Cherrypicked stories
Creator of skills
[Continuing the hymn-for-Sundays series] “Our love of beauty, and some skill reflects Your greater – how we thrill to see the rose and daffodil, deep...
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- 1750 reads
Big People, Small Island, Small Boats.
Malky phoned me to come and have a pint. I was surprised he was still alive. He was a wee guy with the fuzz of a ginger beard. He dressed funny, even...
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- 12 comments
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- 2950 reads
Count that last day
It’s not that I meet him very often. But nevertheless, during my wanderings I sometimes encounters him, the woodcutter. And where can you find such a...
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- 7 comments
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- 2075 reads
A Flower is Not a Flower
Remembering the Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto (January 17th, 1952-28th March, 2023)
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- 13 comments
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- 3938 reads
Keeping A Lid On It (Bring Out Your Dead series - Part 16)
In which Lawrence quivers, and so does Chantelle, with remarkably different results!
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- 4 comments
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- 1445 reads
Alien Murmuration - Chapter 15 (1991)
Image:
The gig was brilliant, this is totally where I want to be. All I need is . . . It’s the thing that happened after that gets me. I am totally unsure...
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- 700 reads
Goatie 8
The prison governor came to see me in my cell. Late forties, bags under his eyes, dressed in a grey suit. ‘I don’t know what you’ve been doing, or...
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- 8 comments
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- 2048 reads
Then and Now
Then and Now The children sat in their customary places. The story corner with its bright cushions, its intricately woven rug and as always that...
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- 15 comments
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- 3533 reads
Alien Murmuration - Chapter 14 (1991)
Mum is screaming at me again. I cover my ears and lay my head on the table. “You can’t just block it all out! You have to live this life!” I don’t...
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- 7 comments
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- 3512 reads
Above Upper Hill
(20/4/23) Just a little time to go out, and a beautiful day before the rain returns tomorrow. Quick look at map, and find a suggestion – up the hill...
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- 16 comments
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- 4016 reads
The thought of it
It’s a laughable thought, at first, like learning a new language or deep sea diving. It arrives and leaves, perfectly natural, but strange, the rise...
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- 2 comments
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- 1189 reads
The Shed Problem
I was woken at 6.30 one morning by a hammering on my back door. I quickly dressed and hurried downstairs to find Alun in an excited mood. “I’ve built...
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- 4 comments
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- 1715 reads
Bella the Brain Pain
Bella, the Brain Pain Last Thursday was Effie’s first birthday. We celebrated with a glass of tonic - no alcohol while on antibiotics She’s done...
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- 23 comments
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- 5586 reads
THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF THINGS
The real estate agent was an older man, dressed in plaid pants and a sport coat, with an easy confidence about him. He led Phil and Sally from the...
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- 16 comments
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- 15387 reads
Hunting the Sphinx ligustri
Photo of the Privet Hawk Caterpiller by Jeff DeLonge from Wiki Commons
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- 12 comments
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- 2673 reads
Goatie 7
The Securicor Guard is mid-thirties, dark eyes, high cheekbones, and Roman nose. ‘They were going to ship you to Peterhead, but it’s too much hassle...
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- 5 comments
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- 1304 reads
'You shouldn't have opened the cap!'
‘These have hatched overnight.’ Derilda gasped, panic streaming in her eyes as she scanned the laboratory floor. ‘There’s more over here, these ones...
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- 6 comments
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- 1258 reads
Fruit Basket
A sequel to ‘In a stew’ In a stew | ABCtales It’s Oliver onion’s second allotment meeting as chair and already it’s proving to be as sticky as the...
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- 6 comments
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- 1940 reads
Goatie 6
The cells below the station. A place of grey and dark colours. Banging doors and the shouts of ‘Turnkey, Turnkey’ and the stink of a dog fight to the...
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- 10 comments
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- 2193 reads
The Birdman of Alcatraz
A feathered friend - (200 words)
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- 7 comments
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- 1785 reads