What's in a Name?

This blog has had a change of identities over the years. 

It began as The DM's Screen, originally created as a place for my role-playing advice, hints and tips and anecdotal musings. 

Later it became The Open Hearth, as an organic evolution arising from my discovery of the writing community within the Blogoverse, with the focus broadened beyond gaming into a wider mix of stories, reflections, and essays.

More recently, I realised my own name — Mark K — was blending into a crowd of other Mark K’s online (an astronaut, a nursing lecturer, even another writer), which caused confusion for readers and searchers alike.

So, in order to make things clearer — and to write under a name that’s easier to find and remember — I’m now publishing here as Tom Railin, a pen name I've held in the side lines for some time now. It'll be the same offerings, gaming advice and insights, life musings and anecdotal tales, mixed in with my usual snippets of tv/film and music choices.

Rest assured: it’s still the same blog, the same voice, and the same words you’ve been reading. Nothing else is changing, except the byline.

If you’ve bookmarked the old addresses or arrived here from a previous incarnation of the blog, welcome aboard — you’ve found the right place, and I look forward to having you as regular company.

Here's to fresh beginnings and goodbye to 'Mark K'.

As normal, I leave you with a piece of music I find enjoyable and fitting: Keane - "Somewhere Only We Know".

Blog Name Update.

 

Copyright © Mark Kelly 2025.

Today's a quickie for two reasons:

1) To see if this receives any traffic.

2) If it does, to serve by way of explanation regarding the different name of my blog.

TRAFFIC:

Google is a pain in the butt. Plain and simple. Changing a blog name, on initial consideration seems like a straight forward process. But alas it falls into the same ball park as, "It'll only take five minutes to do." And we all know that the "five minute" analogy, in reality, means an hour or so of tight lipped cursing, keyboard thumping, hair pulling and an urge to place your fist through the screen in front of you.

Google Sitemaps is a monster when it decides it doesn't want to play nice. And for the last several days it has been acting like it's Godzilla. But, I have prevailed, and over the next 48 hours I'll keep an eye on things. 

So, if I get any viewing number for this post, then I'm golden and can post as normal. If not, then this post will only serve as a timestamp to my computer's destruction as I throw it out of the window, followed by my screaming, "F**k you, Google!".

My Supernatural Encounters (not recommended for night reading).

Everyone has a story or two to tell when it comes to the 'supernatural' and the unexplained. I'm no exception. So for today's post I thought I'd re-tell my little exposure to a collection of strange events and happenings during my time living in the family home, an old Victorian-built terraced house in Canton, Cardiff.

As the title suggests, reading this at night, especially alone, and more so if you are of a nervous disposition when it comes to the dark of night and your imagination can run away with you, I wouldn't read this in bed or alone in the dark. Trust me.

Without further ado, let us proceed - and before we do, what you are about to read is not fiction, that I 100% guarantee... but these are my own personal experiences, actual or imagined - that's for you, the reader to decide. Though first, I'd like to set the mood by sharing another tune from my youth, going back to 1981: Japan and their song, 'Ghosts'.

My Day's Training - Staying Mobile.

Since returning to my blog I've been delving into Primal Movement as an addition to my usual training/exercise routines. Primarily I wanted something to reconnect myself with the freedom of movement as a unit.

I've noticed over the years a gradual diminishing of flexibility and range of motion which I can nail down to two specific reasons:

1. Failure to maintain flexibility routines, as previously acquired through Karate and Yoga.
2. Mechanical differences resulting from past surgical procedures, and soft tissue injuries, i.e. tearing.

Regarding surgery, the issue can arise from scar tissue adhesion, of which I've suffered and is not nice to experience - this is where the laying down of scar tissue results in one or more adjacent muscles actually becoming joined by said scar tissue, usually through the fascia (think of fascia like sausage skin and the muscle is the meat inside said skin. Fascia allows for free movement of muscles across and over each other during day-to-day functioning, i.e. walking, running, lifting, stretching, etc). Fascia not only coats every muscle, but there is an entire internal 'suit' of fascia covering the entire human musculature beneath the skin.

Rainy Days and Role Playing.

Copyright © Mark Kelly 2025.

As I write this the rain falls steadily outside, occasionally throwing itself, almost petulantly, at my window, whilst the garden plants and bushes jiggle and sway wildly in the wind as if at some kind of botanical rave party only they can hear.

Lucky them.

Grey clouds, blustering wind and lashing rain on an early Autumnal day in September. Perfect role playing weather - or at least, that's the memory I have, delving back to a time when I first started out in the 'hobby', though I refer to it as a passion. For those reading this who were once rollers of the dice, or the controllers of the dice (yes, that means you GMs/DMs), then you'll understand what I mean when I refer to it as a 'passion'.

When you take your first tentative steps into the world of role playing games of the traditional paper & pencil kind it's a sensation loaded with both expectation and an anticipation of the unexpected. 

Less is More.

 

Copyright © Mark Kelly 2025.

No doubt you are familiar with that expression - "Less is More". But I was thinking about it from a different angle than the usual connotation.

The way I have started to look at it is this: less time in front of my PC is more time engaging with the real world. Less time on my iPad is more benefit to my posture, instead of craning my neck, causing my back to ache later in the day.

Less is more beneficial to the human condition. Less screen time reduces the exposure to blue light, which messes with the body's cortisol levels, which in turn reduces the quality of your sleep.

Up until recently I'd wake every morning with a dull headache, feeling fatigued as if I hadn't slept, and my body aching. I thought it was my pillow, and after several different types, nothing changed. I drank water before bed, taking into account dehydration, this just made me get up to pee more frequently during the night, interrupting my sleep. I listened to relaxing music before sleeping. Nothing.

Unexplainably Strange.

Copyright © Mark Kelly 2025.

Ever had an encounter or experience that leaves you questioning your own reality, or your own senses?

For me there are two such stand-out moments of 2024 - one in the cold, wintery beginning of the year, and the second during the sunny Spring.

Both took place whilst I walked, Chica, one of our Spanish rescue dogs, along the footpath that runs parallel with the local river (River Ely) that cuts through Talbot Green and into Pontyclun. It's a lovely walk that takes you past houses at various points with a small field in between. Great for dog walkers, joggers, or folks taking a stroll.

#1: JANUARY 2024.

I was due in work for an early shift at the hospital starting at 0700hrs, and as my way when on an early shift, woke up at 0500hrs to take the dogs for their individual walks to start the day. I headed down towards the river path with Chica, her harness fitted with the usual reflective-flashing light strips, and my pocket torch fully charged.

We strolled past the row of houses that faced towards the river along the tarmac footpath, the trees and bushes to our right muting the sound of the flowing river at the bottom of the steep embankment, but even that didn't block the sound of the river's fast flowing caused by the previous night's rainfall.

Advice For New DMs/GMs - "Crits & Fumbles".

Copyright © Mark Kelly 2025

Much time has passed since last I posted on the topic of my one, true gaming love: traditional pencil & paper role playing games. In many ways this post is reconnecting to my original purpose for creating this blog back in March of 2011: to help, advice, guide and share with budding and novice Dungeon Masters and Games Masters alike - even seasoned DMs & GMs are most welcome, even players, because today's player is tomorrow's DM/GM.

On a personal note, it's been a couple of years now since I last touched the dice and hid behind the shield of a DM's screen, and yes, there are times I yearn to be there again. One obstacle, though - finding your player base. But I'll leave that for another day (or evening) and another post.

As the title states, I'll be going over the Critical Roll - "the Crit", and its counter-part, the Failed Roll - "the Fumble".

Sparrowhawk Confirmed.

Copyright © Mark Kelly 2025

This morning, Thursday 4th September, I trudged downstairs after waking, still half-asleep, and headed for the kitchen. Towels. I remembered I'd left towels in the tumble dryer, which is set-up in the garage. So off I go, and as I open the inner door leading to the utility room added to the back of our house - small, but double-glazed and good enough for storage of dog leads, coats, etc - I stop and stare.

What I initially thought was a rain-drenched Wood Pigeon, sat on our garden seat set-up, was in fact a Sparrowhawk. It was in the process of eating its morning kill, feathers strewn about its feet and the table upon which it feasted - rather ironic.

So it would seem my little feathered friend was not the victim of a Magpie as suspected, but of this Sparrowhawk.

I didn't disturb it, as it is nature doing what nature does, and I know some reading this might be of the opinion that I should have shooed it away, but the meal it was engaged in was beyond recognisable, and nothing would be gained.

Savage Garden: A Flightless Friend.

 FEEDING THE FLOCK.

One momentary lapse of attention and a heart-breaking discovery.

Since the tail-end of 2024's Winter I began buying suet pellets, seed and dried mealworms in order to feed my garden bird visitors. My main aim was to help them prepare for the nesting season to follow in early 2025.

Like most people who live in an urban setting, garden birds are acknowledged but not really focused upon. They come, they go, they sometimes crap on your washing line full of clean clothes. Aside from that, they fill a silence with the musicality of nature. Some more than others.

The feeding 'table' of choice I decided would be the garage roof - low enough for me to place food adequately, but tall enough to give the birds confidence in feeding without the risk of predators from the ground.

Working with Dementia.

Copyright © Mark Kelly 2025

Yesterday - that being Thursday 28th August, 2025 - I worked an Early shift at my local Accident & Emergency department. My role there is what's termed as a Bank Nurse, though I'm an Auxiliary, not a Qualified Nurse.

On the floor by 0700hrs after the hand-over, and was informed I'd be covering two areas. Nothing unusual there, but this day the department was short-staffed. I flitted about making sure things were in order, stock levels and the such, before things began getting busy as patients who had been there overnight would start waking and the buzzers start buzzing.

It was just after my return from break I encountered an elderly lady looking lost. My initial impression was she could be a relative seeking the way out. Not unusual, and happens frequently. People get easily disorientated. 

I asked if I could help in any way. She smiled, and told me she was looking for her dog. Okay, I replied, and gently steered her towards the main desk, to find out 'where her dog was'. 

Why Do I Write?

 

Copyright © M.Kelly 2025

Why do I write? 

A question I've pondered many, many times, with equally many, many answers.

When distilled, its core reason: self-indulgence.

Such a simple premise, yet so loaded, that if it were a car the tyres would have blown from the immense weight. 

But seriously, writing is so very self-indulgent. 

Think about it, you have absolute and total control - from the weather, the time, location, the character or characters (which in itself is potentially boundless in regards what you can create). Basically, in essence, you are the ultimate creator. Your word is 'law'. You wield the power to create, destroy, make sun, rain, laughter, tears, joy, sadness. The list could be endless.

Yet... and here's the rub, you are also at the mercy of that which you create. Believe this or not, but characters can develop in ways that are both unexpected and surprising, WITHOUT your intent. Yes. It is a thing. Many writers will tell you such. Once you are in a flow state of writing and your muse is in tune with your creative flow, the words take on a life of their own, and before you realise what's happening you may have written a page or two, maybe three, and not even thought about it. It just flowed.

Writer's Block - A Real F**king Curse.

 

Copyright © M.Kelly 2025

When I began dabbling with writing, going back to the 90's, it was as a result of my passion for the fantasy genre birthed out of my introduction to Dungeons & Dragons and the role playing game scene in general.

Undoubtedly it was a tap installed into my imagination, allowing me to turn it on to full flow and let the ideas run freely. And this they did for a very long time. During that time my role playing influences filtered through from games such as 'Traveller' (original spelling), from Games Workshop - back in the day when they were all about the games and not the money - 'Call of Cthulu', 'Warhammer Fantasy RPG', 'AD&D', 'Shadow Run', and last, but not least, my ultimate rpg love, the brilliantly simple, 'Dragon Warriors'.

I consumed books/novels in the various genres weekly, buying more and more, my imagination filling with new vistas, characters, scenarios, locations - basically everything a DM/GM needed in order to run their worlds for their rpg group. And that I did. 

"But what if I wrote a story?" I asked myself. So I did. Poorly. But I wrote another, and another. All of them crap. Though to me it was an amazing sense of freedom. I wrote for myself. No-one ever read them, nor will they. For me, writing was having my own personal cinema in my head. Putting the words to paper fired up the screen of my imagination. It was wonderful.

A Long Time Passed...

 As the title states, it has indeed been a long time passed since I last posted. I must confess, it's entirely down to me, my procrastinating mindset combined with a lacklustre imagination fuelled by a plethora of external - and some internal - conflicts, mini-dramas and distractions.

For that, I most humbly regret.

But here we are, early hours of Saturday, 23rd of August, 2025, and another epically uninspiring Summer has dragged its unimpressive arse closer to handing over the baton to a toe-tapping Autumn.

So, to catch up, let me think...