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abshe

Posted by Nolan on Sat, 10 Jan 2026

My nephew Charlie loves me read ing his "abshe talsh" keep up the good work! There's something for everyone Favourit is swindommoody and cath poach and all the teddybear stories too.

Who is P.J. Crowe?

Posted by Robert Craven on Sat, 10 Jan 2026

In the 1980's and 90's in Dublin, the theatre scene was dominated by the mercurial genius of Donal McCann . His physicality and intensity electrified the stage. The 1989 run of Juno and the Paycock and his portrayal of Captain Boyle didn't just invite you into the 'fourth wall', he dragged you into the world and character he inhabited and threw you into the nearest chair. I saw that production three times back-to-back. It was considered at the...

Vince Lumsden 1932—2025.

Posted by celticman on Fri, 09 Jan 2026

The last carry-out, carry-in and carry-on, Vince got was in the Goldenhill at the end of September 2025. Betty’s great-grandson. Wee Arnie’s Christening. The latest addition to the McCann family. One comes in. One goes out. Vince wasn’t drunk—although he had a couple of whiskies—but the wooden stairs outside the pub were as steep as a ladder propped against a cliff. Vince was 93. His legs were older than his head. He’d become the dead spit of...

Story and Poem of the Week and Inspiration Point

Posted by insertponceyfrenchnamehere on Fri, 09 Jan 2026

Posted by airyfairy. It's been more than a little chilly this week, so I've really enjoyed curling up with some of the wonderful writing on ABC. Our Story of the Week is the third episode of 'Bron', by Ivan the OK-ish. I've enjoyed all the chapters of this novel, and would say to anyone who hasn't read them yet - do yourself a favour and catch up now! This third episode is as funny and intriguing as the others: Bron-3 | ABCtales Poem of the Week...

Neil Oliver (2022) Wisdom of the Ancients: Life Lessons From Our Distant Past.

Posted by celticman on Thu, 08 Jan 2026

I don’t blame Neil Oliver for cashing in on short-lived fame. He’s the one with long hair and a mellifluous speaking voice that can drone on for hours about our Coast, the invasion of the Vikings, the ancient stones of Callandish and all the things you’ll never see or thought of but he’s such a nice guy, you’ve got to believe him, he’s brought them right into your living room. He used to go to the University of Glasgow, which is a bit of an...

Elizabeth Strout (2025) Tell Me Everything

Posted by celticman on Wed, 07 Jan 2026

I’m not a great fan of Elizabeth Strout. Yet Tell Me Everything is the fourth or her six books I’ve read. Explain that? Well, the characters are familiar. As is the settings. Crosby, Maine and far-off (but not too far) New York. ‘This is the story of Bob Burgess, a tall, heavyset man who lives in the town of Crosby, Maine, and he is sixty-five years old at the time we are speaking of him. Bob has a big heart, but he does not know that about...

Robert Darroch 1932--2026. RIP.

Posted by celticman on Tue, 06 Jan 2026

I spotted Robert Darroch at Gartnavel about seven years ago. He was sitting chatting to my partner’s mum in a greenish high-backed chair. He was quick to offer us the easy-to-wipe seat and move on. I said his name, but he didn’t recognise me. I’m not good with names. He was the opposite. Rarely passed without a smile and a quick word. He was especially good remembering children and old folk’s names (I guess I fit that category now) but that was...

Chapter Two: The Speakwrite is complete

Posted by SoulFire77 on Tue, 06 Jan 2026

This chapter introduced the novel's signature object. In Orwell's 1984, objects carry weight (the paperweight Winston buys, the diary he keeps, etc). Arthur's speakwrite dial is smaller, more mundane. A piece of bureaucratic machinery. Proof of nothing except that Arthur once took something that wasn't his. Chapter Two: The Speakwrite is uploaded in my collection "Escape From Room 101" now. Please read it and let me know what you think so far...

Liam McIlvanney (2019) The Quaker.

Posted by celticman on Mon, 05 Jan 2026

Liam McIlvanney has writing in his blood. William McIlvanney, of course, is recognised as the godfather of Scottish noir fiction. When Liam McIlvanney won The Bloody Scotland, Scottish Crime Book of the Year—which used to be named after William McIlvanney—with The Quaker , you’d get the impression it was an inside job. A bit like Stephen King’s son, who’s also a writer, winning some big award for horror fiction. I picked up and put down The...

Trump, White Jazz and James Ellroy?

Posted by celticman on Sun, 04 Jan 2026

White Jazz is the last of the Dudley Smith trio. A quartet if The Black Dahlia is included. The Big Fix isn’t winner or losers. It’s an ongoing chase in which power is in plain sight. Classic noir asks: Can truth emerge? Ellroy asks more simply, Who controls what we believe after it does? Trump’s insurrection and civil cases, including E. Jean Carroll defamation for him raping her, NY Civil Fraud case, found guilty of falsifying his net worth...

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