Janet is a writer and blogger who lives on the south coast of England. Her blog is full of interesting stories and quirky photo posts. She has sent me a Flash Fiction short story. If you want to discover more about Janet, here is a link to her blog. I recommend you check it out. … | Continue reading

Originally posted on toritto: All comments to my posts are coming up nameless this morning. Each is identified only as (1)! Also, when I try to reply, my comment is not appearing in the correct position. Hopefully, this too shall pass. | Continue reading

If anyone got this post notification previously them wondered where it had gone, my apologies. I used the wrong song, then posted it instead of previewing it for an edit. So I had to delete it. Steely Dan have featured a lot on this blog. As they are my favourite American band, t … | Continue reading

David Miller sent me this last line, and this is what I came up with. https://millerswindmill.wordpress.com/ A short story, in 770 words. Ever since Thelma had died, Clyde had always felt a bit lost. He didn’t bother too much with housework, and the front yard needed work that wa … | Continue reading

When I celebrated my 70th birthday last year, I felt pretty good. One year and five months later, I feel a lot older than 71. That change happened fast, and was unexpected. Here are some things I have noticed. Living in a house with no stairs for 11 years, I have strangely become … | Continue reading

This is all 20 episodes of my recent fiction serial. It is a long read, at 15,801 words. “Did you hear what I said, Mr Sloan?” The doctor sounded exasperated, presumably expecting a more dramatic reaction. He repeated his prognosis. “It is terminal lung cancer, I’m afraid. Inoper … | Continue reading

By tradition in Britain, a town with a cathedral or university can apply to be granted City Status. In the county of Somerset in the west of England, the City of Wells has held that status for centuries because of its Cathedral, built in 1175, though it was only officially confir … | Continue reading

Tony Ray-Jones loved to photograph the English relaxing. In 1967 he toured the country, photographing people enjoying days out. The results are often amusing, and quintessentially ‘English’. Older people enjoying an afternoon at the beach. A family and their dog at a different be … | Continue reading

Stonehenge is undoubtedly the best-known example of a stone circle in the UK. However, more than nine hundred stone circles exist in the British Isles and twice that number may originally have been built. These megalithic structures are more accurately called rings rather than ci … | Continue reading

This is the final part of a fiction serial, in 938 words. He had to accept that he might well die without knowing the full outcomes of everything he had put in motion, but at least he knew that none of them would be unaffected by his actions. Toby, Steve, and Tom would all serve … | Continue reading

The city of Winchester in Hampshire was once the Roman city of Venta Bulgarum , and later became the western capital of Alfred The Great in 871AD after his army defeated the Danes. It has retained much of its history, its layout, and architecture. Sixty miles south-west of London … | Continue reading

Just to let you know that if you comment on a post and it doesn’t appear, it is probably in one or other of those folders. If you inform me by email, I will try to search for your comment and restore it, but otherwise I don’t have the time (or the patience) to search … Continue r … | Continue reading

My friend Antony sent me a link to this short You Tube film. (9 minutes) A rich young woman tries to teach a life lesson to one of her domestic servants, and it has a nice twist at the end. It is in Spanish, with easy-to-read subtitles, and I think we can all relate to … Continue … | Continue reading

This is the sixteenth part of a fiction serial, in 828 words. Sloan had to push a little to make things happen with Toby and Steve. He had sat around for a couple of days expecting the photo files to be discovered somehow, but that hadn’t happened. Going back into both of their c … | Continue reading

This is the fifteenth part of a fiction serial, in 821 words. Sloan was delighted to find reports of his mother’s court case on the website of the Kent County newspaper. It had also been picked up by some of the tabloids nationally, who delighted in the fact that the pompous elde … | Continue reading

Do you ever read reviews that really make you want to watch the film? I do, and this was one example. **Spoilers apply** A Sundance Film Festival Choice, this independent production gained high praise on release. It was variously described as; ‘Gritty’ ‘Powerful’ ‘Tense’ ‘Dark, a … | Continue reading

This is the fourteenth part of a fiction serial, in 776 words. As he deftly transferred just over sixty-three million dollars into various shell accounts he had set up, Sloan managed to find a connection to Bankhead’s share dealer lurking in an email from Nancy. Using her details … | Continue reading

I accept that there is not going to be a lot of sympathy for Russia at the moment, given the situation in Ukraine. But you have to take into account that this 2019 film is set in 2000, and is a true story. A story of courage, whatever the nationality of the sailors concerned. It … | Continue reading

For many years, I have been using these things to charge or power various electronic devices around the house. So why do I ALWAYS put them in the wrong way round, and have to turn them over and do it again? Is it one of the true mysteries of modern life? | Continue reading

While some of us in the northern hemisphere are sweltering in a humid summer, it is easy to forget that it is midwinter for many countries in the world. Gavin’s guest post brings that home to us, with suitable photos. It’s snowing down south That is a well known cliché here for w … | Continue reading

This is the eleventh part of a fiction serial, in 799 words. Wounded by the actions of Nancy, Sloan resolved to stay away from any relationships. The lessons he had been taught in life were that everyone was bad, and given the chance, they would prove it. Even Sheila was using id … | Continue reading

Most people know by now that I am a Londoner. I now live in Norfolk, a long way from London, but I will always be a Londoner at heart. Hence the inclusion of this old song from 1944 that will probably mean nothing to anyone who does not come from our capital city. Maybe it’s … Co … | Continue reading

This is the tenth part of a fiction serial, in 787 words. For the next twelve months, Sloan continued his hacking project on behalf of his wife. He had to tolerate Cartwright’s constant ridicule at the office, and the snide comments that he had only become successful because he h … | Continue reading

When did the word ‘Upcoming’ become so popular? When did it even exist? I notice it is now used constantly on TV, even by the BBC. Authors advertise their ‘upcoming’ books on social media, and film companies announce their ‘upcoming’ blockbusters. Whatever happened to ‘Forthcomin … | Continue reading