Moira Garland

Large blue Faroe Islands postbox with human figure next to it

Text showing the beginning of 'The Tarn' short story.

Postbox - Scotland's International Short Story Magazine - have published my story 'The Tarn' in issue 11, Spring 2025. A cornucopia of short fiction to read, in a lovely, professionally produced, magazine.
www.redsquirrelpress.com

Walking in Skipton. Rain from Floris has passed; wind remains this afternoon. #northyorkshire

Bury the Leeds | Thomas | Substack Rediscovering forgotten, weird and important stories about Leeds that have been buried in old local newspapers. Click to read Bury the Leeds, by Thomas, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscri...

For Leeds history lovers. Thanks to the Leeds libraries' newsletter for alerting me to this.
open.substack.com/pub/burythel...

False economist. Please sign.

Vote here.

G, by Zaffar Kunial

A powerful, and gripping, read. Available to borrow in Leeds libraries. Of course you could buy it if you have the spondulicks.

From Leeds libraries. I'll be recommending 'Is a river alive?' to anyone who'll listen. A powerful read. I'm not much of a non-fiction reader these days but this grabbed me all the way through.

A Bluesky anthology of poems collated in these posts. A varied read 🙂

Congrats on your Forward Prize shortlisting. What a good idea to post others' poems, rather than opinions - a Bluesky anthology 🙂

No new PFI in Neighbourhood Health Services | We Own It Wes Streeting: do not use a “Public Private Partnership” to finance Neighbourhood Health Centres

I've just signed the @weownit.org.uk petition to say NO to private finance deals for Neighbourhood Health Centres. Will you join me?

weownit.org.uk/act-now/no-n...

Palestine Action spraying paint is not terrorism. As ministers abuse their powers, I feel a duty to speak out | Juliet Stevenson We have laws to deal with crimes linked to protest. What this is really about is ministers complicit in the Gaza atrocities seeking to silence dissent, says actor Juliet Stevenson

An overreaching state. The arguments set out clearly & concisely:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Pink, yellow, white colours of alstromeria flowers in two vases

Pink, yellow, white colours of alstromeria flowers in two vases, indoors.

This dryer than usual spring has done wonders for Yorkshire blossom, including the garden alstromeria. So many in the last week, 3 bunches for me, 4 bunches for neighbours!
#alstromeria

OK, so this week's optional #writingprompt (submit your regular stories as normal) - and I'll aim to put a winning entry on each following weekend is MIRROR. paragraphplanet.com/submission.php #writingcommunity #amwriting #writingtools

Walking in Skipton yesterday, in ice-cream weather. Tough but lovely. #northyorkshire

Image of the Thames Water logo melting. Above it in white text on a black background is the sentence "Thames Water is in crisis: public ownership NOW". Below it in all caps on a yellow back ground are the words TAKE ACTION, with the We Own It logo.

🚨URGENT: Sign and share our petition.

❗KKR, the predatory US private equity firm lined up to rescue Thames Water, has pulled out. Thames Water is back in crisis.

It's time for Steve Reed to cut the 💩and bring it into public hands.
vist.ly/3n529qc

Red, purple and white flowers, with greenery, in a jug-vase. On a mantelpiece.

First of my garden cut flowers this season. Astrantia, rosemary, sage, toadflax (self-seeded)

Letter to Keir Starmer Once strangers at university, now divided by politics – one writer asks Keir Starmer: how did you become complicit in Gaza’s suffering?

✍️ Letter to Keir Starmer

Once strangers at university, now divided by politics – one writer asks Keir Starmer: how did you become complicit in Gaza’s suffering?

By Steve Pottinger
@bigstevepoet.bsky.social

The creepiest hagstone I've seen.

We Own It Logo We're hiring!

The public wants services that work for the public, not for profit.

🦸‍♀️Are YOU the campaigning superhero that can help make that happen?🦸

We’re looking for a dynamic, driven Lead Campaigner to join our team.
⁠
Applications deadline is ⁠Sunday 18th May.
vist.ly/3m2w3mc

Stop Hungary’s Pride Ban – Defend LGBT+ Rights Now Hungary has banned Pride marches, threatening LGBT+ rights and the freedom to protest. Sign the petition now to urge the EU to act before it’s too late. Every voice matters – help defend human rights ...

I just signed Budapest's petition with All Out that could really change things for LGBT+ people. Add your name and join me in the fight for LGBT+ rights! a.allout.org/s/WY8xL/

I tried once. And it failed. 😪

Road narrowing into the distance with hills behind

Cherry blossom framing grass and lido building in sunshine

Bluebells, trees and dappled light

Carpet of bluebells in dappled sunlight, with tree branches & leaves

This morning's group walk in Middleton Woods, Ilkley, in lovely sunshine.
1. On the bus leaving Otley. 2. Cherry blossom framing Ilkley Lido 3. & 4. Carpets of bluebells in Middleton Woods, Ilkley. My first visit. A lovely place to walk, though some steep-ish slopes to navigate. A stick = essential

NO WAY will Reform look after working people.

Ginger & white cat stretched out on indoor carpet

It's only March in northern England, and already the cat has escaped the hot sun, shining through the window, indoors. #catsofbluesky

Cancel this dictator's visit to the UK- sign the petition.

Almost 1 in 5 people claiming Universal Credit and disability payments have used a food bank in the last month.

Proposed cuts to disability support risk driving more people to food banks.

As my MP @katiewhitemp.bsky.social, will you ask the PM to rethink these cuts?

I hope it responded appropriately 🙂 x

What, ANOTHER gig? Oh yes! Come see me and singer-songwriter Andrew Metheven at the Purple Room. St John's in Ben Rhydding (just outside Ilkley). Saturday 8 March at 8pm.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-purple...

Great to hear you read, Rob, it really transported the poems across to us 😀