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I’m a convert to reading microblog timelines via RSS, in Feedbin it’s such a smooth experience. But I find it reduces the amount I post and interact which makes me sad.

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Finished reading: Old God’s Time by Sebastian Barry 📚

Barry is one of my favourite authors and I’ve enjoyed losing myself in his writing before but this one proved a challenge.

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Enola Holmes, 2020 - ★★

I’d heard good things about this. It was entertaining enough for a rainy Saturday afternoon but I have two lingering questions: - Why did the there need to be a boy? - Why did Susan Wokoma not get more screen time?
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Fanfic, 2023 - ★★½

The story has so much potential. Sadly the execution didn’t match up. Feels like there would have been much more scope to develop the characters and give their stories more depth if it were a series.
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The best thing about substack newsletters is that they have RSS feeds.

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Finished reading: Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson 📚

Astonishing. I couldn’t put this down, just wanted to float in the words. There’s an art to writing fiction that feels like poetry. This story is tender and it also punches you in the gut.

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Fixed some minor issues on my bike all by myself aided by tools borrowed from work and tutorials on youtube 💪

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Finished reading: This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar 📚

This one grew on me. I enjoyed the letters but felt a little lost in the rest of the narrative. Also not sure I’ve ever read a co-authored fiction book before, and if I hadn’t have known I couldn’t have told you that was the case.

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📸 September 2023 photo challenge. Day 30: Treasure

This tree stood for around 300 years on Hadrian’s Wall. This past week it was purposefully felled by vandals. I can’t comprehend it. We’ve lost a treasure and a symbol of our region.

Sycamore tree on Hadrian’s Wall against a light blue sky dappled with cloud.
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📸 September 2023 photo challenge. Day 29: Contrast

I’m a sucker for a crane against a crisp blue sky.

White skyscraper and red crane against a crisp blue sky.
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📸 September 2023 photo challenge. Day 28: Workout

List of workouts recorded on Strava during September. Includes kettlebells, dumbbells and hockey training.
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📸 September 2023 photo challenge. Day 27: Embrace

Puppy being held in a man’s arms.
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When I follow baking recipes two things happen without fail: the cooking time is longer and the amount of items made is always short.

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It’s so disappointing when your tasty pint isn’t listed on Untappd 😞🍺

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📸 September 2023 photo challenge. Day 26: Beverage

Last night’s pre-film pint. Contrary to what the glass says it’s Bohemian Northern Brown Ale brewed by The Durham Brewery.

Pint of brown ale in an Almasty Brewing Co glass sitting on a white table behind an open Kindle.
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📸 September 2023 photo challenge. Day 25: Flare

A search of the archives brought up this photo of an artwork by Jean-Michel Othoniel from an exhibition at Centre Pompidou in 2018.

Two wall mounted rectangular objects made of glass blocks in various shades of blue with dispersed lights projected upwards from the top of them.
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📸 September 2023 photo challenge. Day 24: Belt

Coiled brown leather belt with silver buckle on top of yellow wool quilt.
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📸 September 2023 photo challenge. Day 23: A day in the life

Saturdays from September to April = hockey days. Slight anomaly today as playing in goal with all this clobber on (we won 2-1 btw).

Fully kitted up field hockey goalkeeper minus helmet which lies on the pitch before them.
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Pre-match nerves on another level today, making my annual cameo in goal 😬

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📸 September 2023 photo challenge. Day 22: Road

Newcastle’s Grey Street looking splendiferous in the midday sun.

Curbed sweep of Georgian buildings bathed in midday sun either side of a paved road.