iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I'll be at Penrith library on National Poetry Day, Thursday 1st October, 7pm hosting a free event — #tea and #poetry... what more could you want?! #cumbria #events

053

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

It's getting to that time of year. Books from our small press at the theherbfarm.co.uk/category/books out ready for autumn nights, reading by the fire, with a cup of our herbal tea #tea #autumn #booksky

180

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Allowing myself to enjoy being alive for a minute. Happy Sunday folks. Sending good vibes from Cumbria

040

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

3 lines. Insert your #haiku here (Window, Talkin Tarn #Cumbria)

052

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Let's go to the WordUp poetry night at StArt artists' studios, Carlisle

030

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Evidence of typical artists' studio WC with evidence of typical artists' studio DIY job

010

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Self portraits of the artist as an Eden trout

140

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Reclaiming the darkness as we enter the second half of the year after summer solstice

060

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

A late night #poemsaloud after a great day of reading, listening to and writing poetry for and with a few wonderful poets

162

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

A more full version of a poem I began writing here v late on Monday night. (I'll let you in on a little secret: I basically use Bluesky as a live jotter/notebook, then take bits from what I've posted here and work it into "proper poetry"). I will redraft this several times before publication.

021

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Popped into the Book Nook, Kirkby Stephen #Cumbria yesterday for a photo with my book The Way of Tea, which you can buy there. I'll be sharing #tea and #poetry from The Way of Tea (based on the Tang dynasty Classic of Tea) at the Book Nook, Kirkby Stephen August 28th

031

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

This depiction of the USA of 1968 seems even more relevant in Trump's America today

021

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

A poem from a past life in @saltpublishing.com's Best British Poetry 2014

063

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

"You know all that from staring at marks on paper? You're like... a wizard." —Gilly to Samwell Tarly #gameofthrones

000

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Caught on camera reading poems from The Way of Tea at Word Up Carlisle

021

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

A great find in my local library (Penrith, Cumbria) @carcanet.bsky.social

173

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

I love Marshall Davis' The Tao of Christ for showing that most tao of things: that two ways are one way

010

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

A new poem. I wanted to try it out aloud #PoemsAloud

164

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

My mother (Janni) let me explore her archive of letters, cards and various keepsakes from friends and fellow writers this afternoon – a rare opportunity to look in the magic chest as far as I'm concerned. There were letters from Hughes, William Golding, Alan Garner, incredible really

010

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

I have to admit, at various stages of my life, I’ve oscillated between inspiration, embarrassment, feeling overwhelmed, and a secret, pretty bloody deep pride in the poets I was named after: John Moat and Ted (Edward, my middle name) Hughes. /1

120

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Poem by Nick Pemberton, who passed away in 2018

010

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Marvellous evening for a book and a cup of tea. I can strongly recommend this one!

011

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

I feel I should have another go at doing a #poemsaloud! Thanks @coastalpoet.bsky.social @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social for the mentions and adds

341

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

It was my pleasure to host a Tea & Poetry event at the wonderful Hallbankgate Hub this afternoon, with poems based on The Chajing from The Way of Tea, three infusions of shou pu-erh and a few gallons of Herb Farm Yunnan Black Tea for good measure #tea #poetry

081

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

I'm tentatively re-establishing part of my career/life/soul that has been sleeping for a few years... the writer! I now have a Facebook page! www.facebook.com/johnnorthwri...

000

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

A wonderful thing arrives in post from @salmonpoetry.bsky.social @liamcarson.bsky.social In tea circles we might say thank you tea-friend! Here I might say thank you poem-friend? Or friend of starlings over the Lagan, twilight-friend, mountain-friend, crow-friend, friend of mossy walls and ravens?

221

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Plum and cherry spring blossom – a wedding day. [[Photos from the herb garden]]

021

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

I literally forgot about this amazing little correspondence. Seven years ago! I'm not sure what the fact I forgot about it says about me, but here it is so I remember in future!

020

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Feeling amazingly grateful today having found a home for not only our herbal teas at Natures Health Store, but also our books at The Hedgehog Bookshop, both of course right here in Penrith, Cumbria

022

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Wishing a joyful day to all who celebrate

000

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

My poem 'Theriac' in Southword 27 (2015)

022

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

#wildflowerhour here in the Eden Valley, Cumbria, yesterday morning

0234

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Reading 8th Century Chinese scholar Lu Yu wax lyrical about making tea theherbfarm.co.uk #poetry #chinese #tea

021

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Some exotic looking dog #lichen in Caldbeck, Cumbria

0151

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

"Divine laws are simpler than human ones, which is why it takes a lifetime to be able to understand them. Only love can understand them. Only love can interpret these words as they were meant to be interpreted." — Captain Benjamin freekin' Sisko 🖖

021

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

I recently designed 3 tea blends for a private spa. They specialise in TCM and seem really serious about herbs and teas! We've hand-packed 360 teabags this week. One of the blends was pretty ambitious with five ingredients. Here's four of them; there's two in each bowl. Can you guess what they are?

022

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

My wife and I's book for children is on Amazon! It uses familiar Cumbrian places and animals to tell a story about environmental destruction, sadness and hope. amzn.eu/d/08BCapiS

011

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Publishing later this month! My new poetic translation of Lu Yu’s Classic of Tea, the earliest known extant text devoted to tea. #poetry #translation #tea #books

0120

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Hello! Wonderful! Today has a real hint of early spring about it here in Cumbria, so I'm delighted to see that mirrored on Bluesky! Thank you for sharing! Here are some in return from The Herb Farm and our little church across the road in Ivegill! — John

110

John North @johnnorthwrites.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

❄︎ Merry Christmas from a cold, bright Cumbria ❄︎ from our family to the Bluesky #haiku family

171