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The Murenger House Open Mic 125 on Wednesday, October 21st, 2026 features Patrick Jones reading from his two new poetry books, Antidotes to Dissolution Parts I and II. This is the Cwtsh’s 125th ever Open Mic Event to be held since the first one in November, 2013.
Alan Roderick retweeted
Today it's the #WeeRead - a campaign to get people all across Scotland READING TOGETHER on 7th October!
Join us by reading something today - reading for just 6 minutes can reduce stress and improve mental health! Find out more and pledge to read at: weeread.scot
Dear Lover of Fine Words,
I am sorry to inform you that tomorrow night’s Cwtsh First Friday event with NATALIE ANN HOLBOROW talking about her book WILD RUNNING at 7.30 pm has had to be cancelled and will not now take place. Apologies for any inconvenience or disappointment.
Prize winning poet, NATALIE ANN HOLBOROW, is at the Cwtsh on Friday, October 2nd to discuss her first non fiction book, WILD RUNNING, with Alan Roderick. Natalie’s book will interest not just dedicated runners but ‘armchair runners’ and writers and poets alike.
Alan Roderick retweeted
September 2026 marks 360 years since the Great Fire of London which took place in September 1666. It also reminds us of that time we found a letter in the Archive dated 1661, sent from #Orkney to an address in Pudding Lane, London - the very place the fire began. 🔥
ALT A scan of the letter addressed to Pudding Lane in London
Alan Roderick retweeted
Looks like Tom Petty has been messing about with our displays again
ALT Three different books with the title Falling
Please be advised of our forthcoming Cwtsh First Friday on October 2nd, 2026, when NATALIE ANN HOLBOROW will discuss her new book WILD RUNNING. This is sure to be a most interesting event, but if you cannot make it, please let friends and family know. This is a Cwtsh Fundraiser.
Alan Roderick retweeted
There were no cats in the car park this morning but there's a wholly unanticipated collared dove.
ALT The car park at Orkney Library. There is a wall with a lamp post beside it. A dove is walking along the ground.
Alan Roderick retweeted
Orkney Library & Archive is supporting WEE READ - a national reading moment where people across Orkney are invited to join with people all across Scotland in celebrating the joy of reading this October.
Make your pledge to read now at WeeRead.scot
ALT A poster for Wee Read on October 7th
Alan Roderick retweeted
When I went fell-walking when I was a teenager, I used to eat Kendal Mint Cake. Now, I don't waste time with the fell-walking and just eat the Mint Cake.
Murenger House Open Mic 124 on Wednesday, September 16th, 2026 features ROBERT MINHINNICK talking about his new book on Cardiff poet DUNCAN BUSH. Laura Wainwright, winner of the poetry prize for ‘Wales Book of the Year’ 2026, for ‘The Storm’s Flora’ will be asking questions.
Alan Roderick retweeted
Picture the scene. It's 1769. You're William Aberdeen and you're drawing a map of Sebay in Tankerness, #Orkney. It's going well but then you realise there are some blank bits so you decide to add some decoration.
You think about what to draw for a moment. It's an obvious choice.
ALT A section of an old hand drawn map of Sebay in Tankerness, Orkney
ALT A section of an old hand drawn map of Sebay in Tankerness, Orkney
Alan Roderick retweeted
Coming soon. The prequel to Jock of the Bay. DM to order a signed copy.
Thanks to @face.first.design for the AI free cover
Alan Roderick retweeted
Happy birthday for tomorrow to Mary Shelley who was born on the 30th August 1797. 🎂
Did you know that in her most famous novel, she wrote that Dr Frankenstein travelled to #Orkney to create a mate for his monster?
So that was nice. She must have thought it was lovely here.
ALT A painting of Mary Shelley
Cwtsh First Fridays are back! Join Newport’s very own ODETTE DEBONO at the Cwtsh on Friday, September 4th as she talks about her acclaimed Pill memoir, WHITE SHEEP.
Last Chance to See John Briggs’s Groundbreaking Cwtsh Exhibition! Not seen it yet? Well worth a visit and can be viewed for two more days - Saturday, August 1st and Sunday, August 2nd from 1 to 4pm. Admission free. 100 portraits of writers and poets, from Wales and elsewhere.
