Mark Blackburn
@markblackburn.bsky.social
Writer. Final Approach: My Father and Other Turbulence publ. @claretpress.bsky.social
Winner: Heathrow 70 and 2024 South Hams Lit Fest prizes.
Winner: Heathrow 70 and 2024 South Hams Lit Fest prizes.
On the train en route to a writing event and struck by the number of people milling around at stations wearing poppies - in May!
So disrespectful to the poppy - and my grandfather (& those like him) who fought in Italy and Africa in WWII to protect the freedoms these ‘poppy wearers’ would take away
So disrespectful to the poppy - and my grandfather (& those like him) who fought in Italy and Africa in WWII to protect the freedoms these ‘poppy wearers’ would take away
May 16, 2026 at 7:23 AM
On the train en route to a writing event and struck by the number of people milling around at stations wearing poppies - in May!
So disrespectful to the poppy - and my grandfather (& those like him) who fought in Italy and Africa in WWII to protect the freedoms these ‘poppy wearers’ would take away
So disrespectful to the poppy - and my grandfather (& those like him) who fought in Italy and Africa in WWII to protect the freedoms these ‘poppy wearers’ would take away
Better than Starmer? I think not. Bad news for everyone except Palantir shareholders.
If you replace the PM, you’d be better off waiting for Burnham, Labour.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1...
If you replace the PM, you’d be better off waiting for Burnham, Labour.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1...
Streeting allies tell BBC they expect him to challenge Starmer for leadership as soon as tomorrow
The health secretary met the PM for less than 20 minutes in Downing Street this morning ahead of the King's Speech to Parliament.
www.bbc.co.uk
May 13, 2026 at 12:52 PM
Better than Starmer? I think not. Bad news for everyone except Palantir shareholders.
If you replace the PM, you’d be better off waiting for Burnham, Labour.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1...
If you replace the PM, you’d be better off waiting for Burnham, Labour.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1...
Why do ICE all look like they’re driving stolen cars and can’t afford proper uniforms?
January 24, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Why do ICE all look like they’re driving stolen cars and can’t afford proper uniforms?
Congratulations Mia, brilliant news! Can’t wait for it! 👏👏👏
My second novel is being published in 2026 by Mākaro Press in time for #WorldSuicidePreventionDay 🎗️
AND HOW ARE THINGS WITH YOU (Mākaro Press, 2026)
#suicideawareness
Here’s the announcement by Mākaro Press on fb - I love how they describe the book:
AND HOW ARE THINGS WITH YOU (Mākaro Press, 2026)
#suicideawareness
Here’s the announcement by Mākaro Press on fb - I love how they describe the book:
September 10, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Congratulations Mia, brilliant news! Can’t wait for it! 👏👏👏
The reality for aspiring writers. Posted by an indie publisher after their submission window. Not great odds!
September 3, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The reality for aspiring writers. Posted by an indie publisher after their submission window. Not great odds!
Reposted by Mark Blackburn
The thing the authoritarian left seem to forget when they float policies like introducing ID cards, is how the authoritarian right will abuse their use when they take power. Labour certainly won't be in power forever, and under FPTP especially, it could turn v nasty, v quickly.
September 2, 2025 at 4:26 PM
The thing the authoritarian left seem to forget when they float policies like introducing ID cards, is how the authoritarian right will abuse their use when they take power. Labour certainly won't be in power forever, and under FPTP especially, it could turn v nasty, v quickly.
Great Yarmouth is set to host the biggest neo-nazi music festival in over a decade. The Home Office has the power to block entry of overseas bands, which will scupper the promoters plans. But they won’t act unless we demand it. Email the Home Office now: hopenothate.org.uk/2025/08/28/g...
Great Yarmouth to Host Britain’s Biggest White Power Concert in Years – HOPE not hate
Great Yarmouth is set to host the largest white power music gig held in the UK for at least 10 years, HOPE not hate can...
hopenothate.org.uk
August 29, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Great Yarmouth is set to host the biggest neo-nazi music festival in over a decade. The Home Office has the power to block entry of overseas bands, which will scupper the promoters plans. But they won’t act unless we demand it. Email the Home Office now: hopenothate.org.uk/2025/08/28/g...
A rare night to actually ENJOY the news! 🤣🤣🤣 @bbcnews
June 5, 2025 at 9:44 PM
A rare night to actually ENJOY the news! 🤣🤣🤣 @bbcnews
Reposted by Mark Blackburn
Really looking forward to being there with @markblackburn.bsky.social at the #Sturminister #LitFest on 6th June 😃
May 15, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Really looking forward to being there with @markblackburn.bsky.social at the #Sturminister #LitFest on 6th June 😃
I was thinking delivering ‘safety, kindness, tea’ was a pretty good mission statement for a hospital until I read it properly…
May 6, 2025 at 8:25 AM
I was thinking delivering ‘safety, kindness, tea’ was a pretty good mission statement for a hospital until I read it properly…
Pretty clear who the villain will be in the next James Bond movie…
Trump says non-US movies to be hit with 100% tariffs
Trump says non-US movies to be hit with 100% tariffs
May 5, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Pretty clear who the villain will be in the next James Bond movie…
Trump says non-US movies to be hit with 100% tariffs
Trump says non-US movies to be hit with 100% tariffs
Interesting factoid: we never used to say ‘back in the day’ back in the day.
February 3, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Interesting factoid: we never used to say ‘back in the day’ back in the day.
Looking forward to reading to 168 people at tonight’s TLC event! Do message me if you’d like a Zoom invitation to be the 169th :)
December 10, 2024 at 1:46 PM
Looking forward to reading to 168 people at tonight’s TLC event! Do message me if you’d like a Zoom invitation to be the 169th :)
Reposted by Mark Blackburn
The Gaetz report isn't a national security threat if released. They've decided that although we paid for the report, we're not entitled to see it. What kind of malarkey is it when nothing is our business, anymore?
To whom it may concern: Leak it. We're not experiencing normal times, anymore.
To whom it may concern: Leak it. We're not experiencing normal times, anymore.
November 21, 2024 at 4:03 PM
Reposted by Mark Blackburn
Welfare 'medical assessments' started in the 1990s bc so many people had 'mystery illnesses' in the 1980s.
Before long Covid there was post-viral fatigue – a mysterious set of illnesses caused by other infections. Now scientists are starting to unravel its secrets.
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Before long Covid there was post-viral fatigue – a mysterious set of illnesses caused by other infections. Now scientists are starting to unravel its secrets.
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Long Fatigue: The exhaustion that lingers after an infection
Before long Covid there was post-viral fatigue – a mysterious set of illnesses caused by other infections. Now scientists are starting to unravel its secrets.
www.bbc.com
November 21, 2024 at 4:48 AM
Welfare 'medical assessments' started in the 1990s bc so many people had 'mystery illnesses' in the 1980s.
Before long Covid there was post-viral fatigue – a mysterious set of illnesses caused by other infections. Now scientists are starting to unravel its secrets.
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Before long Covid there was post-viral fatigue – a mysterious set of illnesses caused by other infections. Now scientists are starting to unravel its secrets.
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Welcome all you LUFC followers! Not sure why you’re all coming to me as I’m a woke North London Spurs fan, but welcome anyway. Won’t be a snowflake about it if you change your minds…
November 21, 2024 at 4:35 PM
Welcome all you LUFC followers! Not sure why you’re all coming to me as I’m a woke North London Spurs fan, but welcome anyway. Won’t be a snowflake about it if you change your minds…
This Sunday I’ll be at our village Christmas Fayre (Barrington, Somerset) selling my books!
Very happy to sign and dedicate copies of Brian the Barrington Bear and my other work for readers young and… older! 🧸✈️😍
Very happy to sign and dedicate copies of Brian the Barrington Bear and my other work for readers young and… older! 🧸✈️😍
November 20, 2024 at 8:54 PM
This Sunday I’ll be at our village Christmas Fayre (Barrington, Somerset) selling my books!
Very happy to sign and dedicate copies of Brian the Barrington Bear and my other work for readers young and… older! 🧸✈️😍
Very happy to sign and dedicate copies of Brian the Barrington Bear and my other work for readers young and… older! 🧸✈️😍
Reposted by Mark Blackburn
Remember if you like a post here ...then repost it. And em welcome 👋
November 19, 2024 at 2:45 PM
Remember if you like a post here ...then repost it. And em welcome 👋
Dear algorithm, I have not been here for a while - in fact, I only just got here - but I am keen to connect with other authors and poets, readers who might buy my books (pretty please), ex-planespotters, Bowie freaks, long-suffering Spurs fans, reluctant petrolheads and Mark Rutterford.
November 19, 2024 at 2:17 PM
Dear algorithm, I have not been here for a while - in fact, I only just got here - but I am keen to connect with other authors and poets, readers who might buy my books (pretty please), ex-planespotters, Bowie freaks, long-suffering Spurs fans, reluctant petrolheads and Mark Rutterford.
Hello! I checked in here a while ago when we saw the writing on the wall. Been off X for months but finding scope of Threads a bit narrow so I’m navigating Bluesky - appropriate airspace for an avgeek! Retired shoeseller now writer on my Final Approach (publ. Claret Press) - come fly with me! ✈️😍
November 19, 2024 at 1:56 PM
Hello! I checked in here a while ago when we saw the writing on the wall. Been off X for months but finding scope of Threads a bit narrow so I’m navigating Bluesky - appropriate airspace for an avgeek! Retired shoeseller now writer on my Final Approach (publ. Claret Press) - come fly with me! ✈️😍