Sign in

Mark Chater🎲🖳📚

@markchater.bsky.social
65 followers 189 following 348 posts

Nerdiest of nerds, Bristol via London. Like scifi, fantasy, RPGs, and have a keen interest in space exploration. Play D&D 5e and learning Italian. The photo really is of me on a camel. Never. Again. LGBTQ+ ally. TERFs and SWERFs unwelcome here.

PostsRepliesMedia
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
My haul from Waterstone's Piccadilly before the theatre yesterday. The bookseller told me how much she loved the Becky Chambers novel when I bought it, just have others have said the same to me about the Wayfarers novels when I bought those.
Photo showing two books, the tenth Attack on Titan omnibus and To be taught if fortunate by Becky Chambers
130
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
New bookshelves! My IKEA Billy were getting very tired so ordered these from Shelfstore and installed them today (totally recommend, the quality seems excellent). Next job is to carry all the books back in🥵
010
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
I have now! What a good idea!
Image of NASA certificate showing I have adopted a pixel on the Nancy Grace Roman telescope
010
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
I do! This is hanging on my wall (with my LEGO ISS and plush pokemon collection lurking on the edge of shot below). It's a copy of an original woodblock print owned by my city's museum.
Copy print of The Great Wave by Hokusai
110
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Haul from my day trip to Oxford, found on the shelves of "Last Bookshop". Never seen this one for sale as a paperback before, not even in Waterstones Piccadily. @danacea.bsky.social
131
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
Print I bought at the Eastercon art show depicting Voyager, with a photo I took of my rescue cat Gizmo maybe 20 years ago and three taken of me when I used to compete in motorsport events (cars are a Hillman Imp and a Davrian, both of which I still have even if they never move!)
020
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
Here's Gizmo, who had a very spoiled last few years after I adopted her from a rescue centre. Hope you have a speedy recovery.
Black and white cat sits on a blue carpet.
130
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
This is on, so I'll be in front of the telly* for a couple of hours. Must be up to a dozen views, it's so good. *projector screen
000
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
Current read. Just finished " I who have never known men" by Jacqueline Harpman.
000
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
Park Royal station, think it must be nearly 50 years since I was here, stood outside with my late gran waiting (a long time it felt like) for a bus back to Perivale.
000
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
In a break from everything that's happening today, at Firenze airport you can buy Lego from a vending machine.
A vending machine full of lego kits next to an airport departure board.
000
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Views from the plane, then views of the city, plus an obligatory gelato even though it's gennaio.
000
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
So I got this thing (a Seestar S30) that makes photographing galaxies and nebulae really straightforward compared to setting up all the components yourself (and importantly taking it all down when you want to go to bed). Here's a couple from tonight, Bode's galaxy (M81, with M82) and NGC 281
Photo of M81 and M82 created by stacking multiple 10s exposuresPhoto of NGC 271 created by stacking multiple exposures.
000
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 27/12/2025
Very cool present I received for Christmas, who wouldn't want a dragon on their gift card? Currently enjoying cappuccino and chocolate fudge cake in the mezzanine cafe at Piccadily before heading upstairs to spend it!
010
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
Today's haul from Max Minerva's Marvellous Books near work in Bristol. Nice to find The Vengance by @emmanewman.bsky.social in an indie bookshop. I bought Notes on Infinity based on seeing it in the window so who knows what it will be like!
120
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 01/11/2025
Successful visit to my favorite shop this morning, I escaped having only bought one book 🤣
010
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
Three watercolours painted by JMW Turner during a stay in Bristol age 16. From the "Prince of the rocks" exhibition at Bristol Museum, showcasing these, prints of other Turner works and geology, flora and fauna collected from the Avon Gorge.
110
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
Just finished this and loved it, it's so beautifully written. Given the subject - life after a global pandemic that wipes out well over 99% of the population - I'm kind of glad I didn't read it pre-COVID.
Shows the cover of Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel
010
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 24/08/2025
"A ton of #tea " by Ai Weiwei, would keep me going for a couple of weeks 🫖.
030
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 24/08/2025
At Bristol Museum today for the (very good) "Gender Stories" exhibition. Did have an invite to the opening night party some weeks ago but couldn't go.
Collection of badges from the campaign agaist Section 28.
020
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
Sun is shining, my patio pot plants are in bloom and a pair of cabbage white butterflies just fluttered by when I popped out of my garden office to take this photo just now. Wishing I could be sat on the patio rather than WFH at the moment 🤣
110
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 10/08/2025
One of my all-time favourites as well and I have the same editions. My copies of the four saga of the exiles novels must be 40 years old (eek!) as I bought them when I was 16. Definitely still stand up very well today unlike some of what I read as a teenager. Image from my phone, just now :)
Eight paperback novels by Julian May, saga of the exiles and galactic milleu series
010
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
While I have a huge to-be-read pile, now I want to re-re-re-read the first chronicles 🫣 🤣. Anyway, here is some real art found in my study, painted last year by "Murals by Sarah" on instagram and facebook (and who I highly recommend). And yes, I do have plush pokemon and dinosaurs on my desk.
Mural showing the Millenium Falcon chased by the Death Star and Tie fighters, against a background of stars and nebulas.

In the foreground a white desk with three monitors and an IBM Model M keyboard. A plush pilosaur named Doris sits on top of a monitor.
100
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
Here is my plan for the day - #tea , novel, sprawl on the patio in the shade, test match special on the radio. Abandoned plans to go in to the centre for the Bristol pride march due to the combination of sun / heat / my MS. Unlike many I love the sun, but need to remember to respect my limits 😞.
Patio in the shade with various plants, Julian May novel, Jane Austen themed mug of tea, a muffin and my foot visible.
220
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
If you see this, quote with a robot that isn't from Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who or Transformers. I went for the bleedin' obvious choice 🤣
Cover of Asimov's novel "I, Robot" showing a cutaway image of a robot face with two perfectly circular eyes.
000
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
Day late but here from yesterday evening are some sleepy 2w 3d old puppies owned by the hosts of my ongoing D&D campaign, and me holding one dedpite being very much a Cat Person. We did play some D&D but not as much as usual because puppies are distracting 🤣
Six sleepy husky / german shepherd puppies in their penMe holding a sleepy dark brown puppy.
000
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
I was going to say I still have mine, but on going to take a photo the third and fifth have escaped sometime in the 35+ years or so since I bought them😲
Books 1,2,4 and 6 of Spellsinger by Alan Dean Foster on my bookshelves. The fate of 3 and 5 is unknown.
010
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 01/06/2025
Happy #PrideMonth , honestly sad that in 2025 it feels more needed than ever despite the progress in my lifetime. (Photo is of what people see in the background if I have to Zoom / teams, and if anyone reads the book titles, yes I do still have my BBC Micro technical manuals from 40 years ago)
My bookcases in my home office with my Pride flag draped over the front.
000
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
Saw @marycoughlan.bsky.social in Bristol last night, for the umpteenth time since 1988 at the Mean Fiddler in Harlesden. Fabulous gig as always, really liked the arrangement of 'Ancient Rain'. Apologies to anyone sitting near me as I sang along 🤐
Mary on stage in Bristol, some of the band in the background.
110
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
I would have been 22 I think and remember the video very well as I was still watching TOTP then and it was no.1 forever. No catsuit, but they both look fab the sleeve of the single, which I still have.
Picture of the "stay" 7 inch single by Shakespears Sister against the background of my sofa.
041
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 15/03/2025
Visiting London today so as usual called in at my favorite shop in the world, Waterstones Piccadily, where I was able buy this and ask @danacea.bsky.social to write me a message. She was super nice to this random nerd too. Second copy (originally bought and read on my kindle)
Inside front page of "Ecko Rising" with signature and message by the authotlr, Danie Ware
110
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
We use a metal whiteboard and fridge magnets for combat. Too many experiences of D&D cat playing football with dice to use minatures🤭. She also went through a phase of adopting the bag I bring my dice and PHB in (pictured here while older sister looks on disdainfully)
Black cat sat inside R2D2 bag while white and brown cat asks "what are you doing?"
010
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
Going to try to stay up for the launch (around 10.37pm my time) #Starship
Photo depicts the spacex stream of the starship launch at T-54, taken in my lounge.
000
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 02/01/2025
Hand held photo showing Orion with Jupiter in Taurus using "night mode" on my phone. Taken by me, last night.
010
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 29/12/2024
Since you asked about energy ...
Black cat curled up asleep in an armchair.
010
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 13/11/2024
This is a three-legged cat which lives at the hospital run by Animal Care Egypt (a UK charity) near Luxor, which I photographed yesterday. #notmycat I no longer have a cat of my own, my rescue died age 16, some years ago.
Three legged cat enjoying the sunshine.
100
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 08/11/2024
Very much just hanging in there, on holiday in Egypt at the moment (29C in Aswan). I do have tea, but it's Liptons 🤦. Anyway, here are some pilgrims I photographed worshipping Bastet at the temple of Isis on Philae today, because cats make everything better.
A black cat being worshipped (or photographed, it's basically the same) by pilgrims, or tourists.
120
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 10/10/2024
Cloudy tonight but just about managed to capture some colour
Aurora pictures from my garden.
0131
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 08/09/2024
I am a nerd of a certain age and you've mentioned two of the epic series that really stirred my love of F&SF as a teen. Here's the other in the photo. p.s. always felt Mhoram was the real hero of the first chronicles, alongside Foamfollower, and I love that art.
Picture of my copies of Julian May's saga of the exiles series.
120
Mark Chater🎲🖳📚 @markchater.bsky.social · 23/07/2024
The sofa of sky remote control and self-painted "solar system" mug (showing all NINE planets) Cover will be magnolia painted anaglypta.
Mug I painted depicting the sun, nine planets and the asteroid belt, because Pluto is and always will be a planet, no matter what the IAU say.
010