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Alex replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
@ Libby, thanks for the feedback. It was a great prompt.
I enjoyed all the entries and how varied the stories were.
@Sandra, congrats!
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Libby replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
What terrific stories. So much horror too. I began to wonder if the topic of building work had raised deeply traumatic memories!
@clebs ‘Behind Closed Curtains’ is very atmospheric, rich in detail and perfectly titled. I felt a few words could be cut, such as the second mention of Jimmy’s bowl, and I wasn’t sure if I got the story’s message.…[Read more]
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Wow, Libby, and thank you, a big surprise, especially as I’d already identified winners 1,2 and 3 and, my laptop having died and been taken away, and only having my ancient, over-full and steaming one, I wasn’t checking as often as I have been. I’ll try and come up with something as interestingly challenging as the last few have been.
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Congratulations, Sandra. And thanks, Libby, for the challenge. Didn’t expect the critique too.
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Clebs replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
The formatting isn’t great – sorry.
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Clebs replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
<p style=”text-align: center;”><b>Behind Closed Curtains</b></p>
‘Jimmy look, that rude electrician is back!’ Marjorie adjusted her glasses and squinted towards the bungalow. ‘And he’s wearing that t-shirt again, you know, the orange one with large red letters saying Bog Off You Nosy Neighbour!’ She poked her tongue out in the general direction of…[Read more] -
Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
Brutal
Graham was beside himself. Furious, speechless, incandescent with rage. They had demolished the ancient well in his garden, thrown the centuries old stonework down inside, and constructed a former which showed their intention to pour footings a full twenty metres from where the summerhouse should be. He leaned forward and peered down. All…[Read more]
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Alex replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
Fallen
I messed up.
In the worst way.
The building site was wrong. How could I have made such an amateur mistake? Because I was an amateur, that’s why. No man who has spent his life in the Alaskan mountains could know how to build in the Caribbean. And not a simple house, but a castle. The mosquito bites on my back provided evidence this was my…[Read more]
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Libby replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
July monthly comp reminder – three more days to post an entry 🙂
Tell a story of building work that suffers some kind of mix up. The wrong site, the wrong builder – anything you like.
Deadline midnight 31st July.
300 words maximum
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Athelstone posted an update 3 years ago
And we’re there. Thank you to all the generous donors. We’re here for another year!
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Athelstone posted an update 3 years ago
One More Year!
Probably daft, bearing in mind we have maybe 10 to 15 members who are even close to regular, and perhaps half a dozen who are. I need to raise about £150 this month to keep the site going. It will keep going; it’s just a case of finding as much as I can. SO… please see the donations group for details. Simple as that. -
Janette replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
The Mausoleum
… The star broke down as wife Stephanie’s casket was taken into the mausoleum. The stone masterpiece, testament to their love, could have been fashioned by Wren …’
Justin Mallory’s architect had also been proud of the secret panel to facilitate re-entry: stone-clad, freed by hidden lock and latch. Justin pocketed the key. He swiped…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
Hi Janette – as discussed, it’s gone. Feel free to post again when ready.
Ath.
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Libby replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
Hi Janette – feel free to tidy up! I see no reason why software idiosyncrasies and confusions therefrom should affect anyone’s chances in the monthly comp.
I haven’t yet read your submission so I won’t know what you change. I think you can delete the original post if you wish.
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I just tried that, but it remains on the monthly comp thread. Typical Monday morning.
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@janette
Don’t worry. Post your tidied-up version and I’ll ignore your first submission.-
Thanks to Ath, I’ve been able to delete and try again. Sorry for the kerfuffle!
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
Right man for the job!
Half eight, overnight ice on the inside of the windows, me already double Aran-wrapped, my phone rang:
‘Missus Blake? Morpeth Builders. We’ve a cancellation. Can come and have a look at your chimney today.’
‘That’d be great. There’s some sort of, of … blockage. The boiler’s broke, so lighting a fire the only way to kee…[Read more] -
Alex replied to the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
Congrats Libby!
I enjoyed all the entries.
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Thank you, @alex !
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Libby started the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
For this month’s comp tell a story of some building work with some kind of mix up. The wrong site, the wrong builder – anything you like.
Deadline midnight 31st July.
300 words
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Libby replied to the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
Thank you @Seagreen ! This is a lovely surprise. The standard of entries is so high – I loved all the stories.
Thank you too @Sandra for your congratulations.
Right, now I must try to think of a comp theme that will be as good as Seagreen’s …
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
Congratulations, Libby, and thank you Seagreen for such an enticing theme – I had a dozen possibilities in my head, and it was obvious others did too, strong voices all and I was glad not to have to do the judging.
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
I knew from the minute I started reading these that judging would be a tricky business…
Thanks all for entering! I love that you each took a perfectly mundane experience – like sitting in traffic – and gave me a fabulous peek into the headspace of your characters.
Ath, straight in there with your character reference of the man in the siler GT. T…[Read more]
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Thank you, Sea, for such a good challenge. Congratulations @Libby – a worthy win.
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
What is this? I turn my back for TWO days and I’m inundated!! ????
Please bear with me. Worked a fifteen hour shift today (with the same tomorrow). I promise to come back with a winner by Monday at the absolute latest x
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
Car
Look at that bloke. Arm out of the window, cigarette in hand. Marks and Sparks polo shirt that his wife bought him. Revving the engine every five seconds; counting down the time until death. And he got the silver car, the GT model. He chose that. He calls it “my car”. But if anybody asks, “We chose it. Me and my lady.”
How old do you reckon?…[Read more]
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