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JaneShuff posted an update 6 years, 10 months ago
Should I write a bit more this afternoon or should I go and watch Star Wars 7 and 8 in preparation for going to see Star Wars The Rise of Starwalker next week???
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If I didn’t still hold out some hope for Scotland, I’d be seriously planning that. My parents might get kicked out anyway, so what’s to lose?
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I’m glad you’ve got some hope left. After long years of clinging on with my fingernails to some vestiges of hope that the slide away from the essentially decent, civilised nation I grew up in might be halted, I have now lost every last trace of it. Merry Christmas.
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Commiserations, UK. It seems we’re all stuck with hideous right wing governments that our compatriots have chosen for us. In the case of the UK it really beggars belief that after 9 years of austerity – food banks, slashes to services, skyrocketing poverty – that the people who suffer the most under Tory rule have gone and done it again. I really…[Read more]
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I came across this view from an ex-pat living in New Zealand. Some strong language for Denizens who prefer to steer clear. But I couldn’t find anything to disagree with.
Britain dutifully bows down to the ruling elite.-
I was going to post this anyway, Ath, but after following your link it has even more resonance: one of Sir Winston Churchill’s less popular pronouncements was that the best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.
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I have read the article. This kind of sneering attitude is exactly why the Brexit leave vote came as a surprise to the great and the good. And it is also why the GE vote has come as a surprise. An 82 year old woman from Co Durham was reported in The Times today as saying (I can’t remember verbatim) “I can’t believe they’ve voted this way in an…[Read more]
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We are a nation of bootlickers, aren’t we?
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“There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people…religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin” – Linus, Peanuts cartoon, 1966.
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Very wise words
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Raine posted an update 6 years, 10 months ago
I am *trying* to get the big climax scene of this godawful wip written but the cat has now knocked over the giant bag of catfood *twice*, got himself stuck under the cooker, made me spill my tea, and had a fight with his brother, leaving tufts of fluff all over the lounge. Anyone want a cat?
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AND its GE day and I am finding that *very* stressful.
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Me too – and the gloom of the weather doesn’t help. (But I am sure your wip isn’t godawful!)
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I’m just dreading hearing the results tomorrow morning…
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I would take your cat, Raine. The trouble is, so would my dog
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Oh no, that sounds like a day not to be repeated. Hope the WIP sorted itself out, though it’s in great hands so I’m confident it did.
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Athelstone posted an update 6 years, 11 months ago
Amazing but true: participants in Songs of Innocence and Experience have just under two months left to complete their short story.
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 11 months ago
Well done, J!
Apologies, John. I actually wrote something for this but never got round to tidying it up 🙁 -
Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 11 months ago
Well done, Jeanette – super piece. Great comp, John!
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Janette started the topic Monthly Comp – December 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 11 months ago
In honour of a writing exercise recently enjoyed, and to mark the end of 2019, when I will be judging the entries, please write a piece that contains the words: OLD YEAR NIGHT (in any order and not necessarily together). If you could keep it up to 400 words, that would be great.
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 11 months ago
Totally unexpected, thanks John. Need to go and put my thinking cap on.
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JaneShuff replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 11 months ago
Congratulations Jeanette. It is a stunning piece of writing. And thanks John for provoking such a great collection of stories!
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John S Alty replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 11 months ago
Well, I’ve read your entries with great enjoyment. Jeanette gave a beautiful allegorical rendition of the passing seasons, Athers made me laugh with his tale of Norman, the folium-phobiac hoist by his own petard, Sandra found a silver lining and Barney completely confounded me with this disturbing narrative – I’m still asking myself, what the h…[Read more]
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JaneShuff replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 11 months ago
Untitled
I sit on the park bench under the pines whose needles clog the spaces between its wooden rungs and whose scent mingles with the faint smell of urine and of the sweet green mould that covers the wood.Children race around me, chasing after the leaves that whirl on the wind. I look for you in their faces. I look for me too. But we are not…[Read more]
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Athelstone posted an update 6 years, 11 months ago
“The Book of my Enemy Has Been Remaindered”
The book of my enemy has been remaindered
And I am pleased.
In vast quantities it has been remaindered
Like a van-load of counterfeit that has been seized
And sits in piles in a police warehouse,
My enemy’s much-prized effort sits in piles
In the kind of bookshop where remaindering…[Read more]-
RIP
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Now I know why.
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I met Clive James once. I had long been a fan of the least known – but which he once said was ‘the closest to my heart’ – of his many endeavours, the songs he wrote with Pete Atkin and which Atkin performed. When I first got internet access I discovered and started participating in a mailing list of like-minded souls called Midnight Voices, and…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 11 months ago
Steps of passing ghosts
‘Trees are at their best when they’re turned into timber,’ said Norman as he picked the large golden leaf from his decking, crushing it in his hand. He had searched for ages to find this house with no trees in sight. There had been a spruce in the garden when he moved in, that the previous owner said had been a Chris…[Read more]
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 11 months ago
A Coat of Many Colours
Her debut frock had been remarkable enough. Clouds upon clouds of fragrant petals laced together with birdsong; an ode to spring. Dressed for the occasion, she rose from her slumbers to a reveille of golden trumpets, gathered in bands around her heels, and coloured the air with fragrance … though the show soon moved on.…[Read more]
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JaneShuff posted an update 6 years, 11 months ago
It is cold here at the end of the earth this morning! I haev had to make the cat a hot water bottle to keep her off my lap while I work.
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Frosty here too. Cats reported cold paw complaints when I was still in bed!
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It is now hailing and stormy. I might have to give in and put the heating up…
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The frost was settling on the cars last night at 9pm, but the rain’s cleared it off. Now lashing it down and pretty cold here. Will have to get the stove going…
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Libby replied to the topic Monthly comp – October 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 years ago
And thank you Ath for setting the competition and giving us all helpful feedback. Apologies for not mentioning this before.
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly comp – October 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 years ago
Congrats John and HMs, and thanks Ath, for the challenge and kind feedback.
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Kate replied to the topic Monthly comp – October 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 years ago
Congratulations, John. I loved your yo-yo story. And thanks for organising, Ath.
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John S Alty started the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 years ago
OK, I realise there is other stuff going on to occupy you, so let’s keep this simple, and seasonal:
About 400 words on “Falling Leaves”
Have fun! -
Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly comp – October 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 years ago
Ath, you say the loveliest things. Thank you. And thanks for the comp.
John, congratulations. You opened a window into something quite special. - Load More

I’m going to see it tomorrow! Enjoyed 7, but I wouldn’t bother 8. And you should be writing! 🙂
I thought it was seriously good. Hope you enjoy.
I leave all my critical faculties at home when I go to see anything Star Wars so I will enjoy it whatever but great to hear that it’s seriously good.