A few of my old limericks! Image: mine There was an old prophet called Moses who didn’t like getting wet toeses. When he got to the sea he would part...
The summer arrived with its long days and balmy, sometimes sticky evenings and nights. Things seemed more settled and relaxed in the summer. No need...
Yes, exactly. My parents weren't especially religious - but dad would never allow me to go out to play on Sundays, whereas our Catholic neighbour's kids were always allowed out. So I used to sit by the window and look out enviously at them...
Thanks, Angus. These are the sorts of thoughts and observations that have been in my head a lot recently, so I had a lot of nods of recognition. Lots of echoes and sad smiles.
Thanks, Kat. It was arguing - and always about money, as I later found out. Dad, bless him, had problems with it. Drink and gambling. We had a lot of uncertainty and disruption. Some times, he'd go off for days and we wouldn't know where he was....
I've been struggling with writing lately, and this short piece has taken weeks. I have an end in sight, but the closer I get, the harder it gets. Stirs stuff up, I suppose.
Yes, it was optimistic - perhaps more so once the Cuban Missile Crisis was over. I was too young to know what it was about, but I remember mum saying how fearful everyone was - glued to the papers and the TV news. We had a black and white TV, too...
Thanks, Marandina. Others have mentioned the detail. I have to pull myself back a bit sometimes because I end up with pages of descriptive stuff like that. I think it's perhaps the lasting influence of reading Barry Hines' 'Kes' as a teen. I...
One year, I got cast as the innkeeper. All I had to do was open a side door in the church when Mary and Joseph knocked, and point them along to the 'stable' in the nave. I was so terrified that I opened the door quickly, pointed my finger (nearly...
Thanks, Kat. I'm afraid I've been out of action writing-wise for a few weeks now. Too pre-occupied with other stuff going on in the world. Starting to get a bit of focus back now.
I agree about Lux. It seemed to be shaped to turn easily in...
Ha ha! And a killer put-down!
Posted on Tue, 02 Jun 2026
Ha ha! And a killer put-down! Brings back bad memories of fumbling dates.
Read full commentPosted in Supper With Sarah...
Yes, exactly. My parents
Posted on Tue, 26 May 2026
Yes, exactly. My parents weren't especially religious - but dad would never allow me to go out to play on Sundays, whereas our Catholic neighbour's kids were always allowed out. So I used to sit by the window and look out enviously at them...
Read full commentPosted in Tom All Alone 16 (ii)
Thanks, Angus. These are the
Posted on Mon, 25 May 2026
Thanks, Angus. These are the sorts of thoughts and observations that have been in my head a lot recently, so I had a lot of nods of recognition. Lots of echoes and sad smiles.
Read full commentPosted in Something of Yours
Thanks, Kat. It was arguing -
Posted on Thu, 21 May 2026
Thanks, Kat. It was arguing - and always about money, as I later found out. Dad, bless him, had problems with it. Drink and gambling. We had a lot of uncertainty and disruption. Some times, he'd go off for days and we wouldn't know where he was....
Read full commentPosted in Tom All Alone 15
Thanks, Claudine.
Posted on Thu, 21 May 2026
Thanks, Claudine.
I've been struggling with writing lately, and this short piece has taken weeks. I have an end in sight, but the closer I get, the harder it gets. Stirs stuff up, I suppose.
Thanks for the cherries!
Read full commentPosted in Tom All Alone 15
Thanks, Claudine. That boy
Posted on Thu, 23 Apr 2026
Thanks, Claudine. That boy might well have been me! My first day was awful. In the end, I think they had to drag me in.
Read full commentPosted in Tom All Alone 14 (i)
Yes, it was optimistic -
Posted on Thu, 23 Apr 2026
Yes, it was optimistic - perhaps more so once the Cuban Missile Crisis was over. I was too young to know what it was about, but I remember mum saying how fearful everyone was - glued to the papers and the TV news. We had a black and white TV, too...
Read full commentPosted in Tom All Alone 14 (ii)
Thanks, Marandina. Others
Posted on Thu, 23 Apr 2026
Thanks, Marandina. Others have mentioned the detail. I have to pull myself back a bit sometimes because I end up with pages of descriptive stuff like that. I think it's perhaps the lasting influence of reading Barry Hines' 'Kes' as a teen. I...
Read full commentPosted in Tom All Alone 14 (i)
One year, I got cast as the
Posted on Thu, 23 Apr 2026
One year, I got cast as the innkeeper. All I had to do was open a side door in the church when Mary and Joseph knocked, and point them along to the 'stable' in the nave. I was so terrified that I opened the door quickly, pointed my finger (nearly...
Read full commentPosted in Tom All Alone 14 (ii)
Thanks, Kat. I'm afraid I've
Posted on Thu, 23 Apr 2026
Thanks, Kat. I'm afraid I've been out of action writing-wise for a few weeks now. Too pre-occupied with other stuff going on in the world. Starting to get a bit of focus back now.
I agree about Lux. It seemed to be shaped to turn easily in...
Read full commentPosted in Tom All Alone 14 (ii)
Pages