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
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-...
Reposted by Mark Payne
When I think of artist Rowland Hilder’s work I think of winter scenes of rural Kent.
But I also love his London landscapes
But I also love his London landscapes
December 4, 2025 at 8:12 PM
When I think of artist Rowland Hilder’s work I think of winter scenes of rural Kent.
But I also love his London landscapes
But I also love his London landscapes
Reposted by Mark Payne
Fucking hell. "mental health conditions including autism and ADHD," says the BBC. Beyond crap.
December 4, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Fucking hell. "mental health conditions including autism and ADHD," says the BBC. Beyond crap.
Morecambe Bay - here comes the sun...
December 3, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Morecambe Bay - here comes the sun...
Reposted by Mark Payne
This widescreen, #wildwest #cartoon was published in @prospectmagazine.co.uk #outlaws #cowboys #shetlandpony
December 2, 2025 at 9:24 AM
This widescreen, #wildwest #cartoon was published in @prospectmagazine.co.uk #outlaws #cowboys #shetlandpony
Reposted by Mark Payne
I wonder if it's time to retire the role of "political editor" altogether
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Watched BBC 6 o clock news. Just a completely unserious broadcast. Chris Mason, acting like a children's entertainer, giving a prolonged impenetrable editorial. Not a whiff of informative content about the Budget or what it means for the country. Just playschool blah blah bollocks.
December 1, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I wonder if it's time to retire the role of "political editor" altogether
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Reposted by Mark Payne
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 2
No one does bleak-but-beautiful-winter like
artist Rowland Hilder
No one does bleak-but-beautiful-winter like
artist Rowland Hilder
December 2, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 2
No one does bleak-but-beautiful-winter like
artist Rowland Hilder
No one does bleak-but-beautiful-winter like
artist Rowland Hilder
Reposted by Mark Payne
This poem is dedicated to anyone making a start on their advent calendar today.
December 1, 2025 at 8:05 AM
This poem is dedicated to anyone making a start on their advent calendar today.
Reposted by Mark Payne
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 1
‘The village’
Artist: SR Badmin
‘The village’
Artist: SR Badmin
December 1, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 1
‘The village’
Artist: SR Badmin
‘The village’
Artist: SR Badmin
Sheffield - a fine day, some fine architecture...
November 30, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Sheffield - a fine day, some fine architecture...
Reposted by Mark Payne
Eyvind Earle.
Black Evergreen Forest.
Serigraph, 1981.
Black Evergreen Forest.
Serigraph, 1981.
November 29, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Eyvind Earle.
Black Evergreen Forest.
Serigraph, 1981.
Black Evergreen Forest.
Serigraph, 1981.
Reposted by Mark Payne
Martin Lewis, “Bay Windows” (1929), drypoint and sand ground, 19.9 x 30 cm.
November 28, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Martin Lewis, “Bay Windows” (1929), drypoint and sand ground, 19.9 x 30 cm.
Reposted by Mark Payne
Here's an example of regular London Underground users standing in the spotlight at Baker Street station. I think I waited 5mins to capture this shot!
November 28, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Here's an example of regular London Underground users standing in the spotlight at Baker Street station. I think I waited 5mins to capture this shot!
Reposted by Mark Payne
Tram No. 21, Manchester, painting by Arthur Delaney (1927-87). #NorthernArt
November 28, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Tram No. 21, Manchester, painting by Arthur Delaney (1927-87). #NorthernArt