle or buy the paperback from Amazon. Here’s the link:
amzn.eu/d/h0JVAbG
Autumn is here! Why not curl up in front of the fire with a cuppa and a comforting cosy crime novel? Keep warm with ‘Death, Deceit and Cake’, but watch for the shivers down the spine!
Download to your Kindle or buy the paperback from Amazon. Here’s the link:
amzn.eu/d/h0JVAbG
Download to your Kindle or buy the paperback from Amazon. Here’s the link:
amzn.eu/d/h0JVAbG
October 1, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Autumn is here! Why not curl up in front of the fire with a cuppa and a comforting cosy crime novel? Keep warm with ‘Death, Deceit and Cake’, but watch for the shivers down the spine!
Download to your Kindle or buy the paperback from Amazon. Here’s the link:
amzn.eu/d/h0JVAbG
Download to your Kindle or buy the paperback from Amazon. Here’s the link:
amzn.eu/d/h0JVAbG
I can’t see the problem with Digital ID… what are people whingeing on about? The privacy ship sailed for most of us years ago - have the complainers really not noticed? We are one of a tiny handful of countries without it. But I do wonder about the small number of people without the technology…
September 26, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I can’t see the problem with Digital ID… what are people whingeing on about? The privacy ship sailed for most of us years ago - have the complainers really not noticed? We are one of a tiny handful of countries without it. But I do wonder about the small number of people without the technology…
Oh phew, exhausted.... Hastings Battleaxe's second post about our Road Trip... we enjoyed it all but are glad to be home! Sorry the post is a bit long...
Sunset from our Newcastle hotel room. What a view we had...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/09/hast...
Sunset from our Newcastle hotel room. What a view we had...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/09/hast...
September 23, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Oh phew, exhausted.... Hastings Battleaxe's second post about our Road Trip... we enjoyed it all but are glad to be home! Sorry the post is a bit long...
Sunset from our Newcastle hotel room. What a view we had...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/09/hast...
Sunset from our Newcastle hotel room. What a view we had...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/09/hast...
Well, who could have guessed this? It is so boringly, and tragically predictable that the Left can’t hold itself together even long enough to get a new party even launched - never mind achieve any useful results.
this is a mess. Meanwhile the Right are wetting their pants laughing.
September 18, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Well, who could have guessed this? It is so boringly, and tragically predictable that the Left can’t hold itself together even long enough to get a new party even launched - never mind achieve any useful results.
How appropriate - and poignant, is this? On the day of the despot Trump’s visit to the UK we were lucky enough to view the actual Magna Carta in Durham Cathedral….
September 18, 2025 at 3:43 PM
How appropriate - and poignant, is this? On the day of the despot Trump’s visit to the UK we were lucky enough to view the actual Magna Carta in Durham Cathedral….
Wey Aye Pet! Death Deceit and Cake has hit Newcastle!
September 17, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Wey Aye Pet! Death Deceit and Cake has hit Newcastle!
First Hastings Battleaxe post about our road trip to the North... here are the wonderful Kelpies in Falkirk... plus Pugin's St Giles Church in Cheadle, Southport, Morecambe sands and the Midland Hotel, and of course riding the Falkirk Wheel.
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/09/hast...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/09/hast...
Hastings Battleaxe's Road Trip to the North Part 1 - Hastings Battleaxe
Philosopher and Battleaxe have now been on our trip for a week… After an initial night in Birmingham, we went to Pugin’s amazingly ornate St Giles Church in Cheadle, then spent our first night in…
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com
September 14, 2025 at 4:51 PM
First Hastings Battleaxe post about our road trip to the North... here are the wonderful Kelpies in Falkirk... plus Pugin's St Giles Church in Cheadle, Southport, Morecambe sands and the Midland Hotel, and of course riding the Falkirk Wheel.
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/09/hast...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/09/hast...
Reposted by Steph Gaunt
In case Mason tries to edit this, somebody has already taken a snapshot to the Internet Archive
web.archive.org/web/20250905...
web.archive.org/web/20250905...
September 6, 2025 at 11:50 PM
In case Mason tries to edit this, somebody has already taken a snapshot to the Internet Archive
web.archive.org/web/20250905...
web.archive.org/web/20250905...
#HastingsBattleaxe visits some of the Coastal Currents Festival Open Studios. Here are some lovely flowers at the Crown. Visited local artists Dominic Zwemmer, and the excellent leigh Dyer, to whom we donated the Family Fly-press way back in 2012.
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/09/hast...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/09/hast...
Hastings Battleaxe on Coastal Currents and... - Hastings Battleaxe
And what? Wait and see. I didn’t want to post a proper review of it for fear of upsetting the organisers. Coastal Currents? Didn’t do much, actually, just visited some Open Studios with Philosopher an...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com
September 6, 2025 at 7:37 AM
#HastingsBattleaxe visits some of the Coastal Currents Festival Open Studios. Here are some lovely flowers at the Crown. Visited local artists Dominic Zwemmer, and the excellent leigh Dyer, to whom we donated the Family Fly-press way back in 2012.
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/09/hast...
www.hastingsbattleaxe.com/2025/09/hast...
Reposted by Steph Gaunt
I am sad that Angela Rayner has left the government.
The deputy role is difficult & Angela combined loyalty & challenge for the Prime Minister. She was a rare powerful female, working class voice in government: a tireless advocate for employment rights, trade unions & working people.
🧵1/2
The deputy role is difficult & Angela combined loyalty & challenge for the Prime Minister. She was a rare powerful female, working class voice in government: a tireless advocate for employment rights, trade unions & working people.
🧵1/2
September 5, 2025 at 1:38 PM
I am sad that Angela Rayner has left the government.
The deputy role is difficult & Angela combined loyalty & challenge for the Prime Minister. She was a rare powerful female, working class voice in government: a tireless advocate for employment rights, trade unions & working people.
🧵1/2
The deputy role is difficult & Angela combined loyalty & challenge for the Prime Minister. She was a rare powerful female, working class voice in government: a tireless advocate for employment rights, trade unions & working people.
🧵1/2