I should have been on a plane today. For the third time in two years, our dream Disney fortnight is cancelled.
The Lump
A short story born of an image on a friend's Facebook feed, and the challenge, "What do you reckon the cloud behind the girl in the picture is formed by?"
Blue Christmas
Good stuff…
Is it possible to be ‘over’ Christmas? Have the songs that have been your seasonal soundtrack since the 70s turned stale? Does the prospect of evening after evening of festivities leave a bad taste in your mouth? Has your tree lost its twinkle?
This was me about four years ago. After nearly 40 years of riding the Christmas wave of tinsel and tequila I was done.
In the beginning, December had been the most exciting month imaginable – the multicoloured lights, old-fashioned glass ornaments and plastic sacks at my Nan and Grandad’s embodying a truly magical time of year.
Later came the tradition of hitting the pub with school friends on Christmas Eve – still going to bed buzzing at the thought of what was waiting under the tree.
And then children of our own – a chance to pick the best bits of our own childhoods and try out…
View original post 465 more words
Captain Marvel – a history in six or so haircuts
Looking forward to the Brie Larson Captain Marvel film? You might be in need of a little character illumination. Well, I hope you’re paying attention, because it gets a little… complex.
Beyond the Veil (part 2)
[Part two of my fantasy short story. You can read the first part here] Breaking out of the streets into the dead ring was always something of a jarring experience. There was a strict cut-off point to where people could build, and with the necropolis being so beautiful, people built right up to the boundary… … Continue reading Beyond the Veil (part 2)
Beyond the Veil (part 1)
The body had been dead at least a day or so, that much was clear. It’s ashen colour, frigid temperature and musty aroma said as much. It had also said as much when Veil had asked it.
Creatively avoiding sharing my creative writing
I've been writing fiction for years. Short stories at school, assignments at Uni, roleplaying adventures, and in the past decade or so, actual booky type stuff. But very few people have seen my output. In fact, probably only my wife.
Child Grooming & Abduction – A True Story.
Wow. A 'must-read' for any parent.
Death and the high cost of still living
My dad died last spring. He was 91 and had been suffering with Dementia and a shopping list of life-threatening and life-hampering conditions for many years before that. I was sad to see him go, but relieved he was no longer suffering. His sister, the last of my family's elder generation, died a few weeks … Continue reading Death and the high cost of still living
Being A Girl: A Brief Personal History of Violence
Makes me want to grab the rest of my gender by the lapels and scream in their collective faces.
1.
I am six. My babysitter’s son, who is five but a whole head taller than me, likes to show me his penis. He does it when his mother isn’t looking. One time when I tell him not to, he holds me down and puts penis on my arm. I bite his shoulder, hard. He starts crying, pulls up his pants and runs upstairs to tell his mother that I bit him. I’m too embarrassed to tell anyone about the penis part, so they all just think I bit him for no reason.
I get in trouble first at the babysitter’s house, then later at home.
The next time the babysitter’s son tries to show me his penis, I don’t fight back because I don’t want to get in trouble.
One day I tell the babysitter what her son does, she tells me that he’s just a little boy, he doesn’t know…
View original post 1,529 more words