Den of Writers | JT. | Friends Activity https://www.denofwriters.com/members/jennytong/activity/friends/ Activity feed for JT.'s friends. Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:19:15 +0000 https://buddypress.org/?v= en-GB 30 hourly 2 9fd9fb162d9f1a8af42d2e1ad830982c Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly ompetition March 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/monthly-ompetition-march-2026/#post-17619 Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:02:56 +0000 Damn! It messed with my formatting 🙁

 

]]> 0 b1a04ce08199f5a6a0b7a70c9412b2ce Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly ompetition March 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/monthly-ompetition-march-2026/#post-17618 Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:01:45 +0000 The madness is all mine for thinking I could do this!

All words taken from Rod Judkins’ The Art of Creative Thinking.

 

DRIBBLES AND SPATTERS

Inner demons

chisel

creative confidence

Ideas so strange

wither.

 

Radiate defiance

Salvage mistakes with freedom

and

transform the message

Come alive!

]]> 0 ab8d0a209ee31ccf00bcfae73bf21706 Athelstone started the topic Monthly ompetition March 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/monthly-ompetition-march-2026/ Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:20:13 +0000 In March it seems that hares go mad. They chase each other, jump and frolic, even have boxing matches. For March, somebody has done/is doing/will do something mad. It might be you, or not – whatever you wish. 500 words maximum please before midnight on 31 March.

 

]]> 0 54f376c6e77767fb17845de6b134604a Athelstone replied to the topic February 2026 Monthly Competition in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/february-2026-monthly-competition/#post-17529 Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:08:48 +0000 Thank you for such a satisfactory February topic, Libby, and for your generous appraisal! I loved the other two entries; they could easily have won.

]]> 0 23e9a2dca3a6ab068a56c1fb3ec36a8b Athelstone replied to the topic February 2026 Monthly Competition in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/february-2026-monthly-competition/#post-17525 Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:15:44 +0000 Teabreak in love

Maureen Chapman. No, tell a lie, it was Chaplain, like a vicar. Her name, I mean—she wasn’t like a vicar. Anyway, Maureen Chaplain was perfect from my ten-year-old point of view. But I’m getting all jumbled up about how to start, so I’ll take a breath. See, it really began when the Brazells moved out from next door and the Cha…[Read more]

]]> 0 6e2d4b3fe3fcad7923965f8f7af2011a Athelstone posted an update: Some very sad news for old Cloudies, which I suppose is most […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/25421/ Sat, 14 Feb 2026 17:04:57 +0000 Some very sad news for old Cloudies, which I suppose is most of us. I’ve just heard that Barb (Barbara Dawn Ettridge) died in Australia just over a week ago. Barb was funny, sharp, a great writer, and a good friend. Details are here:…[Read more]

]]> 1 c21fd446056ba246b1beaa1f58115398 Athelstone replied to the topic January 2026 Monthly Competition in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/january-2026-monthly-competition/#post-17339 Sun, 08 Feb 2026 20:47:56 +0000 Terrie, I had a tricky January but that’s no excuse. Sorry for missing a super monthly comp. Well done Libby, a really great entry. Well done all.

]]> 0 929b84748c2d6d728cee65787f06de20 Athelstone replied to the topic The Sweat of the Workers in the forum Blogs https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/the-sweat-of-the-workers/#post-17247 Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:04:54 +0000 I know that feeling. I was also a government employee who found himself parcelled up and sold to the highest bidder, or at least the one that made the most empty promises and said the things that our betters at the high table wanted to hear. I recall now how our managers queued up to tell us what a good thing it was and, yes, they used that exact…[Read more]

]]> 0 1bb8a6f266d8cfcca224b4e958e8362e John T replied to the topic Not a Disaster Story in the forum Blogs https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/not-a-disaster-story/#post-17241 Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:22:57 +0000 We must venture that way. We’re at the other side of Bannau Brycheiniog near Abergavenny.

]]> 0 13378f77204f75fa6a8657619d226383 John T posted an update: Happy fairly-new-year, everyone! I've written very little in […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/25183/ Tue, 13 Jan 2026 13:17:02 +0000 Happy fairly-new-year, everyone! I’ve written very little in the last three months for health reasons, but I’m slowly winding back up again. I’ve found a (hopefully acceptable) way to take part in September Song, and I’m returning to blow the dust and cobwebs off my WIP.

]]> 1 65b7d1cf00c7027bff472fb2c0f72ea5 Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition - December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/monthly-competition-december-2025/#post-17214 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 10:33:50 +0000 Right, here we go.

Is there anybody who hasn’t had at least a small part in the production of a nativity play? Jill, that’s just how they go. A perfect evocation. And your story has a Christmas miracle as well – or was it a mischievous young actor?

Janette, I was there in that supermarket. No, really, I was actually there I think, barging past…[Read more]

]]> 0 5d90d081b9aa6c586b9f050e2fcd887e Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition - December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/monthly-competition-december-2025/#post-17213 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:10:50 +0000 OK, it’s a fraction after midnight so 2026. I’ve read them all. They’re annoyingly good. So sorry, you can all wait until tomorrow is well and truly underway. Happy New Year!

]]> 0 913bcee6efe5cf0687f6e53c5a28dfeb Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition - December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/monthly-competition-december-2025/#post-17202 Fri, 26 Dec 2025 19:28:28 +0000 Wouldn’t be Christmas without the occasional disaster.

]]> 0 3775ec637953a4a7d458c319ffa85d2c Athelstone posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/25144/#acomment-25145 Thu, 25 Dec 2025 07:53:00 +0000 And to you, Kate! A chilly start to Christmas morning here in West Sussex. Off to see our daughter start the festivities with a 5K Park Run soon. Then home for breakfast and dividing up the spoils 🙂

In reply to - Kate posted an update Happy Christmas for tomorrow to all you lovely Denizens. Xx ]]> f0a341c6b8a5a052953776544a2c74c6 Athelstone posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/25113/#acomment-25118 Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:31:46 +0000 Well done, Libby. A really fine story and definitely worth another read.

In reply to - Libby started the topic Short story published in the forum Podium The story I wrote for the November comp. ‘I Lied When I Said My Daughter Lived Abroad’ has been published […] ]]> 3dc9df6ac4a4acd4f960b62eebe84bd5 Athelstone posted an update: Christmas is coming, The Goose is getting fat, please to put […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/25098/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 10:01:52 +0000 Christmas is coming, The Goose is getting fat, please to put a penny in the old man’s hat, If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do, If you haven’t got a ha’penny then enter the December monthly comp. Ten days to go.

]]> 1 a4671075e63ddd2593382b3ce86013fd Athelstone posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/25065/#acomment-25066 Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:32:30 +0000 Fantastic news, Jill.

In reply to - Jill posted an update On a personal note – thank you again fellow writers for the good wishes when I first returned to the Den. I can now report that I am in remission. Hope this good news yesterday will spur me […] ]]> 3fd0707b9401e0e06bbb4b2501810065 Athelstone started the topic Monthly Competition - December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/monthly-competition-december-2025/ Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:37:09 +0000 Christmas is coming, The goose is getting fat! For the December competition, I would love a Christmas story. The theme is Christmas in any way, shape, or form. Make it sad, make it happy, naughty or nice. Make it ghostly if that tickles your fancy. Make it commercial or spiritual. Feel free.

]]> 0 929bb6ac9abef4a66bd96ec75b1c270a Athelstone replied to the topic November 2025 monthly competition in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/november-2025-monthly-competition/#post-17131 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:29:02 +0000 Ah, thank you Terrie. After reading the others I feel very lucky! I’m a bit late arriving – so apologies. I’ll get right to the December comp.

]]> 0 9230188341cc2d120a6306ff29ec25c6 Athelstone replied to the topic November 2025 monthly competition in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/november-2025-monthly-competition/#post-17102 Sun, 23 Nov 2025 11:49:00 +0000 Percy.

Percy was old. I knew that because everybody knew that. I went to see him because I was invited, and young, ambitious journalists don’t refuse invitations from Percy Fullbig’s people. The man who had seen it all, and predicted much of it. Predicted the Second World War, Vietnam, various troubles in the Middle East, the Financial Cra…[Read more]

]]> 0 22225c9519e4fc6686823a46d1fcf687 Athelstone posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24961/#acomment-24991 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 11:25:16 +0000 I sometimes feel a bit like the man who asked for directions and was told, ‘Well, I wouldn’t start from here.’

In reply to - Athelstone posted an update I’ve added a few pieces to the Profile settings. The new entries are all entirely optional, but I do encourage you to take a look at what’s there. It’s nice to know a bit about your […] ]]> 05260598fa72ba18aea8c0683b42a5d4 Athelstone posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24961/#acomment-24983 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 09:10:05 +0000 Exactly that. I’m not even certain whether the activity page is a WordPress thing or one of the plugins that makes it a community site.

In reply to - Athelstone posted an update I’ve added a few pieces to the Profile settings. The new entries are all entirely optional, but I do encourage you to take a look at what’s there. It’s nice to know a bit about your […] ]]> b8dc65db91ce2acac3edc2b4fb252c52 Athelstone posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24961/#acomment-24976 Tue, 11 Nov 2025 14:16:02 +0000 Oh, or did you mean that my post about the changes has slipped down because of subsequent posts? That can be a nuisance sometimes. There’s a banner headline facility that I also avoid.

In reply to - Athelstone posted an update I’ve added a few pieces to the Profile settings. The new entries are all entirely optional, but I do encourage you to take a look at what’s there. It’s nice to know a bit about your […] ]]> 19b3981b94516806da20c294d8c168d6 Athelstone posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24961/#acomment-24975 Tue, 11 Nov 2025 14:12:25 +0000 I didn’t know, Libby. Have you done an update recently? There’s a full change log in the admin menu, but I didn’t see anything. I haven’t looked at how the Activity Page is built; I know it’s complex and occasionally flakey, so I’ve tried to steer clear.

In reply to - Athelstone posted an update I’ve added a few pieces to the Profile settings. The new entries are all entirely optional, but I do encourage you to take a look at what’s there. It’s nice to know a bit about your […] ]]> fe3829097c9b9ecfcea9b4e78f961968 Athelstone posted an update: I've added a few pieces to the Profile settings. The new […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24961/ Fri, 07 Nov 2025 17:28:11 +0000 I’ve added a few pieces to the Profile settings. The new entries are all entirely optional, but I do encourage you to take a look at what’s there. It’s nice to know a bit about your Denizen friends, and it can be useful sometimes. So, if you have the world’s largest collection of rare Tupperware, or are secretary of the East Kent Hare Coursing…[Read more]

]]> 7 f47f16412184279b349a7e43647f36ea Athelstone's profile was updated https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24960/ Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:40:37 +0000 0 60fc7e6cd21133746c5a4e61282409d0 Athelstone posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24946/#acomment-24959 Thu, 06 Nov 2025 10:00:30 +0000 Incidentally, when I say “it’s possible” I should probably add, “but not easy.”
The ONLY method that would work consistently for a forum post would be to construct some fairly complex HTML using the code tab of your text box. You would need to do this for every post.
The situation has existed ever since the creation of Wordpress and I was very…[Read more]

In reply to - Jill replied to the topic November 2025 monthly competition in the forum Monthly Competition Apologies, paragraph indentation didn’t seem to work on this…. ]]> bb9774ff4e52d73c5b251f107b55ea19 Athelstone posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24946/#acomment-24957 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 22:56:08 +0000 Answering on the activity stream to keep the comp thread clear. In general, Wordpress (that this site uses) doesn’t really play with, or understand, or use paragraph indentation. It’s possible, but I haven’t looked into it yet. The issue is that Wordpress was originally built for blogging (by one person) and we use almost none of that…[Read more]

In reply to - Jill replied to the topic November 2025 monthly competition in the forum Monthly Competition Apologies, paragraph indentation didn’t seem to work on this…. ]]> 84c008e4fbd6c0cf29abd1a92bd2424b Athelstone posted an update: I'm going to update some of the software used on the Den. It […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24956/ Wed, 05 Nov 2025 22:37:02 +0000 I’m going to update some of the software used on the Den. It should be invisible, and I’ve already done it on our test site, but if you spot anything odd happening please let me know.

]]> 0 7c712c24469a1d48b1dce8dc858d2686 Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly competition October 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/monthly-competition-october-2025/#post-17027 Sat, 01 Nov 2025 23:33:55 +0000 Well done Terrie. A truly ghastly tale.

]]> 0 b73552d3b363c9c1d19e3cf656ec4acf Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly competition October 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/monthly-competition-october-2025/#post-17018 Wed, 29 Oct 2025 14:01:13 +0000 The Estate Agent’s Appointment

I arrived at the house in pouring rain. The light was fading on a day that was already dark with cloud. I didn’t want to go in. I wanted to get in my car, drive home, shower, and settle down with a Scotch and whatever delicious microwave meal was next in the fridge. I had no choice. This old house wasn’t going to…[Read more]

]]> 0 9f4d2167afb4af0f9e48b34092aeca15 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24909/#acomment-24910 Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:34:49 +0000 Oh well… Athelstone has persuaded me…

In reply to - John T posted an update Ooh, I missed the challenge. My fault for not looking in. But honestly, I have a busy time ahead locally, both writing and storytelling events. And there’s THAT first draft that isn’t yet […] ]]> 72100e63f8edb43e0cecc0ad6a38ecc1 John T posted an update: Ooh, I missed the challenge. My fault for not looking in. But […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24909/ Mon, 27 Oct 2025 17:57:47 +0000 Ooh, I missed the challenge. My fault for not looking in. But honestly, I have a busy time ahead locally, both writing and storytelling events. And there’s THAT first draft that isn’t yet complete. So, good luck everybody and I’ll sit this one out.

]]> 1 263cf291764c8598c6f4a5ef9b07e1b4 Athelstone posted an update: HURRY, HURRY, HURRY! The September Song short story challenge […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24903/ Sat, 25 Oct 2025 06:58:25 +0000 HURRY, HURRY, HURRY! The September Song short story challenge goes private at 10:00. If you’ve joined you must make your choices by then. If you haven’t joined, today is your last chance.

]]> 0 6fd63d0600a231e5c8e2a90b17caeb24 Athelstone posted an update: Barter Books in Alnwick is a terrible place for an […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24897/ Fri, 24 Oct 2025 10:26:27 +0000 Barter Books in Alnwick is a terrible place for an impoverished reader to be…

]]> 0 4015958dbba1dddb479dd5e766a33d05 Athelstone posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24870/#acomment-24883 Tue, 21 Oct 2025 11:10:42 +0000 Merle Oberon wasn’t the finest Catherine either. But Larry, dear Larry, was hopelessly miscast.

In reply to - Daedalus replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum September Song I finally managed to read Ulysses earlier this year after numerous failed attempts over several decades (Middlemarch likewise). So I’m going to m […] ]]> d6d3d1dad5a959cb10f72c81a4051fe3 Athelstone replied to the topic A scheme to show books written without AI in the forum Coffee Shop https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/a-scheme-to-show-books-written-without-ai/#post-16977 Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:37:14 +0000 Incidentally, Sandra’s comment is still there but she replied to the update on the activity page rather than directly to the thread

]]> 0 ced726f4af74afb4e88d4976c0ec6373 Athelstone replied to the topic A scheme to show books written without AI in the forum Coffee Shop https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/a-scheme-to-show-books-written-without-ai/#post-16976 Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:33:50 +0000 I think you’re right.

Of course, AI writing is effectively a sampling of other authors’ work, albeit with some sophisticated algorithms that hide the truth away. An author may say that they are using AI to produce something original, but AI simply won’t work with just small samples such as from one author. It needs a “large language model” as…[Read more]

]]> 0 afe41bf69f564bca6ca7339a01a02137 Athelstone posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24870/#acomment-24877 Sun, 19 Oct 2025 19:04:52 +0000 I read Middlemarch very quickly when I was 19 and still had the habit of reading 2 or 3 books every week. MM took me a whole week. I have no recollection of how I felt about it afterwards, because, in my usual way I was onto the next book. Parts of it have sort of emerged into my mind, and, if I’m honest my writing over the years. The book that…[Read more]

In reply to - Daedalus replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum September Song I finally managed to read Ulysses earlier this year after numerous failed attempts over several decades (Middlemarch likewise). So I’m going to m […] ]]> 3850471a0eed1c9e869c021e03b38ab6 Daedalus posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24870/#acomment-24875 Sun, 19 Oct 2025 12:59:45 +0000 I’m ashamed to say I hadn’t heard of it, but a lot of non English language literature is not on my radar. As far as Ulysses is concerned, I can see why it is important, and I enjoyed parts of it very much, but it was a tough read because with the style constantly changing, I couldn’t settle into it the way I generally can sooner or later. Middl…[Read more]

In reply to - Daedalus replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum September Song I finally managed to read Ulysses earlier this year after numerous failed attempts over several decades (Middlemarch likewise). So I’m going to m […] ]]> 04940e3426767ca9d9b3e3dd78c49c6f Athelstone posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24870/#acomment-24874 Sun, 19 Oct 2025 11:12:04 +0000 Not directly – or any of the other books on his list. I only remember a few. I suppose it was on his list because it gives an insight into how people think about life and death and some other major philosophical issues. My difficulty stems from myself, I think. I sometimes find it hard to read something that I’ve been told I ought to read. On…[Read more]

In reply to - Daedalus replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum September Song I finally managed to read Ulysses earlier this year after numerous failed attempts over several decades (Middlemarch likewise). So I’m going to m […] ]]> b7b01ce1bde2b32d3ce2d2ec72b4de34 Athelstone posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24870/#acomment-24871 Sat, 18 Oct 2025 21:05:53 +0000 Good to know that other Denizens have issues reading classic works. I remember the professor of philosophy at university remarking that there were a few books that every educated person should read. One of them was “The Magic Mountain” by Thomas Mann. Took me 40 years and 2 translations to become educated 😁

In reply to - Daedalus replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum September Song I finally managed to read Ulysses earlier this year after numerous failed attempts over several decades (Middlemarch likewise). So I’m going to m […] ]]> f3f843760978b8fb3f5e12e6b12672a8 Daedalus replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum September Song https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/september-song/forum/topic/chit-chat-7/#post-16974 Sat, 18 Oct 2025 17:51:30 +0000 I finally managed to read Ulysses earlier this year after numerous failed attempts over several decades (Middlemarch likewise). So I’m going to make the most of it!

]]> 9 457763a5606d3f80326529e928631fa7 Daedalus replied to the topic Choices in the forum September Song https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/september-song/forum/topic/choices-7/#post-16972 Sat, 18 Oct 2025 09:55:23 +0000 Snow

Ulysses

]]> 0 e29a28d79afd6896de3386db4feb26be Daedalus joined the group September Song https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24866/ Sat, 18 Oct 2025 09:51:38 +0000 0 41d13195fe71a31e8dd708c229df4014 Athelstone posted an update: OK, I just pushed through a batch of updates on the Den. I […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24849/ Wed, 15 Oct 2025 10:15:25 +0000 OK, I just pushed through a batch of updates on the Den. I had already tested them on the Den’s testing site and they seemed to be fine. If anybody finds something not working please let me know. Thanks.

]]> 0 fbaa29fe04b8b7452fb980cc8d127d44 Athelstone replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum September Song https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/september-song/forum/topic/chit-chat-7/#post-16957 Wed, 15 Oct 2025 10:07:15 +0000 My sneaky way of finding what people are reading. And yes, an extraordinary range.

]]> 0 40701a68b58cbda44852916495560846 Athelstone posted an update: Welcome to a new member Silver. Some may remember her as […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24826/ Mon, 13 Oct 2025 16:30:21 +0000 Welcome to a new member Silver. Some may remember her as Catasshe back in the Wordcloud days

]]> 12 ba8cdaf8fc263f907f1205510f19d0a9 Woolleybeans replied to the topic Choices in the forum September Song https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/september-song/forum/topic/choices-7/#post-16944 Mon, 13 Oct 2025 14:42:37 +0000 Rain.

Waterland.

]]> 0 0864e83e37cdcb218c1637d2c77475bb Woolleybeans joined the group September Song https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24819/ Mon, 13 Oct 2025 14:01:35 +0000 0