Emma Robinson

Thank you @Seagreen ! This is a lovely surprise. The standard of entries is so high – I loved all the stories.

Thank you too @Sandra for your congratulations.

Right, now I must try to think of a comp theme that will be as good as Seagreen’s …

398 words exc title

Content warning: threat of terminal illnes

The Road to the Hospital I’ll be Visiting Tomorrow

The old sports model is red and open-topped, a Noddy car for the middle-aged and young elderly. How sniping I am today. From my hatchback I criticise the driver’s grey hair sticking out from his baseball cap. The passenger wea…[Read more]

Thank you all for a fabulous batch of stories.

Seagreen – you had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was in that letter.

Sandra – such a lovely heart warming tale.

Athelstone – I love that kind hearted Brenda got the reassurance she needed.

Alex – oh! Such a tale of mystery and deceit. Thus feels like the basis for a longer story.

A…[Read more]

Any takers for the monthly competition? A week to go.

Richard, did you hear the recent item on Radio 4 on the anniversary of the loss of the Penlee lifeboat? Unexpectedly they played the last call between the lifeboat captain and Falmouth coastguard. The shock of hearing it made me weep.

Thank you, Richard. As I read your account I wondered about Hawthorn’s personality and possible similarities to some of the heroes of the two world wars – talented and determined men whose skills and outlook were sometimes too abrasive for civilian life. This piece seems to confirm that On This Day: Mike Hawthorn, Just what DID happen on 22nd…[Read more]

Thanks, Alex. It was fun to give Pixie and Gabe an outing! I’ll have a think about a theme for the coming month.

Congratulations Daedalus!

Congratulations @Kate

Another lovely Pix and Gabe story!

Congratulations on Action this Day, @Daedalus

I look forward to reading the paperback when it comes out.

A STRANGE ENCOUNTER

Len slammed on the brakes of his electricity work truck and squeezed his eyes closed. This couldn’t have happened. It had to be his imagination. Too much beer last night and too much coffee this morning.

He peeked open his eyes and gave a screech more usual for his five-year-old daughter.

Pressed against the windscreen was a…[Read more]

What a lovely place and beautiful countryside, Richard. I’m not surprised you like it. I can’t comment on St Patrick, being very ignorant when it comes to saints, but I enjoyed watching the re-enactment and the story of the Romans.

So many mining areas have been returned to nature that it’s now impossible to fully imagine what they used to look…[Read more]

I use reviews too. They’re not my only resource when making choices but they let me know what’s out there in general – what some of the trends and hits are, and the interesting new names.

Then there are the books I want to read because I’ve read the author’s previous book(s).

There are the usual chance factors: browsing in bookshops both new and…[Read more]