Barendina Smedley

The Gargoyle “What — what is it, exactly?” asked Pamela, her voice suddenly hoarse. Having glimpsed the thing on the floor, she recoiled from it. Yet at the same time, she couldn’t take her eyes off it. “I’ll t…

I've written a new short story. It's about a Norfolk church, a group of parishioners and a gargoyle. You can read it here: newsfromnorfolk.uk/2025/10/29/t...

Excellent - I hope you enjoy it! x

An Old House in the Fens “A cloudy day or a little sunshine have as great an influence on many constitutions as the most recent blessings or misfortunes” — Joseph Addison (1672-1719) “I suppose what I mean,” said Edmund, r…

It's a wild, windy day here — why not curl up somewhere cosy and read about an old house in the Fens and its various inhabitants?

Here's a ghost story that I wrote earlier this week:
newsfromnorfolk.uk/2025/10/04/a...

I’m sorry to hear that things are so difficult right now. Sending love to you and your family.

Ah, I see!

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The Scarecrow The Scarecrow? Well, therein lies a tale! Perhaps it’s best that I simply tell you all the facts, such as they are, and let you draw your own conclusions.   Jeremy and the twins invited themselves …

I've written a new story about a man, his two little grandchildren, and a scarecrow who might or might not actually exist. If you'd like to read it, here it is: newsfromnorfolk.uk/2025/09/10/t...

Sorry not to do more here, but it’s just too hard to try to be in several places at the same time - given that I probably spend too much time on social media anyway.

Thank you! And it’s quite something for me to hear that Toby’s mother resonated with you, especially as she is, ahem, not entirely unfamiliar to me, either.

I have to confess at this point that it takes very little to start me off on reciting bits of Beowulf in what might or might not be a proper East Anglian version of Old English .... something I certainly enjoy more than do my listeners / victims.

Blakeney Quay — spring tides

Pilgrimage “You argue by results, as this world doesTo settle if an act be good or bad.” TS Eliot, Murder in the Cathedral (1935) For three nights in a row, Agnes dreamed the same dream.  On the mor…

As we're just on the brink of April — when, famously, "longen folk to goon on pilgrimages / And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes" — I have written a story about a pilgrimage. You can read it here

newsfromnorfolk.uk/2025/03/26/p...

A spring tide, as seen from Blakeney High Street

They do, don't they? But yes, that would be a rather alarming development!

If you're in Blakeney, do pop round for coffee! I always seem to miss the Richard Foster related meet-ups in London.

Happy #CommonwealthDay from Blakeney, Norfolk — a particularly misty part of the United Kingdom earlier this morning

No idea, unfortunately - it’s excellent though.

These are amazing - really useful! Many, many thanks for taking the time to find them for me.

Thank you, Kevin. I'm so glad that story worked for you although I hope you managed to get a decent night's sleep as well!

The image shows a rustic bench. On it are an Emma Bridgewater mug full of milky coffee, and two books - the one with a visible title is E F Benson's "The Complete Matt & Lucia". Meanwhile a young black cat has his front paws on the edge of the bench, considering jumping up to investigate the coffee. It is a bright, sunny winter day, with the light casting the shadows of bare branches onto the bench.

Books, coffee, Fred the cat — and sunshine!

It was a bit windy here this morning, but absolutely nothing compared with what Ireland and Scotland have experienced — we've had stronger winds already once this year — so Bridget is absolutely fine. Thanks for the kind wishes though!

A flint-built wall, of the type very common in north Norfolk, catches the late afternoon light. Along its uneven top grow at least two types of moss, while a fern is sprouting out of the front of it, stretching out towards the camera. In the background, somewhat indistinct, are bare-branched beech trees.

So much life in an old wall!

A traditional timber summer house sits on a green lawn. It has a casement window. Inside the window one can see a little black and white cat looking attentively toward the viewer. There are bare trees in the background.

Bridget the little cat, at least, has found a safe place in which to wait out the storm (which isn't that bad in Norfolk anyway).

I hope so, too. Not least, I've been really encouraged by the responses to "The Lammas Ghosts" — it's a real incentive to put more time into writing.

I struggle to find time to post here as well as elsewhere, but I do like see posts from old friends!

Thank you, Andrew! I'm so glad you've enjoyed the stories.

I love corner rooms that have the windows arranged that way — the light is so beautiful.

This collection of ghost stories by @fugitiveink.bsky.social was a Christmas present. Finally settled in tonight to read the opening story, and what a thrill - full of seething dread, unsettling undercurrents, much like the Norfolk landscape the stories occupy. Having read some of Barendina’s 1/2

Thank you, Kevin - that's a huge encouragement - I'm so glad that you're enjoying the stories!

In a churchyard, a gracile church tower is visible in silhouette against a pink and violet even sky. Above the churchyard hangs a gibbous moon. The overall mood is a bit gothic and brooding.

Churchyard moon — Blakeney, north Norfolk