Hey did you know you can keep your disabled and chronically ill pals a little safer by not meeting up with them when you're sick? 🫶

I teared up reading this. Jake really did my story justice and understood my message, when I could have been very easily treated as "just a joke"

Let's do this, y'all

Time to fight for trans rights with the powers of science and whimsy combined! 🏳️‍⚧️ 🧬 💖

@beyondxandy.bsky.social

Absolutely horrendous. If you live in #Canada, please sign this.

These Streets Are Ours: Beeston In our latest edition of love letters to Nottingham neighbourhoods, local wordsmith Matt Turpin, editor of The Beestonian magazine, discusses the creative melting pot of Beeston.

Another brilliant article by @beestonia.bsky.social in @leftlion.bsky.social. These are some of the many reasons I moved here; and I love it.

leftlion.co.uk/features/202...

The Importance Of Being Earnest (Full Show) | Take Your Seats | National Theatre at Home YouTube video by National Theatre

Enjoyed watching this from @nationaltheatre.org.uk earlier. Catch it for free until Thursday.

#WatchAtHome

m.youtube.com/watch?v=obX-...

😆

National Poet Laureate Simon Armitage in a group photo with Nottingham-based poets.

Professor Rory Waterman standing in front of a large screen which reads 'Nottingham Trent Uni - Byard's Quantum Leaps: The origin and mutations of a folk tale'.

Been to two fabulous #literary evenings in succession this week; the Nottingham Central Library event with Simon Armitage last night and @rorywaterman.bsky.social's inaugural lecture as a Professor this evening.
#poetry ##folktales #Nottingham

I've had the conversation with non-disabled ppl SO many times where they've said 'everyone should go back to the office as it's more social and productive...' etc. But for many disabled ppl, working remotely is the ONLY way to fulfill a role. It's not a choice.
#remoteworking #disability #equality

Big white screen with dark green text which says 'Our Voice' in large letters. In smaller letters above 'Nottingham Central Library presents' and below 'The Digital Community Poetry Exhibition in support of the Simon Armitage Laureate Library Tour Program'.

Display which reads: Nottingham Central Library presents Our Voice, the Digital Community Poetry Exhibition in support of the Simon Armitage Laureate Library Tour Program. Featured poets: lytisha Tunbridge, Eleanor Daniels, Trish Kerrison, Chak-lui Chan, Elizabeth Dunford, Jo Weston, Fiona Theokritoff, Julie Burke, Kate Burns, Denise Morton, Sue Forrester, Teresa Forrest, Elvire Roberts, Gabrielle Cracknell, Joseph Abiola, Robbert Van Dongen, Gail Webb, Michelle Mother Hubbard, Jane Campbell, Georgina Wilding.

Visited the 'Our Voice' digital poetry exhibition at Nottingham Central #Library yesterday.
Recordings by 20 poets (2nd photo) feature, as part of the celebration of Simon Armitage's national library tour.
Choose to watch, listen or read the #poems on display.
Find it in the area behind reception!

A screenshot of a page from Fish Publishing. The text says: " Flash Fiction Prize Tania Hershman Tania Hershman, judge for 2026. Summary: Open Judge: Tania Hershman Word Limit: 300 Closes: 28 Feb '26 Results: 18 April '26 Anthology Published: July '26 Entry Fees: €16 / €11 subsequent entries. (Optional Critique €45) Prizes: Top ten stories will be published in the FISH ANTHOLOGY 2026. 1st: €1,000 2nd: Online Writing Course + €300 3rd: €300" And there is a black and white headshot of Tania Hershman.

Not long left to submit your 300-word gems to Fish Flash Fiction Prize. I'm judging and I'm reading ALL the entries, so you know I'll see your story. Deadline Feb 28, send your word-shapes even if you think they might be "too weird" or "not flash enough"! fishpublishing.com/competition/...

Professor Rory Waterman’s Inaugural Lecture Byard’s Quantum Leaps: the origins and mutations of a folk tale

Selling quickly', but it's free. My inaugural professorial lecture in Nottingham on 4 March, titled 'Byard's Quantum Leaps: The Origins and Mutations of a Folk Tale'. Reserve a place here:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/professor-...

Giving Braverman the education brief is quite a choice for Reform. I was on an education commission with her once before she went completely mad and she knew absolutely nothing at all.

Passing @NottinghamCentralLibrary from Monday onwards?

Pop in and see the Digital Poetry Exhibition: you might catch my poetry video too!

More of my #poetryvideos here: joweston1.wixsite.com/joweston/poe...

#Poetry #Nottingham #Exhibition

Thank you to @the.australian for interviewing us recently about Creative Victoria’s brutal funding cuts to the literary sector.

#SaveWritersVictoria #ArtsCuts #FundTheArts #SupportWriters #VictorianArts #AustralianWriters #CreativeVictoria

Spelling correction: Arctic!

BBC Four - All Aboard! The Sleigh Ride A real-time journey across the wilderness of the Arctic on a traditional reindeer sleigh.

If you need a bit of peace and quiet at this time, I recommend this; a real-time reindeer-led sleigh crossing the Artic, on BBC iplayer.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...

On 6 January, hear the inside story of one of the world's most successful public art interventions, Poems on the Underground, as it marks its 40th birthday.
shorturl.at/AHYBA

We're marking the milestone by publishing the Revised Edition of 100 Poems on the Underground next month!
shorturl.at/OJWPl

Nigel Farage, whose party recently put a teenager with zero work experience of any kind, in charge of running an entire county, is currently giving a speech railing against "unqualified" politicians being put in charge of Government departments

If you think Reform shouldn't spend £75,000 of public money on erecting flags, sign this petition.

If you think Reform shouldn't spend £75,000 of public money on erecting flags, sign this petition.

Sign the Petition Stop Reform UK from installing costly flags in Nottinghamshire

Reform plan to spend £75k erecting flags in Nottinghamshire.
This is an unnecessary use of very limited council resources, which are desperately needed elsewhere.
www.change.org/p/stop-refor...

A Poetry Award That Puts Poets First – And You Can Make It Happen - The Broken Spine Poets deserve more than empty prestige. They deserve real recognition, real opportunities, and real support. That is why I am launching The Broken Spine

A poet should never have to sell their soul just to enter a competition. That’s why #TheBrokenSpinePoetryAward will be free to enter—but only if we hit £5,000. No haunted arts council funding here, just pure community support. Will you help? 🔗

Angela Rayner accidentally pays less tax than she should have, resigns, and the media gives her hell.

Nigel Farage deliberately pays less tax than he should have, and the media gives him a free pass.

That, right there, is the problem.

Reform: Stop hiding from press scrutiny! Nigel Farage says he welcomes freedom of speech, even if people find it offensive. Surely that should apply to freedom of the press too? So why have Reform's Nottinghamshire councillors - who control ...

you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/re...

Watch online: Ilan Pappé & Avi Shlaim: The Long and the Short of Israel and Palestine From Wed 13 Aug - Ilan Pappé and Avi Shlaim have decades of experience in analysing Israel and Palestine, and their impact on individuals, the region, and the rest of the world. Expect a progressive a...

I recommend looking at this year's @edbookfest offering for online events.
I'm a chat moderator again this yr, + there's been lots of fascinating + informative stuff already, including this which helped me understand what's happening in Israel and Palestine:
www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival...

A screen shot of my Ticket tailor page yo book one of my Unbox Your Words workshops. One the left hand side is a white square with Unbox Your Words in several.colours, underneath is the text Unbox 1Hour writing muscle workout sept2025, tues2 Sep 2025 7pm to8pm BST, online, zoom. On the right is a black square with the words Unbox Your Words : Permission to play, and under, Unbox Your Words Art of the Swerve writing workshop, Sunday 21 Sept 2025 7pm - 8.30 pm BST, Online, Zoom

Screen shot of the four ticket options for my Zoom workshops: general admission, free place, concession and pay-what-you-can.

I never want cost to keep anyone from joining my zoom writing workshops so there are always free, concessionary and pay-what-you-can options. Find out more about my Sept Writing Muscle & Art of the Swerve workshops here - join us, whatever word-shapes you write! www.tickettailor.com/events/tania...

Today I start work again as a chat moderator for the @edbookfest online events.

Take a look at all the wonderful events you can watch online (options to buy a ticket, make a donation or watch for free if you can't afford to pay).

#BookFestival

www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival...

Scientists find link between genes and ME/chronic fatigue syndrome Large study suggests people’s genetics could ‘tip the balance’ on whether they would develop the illness Scientists have found the first robust evidence that people’s genes affect their chances of developing myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), a mysterious and debilitating illness that has been neglected and dismissed for decades by many in the medical community. Early findings from the world’s largest study into the genetics of the condition pinpointed eight regions of the human genome that were substantially different in people with an ME/CFS diagnosis compared to those without the illness. Continue reading...

Scientists find link between genes and ME/chronic fatigue syndrome

Initial DecodeME DNA Results - DecodeME 06 August 2025 The DecodeME team is delighted to announce that the initial analysis of 15,579 DNA samples is complete, and we have important news to share. Main findings from our analysis  Your genes ...

I've had M.E. for over 20 yrs and am proud to have contributed to this study by @decodemestudy.bsky.social

"Your genes contribute to your chances of developing #MECFS... 8 genetic signals have been identified... indicating immunological and neurological causes."

www.decodeme.org.uk/initial-dna-...

Banner image also includes a smaller image of three spoons that are joined at the base. Text is the same as the post.

Spoonie Author Chat (for creatives who manage spoons), August 4, 2025:

Calling all cover artists!
(No, not you, generative Al. Go away.)

Human cover artists:
Where can we learn more about you and your work?

Please quote-post and add
#SpoonieAuthChat to your replies!) #WritingCommunity