I absolutely love this. The wonderful evocation of happy Halloween and then the change of mood, so very well handled. I read it aloud, and then looked over my shoulder...
I once fell off a bicycle while being chased by dogs who seemed to find the whole scenario hilarious, losing interest once I'd tumbled, rather than advancing to maul me to death. Perhaps it was the screaming that put them off.
There are always other books. Don't underestimate the number of your pages that have been turned and enjoyed. We have our dreams, but I've reached the point where I reserve those for plots and characters, and have no expectations at all beyond...
Happy Anniversary! Shropshire is indeed a beautiful part of the country, though it's many years since I visited. We have had a bit of rain here, and there are thunderstorms forecast, and I never thought I would be excited to hear we are due some...
You are exactly right, Jane. As one plonker said the other day, let's stop moaning about climate change and enjoy the heat and new varieties of English wine with fizzy stuff that could really take the fight to the French. Obviously his brain is...
Ooh yes, those nightmares where you have a moment of sheer blind panic before you wake up. You've captured that extremely well here, Penny, and I shall be trying not to think of this when I go to bed tonight...
Thoroughly enjoyed this. It put me in mind of Stanley Holloway's The Lion and Albert poem (and the subsequent adventures of both). You'd be too young to know those, but I loved them as a kid (not a hairy one). Great stuff.
At the moment the new IP is very likely to be: It's Too Freaking Hot. Discuss.
I think you've probably got the whole experience summed up there, Turlough. The small person sounds as disapproving as all babies do when they emerge with their...
Pick of the Day
Posted on Sat, 24 Oct 2026
This joyous paean to the creation of music is our Saturday social media Pick of the Day! Congratulations!
Picture by unknown author, free to use at Wikimedia Commons:...
Read full commentPosted in The Band That Couldn’t Play
Yes, you'd think a number of
Posted on Sat, 24 Oct 2026
Yes, you'd think a number of times before taking Mam on.
Great writing, Sean. A real delight to read.
Read full commentPosted in Vesuvius
I absolutely love this. The
Posted on Sun, 11 Oct 2026
I absolutely love this. The wonderful evocation of happy Halloween and then the change of mood, so very well handled. I read it aloud, and then looked over my shoulder...
Read full commentPosted in October 31st
I once fell off a bicycle
Posted on Thu, 24 Sep 2026
I once fell off a bicycle while being chased by dogs who seemed to find the whole scenario hilarious, losing interest once I'd tumbled, rather than advancing to maul me to death. Perhaps it was the screaming that put them off.
I miss...
Read full commentPosted in A Late Summer Afternoon’s Hypnagogia
There are always other books.
Posted on Tue, 25 Aug 2026
There are always other books. Don't underestimate the number of your pages that have been turned and enjoyed. We have our dreams, but I've reached the point where I reserve those for plots and characters, and have no expectations at all beyond...
Read full commentPosted in I Have Other Books
Happy Anniversary! Shropshire
Posted on Tue, 18 Aug 2026
Happy Anniversary! Shropshire is indeed a beautiful part of the country, though it's many years since I visited. We have had a bit of rain here, and there are thunderstorms forecast, and I never thought I would be excited to hear we are due some...
Read full commentPosted in Fragile uplands
You are exactly right, Jane.
Posted on Tue, 18 Aug 2026
You are exactly right, Jane. As one plonker said the other day, let's stop moaning about climate change and enjoy the heat and new varieties of English wine with fizzy stuff that could really take the fight to the French. Obviously his brain is...
Read full commentPosted in Save your Water for The Devil
Ooh yes, those nightmares
Posted on Sun, 16 Aug 2026
Ooh yes, those nightmares where you have a moment of sheer blind panic before you wake up. You've captured that extremely well here, Penny, and I shall be trying not to think of this when I go to bed tonight...
Read full commentPosted in "Nightmare"
Thoroughly enjoyed this. It
Posted on Sat, 15 Aug 2026
Thoroughly enjoyed this. It put me in mind of Stanley Holloway's The Lion and Albert poem (and the subsequent adventures of both). You'd be too young to know those, but I loved them as a kid (not a hairy one). Great stuff.
Read full commentPosted in Hairy Bob from Heckmondwike
At the moment the new IP is
Posted on Fri, 14 Aug 2026
At the moment the new IP is very likely to be: It's Too Freaking Hot. Discuss.
I think you've probably got the whole experience summed up there, Turlough. The small person sounds as disapproving as all babies do when they emerge with their...
Read full commentPosted in That'll Be the Day
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