iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Black Brown and Beige, with Mahalia Jackson is beautiful

Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Holiday In the UK we thought. By train. Been to London, Glasgow, Liverpool. no less than three train cancellations meaning delays and scenic routes home. All cities great, mind, though Liverpool still the greatest, maintains its grip on our hearts. Even in the rain.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Saturday night Wilco at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Sunday night Martin Stephenson and 'some Daintees' at the Waiting Room Eaglescliffe. Both fantastic and epic in their different ways.

the rock band wilco, playing infront of their name

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

To celebrate Stockton making the shortlist for Town of Culture here’s a couple of photos of my poem The Infinite Town being put to good use on the High Street During SIRF and the Stockton Flyer emerging. Onwards ‘and train ourselves to dream’!

People of a mix of races leaning on a plinth with a poem carved into it

Stockton Flyer emerging from a big plinth on Stockton High Street, poems The Infinite Towncarbed on it.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Fantastic to see Stockton’s new park (opens onto High St one side, the riverside the other) open today. Fantastic atmosphere to match the achievement. Ambition and blueprint to more than match any other aspirant town of culture.

Open square with steps in sunshine Stockton on tees

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Taking a break in the last days of steam, after being interviewed by Anne 'Weakest Link' Robinson for the Sunday Times. (He never mentioned that but his footman wrote a book much later.)

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Absolutely. My grandad drove steam trains, when trains were trains, and washed his hands with swarfega, so I get to approve all such requests. That's him on the right looking at D***head MPs (and me, probably) with disdain. Tbf I love this photo in a way not untainted by nostalgia.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Further to my last here’s a bonus photo of Sir Ken Robinson watching England in the 2006 World Cup - we had games available to watch and paused for England v Trinidad and Tobago if memory serves me correctly. I think his brother played for Everton.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

What were you doing 20 years ago today, Mark? Standing next to two heroes, the much missed Sir Ken Robinson and the happily still with us at 91 Justice Albie Sachs. Otherwise panicking about the World Summit on Arts and Culture which we’d brought to Newcastle Gateshead.

Formal photo Mark in a bad suit. Albie Sach Vanessa September Sir Ken Robinson two people whose name I can’t find Andrew dixon

Conference bag black and white text World Summit in Arts and Culture 14-18 June 2006 NewcastleGateshead

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

I like to get the Penguin Book of Socialist Verse off the shelf on May Day. A good use of 40p. Thanks to Mrs Braithwaite and/or the Kirby Adukt Reading Centre for getting rid of it!

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Man but this guy has messed up ehat you get if you google me.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Not a video but here's our cat choosing her next poetry anthology to cheer you up.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

Very good. Now do all my other book covers!

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Been walking central LDN wearing my 1988 goggles wondering where all the cool things went. Yes, like old folk do. I used to exit Tnham Court Rd tube at 5.45am (to chef on Wardour St). - v.glad I wasn’t faced with this howge video wall. & I still can’t afford anything the remains of Denmark St.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

A weekend full of Borderlands CPP dreaming. Started with a packed book launch on Friday where I got to close a brilliant night with 2 poems from a book I published 30 year ago. Then today hearing some great examples of works done in Borderlands Communities of Possibility

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

In other news, the rivers frozen over, almost.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Finishing up the Xmas @newstatesman1913.bsky.social I am returned to being 8 nearly 9 in my Nan Rose’s living room (council house I was born in, in fact) watching Frank Hayes of Lancashire get 106 on his England debut. I’d forgotten I remembered that. Excuse me while I reconnect with my inner child.

Nicholas Lazard article in New Statesman. Remembers Frank Hayes 106 not out for Englandin 1973.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

A couple of my public poetry works on display at Stellar Projects #Nightfall25 event this weekend. Rather wet the night I went! Dance as if it's not chucking it down...

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

Don’t worry about having no manager today Boro fans. George Cartick’s in town. #tedlasso #utb

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

Quiff's arguably not what it was but it's still there/back currently.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

Post you in another era. Go on then... 40 years ago fml. Photo by @dustysevens.bsky.social

Young man in front of the Eiffel Tower, black and white, impressive quiff and big coat.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

In case there are any #brettonhall alumni or #firesoflondon fans or fans of his #mozartrequiem completion, sharing this info on a memorial concert for my father-in-law Duncan Druce 10 years after his passing, in Huddersfield on 20 Sept.

Celebration of life and music of Duncan Druce - 20/9/25 Uni of Huddersfield 5pm.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Settling in for a an afternoon of cubist pop. Well, I say afternoon, total recordings are probably 40 minutes tops. #bigflame. Also; I should go in the 7” singles box more often, full of gems from my youth.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Struggling to believe some of these big⭐️fLAME Peel Session recordings are over 40 years old. But very happy to have them courtesy of @precrecs.bsky.social sound as fresh as ever.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

It’s not often an artist unfurls part of a 20m long work in an evaluation interview in a hotel lobby. I like my work.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Excellent day with Arts & Business NI in Belfast today, at their Flux conference- great to hear Blueprint members talking about the impact the programme has had on them. No magic wands but a lot of growth and development. Did two lightning workshops on multiplying leadership too.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Found this in a cupboard last year, from 1984. One of the kids had it for a while. Could still fit in it, just about, if I didn't breath too much.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Following Preston’s relegation struggle on my phone at my mother in laws.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Plus side today: a good Bonnefoy find in Oxfam, couple of things from Action Records and five hours of pleasant driving across Northern England

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

Another day of growth in the Thinking Practice office.

Seeds growing into shoots in trays on a window sill, orange glass squirrel, houses school and field through window a bit blurred

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

How bona to vada your dolly old eke

Scientist hands, mushroom in a jar, text says "Scientists hear mushroom 'thoughts' for the very first time. There was one phrase they kept repeating.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

Access and Excellence are not in conflict.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

I might be underneath that flag btw.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

It’s Sunday so here’s a picture of my cat reading a book of lectures on Proust (given in a Soviet prison camp, I get all my light entertainment elsewhere.)

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Occurred to me. Made it. Entertaining myself before proper work. Image rights available for merch for next arts conference at an appropriate fee.

Photo of Jennie Lee with God Save the Queen over her eyes.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

‘When Life Punches You in the Face, You Have to Get Back Up. How Else Can Life Punch You in the Face Again?’ Am reading John Lurie’s rollicking NYC back in the day memoir The History of Bones. This chapter heading is not my usual definition of resilience. But I know what he means.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Anniversary of the death of Sir Tom Finney today so here's a couple of photos to take my mind off politics for just a sec. Look how happy he and George Best look together!

Stir Tom Finney stroking George best's beard.

Man up a ladder in the 1950s
- Sir Tom Finney

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Absolutely qualifies! I played bass at Arc. Look how happy I look in this photo!

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

Surprise appearance of my wife’s mum and grandmother on that new Simon Schama programme last night, in the section on the Open Door community-made to programmes. When animal welfare was as out there as Northern UFOs… They once put Spike Milligan in a cage outside Downing St, unless I dreamt that.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Starting the day to some form of lunar rainbow, can only be a good sign.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Some belated enthusiasm: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit were jaw-droopingly brilliant in Stockton on Sunday. His combination/standard of song-writing, singing and guitar-playing is pretty unique right now, and the dynamics of the show were spot-on.

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 25/01/2024

My new poetry drops 1 Feb. Order here or DM if you’d like a signed copy. inpressbooks.co.uk/products/the...

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Mark Robinson @thinkingpractice.bsky.social · 10/01/2024

A map my son made was used on tv. Which would be nice if it were a fictional crisis rather than a real one.

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