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A STRANGE ENCOUNTER

Len slammed on the brakes of his electricity work truck and squeezed his eyes closed. This couldn’t have happened. It had to be his imagination. Too much beer last night and too much coffee this morning.

He peeked open his eyes and gave a screech more usual for his five-year-old daughter.

Pressed against the windscreen was a…[Read more]

Yes, I’m fine with your vote for another month.

Well, my vote is another month. If you’re up for it that is. If you’re OK with that, I’ll post an entry in the next few days.

That straight road through the village is actually called Roman Road. It’s part of the old Roman road from Neath to Brecon.

I do actually have an idea of what Banwen used to look like when the mine was open, because in the corridor in the Dove Workshop (an adult education and community centre, just visible in the opening shot among the trees, top…[Read more]

What a lovely place and beautiful countryside, Richard. I’m not surprised you like it. I can’t comment on St Patrick, being very ignorant when it comes to saints, but I enjoyed watching the re-enactment and the story of the Romans.

So many mining areas have been returned to nature that it’s now impossible to fully imagine what they used to look…[Read more]

Yes, and not least among its attractions is that those houses in the terraces can still be had for less than £100,000.

The Valleys have always been famous for community spirit, though anyone who was alive when the mines were open will tell you that it’s not what it was. The mine at Banwen closed as long ago as 1964 (that pretty pond was once an…[Read more]

What a fabulous place. The film suggests a strong sense of community. Do you feel part of it as an “incomer”?

I use reviews too. They’re not my only resource when making choices but they let me know what’s out there in general – what some of the trends and hits are, and the interesting new names.

Then there are the books I want to read because I’ve read the author’s previous book(s).

There are the usual chance factors: browsing in bookshops both new and…[Read more]

Not sure I’m representative, even though I am also (considerably) beyond 45. I don’t read as much as I did when I was, say, in my late-teens or early twenties. Then I could easily clear 3 or 4 books a week, sometimes 1 a day. I read pretty much every day. At the moment I am reading a book by somebody I know to provide a review. I have a vast pile…[Read more]

@Athelstone, I enjoyed the story. Loved the justification for why he does what he does.

@Seagreen, great prompt. I’m motivated to return to working on the story for that antagonist.

Great story Alex!

Thanks for the prompt @Seagreen. Gave me a chance to work out the back-story for one the main antagonists in my WIP.

Thank you both for entering and I’m so sorry to keep you hanging on like this. To be honest, I found it really difficult to choose; I liked both of them in different ways. On this occasion (and because if I don’t stop prevaricating we’ll still be here next week) I’m going with Alex.

You caught me on the hop ☺️
I’ll come back to these tomorrow.

Ted

The things that made Ted happy got a bit broken when he was little. After a while he grew accustomed to the fact that things wouldn’t go well for him, mainly because they often ended in bruises, or even the occasional broken bone. Nevertheless, in spite of everything, he grew strong. He soon discovered that if he didn’t want to go hungry he…[Read more]