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Athelstone posted an update 6 years, 5 months ago
This year, Santa brought me, Mrs Ath, and the in-laws…..norovirus.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Comp – December 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 5 months ago
Slipping through the door at (nearly) the 11th hour. 400 words with title.
The Tent
When I was eight, my parents gave me a tent for Christmas. Of course, I insisted on spending the night in the garden. The coldest night of the year, but I wore them down with my relentless pleading until finally, with three pairs of pyjamas, two sleeping bags, a…[Read more]
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JaneShuff replied to the topic Monthly Comp – December 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 5 months ago
Slipping in at almost the last moment… with 395 words:
On the last day of the old year, the family always walked to Rock Island. Chivvied by our mother and wrapped up well in woollen jumpers, tights, hats, scarfs and gloves. The time of day when dusk was falling like a dark chiffon scarf over the landscape. We’d walk the sandy path along the t…[Read more]
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RichardB posted an update 6 years, 5 months ago
I hope everybody had a good Christmas. Our Warner hotel Christmas break went off pretty well. For one thing, no cooking and no washing up – you can’t knock that. It makes a nice change to be among the youngest people present – and to see, all the time we were there, only one person using a smartphone. But…
I am by no means a religious per…[Read more]
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Athelstone posted an update 6 years, 5 months ago
Probably be ridiculously busy tomorrow and the day after, so A Very Merry Christmas to all Denizens wherever you may be.
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RichardB posted an update 6 years, 5 months ago
Aha, @daedalus, so you’re now a ‘renowned naval aviation author,’ I see. Fair play to yer, mate.
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I was surprised to see that too! I don’t know who’s been renowning me, I must say
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Don’t knock it…
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I’ll renown you any day @daedalus
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Thanks both. Renowning accepted 🙂
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JaneShuff posted an update 6 years, 5 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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JaneShuff replied to the topic Class 2 Writing Exercise Jane in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 6 months ago@katemachon. The questions come from Andrew Wille’s questionnaire but there are lots of others about. Personally, I don’t find the What is their favourite colour sort of question very helpful. I think the best ones work a bit like writing prompts, sparking ideas off or pulling ideas together. Anyway I’m glad it was interesting!
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JaneShuff replied to the topic Class 2 Writing Exercise Jane in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 6 months agoHi @katemachon. Here’s the character questionnaire I did for Dipsy. You’ll see that I ignored some of the questions – basically if nothing comes to mind, I don’t beat myself up about it. I also don’t worry about the answers being particaulrly interesting, so some of it is pretty dull. But I do find them helpful for clarifying and focussing…[Read more]
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JaneShuff replied to the topic Class 2 Writing Exercise Jane in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 6 months agoThanks Sea! Maybe the bony restless fingers aren’t right… And she is named after a Teletubbies character!
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JaneShuff replied to the topic Class 2 Writing Exercise Jane in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 6 months agoThanks @katemachon and @sandradavies. I realise that I should have given some context to this as it’s actually an excerpt from my WIP and, although this is the first time Dipsy actually appears, the reader would know her age and her relationship to the narrator. So sorry.
I will tidy up Dipsy’s character questionnaire and post it if you’d like,…[Read more]
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Athelstone posted an update 6 years, 6 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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JaneShuff replied to the topic Craft Seminar Class 3: Character 2 – Inner Lives in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 6 months agoThanks WB!
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JaneShuff replied to the topic Feedback on the Course in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 6 months agoSending hugs xxxx
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JaneShuff replied to the topic Craft Seminar Class 2: Character 1 – Outer Worlds in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 6 months agoThank you @raine. I”ll look forward to reading it!
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Barny replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 6 months ago
“… confounded me with his disturbing narrative…”
To explain a little in case this wasn’t clear: Four Ling leaves 🙂
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 6 months ago
Well done, Jeanette – super piece. Great comp, John!
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Barny replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 6 months ago
Congratulations, Janette – nice work! And thanks John for the prompt.
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JaneShuff replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 6 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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Noooooo. You poor things. I hope you’re feeling better and ready to enjoy a festive New Year!
That’s grim, Ath. I do hope you’re all getting better. All the best.
About 20 hours in. Can now keep water down (which is nice). Bit annoyed that the in-laws didn’t tell us how I’ll they were until the middle of our visit. With D’s mum being an ex ward sister I’d have expected better.
I’d have been quite a lot annoyed 🙂
Ugh … in-laws can be outlaws of the very worst sort …
What rotten luck. Hope all are feeling better x