Den of Writers | Daedalus | Friends Activity https://www.denofwriters.com/members/daedalus/activity/friends/ Activity feed for Daedalus's friends. Thu, 12 Nov 2026 23:26:50 +0000 https://buddypress.org/?v= en-GB 30 hourly 2 cad8c1275554331dda50681aa3701b8d RichardB replied to the topic Choices in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/choices-8/#post-18135 Thu, 12 Nov 2026 10:27:56 +0000 Cat, painting

]]> 0 d654baae4f9e4755be8fa088840f9828 John T replied to the topic Choices in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/choices-8/#post-18130 Mon, 09 Nov 2026 21:13:08 +0000 Other, sculpture

]]> 0 5879654a8a4c0c810007f8851f38e890 John T joined the group Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/26181/ Mon, 09 Nov 2026 21:11:13 +0000 0 d8beb9a046094b42ed7f4a9a127b2479 RichardB replied to the topic 'Why Are They Doing This to Me?' in the forum Blogs https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/why-are-they-doing-this-to-me/#post-18124 Sat, 07 Nov 2026 09:53:03 +0000 I believe the case is with the CCRC right now. Hopefully the overwhelming weight of expert and public opinion, the like of which I can’t remember ever seeing in relation to a criminal case before, may encourage them to speed up their deliberations a bit.

]]> 0 279b96691c7cbbae633adefefdcb90eb Athelstone replied to the topic 'Why Are They Doing This to Me?' in the forum Blogs https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/why-are-they-doing-this-to-me/#post-18122 Fri, 06 Nov 2026 23:35:32 +0000 There may be parts of the evidence that are potentially subject to appeal, but essentially that is the rule. Unless facts subsequently come to light that cast doubt on evidence, then that evidence is not available to dispute. For instance, if people no longer believe that evidence points a particular way, or a reinterpretation of the evidence that…[Read more]

]]> 0 27ac6d8ec42ae09b3279e10a84b9f81f RichardB replied to the topic 'Why Are They Doing This to Me?' in the forum Blogs https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/why-are-they-doing-this-to-me/#post-18120 Fri, 06 Nov 2026 15:51:13 +0000 I didn’t take a lot of notice of the case at the time, but my first reaction after hearing of the verdict
was, ‘Yes, but what motive can she possibly have had?’ The only possible explanation seemed to be some deep psychological flaw, but investigation of her character and background failed to reveal the slightest trace or possible cause of such a…[Read more]

]]> 0 c50e7400b050e7f3c04e4ee267707ff2 Athelstone replied to the topic 'Why Are They Doing This to Me?' in the forum Blogs https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/why-are-they-doing-this-to-me/#post-18109 Tue, 03 Nov 2026 12:08:29 +0000 Every so often British courts seem to deliver results that are, at the very least, unsafe, but which claim a certainty in the conviction that the facts do not appear to support. Having done it they exhibit a profound unwillingness to revisit the cases with senior usually male judges announcing that they see no reason to doubt the verdict.

I did…[Read more]

]]> 0 82a43cc780665de83bedae674fca2f97 Athelstone replied to the topic October 2026 Monthly Competition in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/october-2026-monthly-competition/#post-18108 Tue, 03 Nov 2026 11:15:16 +0000 Congratulaions @Jillsted. Well deserved – a super story. And than you for the prompt, Libby. I enjoyed this competition very much.

]]> 0 a4d873e79ec1ffd5ac72820694cc6299 RichardB started the topic 'Why Are They Doing This to Me?' in the forum Blogs https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/why-are-they-doing-this-to-me/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 11:14:26 +0000 I am haunted by the image of Lucy Letby, quite early on in the sequence of events that led to her receiving – with no hard evidence nor discernable motive for her alleged crimes – the severest sentence ever handed down to a woman since the abolition of capital punishment, sobbing in her supervisor’s arms, asking plaintively, ‘Why are they doi…[Read more]

]]> 0 5627bc1d9bb29e8c6c5948cb7ac3bc55 Woolleybeans replied to the topic Choices in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/choices-8/#post-18106 Mon, 02 Nov 2026 15:37:45 +0000 cat, stamps

]]> 0 bdeeb564fbf139dd2574d2d9d5e69a51 Sandra replied to the topic October 2026 Monthly Competition in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/october-2026-monthly-competition/#post-18104 Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:28:18 +0000 Well done Jill, and thank you Libby for providing my favourite sort of writing prompt – such a variety of responses, and Gail, I do hope we hear more of Freedom Jones

]]> 0 ddfd6588bff5c99e7f08ae76b127e5de Libby replied to the topic October 2026 Monthly Competition in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/october-2026-monthly-competition/#post-18101 Mon, 02 Nov 2026 12:05:43 +0000 A very good mix of stories in response to the October competition.

@Jill your title led me to expect the boyfriend was the fickle one but no, there was a revelation at the end. Then I realised you’d been subtly leading us there:  “Fond memories of those times, when a date with a boy was nothing serious and soon forgotten when the next pass…[Read more]

]]> 0 c5f8b3726f11f66f7d5a0814a9cb55ff Athelstone replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/chit-chat-8/#post-18100 Sun, 01 Nov 2026 18:52:32 +0000 I have a couple of things to announce:

1) I missed posting the rules (which are now there). More haste, less speed. Apologies and thank you to @Clebs.

2) in the event of a late request for group membership after the group is closed, then I intend to accept, providing that the potential member agrees to the rules and makes the necessary choices…[Read more]

]]> 0 2f2bc4c5a652e320a740bb52c3ba104a Athelstone started the topic Rules in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/rules-7/ Sun, 01 Nov 2026 18:44:03 +0000 Some Basic Story Rules and Guidelines

 

 

The challenge is to produce a short story: a work of fiction. By all means stretch this definition as you like, to include, for example, an imaginative account of true events, but please avoid essays, reportage, political polemic, educational items, manuals or manifestos. In case of any doubt I shall…[Read more]

]]> 0 cb5505e15c8cbb2297159a7417f705e6 Athelstone replied to the topic Q & A in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/q-a-5/#post-18098 Sun, 01 Nov 2026 18:35:49 +0000 And it would have helped if I’d actually posted the Rules post (slapping own head emoji – you’ll have to imagine it)

]]> 0 4e021aed983f56044b357027143498bd Athelstone replied to the topic Q & A in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/q-a-5/#post-18097 Sun, 01 Nov 2026 18:30:49 +0000 Hi Clebs, great to see you here. It’s in the Rules post – minimum 2000 words, maximum 2800.

Enjoy.

]]> 0 35a8c9ba442bb6999e1846e96a95f9b9 Libby replied to the topic October 2026 Monthly Competition in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/october-2026-monthly-competition/#post-18095 Sun, 01 Nov 2026 16:41:54 +0000 I’ll be back with the competition result tomorrow. Sorry for the delay.

]]> 0 9a0cd5e9e7ff07dfd5ebe6dd47db3b6f Clebs replied to the topic Choices in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/choices-8/#post-18094 Sun, 01 Nov 2026 14:52:42 +0000 Dog, painting

]]> 0 9a7f13c64e32196789db611beae879d1 Clebs replied to the topic Q & A in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/q-a-5/#post-18093 Sun, 01 Nov 2026 14:49:02 +0000 Apologies if I’ve missed it but what is the word count?

]]> 0 69e67b40fb493ba21ca88e25cc9dddec RichardB joined the group Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/26152/ Sun, 01 Nov 2026 13:19:22 +0000 0 94305aba29cb85193029e04226af466d Athelstone replied to the topic October 2026 Monthly Competition in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/october-2026-monthly-competition/#post-18091 Sat, 31 Oct 2026 13:52:06 +0000 Friends and the Big Bang Bicycle Thief

I like watching television. It’s almost a crime to admit this these days unless you say that you’re watching it to see films, and you can present a list of obscure and worthy titles, preferably in a foreign language, that you claim to appreciate.

Right now, I am enjoying re-runs of Friends through a sub…[Read more]

]]> 0 194259800bfd75221d870b6e47bb1962 Kate replied to the topic Choices in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/choices-8/#post-18087 Fri, 30 Oct 2026 23:20:30 +0000 Dog, coins

]]> 0 edca1e98def1d4630e47f4e2e187ed40 Kate joined the group Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/26147/ Fri, 30 Oct 2026 23:19:56 +0000 0 cc506b36b89e500251e585328eee2a35 Thea replied to the topic Choices in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/choices-8/#post-18086 Fri, 30 Oct 2026 21:49:21 +0000 Other, coins

]]> 0 42c0c288491f32aac78d78c45e72871d Thea joined the group Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/26145/ Fri, 30 Oct 2026 21:36:10 +0000 0 6239698f233ca784a405001f904257e3 Terrie replied to the topic Choices in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/choices-8/#post-18085 Fri, 30 Oct 2026 17:37:59 +0000 other  and  coins

]]> 0 05ba24185053c8895896a42b2e1df080 Terrie replied to the topic October 2026 Monthly Competition in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/october-2026-monthly-competition/#post-18084 Fri, 30 Oct 2026 17:28:15 +0000  

The Thinning Veil

Wind growled across the island just after midday bringing with it a sharp, stinging, deluge of rain that moved with the feeling nature was scourging the earth.

It lasted until daylight faded then stopped as quickly as it started.

Now, at midnight, the sky was eerily clear and bright as the  pale disc of moody moon…[Read more]

]]> 0 c32fffd16b6c122915c81c960d90e0ec Sandra replied to the topic Choices in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/choices-8/#post-18083 Fri, 30 Oct 2026 17:26:55 +0000 Cat, painting

]]> 0 4590b7645189391372df9e8d9e1689cb Seagreen replied to the topic Choices in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/choices-8/#post-18082 Fri, 30 Oct 2026 17:24:42 +0000 Other, painting.

]]> 0 455de397c598d859bfb36714af7f2b1e Terrie joined the group Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/26140/ Fri, 30 Oct 2026 17:21:54 +0000 0 0320855810a733bf3690ac6d821bcd6c Seagreen joined the group Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/26139/ Fri, 30 Oct 2026 17:21:10 +0000 0 11eeac247041eca2c130ca10c21eff1e Sandra joined the group Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/26138/ Fri, 30 Oct 2026 17:12:38 +0000 0 cea62a41cfc1a21f126f33dcdfd67998 Athelstone replied to the topic Choices in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/choices-8/#post-18081 Fri, 30 Oct 2026 09:37:19 +0000 Made on my behalf by Jules to keep me honest: other, sculpture

]]> 0 9670fb32e34fbf696df7c692f5f3e6ae Libby replied to the topic Choices in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/choices-8/#post-18080 Fri, 30 Oct 2026 07:53:38 +0000 Cat, painting

]]> 0 b45646d19bbb71585cd9c25520710cc2 Jules replied to the topic Choices in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/choices-8/#post-18079 Thu, 29 Oct 2026 19:22:19 +0000 Cat, coins

]]> 0 e198d9a4c03825df2b1ddab22334611c Jules joined the group Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/26134/ Thu, 29 Oct 2026 19:18:01 +0000 0 8bd0eb28b113c3648b7261842921cbdc Clebs joined the group Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/26133/ Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:16:21 +0000 0 dcc3ed5d93329155fe12f10929d5ce4c Libby joined the group Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/26132/ Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:44:02 +0000 0 1e497657bca2b754d844842b1ce033ca Woolleybeans joined the group Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/26130/ Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:07:30 +0000 0 a895855cffab8875ad2e9c94c05a2daa Athelstone started the topic Welcome. Please read this first in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/welcome-please-read-this-first-9/ Thu, 29 Oct 2026 15:37:24 +0000  <u>Welcome and timetable</u>

Welcome to Surprise. This is a writing opportunity with a challenge and just the merest hint of competition. At the end there will be winning entries, chosen by all of you who take part. Most of all, everybody who takes part will have worked to produce a short story and hopefully risen to the challenge. If you stick…[Read more]

]]> 1 9bf41e84b71e959e5488b0bae72bfa99 Athelstone started the topic Choices in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/choices-8/ Thu, 29 Oct 2026 15:28:50 +0000 I am not going to explain what these choices mean – not now anyway. They will have a big influence on your story but I have every confidence that you will cope. You have all the skill and application necessary. I will explain when I reveal full details of the theme, but that won’t be until the group becomes private.

And please don’t take these…[Read more]

]]> 0 ccacb1e43136ab3c033beb2891563f8d Athelstone started the topic Voting in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/voting-10/ Thu, 29 Oct 2026 15:26:22 +0000 On the face of it, what you have to do is quite simple. However, those of you have been through this before in previous challenges will know that in fact it is extraordinarily tough.

When the writing stage of the challenge closes on 28 February 2027 at 22:00 UK time, the voting stage begins. No doubt most of you will have read many of the entries…[Read more]

]]> 0 f2d078cd3a3220188ac03ba25ee309b0 Athelstone started the topic Q & A in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/q-a-5/ Thu, 29 Oct 2026 15:24:59 +0000 If you have a question or an answer, please post here.

]]> 0 b0fd350dadcccee2d765965cd33197ab Athelstone started the topic Chit Chat in the forum Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/surprise/forum/topic/chit-chat-8/ Thu, 29 Oct 2026 15:24:05 +0000 Just want to say something? Here you are.

]]> 0 7f89211311f462a32b3fa13136226199 Athelstone created the group Surprise https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/26122/ Thu, 29 Oct 2026 15:22:40 +0000 0 b5c8fdb7c266c01c9c62774e1513fae2 admin posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/26109/#acomment-26121 Thu, 29 Oct 2026 10:19:00 +0000 Thanks @libby and @katemachon. That was the problem I had on my Testing Group and also on the Test Den. I didn’t spot it at first as these seem to be the only two groups that had a problem. reading the update notes, it looks as though the previous version of BBPress (which gives us the group forums) attempted to improve security because in some…[Read more]

In reply to - Athelstone posted an update I had allowed the site maintenance to build up and ended up doing a pile of it yesterday. As usual I tested as much as I could, but if anybody spots a problem, please let me know. ]]> a9397b4b1a2f8739ca2a6f4f31bde088 Libby posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/26109/#acomment-26120 Thu, 29 Oct 2026 09:14:17 +0000 I’ve just posted to the SE Course Group 2016 and it seems to be OK.

In reply to - Athelstone posted an update I had allowed the site maintenance to build up and ended up doing a pile of it yesterday. As usual I tested as much as I could, but if anybody spots a problem, please let me know. ]]> 27fd87861e292d3c6dce5fffe75fbbe7 admin posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/26109/#acomment-26118 Wed, 28 Oct 2026 13:50:10 +0000 I think the update-in-waiting also fixes it, so I’ll push that out if somebody would be kind enough to check whether it does

In reply to - Athelstone posted an update I had allowed the site maintenance to build up and ended up doing a pile of it yesterday. As usual I tested as much as I could, but if anybody spots a problem, please let me know. ]]> 5bd72e6d5e175b1a3e1499378ba2609a Kate posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/26109/#acomment-26117 Wed, 28 Oct 2026 13:45:57 +0000 That’s fixed it. Thanks for dealing with so quickly, Ath.

In reply to - Athelstone posted an update I had allowed the site maintenance to build up and ended up doing a pile of it yesterday. As usual I tested as much as I could, but if anybody spots a problem, please let me know. ]]> 5e1c5b0902f7563557244b482ad65864 Athelstone posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/26109/#acomment-26116 Tue, 27 Oct 2026 23:39:47 +0000 I think it’s the latest BBPress update. I’ve rolled this back to the previous version. Can you tell me whether the problem has gone? I see there’s another update about to be released. It’s possibly a fix for the last one, but it hasn’t arrived with us yet.

In reply to - Athelstone posted an update I had allowed the site maintenance to build up and ended up doing a pile of it yesterday. As usual I tested as much as I could, but if anybody spots a problem, please let me know. ]]>