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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition August 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 months, 1 week ago
John on holiday
John.
This is the strangest holiday ever. Chris should have been here. She even did all the bookings for us, and now I have to explain to everybody why it’s only me. The weather is perfect. Not too hot, not too cold. She’d have loved it—walking along the coast, looking down on the seabird colonies. Salt, warm seaweed on the narro…[Read more]
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly Competition August 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 months, 1 week ago
The Space Between the Notes (334 words inc title)
It was more than a holiday; it was a ritual, starting with the drive north. The choice of music; what the kids called my soppy stuff – Savage Garden, Beautiful South and sshhh, don’t say it out loud, Barry Manilow – and the way I always packed the car with a hundred and one things I wou…[Read more]
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Libby replied to the topic Monthly Competition August 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 months, 1 week ago
A quick reminder that the end of the month is growing near for anyone who’d like to enter the monthly competition.
August, peak holiday season. For the August comp please combine the themes of holiday and sea. It could be from the point of view of a holidaymaker or a person who works in the tourist industry or someone who simply observes.
500…[Read more]
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RichardB replied to the topic Vaulting Ambition: the BRM V16 in the forum Blogs 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Your thought about the V16 engine and the 1966 formula is indeed intriguing, but if anyone at BRM did seriously consider it then I think it would have come unstuck on the fuel question if nothing else. It is my understanding that one reason for the Alfetta’s inordinate thirst (1.5 miles to the gallon in its final form!) was that it relied on…[Read more]
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Daedalus replied to the topic Vaulting Ambition: the BRM V16 in the forum Blogs 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Great blog as usual Richard. It’s a fascinating story. One of those that has so much promise of what might have been, yet also so typical of the often shambolic British way of going about things that one feels it could only ever have ended up this way. Look at the contemporary British aviation industry – much brilliance and yet so much avoidable c…[Read more]
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RichardB started the topic Vaulting Ambition: the BRM V16 in the forum Blogs 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Vaulting Ambition: the BRM V16
‘Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself…’
Shakespeare, MacbethBritish technology has been so dominant in motor sport for so long now that it is hard for many to imagine the time before World War II when British motor racing was an insular, gentlemanly affair (‘The right crowd and no crowding’ was the slogan…[Read more]
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Jill posted an update 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Dreams ~ re last post ~ less vivid now but some still meaningful. I have written nothing since my August competition entry and those poems, but feel that something is bubbling under the surface ~ developing slowly. Relaxed about it …. After somewhat intense times and nostalgia too, I am hoping it will be something lighthearted! Maybe for c…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Competition August 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Orientation
In July 1953 we – Dad, mum. brother and me, left our now-echoing and curtainless home on the edge of Dovercourt Bay – an Essex seaside town dominated by a pair of cast iron lighthouses whose clean, and well-protected sands were sectioned by sea-slimy black wooden groynes within which squatted large black crabs. There was also a…[Read more]
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Libby replied to the topic Monthly Competition August 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 months, 3 weeks ago
We’re half way through August. The heat isn’t a great supporter of creativity. On the other hand it could be a prompt. Here’s a reminder of this month’s competition.
August, peak holiday season. For the August comp please combine the themes of holiday and sea. It could be from the point of view of a holidaymaker or a person who works in the…[Read more]
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Jill replied to the topic A bit "poorly" in the forum Blogs 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Good morning – thank you for the explanation! I was hot and tired when answering so probably brain was not 100% either and I made some sort of mistake, but hey ho!!!
You are right – I am old enough to have gone through quite a few similar challenges in my time, so do echo your thoughts. A lengthy training and practice of counselling and the p…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic A bit "poorly" in the forum Blogs 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Jill, the Den’s Activity Page posts extracts changes (replies, new topics etc) from the public sections of the Den. You replied directly to the Activity Page version of this thread – you can check by selecting “Activity” from the menu at the top of all the Den’s pages. It’s all still there, although you’ll need to scroll a *long* way as my…[Read more]
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Jill replied to the topic A bit "poorly" in the forum Blogs 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Not sure where our latest conversation has gone, but glad you are progressing slowly and coming to accept future limitations. Good that you can walk by the coast.
I wrote quite a long reply, but cannot find it anywhere. Blaming the heat or perhaps the computer thought my reply far too long!!!
Anyhow, thanks for asking. We are coming th…[Read more]
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Jill posted an update 2 months, 4 weeks ago
Following on from last ‘Whar’s New’, this is an interesting processing/creative writing time for me. I never cease to be awed by the ways in which the creativity of humans can work.
I have been having vivid dreams and, to help me unravel their deeper meaning I have actually had conversations with an AI tool. A first for me, but I have done…[Read more] -
Libby posted an update 3 months ago
For anyone interested I’ve updated my ‘books read’ list in my Profile
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Jill replied to the topic Monthly Competition August 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 months, 1 week ago
Felt inspired and nostalgic by your prompt Libby!! Happy carefree times …
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Libby replied to the topic Monthly Competition August 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 months, 1 week ago
That was quick, Jill 🙂
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Jill replied to the topic Monthly Competition August 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 months, 1 week ago
Annual Holiday by the Sea
(Immediately inspired by July’s theme)
When I was a little girl the high point of the school Summer break was our family holiday by the sea. It was only for a week and very often to Goodrington near Paignton in Devon.
Just writing that paragraph has immediately brought back so many memories of carefree, happy times…[Read more]
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Libby started the topic Monthly Competition August 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 months, 1 week ago
August, peak holiday season. For the August comp please combine the themes of holiday and sea. It could be from the point of view of a holidaymaker or a person who works in the tourist industry or someone who simply observes.
500 words max, deadline midnight 31st August.
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Libby replied to the topic Monthly competition July 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 months, 1 week ago
Thank you, Ath! Thanks also for your comments and careful reading of my story – always helpful for an author. And thanks to Jill, Sandra and Terrie for such evocative, enjoyable pieces.
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