I find this ABC Tales website a warm and welcoming community where writers of all abilities can share their work in the knowledge that it will be appreciated and encouraged. But what makes the site particularly special for me is that a close friend from long ago was a popular member here, regularly posting poetry and prose years before I joined. Julia Macpherson (ABC username Overthetop1 ) left this world far too soon, and at a point where too few had recognised the high standard of her writing talent. Following her death in 2016, her mother Coral (ABC’s seashore ) and her sister Sarah worked with Cerasus Poetry, and with the support of ABC members and the MIND mental health charity, to publish a compilation of her work. I lost touch with Julia in the mid-1980s, but found her again through ABC Tales and the pages of her book, Waiting For Another Velvet Morning .
Come back Bert Weedon. We need you!
Posted on Thu, 31 Jul 2025
I agree entirely Jenny. Making music, like brain surgery and flying airlines, should always be left to the experts because in the wrong hands it can do a lot of harm. We only have to listen to the Bay City Rollers to see that this is true....
Read full commentPosted in While My Guitar Teacher Gently Weeps
Robotic voices
Posted on Wed, 30 Jul 2025
I recently went to see an Elvis Presley tribute act. I had to buy the tickets over the phone using a similar automated booking system to the one you have described.
The robotic voice at the other end of the line said, 'Well it's one for...
Read full commentPosted in Machine.
Punch
Posted on Mon, 28 Jul 2025
Aww, thanks for that Ewan. I'll carry on regardless in this world of sanitised humour.
Two of my kids do stand-up comedy as a hobby sort of thing in and around Manchester. I'm very proud of them and I always tell them their material's...
Read full commentPosted in There’s a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He’s Engels
Always turned strange
Posted on Mon, 28 Jul 2025
Stories were weird. They started out fine, but always turned strange.
That's a good sign of a good story.
Nice one Jess! I enjoyed this.
Read full commentPosted in The Watchers In The Walls
Graces
Posted on Sun, 27 Jul 2025
My mother was called Grace, as were her mother and three more generations before her. There was a lull of many women in our family but none ever struck me as being mythological.
A verry nice poem Jenny that's made me think.
Read full commentPosted in A Poet's Greek Mythology
The Five Seasons
Posted on Sat, 19 Jul 2025
A wonderfull summary of the seasons in words of rhythm and rhyme Paul. But you missed one out... what about the football season?
Read full commentPosted in After the Geese
Doing
Posted on Wed, 02 Jul 2025
Only governments can do the doing. Our talking can make more people aware and consequently more pressure will be put on governments and big organisations to stop the killing. Unfortunately the world has too many people who will just look the...
Read full commentPosted in Up to Their Ears in Tears
Love
Posted on Fri, 11 Jul 2025
True, honest, proper love lasts forever.
This is a wonderful description of your emotions Caldwell. I got a real feel for what you were going through.
Read full commentPosted in An Afternoon in Lausanne
Dreaminess
Posted on Thu, 10 Jul 2025
Can you die inside a dream?
That's something I've always wondered too. I've sometimes dreamt that I was facing death in a dream and knew that if I didn't escape the danger I might not wake up, but I always have done... so far. But...
Read full commentPosted in I Dreamt of Tigers
Well done and well said!
Posted on Mon, 07 Jul 2025
I'm very pleased that this was the pick of the day. Congratulations on your golden cherries and well done for speaking your mind.
Read full commentPosted in Fifty Shades of Death
Pages