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johngilbey.bsky.social
John Gilbey
@johngilbey.bsky.social
3.7K followers 820 following 1.1K posts
Science and SF writer, Photographer, Guardian Country Diary, SciFoo, TEDx, Geek-without-Porfolio, LaunchPadAstro, Professional survivor, FBCS, FRSA, Grandfather...
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johngilbey.bsky.social
John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · Aug 4
Well, it looks like I've reached 3500 followers here so maybe I'd better reintroduce myself.

Welcome! I'm a writer and photographer based in Wales. I write SF and science pieces as well as specialist technical articles - and the Guardian Country Diary.

I have a book out - which looks like this:
Cover of the hardback book "Country Diary Wales" by John Gilbey, published by Graffeg.
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 16h
I have one of the (much) earlier cylindrical versions. It works fine and doesn't cause a fuss - which is what I'm looking for in darkroom equipment...
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 2d
This is what I was watching over the the hills of Ceredigion exactly a year ago...
Aurora over the hills of Ceredigion, framed against a beech tree.
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 2d
OK, I'm guilty as charged...
But society is to blame...
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 2d
That's a new look for you, isn't it...?
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 2d
OK, I'll talk to the Nobagel Prize Committee...
(I'll get my coat...)
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 2d
I'd go with "genius" - and not just on the grounds of family diplomacy...
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 2d
And don't ignore "Heavy Horses", although it seems that most people did... :-)
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 2d
Give "Songs from the Wood" a spin....
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 3d
I've never made it that far north, but the Rockies are a firm favourite of mine...
Exposed rock strata and summer vegetation on a butte in Colorado
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 4d
Definitely worth a sample, or two...
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 5d
Freds Liquors and Food Mart, a neighbourhood grocery at the corner of Mason and O'Farrell, San Francisco - with a Yellow Cab for extra authenticity...
Freds Liquors and Food Mart, corner of Mason and O'Farrell, San Francisco.
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 5d
A
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 6d
This one might make the cut, for example...
Strongly coloured rainbow against dark cloud and the Cambrian Mountains of Wales.
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 6d
I'm giving a talk at the Cambrian Mountain Society on Saturday. This gives me the perfect excuse to spend a few hours sorting through my collection for images to go with it... :-)
www.cambrian-mountains.co.uk/events/agm-2...
AGM 2025 - Cambrian Mountains Society
2025 AGM and afternoon seminar with external speakers
www.cambrian-mountains.co.uk
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 6d
This might get surreal...
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 6d
Bob, it's raining all over the world...
Or feels like it, at least...
Maybe I'll have a sit down...
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 7d
Naturally, anyone who would like a full size copy of this image can purchase one at a very reasonable price... :-)
www.alamy.com/the-sun-sets...
The sun sets over the Broad at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK Stock Photo - Alamy
Download this stock image: The sun sets over the Broad at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK - 2A8XAAW from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vec...
www.alamy.com
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 7d
Thanks!
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 7d
Most cupboards are stationary, in my experience at least... :-)
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 7d
I nearly got nailed on that crossing back in the 1970s.
Some bloke in a Cortina ran a red light, and missed me by inches. Memorable enough that I can still picture the moment...
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 7d
Good call...
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 7d
The Last Drop Tavern on Powell Street, San Francisco, California.
Be careful on the way out... :-)
Frontage of the Last Drop Tavern in San Francisco - which is located on a very steep hill...
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 7d
Let's just say that I had ambitions...
Later revised... :-)
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 7d
Not sure what happens today, but - yes - in the 70s your university place relied on your *predicted* A level grades...
I was expected to get three mundane C grades, but got three much better A grades... You can guess the impact...
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John Gilbey @johngilbey.bsky.social · 7d
They handled that aspect quite well, for my money.