I'm please to announce my flash fiction story The Last Night is published today on Flash Fiction Magazine's 101 words website. ### ### What do you have to celebrate today? ###
Why Am I Writing This Boring Story?
I struggle to find story ideas. Occasionally, I find myself re-imagining something that happened in my family (as do all writers). Or something that might have happened, prompted by a remark somebody made. As I carry on along one of these drab avenues, I might think to myself, Nobody is going to be interested in … Continue reading Why Am I Writing This Boring Story?
Wash Behind Your Ears
Did your mum used to tellyou to wash behind your ears? Neither did mine... but I'm doing it now. I discovered some time ago that if I ran my finger behind each ear, it came away with a cheesy sort of smell. I'm relieved to discover this isn't just me. Apparently, the odour behind our … Continue reading Wash Behind Your Ears
Piece of Cake
A poem, and a recipe. ### Pop them in the oven for ten minutes, and they’re done. Requires no kneading. Just the job for heavy-handed me. I found it on a website, but I can’t recall which one. Lighter than your usual scone but cakier than a bun. Delicious when they’re spread with jam and … Continue reading Piece of Cake
One Big Happy Family
I read about a question that was asked on Reddit, 'Which sentence is only used by annoying people?' Apparently, on Saturday 22nd October, responses went viral, and by Sunday, more than 13,000 Redditors had participated in the conversation by ranking their favorite "annoying' phrases". One user commented, "We are like family here," from their bosses,' … Continue reading One Big Happy Family
Dust If You Must…
Found this on stephrichmond’s blog. It had me at the first verse.
News Without Nuance
### Media outlets today seem incapable of reporting straightforward news without giving an opinion on it. Did we ever have impartial news reporting? Or was I too naïve back then to notice the bias? (Or were news reports just more subtle?) From the accusatory, and often asinine, 'questions' hurled at politicians in the street, to … Continue reading News Without Nuance
Least Favourite Things
A Poem, following my recent post on Ageing Gratefully... Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com My Favourite Things – not Rising each morning at silly o’clock, rousing the children... walk dogs round the block. Crawling through rush hour towards an office, These, in retirement, are things I don’t miss. Each weekday evening, arrive home from work. … Continue reading Least Favourite Things
Things I picked up along the way
Random tips I never went looking for When one of my daughters was about to add fabric conditioner to a towel wash, I pointed out that it applies a protective coating to the fabric which will hinder it from absorbing moisture (which is what a towel is for, after all). It later occured to me … Continue reading Things I picked up along the way
A Right Pickle
A short story Warning: questionable language alert. I fix a smile and open the door. ‘Hi, Pol. Good holiday?’ ‘Brilliant! Did Peter Piper miss his mummy?’ She flies to the birdcage, where a blue budgie bobs up and down in front of its mirror. Polly chirps, ‘Who’s a pretty boy, then?’ Blue Peter is silent. … Continue reading A Right Pickle
Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings 