Back Again

Hi -well have not had time to update my blog as much as I'd like. Have been busy setting up an on-line business and web site. The writing has taken a back burner role as I have to earn a living and as most of us know writing can make you poor.

Still Floating In Maternal Waters

She climbs into bed in a conspiratorial way. She tells her daughter, "you're old enough to know what a bastard your father is....... was...... he doesn't love you, never did, never could", she swears her to secrecy.

Swear it on your life, don't tell or you'll die, and whatever you do don't tell nanny. But she did. She told nanny all about the poison she's fed in the night as big tears roll down her little face, her toes curled under, her feet pointing inwards as she sits in her pyjamas on the stairs.

She believes her daddy doesn't love her. I tell her she won't die if she tells me and that her daddy does love her and her brother very much. We don't see much of them. This is how it is. They have been weapons of mass destruction since they were floating in their maternal waters.

Sometimes I wish I was still there, floating, in darkness. Safe. Innocent. Untouched.

Razzle Dazzle
a poem for children. The aliteration in this poem is deliberately tongue tying.







Now listen,
can you hear them, the rhythm of their wings,
the jingling and tinkling of teensy-weensy things?

all around the red tipped mushrooms,
the children of the light glow spectral sparkle spangles
as they dance for you tonight.

Look there,
can you see them, the colour of their wings,
the razzle-dazzle shimmers of teeny tiny things?

all around the red tipped mushrooms
the children of the light fire speckle spangle sparkles
as they dance for you tonight.

The Beauty Of Flash Fiction and Chocolate

Flash fiction or a piece of chocolate? It's all the same, instant gratification, fast and satisfying. I love flash fiction, reading it and writing it. I have asked myself why I enjoy writing it. The reason has to be that I tend to have a short attention span, am bored easily and after completing a course in journalism find writing to a minimum word count relatively easy. There is a method. First you write your story, aiming to make it a short story. Once I'm happy with the story structure I wittle it down, sentence by sentence or paragraph by paragraph. Whole sentences can sometimes be chopped. Writing flash fiction is an effective training ground for any type of writing where word count is paramount.


First Prize Writelink Flash Fiction Contest 2006

Just Press Play

Sheila Carr examined the neat, hand-written label on the disc. Reverend Hector Carr had enjoyed hours of fun with the digital camcorder, presented to him on his fiftieth birthday. It had taken him hours to perfect the performance of one of his famously charismatic sermons. The recording was for the perusal of the ladies of the W.I.. He had been invited to give a talk at their annual meeting later that afternoon.
Hector entered the room adjusting his dog collar.
“Morning darling, did you manage a look last night?”
“ A look at what?” Sheila placed some flowers in a vase.
“My sermon of course, what did you think?”
Sheila smiled. “Oh, sorry. Yes, it was very good dear, those ladies will love it.”
Sheila removed a stray hair from his jacket lapel, and gave his shoulder an affectionate pat.
“Why don’t you go and get some breakfast, you don’t want to be late.”
Hector left the room and Sheila quickly opened the drawer, removing her own disc, recorded the previous evening.
Her suspicions were aroused when the nineteen year old Jasmine had joined the church choir. There were lingering looks, then whispers and giggling. For a man with an ego like Hectors it must have been hard to resist.
Sheila had noticed the light was on in the small guest cottage in the rectory grounds. Taking the Camcorder she had found the gap in the curtains wide enough to film the entire interior, a naked vicar, a plump young woman and the alarming sound effects recorded with perfect clarity.
She removed the W.I. label from Hectors disc, sticking it lovingly to her own.
“All ready to go dear, she called. “All you have to do is press play.”

First prize Writelink Flash Fiction Contest 2006

A Welsh Dragon

I‘m not speaking to my family, they didn’t show me any loyalty. They found it all highly amusing and agreed that I must be out of my mind.

Well, thanks a bunch, that’s all I have to say to them. How disrespectful is that? I mean, at the age of eighty you’d think folk would grant me a little wisdom to make up my own mind about things. Just because my hips are dodgy it doesn’t mean my brain is.
I wanted something different, to be trendy, you know? They’ll be okay when I pop my clogs, I’ve made sure of that, they’ll all have a nest egg. There are a few pounds I put by over the years for myself, so what, what’s the big deal with having a face-lift at my age?

It’s given my love life a boost I can tell you. I didn’t turn up for weeks to the lunch club until the bruises and the swelling had gone down a bit. It caused quite a stir when I walked in wearing my new outfit. That Margie Clark, you know the one, works at the Co-op on Sundays, well, if looks could kill I’d be dead by now! I caught that old devil Alfie’s eye though, watch this space….
I’ve got some money left over, that nice doctor has agreed to my boob job next week and tomorrow I’m getting a tattoo. A little welsh dragon on my shoulder, what’s wrong with that?

Goals Achieved So Far

Easter weekend and I was musing on the past week, one of those weeks when you have the best of intentions and make lists of what needs to be done and it just doesn't happen because life gets in the way. I managed to write a total of 400 words, which is dismal, one thing I have discovered about working from home -people, that is family and friends do not respect your time limits and it isn't seen as a 'proper job' -know what I mean?

How Do You Read?

Strange question? Shouldn't that be, what do you read? Well no actually, I read as much as I can and always have at least six books on the go at the same time plus writing mags like Mslexia -one of my favourites. I read only when I finally go to bed, mainly because I just don't have time otherwise.
I read for three different reasons, for entertainment, for research and for education. Currently my reading list includes, Herodotus -The Histories, Sovereign, historical fiction, The Book Thief, historical fiction, Tales of Old, Tithe, a teenage fairy story, The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Mythology, The Lore of The Land and approximately seven others! I dip into each of them at various times, sometimes reading one from cover to cover, sometimes not picking them up for a week or two. Propped against two pillows, hubby snoring softly by my side, it is the one time I am alone with my world and can immerse myself totally in another.

What Kind Of Soul Are You?

You Are a Dreaming Soul

Your vivid emotions and imagination takes you away from this world So much so that you tend to live in your head most of the time You have great dreams and ambitions that could be the envy of all... But for you, following through with your dreams is a bit difficult You are charming, endearing, and people tend to love you. Forgiving and tolerant, you see the world through rose colored glasses. Underneath it all, you have a ton of passion that you hide from others. Always hopeful, you tend to expect positive outcomes in your life. Souls you are most compatible with: Newborn Soul, Prophet Soul, and Traveler Soul

This is my type of soul apparently