Jo Barker

Beth smoothed down her apron. The caller was squeezed into a frayed, black, woollen coat, the bright silver buttons straining at the effort. The woman spoke in a lilting Irish accent. “I’m Fred’s wife.” Beth took a startled breath. “You better come in,” she said. “The baby’s sleeping.” #WriteCBC

06.06.2025 06:44 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

”Hello?” He looked at her as though she were a stranger, not someone he’d shared a bed with just two nights before. “Hello? Is that all you can say?” she almost screamed. He sighed a deep, long, sigh. “I think you want my identical twin brother, Simon. I don’t suppose he mentioned me.”

09.05.2025 08:31 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Picture of me, a blonde woman in her mid 50s, standing with my back to a wall and pointing behind me to a banner that says happy retirement.

I’m on the hunt for a better word than retired. 😃 I’ve left work and claimed my pension but will not be ‘stopping, withdrawing or becoming uncommunicative’. This is when I start again, widening my horizons and engaging with whole new groups of people. Any suggestions? #notretired #juststarting

17.03.2025 08:52 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Yes, no problem for you to share. Pic is of me doing my best to raise awareness at this morning’s Parkrun. Helps that I run very slowly!

22.02.2025 15:01 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

A picture of me wearing a World Encephalitis Day T-shirt, ready for my weekly parkrun.

Today is #WorldEncephalitisDay. If you don’t know what that is, you’re not alone! Three years ago my daughter was struck down by this cruel and sometimes fatal illness that attacks and inflames the brain. She’s back living her life because of timely diagnosis. Awareness matters. 🧠
#Red4Wed

22.02.2025 13:11 — 👍 8    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

I always used to wonder why my mum took SO long to get out of the car and come into to the house to feed her three hungry teenagers after she got home from work.

31.01.2025 17:28 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

A photograph through a window of fields and fells.

#morning #roomwithaview
#ribblevalley 🌤️ ☕️ 🪟

25.01.2025 10:44 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

My future daughter-in-law’s hand, holding her engagement ring in its box.

My son and his girlfriend sitting together on a garden bench in the sunshine.

I’ve had my first #wedding booking for 2026. 💒

I’ll be mother of the #groom! 💍

So celebrating not celebranting this time. 🍾 💕

18.01.2025 17:28 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Image of fresh snow on a UK road at night.

#CheapTrainers and fresh #snow can be a dangerous combination. Even clinging to husband, I fell over three times on the way home from friends. Now nursing a sore head and leg. Should have listened to the forecast! #BuySnowBoots

05.01.2025 15:17 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

To take a #LeapOfFaith, leaving behind a 30+ year career in comms, before simultaneously finishing my first full rom com and becoming a wedding celebrant, so couples can trust me to write their #LoveStory

02.01.2025 18:01 — 👍 7    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

a poster that says bye 2024 and hello 2025 on it ALT: a poster that says bye 2024 and hello 2025 on it

This #neversaynever is the last New Year’s Eve I’ll spend in permanent paid employment after a 30+ year career in professional comms.

I hope the projects I’m planning behind the scenes will be successful but who knew being given the opportunity to #fail could be so exciting!

Happy New Year!

31.12.2024 16:39 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Me in running gear, sitting at a tea room in the sunshine, having completed my first 5k in a while.

Starting my #NewYear resolutions on Day One, Week One of 2025. #1stJan is never the right day for good intentions! #IsItMe 🏃‍♀️⏰

30.12.2024 13:13 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Mum’s hair blew wildly around her face. ‘He’s my brother, Jack!’ The fire and wind subsided, sunshine breaking through. ‘One winter he wouldn’t let go. Mother Nature trapped him under the earth. Dreams of a White Christmas gave him strength to return. Now you have saved us, Ella.’ #5ActFestiveStory

14.12.2024 10:09 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Am delighted to get a shout out this morning! Will be sad when this story ends. 😃🎄

Thank you @cbcreative.bsky.social

13.12.2024 11:22 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

The fire! Ella had spent a decade denying her power, now she needed all her strength to ignite it once more. Her body regained its warmth and the rug crackled, setting the door alight. A high pitched squeal from the other side, then silence. Mum took Ella’s hand. ‘You did it!’ #5ActFestiveStory

13.12.2024 08:35 — 👍 6    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Thank you so much @cbcreative.bsky.social I’ve been really enjoying having a go each day and it’s wonderful to actually win a prize! 📚

12.12.2024 12:32 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Ice started cracking the windows, obscuring their view of the world outside. ‘He’s close! There’s no time!’, her mother half screamed, rushing to the back door and turning the key. The last thing Ella remembered was seeing her face, as white as the wall of snow blocking their way.
#5ActFestiveStory

12.12.2024 06:47 — 👍 5    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Her mother stayed silent, slowly turning the card. Peering over her shoulder, Ella saw a stately home, the house and surrounding land shrouded in fog. ‘Where’s that?’, she asked this time. ‘Home’ her mother whispered, then more loudly, drowning out the hyms, ‘and we must go today’. #5ActFestiveStory

10.12.2024 22:46 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

She ripped it into pieces that fluttered onto the ground like the perpetual snow outside. How had they found her? She had told no one where she was going and no one sharing this cramped and cold B&B knew where she had come from. #5ActFestiveStory

10.12.2024 10:02 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Christmas tree with lights at the bottom of some steps in a pub entrance.

Just made the mistake of weighing myself well into Christmas feasting. The Bluetooth scales asked if it was really me! 😲🎄🥧🥧🎄🤣

10.12.2024 09:38 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

The Ritz Hotel in London decorated for Christmas.

London Christmas decorations. An angel.

London Christmas decorations. Advent numbers in the property window.

London Christmas decorations. An angel.

It’s not #Christmas until the 1st #December

It’s not #Christmas until the 1st #December

It’s not #Christmas until the 1st #December

#HappyChristmas

20.11.2024 23:28 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Image shows people waiting for a train on a station platform, in light snow.

Baby, it’s cold outside.

#delays #ratherbewriting

20.11.2024 07:58 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Well I wasn’t expecting that!
❄️🌨️

19.11.2024 11:06 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0