Errata

Submitted by scratch on

A clarification to my earlier newsletter.

Please note the following:

The site up-grade will take place on the morning of Wednesday 8th April 2015 and ABCtales will be off-line during this period. 

Sorry for the earlier typo.

blush

Peter Hitchen.

Important Information and an Appeal

Submitted by scratch on

Site Developments

With the first quarter of 2015 now behind us the weather finally seems to be taking a turn for the better and despite what TS Elliot said April is a time of re-generation, rebirth and broad optimism. 

And what blue-ribbon period this first quarter has been for ABCtales.

Story and Poem of the Month

Posted by scratch on Sun, 29 Mar 2015

This month a great writer and very much valued ABCtales editor, Vera Clark, has done the hard yards and provided us with March's winners. Here's her rationale: This month’s picks bring us two different literary genres written with style, authenticity and impact. Not only do they provide excellent writing and content but secondly, they employ experimental form to showcase elegance and intelligence. Both pieces grabbed me by my ears and gave me...

Coalition Channel 4, 9pm.

Posted by celticman on Sun, 29 Mar 2015

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/coalition/on-demand/57947-001 Timing is everything in politics. Growth in the economy. A few weeks from another Tory triumph, or another patchy coalition? Scriptwriter James Graham looks backwards to what happened five-years ago, when the Conservatives formed a coalition government with the Liberals. For me it’s a case of who do I hate the most. In Ten Days that Shook the World , American socialist and...

Kurt Vonnegut (2010) Look at the Birdie

Posted by celticman on Fri, 27 Mar 2015

This is not a modern collection of thirteen and a bit Kurt Vonnegut short stories as the publication date suggests. In a letter to a Mr Miller dated 1951 Kurt Vonnegut addresses, anthropology, the Indian Ghost Dance of 1894 (which interested me) and among other things, whether writing can be learned at a school of writing. He concludes: ‘This letter is sententious crap, shot full of self pity…I quit GE, if I’m not a writer then I’m nothing. This...

Story, Poem and Inspiration Point of the Week.

Posted by scratch on Fri, 27 Mar 2015

This week's poetry pick is an wonderful example of talent underscored by love, or love underscored by talent. You decide: http://www.abctales.com/story/hudsonmoon/song-sam-video When I first finished reading this from Geraldine the words 'that's absolutly wonderful' slipped out without me even realising. This really is a special story of the week: http://www.abctales.com/story/quigleygeraldine/bias-binding This week's inspiration point came to...

Title this...

Posted by ninanile on Thu, 26 Mar 2015

If only a moment in time would stop,whilst I searched the sky for truth,for purpose,for love. In that moment would the world stop with me? To think.To feel. To let go and to let God. Could the humanity within us be independent of the ego that controls us?Are we able to welcome emotion without having to feel oppressed by its conviction? It is a long life we lead but yet a short one to live. It's wistful thinking to hope time would stop and in...

Blue Stockings

Posted by blighters rock on Thu, 26 Mar 2015

This is a review I did for Essential Surrey. Blue Stockings at The Electric Theatre, Guildford

eclipse 9.31 am

Posted by celticman on Fri, 20 Mar 2015

I must admit it was a disappointing day for school kids. They were getting so excited about the thought of going blind, looking at something they shouldn’t have been looking at. When it all kicked off they were lined up with heads tilted like spanners tightening wee specs on expectant pudgy faces. What the fuck’s that? was the collective sigh. All I can see is fucking clouds. Where’s the best place to see the eclipse Sir? Someone said the Faroe...

Simon Bolivar.

Posted by jolono on Thu, 19 Mar 2015

My sons girlfriend is from Venezuela. She's over here for a few months and the other night we all went out for a few drinks. Her English is pretty good ( far better than my Spanish) and knowing that I'm a Londoner she asked me were she could see the statue of Simon Bolivar. My reaction was quite simple. "Who?" She repeated the name thinking that I hadn't heard her. I'd heard alright, just didn't have a bloody clue who he was. My face must have...

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