EmmaD

  • “Above the tideline”
    first line provided by Thomas A Clarke

    Above the tideline, an old blue rope is entangled in a bramble bush. I gaze at it while retying my hair, turning to face into the wind, risking the scratch of sand beneath my already sore eyelids; its crunching against my teeth.
    Sand, salt and shell fragments speckle the twists of it,…[Read more]

  • Janette replied to the topic The Future of the Den in the forum Blogs 5 years ago

    Sorry I’m so late to this. As many of you know, I’ve had rather a bad accident (tripped on a pothole) and suffered several injuries, including breaks to both arms, particularly the left elbow (I’m left handed).I have been warned the recovery will be long and involved, and I’ll probably not recover full movement to my left arm/elbow. Typing is slow…[Read more]

    • Thea replied 5 years ago

      Gosh, so sorry to hear that, Janette. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Take care. x

      • Oh dear, oh dear. MrsB tripped on an uneven pavement and broke her arm while we were on holiday last year, and I remember all the pain and worry, so I have some idea of what you’re going through, and you have my sympathy. Especially since your case sounds worse, though reading between the lines it sounds like you’re getting better care too. Best…[Read more]

        • Rubbish news, Janette. I hope you recover as soon as possible. Sending more hugs – gentle ones.

      • Thank you, all, for your well-wishes. @richardb, sorry to hear about your wife. Care has been hit-and-miss due to an over-stretched NHS, but Mr O has taken a sabbatical from our small business and is taking good care of me. Just a pity I can’t always get to talk to relevant NHS departments when I need to.

        Re Den, lets hope we can sort it out and…[Read more]

    • Libby replied 5 years ago

      Hi Janette, I’m really sorry about your accident. It sounds horrible. I really hope things start to get better soon.
      Re the typing, would investing in voice software be helpful? Word has a dictate function which I found unusable (any pause for thinking and it switches off, and it’s also too basic to be any good) but there are proper pro…[Read more]

  • Well done, Libby – a deserved win!! And thanks Ath.

  • Yes indeed, Well done Libby – such beautiful writing. [And well done Ath for getting it right ;-)] Also for the theme of the competition which chimed with the greater degree of looking back I occasionally do these days.

  • Libby: Sound Waves.
    A real slice of life. Beautifully portrayed, the violent action all at a distance and the thoughts of the protagonist so quiet so mundane that we just know a bomb is going to explode into the story.

    Sandra: Another fairy tale.
    Ah, becoming an adult. I’m so glad I’m not the only one still waiting for that Corinthians mom…[Read more]

    • Libby replied 5 years ago

      Thank you @athelstone. I enjoyed writing to the theme. The other entries were so good I’m very chuffed to have won.
      I’ll go away and think of a theme for July.

  • Barny replied to the topic The Future of the Den in the forum Blogs 5 years ago

    DoW problems: Usability just isn’t what it should be; not being able to post pictures is a pain; definitely doesn’t promote idle chat.

    The wordcloud was very far from perfect, but had one significant difference: the course offerings meant new people were always joining, wondering wth was going on, some figuring it out or persisting without fig…[Read more]

  • Athelstone replied to the topic The Future of the Den in the forum Blogs 5 years ago

    The garlic will be ready for harvesting in a few weeks.

    • Thea replied 5 years ago

      Ha, bet it’s nicer than shop bought! 🙂

      • How long does it keep for?

        • I’ve no idea…hang on…according to google, it lasts about a month just sitting around doing nothing, but if you put it somewhere warm and dry so that the skin-layer of leaves goes papery, it can last for several months.

          • I thought you were an experienced garlic grower but I see you’re a novice like us! At least yours has grown. Ours never showed its face!

            • Libby replied 5 years ago

              The best I’ve managed is chives.
              One thing about the weather this year: the patches of meadow pea on the lane’s verges are larger than usual. Rich golden yellow flowers liked by bees.

  • Athelstone replied to the topic The Future of the Den in the forum Blogs 5 years ago

    Well, there’s a lot to think about. And to get started on.

  • RichardB replied to the topic The Future of the Den in the forum Blogs 5 years, 1 month ago

    Even after a year-plus of lockdown in various degrees I don’t do social media at all, no Facebook, no Twitter, no Zoom, no anything, so the Silence of the Denizens has been quite saddening for me. Not that I’ve been better (except in one respect) than anyone else. My problem is the opposite of that of several leading lights here: having…[Read more]

  • Athelstone replied to the topic The Future of the Den in the forum Blogs 5 years, 1 month ago

    I certainly agree with the point about idle chat.

  • Raine replied to the topic The Future of the Den in the forum Blogs 5 years, 1 month ago

    First off, apologies. I am not as active on here as I was, and definitely not as active as I was on the Cloud. Partly, recently that’s been due to being swamped with book release stuff. Partly though it’s because of the format & the way the site kills off chat. Both in hiding replies and in it’s weird notifications limitations. I think that’s a…[Read more]

  • Sandra replied to the topic The Future of the Den in the forum Blogs 5 years, 1 month ago

    Site was ‘murdered’ because owner decided to shut it down then did so, Telling no-one and refusing to answer all communications thereafter.

    I do think we that were there were lucky, insofar as it was a chatty, supportive active group, probably at the peak of its activity, which made the death of it al the more tragic,

  • Athelstone replied to the topic The Future of the Den in the forum Blogs 5 years, 1 month ago

    I have belonged to one or two sites that have been invaded and effectively ruined by the invaders, after which they failed. How is a site murdered?

    As for contributers…well, that’s tricky. When it comes down to it, it’s people’s leisure time. If they feel compelled to contribute then I’d sort of hope it was some sort of internal compulsion…[Read more]

  • Sandra replied to the topic The Future of the Den in the forum Blogs 5 years, 1 month ago

    Read this, Ath, and will ponder (not that I think I’ve any answers.) but a year in which to turn around is an excellent idea.
    Another thought, along the lines of ‘if you pay for it you make sure you get your money’s worth; would be more convincing were this as lively and well-functioning as we’d like it to be.
    But, The site I cut my writing teeth…[Read more]

  • Athelstone posted an update 5 years, 1 month ago

    I have added a blog and I think it’s important for ALL members to take a look, Thank you.

  • 1) It’s that time of year when our hosting providers ask for some money again. As ever, this forum is free to members, but should anybody wish to contribute please head over to the Donations group where you will find information in the forum. You will need to join the group, which doesn’t commit you to anything, to view the posts.

    2) You can…[Read more]

  • Blimey, managed to write something and very pleased to be able to enter the comp. Was a bit concerned at managing to get to 250 words and wanting to post without having to DQ myself! Happily at 256 words including title. 🙂

    This might be the day.

    He hadn’t closed the curtains. The sunbeam found the bed at 6.37 and warmed his left foot at 6…[Read more]

  • Athelstone posted an update 5 years, 1 month ago

    A Bump re the monthly comp. You know it makes sense. Always let those words unload, because I won’t be there when you cross the road.

  • Another fairy tale

    Was it when, age three or maybe four and my mother, part way through their evening meal, seated at the table with husband, husband’s sister and husband’s parents, met my bad dream request for comfort with a withering ‘Why should I help you when this morning you said you didn’t love me?’. I knew then the rest of them didn’t…[Read more]

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